Coronavirus Updates: India had registered 2,17,353 new infections on April 16.
US pharmaceutical giants Pfizer and Moderna have made it clear they won't sell vaccines directly to Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said today, stressing that vaccine manufacturers have underlined "they will deal with the central government". Vaccine rollout for the 18-44 age group was paused on Saturday in Delhi due to the shortage of doses.
"We've spoken to Pfizer and Moderna for vaccines, and both the manufacturers have refused to sell vaccines directly to us. They have said they will deal with the central government. We appeal to the centre to import vaccines and distribute to the states," Mr Kejriwal told reporters this afternoon.
His statement comes a day after Punjab said Moderna has refused to sell vaccines to the state directly. The Amarinder Singh government had reached out to all such manufacturers, according to officials, looking for direct purchases.
Meanwhile, fresh COVID-19 infections in India dipped to 2,22,315, the lowest in around 38 days, pushing the total tally of coronavirus cases to 2,67,52,447, while the deaths crossed the 3-lakh mark, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday.
The death count climbed to 3,03,720 with 4,454 daily deaths, the data updated at 8 am showed.
India had registered 2,17,353 new infections on April 16.
The active cases have further reduced to 27,20,716 comprising 10.17 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to 88.69 per cent. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 2,37,28,011, while the case fatality rate has increased to 1.14 per cent, the data stated.
Here are the highlights on India Coronavirus (Covid-19 Cases) Cases:
111 Black Fungus Cases Reported In Punjab So FarPunjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu on Monday informed that a total of 111 cases of black fungus have so far been reported from several parts of the state and an expert group has finalised the treatment protocols for the disease.
According to a press release, 25 of these cases were reported from government health facilities, while the remaining 86 from various private hospitals.
Assam Reports 6,221 COVID-19 Cases, 84 Deaths In Last 24 HoursAssam reported 6,221 fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total numbers of infections to 3,75,404 in the state, according to the state health bulletin published on Monday evening.
The state also recorded 84 fatalities due to COVID-19 on Monday, taking the death count to 2,823.
India's Cumulative COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage Exceeds 19.84 CroreThe Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday informed that the nationwide cumulative COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 19.84 crores.
The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country stands at 19,84,43,550 as per the 8 pm provisional report.
Indore To Set Up COVID-19 Care Centre For childrenA separate COVID-19 Care Centre will be made for children in Madhya Pradesh's Indore, informed Bharatiya Janata Party MP Shankar Lalwani on Monday.
The COVID-19 Centre will have 100 beds, he further said, adding that arrangements will be made for the entertainment of the children keeping in mind their mental health.
Lactating Mothers, Pregnant Women Can Walk-In To Take COVID-19 Jabs In MumbaiAfter a Central directive, the Mumbai civic body on Monday allowed lactating mothers and pregnant women to get themselves vaccinated against COVID-19 at approved centres without prior registration, officials said on Monday, news agency PTI reported.
Lactating mothers and pregnant women can walk-in at the centres run by the Maharashtra government and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) between Monday and Wednesday as they are now included in the list of the categories eligible for vaccination on the three days a BMC release said.
Rajasthan Records 4,414 Fresh COVID-19 Cases, 103 DeathsRajasthan recorded 4,414 fresh COVID-19 cases on Monday that took its tally to 9,20,456 while 103 more fatalities pushed the death toll to 7,806, according to an official report.
Jaipur reported the highest number of fresh cases at 804, followed by 377 in Alwar and 340 in Jodhpur, the report stated.
Russia's Sputnik V vaccine highly effective against Brazil virus variant: ReportRussia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine is highly effective in fighting off and neutralizing the aggressive coronavirus variant first discovered in Brazil, according to Russia's Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and a study conducted by researchers in Argentina. Brazil's P1 coronavirus variant, behind a deadly COVID-19 surge in Brazil, has spread throughout hard-hit Latin America. Scientists in Brazil have found that the variant's mutations could make it more resistant to antibodies, raising international concern over its potential to render vaccines less effective.
The Argentina-based study, carried out by the Dr. Vanella Institute of Virology of the National University of Córdoba (UNC), however, found a strong immune response against the variant in those vaccinated with Sputnik V.
Maharashtra may ease COVID-19 curbs in districts showing case drop: MinisterMaharashtra Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Vijay Wadettiwar said the government was contemplating easing COVID-19-induced lockdown-like curbs in districts outside the "red zone" after June 1. He said 15 districts (out of total 36) are in the "red zone" (high caseload) and the curbs their could be made more stricter.
