Covid Cases in India: The total number of deaths has increased to 1,82,553 after the huge one-day spike.
India on Thursday reported more than 300,000 coronavirus cases over the last 24 hours, the highest daily global total, while Covid-related fatalities also jumped by a record 2,104 Covid deaths.
India's daily jump in cases of 314,835 surpasses the previous highest one-day rise in the world of 297,430 cases posted by the United States in January.
The country's caseload is at 1,59,30,965, while the death count increased to 1,84,657.
Maharashtra - the worst-affected state - on Tuesday reported 62,097 fresh coronavirus cases, taking the tally to over 39.6 lakh.
India is facing one of the biggest health challenges in the recent years with the shortage of medical oxygen, hospital beds and anti-viral drug Remdesivir, used in the treatment of Covid.
In Delhi, desperate oxygen crisis resonated in the High Court on Wednesday. Hitting out at the centre, the court said: "How is the government so oblivious to the reality on ground? You can't have people die because there is no oxygen."
Here are the highlights on Coronavirus India Cases:
Amid Covid Crisis, Government To Airlift 23 Oxygen Generation Plants From Germany The Defence Ministry has decided to airlift 23 mobile oxygen generating plants from Germany as several states reeled under an acute shortage of medical oxygen due to a massive surge in coronavirus cases, officials said today.
They said each plant will have a capacity to produce 40 litres of oxygen per minute and 2,400 litres every hour.
Principal Spokesperson in the Defence Ministry A Bharat Bhushan Babu said the plants will be deployed in the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) hospitals treating COVID-19 patients.
COVID-19: People aged 18-45 years to be inoculated for free in UttarakhandPeople in the 18-45 age group will be inoculated against COVID-19 for free in Uttarakhand.
Making the announcement on Friday, Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat said the exercise will begin in the first week of May.
A population of around 50 lakh will be covered under the drive, which will cost an estimated Rs 400 crore to the state exchequer, Rawat told reporters.
The state government will bear the entire costs, he said.
Mr Rawat also said 345 new doctors, who were recently recruited through the state public service commission in Uttarakhand, will be deployed up to the Community Health Centre and Primary Health Centre level, besides being put on COVID duty.
COVID-19: 28,447 fresh cases in Kerala, active cases 1.78 lakhKerala continued to witness a spike in fresh COVID-19 infections adding 28,447 cases on Friday, the highest single day surge so far, pushing the caseload to 13,50,501, the state government said.
A total of 1.78 lakh people are presently undergoing treatment for the infection, while 5,663 have been cured of the infection, taking the total recoveries to 11,66,135.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told reporters that the death count has mounted to 5,055 with 27 additional deaths.
The state has been witnessing a steep surge in cases with 26,995 cases being reported onThursday, 22,414 cases on Wednesday and 19,577 on Tuesday. While Ernakulam accounted for the highest number of cases-- 4548, Kozhikode recorded 3,939 and three districts reported over 2000 cases.
Amit Shah, Vijay Rupani visit upcoming 900-bed COVID-19 facility in GujaratUnion Home Minister Amit Shah and Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Friday visited the site of a 900-bed COVID-19 facility that is being set up with the help of DRDO, a premier Defence Ministry unit.
Mr Shah and Rupani arrived at the Gujarat University Convention-cum-Exhibition Centre at GMDC Ground in Ahmedabad which is being turned into a COVID-19 treatment facility, with 900 oxygen beds, including 150 ICU ones, an official said.
A state government release said its capacity can be enhanced by 500 beds in case the need arises.
Medical oxygen demand shot up by three times due to COVID-19 surge, says Medanta Chairman
Amid the shortage of liquid medical oxygen in the country, Medanta Chairman Dr Naresh Trehan said that the demand for medical oxygen demand shot up by three times due to the spike in the COVID-19 cases.
Speaking to ANI, Dr Trehan said that the issue is related to oxygen transportation.
"The demand for the medical oxygen has gone up due to the spike in the COVID-19 cases. The demand for oxygen has gone up by three times. This is a challenge. The steel industries, which are the biggest manufacturers of oxygen for their own consumption, offered to provide oxygen. But the issue is related to oxygen transportation. For this, special tankers have been ordered and the government is helping them in transportation. The supply chain can improve in 5-7 days," he said.
