Coronavirus Cases in India: The death count increased to 1,71,058 with 879 new fatalities.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today urged the central government to cancel CBSE board exams as the national capital recorded the biggest-ever single-day surge so far with 13,500 fresh coronavirus cases. He also appealed to the people in the city "to not leave homes unless absolutely necessary".
"Conducting board exams can lead to largescale spread of coronavirus, alternative methods of assessment can be explored. Students can be promoted on basis of either online exams or internal assessment," Mr Kejriwal said during the video address.
Meanwhile, Russian-made Covid vaccine Sputnik V, the third vaccine to be approved by India, will be manufactured by five pharma firms in the country and 850 million doses are going to be produced annually. However, limited doses are going to be available by the end of April.
India's drug regulator, the Drugs Controller General of India or DCGI, approved the Russian vaccine after it got a green signal by a special committee - the Subject Expert Committee of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization - on Monday as a lethal second wave sweeps the country. The approval comes as several states flagged a shortage in vaccine.
Manufactured in India by Dr Reddy's, Sputnik V has the highest effectiveness - 91.6 per cent -- after the Moderna and Pfizer shots. The vaccine is already in Phase 3 of clinical trials in India and Dr Reddy's had applied for emergency use approval of the vaccine in February.
Here are the Live Updates on Coronavirus India Cases:
Only Essential Activities For 15 Days In Maharashtra From Today
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday stopped short of enforcing a lockdown but announced tough restrictions for the next 15 days that include a ban on gatherings and only essential activities to break the chain of Covid infections that he said were "exploding dangerously" in the state. "The war has begun again," he said, addressing the state on the massive surge in cases.
From today, Section 144 -- a rule that prohibits groups of more than four people -- will be in place across Maharashtra and only essential travel and services will be allowed, said Mr Thackeray, urging people to move to Work From Home and observe a "Janata Curfew" voluntarily. From 7 am to 8 pm only essential services will function, related to health care, banks, media, e-Commerce and fuel.
Pfizer Says It Can Deliver 10% More Covid Vaccines By End Of MayPfizer has "ramped up production" of its Covid-19 vaccine and can deliver 10 percent more doses than expected to the United States by the end of May, its CEO Albert Bourla said on Tuesday.
That would bring its delivery by the end of next month to 220 million doses, and Bourla said on Twitter the pharmaceutical giant can also "supply the full 300 million agreed on for the end of July two weeks early."
The news comes after US health authorities earlier in the day called for a pause on the use of Johnson & Johnson's Covid-19 vaccine, after six women between age 18 and 48 developed a rare type of blood clot that left one dead and another in critical condition.
Ex-Bar Chief VC Mishra Dies After Testing Covid+
Former Bar Council of India Chairman Vinay Chandra Mishra passed away here Tuesday, hours after testing positive for coronavirus, his son said.
Vivek Mishra told PTI-Bhasha that his father, who was 92, had served as the Advocate General of Uttar Pradesh and also as the President of Allahabad High Court Bar Association several times.
"He was thrice elected chairman of Bar Council of India (BCI), the apex body of the lawyers of the country. He had also been elected the President of Allahabad High Court Bar Association (HCBA) seven times," Vivek Mishra said.
"Earlier, in 60s, he was the President of Lucknow University Students'' Union, but later on joined the profession of law."
Three Bihar MLAs Charged For Violating COVID GuidelinesThree Bihar legislators - RJD MLAs Vijay Kumar Mandal and Anita Devi and CPI-ML legislator Arun Singh - have been charged for violating Covid guidelines in the state's Rohtas district, the police said today, reported news agency PTI.
The three MLAs were among 17 people against whom an FIR was registered.
The case was lodged for organising a public reception followed by cultural programme on the night of April 10 in the Baradih village, the police said.
Kerala Logs Over 7,000 Cases, 20 Deaths
Kerala recorded 7,515 COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, taking the total caseload to 11.80 lakh as active cases mounted to 52,132, the state government said, reported news agency PTI.
As many as 2,959 people were cured of the infection, taking the total recoveries to 11,23,133.
A health department bulletin said 73,441 samples have been sent for testing, taking the overall number to 1,38,87,669.
The test positivity rate stood at 10.23 per cent.
The death count has gone up to 4,814 with 20 more fatalities being added to the tally.
Andhra Pradesh Reports Highest Daily COVID-19 Count In Six MonthsThe upward climb of coronavirus cases continued as Andhra Pradesh added 4,228 infections on Tuesday, the highest daily count in exactly six months, reported news agency PTI.
The active caseload also crossed the 25,000 mark to 25,850, the highest after October 30.
A health department bulletin said 1,483 patients had recovered and 10 more died in 24 hours ending 9 am on Tuesday.
