Coronavirus Cases in India: The death count increased to 2,58,317 with 4,120 new fatalities.
Maharashtra's lockdown-like restrictions to contain the spread of coronavirus will remain in place for the rest of the month. The curbs have been extended till 7 am on June 1, according to the state government.
The new restrictions include a mandatory negative RT-PCR test report for those entering the state and curbs on those arriving from places of "sensitive origins", says an order issued by Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte on Wednesday.
"Milk collection, transport and processing may be allowed without restrictions though its retail sale be allowed subject to restrictions imposed on shops dealing with essential items or through home delivery," the government order said.
Meanwhile, India added 3,62,727 new coronavirus infections in a day taking the COVID-19 tally of cases to 2,37,03,665, while the death count rose to 2,58,317 with 4,120 daily fatalities, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday.
The active cases have increased to 37,10,525 comprising 15.65 per cent of the total infections.
The national COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to 83.26 per cent, the data updated at 8 am showed.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,97,34,823 while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.09 per cent, the data stated.
India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19. India crossed the grim milestone of 2 crore on May 4.
According to the ICMR, 30,94,48,585 samples have been tested up to May 12 with 18,64,594 samples being tested on Thursday.
Here are the Live Updates on India Coronavirus (Covid-19 Cases) Cases:
Arunachal To Start COVID Vaccination Drive For People Aged 18-44 Years
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Thursday said the state government will launch the vaccination drive for people in the age group of 18 to 44 years from May 17.
The health department will prepare a schedule for sessions for which registration on the ''Cowin'' platform will start from May 15, he said on Twitter.
Vaccine Makers Invited To Produce Covaxin To Address ShortageThe central government and Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech are willing to invite other companies which want to produce Covaxin to help scale up its production, a top government advisor said on Thursday, as India grapples with a dire shortage of coronavirus vaccines.
"People say that Covaxin should be given to other companies for manufacturing. I am happy to say that Covaxin manufacturing company (Bharat Biotech) has welcomed this when we discussed it with them," NITI Aayog member Dr VK Paul said.
Read National Security Act Against 75 For Black-Marketing Remdesivir In Madhya PradeshThe Madhya Pradesh government has invoked stringent National Security Act (NSA) against 75 persons for allegedly indulging in illegal sale of Remdesivir medicine in different parts of the state, a senior officialsaid on Thursday.
These 75 persons have already been sent to jails by the district collectors concerned, he said.
"As per the procedure, we have confirmed the NSA against 37 persons for black-marketing Remdesivir. We will also confirm the proposal against 38 others under the same Act by Friday," senior state official Dr Rajesh Rajora told PTI.
Pinarayi Vijayan Writes To PM Narendra Modi, Demands 300 MT OxygenThe Kerala government on Thursday urged the Centre to immediately rush at least 300 MT oxygen from neighbouring storage points to augment the storage in hospitals in the wake of the impending cyclonic storm.
In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the India Meteorological Department has issued a cyclonic storm warning forecasting heavy rain and winds in parts of the State on May 14 and May 15.
It is anticipated that there may be disruptions in electricity supply to oxygen generation plants and filling stations.
Over 200 Crore Vaccine Shots To Be Available By End Of 2021: Government
More than 200 crore doses of coronavirus vaccines will likely be available in India between August to December this year, a top government advisor said on Thursday, raising hopes that the country may be able to overcome setbacks from its inoculation strategy.
Now Half-Burnt Bodies Found Floating In Ganga Near Varanasi
More bodies were found floating in the river Ganga in Uttar Pradesh today, this time in Varanasi. Some of the bodies were half-burnt when they washed up on the banks, possibly pulled off pyres and thrown into the river, officials say.
Bodies have been floating in the river or washing up on the banks in towns in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar with disturbing regularity in the country's Covid crisis.
Around six-seven corpses were spotted in Ramnagar in Varanasi in the morning and three of them were half-burnt.