Amit Shah to visit Gujarat to review progress of COVID-19 hospital
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Gujarat on Friday to review the progress of an upcoming COVID-19 hospital in Ahmedabad city, the state government said on Thursday.
Equipped with 900 beds and having provision for ventilators and medical oxygen, the hospital is being set up inside a huge convention hall in the city.
If needed, 500 more beds can be added in the facility, being developed in collaboration with the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), said a release by the Gujarat government.
Amit Shah is scheduled to visit the medical facility, which is almost complete, on Friday afternoon, said the release.
The state government had recently decided to convert the Gujarat University's Convention-cum-Exhibition Centre at GMDC Ground into a dedicated COVID-19 hospital with 900 oxygen and ICU beds.
Himachal Pradesh records 1,774 new COVID-19 cases; positivity rate climbs to 21.67%
Every fifth sample has tested positive for the novel coronavirus infection as the positivity rate climbed to 21.67 per cent in Himachal Pradesh on Thursday, according to the data provided by the state health department.
The state reported 1,774 new COVID-19 cases and 18 fatalities on Thursday, pushing the infection tally to 82,876 and the deaths to 1,241, Special Health Secretary Nipun Jindal said, citing official data updated till 7 pm.
He said 1,774 of total 8,189 samples taken for testing were found to be COVID-19 positive on Thursday which amounts to the positivity rate of 21.67 per cent.
Six deaths were reported in Mandi, five in Kangra, two each in Sirmaur, Shimla and Hamirpur and one in Bilaspur, he added.
Assam reports 1,931 fresh COVID-19 cases, 10 more deaths
Assams COVID-19 caseload increased to 2,31,069 on Thursday as 1,931 more people tested
positive for the infection while ten new fatalities pushed the deaths to 1,160, the National Health Mission bulletin said.
The ten deaths, the highest in the current wave, were reported from Kamrup Metro (three), two from Karbi Anglong, and one each from Barpeta, Dibrugarh, Karimganj, Sonitpur, and Tinsukia.
The current death rate was 0.50 per cent, it said.
The NHM bulletin said, 1,347 more COVID-19 patients have died till now, but the state governments Death Audit has not included them in the tally of deaths caused by coronavirus
as they had other ailments too.
Bed availability for COVID patients in Punjab is comfortable: Amarinder Singh
Amid reports of a shortage of beds in healthcare facilities in some parts of the country, the Punjab government on Thursday said the situation in the state with respect to availability of beds for COVID-19 patients is comfortable. It also said a helpline number will provide real-time information with respect to availability of beds in the hospitals.
Chairing a meeting to review the COVID-19 situation, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh expressed concern at the reports about shortage of beds for coronavirus patients in various parts of the country.
He said the situation is comparatively comfortable in Punjab with respect to availability of beds in both government and private hospitals.
Mr Singh asked the health department to ensure that 75 per cent beds were reserved in the level-2 and level-3 facilities for COVID care. A complete ban has been imposed on elective surgeries so that the hospitals can focus on the treatment of COVID patients, he said.
Haryana records biggest single-day rise of 9,742 COVID-19 cases, 55 deaths
Haryana on Thursday recorded the biggest single-day jump of 9,742 COVID-19 cases and 55 fatalities that pushed the state's cumulative tally to 3,90,989 and the deaths to 3,583, a health department bulletin said.
On Wednesday, the state had recorded 9,623 fresh cases and 45 deaths. Among the districts that reported a big spike in cases on Thursday are Gurgaon (3,553), Faridabad (1,342), Sonipat (850), Karnal (530), Hisar (580) and Panchkula (459).
The latest deaths include 10 each from Gurgaon and Faridabad districts, six from Jind, and five each from Panipat and Karnal.
Uddhav Thackeray thanks Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for oxygen supply
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray spoke to his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik on Thursday and thanked him for helping with procurement of oxygen for Maharashtra. Mr Thackeray took to Twitter to inform about his conversation with Mr Patnaik.
