 "Supreme Court clears Vantara elephant project, rejects PIL: Top 5 things to know")
 "Focus back to India-US trade deal: Trump’s negotiators landing in New Delhi tonight")
Coronavirus Latest Updates: Delhi logged 26,169 cases with a positivity rate of 36.24 %, the highest since the pandemic began a year ago, even as the city hospitals grappled with depleting oxygen supplies Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a series of meetings on Friday, including one with chief ministers of states with a high burden of COVID-19 cases. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee declared on Thursday that all her prescheduled public meetings stand cancelled. From 7 pm on 22 April, cycle/bike/vehicle rallies, pad yatras or roadshows will not be allowed in West Bengal, said the Election Commission. Permission for such events if already granted stands withdrawn, the Commission said. It also said public meetings will be allowed with a maximum attendance of 500 people, if adequate space is available and with adherence to COVID-19 norms and social distancing. The UAE has banned travel from India for 10 days from Sunday due to the worsening COVID-19 situation in the country, according to media reports on Thursday. According to reports, the Supreme Court Bar Association has moved the Supreme Court saying cases in high courts on coronavirus-related issues should not be transferred to the top court. If patients are unable to get the anti-viral drug in adequate quantities, it is a violation of Article 19, the Karnataka High Court observed. Oxygen stocks have dried up in six hospitals , as per the 1 pm data shared by Manish Sisodia, even as the HC directed the Centre to ensure unhindered transport of oxygen The Bombay High Court on Thursday asked the Union Government to reconsider its stand that door- to-door COVID-19 vaccination was not feasible, saying it must consider the plight of old people and the disabled. A division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta andJustice G S Kulkarni said the government cannot just “leave old people to die”. The Madras High Court on Thursday took on record concerns over the financial burden for the COVID-19 vaccination for the age group 18-45 from 1 May., “in particular, the cost of the vaccine at Rs 400 per shot from government counters and at Rs 600 per shot from private counters may be beyond the reach of a large section of the population, particularly considering the family structure in this country.” The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed the Centre to ensure that the allocation of oxygen takes place as planned and transportation of the tankers takes place unhindered. It further ordered that adequate security should be provided to lorries transporting the oxygen, in order to enable them to move without obstruction. The Union Home Ministry on Thursday issued orders directing states not to impose restrictions on interstate movement of medical oxygen. It also said that no restrictions should be imposed on oxygen manufacturers to limit oxygen supply to hospitals in states and UTs where they are located. Dr Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director of Apollo Hospitals on Twitter appealed to the government to tag oxygen tank as ambulances and enable quick movement through the green corridor. As the country grapples with the current wave of COVID-19 pandemic, the Supreme Court on Thursday took suo motu cognisance of the prevailing grim situation and said it wanted a national plan on issues, including supply of oxygen and essential drugs for treatment of patients infected with the virus. India registered over 3.14 lakh new coronavirus cases in a day, the highest-ever single-day count recorded in any country, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases in the country to1,59,30,965. According to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday, a total of 3,14,835 fresh infections were registered in a span of 24 hours, while the toll increased to1,84,657 with a record 2,104 new fatalities. The national COVID-19 recovery rate fell below 85 percent. Registering a steady increase for the 43rd day in a row, the active cases have increased to 22,91,428 comprising 14.38 percent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has dropped to 84.46 percent, the data updated at 8 am showed. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,34, 54,880. The case fatality rate has further dropped to 1.16 percent, the data stated. India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on 7 August,30 lakh on 23 August, 40 lakh on 5 September and 50 lakh on 16 September. It went past 60 lakh on 28 September, 70 lakh on 11 October, crossed 80 lakh on 29 October, 90 lakh on 20 November and surpassed the one-crore mark on 19 December. India crossed the grim milestone of 1.50 crore on 19 April. According to the ICMR, 27,27,05,103 samples have been tested up to 21 April with 16,51,711 samples being tested on Wednesday. The 2,104 new fatalities include 568 from Maharashtra, 249 from Delhi, 193 from Chhattisgarh, 187 from Uttar Pradesh, 125 from Gujarat and,116 from Karnataka. A total of 1,84,657 deaths have been reported so far in the country including 61,911 from Maharashtra, 13,762 from Karnataka ,13,258 from Tamil Nadu, 12,887 from Delhi, 10,710 from West Bengal, 10,346 from Uttar Pradesh, 8,114 from Punjab and 7,510 from Andhra Pradesh. The health ministry stressed that more than 70 percent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities. “Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research,” the ministry said on its website, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.
