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Coronavirus in India Latest News LIVE Updates: Tamil Nadu recorded 27,397 new coronavirus cases on Saturday and 241 new deaths on Saturday. This, on a day when the newly-elected DMK government announced a full lockdown, set to begin on 10 May and end on 24 May. The Union Health Ministry on Saturday said that India had received 6,608 oxygen concentrators, 3,856 oxygen cylinders, 14 generation plants, 4,330 ventilators/BiPAP and about 3 lakh remdesivir doses from 27 April to 7 May. A Supreme Court bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud passed an order on Saturday, constituting a National Task Force (NTF) to assess and recommend the need and distribution of oxygen for the entire country. In a significant move, the Union Health Ministry on Saturday said requirement of a positive COVID-19 test report is not mandatory for admission to a health facility. In its revised national policy for the admission of COVID patients to public or private facilities, the Union Health Ministry said no patient will be refused services on any account, including oxygen and essential drugs, even if the he or she belongs to a different city. “In a significant directive to states, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has revised the national policy for admission of COVID patients to various categories of COVID facilities. This patient-centric measure aims to ensure prompt, effective and comprehensive treatment of patients suffering from COVID-19,” the ministry said. “Hospitals under the central government, state governments and UT administration, including private hospitals managing COVID patients, shall ensure that requirement of a positive test for COVID-19 virus is not mandatory for admission to a COVID health facility. A suspect case shall be admitted to the suspect ward of COVID Care Centre (CCC), Dedicated COVID Health Centre (DCHC) of Dedicated COVID Hospital (DHC) as the case may be,” the directive to all the states and Union Territories said. The top drugs controller cleared the drug after clinical trial results showed that a molecule present in the drug helps in faster recovery of patients and reduces supplemental oxygen dependence. The health ministry said that so far over 17.49 crore vaccine doses have been provided to states and UTs, out of which around 16.7 crore doses have been consumed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday spoke with four Chief Ministers in separate phone calls and discussed the COVID-19 situation in their states. He called Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur. In order to vaccinate all people in Delhi, over three crore doses will be required, out of which around 40 lakh have been received, Kejriwal said. The chief minister urged the Centre to provide it 85 lakh doses per month so that all the Delhiites could be vaccinated in the next three months. Urging Centre to provide more vaccines to Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said that the city has only 5-6 days of vaccinations left. In a statement, Chief Minister MK Stalin said all shops, except provision and grocery stores and meat stalls, would remain closed. The decision, Stalin added, was taken based on inputs received at a review meeting he had with district collectors on Friday, besides consultations with medical experts. India reported 4,01,078 fresh COVID-19 infections in the past 24 hours, pushing the tally over 2.18 crore on Saturday, said the Union health ministry. India’s COVID-19 wave crossed another grim milestone on Saturday after the country reported more than 4,000 deaths from the virus in a single day. The daily cases stayed over 4 lakh for the third straight day. According to a press release from the Chief Minister’s Office, the lockdown will come into effect at 4 am on 10 May and will be in force till 4 am on 24 May. In order to help people prepare for the lockdown, all shops and establishments are being allowed to stay open from 6 am to 9 pm on Saturday and Sunday (8 and 9 May). Tamil Nadu had reported a record high of 26,465 new coronavirus cases on Friday, with 197 fatalities. West Bengal on Friday registered its highest single-day spike of 19,216 COVID-19 cases, which pushed the tally to 9,54,282, the state health department said. The COVID-19 toll breached the 12000-mark, as 112 more people succumbed to the infection, taking the total number of fatalities to 12,076, the department said in its bulletin. Thirty-three deaths were recorded in North 24 Parganas and 28 in Kolkata. Of the 112 fatalities, 56 were due to the comorbidities where COVID-19 was incidental. The city accounted for 3,915 fresh cases and North 24 Parganas for 3,957 infections. Accordingly, the number of active cases in the state climbed to 1,24,098. At least 17,780 people recuperated in Bengal in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of recoveries to 8,18,108. The recovery rate stands at 85.73 percent. As many as 1,08,42,269 samples have been tested in the state, including 64,551 since Thursday, the bulletin added. Meanwhile, the state Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Department wrote to all private COVID-19 vaccination facilities, informing them that the state will no longer provide vaccines to them, in view of the Union health ministry’s policy that sought to prioritise beneficiaries of second doses. People visiting the centres for second dose might be guided to government-run medical establishments, the department said. A source at the health department said the government has given its nod to Peerless Hospital here for trial of Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine.
