Coronavirus Latest News Updates: Stop RTPCR tests for healthy travellers to reduce stress on labs, says ICMR

Do away with RT-PCR test for inter-state travel for healthy individuals: ICMR

The need for RT-PCR test in healthy individuals undertaking inter-state domestic travel may be completely removed to reduce the load on laboratories, recommended an ICMR advisory for COVID-19 testing during the second wave of the pandemic. The advisory stated that RT-PCR test must not be repeated in any individual who has tested positive once either by RAT or RT-PCR and that testing is not required for COVID-19 recovered individuals at the time of hospital discharge in accordance with the discharge policy of the Ministry of Health.

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Deepika Padukone tests positive for COVID-19

Actor Deepika Padukone has tested positive for Covid-19, tweeted the official handle of the International Indian Film Academy Awards on Tuesday. Earlier on Tuesday, there were reports that the actor’s father, veteran badminton player Prakash Padukone, her mother Ujjala Padukone and her sister Anisha Padukone had tested positive for the infection.

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Karnataka reports 44,631 fresh infections, 292 deaths

Karnataka on Tuesday reported 44,631 new COVID-19 cases and 292 deaths, taking the caseload and fatalities to 16,90,934 and 16,538 respectively, the health department said. According to the health bulletin, the state has 4,64,363 active cases whereas 12,10,013 people have been discharged so far including 24,714 people on Tuesday. 

Bengaluru urban district, which is the main contributor of daily spike in cases, now has 3,01,712 active cases. The city reported 20,870 infections and 132 deaths on Tuesday. Cumulatively, Bengaluru has 8,40,274 cases and 6,845 deaths.

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6,000 vials of Remdesivir arrive in Indore

At least 6,000 vials of Remdesivir injections arrived here on Tuesday, of which a major portion was sent to divisional headquarters of Madhya Pradesh for further distribution amid the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, a senior official said. Of the batch of 6,000 vials, 1,056 were reserved for Indore and 1,104 have been dispatched to Bhopal, the official said. At least 960 vials will be sent to Jabalpur, 576 to Sagar and 768 each to Gwalior, Ujjain and Rewa divisions of the state, he said.

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Maharashtra sets up special cell for children orphaned by COVID-19

The Maharashtra government announced a special cell to protect children orphaned due to the COVID-19 pandemic or any other reason, an official said on Tuesday.   A statement from the state Women and Child Development department said there were reports of anti-social elements trying to take advantage of children whose parents had died from the coronavirus infection.It said there were reports of such children being illegally adopted for trafficking purposes and asked people to call on special helpline 1098 or the State Adoption Resource Agency to alert authorities in case they came across such incidents. 

PTI

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RTPCR test not to be repeated on individuals who tested positive once, says ICMR in fresh advisory

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has issued an advisory for COVID-19 testing during the second wave of the pandemic, saying that laboratories are facing challenges in meeting the expected testing target due to the extraordinary caseload and staff contracting the infection. According to the advisory,  RTPCR test must not be repeated in any individual who has tested positive once either by RAT or RTPCR. According to the Union health ministry’s discharge policy, no testing is required for COID recovered individuals at the time of discharge, the document states. “The need of RTPCR test in healthy individuals undertaking inter-state domestic travel may be completely removed to reduce load on laboratories,” the guidelines state.  

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) issues advisory for COVID19 testing during the second wave of the pandemic; RTPCR test must not be repeated in any individual who has tested positive once either by RAT or RTPCR. pic.twitter.com/Tjkez7lmaL

— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2021

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Strict lockdown needed in areas with positivity rate over 10% says AIIMS director

A strict lockdown should be imposed in areas where the COVID-19 case positivity rate is over 10 percent or the bed occupancy is above 60 percent, AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria said on Tuesday, while stressing that clamping such restrictions all over the country cannot be a solution, keeping in mind people’s livelihood.  He rejected the strategy of imposing night curfews and weekend lockdowns by some states to reduce the number of coronavirus cases, saying “these would not have much of an impact on the transmission cycle”.

