Coronavirus Updates: 2,17,353 Fresh COVID-19 Cases In India

Record cases in Delhi, Maharashtra
While Delhi reported 19,486 Covid cases in the last 24 hours, Maharashtra logged 63,729 infections.

The national capital also reported 141 deaths, which is its biggest one-day Covid death count. The city's active cases have risen to highest-ever 61,000. The recovery rate has dropped to 90.94 per cent.

Delhi's positivity rate was 19.69 per cent. 12,649 Covid patients were discharged in the last 24 hours. Nearly 99,000 coronavirus tests were conducted in the city during the period.

Maharashtra, the worst-hit state, logged 398 deaths in the last 24 hours. 45,335 patients were discharged.

10 Democrats Ask Biden To Back India's Waiver Bid At WTO

Ten Democratic Senators led by influential Bernie Sanders have urged US President Joe Biden to support India and South Africa's proposal to the WTO to temporarily lift certain intellectual property barriers and allow countries to locally manufacture COVID-19 diagnostics and vaccines, arguing that this is key to end the pandemic and a strong American recovery.

Simultaneously, another group of 18 Republican lawmakers has written a separate letter to Biden against such a proposal, arguing that the US would lose vital research and development capacity needed to prepare for future pandemics and other health security threats.

COVID-19: Uttarakhand restricts entry of people in state secretariat
Amid the rise in COVID-19 cases in the state, the Uttarakhand government has restricted the entry of people in the state secretariat.

The order was issued by the Chief Secretary of the state Om Prakash on Friday said that only ministers and staff will be allowed to enter the secretariat.

"The journalists are also not allowed to enter the secretariat," the order said.

Meanwhile, the schools in Dehradun, Nainital, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar and Kotdwar Bhabar districts in Uttarakhand will remain closed till April 30.

China To Build More Bio Labs Amid Scrutiny Over Wuhan Facility On Covid
China has operationalised its new biosecurity law to fortify the legal cover for the establishment and safe operation of more bio labs in the country amidst questions whether the COVID-19 originated from such a laboratory in Wuhan.

The coronavirus emerged in China's central Wuhan city in December 2019 and became a pandemic, upending life across the globe.

Under the new Biosecurity Law, China will continue to build and approve more labs specialising in advanced pathogenic microbiology with a scrupulous and scientific manner, the country's Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Xiang Libin said. Read

Delhi, Maharashtra Report Biggest Ever Single-Day Covid Spike
Maharashtra and Delhi on Friday reported their biggest ever single-day surge in coronavirus cases, according to government data.

The national capital also reported 141 deaths, which is its biggest one-day Covid death count. The city's active cases have risen to highest-ever 61,000. The recovery rate has dropped to 90.94 per cent.

Delhi's positivity rate was 19.69 per cent. 12,649 Covid patients were discharged in the last 24 hours. Nearly 99,000 coronavirus tests were conducted in the city during the period.

Maharashtra, the worst-hit state, logged 398 deaths in the last 24 hours. 45,335 patients were discharged.

Remdesivir Use Rampant, Private Hospitals To Blame: Maharashtra Minister

Amid a rise in COVID-19 cases, Remdesivir, a key medicine in the treatment of the infection, is reportedly in short supply.

"The Maharashtra State COVID task force, comprising medical experts, has categorized COVID-19 patients as A, B, C, D and E, the last being those who have severe symptoms and have comborbidities. Remdesivir should be administered to only such patients. But I have come to know that it is being given to patients who have mild symptoms or are asymptomatic. It is the private hospitals that have increased the demand for Remdesivir," he said.

"There should be judicious use of the medicine, but we have observed it is being used rampantly. We have been asking them not to do so, but there are limitations to our appeal as well. The state government has set up flying squads to check its misuse," the minister added.

Covid Vaccinations Near 12 Crore-Mark In India: Health Ministry

A total of 66,689 COVID Vaccination Centres (CVCs) were operational, marking a rise of an average of 21,689 operational centres (45,000 CVCs on an average are functional on any given day). Workplace vaccinations have also enabled such a high turnout of beneficiaries, it said.

The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country stands at 11,97,87,239, according to the 8 pm provisional report.

As Covid Cases Rise, Goa Ramps Up Bed Capacity At Hospitals

The coastal state recorded 927 COVID-19 cases and six casualties during the day.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Sawant said while some states have gone for lockdowns and night curfews to control the spread of the virus, the Goa government is not planning to do so.

The state government is augmenting its COVID-19 treatment facilities, by adding 60 beds at the Goa Medical College and Hospital, which currently has 180 beds, while 150 beds will be set up at South Goa District Hospital in Margao in addition to the existing 309, the chief minister said.

Delhi Records Biggest Single-Day Jump Of 19,486 Covid Cases

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar Tests Positive For Covid

Mr Javadekar, who holds the key portfolios of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Information and Broadcasting, and Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, informed about having tested positive for coronavirus on Twitter.

"I have tested #COVID positive today. All those who have come in contact with me in the last 2-3 days may please get themselves tested," the 70-year-old Union minister said.

Bombay High Court Extends Interim Orders Passed In Cases Till May 7 Amid Covid

Describing the prevailing coronavirus situation in Maharashtra as alarming, the High Court has also decided to take up only urgent matters for hearing virtually till May 7.

A special bench, comprising Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justices AA Sayed, SS Shinde and P B Varale, noted that litigants might not be able to approach courts urgently due to the April 13 order of the Maharashtra government imposing new restrictions on public movement.

Maharashtra To Face Shortage Of Remdesivir For Next 2 To 3 Days: Minister

He said pharma companies manufacturing Remdesivir have stepped up production but it will take time for the new stock to reach the market.

"Companies that produce Remdesivir injection have increased their production but it will take some time for the vials to hit the market. If we consider a 10-12 per cent shortage, Maharashtra will continue to face a shortage of 12,000 to 15,000 Remdesivir vials for the next two to three days," he said.

UP Sees Record Daily Rise Of 27,426 Covid Cases

The death count climbed to 9,583 with 103 more fatalities, Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Amit Mohan Prasad told reporters.

This is the third straight day when the state has reported a record rise in COVID-19 cases. As many as 22,439 fresh cases were recorded on Thursday and 20,510 on Wednesday.

With over 36 lakh cases, Maharashtra remains country's worst-hit state
Maharashtra, the country's worst-hit state, reported 61,695 fresh coronavirus cases, taking the tally to 36,39,855, while 349 new fatalities pushed the death count to 59,153. The state is under a strict curfew till the end of April. In terms of the total caseload, Maharashtra is followed by the southern states of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.