COVID-19 Cases in India: Vaccinations will begin on Saturday for everyone above 18 from May 1 (File)
As India continues to see alarming surge in Covid infections, a record spike of 3,79,257 fresh cases and 3,645 deaths was reported in the last 24 hours.
Over 1.83 crore people have contracted the virus so far. Hospitals and crematoria are overwhelmed amid the uptick.
Nearly 1.33 crore people applied for vaccination on Wednesday as the government's dedicated website, CoWIN, opened for registrations today. Those between 18 and 44 can get Covid shots from May 1 (Saturday).
After initial glitches, the CoWIN site was getting almost 27 lakh hits a minute, government sources said. Appointments will be based on slots made available by states and private vaccination centres, they said.
"More Appointment slots will soon be offered. If slots are not currently available, please check again after sometime. We request your patience and understanding," said government sources.
Vaccinations will begin on Saturday for everyone above 18 from May 1 (Saturday) under a more "liberalised and accelerated Phase 3 strategy of COVID-19 vaccination".
Here are the Latest News Highlights:
Pfizer Begins To Export US-Made Covid Shots: ReportPfizer Inc's shipment of COVID-19 vaccine to Mexico this week includes doses made in its U.S. plant, the first of what are expected to be ongoing exports of its shots from the United States, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday.
The vaccine shipment, produced at Pfizer's Kalamazoo, Michigan plant, marks the first time the drugmaker has delivered abroad from U.S facilities after a Trump-era restriction on dose exports expired at the end of March, the source said.
The U.S. government has been under mounting pressure in recent weeks to provide surplus vaccines to other nations desperately in need as it makes swift progress vaccinating its own residents. Many countries where the virus is still rampant are struggling to acquire vaccine supplies to help tame the pandemic.
Wealthy governments have been trying to stock up on COVID-19 shots from Pfizer and Moderna Inc because of their extremely high efficacy and after safety concerns and production problems temporarily sidelined vaccines from AstraZeneca Plc and Johnson & Johnson.
Brazil's Covid Death Count Surpasses 4,00,000Brazil's death count in the coronavirus pandemic surpassed 400,000 Thursday, as the country struggled to secure enough vaccines and the Senate investigated whether President Jair Bolsonaro's government has exacerbated the crisis.
The health ministry reported 3,001 Covid-19 deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing Brazil's overall count to 401,186 -- second only to the United States.
With 212 million people, the South American giant also has one of the highest mortality rates in the pandemic, at 189 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants -- the worst in the Americas and 14th worldwide.
Brazil has been devastated by a surge in cases since the start of the year that pushed hospitals to the brink of collapse in many areas.
Although it appears to have passed the peak of the new wave, the number of daily deaths remains staggeringly high, at an average of 2,526 over the past week, behind only India.
Mumbai Stops Vaccination For 3 Days, Civic Body Cites Vaccine ShortageJust a day to go a new, huge phase of vaccination, Mumbai shut its vaccination drive for three days citing lack of adequate doses. Vaccination will not take place in Mumbai starting Friday, the Greater Mumbai Municipal Corporation has said. The Centre has set May 1 as the date for beginning vaccination of 18 to 45-year-olds as younger people are seen to be particularly susceptible to the virus in its second wave.
The current vaccine shortage will also push back their vaccination dates, the civic body said.
"Vaccination in Mumbai will be completely closed for three days from Friday, April 30, 2021 to Sunday, May 2, 2021 due to depletion of available vaccines," the civic body said in a notice today.
BJP Leader Pankaja Munde Tests Positive For Coronavirus
BJP leader and former Maharashtra minister Pankaja Munde on Thursday said she has tested positive for coronavirus and is in isolation.
Taking to Twitter, the BJP's national secretary said, "I have tested positive for coronavirus. I have already isolated myself and taking precautions. I met so many people and families of corona victims, I must have caught there." Ms Munde further appealed to people who came in contact with her to get themselves tested.
Minister of Social Justice Dhananjay Munde, who has gotten infected twice in the past, reacted to his cousin's tweet.
"I have faced this virus twice. Start treatment with doctor's advice and also get family members tested," he tweeted.
Maharashtra Extends Curbs Till May 15 To Stem COVID-19 Spread
The Maharashtra government on Thursday extended till May 15 the existing lockdown-like restrictions enforced to stem the spread of COVID-19 in the state.
An order issued by chief secretary Sitaram Kunte said the decision to extend the restrictions has been taken as the state continued to be threatened with the spread of COVID-19.
It was imperative to continue the emergency measures to prevent and contain the spread of the virus, he said.
The sweeping curbs on movement of people and a host of other activities, imposed early this month, were to continue till 7 am on May 1.
