Coronavirus LATEST Updates: As the CBSE cancelled its exams for class 10 and deferred those for class 12, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra have also postponed their state board exams for these classes due to an alarming surge in COVID-19 cases The Rajasthan government imposed a night curfew in all cities from 6 pm to 6 am amid a surge in coronavirus cases. The curfew will come into effect from Friday and will be in place till 30 April Maharashtra on Wednesday reported 58,952 fresh coronavirus cases, taking the tally to 35,78,160, while 278 new fatalities pushed the toll to 58,804, the state health department said. Hitting out at the government over the handling of the coronavirus pandemic, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury Wednesday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was responsible for the “sufferings” of the people and he cannot “evade democratic accountability”. The government on Wednesday said it has given approval for stepping up the manufacturing capacity of remdesivir that would enhance the production to around 78 lakh vials per month. The West Bengal government on Wednesday issued a directive to air passengers coming to the state from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Telegana to carry reports of their RT-PCR negative status conducted 72 hours before boarding the flights, a senior official told news agency PTI. In view of the second wave of the coronavirus infection, the Rajasthan government has decided to postpone the Class 10 and 12 exams conducted by the state Board of Secondary Education, Ajmer, said Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. Gehlot added that students of Classes 8, 9 and 11 will be promoted without exams. The Karnataka government on Wednesday said it has not taken any decision on cancelling the State board 10th standard exam This comes against the backdrop of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) cancelling the 10th standard and postponing the 12th standard examinations due to the prevailing coronavirus pandemic. The State Primary and Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar issued a statement saying: “The Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) exam will take place from 21 June.” The drug controller and health ministry have asked manufacturers to strengthen the production of remdesivir injection. Amid an unprecedented surge in coronavirus cases in the National Capital, COVID-19 ICU beds with ventilators are fully occupied in 69 of 94 hospitals with such facilities and only 79 beds are vacant, according to data shared on an official app on Wednesday. According to the Delhi Corona App till about 2 pm, in 75 of the 110 hospitals, all COVID-19 ICU beds without ventilators had patients. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal welcomed the decision to cancel CBSE Class 10 board exams and postpone Class 12 exams in view of surge in COVID-19 cases, saying it will provide a great relief to students and their parents. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra welcomed the government’s decision to cancel the CBSE Class 10 board exams but urged the government to arrive at a decision on the Class 12 board exams. The total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed 11 crore on Wednesday, the fourth day of the ‘Tika Utsav’, said the Union health ministry in a press release. Cumulatively, 11,11,79,578 vaccine doses have been administered through 16,53,488 sessions, as per the provisional report till 7 am on Wednesday, it added. Ten states, including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and Kerala, have shown a steep rise in daily new COVID-19 cases accounting for 82.04 percent of the fresh infections being reported in a day, said the Union Health Ministry Union education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said the situation will be reviewed on 1 June and details for Class 12 exam will be shared after that The CBSE officials denied any change in the schedule “yet” and reiterated that the arrangements are being made to ensure social distancing by increasing exam centres by over 50 percent. The exams are scheduled to begin from 4 May. The active caseload in the country was at its lowest at 1,35,926 on 12 February and it was at its highest at 10,17,754 on 18 September, 2020. This is also the fourth straight day of the country seeing over 1.5 lakh fresh COVID-19 infections and the eighth straight day of over one lakh cases. With the death of 1,027 more COVID-19 patients in the past 24 hours, the toll in the country has increased to 1,72,085 on Wednesday, said the health ministry. The fatality rate has risen to 1.24 percent. Reeling under an unprecedented COVID-19 wave, the Maharashtra government on Tuesday announced severe, curfew-like restrictions on public movement over the next 15 days across the state, saying the “war against coronavirus has begun again,” as it flagged a shortage of medical oxygen and hospital beds. The “lockdown-like” restrictions, which exclude essential services, will come into effect from 8 pm on 14 April and remain in force till 7 am on 1 May, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said in his address via social media to people of the state. Section 144 of CrPC prohibiting assembly of five or more people at one spot will be in force during