“There is a need to impose strict regional lockdowns in areas where the COVID-19 case positivity rate is over 10 percent or the bed occupancy is above 60 per cent to break the chain of transmission. The COVID-19task force has also been advising for the same. “It is there in the guidelines of the home ministry, but it is not being strictly implemented,” Guleria told PTI. He said there should be a gradual, graded unlocking in such areas once the positivity rate reduces

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Fifteen Maharashtra districts showing decline in cases, says Rajesh Tope

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Tuesday said 15 districts, including Mumbai and Thane, are showing a decline in daily COVID-19 cases, but other districts are still exhibiting an upward trend in the state.   He said the government is targeting to reduce the number of coronavirus infections in the districts with high caseload.   “COVID-19 cases are still on the rise in around 20 districts, including Sangli, Satara, Buldhana and  Kolhapur, and our target is to reduce them,” Tope told reporters.   The district administrations in areas where cases are rising have been asked to increase  bed capacity in hospitals, the minister said.

 He said COVID-19 cases are declining daily in 15 districts – Mumbai, Dhule, Nanded,  Bhandara, Thane, Nashik, Latur, Nandurbar, Nagpur, Aurangabad, Amravati, Raigad, Osmabanad, Chandrapur and Gondia. 

PTI

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MBBS students on COVID duty in Himachal to receive Rs 3,000 per month

 Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Tuesday announced that doctors and para-medical staff working at COVID hospitals would receive financial incentive till June this year, reports news agency PTI. The fourth and fifth year MBBS students, contractual doctors and junior/senior residents would be provided an incentive of Rs 3,000 per month while nursing students, General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) third year students and contractual lab staff would be provided an incentive of Rs 1,500 per month, he said.

This comes a day after a PMO statement said the services of final year MBBS students can also be utilised for providing services like teleconsultation and monitoring of mild COVID cases after due orientation under the faculty’s supervision. The statement had also said that B.Sc. or GNM qualified nurses may be utilised in full-time COVID nursing duties under the supervision of senior doctors and nurses.

100 rupees per day to MBBS final year students on #COVID19 duty. pic.twitter.com/bCtZVN8WcR

— Runjhun Sharma (@Runjhunsharmas) May 4, 2021

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Karnataka to consider journalists as frontline workers

Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa on Tuesday said the state government has decided to consider journalists as frontline workers and give them priority for COVID-19 vaccination.

Our government has decided to consider journalists as frontline workers and accord priority in vaccination against Covid-19.

— B.S.Yediyurappa (@BSYBJP) May 4, 2021

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People dying due to lack of oxygen: Jharkhand HC

The Jharkhand High Court on Tuesday criticised the state government for failing to make hospital beds operational despite a 2017 court order. A bench of chief justice Ravi Ranjan and justice Sujit Narayan Prasad told the authorities that people are dying due to the lack of oxygen across the country and yet the state authorities failed to make all 500 beds at Sadar Hospital functional despite a court order issued to that effect on 11.05.2017,  Live Law  reported.

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Kerala logs 37,190 fresh COVID-19 cases, 57 deaths

Kerala on Tuesday logged 37,190 fresh COVID-19 cases, while 26,148 people were cured of the infection, taking the caseload to 17,01,979 and recoveries to 13.39 lakh, the state government said. The toll mountedto 5,507 with 57 more deaths. 

With cases rising steeply, the government’s earlier announcement of severe lockdown like restrictions from today till 9 May have come into force.

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Mumbai hospital carries out deliveries of 1,001 coronavirus-infected mothers

Even as COVID-19 deaths continue to dominate the headlines, a civic-run hospital in south Mumbai has successfully delivered babies of 1,001 COVID-19 patients amid the pandemic, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said on Tuesday. As per a release issued by the civic body, BYL Nair Hospital achieved this milestone due to the efforts of three departments namely obstetrics, neonatal and paediatrics and anaesthesiology.

In the last one year, several newborns had tested positive, but they had no symptoms. However, they were discharged from the hospital only after they tested negative, the release said. According to the release, scientific documentation about the safe delivery of such a high number of infected mothers at the hospital is in progress

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Eight Asiatic lions test positive for coronavirus

In what can be confirmed as the first incident of animals contracting Coronavirus in India, eight Asiatic Lions at the Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad have tested positive for the novel Coronavirus.