The tweet said he thanked the Odisha chief minister for "helping in procurement and transportation of oxygen from Odisha to Maharashtra and for standing by each other in these crucial times as one nation". Mr Thackeray did not elaborate on the procurement of oxygen from the eastern state.
A tweet from Mr Patnaik's officeearlier in the day said the chief ministerdiscussed the coronavirus situation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Odisha will ramp up oxygen production to assist other states.
Madhya Pradesh's largest COVID-19 care centre starts functioning in Indore
Indore's Radha Soami Satsang Beas ground has been converted into Maa Ahilya COVID Care Centre and started functioning on Thursday. The centre has been started with 600 beds and is expected to accommodate 6,000 beds. It is the largest COVID care centre in Madhya Pradesh.
State Minister Tulsi Silawat said many businessmen from Indore have donated money and instruments for the COVID care centre. It will take care of asymptomatic COVID-19 patients.
"On behalf of the Chief Minister, I would like to thank Radha Soami Satsang Beas. In the first phase, 600 beds are made available. The RSS workers are also volunteering. Many industrialists and businessmen from Indore have donated money and instruments for this care centre. I am thankful to them," Tulsi Silawat told ANI while on a visit to the centre.
5 areas declared micro-containment zones in Jammu
The Jammu district administration on Thursday declared five areas micro-containment zones (MCZs) and made it mandatory for residents to get themselves tested for COVID-19, officials said.
Action, including the filing of an FIR, will be taken against anyone refusing to undergo the test, they said.
District Magistrate Anshul Garg declared Kalika Colony and Gorkha Nagar of Tehsil Bahu; south and east extension of Trikuta Nagar; Sector 6, 9 and extension-8 of Nanak Nagar; the shopping centre near Bhagat Singh Chowk Bakshi Nagar and Preet Nagar as MCZs.
Government offices in Uttarakhand to remain closed for 3 days for sanitisation
All government offices in Uttarakhand will remain closed for the next three days till Sunday for proper sanitisation in view of a rising number of coronavirus cases. The order to this effect was issued by the state health department.
Through another order, the department has asked all medical colleges, nursing schools and paramedical colleges to switch back to the online mode of education for the month of May and send the students residing in the hostels to their homes.
Additional Chief Secretary Radha Raturi also issued an order, closing all government and private schools, colleges and universities till further instructions and asking them to continue with the online mode of teaching.
People above 18 years to get free COVID vaccine in Jharkhand: Hemant Soren
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Thursday night said that his government will provide COVID-19 vaccine to people above 18 years of age for free.
Mr Soren's statement came after the Centre announced a ''liberalised'' policy making all adults above 18 years of age eligible to get inoculated from May 1 and allowing state governments and private hospitals to purchase vaccines from manufacturers.
Opposition parties alleged that the policy implies that the central government has abdicated its responsibility to provide free vaccines to citizens between the age group of 18 and 45 years.
"In Jharkhand, the corona vaccine will be provided free of cost to people above the age of 18 by the state government," Mr Soren, who heads a coalition government of JMM-Congress-RJD, said in a tweet.
Manipur's COVID-19 tally crosses 30,000-mark with 86 new cases
Manipur's COVID-19 tally crossed the 30,000-mark on Thursday as 86 more people tested positive for the disease, an official said.
The fresh infections pushed the coronavirus caseload in the northeastern state to 30,047, he said. The deaths rose to 381 after a 56-year-old man from Imphal East district died due to the infection at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences here, the official said.
The new cases include 31 from Imphal East, 17 from Imphal West, 14 from Kakching, nine from Churachandpur, six from Bishnupur, four from Thoubal, two each from Chandel and Senapati and one from Kangpokpi district.
COVID-19: Only govt staff can use local trains; media excluded
With new coronavirus-induced restrictions coming into force in Maharashtra from Thursday night, the state government said only government personnel and health workers will be allowed to travel by suburban trains in Mumbai.
The fresh restrictions under the government's "Break-the-Chain'' programme came into force at 8 pm on Thursday and will remain effective till 7 am on May 1.
No one else even notified as essential services or under exemptions as per earlier government orders will be allowed to use local trains during this period, said a statement issued by the office of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Government entities include civic bodies of Mumbai, Thane and other corporations, zilla parishads, government authorities, statutory commissions and agencies, the statement said.