The gross COVID-19 positives in Andhra Pradesh has now risen to 9,32,892, recoveries 8,99,721 and deaths 7,321, the bulletin said.
Indore Set To Have One More COVID Care Centre Amid Spike
Amid the growing number of COVID-19 cases in Indore, the district administration and health department have started setting up one more COVID care centre in the city, reported news agency ANI.
The centre is being built on Radha Swami Satsang Vyas's ground on Khandwa Road. Efforts are being made to complete the setting up of the centre in two days.
"We are making arrangements for 500 beds in the first phase. There will be 10 blocks, each comprising 50 beds. Every block will have a doctor, nurse and other medical staff members. In the second phase, we will increase the number of beds to 1,000 and if the need arises, we can even think of exceeding the number of beds to 2,000," said Doctor Amit Malakar, COVID Nodal Officer.
Health Ministry Press Briefing
Centre had sent over 13.10 crore Covid vaccine doses to states and Union Territories of which the total consumption, including wastage, was 11.43 crore, the Health Ministry said today.
Problem With Planning, Not With Vaccine Shortage: Health Ministry
Over 1.67 crore vaccine doses are available with states and Union Territories, the Health Ministry said today at the press briefing, adding, the problem is not of vaccine shortage but that of better planning.
Rishikesh: Days after testing positive for COVID-19, Akhada Parishad president shifted to AIIMS
Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad president Mahant Narendra Giri, who recently tested positive for COVID-19, has been admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences here, an official said on Tuesday.
Giri was shifted to the emergency ward of AIIMS from a private nursing home in Haridwar on Monday night, the hospital official said.
Doctors attending to Giri said he is diabetic and suffering from fever and cough.
His treatment has been started and he is stable, they said.
Shortly before Giri tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and several state government officials had met him in Haridwar.
Austrian health minister steps down, exhausted by pandemic
Austrian Health Minister Rudolf Anschober of the Greens, the junior partner in the conservative-led coalition, said on Tuesday he is stepping down, exhausted and sick from battling the coronavirus pandemic and occasionally other officials.
"I ..do not want to break myself," Anschober said in a short-notice statement to the media, describing blood-pressure problems that have caused him to take sick leave twice recently.
"In the worst health crisis in decades the republic needs a health minister who is 100% fit. That is not currently me."
UK's Johnson says COVID infections will rise as lockdown eases
British prime Minister Boris Johnson said COVID-19 infections and deaths would start to rise again as restrictions were eased despite the successful roll out of vaccinations to those aged above 50 and vulnerable groups."The bulk of the work in reducing the disease has been done by the lockdown," Johnson said on Tuesday
"So, as we unlock the result will inevitably be that we will see more infections and sadly we will see more hospitalizations and deaths."
COVID-19: Air India to set up mass vaccination camp for its employees
Amid a record rise of COVID-19 cases in India, national carrier Air India (AI) has decided to set up a mass vaccination camp for its employees aged 45 years or above on priority.
As per Air India, it has around 6,000 employees above the age of 45 years.
"Air India has decided to organise a camp for its employees. Almost 5,000-6,000 employees will be given vaccines," an Air India official told ANI.
COVID-19 pandemic ''a long way from over'', says WHO chief
Even though more than 780 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have now been administered globally, the pandemic is "a long way from over" but it can be brought under control in months with proven public health measures, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said.
The coronavirus, which emerged first in central China''s Wuhan city in December 2019, has infected more than 136,500,400 people and killed over 2,944,500 people across the world.
"In January and February, the world saw six consecutive weeks of declining cases. We have now seen seven consecutive weeks of increasing cases, and four weeks of increasing deaths. Last week was the fourth-highest number of cases in a single week so far. Several countries in Asia and the Middle East have seen large increases in cases," WHO Director-General Ghebreyesus said.
Sputnik V Cleared, But Price Isn't - Big Sticking Point
Despite India's drug regulator DCGI (Drugs Controller General of India) clearing the Russian Sputnik V vaccine for use in the country, there is still no decision on the price at which the vaccine will be procured by the government. Price negotiations with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) are yet to be concluded.
Read Here South Korea Considers Use Of COVID-19 Self-Test Kits Amid Fourth Wave Fears
South Korea's health authorities said on Tuesday they would consider the use of coronavirus self-test kits despite their relatively low accuracy, after the new mayor of Seoul called for their approval. The government had been reluctant to allow self-test kits, citing their lower accuracy than industry-standard PCR tests and specialist-administered rapid tests which are already in place. The possibility of false negatives is higher, authorities say, as a high viral load in the nasal passageways is often essential to secure a reliable result.