"Good Scientific Decision": Adar Poonawalla On Longer Gap Between JabsThe gap between two Covishield doses has been increased to 12 to 16 weeks from the current six-eight weeks, the government said today, accepting the recommendation of experts. Increasing the gap is a good scientific decision, said Adar Poonawalla, the CEO of the Serum Institute of India (SSI) that makes Covishield.
"This is beneficial both from the efficacy and the immunogenicity standpoint. This is a very good move because this is based on data that the government received on the basis of which they made a good scientific decision to increase the gap," Adar Poonawalla told NDTV.
Read Vaccine Effectiveness On India-Dominant Variants "Remain Uncertain": WHO
New strains of the Covid variant found in India are deadlier and more infectious, the World Health Organisation has said on the country's coronavirus situation in a weekly update. It also says the potential impact of these mutations on the effectiveness of vaccines is uncertain.
The B.1.617 variant first detected in India in October and now found in 44 countries, has a higher rate of transmission and reduced susceptibility to neutralisation antibodies.
Around 0.1 per cent of the Covid-positive samples in India have been genome sequenced.
UP Doctors Quit Posts Over 'Endless' Covid ReviewFourteen government doctors in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao, just 40 km from capital Lucknow, who are in charge of rural hospitals in the district, have resigned from their posts saying they are being made the scapegoats for the rise in Covid infections in the district.
The doctors are in charge of Community Health Centres and Primary Health Care centres in Unnao. Both these places are rural hospitals that provide frontline healthcare to villages.
Eleven of the 14 doctors who signed on a joint resignation letter visited the office of Unnao's chief medical officer on Wednesday evening and handed over the letter to his deputy. In the letter, reviewed by NDTV, the doctors say that despite working hard in the pandemic, punitive action and bad behavior is being meted out to doctors without any basis.
Read 12 To 16-Week Gap For Covishield, Says Government Panel: Report
The gap between two doses of the Covishield COVID-19 vaccine can be increased to 12-16 weeks, a government panel recommended Thursday, according to a report by news agency PTI. No changes were suggested for Covaxin which remains at four to six weeks. The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization also said pregnant women can choose their vaccine and lactating women will be eligible after delivery. Currently neither is eligible to get the shots.
Read Here Coronavirus: Goa Gets 32,000 COVID-19 Vaccine Doses For 18-44 Age Group
The Goa government will soon start COVID-19 vaccination for people in the age group of 18 to 44, as the first lot of vaccines arrived in the state on Thursday, a senior health department official said. Speaking to PTI, director of Health Services Dr Jose D'Sa said a first lot of 32,000 vaccine doses from Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) had arrived in the state during the day.
There are about 75,000 vaccines of Covaxin available in Karnataka at present. Of course, in certain centers, there is a little bit of scarcity. Practically, allotments will be made by central government on basis of production of 2 manufacturing units: Union Minister DV Sadananda Gowda.
JIST IN| Lockdown imposed in Bihar extended till May 25, says Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Coronavirus: Ten States Account For Over 72 Per Cent Of New COVID-19 Cases
Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh are among 10 states that account for 72.42 per cent of the 3,62,727 new cases in the country in a span of 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry said on Thursday. Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Rajasthan are the other states in the list of 10. Maharashtra reported the highest daily new cases at 46,781. It is followed by Kerala with 43,529 while Karnataka reported 39,998 new cases. India's total active caseload has increased to 37,10,525 and now comprises 15.65 per cent of the country''s total infections.
'No Internet, No Vaccination': Jab Race Exposes India's Digital Divide
It's 2:00 am and Ananya Maskara's face is lit up by her smartphone as she nervously scrolls through a list -- looking for a green or yellow tab indicating that a Covid-19 vaccination slot is available in New Delhi. For anyone aged between 18 and 44, getting a slot in the expanded vaccination drive -- already plagued by shortages and political squabbles -- has been like buying tickets for a rock concert where popular bands sell out in minutes.
