Vaccinations will be widened to everyone above 18 in the next stage beginning May 1, the government announced today after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a series of meetings today.
All adults will be vaccinated in "a liberalised and accelerated Phase 3 strategy of COVID-19 vaccination", the government said in a statement on a day India reported a new record high of 2.73 lakh cases in a day.
Delhi will be under complete curfew from tonight to next Monday morning amid a record rise in coronavirus cases that has severely strained the city's resources and health infrastructure.
All private offices will Work From Home and only government offices and essential services will be open, sources say.
A weekend curfew was on in the capital to "break the chain of transmission" but continuing violations in parts of the city signaled that harsher steps were needed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is holding a meeting to discuss the coronavirus crisis in the country as India battles an unprecedented surge in cases that saw a new record daily high today with over 2.73 lakh fresh infections.
India's total tally of COVID-19 cases crossed 1.50 crore with a record single-day rise of 2,73,810 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases surpassed the 19-lakh mark, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday.
The total tally of COVID-19 cases mounted to 1,50,61,919 and the death count increased to 1,78,769 with a record 1,619 daily new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.
Registering a steady increase for the 40th day in a row, the active cases have increased to 19,29,329 comprising 12.81 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has dropped to 86 per cent.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,29,53,821, while the case fatality rate has further dropped to 1.19 per cent, the data stated.
Meanwhile, amid a crippling shortage of life-saving medical oxygen in many Covid-hit parts of the country, Union Minister Piyush Goyal has advised states to keep the "demand under control" by containing the rapid second coronavirus wave that has triggered an unprecedented spurt in cases.
Here are the highlights on Coronavirus India Cases:
Andhra Pradesh | Total 6,568 beds (govt & pvt hospitals) in district, with 1022 ICU beds, 2650 non-ICU oxygen beds & 710 ventilators. We've production capacity of one & a half times more than required oxygen: State Tourism Minister at COVID review meeting in Visakhapatnam (19.06) pic.twitter.com/6Xcb77JHnJ
- ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2021
Delhi: Migrant workers throng Anand Vihar Bus Terminal after the National Capital goes into 1-week lockdown starting tonight at 10 pm pic.twitter.com/7ZeyMcKSLZ
- ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2021
With the government opening the COVID-19 vaccination drive to everyone above 18 years of age, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called a meeting with vaccine manufacturers on Tuesday, sources said.
Attacking the UP government over the coronavirus crisis, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav Monday alleged the government has lost control over administration which is why the pandemic is spreading fast in the state, reported news agency PTI.
He also slammed the chief minister for campaigning in elections in West Bengal and other states in an official statement.
"The news that are coming are very horrifying. In Bareilly, there is no place left in crematorium. In Agra, Ghaziabad and Kanpur too, there is similar situation," he alleged.
"Is this the manner in which the BJP made the state happy? There is no place in "shmashana" (burning ghats) and no beds in hospitals. The government has become deaf and dumb. There are the arrangements which the prime minister and the chief minister used to advertise about. It will be better if the BJP leaves the government and stops playing with the lives of people," Yadav said.
The centre has given 100 per cent advance to two of India's Covid vaccine manufacturers till July, senior sources in the Finance Ministry told NDTV on Monday.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday hoped the state will receive COVID-19 vaccines on time on a day the Centre announced that everyone above 18 years of age will be eligible to get vaccinated from May 1 even as he thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for considering his demand to expand the vaccination drive, reported news agency PTI.
According to a Central Railway release, the Ro-Ro (roll-on-roll-off) train with seven empty tankers left for the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant from Kalamboli goods yard in Navi Mumbai, about 40km from state capital Mumbai, at 8:05 pm.
Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa chaired a virtual all-party Covid meet today as the state reported 15,785 fresh cases with 146 deaths Monday.
Thousands of migrant workers gathered at Anand Vihar ISBT here to catch a bus home, hours after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced a week-long lockdown and appealed to them with folded hands not to leave Delhi.
The Delhi government today set up a committee to ensure "rational" use of oxygen for treatment of COVID-19 patients, according to an official order.
A lockdown has been ordered in five UP cities - Lucknow, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Kanpur, Gorakhpur - from tonight till April 26, with only essential services like grocery stores and pharmacies (with less than three staffers) allowed to remain open.
The Delhi government today issued a circular advancing the summer vacation in all city schools as the national capital fights a massive battle against coronavirus.
Vaccinations will be widened to everyone above 18 in the next stage beginning May 1, the government announced today after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a series of meetings today.
Kerala has decided to prohibit the public from attending the Thrissur Pooram - the famous temple festival held on the grounds of Vadakkunathan temple in Thrissur - 24 hours after state Health Minister KK Shailaja told NDTV that the festival will be held as planned.
The number of containment zones in the national capital has jumped to 13,259 from 2,183 on April 1, according to official data released by the Delhi government as the city grapples to rein in the drastic surge in COVID cases.
Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has tested positive for coronavirus today and been admitted to the AIIMS Trauma Centre around 5 pm, news agency ANI reported.
The Delhi High Court Monday directed the Centre and AAP government to file affidavits by Tuesday disclosing hospital-wise availability of beds for COVID-19 patients.
500 existing beds will be converted into oxygen beds in the next two days in Ahmedabad to tackle the massive Covid spike, said senior IAS officer Rajiv Kumar Gupta, who is overseeing the AMC's coronavirus-related operations, reported news agency PTI.
With the support of the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB), the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has managed to divert around 1,500 oxygen cylinders, meant for industrial use, for medical purposes in the city, the civic body's release said.
Due to this, vendors will now have more oxygen cylinders to supply to private hospitals, it said.
The Ahmedabad civic body has procured 1,000 oxygen cylinders from Kutch district in Gujarat to add more oxygen beds in the city in view of the spike in COVID-19 cases, officials said on Monday, reported news agency PTI.
To cope up with the shortage of medical oxygen in hospitals in Ahmedabad, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has sought the support of the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) to divert industrial oxygen for medical use, they said.
Apart from providing these oxygen cylinders to AMC-run hospitals, the civic body has also planned to provide them to private hospitals designated to treat coronavirus patients, the AMC said in a release.
"We have procured 1,000 oxygen cylinders from Kutch overnight. We will use these cylinders to convert the existing isolation beds in the civic-run hospitals into beds with oxygen supply," said senior IAS officer Rajiv Kumar Gupta, who is overseeing the AMC's coronavirus-related operations.
GOI, you are utterly ungrateful. pic.twitter.com/bXQd7tp7d9
- Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 19, 2021
Mohali will remain under complete lockdown on Wednesday, on the occasion of Ram Navami, to avoid gatherings amid a surge in coronavirus cases in the region, the Punjab Government said, reported news agency ANI.
A total of 1,22,83,050 people have so far received the COVID-19 vaccine in Maharashtra, the state government said on Monday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is holding several back to back meetings to discuss the coronavirus crisis in the country as India battles an unprecedented surge in cases that saw a new record daily high today with over 2.73 lakh fresh infections.
In order to discuss the grim COVID-19 situation across the country, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Monday demanded a special session of Parliament.
He said that there should be an open discussion on the situation of all states.
"I've demanded a special session of Parliament because I've been speaking to political leaders of the country. They say the situation is grim in their states too. So, if the government calls a special session, there''ll be an open discussion on the situation of all states," said Shiv Sena MP.
Earlier in the day, he has said that it is an unprecedented and almost a war-like situation in the country.
The Manipur government has decided to impose night curfew in the state from 7 pm to 5 am
Maharashtra vaccinated 1,27,079 people in the last 24 hours against the COVID-19 in 1,515 sessions, informed the Maharashtra Health Department on Monday.
With this, the total number of people vaccinated in the state touched 1,22,83,050.
As per state government data, these include 10,67,486 HCWs who have taken the 1st dose and 5,42,627 HCWs who have taken the 2nd dose, 11,13,691 FLWs (1st dose), 3,67,965 FLWs (2nd dose), 87,86,940 first dose beneficiaries and 4,04,341 second dose beneficiaries of more than 45 years old.
Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa will virtually participate in an all-party meeting over the prevailing COVID-19 situation in the state, which is set to begin at 3:30 pm in Vidhana Soudha.
The meeting will be chaired by Karnataka Revenue Minister R Ashok, as Mr Yediyurappa is currently admitted in a hospital after testing positive for the novel coronavirus on Friday. The meeting will see the participation of all MPs and MLAs, along with ministers of different fields.
The all-party meeting was scheduled to be held earlier, however, it was postponed after Mr Yediyurappa's COVID-19 diagnosis.
This is the second time that the 78-year-old BJP leader has tested positive for coronavirus.
Mizoram on Monday reported 45 new COVID-19 cases, taking the state's tally to 4,904, an
Boris Johnson's visit to India next week cancelled due to COVID-19: news agency AFP quoting UK government.
Delhi: People gather in large numbers outside a liquor shop in Khan Market; social distancing norms flouted.
- ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2021
Lockdown to be imposed in the national capital from 10pm tonight to 6am next Monday (26th April). pic.twitter.com/Fq1iNGJo1d
"This is a variant of interest we are following," Maria Van Kerkhove, the World Health Organization's technical lead officer on Covid, told reporters Friday. "Having two of these mutations, which have been seen in other variants around the world, are concerning," she said, adding that there was a similarity with mutations that increase transmission as well as reduce neutralization, possibly stunting the ability of vaccines to curb them.
Delhi will be under a six-day lockdown from 10pm tonight till next Monday 5am, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced day as the national capital struggles to tackle with the massive Covid surge, shortage of ICU beds and oxygen supply.