RT-PCR tests of the infected animals were conducted by the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology in Hyderabad examined the nasal and throat samples(oropharyngeal swab) of the big cats. Zoo officials raised an alarm last week when they saw the pack of Lions wheezing with dry cough, nasal discharge and loss of appetite, News18 reported.

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Maharashtra in talks to procure Sputnik V vaccine

Maharashtra state health minister Rajesh Tope said that several vaccine centres had to shut down after vaccine stocks got over in the state. He said that an additional batch of 9 lakh vaccines was recieved today, which shall last the state for two to three days. He also added that the state is trying to procure Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine to further boost up the inoculation drive in state. 

Few centres were closed y'day due to doses' shortage. Got 9 lakh vials today, to last for 2-3 days. 1 lakh inoculated so far in 18-44 age group. Order placed for 18.5 lakh vaccines (Covishield & Covaxin). In talks with Dr Reddy's to procure Sputnik V: Maharashtra Health Minister pic.twitter.com/6NebRStSAk

— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2021

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Health Ministry denies media reports alleging delay in distribution of COVID relief material

#Unite2FightCorona

Union Government Did Not Waste Time in Effective Allocation and Distribution of #COVID Pandemic Relief material.

Coordination Cell in Health Ministry started working from 26th April 2021.https://t.co/nVB6rlrC97 pic.twitter.com/qSHi67DqSf

— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) May 4, 2021

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Oxygen Express: Delhi to receive 244 tonnes of oxygen on Wednesday, says Railways

 Delhi will receive 244 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen (LMO) on Wednesday and with this, the total amount delivered to the city in 24 hours will be nearly 450 tonnes, the railways said.  On Tuesday morning, ‘Oxygen Express’ trains from Hapa in Gujarat and Durgapur in West Bengal delivered 85 tonnes and 120 tonnes of LMO to the National Capital.  The railways said two more trains, one from Mundra in Gujarat and another from Hapa, carrying 140 tonnes and 103.6 tonnes of LMO, respectively, will reach Delhi in the early hours of Wednesday.

“With this, ‘Oxygen Express’ trains would deliver nearly 450 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen to Delhi alone in 24 hours, counting from deliveries that took place in the early hours of today,” it said.The total daily quota of oxygen for the city is 590 tonnes.

PTI

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Foreign aid allocated to states, UTs for COVID management, says health ministry

The Union Health Ministry on Tuesday said that aid received from other countries has been distributed in different states to help deal with the rising number of COVID-19 cases. Based on the criteria and principles laid out by the ministry, depending on each state’s requirement, 24 different categories of items numbering nearly 40 lakhs were distributed to 86 institutions in different states, the ministry said in a statement. Major categories of equipment include BiPAP machines; oxygen (concentrators, cylinders, PSA Oxygen plants and pulse oximeters); drugs (Favipiravir and Remdesivir); and PPE (coveralls, N-95 masks and gowns).

Since grant in aid is limited in quantity, it has to be optimally utilized by allocating it to high burden states [states with higher number of active cases], where the requirement for such equipment/medicines is more, according to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for allocations.

PTI

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Maharashtra chief secretrary writes to Centre, demands increase in oxygen allocation

The Maharashtra government has demanded the Centre enhance the present allocation of liquid medical oxygen (LMO)  to the state by at least 200 metric tonnes (MT) which will help in better management of the demand for the life-saving gas.   In a letter addressed to Union Cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba on 3 May, Maharashtra chief secretary Sitaram Kunte also demanded that 10 LMO tankers be allocated to the state to enable lifting of the allocated oxygen quota.  The state government has requested that the supply from Jamnagar in Gujarat be increased to 225 MT per day from the current 125 MT per day and from Bhilai to 230 MT per day from the current 130 MT.

 The chief secretary said of the 6,63,758 (COVID-19) active cases in Maharashtra, 78,884 patients are on medical oxygen including 24,787 in the ICUs of hospitals.