the period, Thackeray said but refrained from terming the new curbs as lockdown. The new norms entail stricter curbs on public activities to stem the infection spread and build on the existing weekend and night curfew in the state. Thackeray’s announcement of the new curbs came on a day when Maharashtra recorded 60,212 fresh coronavirus cases and 281 fatalities. There is a shortage of medical oxygen and beds and the demand for Remdesivir, a key COVID-19 drug, has increased in Maharashtra, he said, adding the Centre should help supply oxygen for coronavirus patients in the state by using Air Force planes. “The war against coronavirus has begun once again,” he said, adding the coronavirus pandemic has assumed a scary proportion in the state. There is a severe strain on Maharashtra’s health infrastructure due to a spike in COVID-19 cases, he added. Seeking to minimise the adverse impact of the curbs on a large population, the chief minister announced a sort of relief package. The state government will provide three kg wheat and two kg rice free for the next one month to every poor and needy person, Thackeray said. He announced a ban on the movement of people for non-essential works during the restriction period. All essential services, including medical stores hospitals, supply of medicines, among others will remain operational. The local transport will also function for those involved in essential services, he said. Thackeray made an emotional appeal, seeking people’s support for successful implementation of the curbs. “I appeal to people to help the state. I want to know whether people are on the side of coronavirus or the state that wants to break the chain of its spread,” he said. A range of other essential services will also remain out of the purview of the new curbs. Services such as vaccination, oxygen production, home delivery of food, operation of e-commerce firms, work at construction sites with residential facility and industrial activities, where accommodation or transportation of personnel is available, will remain unaffected, he said. All banking and financial services, the RBI and its affiliated offices, insurance offices and pre-monsoon works will remain operational, he said. However, there will be a complete ban on religious, social, cultural and political functions in the state till 1 May, he said. For political rallies during elections, not more than 200 people can attend an event or 50 percent of the seating capacity of the hall, Thackeray said. The number of participants at marriage and funeral was capped at 25 and 20, respectively. Saloons, spas, schools, colleges, private coaching classes, beaches, clubs, swimming pools, gyms, drama theatres and cinema halls will remain close during the next 15 days, the chief minister said. Though roadside eateries are allowed to operate, buyers can not consume food on the street and only take away will be available, said Thackeray. He announced a package of Rs 5,476 crore for the poor whose earnings will be impacted. He said The Shiv Bhojan service of offering a meal at Rs 5 will be offered for free during the period. The state daily feeds around two lakh people. They will now get the food for free." “Similarly, under the Food Security Act, the registered beneficiaries will get three kg of wheat and two kg of rice for free. The period of this free food grain is for one month. There are seven crore registered beneficiaries,” he said. The 12 lakh registered construction workers will get Rs 1,500 during the period while license holding auto-rickshaw operators will get Rs 1,500. There are 12 lakh such auto-rickshaw drivers. Also, the registered hawkers will get Rs 2,500 during the same period as well, he said. The number of registered beneficiaries under various state and central schemes such as the Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar, Shravanbal and the Indira Gandhi National pension scheme in the state stood at 35 lakh, the chief minister said. They will get Rs 2,000 for the next two months, he said. Also, 12 lakh Adivasi families will get Rs 2000 for a month as financial assistance, Thackeray announced.
Coronavirus Updates: Several states including MP, Rajasthan defer board exams; Delhi, Gujarat record highest single-day spike
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: As the CBSE cancelled its exams for class 10 and deferred those for class 12, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra have also postponed their state board exams for these classes due to a surge in COVID-19 cases
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Coronavirus LATEST Update
Keep political differences aside, work as a team to defeat COVID-19: Venkaiah Naidu
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday urged everyone to put aside political differences and work as a team to defeat the coronavirus pandemic.
During a virtual interaction with governors on COVID-19 situation and the vaccination drive, he said there was a need to implement the proven and reliable strategy of ’test track and treat’ with renewed vigour to counter the spread of coronavirus.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan also attended the interaction.
One of the most useful lessons we have learnt during the last year is that we have succeeded in our fight against COVID-19 mainly because of collaborative work, Naidu said.