Coronavirus Updates: Delhi registers record 306 COVID-19 deaths; Kerala sees highest one-day surge with nearly 27,000 cases
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Delhi logged 26,169 cases with a positivity rate of 36.24 %, the highest since the pandemic began a year ago, even as the city hospitals grappled with depleting oxygen supplies
 "Coronavirus Updates: Delhi registers record 306 COVID-19 deaths; Kerala sees highest one-day surge with nearly 27,000 cases")
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Kerala sees highest one-day surge of about 27,000 new cases
With Kerala’s COVID-19 graph witnessing the highest single day surge of nearly 27,000 cases on Thursday, the state government has decided to hold discussions with the manufacturers to procure vaccines. “We have sought more vaccines from the Centre and expect a reply soon. But we are not planning to wait for the allotment.
The state government is holding discussions with the vaccine manufacturers and steps will be taken to place orders after a discussion between the Chief Secretary and the Finance and Health secretaries,” Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told reporters here.
The state saw the highest single day spike so far with 26,995 cases, pushing the total infection count to 13.22 lakh.
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Record rise of 13,105 COVID-19 cases in Gujarat, 137 deaths
Gujarat added 13,105 new coronavirus cases, its highest one-day rise so far, in the last 24 hours, health officials said on Thursday evening. It took the state’s caseload to 4,53,836. As many as 137 patients, also the highest so far, succumbed to the infection in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 5,877
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Delhi sees record 306 COVID-19 deaths
Delhi logged a record 306 COVID-19 deaths and 26,169 cases with a positivity rate of 36.24 percent, highest since the pandemic began a year ago, on Thursday even as the city hospitals grappled with depleting oxygen supply for the third consecutive day.
The city has reported over 1,750 deaths due to the deadly virus in the last 10 days.
It had recorded 24,638 cases and 249 deaths on Wednesday, as the positivity rate stood at 31.28 percent.
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Israel issues travel warning for India and six other countries amid COVID surge
Israel issued a travel advisory on Thursday warning Israelis, including those who have recovered from or been vaccinated against COVID-19, to refrain from travelling to India, Ukraine, Ethiopia, Brazil, South Africa, Mexico and Turkey because of high COVID morbidity rates in the seven countries.
The statement from the Israeli health ministry also noted the presence of alarming COVID variants in the seven countries, and recommended that the public avoid all travel outside of Israel if possible, the Haaretz newspaper reported.
The Health Ministry’s Director-General Chezy Levy said that unvaccinated foreign workers and students from India must quarantine in state-run quarantine hotels, it said.
-PTI
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Over 13.5 crore COVID vaccine doses administered in India, says Centre
The total number of vaccinations against COVID-19 has crossed 13.5 crores in the country with more than 30 lakh vaccine doses administered on Thursday till 8 pm, the health ministry said.
The total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country stood at 13,53,46,729, according to a provisional report compiled at 8 pm.
The beneficiaries include 92,41,384 healthcare workers (HCWs) who have taken the first dose, 59,03,368 HCWs who have taken the second dose, 1,17,27,708 frontline workers (FLWs) who have received the first dose and 60,73,622 FLWs who have taken the second dose.
Besides, 4,55,10,426 and 18,91,160 beneficiaries in the 45-60 age group have taken the first and the second dose respectively, while 4,85,01,906 and 64,97,155 people aged above 60 have been administered the first and the second dose.
-PTI
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
AAP leader tests positive, share video of himself from Delhi hospital bed
Aam Aadmi Party leader Saurabh Bhardwaj, who tested positive, shares a video of himself from his hospital bed in Delhi. He implores the Centre and the Haryana government to show a “big heart” and provide oxygen in the Capital, adding that there was only three hours of oxygen left in the hospital he is admitted.