COVID second wave continue to wreak havoc in Bihar: 11,489 new cases, 59 more deathsWith 59 more fatalities, the death count due to coronavirus rose to 1956 in Bihar on Thursday, health department bulletin said.
A total of 11,489 fresh COVID cases surfaced Thursday taking the count to 3,65,770 since the outbreak of the pandemic last year in the state, it said.
Among the new deaths, Patna accounted for nine casaulties while Bhagalpur reported 8 fatalities and Gaya five.
Other deaths came in from Darbhanga and Muzaffarpur four each, three patients each succumbed to coronavirus in Banka, Munger, Nawada and Vaishali, two each died in Gopalganj, Jehanabad, Madhepura, Nalanda, West Champaran, Samastipur and Saran and one casautly was reported from Bhojpur, Sitamarhi and Siwan.
Himachal Pradesh to provide free COVID vaccine to people between 18 and 44 yearsThe Himachal Pradesh government on Thursday said it will provide COVID vaccine free of cost to people between 18 and 44 years from May 1.
Following a meeting of the state cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Bhardwaj told reporters that the decision was made keeping in mind the welfare of the general public although it would be a huge burden on the exchequer.
The free vaccine will be provided in government health institutions, he added.
Other states that have made similar announcements include Uttar Pradesh, Assam Kerala.
The Centre had on Monday announced that all adults will be eligible for COVID vaccination from May 1 while private hospitals and states will be able to buy doses directly from manufacturers.
Uddhav Thackeray thanks Odisha Chief Minister for medical oxygen supply to MaharashtraMaharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray Thursday thanked his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik for supply of medical oxygen to the western state for treatment of COVID-19 patients.
PTI sources in the Chief Ministers Office said that Mr Thackeray called up Patnaik and thanked him for the steps taken for providing logistics and oxygen supply and their transportation to Maharashtra.
CMO Odisha in its twitter post said,"Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhavsaheb Thackeray @OfficeofUT today spoke to #Odisha CM@Naveen_Odisha and thanked him for the steps taken for logistics for oxygen supply and transport to Maharashtra."
"Supposed To Give Life...We Can't Even Give Oxygen": Doctor Breaks DownSome of the biggest hospitals in Delhi have over the past few days suffered the worst of the mayhem caused by the second wave of COVID-19. Conditions are equally deplorable, if not worse, in the smaller medical facilities of the National Capital Territory where the oxygen shortage crisis has turned nighmarish. So much so that one distraught senior doctor today broke down on camera while talking about his patients' precarious situation and having to discharge many of them out of turn.
"We as doctors, as a hospital, we are supposed to give them life. If we cannot give them even oxygen...what is the situation...patient will die..." Dr Sunil Saggar, CEO of Shanti Mukand Hospital in New Delhi, told ANI.
PM Cancels Bengal Visit Tomorrow, Will Chair High-Level Meetings On CovidPrime Minister Narendra Modi today cancelled his visit to Bengal on Friday to campaign for the ongoing state election citing meetings to review the Covid situation in the country. Home Minister Amit Shah also cut short his campaign today, cancelling two of his three Bengal meetings to return to Delhi for a Covid meeting. According to the BJP, all its top leaders have called off the rest of their campaign.
"Tomorrow, will be chairing high-level meetings to review the prevailing COVID-19 situation. Due to that, I would not be going to West Bengal," PM Modi tweeted, effectively ending his campaign in Bengal, which will vote in three more rounds before the election results on May 2.
Supreme Court Terms Covid Situation ''National Emergency'', Agrees To Hear Vedanta Plea Of Free Oxygen Supply
The Supreme Court Thursday termed the COVID-19 situation as almost a "national emergency" while agreeing to hear Vedanta's plea for opening of its Sterlite copper unit at Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu on the ground that it would produce thousand tonnes of oxygen and give it free of cost to treat patients.
A bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde was unimpressed with the objection of Tamil Nadu government which initially sought hearing of Vedanta's plea on Monday and opposed its opening on various grounds including that it has been rejected by the top court earlier.