Buldhana, Kolhapur, Ratnagiri, Sangli, Yavatmal, Amravati, Sindhdurg, Solapur, Akola, Satara, Washim, Beed, Gadchiroli, Ahmednagar and Osmanabad are the districts where coronavirus cases are still on the rise, the minister said.
Thailand to extend dose gap for AstraZeneca vaccine to 16 weeksThailand will extend the gap between the first and second doses of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine to 16 weeks, in an effort to inoculate more people faster, a senior health official said on Monday.
The plan follows a similar decision by Spain to stretch the gap between two AstraZeneca doses to 16 weeks, which is beyond the 12 weeks maximum interval approved by the European Medicines Agency. A 16-week interval has not been tested in human trials.
Thailand's change, from a 10-week gap previously, comes ahead of the planned start of a mass immunisation campaign from June, for which AstraZeneca's vaccine will be the main one used.
Haryana To Give 1 Lakh Patanjali's Coronil Kits Among Covid PatientsOne lakh Coronil kits of Patanjali Ayurved will be distributed among coronavirus patients in Haryana free of cost, state Health Minister Anil Vij said.
The announcement comes amid a row over Yoga guru Ramdev's comments against allopathy. In a strongly-worded letter to Ramdev, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said his remarks on allopathic medicine were "extremely unfortunate", following which the yoga guru withdrew his statements.
Mr Vij said half of the cost of these kits has been borne by Patanjali and the other half by the Haryana government's "COVID Relief Fund".
40 kids with "severe" Covid were admitted to Delhi's LNJP Hospital during second waveThe Delhi government-run Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital has recorded around 40 cases of "severe" coronavirus infection among children during the second wave and around 15 of them were aged below one, a senior doctor said today. Dr Urmila Jhamb, the head of the hospital's paediatrics department, said data collected during the second wave does not suggest that children have been infected in large numbers, "but it doesn't mean it won't happen in the third wave".
Around 400 children suffering from COVID-19 were admitted to the facility from March to December last year, she said.
Gujarat to conduct vaccination for 18-44 age group through prior registration onlyEven as the Centre now allowing on-site registration and appointment for the 18-44 years age group on the CoWin platform, the Gujarat government said it will conduct COVID-19 vaccination through the present system where a prior registration and appointment is a must to receive jabs. After the Centre's announcement, Gujarat Health and Family Welfare Department issued a statement saying this new feature of "on the spot registration" will not be applicable in the state for now.
The state government will continue to follow the present system of "prior registration" wherein beneficiaries are given the date, time and place of vaccination after they complete the online registration process, Principal Secretary, Health, Gujarat, Jayanti Ravi said in the statement.
Goa sees 1,401 COVID-19 cases, 38 deaths, 2,362 recoveriesThe COVID-19 tally in Goa reached 1,47,861 with the addition of 1,401 cases, while the day also saw 38 people dying due to the infection and 2,362 recovering, said an official.
The state's death count stands at 2,421 and the number of people discharged so far is 1,29,162, leaving it with an active caseload of 16,278, the official said.
Jharkhand facing vaccine shortage, 3 days of stock left for 18-44 age group: Chief Minister
Hitting out at the Centre, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren said that the state was facing a severe shortage of Covid vaccines and has barely two-three days of shots left in its stock. Chairing a cabinet meeting, Mr Soren said the Centre failed to alert states and take necessary measures even as it had prior knowledge of the second wave of the pandemic. "Government of India knew about the (second wave of the) infection but there was much delay in directions to the states and ultimately the entire country was impacted by it," he said.
Nepal says Mount Everest climbing continues despite reports of COVID-19A Nepali government official said that many foreign climbers were continuing their attempts to summit Mount Everest despite reports of a COVID-19 outbreak at the base camp of the world's tallest peak. In April, a Norwegian climber was evacuated from the base camp of the 8,848.86 metres (29,031.69 feet) mountain and flown to Kathmandu where he tested positive for COVID-19. He has since returned home.
Lukas Furtenbach of the Austrian Furtenbach Adventures company, evacuated his team from the mountain this month saying there was a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases at the base camp. "So far we have about one hundred confirmed cases in Everest base camp, confirmed by doctors, by hospitals, by insurance companies, by expedition leaders, by helicopter pilots who are flying out the patients and of course by the climbers themselves," Furtenbach said.
Compromised immunity leads to Black Fungus infection
"Compromised immunity leads to Black Fungus infection. Candida infection can also be observed in patients. Labelling the same fungal infection with different colours can lead to confusion," says Dr Randeep Guleria, Director of AIIMS.
Continuous decline in active COVID-19 cases: Health MinistryThere has been a continuous decline in active COVID-19 cases in the last 22 days. There has been an increase in average daily testing, said Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary of Union Health Ministry.