Coronavirus LATEST Update
Chhattisgarh records 14,250 new COVID-19 cases, 120 deaths
Chhattisgarh on Wednesday reported 14,250 new COVID-19casesand 120 more deaths, taking the infection count to 4,86,244 and the toll to 5,307, a health official said. Joint Director in the states health department, Dr Subhash Pandey, was among those who died due to COVID-19 complications, he said.
The fresh daily tally was lower than 15,121 COVID-19 cases reported on Tuesday, the highest single-day spike so far in the state.
The state has recorded over 1.68 lakh cases and 1,417 deaths just in the last one month.
The number of active cases in the state stood at 1,18,636 after 88 people were discharged from hospitals while 2,441 others completed their home isolation period in the day, the official said.
-PTI
Coronavirus LATEST Update
All-party meet in Chhattisgarh on COVID-19 on Thursday
As Chhattisgarh witnesses a surge in COVID-19 cases, the state government has convened an all- party meeting on Thursday to discuss strategies to prevent the spread of the infection, an official said on Wednesday.
The meeting, to be attended by leaders from different political parties and community heads through video conferencing, will start around noon, the state public relations department official said.
Governor Anusuiya Uikey and Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel will be present in the meeting virtually from their respective official residence, he said.
Coronavirus LATEST Update
Kejriwal to discuss COVID-19 situation in Delhi with LG
elhi Wednesday recorded the biggest single-day jump in its COVID-19 tally with 17,282 new cases, while over 100 people died, prompting Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to call a meeting with Lt Governor Anil Baijal Thursday during which measures to curb the virus spread are expected to be discussed.
Health Minister Satyendar Jain said that COVID-19 cases are rising very rapidly in the national capital and “there is no slowdown”.
The minister, however, reiterated that lockdown was not a solution to the situation, and advised people to step out only if urgent, avoid gatherings, wear masks and follow COVID-19-appropriate behaviour. The case positivity rate also jumped to 15.92 per cent, the highest till date.
Sources said that in the planned meeting Thursday, Lieutenant Governor Baijal and Chief Minister Kejriwal are expected to discuss staggered opening of shops and weekly markets, and restricted number of passengers in public transport among other measures.
Also, the timing of night curfew will be discussed. Last week, the AAP government had imposed night curfew from 10 pm to 5 am till April 30.
-PTI
Coronavirus LATEST Update
Rajasthan govt impose night curfew
Rajasthan government imposes night curfew in all cities from 6 pm to 6 am from April 16 to 30 amid rise in coronavirus cases, reports ANI. The state reports biggest single-day jump of 6,200 new cases and 29 deaths.
Coronavirus LATEST Update
Over 31.39 lakh vaccine doses administered on fourth day of ‘Tika Utsav’
The fourth day of the countrywide ‘Tika Utsav’ saw total vaccinations cross the 11.43 crore mark with more than 31.39 lakh vaccine doses being administered till 8 pm, the Union health ministry said on Wednesday, reports PTI.
Three states have administered more than 1 crore vaccinations Maharashtra (1,11,19,018), Rajasthan (1,02,15,471) and Uttar Pradesh (1,00,17,650).
As many as 69,974 COVID vaccination centres (CVCs) were operational, marking a rise of an average of 24,000 operational vaccination centres (45,000 CVCs on an average are functional on any given day). Workplace vaccinations have also enabled such a high turnout of beneficiaries, the ministry said.
The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country stands at 11,43,18,455 according to the 8 pm provisional report.
Coronavirus LATEST Update
West Bengal records 5,892 fresh COVID cases, 24 new deaths
West Bengal on Wednesday recorded its highest-ever single-day spike of 5,892 coronavirus cases, taking the tally to 6,30,116, the state health department bulletin said. The toll rose to 10,458 after 24 more fatalities were registered from different parts of the state, it added.
In the last 24 hours, 2,297 COVID patients recovered in the state, it said. The discharge rate has slightly dipped to 93.16 percent. The number of active cases rose to 32,621.
Since Tuesday, 43,463 samples have been tested in the state, taking the total number of such clinical examinations to 96,32,841, the bulletin said.
-PTI
Coronavirus LATEST Update
Maharashtra records 58,952 new COVID-19 cases, 278 deaths
Maharashtra on Wednesday reported 58,952 fresh coronavirus cases, taking the tally to 35,78,160, while 278 new fatalities pushed the toll to 58,804, the state health department said.
