COVID-19 Live Updates: The total tally of Coronavirus cases in the country rose to 1,40,74,564.
Delhi will go into a weekend curfew to tackle a record rise in Covid cases over the past few weeks. Essential activities, including weddings, will be allowed with curfew passes.
Auditoriums, malls, gyms and spas will be shut down and cinema theatres will be allowed with a third of the capacity.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced this after meeting with Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and other officials.
Delhi reported 17,282 fresh cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday in the highest single-day surge in the capital since the pandemic erupted. The figure makes Delhi the worst-hit city in the second wave of infections raging through the country.
Meanwhile, amid an alarming rise in coronavirus cases, the Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday tightened existing restrictions in worst-hit districts, including extension of night curfew hours and deferring the state board exams till next month.
At the meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, a decision was also taken to extend the closure of schools till May 15.
"Due to a steady increase in COVID-19 cases, the Uttar Pradesh government has decided to postpone Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations and has said that the new dates will be decided in May after reviewing the COVID-19 situation in the state. For students of Classes 1 to 12, classroom teaching will remain suspended till May 15. No exam will be held during this period. The UP Board Class 10 and Class 12 examinations will be held after May 20 and the new time table will be decided in the first week of May," the government has said.
Here are the Live Updates on Coronavirus India Cases:
Over 300 Delhi Cops Test Covid+, 15 In Hospital Over 300 Delhi Police personnel who are at the forefront of efforts to ensure that people are adhering to the Covid-19 restrictions, have been tested positive for coronavirus in the last few days.
"Over 300 Delhi Police personnel test positive for COVID-19. While 15 of them are admitted to the hospital, the rest are home quarantined," the Delhi police said.
Speaking on the situation, Delhi Police Commissioner SN Shrivastava had earlier said some of our police personnel have tested positive in the last few days amid a sudden surge in COVID-19 cases in the city.
Pfizer Boss: Vaccine 3rd Dose "Likely" In 12 Months
The head of Pfizer said in an interview aired Thursday that people will "likely" need a third dose of his company's Covid-19 vaccine within a year of being fully vaccinated.
CEO Albert Bourla also said annual vaccinations against the coronavirus may well be required.
"We need to see what would be the sequence, and for how often we need to do that, that remains to be seen," Bourla told CNBC in an interview recorded on April 1.
"A likely scenario is that there will be likely a need for a third dose, somewhere between six and 12 months and then from there, there will be an annual revaccination, but all of that needs to be confirmed," he said, adding that variants will play a "key role."
Centre Allows Mumbai's Haffkine To Produce Covaxin, Uddhav Thackeray Thanks PM
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allowing Maharashtra-government owned Haffkine Institute to manufacture Bharat Biotech''s Covaxin, on the basis of transfer of technology.
The Maharashtra government made the announcement regarding the approval through their official Twitter handle.
"The Dept of Science and Technology, Government of India, has granted approval to Haffkine Institute to produce Bharat Biotech''s Covaxin vaccine on a transfer of technology basis," CMO Maharashtra tweeted.
100 new hospitals to have their own oxygen plant under PM-CARES Fund
The government on Thursday took decisions for easier availability of essential medical equipment and oxygen in the wake of rising cases of COVID-19 and said 100 new hospitals will have their own oxygen plant under PM-CARES Fund and another 50,000 MT of medical oxygen will be imported.
A meeting of Empowered Group 2 (EG2) was held on Thursday to review the availability of essential medical equipment and oxygen. The meeting identified 4880 MT, 5619 MT and 6593 MT for 12 high burden states for meeting their projected demand as on April 20, April 25 and April 30 respectively.
Nitish Kumar receives second dose of COVID-19 vaccineBihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday received his second dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
Bihar Deputy Chief Ministers Tarkishore Prasad and Renu Devi also took their second jabs of the vaccine.
"I appeal to all to get tested and those eligible to get vaccinated. We are monitoring the COVID-19 situation in the state. On April 17, an all-party meeting will be held under the leadership of Governor Phagu Chauhan," Kumar told reporters.
At present, Bihar has 23,725 COVID-19 active cases.
Delhi records 16,699 new COVID-19 cases, 112 deaths; positivity rate oDelhi records 16,699 new COVID-19 cases, 112 deathsDelhi recorded 16,699 fresh COVID-19 cases with a sharp rise in the positivity rate to over 20 per cent, and 112 fatalities on Thursday, according to data shared by the health department in Delhi.
While the number of positive cases was lower than on Wednesday, it was because of fewer tests conducted.
The 16,699 new cases came out of 82,569 tests done on Wednesday, relatively less than the over 1.08 lakh examinations done on the previous day.
