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:
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.
People in the 18-45 age group will be inoculated against COVID-19 for free in Uttarakhand.
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.
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.
No restriction shall be imposed on the movement of Medical Oxygen between the State and transport authorities shall be instructed to accordingly allow free inter-state movement of oxygen-carrying vehicles: MHA #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/EvOkeuT7By
- ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2021
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.
Many hospitals in Delhi facing Oxygen crisis right now. Oxygen is completely exhausted in some, I've been receiving messages & emails from hospitals since morning. We're somehow providing them cylinders by rearranging from other hospitals that have slightly more stock:Delhi Dy CM pic.twitter.com/1GnxKEf3ZC
- ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2021
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.
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.
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.
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.
I have been discharged from the hospital today. Since doctors have advised me to rest, I will continue reviewing the Covid-19 situation from home until I recover fully. I thank you all for your support and good wishes. pic.twitter.com/pLddtE2X0M
- B.S. Yediyurappa (@BSYBJP) April 22, 2021
A total of 5,567 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Telangana on 21st April. A total of 2,251 people recovered while 23 deaths were reported yesterday.
- ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2021
The total number of COVID cases in the state is 3,73,468. The number of active cases is 49,781. pic.twitter.com/TGVZz0BzY7
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.
All hospital beds except those for dialysis patients, mother- childcare & life-threatening diseases to be dedicated for COVID patients in Bengaluru. All nursing homes&hospitals with up to 30 beds should mandatorily treat non-Covid patients: Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar pic.twitter.com/QySxVcehGH
- ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2021
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.
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.
It is with great sadness that I have to inform that I lost my elder son, Ashish Yechury to COVID-19 this morning. I want to thank all those who gave us hope and who treated him - doctors, nurses, frontline health workers, sanitation workers and innumerable others who stood by us.
- Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) April 22, 2021
Senior Congress leader and former Delhi minister Dr AK Walia passes away due to #COVID19, at Apollo Hospital in Delhi.
- ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2021
(File photo) pic.twitter.com/DJVzD2Vwqh