Maharashtra Chief Secretary Shri Sitaram Kunte writes a letter to Cabinet Secretary, GoI to increase oxygen supply by 200 Metric Tons.#BreakTheChain pic.twitter.com/boHbOPEAFu

— MAHA INFO CENTRE (@micnewdelhi) May 4, 2021

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Delhi HC pulls Centre for not complying up with order on oxygen supply to Delhi

The Delhi High Court rejects the Centre’s submission that Delhi is not entitled to receive 700 MT per day in light of existing infrastructure, reports Bar&Bench. The upreme Court’s 30 April order shows it directed Centre to provide 700 MT of oxygen and not just 490 MT, PTI quotes the court as saying. “It pains us that the aspect of supply of oxygen should be viewed in the way is done by the Centre.” the court says.  “We see the grim reality everyday.. the situation has come to this that hospitals have had to reduce the number of beds On one hand, there is need to augment capacities to meet the rising numbers, while on the other, the existing infrastructure is crumbling and available bed can’t be put to use_.._,” Bar&Bench reports the court as saying.   The court directs Centre to show cause asking why contempt action should not be taken against it for not complying with its order on 1 May as well as Supreme Court order on supply of required liquid medical oxygen to Delhi government. The Court has also directed the the presence of Central government officers, Piyush Goyal and Sumita Dawra, on the next date of hearing.

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Discharge your contitutional duty, Delhi HC tells Centre

The Delhi High Court comes down hard on the Centre , telling it  to discharge its “constitutional duty” with regards to the supply of required quantity of oxygen to the National capital for its fight against COVID-19, reports _LiveLaw. “_Just like SC passed an order, we too passed an order. Contempt may be the last thing but it’s very much there. Enough is enough, we mean business. Please come to Para 29, it says 700 MT – very specific direction,” the court said,

“There is no way that you won’t supply 700 right away. We won’t hear anything except compliance,” Bar&Bench quotes the court as saying.

Court: Just like SC passed an order, we too passed an order. Contempt may be the last thing but it's very much there. Enough is enough, we mean business. Please come to Para 29, it says 700 MT - very specific direction.

— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) May 4, 2021

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Karnataka postpones PUC-II exam

The Karnataka government on Tuesday announced postponing the Second Pre University Exam and general promotion for First Pre-University students without conducting exams. “Keeping in view the rapidly increasing COVID cases in the state and the absence of many students, who have gone to their home town or village due to COVID and lockdown and the personnel of various departments engaged in COVID duty, we have decided to postpone the PUC exam,” Minister for Primary and Secondary Education S Suresh Kumar said. He also said that the department will let students know the next date of exam much in advance.

PTI

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Delhi govt received 41 oxygen related SOS calls on 3 May,shows data released by AAP

According to a bulletin shared AAP MLA Raghav Chadha,  41 hospitals, with 7,142 people on oxygen support, sent SOS calls to the Delhi government on 3 May. According to the bulletin, the National Capital was supplie  just 44 percent of its oxygen demand on 3 May while the supply against demand figure for the last seven days was 40 percent. 

Delhi's Oxygen bulletin for 3rd of May 2021 pic.twitter.com/BkSoMxpZKy

— Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) May 4, 2021

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Kerala HC seeks state’s response on steps taken to rationalise COVID treatment cost

The Kerala High Court directed the state government to inform it of the measures taken to rationalise charges of room rents, doctors and nurses charges, PPE kits and machinery like oxygen concentrators and ventilators, reports LiveLaw. Next hearing on 6 May.

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Karnataka getting less than 50% of required Remdesivir vials, says HC

The Karnataka High Court directs the state government to place on record guidelines/SOP for allocation of oxygen to various cities/districts/hospitals and seeks details of whether any mechanism is available under which a hospital which has run out oxygen can immediately ask for the release of the same, reports LiveLaw. With regards to anti-viral drug Remdesivir, the court observed that the state is getting 15,800 vials per day, which is half of the state’s requirement of 35,000 vials on 30 April. “This indicates that state is not getting Remdesivir to the extent of 50 percent of its requirement,” the court notes. The court says it proposes to issue directions to the Centre tomorrow. The next hearing will be at 10.30 am on Wednesday (5 May)

HC: However, considering the aforesaid quota what the state is getting is 15,800 vials per day, which is about 1 half of the requirement. This indicates that state is not getting Remdesivir to the extent of 50 percent of its requirement.

— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) May 4, 2021

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JEE Main May 2021 session postponed

Union Education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank announced that the JEE Main 2021 session has been postponed, in view of the COVID-19 situation and keeping students safety in mind. “Students are advised to keep visiting the official website of NTA for further updates,” he said.

Looking at the present situation of COVID-19 and keeping students safety in mind, JEE (Main) - May 2021 session has been postponed .
Students are advised to keep visiting the official website of NTA for further updates.
@DG_NTA pic.twitter.com/utMUGrmJNi

— Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) May 4, 2021

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Kerala HC directs suo motu action on crowding at COVID vaccination centres

Oberving that the the vaccination drive will become a superspread if uncontrolled crowding is allowed at vaccination centres, the Kerala High Court on Tuesday directed suo motu action on the matter, impleading the Union health ministry, the state health secretary, National Health Mission’s state mission director, the Kerala Medical Services Corp and the state police chief, reports LiveLaw. 

“The crowding at vaccine centers seems to be because there is an impression that there are not enough vaccinations. And there seems to be reason for this impression,” the court says. “Fears of public on availability of vaccines, both of first and second dose needs to be assuaged,” the court highlights.

Fears of public on availability of vaccines, both of 1st & 2nd dose needs to be assuaged, Court underscores

Directs suo motu action on matter, impleading @MoHFW_INDIA, State Health Secy, NHM state mission director, the Kerala Medical Services Corp, State Police Chief#Covid

— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) May 4, 2021

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 Seven oxygen tankers arrive at Mundra port from UAE

 Seven tankers carrying 20 metric tonnes of medical oxygen arrived at Gujarat’s Mundra port from the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, the Ministry of External Affairs said.The shipment will help augment the oxygen availability in the country, the MEA said on Twitter.  “Further consolidating our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. 7 ISO tankers with 20 MT Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) each arrive at Mundra Port (India). First such shipment of LMO to India. Deeply value the support from UAE. Will help augment oxygen availability,” the MEA tweeted.
     

  An ISO tanker is built as per the criteria of the International Organisation for Standardisation. The ISO tanks are designed to carry liquids in bulk. They are made of stainless steel and are surrounded by various types of protective layers.   Medical oxygen is in high demand in the country in the wake of a surge in COVID-19 cases.
PTI

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Karnataka HC orders probe into death of 24 COVID-19 patients in Chamarajnagar due to lack of oxygen

The Karnataka High Court Tuesday suggested that a judicial probe be conducted by a retired high court judge into the incident that left 24 COVID-19 patients dead during treatment allegedly due to oxygen shortage in Chamarajanagar district.

A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Aravind Kumar said “The incident that happened at Chamarajanagar is very serious. Around 24 people died. Advocate General, we suggest that there should be a judicial inquiry into the incident by a Retd Judge of the high court.”

Advocate General Prabhuling K Navadgi informed the court that the state government has appointed a senior IAS officer to hold a fact finding inquiry and give a report and it will be received by Wednesday evening. That we will place it on the record. Ultimately truth has to come out and the state will not hesitate in taking action against anyone.

CJ: The incident that happened at Chamarajnagar is very serious. Around 24 people died. Mr AG we suggest that there should a judicial inquiry into the incident by a Retd Judge of the HC. #KarnatakaFightsCorona

— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) May 4, 2021

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Pediatric COVID centres, 6,500 oxygen beds, 1,500 ICU beds to be set up in Mumbai

As Maharashtra continues to battle the second wave of the COVID-19 , state minister Aaditya Thackeray has suggested establishing a pediatric COVID care ward and a creche network in Mumbai before the third wave hits.

Aaditya said he met Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Additional Municipal Commissioner (AMC) Sanjeev Jaiswal and discussed the measures taken to prepare for the third wave.

“Along with the paediatric covid care centre, another aspect we are now focussed on is to create a network of crèches for those parents who may have to be in COVID care centres and may not have support to look after their children, who aren’t infected by COVID,” Aaditya said in series of tweets.

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Today the whole country is crying for oxygen: Delhi HC

What you are planning and getting is all in future. Is it one week or two weeks, we don’t know that. Today the whole country is crying for oxygen, observed the Delhi High Court while hearing the COVID-19 related cases in the National Capital.