As per the latest bulletin, the positivity rate stands at 20.22 per cent, the highest till date in Delhi, while the death toll recorded so far is 11,652.
Karnataka Health Minister announces new programme to keep sportspersons healthy
Health and medical education Minister Dr K Sudhakar on Thursday declared that a programme has been designed for sportspersons in Karnataka to keep them healthy.
Speaking to the media, the minister said that the Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports and the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) have entered a formal agreement in which health experts from RGUHS will guide the talented sportspersons.
He also informed that department of youth empowerment and sports has designed a programme to provide quality health care to resident sportspersons in 34 sports hostels in the state.
Will Extend Weekend Curfew In Delhi If Needed, Says Arvind KejriwalThe curfew in Delhi is only for this weekend and will be extended to the next weekend only if needed after a reassessment, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said today. In an exclusive interview to NDTV, he also ruled out any lockdown in Delhi unless th" itemprop="description
Lucknow's 'Cover Up' Move After Dramatic Videos Of Crematorium Amid CovidDisquieting scenes from the Lucknow crematorium of endless funeral fires and reports of irregularities in the number of deaths have sparked a response from authorities in the Uttar Pradesh capital: Block the view with blue metal sheets.
Workers were seen tying up the metal sheets, often found at construction sites, a day after reports questioned a mismatch in between the official figure of deaths because of COVID-19 and the data from the crematoriums.
Maharashtra Chief Minister writes to PM Modi suggesting various measures to be undertaken in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over 1,700 Test COVID-19 Positive At Haridwar Kumbh Over 5 Days: Official
A total of 1,701 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the Haridwar Kumbh Mela area from April 10 to 14 confirming fears that one of the world's largest religious gatherings may contribute further to the rapid rise in coronavirus cases. The numbers include both RT-PCR and Rapid Antigen Test reports of devotees and seers of different
akharas (ascetic groups) over the five-day period in the entire
Mela Kshetra extending from Haridwar to Devprayag, Haridwar Chief Medical Officer Shambhu Kumar Jha said today.
Night Curfew Hours Extended In Noida, Lucknow; UP Board Exams Deferred
Amid an alarming rise in coronavirus cases, the Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday tightened existing restrictions in worst-hit districts, including extension of night curfew hours and deferring the state board exams till next month.
Read Here Vadodara receives 100 new ventilators, the machines are being assembled to be sent to hospitals.
JUST IN | Coronavirus: Night curfew hours extended - now 8 pm-7 am - in Noida, Lucknow, other UP districts with over 2,000 active covid cases
Madhya Pradesh: 9,264 Remdesivir injections arrive at Indore airport, to be sent to different cities including Bhopal, Ratlam, Khandwa and Gwalior.
Coronavirus: Weekend Curfew In Delhi; Malls, Gyms Shut, Home Delivery For Restaurants
Delhi will go into a weekend curfew to tackle a record rise in Covid cases over the past few weeks. Essential activities, including weddings planned already, will be allowed with curfew passes. Auditoriums, malls, gyms and spas will be shut down and cinema theatres will be allowed with a third of the capacity.
Read Here Bars, restaurants, and eateries will not be allowed to have in-house seating. Only takeaways and home deliveries to be allowed for now. Movie halls to be reduced to 30% capacity on weekdays. I would like to reiterate that essential services will be available throughout the weekend. So, please do not panic. Weekend curfew and these other restrictions are absolutely necessary and is for the safety of all Delhi people. I urge you all to cooperate. Together, we will see off this 4th Covid wave in Delhi too.
There are just too many cases and Covid is surging across the city. Something needs to be done to curb this. For this, we have taken the decision that there will be a weekend curfew in Delhi. However, let me make it clear, that essential services and those whose marriage dates and venues are fixed will be issued special passes. Special arrangements are being made to have fewer people visit weekly markets. Auditoriums, cinema halls, spas, gyms, swimming pools are being ordered to shut for now.
There is no shortage of hospital beds in Delhi... as we speak, there are more than 5,000 hospital beds free. If there is a particular hospital you want to go to and are picky or choosy about the fact that you want to go to a particular hospital, then that is a problem. You all should not insist for this. You must be open to going to any hospital where beds are available, said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal
Coronavirus Cases: Mumbai 5-Star Hotels For Patients With Milder Covid Infections
Mumbai hospitals will use luxury hotels to treat COVID-19 patients with milder infection, the city's administration said today as it tried to ramp up facilities for patients needing critical care with cases shooting up. Two hotels will start functioning as extensions of private hospitals from today.
Read Here Relatives and families of COVID-19 patients in Pune sit on protest outside Collector's office demanding Remdesivir.