केंद्र सरकार और हरियाणा सरकार बड़ा दिल दिखाएं। ऑक्सीजन के बिना लोग मर रहे हैं,। राज धर्म निभाएं। pic.twitter.com/SPXogI3JXT
— Saurabh Bharadwaj (@Saurabh_MLAgk) April 22, 2021
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Mamata Banerjee bans all meetings in Bengal
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee declared on Thursday that all her prescheduled public meetings stand cancelled. The decision comes less than an hour after the Election Commission restricted the number of people allowed to attend a public meeting to 500 in light of the surge in Covid-19 cases.
In a tweet, Mamata Banerjee said she will reach out to the people virtually. The Trinamool Congress will share the updated schedule of the virtual meetings shortly, she added.
In the wake of upsurge in #COVID19 cases across the country and the ECI Order dated 22nd April, 2021, I am cancelling all my prescheduled meetings and we will reach out to the people virtually.
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) April 22, 2021
We will be sharing the updated schedule of the virtual meetings shortly.
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
State govts free to procure COVID-19 vaccine from manufacturers: Centre
State governments are free to procure anti-coronavirus vaccine doses from vaccine manufacturers as per the Liberalised Pricing and Accelerated National COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy, the Union Health Ministry said on Thursday.
The ministry said this while refuting some media reports that suggested the Serum Institute of India (SII) has contracted all its production till 25 May, 2021 to the Centre, and therefore, till that date the state governments will not be able to procure vaccine from SII.
“These media reports are based on incorrect facts and are without any basis,” the ministry said.
In order to expand and liberalise the countrywide vaccination drive, the Union Government on 19 April announced the Liberalised Pricing and Accelerated National COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy which would come into effect from 1 May.
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Ready to supply 500 tonnes of oxygen to Madhya Pradesh, says Naveen Jindal
Naveen Jindal is an Indian industrialist and a former Member of Parliament, took to Twitter to announces that his company Jindal Steel Power is ready to supply over 500 tons of liquid oxygen to the Madhya Pradesh government. The former MP also said that the company can provide 100 tonnes/day to any government that needs it.
We have more than 500 tons of liquid oxygen readily available at our Angul plant.
— Naveen Jindal (@MPNaveenJindal) April 22, 2021
Apart from this, we can provide 100 tonnes/day to any government that needs it.
We will continue to support the nation in all possible ways in this war against the pandemic. Jai Hind🇮🇳
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
COVID care centre with 500 beds to be reopened in Delhi
A COVID care centre equipped with 500 oxygen beds will be restarted in Delhi amid a surge in coronavirus cases, and border guarding force ITBP has been again entrusted to run it, officials said on Thursday.
An order issued by the Union Home Ministry said the Delhi government has “sought assistance to re-operationalise” the Sardar Patel COVID care centre (SPCCC) with 500 oxygen beds, which was first created last year at the Radha Soami Beas campus located in south Delhi’s Chhattarpur area.
“Keeping in view the above request, it has been decided to provide an adequate number of medical officers and para-medical staff to man 500 oxygenated beds at SPCCC.”
“ITBP is designated as a nodal force for operation of the SPCCC…ITBP may draw the required medical manpower (doctors and paramedics), if needed, from other central armed police forces (CAPFs) also,” the order said.
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Kerala journalist “collapsed in bathroom”, tested positive for COVID
According to Print.in, Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan, who has been under arrest since October last year, tested positive for COVID-19 and has been admitted to a hospital.
A plea filed by the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) said that Kappan had collapsed in the bathroom at the Mathura jail and later tested positive for COVID-19. According to his lawyer, Wills Mathews, Kappan was admitted to the KM Medical College in Mathura Wednesday morning, reports Bar&Bench.
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Modi to hold series of meetings tomorrow
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a series of meetings on Friday, including one with chief ministers of states with high burden of COVID-19 cases.
Official sources said he will review the COVID-19-related situation in an internal meeting at 9 am followed by the meeting with chief ministers an hour later via videoconference. At 12:30 pm, he will hold a meeting with leading oxygen manufacturers in the country, they added.
The prime minister had earlier called off his visit to West Bengal for poll campaign on Friday due to the meetings here to review the COVID-19 situation. He will instead address the West Bengal voters virtually.