The court suggested the Centre to involve experts and brilliant minds from IIMs on management of oxygen tankers and supply.

The court said, “If you were to involve the major suppliers.”

ASG Chetan Sharma, said, “I’m sure they are involved.”

“Involve experts, brilliant minds from IIMs,” the court directed.

What you are planning and getting is all in future...is it one week or two weeks, we don't know that. Today the whole country is crying for oxygen: Court

— Bar and Bench (@barandbench) May 4, 2021

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Delhi hospital flags oxygen shortage in high court 

Advocate Sanju Mishra speaking for Muni Mayaram Jain Hospital in Delhi’s Pitampura on Tuesday flagged oxygen shortage and said that of the total 30 hospital beds, 25 of them have been occupied by COViD-19 patients. 

“We are running a small hospital, Muni Maya Ram Jain Hospital. We don’t have permission to admit COVID-19 patients, but we can’t let them die. We are treating. We are not getting oxygen filled up. Because we are small, we shouldn’t be neglected.”

Families are in the line to get oxygen. Every day we are losing lives. Just give me oxygen, I will save lives, said Mishra.

Mishra: Today, I know the state, centre, systems have failed. I'm not blaming anyone, just give me oxygen.

— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) May 4, 2021

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Can’t ascertain if oxygen shortage led to death of 21 patients at JG Hospital: Delhi govt to HC

The AAP government has informed the Delhi High Court that oxygen shortage as the cause of death of 21 COVID-19 patients at Jaipur Golden Hospital here could not be ascertained by an expert committee which probed the matter.

The Delhi government in its report to the court referred to the findings of the expert committee which said, “In view of natural virulent course of the disease and lack of any evidence suggestive of oxygen shortage in the case records, the committee was of the opinion that shortage of oxygen as the cause of death could not be ascertained.”

“Many of the reported patients had one or multiple co-morbidity like heart disease, diabetes, DM, hypothyroidism and hypertension. All these patients were receiving some form of oxygen therapy and / or ventilator support during the hospital stay, the committee said in its report.

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Assam govt postpones Class 12 exams in view of COVID-19 

Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday announced that the Higher Secondary Final exam in the state, which was scheduled to be held from 11 May, has been postponed in view of the COVUD-19 situation.

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IPL suspended for this season, says BCCI 

Indian Premier League 2021 has been suspended for the time being after Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Wriddhiman Saha and Amit Mishra tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

IPL suspended for this season: Vice-President BCCI Rajeev Shukla to ANI#COVID19 pic.twitter.com/K6VBK0W0WA

— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2021

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Delhi HC begins hearing on COVID-19 crisis in National Capital 

Delhi High Court Tuesday began hearing cases concerning COVID-19 situation and the subsequent oxygen shortage in the National Capital. 

Court notes that now there are 250 new suppliers which have to be tapped.

— Bar and Bench (@barandbench) May 4, 2021

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PIL in Bombay HC seeking cancellation of IPL 2021

A petition has been filed in Bombay High Court seeking direction to Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to cancel or postpone IPL 2021 owing to COVID-19 situation. The petitioner said the resources deployed for IPL players can be used for COVID-19 patients.

BREAKING: Bombay High Court agrees to hear plea filed for cancelling or postponing #IPL2021 keeping in mind deaths & cases of coronavirus in Indian in 2nd wave.The plea has sought damages of 1000 crores from BCCI & profit from IPL for medical treatment & oxygen for #COVID19 https://t.co/lioLyIjGcF

— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) May 4, 2021

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Plea in Delhi HC to increase crematoriums

A petition has been filed in Delhi High Court seeking an increase in the number of crematoriums in the National Capital amid rising COVID-19 deaths. “Adding more furnaces in the same crematorium will result in violation of social distancing norms,” read the plea.

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Delhi govt to provide free ration to 72 lakh people for two months: Kejriwal 

We have decided that all ration card holders in Delhi, around 72 lakh in number, will be given free ration for the next two months. It doesn’t mean that the lockdown will continue for two months. It is just being done to help the poor going through financial issues, said Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.