Relatives and families of COVID-19 patients in Pune sit on protest outside Collector's office demanding Remdesivir.
Double Mutant Strain In 10 States, Delhi Has UK Variant Too: Sources
Strains of the Covid virus in India with "double mutations" have been found in patients in 10 states and this could be responsible for rising infections and a faster spread in these states, top sources in the Union Health Ministry told NDTV. Maharashtra, Delhi, West Bengal, Gujarat, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh are among the states where doubt mutant strains were found, sources said, adding that these mutants are playing a role in the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases.
Read Here Andamans Reports 38 Fresh COVID-19 Cases
Andaman and Nicobar Islands reported 38 new COVID-19 cases, pushing the coronavirus tally in the union territory to 5,247, an official said on Thursday. The COVID-19 death toll in the archipelago rose to 63 as one more person succumbed to the infection on Wednesday, the official said.
India Sees Over 2 Lakh Covid Cases, Record Daily High
India added over two lakh new Covid cases in the last 24 hours, an unprecedented figure, to take its toll to over 1.4 crore. India has been the world's worst-hit country since April 2, forcing states scrambling to impose curbs to control the virus.
Read Here
Coronavirus Cases: 5,566 New COVID-19 Cases In Thane, 33 More Deaths
With the addition of 5,566 new cases of coronavirus, the infection count in Maharashtra's Thane district has reached 3,95,690, an official said on Thursday. Besides these new cases reported on Wednesday, the virus also claimed the lives of 33 more people, raising the death toll in the district to 6,794, he said. The COVID-19 mortality rate in the district is 1.71 per cent, he said. So far, 3,30,876 patients have recuperated from the infection in the district, which reflects a recovery rate of 83.62 per cent.
COVID-19: Telangana Reports 3,307 New Coronavirus cases
Telangana reported 3,307 fresh COVID-19 cases pushing the tally to over 3.38 lakh, while the count rose to 1,788 with eight more fatalities, the state government said on Thursday. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for the most number of cases with 446, followed by Medchal Malkajgiri (314) and Nizamabad (279), it said in a bulletin, providing details as of 8 PM on April 14. The total number of cases stood at 3,38,045 while with 897 patients being cured, the total recoveries were at 3,08,396.
2,00,739 Fresh Coronavirus Cases In India In Biggest-Ever One-Day Spike
India's total tally of COVID-19 cases surged to 1,40,74,564 with 2,00,739 new infections, while the recoveries have surged to 1,24,29,564, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday. The death count increased to 1,73,123 with 1,038 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.
26,20,03,415 samples tested for COVID-19 up to April 14, 2021, including 13,84,549 samples that were tested yesterday: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
Section 144 has been imposed in the entire state, restrictions will remain in place till May 1.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to hold a meeting with Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal today over increasing COVID-19 cases in the national capital.
Garbage Van Ferries Covid Patients' Bodies To Chhattisgarh Crematorium
A garbage van was used to ferry the bodies of patients who died of COVID-19 in Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon. In appalling visuals, four sanitation workers, clad in full PPE kits, were seen lifting and dumping the bodies in the back of the van for taking them to the cremation ground.
Read Here Coronavirus India: Monitor COVID-19-Appropriate Behaviour Among People, Says Maharashtra Chief Minister
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday asked officials to closely monitor COVID-19-appropriate behaviour among shop owners, who have been allowed to operate during the new restrictions, as well as customers, and penalise the violators. In a virtual meeting with his cabinet colleagues, divisional commissioners, district collectors, municipal commissioners and police officials, Thackeray stressed on effective implementation of the measures which came into force at 8 pm and will remain in operation 7 am on May 1.
Coronavirus: Delhi Crematoriums, Graveyards Struggle To Keep Up As Covid Deaths Rise
At Delhi's biggest crematorium, Nigambodh Ghat, the number of cremations have gone up from 15 per day to over 30 as COVID-19-related deaths in the national capital continue to rise.
Read Here Ambulances With Covid Patients Queue Up At Civil Hospital In Gujarat
The Gujarat government on Wednesday downplayed the long queue of ambulances carrying COVID-19 patients seen outside the civil hospital, saying the admission of patients is being carried out as per the protocols which just cannot be discarded. The government said it was unfair to associate the queue with the efficiency of the civil hospital in handling the situation.
The civil hospital campus in Asarva area of the city houses a dedicated 1,200-bed hospital for COVID-19 patients. Since the last week, a long queue of ambulances carrying coronavirus positive patients has been seen outside the hospital building. During a hearing on the overall pandemic situation in the state, the Gujarat High Court recently observed that "over 40 ambulances were found queued up outside the civil hospital".