The Centre today told the Supreme Court there is more than adequate stock of oxygen to meet the demand and that there is no need to panic. "There is no shortage of medical oxygen in the country, supply being augmented for COVID-19 relief," the Centre said, at the hearing on issues related to COVID-19.
Earlier, the Supreme Court directed the Centre to adopt national immunisation model as poor people will not be able to pay for coronavirus vaccines. "What happens to the marginalised and SC/ST population? Should they be left to the mercy of private hospitals," it asked.
The top court said the government must consider National Immunisation Programme for various vaccines and must think of providing free vaccination to all citizens. Private vaccine manufacturers cannot be allowed to decide which state should get how much, it added.
The Supreme Court yet again questioned the government over the pricing of vaccines. "Why is the government not buying 100 per cent of doses produced in this time? Why should there be two prices for the centre and the states... what is the rationale," it asked.
Further, it said no state should clampdown information if citizens communicate their grievances on social media. "We don't want any clampdown of information. We will treat it as a contempt of court if such grievances is considered for action. Let a strong message go to all the states and DGP of states", the Supreme Court said.
Coronavirus has infected over 3.86 lakh people in India in yet another worrying high and killed 3,498 the last 24 hours. The record numbers come even as a huge international aid operation has been launched with many countries promising help.
Here are the Latest News Highlights:
Delhi on Friday recorded 375 deaths due to the coronavirus and 27,047 fresh cases with a positivity rate of 32.69 per cent, according to the latest bulletin issued by the city health department.
This is the ninth day on the trot that Delhi has recorded over 300 coronavirus-related deaths.
It had reported 395 deaths, the highest since the pandemic began a year ago, on Thursday; 368 deaths on Wednesday; 381 on Tuesday; 380 on Monday; 350 on Sunday; 357 deaths on Saturday, and 348 on Friday, according to government data.
The national capital had recorded 24,235 cases on Thursday; 25,986 on Wednesday; 24,149 on Tuesday; 20,201 on Monday; 22,933 on Sunday; 24,103 on Saturday; 24,331 on Friday and 26,169 on Thursday.
The Tripura government has sounded an alert after the double mutant strain of coronavirus and those of Britain and African variants were found in the state, officials said on Friday.
The state government has decided to hold full-fledged virus tests for passengers entering the state via airways, trains and roadways and quarantine the infected among them, the officials said.
Immediately after the receipt of the test results of outsiders by the state government, Tripura health secretary JK Sinha held a virtual meeting on Thursday with district magistrates, superintendenst of police and the chief medical officers of all the eight districts and asked them to take all precautions and strictly maintain the COVID-19 norms, officials said.
"Realizing the criticality of vaccinating the citizens to mitigate the impact of the second wave of Covid infections, Apollo Hospitals has taken the initiative and made arrangements to procure the vaccines directly from the manufacturers, as per the government directive," the group said in a press statement.
From tomorrow, all above 18 can be vaccinated but several states have said they do not have vaccine supplies to start the drive.
Vaccination against COVID-19 for 18-45 age group will start from May 1 in 10 districts of Gujarat which are affected most by the pandemic, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said on Friday.
Xi Jinping Offers To Help India Fight Covid: Chinese State MediaChinese President Xi Jinping offered to help India fight against the coronavirus pandemic, state media reported on Friday."
Hearing a Public Interst Litigation (PIL) seeking directions for the state government over medical expenses charged by private hospitals in Kerala, the High Court on Friday directed the state government to take a decision into the matter and sought its response by May 4.
The High Court today heard the plea filed by Advocate Sabu Thomas in which he pleaded for a direction to direct the state to re-fix tariff for the private hospital/nursing homes for the treatment of COVID-19 patients including charges of laboratories and Diagnostic Centers.
A bench consisting of Justice Devan Ramachandran and MR Anitha considered the petition seeking to regulate the exorbitant charges fixed by private hospitals for treatment in Kerala.
I have tested positive for COVID with mild symptoms.