PTI
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Election Commission bans bike rallies, roadshows
From 7 pm on 22 April, cycle/bike/vehicle rallies, pad yatras or roadshows will not be allowed in West Bengal, said the Election Commission. Permission for such events if already granted stands withdrawn, the Commission said. It also said public meetings will be allowed with a maximum attendance of 500 people, if adequate space is available and with adherence to COVID-19 norms and social distancing.
The poll panel also noted “with anguish” that many political parties/candidates are not adhering to prescribed safety norms during the publinc gatherings
Permission for roadshow, cycle/bike/vehicle rallies, if granted already, stands withdrawn: Election Commission of India
— ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2021
ECI also notes "with anguish" that many political parties/candidates are not adhering to prescribed safety norms during public gatherings #WestBengalPolls pic.twitter.com/2tS9XFzGH5
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
UAE bans travel from India for 10 days
The UAE has banned travel from India for 10 days from Sunday due to the worsening COVID-19 situation in the country, according to media reports on Thursday. The travel ban will come into effect from 11.59 pm on Saturday, 24 April , and is subject to review after 10 days, Gulf News reported.
However, departure flights will continue to operate, it added. UAE citizens, diplomatic passport holders and official delegations are exempted from the above conditions, it said. According to a notification, the exemptions will be made on the basis of a RT-PCR negative test 48 hours prior to departure.
Arrival passengers from India, who have transited through other countries, will not be allowed in UAE unless they were staying for 14 days in other countries, the notification said.
According to Khaleej Times, people are barred from booking flights from the UAE to Indian destinations after 24 April on the Emirates, Etihad, flydubai and Air Arabia websites.
Here is the official notification from @emirates pic.twitter.com/DFkR2B22Zo
— Tarun Shukla (@shukla_tarun) April 22, 2021
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Ready to touch Centre’s feet for oxygen supply, says Rajesh Tope
With Maharashtra facing severe shortage of medical oxygen amid the spike in COVID-19 cases, Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Thursday said the state
government is even willing to touch the Centre’s feet if it helps in getting the required supply of the life-saving gas. Speaking to reporters, he said, “The state government is willing to do everything to save the lives of people. We are making an extremely polite request…even ready to touch the Centre’s feet to get the required quantity of the liquid medical oxygen.”
“The rights of oxygen distribution among the states is in the hands of the Union government. They should exercise their rights and ensure that Maharashtra gets more oxygen,” he said. The Centre should ensure that oxygen-carrying tankers get a green corridor so that they can reach quickly, Tope added.
PTI
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
At least 31 COVID-19 patients flee temporary care centre in Agartala
At least 31 COVID-19 patients, who were being treated in a temporary care centre in Agartala, have escaped from the facility, following which the Tripura Police
launched a massive search operation, an official said on Thursday. All the coronavirus-positive patients, who fled the COVID care centre at Panchayat Raj Training Institute (PRTI) in Arundhatinagar area on Wednesday night, are residents of other states, Sadar Subdivisional Police Officer Anirban Das said.
“We have informed all the police stations about the incident and alerted the railway authorities since they have come here from other states. We have initiated a search operation to trace them,” he said.
PTI
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Received oxygen for 30-40 hrs, Saroj Hospital tells HC
Saroj Super Speciality Hospital, dedicated to COVID-19 cases, informed the Delhi High Court on Thursday that shortly after filing petition, it has received an oxygen tanker for treating seriously ill patients. A bench of Justice Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli was informed by the counsel for the hospital at 6:30 pm that this oxygen stock will run for next 30 to 40 hours and it will be able to treat more COVID-19 patients now.
Advocate Prabhsahay Kaur said the hospital will also try and assist Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute in Paschim Vihar, which is also running out of oxygen.
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Singapore to put restrictions on travel from India
The Singapore health ministry on Thursday said it will not allow entry to long-term visa holders and short-term visitors with recent travel history to India, reported Reuters. The government said travel restrictions with India will help curb potential cases in migrant workers’ dormitories because many of the labourers arrive from the South Asian nation.
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Registrations on COWIN for those above 18 years of age to begin from 24 April
It is clarified that CooWin portal will be made ready for beneficiaries above the age of 18 years by 24 April, said the Union health ministry in a tweet. “Registrations for 18+ citizens to book appointments (from 1 May) will begin on 28 April,” it said.