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates: Tamil Nadu reports 27,397 new COVID-19 cases today; full lockdown from Monday
Coronavirus in India Latest News LIVE Updates: This, on a day when the newly-elected DMK government announced a full lockdown, set to begin on 10 May and end on 24 May
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Coronavirus Latest News LIVE Updates
Maharashtra doctor treats COVID-19 patients sans permission, booked
A doctor has been booked in Vangani in Thane district for allegedly treating COVID-19 patients without permission from state and civic authorities, police said on Saturday. Kulgaon police station assistant inspector Sandeep Nigade said the doctor, who runs a small hospital, has been charged under IPC, Epidemic Diseases Act and Disaster Management Act provisions, though he has not been arrested.
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Centre should distribute oxygen to states on basis of number of patients: Ashok Gehlot
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday urged the Centre to distribute oxygen and medicines to states on the basis of number of COVID-19 patients. He also said that till a large number of people are not vaccinated against the coronavirus, the spread of the infection cannot be controlled.
Rajasthan recorded 160 COVID-19 fatalities and 17,987 cases on Saturday, which pushed the death toll to 5,506 and tally of cases to 7,38,786 in the state.
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Delhi’s WCD Dept sets up task force to address issues faced by COVID-affected children
The Delhi government’s Women and Child Development Department has set up a task force across districts to resolve issues faced by children affected by the coronavirus pandemic, a statement said.
The members of the district task force (DTF) include WCD officers, child protection officers, chairman of child welfare committee (CWC), sub-divisional magistrate (HQ) as the nominee of the district magistrate, and a nominated member from the Delhi Commission For Protection of Child Rights, it said. Members of district childline, One Stop Centre and Legal Service Authority shall be co-opted as associates in the DTF, the statement said.
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Congress presses for national lockdown to arrest COVID-19 spread
The Congress on Saturday accused the Centre of abject failure in protecting the lives of people and urged it to follow the suggestions of experts by declaring a national lockdown in the wake of rising cases of the novel coronavirus infection. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not utilising the vaccination budget.
“Vaccine budget- underutilized. Human life- undervalued. Because PM’s ego- overinflated,” he tweeted, tagging a media report which claimed that only Rs 4,744 crore has been utilised from the vaccine budget of Rs 35,000 crore.
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Tamil Nadu reports 27,397 new cases days ahead of full lockdown
Tamil Nadu recorded 27,397 new coronavirus cases on Saturday and 241 new deaths on Saturday.
This, on a day when the newly-elected DMK government announced a full lockdown, set to begin on 10 May and end on 24 May.
Coronavirus Latest News LIVE Updates
Bengal sees 19,436 new COVID-19 cases today
On Saturday, West Bengal recorded 19,436 new COVID-19 cases, 18,243 recoveries and 127 fatalities, the state health department bulletin said.
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India, EU discuss cooperation in healthcare sector
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held a virtual meeting with the heads of state or government of all the 27 European Union member states with a focus on expanding overall cooperation in areas of trade, investment and connectivity. The leaders also exchanged views on the COVID-19 pandemic and healthcare cooperation.
The India-EU leaders’ meeting is hosted by Prime Minister of Portugal Antonio Costa. Portugal currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. “We are opening a new chapter in #EUIndia strategic partnership at the meeting of EU Leaders with PM @narendramodi,” tweeted Charles Michel, President of the European Council.
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Yoga guru Swami Adhyatmananda dies of COVID-19
Yoga guru Swami Adhyatmananda, who headed Ahmedabad-based Sivananda Ashram, died of COVID-19 at a hospital in Ahmedabad on Saturday, an official said. He was 77.
“Swamiji was admitted in the city’s SGVP Hospital on April 13 after he was found infected with the coronavirus. He died at the hospital at 11:10 am on Saturday,” Ashram trustee Arun Oza was quoted as saying by PTI.
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Delhi Police chief calls for action against hoarders of COVID-19 medicines, oxygen cylinders
Delhi Police Commissioner S N Shrivastava on Saturday held a virtual meeting to review the action taken against hoarding of COVID-19 medicines, injections and oxygen cylinders besides the effective enforcement of the lockdown to curb the spread of the infection, officials said.
According to a statement by police, Shrivastava told the deputy commissioners of police (DCPs) to obtain court orders as early as possible for the release of seized medicines, concentrators and oxygen cylinders for use by needy patients.
He also directed them to intensify action against fraudsters cheating people via the virtual platform amid the pandemic outbreak. He asked the DCPs to coordinate with the cyber cell and the crime branch for inter-state investigation as most of such calls originated from Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, among others, in the recent past.
