Coronavirus News Updates: Karnataka announces 15-day lockdown from 10 May; 'corona curfew unsuccessful', says CM

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Record 600 new cases push Manipur’s COVID tally to 34,333

The COVID-19 caseload in Manipur rose to 34,333 on Friday as the state reported its highest-ever single-day spike of 600 new cases, an official said. Imphal West district registered 211 fresh cases, followed by Imphal East (171), Churachandpur and Ukhrul (46 each), Bishnupur (33), Thoubal (20), Tamenglong (19), Kakching (18) and Senapati (17).

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COVID-19: IAF ferries three cryogenic containers from Israel

The Indian Air Force ferried three cryogenic containers in its C17 transport aircraft from Israel in an operation coordinated by the Union home ministry to ease bottlenecks in oxygen supply across the country to meet the increasing demand triggered by the second wave of COVID-19, officials said Friday.

Cryogenic cylinders, used for liquid oxygen transport, are being procured from across the world and being brought to various parts of the country by the IAF in coordination with the home ministry, they said.

“Loaded up in Tel Aviv !! C17 of IAF with 3 Cryogenic -containers and additional respirators will be flying back to Hindan Airbase.  MHA and IAF are working in co-ordination to upscale oxygen supplies and medical eqpt amidst the 2nd wave of Covid-19,” the MHA tweeted.

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‘Nobody will go hungry during the lockdown’: Pinarayi Vijayan

Nobody will go hungry during the lockdown. Next week onwards free food kits will be distributed for all families and guest workers. Food will be delivered to the needy from People's Restaurants and Community Kitchens through Local Self Government Institutions.

— Pinarayi Vijayan (@pinarayivijayan) May 7, 2021

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Karnataka announces complete lockdown from 10-24 May

Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa on Friday announced a complete lockdown and said that the “corona curfew” had been unsuccessful in curbing the COVID-19 surge in the state.

“As Covid-19 cases are surging in the state, corona curfew was not successful. So, a complete lockdown will be imposed from 6 am on 10 May to 6 am on 24 May. All hotels, pubs and bars will remain closed. Eateries, meat shops & vegetable shops can operate from 6-10 am.”

The Times of India reported that all cinema halls, shopping malls, gymnasiums, sports complexes, stadiums, playgrounds, swimming pools, parks, entertainment parks, clubs, theatres, bars and auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places shall remain closed in the state. Schools, colleges, educational/coaching institutions etc. will also remain closed in Karnataka.

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Telangana govt extends night curfew till 15 May

The Telangana government on Friday extended the night curfew across the state for seven more days till 15 May. The curfew will be enforced from 9 pm to 5 am.

The government also said that a maximum 100 people will be allowed at weddings, and 20 people will allowed at funerals.

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Maharashtra to have separate COVID-19 task force for children

With the possibility of a third wave of COVID-19 pandemic looming, the Maharashtra government is setting up a paediatric task force to create infrastructure for the treatment of children, health minister Rajesh Tope said on Friday. More than 1.30 lakh minors in the state have been infected by coronavirus during the second wave which began around 15 February, as per official data.

“A paediatric task force is being set up to tackle the third wave of COVID-19 where children could also get infected. We will need new designs for isolation or treatment centres because generally mother has to stay with the child,” Tope told reporters.

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4,199 new COVID-19 cases in Goa today

Goa reported 4,199 new coronavirus cases on Friday, the highest one-day rise in the state so far, which took its caseload to 1,12,462, a health department official said.

The rise, which surpassed Thursday’s record hike of 3,869 cases, came as the state government decided to impose a curfew from 9 to 24 May to contain the pandemic.

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Delhi received 577 MT of oxygen against requirement of 976 MT on 6 May, says AAP govt

Delhi received just 577 metric tonnes of oxygen on 6 May, which is 59 percent of the total requirement of 976 MT, AAP MLA Raghav Chadha said on Friday. Chadha, who is also the vice chairman of Delhi Jal Board, said authorities received nine SOS calls from hospitals over oxygen shortage on Thursday and 5.1 MT of the life-saving gas was provided to these healthcare facilities. 

The National Capital had received 730 MT of oxygen on Wednesday, the highest so far, which had led to a significant reduction in SOS calls from hospitals. 