In view of an alarming rise in cases, the state government has announced a 15-day-long stricter measures which came into force at 8 pm on Wednesday and will remain in operation till 7 am on May 1. Maharashtra on April 11 had reported 63,294 COVID-19 cases, the highest single-day tally so far.
Also, 39,624 patients were discharged during the day, taking the count of recoveries to 29,05,721, the department said in a release. Maharashtra is now left with 6,12,070 active cases, the department said.
-PTI
Coronavirus LATEST Update
Tamil Nadu adds 7,819 new COVID-19 infections, 25 deaths
Tamil Nadu reported 7,819 new COVID-19 infections on Wednesday, pushing the caseload to 9,54,948, while the toll mounted to 12,970 with 25 more deaths, the health department said.
According to a department bulletin, recoveries mounted to 8,87,663 today with 3,464 patients being discharged, leaving 54,315 active cases.
Chennai accounted for 2,564 new infections, taking the tally to 2,72,118. The metropolis also leads in the number of deaths with 4,344 fatalities.
A total of 97,668 samples were tested on Wednesday, pushing the cumulative number of specimens examined to 2,07,84,108.
As many as 18 districts have clocked new infections in triple digits indicating a sharp increase of the virus spread.
Coronavirus LATEST Update
Madhya Pradesh records highest daily spike of 9,720 new COVID-19 cases
Madhya Pradesh recorded 9,720 fresh coronavirus cases on Wednesday, the biggest single-day spike so far, pushing the infection count to 3,63,352, said health department officials.
The fatality tally rose to 4,312 with 51 more deaths, also the highest one-day count so far, reported during the past 24 hours, they said. In this month so far, the state has recorded 67,841 new cases and 326 fatalities.
A total of 3,657 patients were discharged from hospitals during the day, taking the count of recoveries in Madhya Pradesh to 3,09,489, the health department said.
With 1,611 new cases, Indore’s caseload went up to 82,597, while that of Bhopal rose to 61,904 with the addition of 1,497 infections.
Coronavirus LATEST Update
320 doses of Covaxin stolen from Jaipur hospital, FIR lodged
Amid a surge in the coronavirus infection, over 300 doses of anti-Covid vaccine have allegedly been stolen from a hospital in Jaipur, prompting authorities to lodge a criminal case against the theft.
A total of 320 doses of Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin went missing from the Kanwatiya government hospital in Shastri Nagar, an official said on Wednesday.
The hospital authorities informed the Jaipur chief medical and health officer about the theft on Tuesday night following which an FIR was lodged on Wednesday.
I was informed last night that the doses have been stolen. It is surprising. A police case has been registered in this regard, Dr Narottam Sharma, Jaipur CMHO, told PTI.
Coronavirus LATEST Update
Rajasthan records biggest single-day jump of 6,200 COVID-19 cases
Rajasthan on Wednesday recorded the sharpest single-day spike of 6,200 fresh COVID-19 cases and 29 fatalities that took the state’s infection tally to 3,81,292 and the death toll to 3,008, according to an official report.
Jaipur reported the highest number of fresh cases at 1,325. Udaipur reported 918 new cases, Jodhpur 820 and Kota 646, the report stated.
The number of active cases in Rajasthan stands at 44,905. So far, 33,379 patients have recovered, the report said.
BJP candidate for Sahara assembly seat bypolls Ratanlal Jat also tested positive for COVID-19.
-PTI
Coronavirus LATEST Update
Mumbai reports 9,925 new COVID-19 cases, 54 death
Mumbai on Wednesday recorded 9,925 new COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 5,44,942, while 54 more patients succumbed to the infection, the city civic body said. The daily case tally shot up in the financial capital after remaining below 8,000 for the last two days.
On Monday, the city had witnessed 6,905 COVID-19 cases followed by 7,898 on Tuesday. According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) updated data, 9,925 new cases pushed the COVID-19 tally to 5,44,942, while 54 fresh deaths took the toll to 12,140.
On Tuesday, Mumbai had recorded 26 fatalities. As per the update, 9,273 more patients were discharged from hospitals during the day, taking the number of recovered persons to 4,44,214.