- LG Delhi (@LtGovDelhi) April 30, 2021
Have isolated myself since the onset of symptoms and all those who were in contact with me have been tested.
Will continue to function and monitor the situation in Delhi from my residence.
"Don't queue up for vaccines tomorrow. As soon as vaccines arrive we will let you know, then you can come for shots," Arvind Kejriwal said today.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday expressed condolences to the people who have lost their family members due to "lack" of treatment amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Since the onset of the pandemic, 2,08,330 people have lost their lives due to COVID-19 in India, as per the government data.
In a tweet, Mr Gandhi said "prayers and sympathy from every state of the country are with you".
"My condolences to the citizens of the country who are losing their loved ones due to lack of treatment. You are not alone in this tragedy - prayers and sympathy from every state of the country are with you," the Congress leader said.
"There is a possibility that COVID-19 can spread in village areas. In such a situation, BSP advises the UP government that it should take necessary steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in cities as well as in the village area," she tweeted.
Police said the team of Sarojini Nagar police station was deployed and arrested the accused who used to sell these injections in the black market at higher prices. They have a set network of persons who used to supply the injections on demand.
The accused have been identified as Abhishek Kumar, who works as housekeeping staff at Safdurjung hospital and Pramod Kumar, who works as brutsmate pharmacy suppliers.
"The accused have disclosed that they are operating in Delhi-NCR and supplying Remdesivir at exorbitant prices of Rs 35000-50000 per piece," the police said.
Maharashtra: NESCO vaccination centre in Mumbai remains closed. A board, reading 'vaccine is not in stock from 30.04.2021 till 02.05.2021' put up at the centre.#COVID19. pic.twitter.com/5Rc34pA0Fw
- ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2021
Taking to twitter Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday said that dedicated oxygen war rooms will function with representatives of the police, health, transportation, disaster management and Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO).
"Dedicated Oxygen War Rooms will function at State and District levels with representatives of Police, Health, Transportation, Disaster Management and PESO. O2 stock is being monitored in the Districts by Collectors. O2 module will be included in Covid Jagratha portal," he said in a tweet.
He said that oxygen stock is being monitored in the districts by collectors and the oxygen module will be included in the COVID-19 Jagratha portal.
India reports 3,86,452 new #COVID19 cases, 3498 deaths and 2,97,540 discharges in the last 24 hours, as per Union Health Ministry
- ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2021
Total cases: 1,87,62,976
Total recoveries: 1,53,84,418
Death toll: 2,08,330
Active cases: 31,70,228
Total vaccination: 15,22,45,179 pic.twitter.com/mRsifO2IMP
28,63,92,086 samples tested up to 29th April 2021, for #COVID19. Of these 19,20,107 samples were tested yesterday: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) pic.twitter.com/Nrz28enAKs
- ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2021
The military jet carrying more than 400 oxygen cylinders and other hospital equipment and nearly one million rapid coronavirus tests landed at the New Delhi international airport.
Japan stands with India in her greatest time of need. We have decide to proceed with the procedure to provide 300 oxygen generators & 300 ventilators: Satoshi Suzuki, Ambassador of Japan to India
- ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2021
(File photo)#COVID19 pic.twitter.com/fqQBfgxcNq
Taking to Twitter, Mr Sandhu said he discussed with the Pfizer CEO on how the company can also strengthen the pandemic response in India, which is in the grip of a devastating second wave of COVID-19.
"Important conversation with @AlbertBourla CEO @pfizer today evening. Discussed ways in which Pfizer could support healthcare efforts incl vaccines in India, and strengthen our pandemic response," he tweeted.
140 new #COVID19 cases have been reported in Mizoram; taking the total number of cases to 6019.
- ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2021
Active cases: 1123
Deaths: 14 pic.twitter.com/XdFmuta7e1
Shipment containing 700 units of oxygen concentrators & 365 ventilators arrives from Ireland: Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) pic.twitter.com/P3dnhRIFv3
- ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2021