Delhi will be under a six-day lockdown from 10 pm tonight to 5 am on Monday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced today as the second and more deadly wave of coronavirus showed little signs of slowing down.
Amid surge in #COVID19 cases, migrant workers were seen walking on NH 27 in Kanpur to return to their native places.
- ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 19, 2021
"I am returning to my home in Bihar & I have come from Gujarat. I fear there will be another lockdown so I want to return home safely," says a worker pic.twitter.com/lGZ2YlVJ2n
Amid the row over Remdesivir supply, Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad has said if he would have found the coronavirus, he would have it into the mouth of BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, sparking protests by the opposition party in Maharashtra.
- We did not reduce tests, like other states. Today, we are doing over 1 lakh cases. We have not hid number of deaths. We have been open about the situation - be it number of beds or oxygen.
- Together we will again defeat the crisis.
- In the past 2-3 days, cases have risen to over 25,000 cases putting stress on hospitals.
- There are less than 100 ICU beds, oxygen also in shortage. We have written to Centre.
- We were told a hospital had to struggle at night to arrange hospital. The situation is very serious.
- This is the fourth wave. Many international cities collapsed when they witnessed around 6,000 cases. But we have managed.
- Our health system is under lot of stress. Every system has their limitations. We need to take very difficult steps.
- Today I met Lt Governor and discussed all steps. We need to impose lockdown to put the situation under control. From today 10 pm, we have decided to impose lockdown.
- Only 50 people will be allowed at weddings. A detailed order will be released soon.
- To migrants - I appeal to all that this is a small lockdown of 6 days. Please don't leave Delhi. I assure you that the government will look after you.
- I have always been against lockdown. The lockdown will not finish the virus, but reduce the transmission rate.
- Centre is providing full support. I am sure that we will fight the virus together and defeat it.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has directed all the top officials to make elaborate arrangements and step up their efforts at every level to deal with the deteriorating COVID-19 situation in the state.
Taking to Twitter, Ms Banerjee said that the Chief Secretary along with key officials will be doing a press conference at 2 pm to discuss the details of the plan to deal with the COVID-19 situation.
"With the massive surge in #COVID19 cases across India, GoWB is taking all necessary steps to protect its people. I''ve reached out the PM to help us with additional medicines and vaccines required," she tweeted.
"I have also directed all the top officials to make elaborate arrangements and step up their efforts at every level to deal with #COVID19 situation in WB. The Chief Secretary along with key officials will be doing a Press conference at 2PM to discuss the details of the plan," the Chief Minister said in another tweet.
Delhi will be under complete curfew from tonight to next Monday morning amid a record rise in coronavirus cases that has severely strained the city's resources and health infrastructure.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be holding a meeting shortly to discuss the coronavirus crisis in the country as India battles an unprecendented surge in cases that saw a new record daily-high today with over 2.73 lakh fresh infections.
The Shiv Sena has called for a two-day special session of Parliament to discuss the unprecedented situation arising out of the Covid-19 resurgence. The party's Sanjay Raut called the prevailing conditions "war-like".
Telangana reported 4,009 fresh COVID-19 cases pushing the tally to over 3.55 lakh, while the
Odisha reported 4,445 new COVID-19 cases, 1,309 recoveries and four deaths in the last 24 hours, informed the state health department on Monday.
According to the state health minister, the total number of cases now stands at 3,72,703. There are 24,568 active cases, 3,46,134 patients have been cured or recovered and 1, 948 deaths so far.
Of the new cases, 2,574 were reported from quarantine centres and 1,871 detected during contact tracing.
The state has so far conducted 96,36,052 sample tests for COVID-19.
India's total tally of COVID-19 cases surged to 1,50,61,919 with 2,73,810 new infections, while the recoveries have surged to 1,29,53,821, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday. The death count increased to 1,78,769 with 1,619 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.
Maharashtra: State Government's statewide restrictions till May 1st in the wake of the #COVID19 situation, continues. Section 144 has been imposed across the state.
- ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2021
Visuals from Gateway of India in Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/shtg8M8KWR
Maharashtra: State Government's statewide restrictions till May 1st in the wake of the #COVID19 situation, continues. Section 144 has been imposed across the state.
- ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2021
Visuals from Gateway of India in Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/shtg8M8KWR
Maharashtra: With a surge in COVID cases, Pune-based hospital runs short of oxygen
- ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2021
"Oxygen consumption is 9 tons per day now. In the 1st wave, it was 6 tons. There's shortage of supply. Remdesivir supply is also short for some days.," says Executive Director of Noble Hospital pic.twitter.com/GMIQzruaRb
Uttarakhand: Amid increasing COVID caseload, sadhus wrap up from Haridwar Kumbh Mela
- ANI (@ANI) April 18, 2021
"We have decided to gather here in minimum numbers & celebrate Kumbh Mela in a symbolic way to avoid any rush," says Mahant Sadanand from Agni Akhada (18.06) pic.twitter.com/qODyEd7nQi