Coronavirus: Assam Police Officer Wears PPE Kit To Shift Covid-19 Patient To Hospital
A police officer donned a PPE kit and carried a COVID-19 positive patient, whose oxygen level had dropped to critical level, to an ambulance for shifting him to a hospital in Assam's Chirang district, Director General of Police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta said. The Officer in Charge of Dhaligaon police station Prasenjit Das received a call seeking help on the Chirang Police COVID helpline on Saturday night from a coronavirus positive patient who was in a critical condition with his SPO2 level falling and had reached the 50s.
Coronavirus: For 18+, On-Site Registration Allowed At Government Vaccine Centres
The government on Monday said it was allowing on-site, or walk-in, registration of "a few beneficiaries" in the 18-44 age group at government-run Covid vaccination facilities to "minimise vaccine wastage". This, the government said, was to use "some doses... left unutilised in case online appointee beneficiaries do not turn up on the day of vaccination".
Read Here Held a meeting with the Secretary (Pharmaceuticals) to review the availability of medicines being used in the management of COVID-19: Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers, Sadananda Gowda.
We have received a letter of refusal. Central government should take an initiative and support state government in procuring vaccines: Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu on vaccine manufacturer Moderna refusing to send vaccine directly to Punjab government.
JUST IN | COVID-19 lockdown in Bihar extended till June 1, tweets Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
COVID-19: Vaccination Halted At All 400 Sites For 18-44 Age Group in Delhi, Says Manish Sisodia
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Monday said Pfizer and Moderna have refused to sell coronavirus vaccines directly to the national capital and have said that they will only talk to the Centre. In an online briefing, Sisodia said all the 400 vaccination sites for the 18-44 age group have been closed in Delhi after the vaccine stock was over, while the centres administering Covaxin to the 45+ age group, healthcare workers and frontline workers too have been shut due to unavailability of jabs.
"Pfizer, Moderna Won't Sell Shots To Us. They Said...": Arvind Kejriwal
US pharmaceutical giants Pfizer and Moderna have said they won't sell vaccines directly to Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said today, stressing that vaccine manufacturers have made it clear "they will deal with the central government". Vaccine rollout for the 18-44 age group was paused in Delhi on Saturday due to the shortage of doses.
Read Here Coronavirus: Madhya Pradesh Allows ''Restricted Relaxations'' In Covid Curfew In 5 Districts
With the COVID-19 positivity rate coming down to less than five per cent in five districts of Madhya Pradesh, the state government has allowed "restricted relaxations" in the corona curfew in those districts from Monday, a senior official said. On the basis of the experience in these districts - Jhabua, Alirajpur, Khandwa, Burhanpur, and Bhind, a strategy for implementing a graded unlocking process will be considered from June 1 onwards, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Dr Rajesh Rajora told PTI.
The government of India has so far provided more than 21.80 crore COVID19 vaccine doses (21,80,51,890) to States/Union Territories. More than 1.80 crore vaccine doses (1,80,43,015) are still available with the States/Union Territories to be administered: Government of India.
COVID19 News: Over 30 Patients Under Treatment At Kota Hospital For Black Fungus
Over 30 patients suffering from mucormycosis are under treatment at a government hospital here, a doctor said. Most of the people are Covid survivors, said Rajkumar Jain, who is treating the affected in the MBS Hospital with his team, adding that he did not notice any non-Covid black fungus patient so far. At least 30 patients suffering from the fungal infection are under treatment in the ward in the MBS Hospital and five-six of them are in critical stage, Jain said on Sunday.
Coronavirus: Odisha's COVID-19 Tally Crosses 7-Lakh Mark
Odisha's COVID-19 caseload crossed the 7-lakh mark on Monday with 11,059 more people testing positive for the infection, a health official said. The state also registered its highest single-day fatalities at 32, taking its death toll to 2,516, he said. As many as 6,193 new cases were reported in quarantine centres, while the remaining 4,866 infections were detected during contact tracing, he said.
Coronavirus News: Bihar Won't Shop For Vaccines, Cites Other States: "See The Results"
Many states have floated global tenders for vaccines as doses for the 18 to 44 age group fall short, but Bihar, ruled by BJP ally Nitish Kumar, has decided against it. Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey indicated that the state is unlikely to go shopping for global vaccines.