This clarification comes just hours after National Health Authority CEO RS Sharma told C NBC-TV18 that people above 18 will be able to register on the platform from 24 April.
Sharma also said that while people above 18 will be able to register on the platform that does not necessarily mean they will be able to get an appointment. Sharma also said people between the ages of 18 and 45 will not be able to avail free vaccinations at Central government-run hospitals.
He added that above 45 years of age can continue to avail of free vaccinations at government-run hospitals and added that states may choose to give it for free to those above the age of 18.
#LargestVaccineDrive
— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) April 22, 2021
It is clarified that #CoWin portal will be made ready for 18+ beneficiaries by 24th April.
Registrations for 18+ citizens to book appointments (from 1st May) will begin on 28th April.@PMOIndia @drharshvardhan @AshwiniKChoubey @PIB_India @DDNewslive
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
SCBA moves SC opposing transfer of COVID-related matters from high court
According to reports, the Supreme Court Bar Association has moved the Supreme Court saying cases in high courts on coronavirus-related issues should not be transferred to the top court.
HCs are best suited to deal with the situation and should be allowed to continue dealing with the issue, LiveLaw quotes SCBA as saying.
Supreme Court Bar Association files application in the Supreme Court saying cases in High Courts on #CovidIndia related issues should not be transferred to the SC.
— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) April 22, 2021
HCs are best suited to deal with the situation and should be allowed to continue dealing with the issue, SCBA says. pic.twitter.com/JVwMargOxD
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Goa to provide free COVID-19 vaccine to 18-45 age group
The Goa government will inoculate those between the ages of 18 to 45 against coronavirus free of cost, it announced on Thursday. The state will be procuring five lakh doses of Covishield vaccine initially, it said. State Additional Secretary (Health) Vikas Gaunekar informed the Directorate of Health Services about the decision in a letter.
PTI
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Consider procuring Remdesivir directly from manufacturers, Karnataka HC tells state govt
The Karnataka High Court told the state government to consider whether it can directly buy the drug from manufacturers or dealers and then supply to hospitals, in order to avoid controversy. The bench observed that if patients are unable to get the anti-viral drug in adequate quantities, it is a violation of Article 19. The court also directed the state government to give real-time updates of quantities of drug in shops and directed to appoint officers to ensure that black marketing is not done, reports Bar&Bench.
To avoid all controversy, State to consider whether it can directly buy the drug from manufacturers or dealers and then supply to hospitals: Bench
— Bar and Bench (@barandbench) April 22, 2021
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Karnataka HC raises concerns over negative test report requirement for hospital admissions
A bench of the Karnataka High Court observed that in absence of any clarity on part of the government, even non-COVID critically ill patients as well as pregnant women were not being admitted in hospitals unless they showed a negative RT- PCR report, reports Bar&Bench. The court directed the state to “seriously consider evolving a policy ensuring that in those cases where there are no symptoms, compulsion will not be made for a negative RT PCR test. State will consider this issue seriously”, the bench said.
The court was hearing a suo moto case registered after it received two letters highlighting various difficulties faced by COVID-19 patients in the state.
State will have to seriously consider involving a policy ensuring that in those cases where there are no symptoms, compulsion will not be made for a negative RT PCR test. State will consider this issue seriously: Bench
— Bar and Bench (@barandbench) April 22, 2021
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Delay in test results creating issues, observes Karnataka HC
As noted in an earlier order, failure to provide test results in a reasonable time is creating very issues, the Karantaka HC said and directed the state government to ensure that its earlier order on ensuring reports within 24 hours is implemented scrupulously. " We direct state to take action against those labs that don’t give results in reasonable time," it said.
As noted in an earlier order, failure to provide test results in a reasonable time is creating very issues. Direct State to implement the same scrupulously. We direct state to take action against those labs that don't give results in reasonable time: Bench
— Bar and Bench (@barandbench) April 22, 2021
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Modi calls off West Bengal campaign tomorrow
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not be visiting West Bengal on Friday to address poll meetings as he will be chairing high-level meetings here to review the prevailing COVID-19 situation. After this, no further political meetings of the prime minister are scheduled in West Bengal, thus effectively ending his campaign in the state as of now.