Coronavirus Update: Delhi Says Oxygen Need Has Dipped, Centre Can Give Surplus To Others
Delhi's oxygen demand has reduced and it can give its surplus oxygen to other states that need it, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said today as the capital continued to report a dip in coronavirus cases. "The oxygen demand has come down and hospital beds are getting free. At that time (15 days ago), we needed 700 metric tonnes of oxygen, according to the beds... Delhi's oxygen demand has come down to 582 metric tonnes per day."
Read Here COVID-19 News: Puducherry Logs 1,942 Fresh Coronavirus Cases
The union territory of Puducherry logged 1,942 new coronavirus cases during the last 24 hours, pushing the overall tally to 78,973, a senior Health Department official said on Thursday. Twenty-four patients succumbed to the virus during the last 24 hours ending 10 AM Thursday raising the toll to 1,069, Director of Health and Family Welfare Services S Mohan Kumar said.
Coronavirus: Arunachal Pradesh Reports Highest Single-Day Spike Of 279 COVID-19 Cases
Arunachal Pradesh reported the highest single-day spike of 279 COVID-19 cases, pushing the tally to 20,854, a senior health official said here on Thursday. The COVID-19 death toll rose to 69 as one more person succumbed to the infection, State Surveillance Officer (SSO) Dr Lobsang Jampa said. A 59-year-old ITBN jawan from 9 ITBP Battalion at Lohitpur in Lohit district died on Tuesday at the Dedicated Covid Health Centre (DCHC). He was suffering from hypertension and hypothyroidism, the official said.
Delhi has reported 10,400 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours. The positivity rate has gone down to 14%: Delhi Deputy Chief Minster Manish Sisodia.
COVID-19 News: Maharashtra Extends Restrictions Till June 1 To Contain Covid
The Maharashtra government has extended the emergency measures put in place to contain Covid till next month. The restrictions will be in place till 7 am on June 1, Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte said in an order issued today.
Read Here
Coronavirus News: Haryana To Float Global Tenders To Procure COVID-19 Vaccines
Global tenders would be floated by the Haryana government for procurement of COVID-19 vaccines to ensure that all those above 18 in the state are inoculated, Health Minister Anil Vij said on Thursday. During the past few weeks, COVID cases in Haryana have witnessed a surge. The number of total active cases in the state, as on May 12, were 1,07,058. In a tweet, Anil Vij said, "Haryana will float Global tenders to purchase Corona Vaccine for people of Haryana so that free vaccination could be provided to every 18+ citizens of the State at the earliest".
COVID-19 News: Covaxin Phase 2, 3 Clinical Trials For 2-18 Age Group Cleared
Covaxin trials on children from two to 18 years were cleared by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) today. This is the first time in India that a Covid vaccine will be tested on children. Covaxin maker Bharat Biotech said its phase 2 and 3 trials would be carried out on "525 healthy volunteers". According to a government statement, the drug regulator accepted the recommendation of an expert committee on vaccines after careful thought.
Read Here Kochi's Juma Masjid, Padamugal wears a deserted look on Eid-ul-Fitr as Kerala remains under lockdown.
Coronavirus: Amid Lockdown, Hundreds Throng Hyderabad's Charminar For Eid Shopping
A huge crowd at Hyderabad's Charminar today for Eid shopping challenged restrictions including a lockdown to contain the Covid spread in Telangana, which has close to 60,000 coronavirus cases. Telangana is under a 10-day lockdown from Wednesday, with a four-hour break between 6 and 10 in the morning to allow people to buy essentials.
Read Here COVID-19: More Ventilators, Oxygen Cylinders Arrive In India From Europe
An aircraft carrying 176 ventilators from Germany, 324 oxygen cylinders from Finland, and 10 oxygen cylinders from Greece, arrived in Delhi on early Thursday morning. External Affairs Ministry (EAM) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi termed this COVID assistance from European countries as a "hallmark of India-EU relations."
