Coronavirus/Covid-19 Delhi, Maharashtra Lockdown, Lockdown Guidelines, Covid cases in India Highlights (State-Wise): Delhi will be under one-week lockdown from today. A formal announcement on this was made by CM Arvind Kejriwal today. It has been decided to impose a lockdown in Delhi, from 10 pm tonight to 6 am next Monday (26th April), Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said. Essential services, food services, medical services will continue. Weddings can be held with a gathering of only 50 people, passes will be issued separately for it.
“I appeal to Delhiites to follow lockdown which is necessary to reduce COVID cases; we will improve health system during this time,” said Kejriwal. While strict lockdown-like restrictions have been imposed in Maharashtra, experts have called for a 15-day self-imposed lockdown in Gujarat. The Rajasthan government has ordered the closure of offices and markets from Monday to May 3. Called the Jan Anushasan Pakhwada” (public discipline fortnight), only shops and offices providing essential services will open during the 15-day period.
Read: Coronavirus in India Live Updates
India has reported 2,73,810 new COVID19 cases, 1,619 fatalities and 1,44,178 discharges in the last 24 hours, as per Union Health Ministry. Yesterday, India had reported 2,61,500 new COVI-19 cases, 1,501 fatalities and 1,38,423 discharges in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry said.
Meanwhile, a lot of young people testing COVID positive as compared to old people. Symptoms are different this time. Many are complaining of dry mouth, gastrointestinal issues, nausea, loose tools, red eyes & headache. Everyone doesn’t complain of fever, says Genestrings Diagnostic Centre chief Gauri Agarwal.
Pakistan on Monday decided to ban for two weeks travellers coming from India due to a record surge in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country. India’s total tally of COVID-19 cases crossed the 1.50-crore mark with around 25 lakh cases being added in just 15 days, while active cases surpassed the 19-lakh mark, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday. The nationwide tally of COVID-19 cases mounted to 1,50,61,919 with a record single-day rise of 2,73,810 coronavirus infections. The death toll increased to 1,78,769 with a record 1,619 daily new fatalities, the data updated this morning showed. (PTI)
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today approved an advance payment of Rs 4,567.50 crores to Serum Institute of India & Bharat Biotech. Finance Ministry has approved Rs 3,000 crores for Serum Institute of India & Rs 1567.50 crores for Bharat Biotech: Sources (ANI)
With the government opening the COVID-19 vaccination drive to everyone above 18 years of age, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called a meeting with vaccine manufacturers on Tuesday, sources said. During the meeting, scheduled to be held through video conference at 6 pm on Tuesday, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) will make a presentation and also coordinate with all the participants, sources added. Those expected to be present include representatives of top drugmakers from India and abroad, including the companies whose vaccines have already been approved by the Government of India. So far, two vaccines — Oxford/Astrazeneca vaccine COVISHIELD manufactured by Serum Institute in India and indigenously developed COVAXIN by Bharat Biotech — are being administered in India, while a third vaccine Sputnik V — developed in Russia and to be imported and sold in India by Dr Reddy’s Laboratories — has also been approved by the Indian drug regulator. (PTI)
Madhya Pradesh on Monday reported the highest-ever single-day spike of 12,897 fresh coronavirus cases, while 79 more patients succumbed to the infection, the state health department said. The state’s COVID-19 caseload rose to 4,20,977, while the death toll increased to 4,636, department officials said. The previous highest one-day spike was 12,248 COVID- 19 cases, reported on April 18. In April so far, the state has recorded 1,25,466 new cases and 650 fatalities. (PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday termed vaccine as the biggest weapon in the fight against COVID-19 and urged doctors to encourage more and more patients to get the jab. In a virtual interaction with the country’s leading doctors on the pandemic situation and vaccination progress, he noted that COVID-19 is spreading rapidly in tier-two and tier-three cities this time and asked them to connect with their colleagues working there and provide online consultations to ensure all protocols are followed correctly. In a separate meeting with leaders of the pharmaceutical industry, he commended the sector for its efforts to increase production of several necessary drugs and also for reducing the price of injections like remdesivir, according to an official statement. (PTI)
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday hoped the state will receive COVID-19 vaccines on time on a day the Centre announced that everyone above 18 years of age will be eligible to get vaccinated from May 1 even as he thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for considering his demand to expand the vaccination drive. As cases spiralled in many states, the Union. (PTI)