Tomorrow, will be chairing high-level meetings to review the prevailing COVID-19 situation. Due to that, I would not be going to West Bengal.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 22, 2021
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Manish Sisodia writes to Union Health minister
Delhi deputy chief minister wrote to Union health minister Harsh Vardhan, saying that the Centre had increased oxygen allocation for the National Capital but some states were creating a ‘jungleraj’ sort of situation with regards to oxygen. “Police and senior officials of the administration in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana are stalling the tankers carrying oxygen, delaying the tankers from reaching Delhi hospitals on time,” Sisodia said in the letter. He attached a list, as per which six hospitals in the National Capital had run out of oxygen by 1 pm.
Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia writes to Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan
— ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2021
"Police & senior officials of administration in Uttar Pradesh & Haryana are stalling the tankers carrying oxygen, delaying the tankers to reach Delhi hospitals on time," the letter reads pic.twitter.com/xeXZ22syDg
Fortis Hospital raises SOS over oxygen shortage
Fortis Hospital said its facility in Haryana it has only 45 minutes of oxyen left and requested Ashok Gehlot, Rajnath Singh , ML Khattar and the PMO, among others for help. “This is an SOS call from Fortis to allow oxygen tanker from Bhiwadi to reach our hospital,” it said on twitter.
This is an #SOS call from Fortis to allow oxygen tanker from Bhiwadi to reach our hospital #ASAP. (2/2)
— Fortis Healthcare (@fortis_hospital) April 22, 2021
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Noida hospital raises alarm over shortage of oxygen
A private hospital here that has around 450 COVID-19 patients on Thursday expressed worry about shortage of oxygen, saying the quantity available with them would not last till Friday. Kailash Group Medical Director Ritu Vohra said their branch in Gautam Buddh Nagar has overstretched its resources and that the healthcare workers were working beyond duty hours.
“We have oxygen for seven-eight hours. Since morning, all our group hospitals need oxygen replenishment. We have stopped new admissions due to oxygen shortage. In this hospital (Sector 27), we have oxygen that would be sufficient only for four-five hours,” she said. “We are ready to pay extra price for oxygen or do whatever it takes because patients should be saved – the life of our patients is top priority for us,” she added. Seeking help, the senior doctor appealed to people from civil society if they could help the hospital with oxygen replenishment.
PTI
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Reconsider stand on door-to-door vaccination, Bombay HC tells Centre
The Bombay High Court on Thursday asked the Union Government to reconsider its stand that door- to-door COVID-19 vaccination was not feasible, saying it must consider the plight of old people and the disabled. A division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta andJustice G S Kulkarni said the government cannot just “leave old people to die”.
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had on Wednesday informed the court that door-to-door vaccination was not possible due to various reasons including the possibility of contamination and wastage of vaccine. The Centre’s reply came in response to a public interest litigation filed by lawyers Dhruti Kapadia and Kunal Tiwari.
PTI
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Narendra Modi chairs high-level meeting on oxygen supply
Chairing a high-level meeting to review oxygen supply across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asked top officials to work rapidly on increasing its production, boosting the speed of distribution and using innovative ways to provide oxygen support to health facilities. The prime minister also said that states must act against any hoarding of oxygen and directed officials to ensure that the oxygen supply to various states happens in a smooth, unhindered manner and called for fixing responsibility with the local administration in cases of obstruction.
In the meeting that also discussed ways and means to boost oxygen availability amid demands from many states for an increase in its supply, Modi was told that the supply of life-saving gas to states has been steadily increasing.
PTI
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
COVID-19 beds not handed over to Delhi govt, advocate tells HC
Advocate Rahul Mehra, representing the Delhi govt, tells the Delhi High Court that the Union has said that it has increased the beds but at the ground level they haven’t been handed over to the state government, reports LiveLaw. Mehra says the beds given by the Centre are not reflected on the app. “So how will people know, which beds are available and where? ICU beds, normal beds, no information there. The problem is, no matter who you are, you’re not getting a bed,: he says.
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Only one hour of oxygen supply left in Gurugram’s Fortis Hospital, claims doctor
A senior doctor from Gurugram’s Fortis hospital took to Twitter on Thursday, claiming that the hospital had only one hour of oxygen supply left. “Tanker from bhiwadi not allowed to come to Haryana. We cater to patients from all (over) India, they cannot pay price for a political war , the doctor said and while appealing for help.