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Nearly 3,400 MT of oxygen delivered to six states: Railways
The Railways on Saturday said that nearly 3,400 MT of oxygen has been delivered to Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Telangana through the ‘Oxygen Express’ initiative.
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India received 6,608 oxygen concentrators, 3,856 cylinders: Centre
The Union Health Ministry on Saturday said that India had received 6,608 oxygen concentrators, 3,856 oxygen cylinders, 14 generation plants, 4,330 ventilators/BiPAP and about 3 lakh remdesivir doses from 27 April to 7 May.
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MK Stalin appeals for oxygen allocation for Tamil Nadu again
Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin on Saturday requested the Centre to enhance the medical oxygen allocation to Tamil Nadu to 500 metric tonnes. The chief minister, who had a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, assured Modi that Tamil Nadu will stand by the Centre in the fight against COVID-19.
Modi in turn stated that he will consider his request immediately, an official release said.
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Lack of attention to medical systems in villages reason for COVID spread, says Akhilesh Yadav
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday hit out at the UP government, saying had it paid attention to the medical system in the state, the coronavirus infection would not have spread to villages and resulted in a huge number of deaths. In a statement, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister also accused the government of diverting its entire machinery to hide the number of deaths caused by the pandemic.
“The BJP is committing the sin of telling lies. It has spent all its time in shattering the work done by the previous Samajwadi Party government, he said.
At the time when the infection was spreading in the state, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was busy campaigning in other states for the assembly elections, he said.
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Oxygen task force will help Centre avoid ‘ad hoc’ decisions on COVID-19 resources, says SC
In its order of the formation of National Task Force (NTF) for oxygen availability, the Supreme Court said, “The rationale for constituting a Task Force at a national level is to facilitate a public health response to the pandemic based on scientific and specialised domain knowledge.
“The establishment of this Task Force will enable the decision makers to have inputs which go beyond finding ad-hoc solutions to the present problems. We expect that the leading experts in the country shall associate with the work of the Task Force both as members and resource persons.”
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First case of Indian variant of COVID-19 detected in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka on Saturday detected its first case of the Indian variant of coronavirus, also known as B.1.617, in a person who recently returned from India and was in a quarantine centre. The Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine of the University of Sri Jayewardenapura in a report released on Saturday said the infected person had returned from India and was found at a quarantine center for returnees in Colombo.
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‘Health Ministry must wake up from its slumber’: IMA
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Saturday issued a statement saying that the Union Health Ministry must “wake up from its slumber” and respond to mitigate the growing challenges of the pandemic.
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AIADMK, PMK welcome Tamil Nadu lockdown, BJP calls it ‘hasty’
The Opposition AIADMK and PMK in Tamil Nadu welcomed the state government’s announcement of clamping a two-week lockdown starting 10 May, saying it will
help break the coronavirus chain and help in slowing the pace of its spread.
The BJP, an ally of both parties, however, described the decision as hasty.
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‘Decision on lockdown should have been taken by Centre’: Ashok Gehlot
Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday said a decision regarding the coronavirus lockdown should have been made by the Centre for better coordination among states. In a statement, the chief minister said several states have imposed a lockdown to tackle the problem and prohibited the entry of people from other states.
“A lockdown is more needed than ever to prevent the infection spread. It is my opinion, on the basis of previous experience, the decision should have been made at the level of the Centre so that the common people, including the labourers, face minimum hardships and at the same time, there is better coordination among the states,” Gehlot said.
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Stricter curbs in Maharashtra’s Solapur till 15 May
In a bid to break the chain of coronavirus, the authorities in Maharashtra’s Solapur have announced stricter restrictions for a week in the city as well as other parts of the district. As part of the fresh curbs, which will come into effect from 8 pm on Saturday, shops selling essential commodities, such as milk, groceries, vegetables and fruits, will remain closed and only home delivery of these items will be permitted, officials said.
As per the earlier guidelines, shops selling essentials were allowed to operate from 7 am to 11 am in the district.
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SC constitutes task force to assess oxygen situation in country
A Supreme Court bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud passed an order on Saturday, constituting a National Task Force (NTF) to assess and recommend the need and distribution of oxygen for the entire country.
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Mumbai dabbawalas distribute food outside KEM Hospital
Mumbai Dabbawala Association spokesperson Vishnu Kaldoke said, “People among us contribute for this & we also get some money from our Trust. We’re distributing food in 3-4 locations in Mumbai.”
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Centre scraps requirement for COVID-19 positive report for admission to hospitals
In a significant move, the Union Health Ministry on Saturday said requirement of a positive COVID-19 test report is not mandatory for admission to a health facility. In its revised national policy for the admission of COVID patients to public or private facilities, the Union Health Ministry said no patient will be refused services on any account, including oxygen and essential drugs, even if the he or she belongs to a different city.