4,192 COVID-19 cases in Mumbai, lowest one-day rise in 37 daysMumbai reported 4,192 new coronavirus infections on Thursday, the lowest one-day rise since more than a month, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said.
It pushed the city's caseload to 6,44,699. With 82 fatalities, the death count in the city due to the pandemic reached 13,072.
Weekend curfew imposed in Leh to arrest COVID-19 spreadThe Ladakh administration on Thursday announced 56 hour long weekend curfew from Friday in Leh district in an attempt to control the rising number of COVID-19 cases.
DDMA chairman and Deputy Commissioner Leh Shrikant Suse, notified the imposition of the weekend COVID-19 curfew from 9 pm on Friday to 5 am on Monday, as an additional restriction in an attempt to curb the spread of the infection.
Speaking at a press conference, he noted that only certain categories of people will be allowed to move during the restricted period based on the production of valid ID cards.
"These categories include government employees, judicial officers, staff, police, prison, home-guards, civil defence, officials and staff on duty at the airport, disaster management, electricity, water, sanitation, food and civil supplies, telecom service providers, and employees on COVID-19 duties," Suse said.
COVID-19: Essential medical supplies from Romania to arrive in India
In order to help India in its fight against COVID-19, an aircraft with 80 oxygen concentrators, 75 oxygen cylinders and 20 high-flow oxygen therapy equipment took off from Bucharest, Romania on Thursday and will arrive in New Delhi today.
The assistance was sent by Romania's Department for Emergencies, through its Foundation for Emergency Response (SMURD Foundation).
"The aircraft took off in the afternoon on April 28 from Bucharest and will arrive tonight in New Delhi," Embassy of Romania in India said in a statement.
Romania has offered humanitarian assistance to India, following the request addressed to the European Union by the Indian government.
Andhra reports over 14K fresh COVID-19 cases, 57 deathsAndhra Pradesh logged 14,792 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours ending 9 am on Thursday, taking the tally to 10,84,336, while 57 fatalities pushed the death count to 7928, the state government said.
The state has 1, 14,158 active cases and over 86,000 samples were tested during the last 24 hrs.
As many as 8,188 people recovered from the disease, pushing the total recoveries to 9,62,250, an official bulletin said.
New vaccination guidelines issued in Kerala, priority for those taking second dose
Kerala Health Minister K K Shailaja on Thursday said that according to the new guidelines, preference will be given to those taking the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine, when scheduling a session at vaccination centres.
Speaking to media, Shailaja said, "There is no need to rush to COVID vaccination centres for this. The second dose of Covishield vaccine should be taken within 6-8 weeks and the Covaxin within 4-6 weeks. The list of those eligible to receive the second dose of vaccine at each vaccination centre will be available on the CoWIN portal. Accordingly, the managers of the vaccination centres will inform them with the help of ASHA workers and local bodies."
BJP Leader Pankaja Munde Tests Positive For Coronavirus
BJP leader and former Maharashtra minister Pankaja Munde on Thursday said she has tested positive for coronavirus and is in isolation.
Taking to Twitter, the BJP's national secretary said, "I have tested positive for coronavirus. I have already isolated myself and taking precautions. I met so many people and families of corona victims, I must have caught there."
Ms Munde further appealed to people who came in contact with her to get themselves tested.
"Firmly Support" India In Fighting Covid: Chinese Foreign MinisterChinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday promised to do the utmost in supporting India's fight against the COVID-19 surge and said that anti-pandemic materials produced in China were entering India at a faster pace.
In a letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Mr Wang said that the Chinese side "shares empathy for the challenges facing India and expresses sincere sympathy".
"The coronavirus is the common enemy of mankind, and the international community needs solidarity and coordination for a concerted response. The Chinese side firmly supports the Indian Government and people in fighting the pandemic," he wrote in the letter, a copy of which was tweeted by Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong.
Continuously Requesting Centre To Declare Covid A ''National Calamity'': Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday said that Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has been continuously requesting the central government to declare COVID-19 pandemic a "national calamity".
Addressing reporters in Mumbai, the Shiv Sena leader said: "Supreme Court has said that it (COVID-19 pandemic) is a national calamity and the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has been continuously requesting the central government to declare it as a national calamity."
The Shiv Sena MP also said that people are terrified of what is happening across the country.
"The state government is doing its best to deal with the coronavirus crisis. Many people are trying to malign the image of the Maharashtra government," he added.
Uttarakhand Government Suspends Char Dham Yatra Amid Covid Spike
Amid a massive surge in the COVID-19 cases, the Uttarakhand government on Thursday suspended the Char Dham Yatra for this year. The yatra was scheduled to start from May 14.
Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat said that only priests of the four temples will perform rituals and puja.
"Uttarakhand government has suspended Char Dham Yatra this year in view of COVID-19 situation in the state. Only priests of the four temples will perform rituals and puja," Mr Rawat said.
Notify Drugs For Covid Under Essential Commodities Act: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Thursday urged Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan to notify medicines used in the treatment of COVID-19 under the Essential Commodities Act.
In a letter to the Union Health Minister, the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister said: "Due to rise in the coronavirus cases, demands for Remdesivir injection, Ivermectin tablets, Tocilizumab injection, Favipiravir Capsule, Enoxaparin injection and Dexamethasone Tablet have increased in the state, resulting in hoarding and black marketing of these medicines and injections."
The Chief Minister also said that the state government has already taken several measures such as constant monitoring of distribution and use of these medicines in hospitals, constituting a special task force for the purpose, surprise inspection and raids on receiving information of black-marketing to stop hoarding and black marketing of these medicines.
Over 1 Crore Covid Vaccine Doses Still Available With States: Centre
More than 1 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with states and Union Territories and they will receive over 20 lakh more doses within the next 3 days, the Union Health Ministry said on Thursday.
On media reports quoting some Maharashtra State Government officials that vaccines in the state are "finished" and adversely impacting the vaccination drive, the ministry said a balance of 7,49,960 vaccine doses is still available with the state for administration to eligible population groups.
"It is clarified that the total COVID vaccine doses received by Maharashtra as on April 29 (at 8 am) are 1,63,62,470."
"Of this, the total consumption including wastage (0.22 per cent) was 1,56,12,510. Balance of 7,49,960 vaccine doses is still available with the state for administration to the eligible population groups," the ministry said.
US Tells Citizens To Leave India As Covid Swamps Hospitals
The US government told its citizens to leave India as soon as possible because of the country's escalating Covid crisis.
In a Level 4 travel advisory --- the highest issued by the Department of State -- U.S. citizens were told "not to travel to India or to leave as soon as it is safe to do so." There are 14 direct daily flights between India and the U.S. and other services that connect through Europe, the department said.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot Tests Positive For Covid
Covid Pandemic Laid Threadbare Issue Of Digital Divide: Ravi Shankar Prasad
The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the issue of the digital divide and recast the world's view of digital access as a critical component to an equitable society, according to Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad, who underlined that technology is meant to be a "great equaliser" and not a source of division.
"In 2020, the year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world embraced digital transformation at a pace never witnessed before," Mr Prasad said at the UN High-Level thematic debate on 'Digital Cooperation and Connectivity: Whole-of-Society Approaches to End the Digital Divide.'
"The pandemic has resulted in societies reimagining technology's critical role in how we work, learn and live," Mr Prasad said.
Law Students Write To Chief Justice Over Black Marketing Of Drugs, Oxygen
Requesting to pass immediate directions and orders for uniform guidelines on certain matters related to the COVID-19 pandemic, a group of law students from across India has sent a combined letter petition to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Nuthalapati Venkata Ramana.
The group led by Aditya Kashyap, a final year law student at National Law University (NLU), Punjab, has pleaded to the CJI to pass immediate appropriate directions against rampant black-marketing of critical medicines, and how to provide oxygen cylinders to the people in need.
Brazil Says Russian Covid Vaccine Carried Live Cold VirusTainted batches of Russia's Sputnik V Covid vaccine sent to Brazil carried a live version of a common cold-causing virus, the South American country's health regulator reported in a presentation explaining its decision to ban the drug's import.
Top virologist Angela Rasmussen told AFP the finding "raises questions about the integrity of the manufacturing processes" and could be a safety issue for people with weaker immune systems, if the problem was found to be widespread.
Russia's Gamaleya Institute, which developed the vaccine, has denied the reports.
The issue centers around an "adenovirus vector" -- a virus that normally causes mild respiratory illness but in vaccines is genetically modified so that it cannot replicate, and edited to carry the DNA instructions for human cells to develop the spike protein of the coronavirus.
This in turn trains the human system to be prepared in case it then encounters the real coronavirus.
Consider Aviation Workers As Priority Group During Covid Vaccination: Centre To StatesThe states should consider aviation workers as a priority group for anti-COVID vaccination program that is going to start from May 1, Aviation Secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey told chief secretaries of all the states on Tuesday.
The aviation sector has been at the forefront to extend services to the movement of people, essential medical cargo, including vaccines, medicines, medical equipment, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr Pandey's letter to the states said.
The vital role played by the Vande Bharat Mission and the lifeline Udan flights has been noteworthy, the letter dated April 27 mentioned.