25 "sickest patients" have died in the last 24 hours at the Ganga Ram hospital in Delhi, a statement from the hospital said this morning. In an SOS at around 8 am, the hospital also said it had oxygen for only two more hours and that 60 more patients are at risk.
India today reported the biggest single-day spike with 3.32 lakh new infections and 2,263 deaths.
The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed 13.23 crore, as part of the world's largest vaccination drive, the union health ministry said on Thursday.
According to the ministry, 13,23,30,644 vaccine doses have been administered through 19,28,118 sessions, as per the provisional report till 7 am on Thursday and over 22 lakh vaccination doses were administered in the last 24 hours.
"These include 92,19,544 HCWs who have taken the 1st dose and 58,52,071 HCWs who have taken the 2nd dose, 1,16,32,050 FLWs (1st dose), 59,36,530 FLWs (2nd dose), 4,78,67,118 1st dose beneficiaries and 57,60,331 2nd dose beneficiaries more than 60 years old and 4,44,28,884 (1st dose) and 16,34,116 (2nd dose) beneficiaries aged 45 to 60 years," it said.
As many as eight states account for 59.25 per cent of the cumulative doses given so far in the country.
"As on Day-96 of the vaccination drive (April 21, 2021), 22,11,334 vaccine doses were given. 15,01,704 beneficiaries were vaccinated across 35,499 sessions for 1st dose and 7,09,630 beneficiaries received 2nd dose of vaccine," the health ministry said.
Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates suspended all flights from India, including transit passengers, as coronavirus cases in the country spiked to global records. "The decision to suspend flights came after studying and evaluating the epidemiological situation in the friendly Republic of India," the General Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement carried on state news agency WAM.
Here are the Live Updates on Coronavirus India Cases:
At a time when the COVID-19 figures in Maharashtra is witnessing an upward trend, a 90-year old man from Beed district has beaten the deadly infection twice and is living to tell the tale.
PM Narendra Modi asks Chief Ministers to ensure that oxygen tankers, meant for any state, aren't stopped or get stuck.
A tanker carrying liquid oxygen, which was travelling from Panipat to Sirsa in Haryana, has gone missing after which the police have registered a case and launched investigations.
Families of people who lost their battle to coronavirus at a hospital in Madhya Pradesh are alleging that bodies of their loved ones are handed over to them. A morbid video from a government hospital in Vidisha district.
Hours after the death of 14 coronavirus patients in a fire at a hospital in Maharashtra, state health minister Rajesh Tope was asked by reporters if this matter would be raised at PM's meeting with chief ministers today. "Not national news," he said.
As Karnataka strugglesto cope withdeadly second wave of coronavirus, the state's health infrastructure has come under tremendous pressure.
Indonesia will stop issuing visas for foreigners who have been in India in the past 14 days to prevent the spread of different coronavirus strains, its chief economic minister Airlangga Hartarto said on Friday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the Chief Minister of the 10 states worst hit by the deadly second wave of Covid on a day India touched a new record of 3.32 lakh Covid cases and 2,263 deaths in 24 hours.
France stands ready to provide support to India's fight against coronavirus, said French President Emmanuel Macron, as the country reported over three lakh cases in 24 hours for the second consecutive day today.
The US has advised its citizens to avoid travelling to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and the Maldives due to the sudden surge in COVID-19 cases in the region.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray today announced a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the thirteen COVID-19 patients, who died in a fire at a hospital in Virar of Palghar district, reported news agency PTI.
A statement from the Chief Minister's Office said those who suffered serious injuries in the incident will be given Rs 1 lakh each.
Delhi's Max hospital chain said today it would not admit any more patients until oxygen supplies stabilized, in an escalating crisis over Covid cases spiraling in the capital.
Reliance Industries Limited today announced that the company will be rolling out a COVID-19 vaccination programme for its employees and their family members above the age of 18 from May 1, reported news agency ANI. The vaccination programme is called "R-Surakshaa".
In a letter to employees, the Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani and Chairperson of Reliance Foundation Nita Ambani said that the COVID-19 vaccine is a key weapon again the coronavirus and the company has continued to bear the vaccination cost for all the eligible members.
25 "sickest patients" have died in the last 24 hours at the Ganga Ram hospital in Delhi, a statement from the hospital said this morning. Around 8 am, the hospital also said it had oxygen for only two more hours.
The coronavirus infection count in Maharashtra's Thane district has gone up to 4,36,092 with the addition of 5,441 new cases, an official said today, reported news agency PTI. These cases were reported on Thursday, he said.
As hospitals across the country are reeling under a severe shortage of medical grade oxygen for Covid patients caught in the deadly sweep of the second wave of infections, the central government released a set of instructions that it says will "aid to help you breathe better" during COVID-19.
Patients are being turned back by hospitals because, despite their severe symptoms, they don't have laboratory confirmation of COVID-19.
All residents of Jharkhand above the age of 18 will be administered Covid vaccines for free, Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced Thursday, reported news agency ANI.
"In Jharkhand, the corona vaccine will be provided free of cost to people above the age of 18 by the state government," Mr Soren said in a tweet.
"The government is working day and night to help people in this drastic transition. I am confident that with the cooperation of all, we will beat corona again. Corona will lose, Jharkhand will win," he added.
Karnataka has set aside Rs 400 crore to procure 10 million Covid-19 vaccine doses, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa announced on Thursday, reported news agency ANI.
BS Yediyurappa has also urged everyone in the state above the age of 18 to register for vaccination set to begin from May 1.
"Karnataka will procure 1 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccine as we begin to inoculate citizens between 18 to 44 years from May 1. Rs 400 crores has been earmarked for this in the first phase. I urge all those above 18 to register themselves for the vaccine starting from April 28," he said in a tweet on Thursday.
The Centre on April 19 had announced a "liberalised" policy, making all above the age of 18 eligible to get vaccinated against coronavirus from May 1. It has also allowed state governments and private hospitals to purchase vaccines from manufacturers.
Twelve ICU patients have died after a fire broke out at a hospital in Maharashtra's Virar, officials said this morning.