“In a significant directive to states, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has revised the national policy for admission of COVID patients to various categories of COVID facilities. This patient-centric measure aims to ensure prompt, effective and comprehensive treatment of patients suffering from COVID-19,” the ministry said.
“Hospitals under the central government, state governments and UT administration, including private hospitals managing COVID patients, shall ensure that requirement of a positive test for COVID-19 virus is not mandatory for admission to a COVID health facility. A suspect case shall be admitted to the suspect ward of COVID Care Centre (CCC), Dedicated COVID Health Centre (DCHC) of Dedicated COVID Hospital (DHC) as the case may be,” the directive to all the states and Union Territories said.
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Twelve states account for over 80% of active coronavirus cases
Twelve states accounted for 80.68 percent of India’s over 37.23 lakh active coronavirus cases, according to official data. Maharashtra has the maximum number of active cases at 6.57 lakh, followed by Karnataka with 5,36,661, Kerala with 4,02,997, Uttar Pradesh with 2,54,118, and Rajasthan with 1,99,147 cases.
The other states having large active cases are Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Haryana and Bihar. Ten states accounted for 70.77 percent of the new cases in the last 24 hours, out of which Maharashtra has reported the highest daily new cases at 54,022, followed by Karnataka with 48,781 and Kerala with 38,460 new cases.
Among the remaining seven states and union territories with high daily new cases are Uttar Pradesh (27,763), Tamil Nadu (26,465), Delhi (19,832), West Bengal (19,216), Rajasthan (18,231), Andhra Pradesh (17,188) and Haryana (13,867).
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Tamil Nadu announces ’total lockdown’ from 10 May
With Tamil Nadu witnessing a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases, the government on Saturday announced clamping a two-week “total lockdown” across the state to curb the spread of the pandemic, starting 10 May.
Chief Minister MK Stalin said in a statement the lockdown was being enforced due to “unavoidable reasons” and pointed out that the decision was taken based on inputs received at a review meeting he had with district collectors on Friday, besides consultations with medical experts. The recommendations made by the Union Home and Health ministries had also been factored in.
“The total lockdown will be enforced from 4 am on 10 May to 4 am on 24 May to further intensify the efforts to curb the spread of the disease,” he said.
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COVID-19 positive report not mandatory for hospital admission: Centre
A person suspected of having coronavirus need not produce a positive test report for admission to a COVID-19 facility, said the health ministry on Saturday revising national policy for admission of COVID-19 patients to the hospitals.
“Requirement of a positive test for COVID-19 virus is not mandatory for admission to a COVID health facility. A suspect case shall be admitted to the suspect ward of CCC (COVID Care Center), DCHC (Dedicated COVID Health Centre) or DHC (Dedicated COVID Hospital) as the case may be,” read the statement.
As per the government’s guidelines, the patients with mild symptoms are to be admitted at the CCC, those with moderate symptoms at DCHC and those clinically assigned as severely infected are to be treated at the DHC.
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DCGI clears anti-COVID drug developed by DRDO for emergency use
A drug to treat coronavirus patients, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has been approved for emergency use by Drugs Controller General of India on Saturday as India battles the second wave of the pandemic.
A DRDO lab and Hyderabad-based Dr Reddy’s Laboratories developed the anti-Covid therapeutic application of the drug 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), NDTV reported.
The country’s top drugs controller cleared the drug after clinical trial results showed that a molecule present in the drug helps in faster recovery of hospitalised patients and reduces supplemental oxygen dependence.
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All states, UTs to receive over 53 lakh vaccine doses in next three days: Centre
Over 53 lakh COVID-19 vaccine doses will be distributed to states and Union territories in the next three days, the Union health ministry said on Saturday. “More than 53 lakh (53,25,000) vaccine doses will be received in addition by states/UTs within the next three days,” the ministry announced.
It said that states with a negative balance are showing more consumption (including wastage) than vaccine supplied as they have “not reconciled the vaccine they have supplied to the armed forces”.
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More than 84 lakh vaccine doses available with states and UTs: Centre
In an official statement, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said that so far over 17.49 crore vaccine doses have been provided to states/UTs, out of which around 16.7 crore doses have been consumed.
“Of the vaccine doses provided, the total consumption, including wastages, is 16,65,49,583 doses (as per data available at 8 am on Saturday). More than 84 lakh COVID vaccine doses (84,08,187) are still available with states/UTs to be administered,” the ministry said.