The increased supply on Wednesday had come following the intervention of the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court. However, it has come down by 153 MT in a day, he said. Over the last seven days, Delhi has received 498 MT of oxygen per day on an average against the demand of 976 MT.

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Can prevent third COVID-19 wave with ‘strong measures’, says Principal Scientific Advisor to Centre

K Vijay Raghavan on Friday was quoted by ANI as saying, “If we take strong measures, the third wave may not happen in all the places or indeed anywhere at all. It depends much on how effectively the guidance is implemented at the local level, in the states, in districts and in the cities everywhere.”

His comments on Friday come a day after he said that the third wave is “inevitable”. As the virus mutates further, a third wave of COVID infection is inevitable and it is necessary to be prepared for new waves, he had said.

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Mehbooba Mufti asks Centre to release all political detainees amid COVID-19 wave

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Friday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to release all political detainees languishing in jails in and outside Jammu and Kashmir immediately in the wake of the worsening COVID-19 situation.

Throughout the world, most countries have released prisoners on parole in view of the alarming COVID crisis. A democratic and civilised country like India shouldn’t drag its feet and must release these detainees immediately so that they can return home at a time when life feels so threatened," Mehbooba said in a letter to the prime minister. The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said she did not wish to politicise the “human tragedy”

“It’s an unprecedented humanitarian crisis that doesn’t discriminate on the basis of caste, colour, religion or social status and has affected everyone. Perhaps the only silver lining in this tragic time is how Indians cutting across religious and regional lines are coming together to lend each other a helping hand,” she said.

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Positivity rate above 15% in 24 states at present, says Health Ministry

Twelve states have over one lakh active COVID-19 cases each at present, while the count is between 50,000 and one lakh in seven, the Health Ministry said on Friday as the country battles a second wave of the viral disease. The positivity rate is currently above 15 percent in 24 states in the country and in the range of 5-15 percent in nine, the ministry said.

It said Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Chhattisgarh are among states and Union Territories showing continued plateauing or decrease in daily new COVID-19 cases. However, Karnataka, Kerala, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Odisha are among those showing an upward trend in daily new cases of the infection, the ministry added.

The Health Ministry also asked the states to prioritise beneficiaries awaiting their second dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and ensure timely completion of the recommended vaccination schedule.

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Goa govt announces 15-day curfew from Sunday

Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant on Friday announced a 15-day statewide curfew which will start from 15 May, reports said.

Announcing the restrictions, Sawant said that an RT-PCR negative certificate or vaccination certification will be compulsory for all tourists and that weddings “should be cancelled and the state government will not grant any permissions,” The Times of India reported.

Grocery shops will be open from 7 am to 1 pm, reports added.

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Delhi Police seizes 96 oxygen concentrators from restaurant

The Delhi Police on Friday reportedly seized 96 oxygen concentrators from a restaurant, Khan Chacha, in the Khan Market area of the National Capital.

#WATCH Delhi Police seizes 96 oxygen concentrators from Khan Chacha restaurant in Khan Market

(Source: Delhi Police) pic.twitter.com/odWPtvQJrz

— ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2021

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Madhya Pradesh extends ban on inter-state bus movement till 15 May

In a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19, the Madhya Pradesh government on Friday extended the ban on the movement of passenger buses to and from Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan till 15 May.

As per the order issued by the state transport department, the ban on the movement of buses between Madhya Pradesh and the COVID-19-affected states has been extended till May 15, additional commissioner transport Arvind Saxena said. The ban also covers vehicles that have All India tourist permits, he said, adding that the orders were issued in view of the current COVID-19 situation.

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DRDO develops AI tool for COVID detection in chest X-rays

DRDO has developed an Artificial Intelligence algorithm that can detect the presence of COVID-19 disease in Chest X-rays. Named ATMAN AI, the tool was developed by DRDO’s Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR), with the support of 5C Network and HCG Academics.

The ATMAN AI is an artificial intelligence tool for chest X-ray screening as triaging tool in COVID-19 diagnosis which is a method for rapid identification and assessment of lung involvement, according to a statement issued by HCG Academics on Friday.

This would be utilised by 5C Network, the country’s largest digital network of radiologists, with support of HCG Academics, the statement said. Triaging COVID suspect patients using X-ray is fast, cost-effective and efficient.