Himachal Pradesh reported 13 more coronavirus-related fatalities, pushing the toll to 1,190 on Monday, while the infection count reached 78,070 with 1,695 fresh cases, an official said. The number of active cases in the state climbed to 9,783, he said. The hill state’s Special Health Secretary Nipun Jindal said five people died in Kangra, two each in Shimla, Solan and Una and one each in Mandi and Chamba districts. Of the new cases, a maximum of 525 were reported from Kangra, followed by 308 in Solan, 196 in Shimla, 185 in Mandi and 145 in Sirmaur. (PTI)
Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, the BJP on Monday said it has decided against holding any big rally or public meeting, including by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other party leaders, in the ongoing West Bengal assembly poll campaign. The decision comes amid the party facing flak from rivals for the big rallies of its leaders in West Bengal amid the COVID-19 tally rising to staggering levels across the country. The BJP said that breaking the chain of coronavirus infection is much needed in such a difficult time and it will leverage its “massive digital footprint” to take across the message of its top leaders to the voters. (PTI)
Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij on Monday said the pilgrims returning from the Haridwar Kumbh and the farmers protesting at the state borders with Delhi will be tested for coronavirus. Vij, who is also the Haryana health minister, reiterated that the state is not imposing any lockdown. He asked migrant workers not to pay heed to – any propaganda – and said they should continue to work like before.
Britain on Monday added India to its COVID-19 travel “red list”, which effectively bans all travel from the country and makes a 10-day hotel quarantine compulsory for UK residents arriving back to the country. Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed the move in the House of Commons as he revealed that 103 cases of the so-called Indian variant had been identified in the UK, of which the “vast majority have links to international travel”. He said that samples of that variant have been analysed to see if the new variant has any “concerning characteristics”, such as greater transmissibility or resistance to treatments and vaccines. (PTI)
West Bengal reported the highest single-day spike of 8,426 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, while 38 people died of the infection in the state, as per the Health Department. The fresh cases took the tally to over 6.68 lakh, it said. So far, 10,606 people have died of the disease in the state, it added. Twelve of the latest deaths happened in Kolkata, which reported record 2,211 new cases. In the last 24 hours, 4,608 recoveries were registered across the state. (PTI)
Shortage of oxygen, medicines, vaccines, and GST dues of states figured in a virtual meeting of states’ legislative bodies, opposition leaders and parliamentary affairs ministers with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday, sources said. Chairing the meeting held virtually, Birla suggested setting up a control room in all state legislative assemblies for extending help to people by coordinating with their respective public representatives. The agenda of the meeting was ‘Prevailing COVID-19 Situation – Role and Responsibility of Public Representatives’. (PTI)
The Telangana High Court on Monday directed the State government to issue within 48 hours COVID-19 guidelines to minimise footfalls in liquor shops, restaurants, marriage halls and cinemas, among other crowded places. A Bench of Chief Justice Hima Kohli and Justice B Vijaysen Reddy, hearing a batch of PILs (public interest litigations) on COVID-19 issues, wanted some sort of restrictions during weekends as part of the containment measures against COVID-19.
A day after logging the highest 68,631 COVID-19 cases, Maharashtra on Monday witnessed a dip in its daily count by recording 58,924 fresh infections and 351 deaths, the state health department said. The overall case tally in Maharashtra now stands at 38,98,262 while the toll is 60,824, it said. The state is now left with 6,76,520 active cases. Of the 351 fatalities, 220 were from the last 48 hours and 85 from the last week. (PTI)
A death row convict in the 2006 Mumbai train bombings case, who was lodged in the Nagpur Central Jail, died due to coronavirus at a government hospital in the early hours of Monday, a prison official said. Kamal Ahamed Ansari (50), originally a native of Bihar, succumbed to the infection at Government Medical College & Hospital (GMCH) at around 1 am, Superintendent of Nagpur Central Jail Anup Kumre said. (ANI)
A total 105 persons have tested positive for COVID-19 in Meghalaya on Monday pushing the active coronavirus cases to 754, state health officials said. The state recorded two fresh deaths in the past two days, increasing the toll in the contagion to 154, they said. With todays new infections, the COVID-19 tally has shot to 14,979, the officials said. On Sunday 73 new cases were detected, Health Services director Aman War said. (ANI)
