New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the second wave of the coronavirus had hit India like a storm but urged states to use lockdowns as the last resort. He also stressed on voluntary Covid discipline, urging people to go out only if necessary.
"States should use the lockdown as the last resort - our focus should be micro-containment zones. We will take care of economic health as well as the health of countrymen," PM Modi said, addressing the nation.
Earlier, the new cases of coronavirus infection in India were recorded above 2,50,000 taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 1,53,21,089 according to the Union Health Ministry data.
The COVID-19 active caseload is 20,31,977 which now comprises 12.81 per cent of the total infections.
Here are the Highlights on Coronavirus India Cases:
Apr 20, 2021 23:58 (IST)
Delhi Reports Record 28,395 Covid Cases, 277 Deaths
Delhi on Tuesday reported 28,395 coronavirus cases as it registered its biggest ever single-day spike. The city, worst-hit by the rapid second wave of infections, logged 277 deaths in a day. The national capital's active caseload has jumped to nearly 85,600.
The case positivity rate was a whopping 32.82 per cent on Tuesday. 86,526 Covid tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, according to the state government.
The national capital logged 19,430 recoveries in a day.
Due to the massive caseload, Delhi's health infrastructure is on the verge of collapse. The city is witnessing severe shortages of hospital beds, medicines and medical oxygen.
Apr 20, 2021 22:31 (IST)
Night Curfew From 9 pm To 6 am From Tomorrow Till May 4 In Karnataka
Karnataka has joined a long line of states that have declared curfew on nights and weekends to put brakes on the unchecked progress of coronavirus. The curfew will begin at 9 pm on Friday and continue till to 6 am on Monday. The 9-pm to 6 am night curfew will be in place across the state from April 21 to May 4.
Karnataka -- whose Covid numbers have been spiralling with a positivity rate above 12 per cent -- took the hard measure after Chief Minister BS Yedyurappa tested positive for Covid for a second time.
From hospital, the Chief Minister held an all-party virtual meeting yesterday to decide on the way forward for the state.
Apr 20, 2021 21:37 (IST)
Lockdown Should Be Last Resort, Says PM Modi In Address To Nation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the second wave of the coronavirus had hit India like a storm but urged states to use lockdowns as the last resort. He also stressed on voluntary Covid discipline, urging people to go out only if necessary.
"States should use the lockdown as the last resort - our focus should be micro-containment zones. We will take care of economic health as well as the health of countrymen," PM Modi said, addressing the nation.
The Prime Minister made it clear that a nationwide lockdown was off the table for now.
Apr 20, 2021 21:26 (IST)
Production of medicines increased: PM Narendra Modi
Production of medicines increased: PM Narendra Modi said that the pharma sector has increased the production of medicines. More medicines being produced now than in January and February, he said. "Yesterday I spoke to pharma experts yesterday. We are taking the help of every pharma firm... India has a strong Pharma sector that produces medicines very fast. We are increasing beds. Building Covid hopsitals," the Prime Minister said.
Apr 20, 2021 20:18 (IST)
Yet To See Data On Vaccine Effectiveness Against Variant: Covaxin-Maker
Weeks after the government said the made-in-India Covaxin shot is effective against mutants, its manufacturer Bharat Biotech has revealed that there is "no information yet" about the vaccine's effectiveness against Covid variants and data is expected in a week.
Krishna Ella, the chairperson of Bharat Biotech, also told NDTV the government has to ask for vaccine specific to the new double mutant that is pushing the current surge of virus cases.
The comments appear to contradict what the government has been saying about Covaxin's effectiveness against variants. "The need to change composition of Covaxin has not been felt yet in view of good efficacy of the vaccine against variants," Union Minister Ashwini Choubey had told parliament in March.
Apr 20, 2021 18:30 (IST)
Enforce Covid Appropriate Behaviour, Plan Advance Response: Centre To Union Territories
The Centre on Tuesday advised all union territories to ensure strict enforcement of COVID-appropriate behaviour along with restrictions on movement and large gatherings, an official statement said.
The Union Territories were also asked to ramp up testing and augment hospital infrastructure while planning COVID response measures in advance for the next three weeks, the Union health ministry said in its statement.
The measures were suggested at a high-level meeting chaired by Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla along with Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, and attended by chief secretaries of all Union Territories, to review the COVID-19 situation and the response strategy, it said.
Apr 20, 2021 17:12 (IST)
Will You Ask Patients To Wait For Oxygen, Court Slams Centre
On the Delhi government alleging discrimination by the Centre in resources for Covid, the High Court said today that if medication was not being sent to places that needed them, "blood is on their hands". As the Delhi government said it had logged a record 32,000 cases in a single day yesterday, the High Court also raised questions on the centre's distribution policy on oxygen and vaccines.
"If despite having the medication, it is being sent to region A instead of region B which is in need of said medication, then be sure, blood is on their hands," the Delhi High Court said.
Yesterday, the Delhi government had alleged in court that it was falling short of oxygen for Covid patients because supplies were being diverted to "one of the largest states" of the country. Delhi did not take names, saying it could become political.