Read Here Coronavirus: Mizoram Reports 113 New COVID-19 Cases, Tally Rises To 10,333
Mizoram's COVID-19 tally surged to 10,333 on Monday as 113 more people tested positive for novel coronavirus, an official said. He said that 811 samples were tested in the last 24 hours and 13.93 per cent of them came out positive for COVID- 19. Of the 113 fresh cases, 78 were reported from Aizawl district, 5 from Lunglei, 3 from Champhai district, 19 from Lawngtlai district, 4 from Serchhip district, and 2 cases each were reported from Saitual and Kolasib districts.
Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan chairs the 27th Group of Ministers Meeting on COVID-19. "Till now, 5,424 cases of Mucormycosis reported in 18 States and Union Territories. Out of 5,424 cases, 4,556 patients have a history of COVID-19 infection. 55% of the patients had diabetes," he says.
Coronavirus: ''Not Convinced'' COVID-19 Developed Naturally, Says Top US Expert
America's top expert on infectious diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci said he is "not convinced" the novel coronavirus developed naturally and has called for an open investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 virus. When Dr Fauci was asked at an event whether he was still confident that the coronavirus developed naturally he said: "I am not convinced about that, I think we should continue to investigate what went on in China until we find out to the best of our ability what happened."
Coronavirus News: Odisha Officer Dances At Brother's Baraat, Violating COVID-19 Guidelines
A woman Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) officer was found dancing at a marriage function of her brother violating the COVID-19 lockdown guidelines imposed by the state government in the wake of surge in coronavirus cases across Odisha. The woman officer dancing at the marriage procession of her brother came to the fore through social media platform prompting Jajpur District Collector, Chakravarti Singh Rathore to say that: "The woman tehsildar is on leave right now. Once she joins, an explanation will be called. Based on the explanation, a further course of action will be decided".
Madurai Corporation has launched mobile vegetable vending vehicles today as all vegetable markets to remain closed during the COVID-19 induced lockdown imposed in the State.
All the hospitals have been strictly instructed to report the number of death of the patients on the same day, failing which, strict action will be taken: Uttarakhand Health Secretary Amit Negi.
Coronavirus: Andamans Reports 24 New COVID-19 Cases, 2 More Deaths
Andaman and Nicobar Islands COVID-19 tally rose to 6,844 as 24 more people tested positive for the virus while two new fatalities pushed the death count in the union territory to 103, a health department official said on Monday. All the new cases were detected during contact tracing, he said. The archipelago now has 268 active COVID-19 cases of which 260 are in South Andaman district and eight in North and Middle Andaman district, the official said.
India Reports 2,22,315 New COVID-19 Cases, 4,454 Deaths In Last 24 Hours
India's total tally of COVID-19 cases surged to 2,67,52,447 with 2,22,315 new infections being reported in a day, while the recoveries have crossed 2.37 crore, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday. The death count increased to 3,03,720 with 4,454 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.
Madhya Pradesh Health Worker On Covid Duty Faces Conversion ProbeA health worker in Madhya Pradesh is facing police investigation after she was seen in a video that purportedly showed her going door to door and asking people to pray to Jesus Christ to stay safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic. BJP MLA Rameshwar Sharma was among those who tweeted the video, alleging the health worker's motive was religious conversion.
Read Here Wuhan Lab Staff Sought Hospital Care Before Covid Outbreak: Report
Three researchers from China's Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) sought hospital care in November 2019, months before China disclosed the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing a previously undisclosed US intelligence report.
Coronavirus: India "Late To The Table" In Buying Vaccines: Top Virologist
India delayed the process of bulk-buying vaccines unlike several other nations and may now have few options available in the international market. "Aren't we a little late to the table on this one?" said Dr Gagandeep Kang, a top virologist who is also a member of the Supreme Court-appointed committee on medical oxygen.
Read Here COVID-19 News: West Bengal Records Less Than 20,000 Covid Cases, 156 Deaths
West Bengal recorded 18,422 fresh coronavirus cases and 156 deaths due to the disease today. The fresh coronavirus cases stayed less than 20,000, for the ninth day in a row. However, Black Fungus still remains a cause of concern for the state. A suspected patient of Black Fungus disease died at a state hospital in Kolkata on Saturday.
Coronavirus: Positivity Rate Down To 2.42 Per Cent In Delhi
Delhi recorded 1,649 new COVID-19 cases, the lowest since March 30, and 189 fatalities on Sunday, while the positivity rate slipped to 2.42 per cent, even as Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal extended the lockdown in the capital by another week. This is the second day on the trot that the number of deaths remained less than 200. This is also the lowest daily spike in cases recorded since March 30 (992) and the first time that the count has gone below the 2,000-mark since April 1, when 2,790 people tested positive for the infection. Delhi had recorded 2,260 cases on Saturday, 3,009 on Friday, 3,231 on Thursday and 3,846 on Wednesday.