Russia's Covid vaccine Sputnik-V has been cleared for emergency use approval in India by a committee of experts in the middle of a record spike in virus cases in the country. If approved by regulator DGCI, this will become the third vaccine to be used in India after Serum Institute of India's Covishield - developed by Oxford-AstraZeneca - and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin.
Sputnik-V, manufactured in India by Dr Reddy's, has the highest effectiveness - 91.6 per cent -- after the Moderna and Pfizer shots.
Meanwhile, state board exams for classes 10 and 12 have been postponed in Maharashtra amid the Covid surge. The class 12 exams will now be held by the end of May and the class 10 exams in June, state School Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad said. The exact dates will be announced based on the developing situation, which the administration is monitoring, she said.
"The present circumstances are not conducive for holding exams. Your health is our priority," Ms Gaikwad said in a video message posted on Twitter today.
Here are the Highlights on Coronavirus India Cases:
We are not in a position to take this extreme step (of imposing lockdown) so we are trying to motivate & educate people about the importance of observance of COVID-appropriate behaviour & vaccination: Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar (12.04) pic.twitter.com/w25sIJwEmc
- ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2021
"Coronavirus infection is a curse to mankind. It has taken more lives than any other pandemic. Though restrictions like partial lockdowns, night curfew are imposed in other parts of the country. To prevent the rapid spread of the disease, in poll-bound West Bengal no such precautions have been adopted," Mr Chowdhury wrote in his letter to the EC.
Chhattisgarh reported 13,576 fresh COVID-19 cases (out of 45,997 tests), 4,436 discharges, and 107 deaths on Monday
- ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2021
Active cases: 98,856
Total recoveries: 3,52,986
Death toll: 5,031 pic.twitter.com/Mzp548xdKN
A week-long "corona curfew" was imposed in Bhopal city on Monday night to curb the rising cases of COVID-19 in the Madhya Pradesh capital, reported news agency PTI.
The curfew came into force at 9 pm and will remain effective till 6 am on April 19, an official order said.
A decision to impose the curbs on movement of people and operation of business and commercial establishments was taken at a meeting of the district crisis management committee here on a day when Bhopal recorded more than 800 COVID-19 infections.
As per the order, all business establishments would remain closed during the "corona curfew" and movement of people and vehicles will also be restricted.
The Covid-19 pandemic is in a critical phase, the World Health Organization said Monday, warning cases were surging despite proven measures to rein in the spread.
Madhya Pradesh on Monday reported 6,489 fresh coronavirus positive cases, the biggest spike in a single day, while 37 patients died of the infection, the state health department said, reported news agency PTI.
The state's case tally has reached 3,44,634 while the death count is at 4,221. Madhya Pradesh is now left with 38,651 active cases.
Since the beginning of April, Madhya Pradesh added 49,123 new COVID-19 cases while 235 people died, officials said.
A total of 3,117 people were discharged from hospitals in Madhya Pradesh in the last 24 hours, taking the overall count of recoveries to 3,01,762 on Monday, the department said.
Andhra Pradesh reported 3,263 fresh cases of coronavirus, 1,091 recoveries and 11 deaths in 24 hours ending 9 am on Monday, reported news agency PTI.
Amid a resurgence in coronavirus cases, the number of containment zones in the national capital has risen to 5,705, with South Delhi accounting for the maximum 1,303 red zones, according to official data, reported news agency PTI.
Goa's coronavirus caseload went up by 476 and reached 62,780 on Monday, while two patients died and 231 recovered during the day, an official said, reported news agency PTI
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut today blamed the Centre for the rise in coronavirus cases in Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Punjab, reported news agency PTI. Speaking to reporters, Mr Raut said Maharashtra had followed every instruction issued by the Centre, and the latter must act sensitively and cautiously and stop blaming states.
Iltija Mufti, daughter of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, has tested positive for COVID-19, reported news agency ANI.
Mehbooba Mufti confirmed the news on her official Twitter handle and said that her daughter is currently self-isolating on doctors' advice and is taking all other precautions.
"Want to confirm media reports that my younger daughter Iltija tested positive for COVID today. As advised by doctors she is now self-isolating and taking all the necessary precautions," the People's Democratic Party president said in her tweet.
In view of the surge in COVID-19 cases, Karnataka Health and Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar today said that the private hospitals have been asked to reserve 50 per cent beds for COVID patients, reported news agency ANI.
Speaking to the media after attending a video conference with the Private Hospitals and Nursing Home Association (PHANA), Dr Sudhakar said, "Private hospitals have been asked to reserve 50 percent beds for COVID patients as it was done during the first wave."
"Private hospitals have agreed to reserve 50 percent beds for COVID patients within a week. Patients without symptoms and with mild symptoms will be isolated in hotels and COVID care centres. Only patients with severe conditions will be treated in hospitals", said the minister.