1 hour oxygen left in fortis gurugram. Tanker from bhiwadi not allowed to come to Haryana. We cater to Pt from all India they cannot pay price for a political war @News24 @arunsangwan81 @summwadhwa @PMOIndia we have 200 Pt on oxygen please please help. @cmohry @jyoti_archana
— RahulDoc (@RahulDoc2) April 22, 2021
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Chhattisgarh Class 10 board exams cancelled, Class 12 exams suspended
The Chhattisgarh Board of Secondary Education (CGBSE) on Thursday cancelled its Class 10 examinations this year in view of the prevailing COVID-19 situation in the state and safety of students, authorities said. The board also suspended its Class 12 examinations scheduled to commence from 3 May, and a fresh time-table will be released once the COVID-19 situation improves, they said.
PTI
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Consider how less privileged can afford vaccines at high costs, Madras HC tells Centre
The bench appealed made to Union government to consider how the less privileged and people left without basic resources and adequate jobs in the wake of the lockdown of last year may be able to afford vaccine at such high cost. The court said that it hoped that appropriate steps would be taken to extend care to the lowest denominations, reports Bar&Bench.
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Madras HC records concerns over vaccine pricing for 18-45 age group
The Madras High Court on Thursday took on record concerns over the financial burden for the COVID-19 vaccination for the age group 18-45 from 1 May., “in particular, the cost of the vaccine at Rs 400 per shot from government counters and at Rs 600 per shot from private counters may be beyond the reach of a large section of the population, particularly considering the family structure in this country,” according to Bar&Bench.
The Serum Instiitute of India on Wednesday announced that its Covishield vaccine will be made available to state governments at a price of Rs 400 per dose and to private hospitals at Rs 600 per dose.
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Offered not-for-profit price for COVID vaccine, says Pfizer
Global pharma major Pfizer on Thursday said it has offered a not-for-profit price for its vaccine for the government immunisation programme in India and it remains committed to continuing engagement with the government to make the vaccine available in the country. The company also said during the pandemic phase it will supply the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine only through government contracts. “Pfizer remains committed to continuing our engagement with the Government towards making the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine available for use in the government’s immunization programme in the country”, a Pfizer spokesperson said in an email response to PTI.
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Delhi HC directs compliance with MHA order
The Delhi High Court also directed that the concerned authorities bound by the order passed (by the MHA) under the Disaster Management Act to ensure strict compliance with it and said that non-compliance will invite criminal action, according to LiveLaw,
Court: We also direct the authorities concerned who are bound by the order passed under the Disaster Management Act to ensure strict compliance. We direct that non-compliance will invite criminal action.
— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) April 22, 2021
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Ensure oxygen allocation takes place as planned, Delhi HC tells Centre
The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed the Centre to ensure that the allocation of oxygen takes place as planned and transportation of the tankers takes place unhindered. It further ordered that adequate security should be provided to lorries transporting the oxygen, in order to enable them to move without obstruction.
While listening to a a private hospital’s plea seeking directions for immediate supply of oxygen, the court said it was informed that local authorities have obstructed lifting and transport of oxygen from Air Liquidae, Panipat and that yesterday too the supply of oxygen from Faridabad to Delhi was obstructed for several hours, reports LiveLaw. The court said it was informed by the Additonal secretary Secretary that they were in touch with the local authorities after which some oxygen was released added that the position has not changed completely.
Court: We direct that Central Govt to ensure allocation takes place as planned and transportation of the tankers takes place unhindered. Adequate security to be provided to lorries transporting the oxygen, to move without obstruction.
— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) April 22, 2021
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The Delhi High Court Thursday said the Centre’s allocation of oxygen for Delhi from plants in other states like Haryana was not being respected by the local administration there and it needs to be resolved immediately. The observation by a bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli came after the Delhi government told the court that oxygen that was to come from Panipat in Haryana was not being allowed to be picked up by the local police there, The Delhi government also told the court that oxygen which was to be picked up from some units in Uttar Pradesh could also not be lifted from there.
PTI
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CJ- Is there a study on how many smokers in the past year have succumbed to Covid? If there is a study that shows smoking contributes to covid... we can consider a temporary ban. #Covid19 #BombayHC
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