New Delhi: 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:
Apr 12, 2021 22:59 (IST)
Week-Long "Corona Curfew" Imposed In Bhopal City
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.
Apr 12, 2021 20:32 (IST)
Madhya Pradesh Records Highest One-Day Spike Of 6,489 COVID-19 Cases
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.
Apr 12, 2021 17:48 (IST)
Mehbooba Mufti's Daughter Tests Positive For COVID
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.
Apr 12, 2021 17:18 (IST)
Karnataka Asks Private Hospitals To Reserve 50% Beds For COVID Patients
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.
Apr 12, 2021 17:14 (IST)
Lockdown Leads To Job Losses: Devendra Fadnavis As Maharashtra Hints At Shutdown
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).
Apr 12, 2021 16:53 (IST)
30 Minute Interval Between "Shahi Snans" Of Two Akharas At Kumb Amid Covid: Police
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.
Apr 12, 2021 16:25 (IST)
Hospitals, COVID Centers Allegedly Asking Families Of Patients To Arrange Remdesivir Injection From Outside
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.