Coronavirus News: All You Need To Know About Sputnik V, India's Third Covid Vaccine
Russia's Sputnik V has been cleared by India's drug regulator making it the third vaccine to be the approved for emergency use in the country against the deadly coronavirus. The vaccine is named after the first Soviet space satellite Sputnik; the V in its name however stands for the alphabet 'v' (for vaccine) and not the Roman numerical.
Read Here Coronavirus: COVID-19 Pandemic ''A Long Way From Over'', Says WHO Chief
Even though more than 780 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have now been administered globally, the pandemic is "a long way from over" but it can be brought under control in months with proven public health measures, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said. The coronavirus, which emerged first in central China''s Wuhan city in December 2019, has infected more than 136,500,400 people and killed over 2,944,500 people across the world.
Coronavirus Cases: Government's Big Move On Foreign-Produced Vaccines Amid Covid Battle
The Centre has fast-tracked emergency approvals for foreign produced COVID-19 vaccines that have been granted approval in other nations. The move came amid a raging second wave of Covid to expand the basket of vaccines for domestic use and increase the pace and coverage of vaccination.
Read Here COVID-19: 10 States Account For Over 80 Per cent Of New Cases
Ten states, including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, account for 80.80 per cent of fresh COVID-19 cases reported in a day, the Union Health Ministry said on Tuesday as 1,61,736 new infections were registered in 24 hours. The other states in the list of 10 are Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Kerala. As India's daily new cases continue to rise, Maharashtra has reported the highest daily new cases at 51,751. It is followed by Uttar Pradesh with 13,604 while Chhattisgarh reported 13,576 new cases, the ministry said.
Coronavirus India: 13,500 New Covid Cases In Delhi; Arvind Kejriwal Says Cancel Board Exams
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today urged the central government to cancel CBSE board exams as the national capital recorded the biggest-ever single-day surge so far with 13,500 fresh coronavirus cases. He also appealed the people in the city "to not leave homes unless absolutely necessary".
Read Here COVID-19: BJP MP Saroj Pandey Tests Positive For COVID-19, Admitted To AIIMS
BJP MP from Chhattisgarh's Durg, Saroj Pandey, on Tuesday informed that she has been tested positive for COVID-19 and admitted to AIIMS, Delhi. Taking to Twitter, she informed about her coronavirus report and urged the people who have come in contact with her to get tested. "My reports for COVID-19 have come positive today. In consultation with the doctors, I have been admitted to the AIIMS, Delhi. All the people who have come in contact with me in the last few days please get tested," Pandey tweeted.
Corona cases are increasing rapidly. As per the report available with me, 13,500 cases have been reported in the last 24 hours. During the peak in November, 8500 cases were reported, compared to that we are already reporting 13,500 cases: Delhi Chief Minister.
6 lakh children in Delhi are going to write CBSE exams. Nearly 1 lakh teachers will be a part of it. These can become major hotspots leading to large-scale spreading of Corona. Children's lives and health is very important to us. I request Centre to cancel CBSE exams: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Gardener Collects Covid Sample; "What Can We Do," Says Helpless Official
The ravaging Covid-19 pandemic has begun to expose Madhya Pradesh's health infrastructure with daily cases crossing the 6,000-mark. So much so that due to a shortage of staff, a gardener is now collecting clinical samples at a Sanchi government hospital even as the State Health Minister is busy campaigning for a bye-election.
Read Here Coronavirus: Union Minister Santosh Gangwar Tests Positive For COVID-19
Union Minister Santosh Gangwar on Tuesday informed that he has tested positive for COVID-19. "I want to inform you that my "Corona test report has come positive". I don't have any kind of symptom, I request that all the people who came in contact with me, please follow the Corona safety rules. Together we will win this epidemic," tweeted Santosh Gangwar.
COVID-19 India: Limited Sputnik V Doses By April-End In India, 850 Million Doses Annually
Russian-made Covid vaccine Sputnik V, the third vaccine to be approved by India, will be manufactured by five pharma firms in the country and 850 million doses are going to be produced annually. However, limited doses are going to be available by the end of April.
Read Here Coronavirus Curfew: No Question Of Lockdown Now In Karnataka, Says BS Yediyurappa
Amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Tuesday said that there is no question of imposing lockdown right now while urging the people to adhere to coronavirus appropriate behaviour. The chief minister also called an all-party meeting on April 18 to discuss the COVID situation in the state.
COVID-19 India: 11 New Cases Take COVID-19 Tally Of Andamans To 5,201
The COVID-19 tally of Andaman and Nicobar Islands rose to 5,201 on Tuesday as 11 more people tested positive for the infection, a health official said. All the fresh infections were detected during contact tracing, he said. Ten more people were cured of the disease, the official said. The Union territory now has 89 active cases, while 5,050 people have been cured of the disease and 62 patients have succumbed to the infection so far, he said.