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Modi talks to MK Stalin on Tamil Nadu’s COVID-19 situation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday spoke to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on the COVID-19 situation in the state. Earlier on Saturday, Stalin announced a complete lockdown across the state to curb the COVID-19 spread.
The lockdown will be in force from 4 am on 10 May till 4 am on 24 May.
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Modi discusses COVID-19 situation with CMs of four states
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday spoke with four Chief Ministers in separate phone calls and discussed the COVID-19 situation in their states.
He called Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur.
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PM discusses Maharashtra’s COVID-19 situation with Udhhav Thackeray
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday spoke to Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray regarding the COVID-19 situation in the state, government sources said.
Maharashtra, the state hardest hit by the pandemic since last year, is among the states seeing a plateauing of fresh infections, the health ministry had said on Friday. The state added 54,022 new cases in the past 24 hours and 898 patients died in the same period.
The state is yet to impose a lockdown, but has strict curbs in place.
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Delhi needs 85 lakh vaccine doses per month to inoculate all: Kejriwal
In order to vaccinate all people in Delhi, over three crore doses will be required, out of which around 40 lakh have already been received, Arvind Kejriwal said. The Delhi chief minister urged the Centre to provide 85 lakh doses per month so that all the residents could be vaccinated in the next three months.
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Delhi has only 5-6 days of COVID-19 vaccines left: Arvind Kejriwal
To complete vaccination within 3 months, we need to vaccinate 3 lakh people every day. Currently, we are inoculating 1 lakh people in a day. We urge the Centre to ensure urgent supply of vaccines to Delhi as we just have doses for 5-6 days left with us, said Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday.
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Delhi can complete inoculation drive in 3 months: Kejriwal
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said that inoculation drive can be completed in the National Capital within three months if the Central government ensured availability of 3 crore vaccine doses.
“If we get adequate vaccine doses, we can complete vaccination within 3 months. There’re 1.5 crore people above 18 years of age in Delhi so we need 3 crore doses. Out of this, Delhi government has got only 40 lakh doses so far. We need 2.6 crores more doses,” said Kejriwal.
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Kangana Ranaut tests positive for coronavirus
Actor Kangana Ranaut on Saturday said she has tested positive for the novel coronavirus and is under home quarantine. “I was feeling tired and weak with slight burning sensation in my eyes for past few days, was hoping to go to Himachal so got my test done yesterday and today the result came I am COVID-19 positive. I have quarantined myself, I had no idea this virus is having a party in my body,” she said on Instagram.
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Maharashtra reports 898 COVID-19 deaths in past 24 hrs
Of the 4,187 new COVID-19 fatalities registered in the past 24 hours, Maharashtra reported the highest with 898 patients succumbing to the novel coronavirus.
This was followed by 592 deaths in Karnataka, 372 in Uttar Pradesh, 341 in Delhi, 208 in Chhattisgarh, 197 in Tamil Nadu, 165 in Punjab, 164 in Rajasthan, 162 in Haryana, 137 in Uttarakhand, 136 in Jharkhand, 119 in Gujarat and 112 in West Bengal.
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India’s active caseload over 37.23 lakh
The active COVID-19 cases in India on Saturday reached 37,23,446, which comprise 17.01 percent of the total caseload. The national COVID-19 recovery rate has further dropped to 81.90 percent.
India reported 4,01,078 fresh COVID-19 infections in the past 24 hours, pushing the tally over 2.18 crore on Saturday, said the Union health ministry.
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Disband Phase 3 vaccine policy, direct 100% procurement of doses by Centre: Bengal govt to SC
The West Bengal government moved the Supreme Court on Friday seeking directions to disband the Phase-III vaccine policy of the Centre and adoption of a uniform policy of procuring 100 percent doses of COVID-19 from vaccine manufacturers which can be equitably distributed to all the states and Union Territories for free decentralised distribution.
The state government also sought setting aside the differential pricing mechanism for COVID-19 vaccines and capping the price for COVID-19 vaccines at a uniform price of Rs 150 per dose.
The intervention application has been filed by the state government in the pending matter taken suo motu by the top court for ensuring distribution of essential supplies and services during the pandemic.
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India’s COVID-19 toll crosses 2.38 lakh
The 4,187 new COVID-19 deaths take India’s toll to 2,38,270 on Saturday. With another 401,078 new cases in the past 24 hours, the country’s caseload is nearly 2.19 crore, said the Union health ministry.
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India records over 4 lakh daily cases for third straight day
India reported 4,01,078 fresh COVID-19 infections in the past 24 hours, pushing the tally over 2.18 crore on Saturday, said the Union health ministry.