"We understand all this. We will ensure compliance of all environmental norms by the plant and its oxygen producing facility would be allowed to operate. We are on the oxygen plant," the bench, also comprising Justices L Nageswara Rao and S Ravindra Bhat, said when senior advocate CS Vaidyanathan for Tamil Nadu objected to the plea of the company.
Australia To Cut Flights From India To Contain Covid Risk
Australia will reduce the number of its citizens able to return from India and other red-zone countries to contain the risk of more virulent strains of COVID-19 spreading, the government said on Thursday as it announced changes in its vaccination program.
The restrictions will result in a 30% reduction in direct flights from India to Sydney and chartered flights that land in the Northern Territory.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison, speaking to reporters after a meeting of the National Cabinet, said that he would announce in the next 24 hours when the new restrictions would come into place.
Supreme Court Wants National Plan On Covid Situation, Including On Oxygen Supply
As the country grapples with the current wave of COVID-19 pandemic, the Supreme Court Thursday took suo motu cognisance of the prevailing grim situation and said it wanted a "national plan" on issues, including supply of oxygen and essential drugs for treatment of patients infected with the virus.
A bench headed by Chief SA Bobde said it would also consider the issue pertaining to method and manner of COVID-19 vaccination in the country.
The bench, also comprising Justices LN Rao and SR Bhat, said it would examine the aspect relating to power of the high courts to declare lockdown amid the pandemic.
The top court appointed senior advocate Harish Salve as an amicus curiae to assist it in the suo motu proceedings.
Making Efforts To Airlift Oxygen From Odisha: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal
The Delhi government is making efforts to airlift its enhanced quota of oxygen supply from Odisha, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said Thursday, as several city hospitals reported shortage of oxygen amid rising cases of coronavirus.
Mr Kejriwal thanked the Centre and the High Court for their efforts towards raising Delhi's oxygen quota for treating COVID 19 patients, and said the supplies have started reaching the national capital.
He said a major chunk of the freshly allotted quota of oxygen to Delhi comes from Odisha, which is hundreds of kilometres away, and the Delhi government is planning to airlift it to save time at this critical juncture in the fight against coronavirus.
Supreme Court takes suo motu cognisance on prevailing COVID-19 situation in India, issues notice to Centre.
Odisha Reports Record 6,164 New Covid Cases, 7 Deaths
Odisha's COVID-19 tally soared to 3,88,479 as the state reported its highest single-day spike of 6,164 new cases on Thursday, while seven fresh fatalities pushed the coronavirus death count to 1,965, a health official said.
The state recorded a 30 per cent rise in new cases in the last 24 hours. It had registered 4,851 infections on Wednesday.
As many as 3,575 new cases were registered in quarantine centres, while 2,589 fresh infections were detected during contact tracing, he said.
Haryana Government announces summer vacations in all the government schools, as well as private schools, from April 22 to May 31.
AIIMS Covid Task Force Chief Urges Other Departments For More Doctors
The head of the medicine department at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi has requested his colleagues from other departments to provide 80 per cent of their resident doctors and faculty members for COVID-19 management.
In an urgent request, Dr Naveet Wig, who is also the chairperson of the hospital's COVID-19 Task Force, said that in view of an alarming rise in the number of patients suffering from the disease and the opening of multiple COVID-19 facilities in the hospital, the need of manpower has increased multi-fold.
Mizoram Reports 73 New COVID-19 Cases
Mizoram reported 73 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, taking the state's tally to 5,158, an official said.
Among the newly-infected patients are a 10-month-old baby and 13 other minors. Besides, seven elderly persons were also found to be infected in the last 24 hours.
The highest 52 new cases were reported from the Aizawl district, the official said.
Over 3 lakh fresh COVID-19 cases reported in India for the first time; 2,104 deaths, highest in 24 hours
4,664 New Covid Cases In Maharashtra's Thane, 47 Deaths
Thane has added 4,664 new cases of coronavirus, raising the infection count in the Maharashtra district to 4,30,651, an official said on Thursday.
Besides these new cases reported on Wednesday, the virus also claimed the lives of 47 more people, pushing the death count in the district to 7,078, he said.
The COVID-19 mortality rate in Thane is 1.64 per cent, he added.
Sitaram Yechury's Son, Passes Away Due To Covid