Coronavirus India: 36 New Cases Push Mizoram's COVID-19 Tally To 4,655
Mizoram's COVID-19 tally rose to 4,655 on Tuesday as 36 more people tested positive for the infection, a health official said. Thirty-two fresh cases were reported in the Aizawl district, three in Lawngtlai and one in Champhai, he said. Sixteen of the new patients had returned from other
states, while two had come from Myanmar, the official said. Mizoram now has 175 active cases, while 4,468 people have recovered from the disease and 12 patients have succumbed to the infection to date, he said.
COVID-19: 7 Deaths In Hospital Near Mumbai Sparks Fury, Oxygen Shortage Blamed
The death of seven persons on a single day at a hospital in Palghar district sparked anger among relatives over the alleged short supply of oxygen cylinders and administrative failure at the facility amid the rampaging Covid-19 crisis in Maharashtra.
Read Here Coronavirus: Telangana Records 3,052 New COVID-19 Cases, 7 Deaths
Telangana saw 3,052 fresh coronavirus cases, pushing the aggregate to over 3.32 lakh, while the toll rose to 1,772 with seven related fatalities. Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for the most number of cases with 406, followed by Medchal Malkajgiri (301) and Nizamabad (279), a government bulletin said on Tuesday providing details as of 8 PM on April 12. The total number of cases stood at 3,32,581 while with 778 patients being cured, the total recoveries were at 3,06,678.
Coronavirus: Delhi Metro Shuts Entry For Several Stations
1.61 Lakh Fresh Covid-19 Cases In India, 1.36 Crore Total Cases
India recorded 1,61,736 new Covid cases in the last 24 hours, slightly lower than yesterday, pushing the country's caseload to over 1.36 crore. The resurgence of the virus led to 879 new deaths, down from yesterday's 904, taking the total death count to 1,71,058.
Read Here COVID-19 India: India Records 1,61,736 New Infections, 879 Deaths In 24 Hours
India's total tally of COVID-19 cases surged to 1,36,89,453 with 1,61,736 new infections, while the recoveries have surged to 1,22,53,697, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday. The death count increased to 1,71,058 with 879 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.
Coronavirus: India Gets Third Vaccine, Russia's Sputnik V Cleared For Emergency Use
Russia's Covid vaccine Sputnik V has been cleared for emergency use by India's drug regulator - the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). As India sees an unprecedented record surge in cases, Sputnik V becomes the third coronavirus vaccine to be cleared by the drug regulator.
Read Here JUST IN | India gets third coronavirus vaccine as Russia's Sputnik V is cleared for emergency use
Coronavirus: 14 Delhi Hospitals Turned Into Covid-Exclusive Centres. Here's The List
The Delhi government on Monday said 14 private hospitals in the city have been made "full COVID-19" hospitals and asked them not to admit patients other than those infected with coronavirus. Nineteen private hospitals have been directed to reserve at least 80 per cent of their intensive care unit (ICU) beds for Covid treatment.
Read Here Coronavirus: West Bengal Records 4,511 New Covid Cases
West Bengal on Monday registered 4,511 fresh COVID-19 cases, the highest single-day spike since the pandemic started last year, pushing the state's tally to 6,19,407, the state health department said in a bulletin. Kolkata also set a record of 1,115 new cases. The state reported this year's highest COVID-19 fatalities at 14 on Monday, pushing the death toll to 10,414.
Coronavirus India: As Delhi's Covid Spike Worsens, Demand For Oxygen Supply Triples
With over 11,000 new Covid cases in the past 24 hours - and nearly 20,000 in the 48 hours prior - Delhi is now third on the list of states reporting the most number of new cases every day. The city also reported 72 Covid-linked deaths on Monday - the most in a day since December 5.
Read Here Coronavirus: Chhattisgarh Sees 13,576 New COVID-19 Cases, 132 Deaths
Chhattisgarh's COVID-19 count rose to 4,56,873 on Monday with the addition of 13,576 fresh cases, while the death toll mounted by 132 to 5,031, an official said. This is the sixth consecutive day when the state has recorded more than 10,000 cases.
COVID-19 India: Bodies Pile Up In Government Hospital In Chhattisgarh's Covid Horror
Piled on gurneys, lying on the floor and even outside in the sun by the dumpsters - skin-crawling scenes of bodies at Raipur's biggest government hospital highlight the huge human cost of the second wave of COVID-19 in India and shows what happens when the country's creaky healthcare system is pushed to its brink.
Read Here Congress Asks Election Commission To Urge People To Follow Covid Norms During Bengal Elections
West Bengal Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Monday wrote to the Election Commission requesting it to instruct ''masses to take necessary precautions during polling, assembling, and processions'' during the ongoing elections in West Bengal.
"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.