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Eleven lakh people in 18-44 age group have been given first dose: Centre

The Union Health Ministry on Friday said that since 1 May, 11.81 lakh people in the 18-44 age group have been given the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“So far, a total 16.50 crore doses have been administered across all categories,” said Arti Ahuja, Additional Secretary (Health).

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Centre says Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal among states showing upward trend

The states of Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Haryana, Odisha and Uttarakhand are states showing an increasing trend in COVID-19 cases, said Arti Ahuja, Additional Secretary (Health) on Friday.

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COVID-19 situation plateauing in nine states, says Centre

The Union Health Ministry on Friday said that nine states — Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Jharkhand — are seeing a plateau in the COVID-19 cases.

“Other states with an increasing trend in daily new cases are Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Puducherry, Meghalaya, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland,” said Arti Ahuja, Additional Secretary (Health).

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Almost 4 lakh vaccine beneficiaries waiting for second dose: Maharashtra govt

“Almost four lakh people of 45 years and above are waiting for their second dose. There is no supply of Covaxin and if we don’t get the supply we have to transfer vaccines allotted to 18-44 yrs to 45 yrs and above age group,” said Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope.

“We’ve started import of 3 lakh Remedesivir after getting permission from Drugs Controller General of India. We’re not receiving the allotted amount of Remdesivir injections from the Centre. We have got 52,000 Remdesivir injections from US aid through Centre.”

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Maharashtra needs 1,700 MT of oxygen, says state govt

Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope on Friday said that the state needed 1,700 MT of oxygen and appealed to the Centre to provide it.

“We need 1700 MT of oxygen. We urge the Central govt to provide us the required oxygen. We received 9 lakh vaccines two days back & 8 lakh vaccines have been administered so far. We request centre to provide us vaccines in large number,” he said.

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Aligarh admin orders probe into ‘black marketing’ of oxygen cylinders

Taking note of a complaint about the alleged black marketing of oxygen cylinders here, the district authorities ordered a probe by the SDM. Chief Development Officer Ankit Khandelwal, who is also the acting District Magistrate, asked SDM Ranjit Singh to complete the probe in three days and submit his report. 

The matter had come to the fore on Thursday when Dr Astha  Agarwal, owner of an oxygen plant at Kasimpir, 15 kilometres from here, complained against three people at the Hardyagung police station. 

The three people, including an employee of the collectorate deputed at the oxygen plant to oversee the supply, were accused of indulging in the black marketing of the oxygen cylinder. For the past around three weeks, the city is facing a shortage of medical oxygen amid a spike in coronavirus cases. Meanwhile, local MP Satish Gautam told mediapersons that arrangements are in place for providing required medical oxygen to all hospitals and patients being treated at home.

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Delhi HC appoints Arvind Datar as amicus curiae in plea seeking GST exemption for oxygen concentrators

The Delhi High Court Friday appointed Senior Advocate Arvind P Datar as an amicus curiae to assist it in a petition seeking exemption of GST for oxygen concetrators imported for the use of individuals.

Earlier, the bench had observed that the Centre should consider granting IGST exemption for oxygen concentrators imported for individual use by way of gift, having regard to the COVID-19 crisis.

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Mamata urges PM to increase daily oxygen quota for Bengal to 550 MT

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over increasing the supply of oxygen to the state. The TMC supremo demanded 550 MT of oxygen per day for Bengal to match the increase in demand due to rising cases. 

“Consumption of medical oxygen is increasing rapidly due to increase in COVID-19 positive cases. It has gone up to 470 MT per day in the last 24 hours and expected to increase to 550 MT in the next seven to eight days,” she wrote.

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Kejriwal to hold high-level meet on COVID-19 today

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will hold a high-level meeting on COVID-19 situation in the National Capital on Friday. The attendees will include deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and state health minister Satyendar Jain.

With coronavirus infections surging, the lockdown imposed in the city has so far been extended twice. Delhi is currently under lockdown till 10 May.

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Delhi Police recover nine oxygen concentrators from Khan market 

The Delhi Police on Friday recovered nine oxygen concentrators from a restaurant in Khan Market area of New Delhi. Atul Thakur, DCP (South) speaking to The Hindu said that in a follow up raid they have recovered nine more concentrators from Town Hall restaurant in Khan Market.

This comes a day after four men, including the manager of a restaurant in Lodhi colony, were arrested for allegedly hoarding and blackmarketing oxygen concentrators.