Coronavirus LATEST Update
Meghalaya Class 12 board exams to be held as per schedule, says Dy CM
Meghalaya state board class 12 examinations will be held as per schedule with utmost precaution to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said on Wednesday. He said the state government has directed the authorities concerned to ensure strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols. The state government has urged parents not to panic and to allow students to appear for the examinations scheduled to begin on 16 April, he said.
PTI
Coronavirus LATEST Update
Pinarayi Vijayan discharged from hospital
Coronavirus LATEST Update
Govt approves stepping up Remdesivir production
The government on Wednesday said it has given approval for stepping up the manufacturing capacity of remdesivir that would enhance the production to around 78 lakh vials per month. The current total installed capacity of the seven manufacturers of remdesivir is 38.80 lakh vials per month, the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers said in a statement. “Fast-track approval has been given for seven additional sites having (combined) production capacity of 10 lakh vials/month to six manufacturers. Another 30 lakh vials/month production is lined up. This would ramp up the production capacity for manufacturing to around 78 lakh vials/month,” it added. Manufacturers of remdesivir have volunteered to reduce the price to less than Rs 3,500 by the end of this week, to support the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to fight against COVID, it added. It also said the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) is continuously monitoring the availability of the drug.
Coronavirus LATEST Update
Uttar Pradesh records 68 deaths, 20,510 new infections
Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday reported 68 coronavirus deaths as it witnessed 20,510 fresh cases, its highest single-day numbers that pushed the state’s infection count to 7,44,021, according to a health bulletin. So far, 9,376 people have died from the infection in the state, Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Amit Mohan Prasad told reporters here. “In the past 24 hours, 20,510 fresh cases were reported while 4,517 people were discharged,” he said, adding that the state currently has 1,11,835 active cases.
PTI
Coronavirus LATEST Update
Maharashtra to study CBSE’s decision to cancel Class 10 exam, says Varsha Gaikwad
The Maharashtra government would study and discuss the CBSE’s move of cancelling its Class 10 exam before taking any such decision for the state education
board exams, minister Varsha Gaikwad said on Wednesday. The state School Education Minister made the statement in a televised message. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Wednesday cancelled Class 10 exams and postponed Class 12 exams in view of the surge in COVID-19 cases.
Talking about the decision, Gaikwad said, “We have already requested and informed other educational boards in the state about our decision of postponement of Classes 10 and and 12 exams of the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education. We will study and discuss theCentre’s (CBSE’s) decision with the experts in the field.”
PTI
Coronavirus LATEST Update
Andhra Pradesh records 18 COVID-19 deaths, highest since 27 October
Andhra Pradesh reported 18 COVID-19 fatalities on Wednesday, the highest in a day after 27 October even as 4,157 fresh cases of the infection were registered in the state. A health department bulletin said 1,606 coronavirus patients had recovered in the state in 24 hours ending 9 am on Wednesday, while the number of active cases increased to a near six-month high of 28,383. After 1.55 crore tests, at an overall infection positivity rate of 6.03 percent, the cumulative COVID-19 positives shot up to 9,37,049. The total recoveries crossed the nine lakh mark to touch 9,01,327 while the gross toll rose to 7,339.
PTI
Coronavirus LATEST Update
Supreme Court issues additional measures
Within days of many of its staffers testing positive for COVID-19, the Supreme Court has come out with additional precautionary measures for the entrants to its premises to contain the rapid spread of infection. The top court’s administration has issued additional guidelines in light of the growing concern amid sudden upsurge of COVID-19 cases. Under the new set of guidelines, all the entrants to the Supreme Court premises, including the Registry staff, staff of the coordinate agencies, advocates and their staff, if showing any symptoms similar to those notified for COVID-19 infection shall be subjected to Rapid/RT-PCR test. The guidelines issued by the general administration section said, all controlling officers shall ensure that the staff in their control wears masks, maintains physical distancing and frequently sanitizes/ washes hands and follows the prescribed COVID appropriate behaviour. Persons with notified symptoms like fever, cough, body-ache, loss of taste and smell, diarrhea etc. shall restrict themselves from coming to office/premises, isolate themselves immediately and seek medical advice, the guidelines said.
PTI