Coronavirus: Covaxin Phase 2/3 Clinical Trials For 2-18 Age Group ClearedDrugs Controller General of India (DCGI) approves Phase 2/3 clinical trial of COVAXIN in the age group of 2 to 18 years.
Coronavirus: Thane Sees 1,908 New COVID-19 Cases
Thane has reported1,908 new cases of coronavirus, raising the tally in the Maharashtra district to 4,94,022, an official said on Thursday. These new cases were reported on Wednesday, he said. The virus also claimed the lives of 68 more people, taking the death toll in the district to 8,241, he said. The COVID-19 mortality rate in Thane stood at 1.66 per cent, he added.
Haryana will float global tenders to purchase Corona Vaccine for people of Haryana so that free vaccination could be provided to 18+ citizens of the State at the earliest: Haryana Minister Anil Vij.
Coronavirus: India Records 3,62,727 New Infections, 4,120 Deaths In 24 Hours
India's total tally of COVID-19 cases surged to 2,37,03,665 with 3,62,727 new infections, while the recoveries have surged to 1,97,34,823, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday. The death count increased to 2,58,317 with 4,120 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.
Total number of samples tested up to May 12 is 30,94,48,585 including 18,64,594 samples tested yesterday: ICMR
Adar Poonawalla Promises To Deliver 1.5 Crore Covishield Doses To Maharashtra After May 20: Minister
Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla has promised Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to deliver 1.5 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccine Covishield to Maharashtra after May 20, said health minister Rajesh Tope on Wednesday. The Maharashtra state cabinet held a meeting on Wednesday to discuss the Covid management.
Coronavirus News: Karnataka To Suspend Vaccination For 18-44 Age Group From Tomorrow
Karnataka Government will temporarily suspend the COVID-19 vaccination for the age group of 18 to 44 years from May 14, said officials. According to the state government, the order will be applicable to all government Covid vaccination centres in the state.
COVID-19: Uttarakhand To Distribute Ivermectin Tablets To All Residents
The Uttarakhand Government has ordered officials for mass distribution of Ivermectin tablets to all residents as preventive medicine against the spread of COVID-19, a senior official said. This announcement comes after Goa and Karnataka issued similar directions. According to an order issued by Chief Secretary Om Prakash to all district magistrates, the decision was taken on the recommendation of the state-level clinical technical committee.
"A Hell Out Here": COVID-19 Ravages Rural India
India's coronavirus death count crossed 2,50,000 on Wednesday in the deadliest 24 hours since the pandemic began, as the disease rampaged through the countryside, leaving families to weep over the dead in rural hospitals or camp in wards to tend the sick. Boosted by highly infectious variants, the second wave erupted in February to inundate hospitals and medical staff, as well as crematoriums and mortuaries. Experts still cannot say for sure when the figures will peak.
Serum Institute, Bharat Biotech To Ramp Up Covid Vaccine Production By August: Report
Amid multiple states reporting a shortage of COVID-19 vaccine, Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech have submitted to the Centre their production plan for the next four months, informing they can ramp it up to 10 crore and 7.8 crore doses respectively by August, official sources said on Wednesday.
Coronavirus News: Bihar reports 74 more COVID deaths, 9,863 new cases
Bihar's COVID-19 death count went up to 3,503 on Wednesday after 74 people died due to the disease, while 9,863 fresh positive cases pushed the tally to 6,22,433, the health department said.
It said that 12,265 recovered from the infection, taking the total number of cured people to 5,19,306. The state currently has 99,623 active cases, PTI reported.
Coronavirus News: Nagaland's COVID-19 tally rises to 16,890 with record 338 fresh cases
Nagaland's COVID-19 caseload mounted to 16,890 on Wednesday as the state reported its highest single-day spike of 338 new cases, Health Minister S Pangnyu Phom said.
Of the fresh cases, 184 were reported from Dimapur, 87 from Kohima, 18 from Tuensang, 15 from Mon, nine from Mokokchung, six each from Longleng, Kiphire and Phek, three from Zunheboto and two each from Wokha and Paren, PTI reported.