On Thursday, police have recovered 419 oxygen concentrators after conducting raid at Nege Ju Restaurant and Bar in central market of Lodhi Colony, the report said.

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Sonia Gandhi says Covid battle transcends political differences

Congress president Sonia Gandhi accused the Narendra Modi government of having failed the people of the country in handling the pandemic and demanded that an all-party meeting be convened immediately on the COVID-19 situation.

The battle against the pandemic transcends political differences and everyone has to fight it together as a nation, she said at a virtual meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party. She also demanded that a meeting of the the standing committees must be convened to ensure collective action and accountability to combat the pandemic better.

She said the Congress firmly believes that fighting the pandemic is not a ‘‘Government versus Us’’ battle but a ‘‘Us versus Corona’’ battle.

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BJP MLA in UP Dal Bahadur Kori dies of post-COVID complications

BJP MLA in Uttar Pradesh Dal Bahadur Kori died due to post-COVID complications at a private hospital, family sources told PTI. According to them, the 64-year-old legislator from Salon seat in Raebareli died late on Thursday night.

Kori was admitted to Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI) in Lucknow after he was tested positive for coronavirus. He was discharged when his test report came negative. Later, he was admitted to a private hospital with post-COVID complications and he died there, family sources said.

Earlier,  BJP MLA from Nawabganj in Bareilly Kesar Singh Gangwar (64), died of COVID-19 at a hospital in Noida. Lucknow (West) legislator Suresh Kumar Srivastava and Auraiya MLA Ramesh Chandra Diwakar has also succumbed to the virus.

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Centre not taking responsibility for worsening COVID situation: Chidambaram

Asserting that the COVID-19 pandemic situation is going from bad to worse, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Health Minister Harsh Vardhan are refusing to own responsibility and are making a “mockery of democratic principles”.

Nobody between 18 and 44 is getting the vaccine.

The situation in other states is not very different.

The PM and the Health Minister refuse to own responsibility and are making a mockery of democratic principles.

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) May 7, 2021

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COVID positive report not required for hospitalisation in Gujarat

The Gujarat government announced that carrying a COVID- 19 positive report will not be necessary for admission of patients to hospitals in the state.

The state Health and Family Welfare Department issued a circular, in which it asked all the hospitals to “entertain and give treatment” to all those “suspected patients having symptoms” of coronavirus and stop insisting on a positive report.

The circular asked hospitals to admit all the suspected COVID-19 patients, whether coming in ambulances or in private vehicles.

Several citizens had earlier complained that patients arriving at hospitals in vehicles other than the state-run ambulances (of 108 ambulance service) were being turned away. The circular said that the Supreme Court, while hearing a suo motu PIL on the coronavirus situation, has recently directed the state government to have a “uniform policy for admission of COVID patients in hospitals”.

It also made it clear that hospitals must not deny admission to a patient just because he belongs to another city or state. The circular asked hospitals to make available medicines and oxygen “to all the needy patients”.

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Journalist Shesh Narayan Singh dies while undergoing COVID treatment

Veteran journalist Shesh Narayan Singh passed away while undergoing treatment for COVID-19 at a government hospital in Uttar Pradesh’s Greater Noida, officials said.

The 70-year-old journalist was admitted to the Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) after testing positive for coronavirus, a hospital official said.

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MK Stalin orders ‘corona relief’ for rice ration card holders

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has signed an order to provide Rs 4,000 as Corona relief to over two crore rice ration card holders in the state.

The first installment of Rs 2000 will be provided in the month of May.

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Update bed status on app frequently: Delhi govt to COVID facilities

The Delhi government has directed all healthcare facilities in the national capital treating COVID-19 patients to update the status of bed availability on Delhi Corona App and website “as frequently as feasible”.

Medical directors, medical superintendents and directors of all such facilities are directed to update the status of beds on the “portal and Delhi Corona App as frequently as feasible, but not later than two hourly”, the health department said.

Of the 19,333 oxygen-supported beds for coronavirus patients across Delhi, only 2,170 were vacant around 10:45 am on Friday, according to the Delhi Corona app. Only 32 of the 5,566 ICU beds were available, it showed.

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Delhi HC seeks Centre and state govt’s stand on plea seeking vaccination for Class 10, 12 students

A PIL in the Delhi High Court Friday urged it to direct the Centre and Delhi government to vaccinate all Class 10 and 12 students who would be appearing for board exams in the 2020-21 session.

A bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jasmeet Singh issued notice to the ministries of Health and Education and the Delhi government seeking their stand on the plea by three lawyers.

The court also asked whether the COVID-19 vaccines being used now can be administered to those below 18 years of age.

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Fight against COVID-19 transcends political differences: Sonia Gandhi

The COVID-19 battle transcends political differences and everyone has to fight it together as a nation, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said at a meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party on Friday.

The Modi government, she said, must urgently call an all-party meeting on the COVID-19 situation. She also demanded that standing committees be convened to ensure collective action and accountability to combat the pandemic better.

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Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital receives ventilators, oxygen cylinders

Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi received ventilators, oxygen cylinders, BiPAP machines, oxygen concentrators and other medical aid. “We have received these aids from Germany, France, UK, USA, Ireland, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait and Russia,” says Medical Superintendent, Safdarjung Hospital.

Delhi: Safdarjung Hospital receives ventilators, oxygen cylinders, BiPAP machines & oxygen concentrators, & other medical aid.

"We have received these aids from Germany, France, UK, USA, Ireland, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait & Russia," says Medical Superintendent, Safdarjung Hospital pic.twitter.com/OYHv8bROPz

— ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2021

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Delhi HC issues notice to Kejriwal govt to provide meals to homeless during COVID-19

The Delhi High Court on Friday issued a notice to Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government on a PIL seeking direction to provide three nutritious meals a day including breakfast to the homeless at shelter homes in Delhi. The plea also seeks setting up of vaccine camps at shelter homes for homeless on a priority basis.

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Send 700 MT oxygen to Delhi on daily basis till further orders: SC tells Centre

The Supreme Court on Friday pulled up the Centre after the Delhi government complained it didn’t receive 700 MT of oxygen even after the court’s orders. The top court cautioned the Centre and asserted that it has to give 700 MT of oxygen to Delhi every day till this order is reviewed or modified.

“Don’t force us to take coercive steps. Tell your officers to comply with our order of 700 MT of oxygen every day,” the Supreme Court told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.

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Increase Karnataka’s daily quota of oxygen to 1200 MT as per HC order, SC tells Centre

The Supreme Court Friday rejected the Centre’s petition against a Karnataka High Court order asking it to send 1,200 MT of oxygen per day to the state. “The Karnataka High Court order is a careful, calibrated exercise and we see no reason to entertain the Centre’s appeal,” the top court said.

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SC refuses to stay Karnataka HC order directing Centre to increase daily oxygen quota to 1200 MT

The Supreme Court Friday dismissed Central government’s plea to stay the Karnataka High Court order to give 1200 MT of oxygen to the state immediately. “It was extraordinarily and calibrated exercise of judicial power. We can’t keep people of Karnataka in the lurch,” said the court.

Justice Chandrachud: We find that the order of HC is a well calibrated and judicious exercise under 226. We see no reason to interfere in this order. We dismiss the SLP. #OxygenShortage #SupremeCourt

— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) May 7, 2021

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Centre has to supply 700 MT of oxygen daily to Delhi till further orders: SC

We want 700 MT of oxygen to be supplied to Delhi and we mean business. It has to be supplied and we don’t want to be coercive. Our order will take time to be uploaded by 3 pm. But you proceed and arrange the oxygen, said Justice DY Chandrachud to the Central government on Friday.

Senior Advocate Rahul Mehra, appearing for the Delhi government, told the top court that as of 9 am on Friday, 89 MT of oxygen has been received by the National Capital and 16 MT oxygen is in transit.

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It’s problematic if every HC asks to increase oxygen supply: Centre on Karnataka HC order 

“Centre is and cannot be averse. There are several high courts where such petitions are filed. If every high court directs to increase oxygen supply, then scheme of things will be unworkable. We have a limited quantity,” said Solicitor General Tushar Mehta Friday in Supreme Court during hearing of Centre’s plea against  Karnataka High Court’s order to increase cap on oxygen supply in the state.

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SC to begin hearing on Centre’s plea against Karnataka HC order to increase cap on oxygen shortly

A Supreme Court Bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud will hear Friday Centre’s plea, challenging an order passed by the Karnataka High Court on 5 May, directing the Centre to increase the daily liquid medical oxygen allocation for Karnataka to 1200 MT per day.