Stating that people lose jobs when a lockdown is imposed, senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Monday alleged the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government is not serious about providing any financial aid to the vulnerable sections, reported news agency PTI.
Taking a dig at the state government amid talks that an extended lockdown is imminent in Maharashtra in view of a steep rise in COVID-19 cases, Mr Fadnavis said there is a "lockshahi" in the state now instead of "lokshahi" (democracy).
As lakhs of devotees today took a holy dip in the Ganga at Haridwar's Har Ki Pauri on the second "Shahi Snan" (ritualistic bath) during the ongoing Kumbh Mela, Uttarakhand top cop Ashok Kumar said a gap of half an hour is being observed between the "snans" of two akharas to clean the ghats, reported news agency ANI.
He also informed that the footfall of devotees is 50 per cent less than expected due to the resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As many as 21,07,000 people have taken the ritualistic bath in and around the Kumbh Mela area till 12 noon, according to the Kumbh Mela police control room.
Crisis over the shortage of Remdesivir injection in Maharashtra continued today with relatives of some patients in Pune alleging that hospitals and COVID-19 care centers are asking them to arrange the drug from outside chemist shops, reported news agency ANI.
People, in large numbers, were seen staging a protest outside a chemist shop in the Shukrawar Peth area over the shortage of Remdesivir injection.
A decision to impose a "lockdown" under the garb of "janata curfew" (voluntary shutdown) in the last week of February when coronavirus cases started to build up in most parts of Maharashtra helped Amravati tackle the onslaught better than others, the district's guardian minister Yashomati Thakur said on Monday.
Nodal officers to be appointed for accurate & more proactive functioning of 24 Ward War Rooms & jumbo field hospitals respectively, especially from 11 pm-7 am. The officers shall function in 2 shifts from 3-11 pm & 11 pm to 7 am both at Ward War Rooms & jumbo field hospitals: BMC
- ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2021
Delhi: Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh takes his second dose of #COVID19 vaccine at AIIMS
- ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2021
He received his first jab on March 11 pic.twitter.com/NXs7cnpZW8
Held review meeting. We are taking several steps to increase beds in both pvt and govt sectors. Urge everyone to cooperate. Please follow COVID protocols. Don't rush to hospital unless necessary. Go and vaccinate if you are eligible: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal
- ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2021
(File photo) pic.twitter.com/6FoqkUa1ne
Maharashtra: #COVID19 vaccination underway at BKC centre in Mumbai. Kiran, a ward boy here, says, "Senior citizens with walking difficulty are taken inside on wheelchairs. Those on wheelchairs are given direct token & they have direct entry. They don't need to stand in queues." pic.twitter.com/ZYfBBzVJuA
- ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2021
Gujarat HC's hearing on suo motu PIL on #COVID19: Chief Justice says - It takes 4-5 days for common man to get report, whereas officers can get RT-PCR report within hrs. Sample collection & testing should be faster. There's no RT-PCR testing centre in taluka & small villages.
- ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2021
Chandigarh: Union Minister Som Prakash receives his second dose of #COVID19 vaccine at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) pic.twitter.com/G0ZnwOXzIg
- ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2021
Mumbai Police regrets to inform about the unfortunate demise of PSI Mohan Dagade from Vakola Police Station. Shri. Dagade was battling Coronavirus.
- Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) April 12, 2021
We pray for his soul to rest in peace. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Dagade family.
Service Update
- Delhi Metro Rail Corporation I कृपया मास्क पहनें😷 (@OfficialDMRC) April 12, 2021
Entry for Hauz Khas has been temporarily closed to ensure social distancing as part of our crowd control measures.
Exit is allowed.
MP: Locals attacked a team of govt officials when they tried to enforce weekend lockdown in Naya Gaon, Chitrakoot yesterday. "In a locality, shops were open & around 15 people were drinking liquor. When police tried to chase them away, they pelted stones," said SHO Santosh Tiwari pic.twitter.com/sYSDnLyk5R
- ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2021
Madhya Pradesh: Locals in Hinota town of Damoh district observed self-imposed on Saturday & Sunday in view of rising COVID cases in the state.
- ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2021
"Shopkeepers have voluntarily decided to keep their shops shut for two days. It can be further extended," a local said yesterday. pic.twitter.com/N0Y9DUycRB
Odisha: Gajapati district administration sealed two cinema halls in Paralakhemundi for violating COVID-related guidelines after a large number of people thronged the halls to watch Pawan Kalyan starrer Telugu movie 'Vakeel Saab' yesterday. pic.twitter.com/cCOztb4YCx
- ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2021
Senior PRO of Western Railways Jitendra Kumar Jayant told news agency ANI that the Western Railway administration is planning to vaccinate 3,000 railway employees and their families.
"We have received 150 doses of the vaccine in the first phase of the drive started by the railway administration," Mr Jayant said.