The high court Wednesday had directed the Central government to immediately increase the cap on allocation of liquid medical oxygen to Karnataka to 1,200 MT per day, from the sanctioned allocation of 965 MT.

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At 12,238, Odisha sees highest single-day COVID-19 spike; 14% jump in new cases in a day 

Odisha on Friday recorded a steep rise in daily COVID-19 cases with 12,238 persons testing positive for the novel coronavirus – a jump of 14 percent from Thursday, when the state reported 10,521 cases. 

This is the first time since the onset of the pandemic that Odisha has crossed the 12,000 mark. On 6 May, 10,521 persons were recorded infected. The test positivity rate has jumped to 24.09% after the state tested 50,799 persons in past 24 hours.

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Delhi govt asks hospitals to ensure rapid antigen test services 24X7

The Delhi Health Department Thursday asked all government hospitals in the capital to offer rapid antigen test services round the clock for an early detection of coronavirus infection, according to an order.

The Delhi government has undertaken various measures from time to time to augment COVID-19 testing and to ensure that it is more accessible to public than ever, the order said.

Rapid antigen testing has a short turnaround time of 15-30 minutes and thus offers a distinct advantage of quick detection of cases and opportunity to isolate and treat them early for curbing transmission, it said.

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Thane district’s COVID-19 count up by 2,301, toll by 50

With 2,301 new coronavirus cases, the infection count in Thane district of Maharashtra mounted to 4,82,495, an official said on Friday. As the virus claimed the lives of 50 persons, the toll in the district rose to 7,883. Its COVID-19 mortality rate is 1.63 per cent, he added.

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India registers 3,915 new COVID-19 deaths

With the death of 3,915 more patients in the past 24 hours, the COVID-19 toll in the country increased to 2.34 lakh, said the health ministry. This takes the national fatality rate to 1.09 percent.

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India adds 4.14 lakh COVID-19 cases in a day

India registered 4,14,188 fresh coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours, the highest single-day cases so far, taking the overall count in the country over 2.14 crore on Friday, said the Union health ministry.

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RECAP: ‘Medical infra in shambles, don’t be like ostrich with head in sand’: Delhi HC to AAP

The Delhi High Court slammed the Arvind Kejriwal government again on Thursday, saying that the existing medical infrastructure in the National Capital was “exposed” and in “shambles” when put to the test during the pandemic and directed it to provide facility for medical treatment as required by all residents of the state who are suffering from COVID-19 .

“Now you are behaving like the ostrich with its head in the sand. When you defend this situation, then you are not rising above the politics. We always call a spade a spade,” a bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli said to senior advocate Rahul Mehra, appearing for the Delhi government when he argued that the court may not say the medical infrastructure was in shambles.

The bench, which has been hearing a bunch of petitions on COVID-19 -related shortages in the National Capital for weeks, also said there was an “urgent” need to create awareness among the general public regarding the indications of COVID-19 infection.

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RECAP: Centre moves SC against Karnataka HC order to increase oxygen supply to state

The Centre Thursday moved the Supreme Court against an order of the Karnataka High Court order asking it to increase daily liquid medical oxygen (LMO) allocation for state from present 965 MT to 1200 MT for treating COVID-19 patients.

A bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud was told by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that the state is being supplied 965 MT LMO presently and the order needed to be stayed urgently.

The bench, also comprising Justice MR Shah, had said it will have to look at the paper book before issuing any order.

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SC to hear Centre’s plea against Karnataka HC order on oxygen supply

The Supreme Court will hear Centre’s plea challenging the Karnataka High Court’s 5 May order, directing it to immediately increase the allocation of liquid medical oxygen (LMO) to the state to 1,200 metric tonne (MT) per day amid the COVID-19 crisis.

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Six US planes carrying COVID-19 medical supplies reached India in past few days

The United States has so far sent six planes carrying emergency supplies to India, which is battling one of its worst public health crises.

The emergency supplies include 20,000 courses of Remdesivir (125,000 vials) to help treat critically ill patients, nearly 1,500 oxygen cylinders, which can be repeatedly refilled at local supply centres, and one million rapid diagnostic tests to quickly identify COVID-19 cases.

The six planes, which have landed in just six days, also carried nearly 550 mobile oxygen concentrators that obtain oxygen from ambient air. These units have a lifespan of more than five years and can serve multiple patients at once, depending on their oxygen needs.