The Delhi government on Monday set up a committee to ensure “rational” use of oxygen for treatment of COVID-19 patients, according to an official order. Hospitals in the city have been grappling with depleting supply of medical oxygen amid spiralling COVID-19 cases. The order issued by the Health Department stated the ‘Oxygen Audit Committee’ will identify areas of wasteful consumption. (PTI)
Amid surging COVID-19 infections in Christian majority Nagaland, Governor R N Ravi on Monday requested Church leaders to influence people to follow coronavirus protocols. Thirteen more people tested positive for the infection on Monday, taking the state’s caseload to 12,568. Ravi said that Church leaders have moral and spiritual authority and influence over people and urged them to use that capital to save the citizens of the state from the pandemic by making people more aware of the challenges of the disease and the need for strictly adhering to COVID-19 protocols. (PTI)
The government-run DRDO on Monday said it has developed a SpO2-based supplemental oxygen delivery system for soldiers serving in extremely high altitude areas and COVID-19 patients. “This automatic system delivers supplemental oxygen based on the SpO2 (blood oxygen saturation) levels and prevents the person from sinking in to a state of hypoxia, which is fatal in most cases, if sets in,” the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) said in a statement. Hypoxia is a condition in which the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues is inadequate to fulfil all the energy requirements of the body, it noted. (PTI)
Remdesivir not magic bullet, doesn’t reduce mortality; We may use it as we don’t have very good antiviral drug. It has limited role & we should be very careful in its usage: AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria
Goa’s coronavirus caseload rose to 68,152 on Monday after 940 people tested positive for the infection, a health department official said. The death toll mounted to900 as 17 more patients succumbed to the infection, he said. Also, 428 patients were discharged from hospitals during the day, raising the number of recovered cases in the state to 59,705, the official said. Goa now has 7,547 active cases, the official said. (PTI)
The Delhi government on Monday advanced the summer vacation in all schools in the national capital in view of the COVID-19 situation. The vacation which was scheduled from May 11 to June 3 has now been rescheduled from April 20 to June 9. “In view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic situation, the summer vacation has now been rescheduled and will be observed from April 24 (tomorrow) to June 9,” the Directorate of Education (DoE) said in an official order. Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had announced a six-day lockdown from 10 pm on Monday till 5 am on April 26 which he said was necessary to deal with the rising number of COVID-19 cases as the city’s health system was stretched to its limit. (PTI)
Jammu and Kashmir on Monday recorded 1,516 fresh COVID-19 cases, including 231 travellers, pushing the tally to 1,48,208, while six deaths in the past 24 hours raised the toll to 2,063, officials said. Of the fresh cases, 768 were from the Jammu division and 748 from the Kashmir division, they said. The officials said Jammu district recorded a maximum of 451 cases, followed by 383 in Srinagar district and 110 in Baramulla district. The number of active cases has now reached 12,164 in the union territory, while 1,33,981 patients have recovered so far, they said. (ANI)
Responding to the order of Allahabad High Court, Uttar Pradesh Additional Chief Secretary, Information, Navneet Sehgal said strict curbs are necessary to control the spread of the virus and that the government has taken several steps in that direction. However, he said, alongside saving lives, protecting livelihoods is also important. “Therefore, there will be no complete lockdown in the cities for now. People are automatically closing many places,” he said. (PTI)
Govt of India announces liberalised & accelerated Phase 3 strategy of COVID-19 vaccination from May 1; everyone above the age of 18 to be eligible to get vaccine. (ANI)
As many as 27 people succumbed to COVID-19 in Andhra Pradesh on Monday, the highest toll in a day after October 20, even as the state registered 5,963 fresh cases. After 1.57 crore tests, the gross COVID-19 positives in the state rose to 9.68 lakh,a health department bulletin said. In the 24 hours ending 9 am on Monday, 2,569 coronavirus-infected persons recovered, pushing the total recoveries to 9,12,510. The overall toll climbed to 7,437, it said. The state now has 48,053 active cases, the highest after October 8. – PTI
Telangana High Court directs the state government to take a call on imposing lockdown or curfew over the spread of COVID19 in the state in the next 48 hours.
Dr Manmohan Singh, the former Prime Minister, has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. News agency ANI says that the 88-year-old has been admitted to the AIIMS trauma centre. Yesterday, Dr Singh had written a roadmap, a 5-point plan to his successor Narendra Modi on how to tackle the Covid emergency.
Uttarakhand reports 2,160 new COVID19 cases and 24 deaths; case tally rises to 1,26,193, death toll 1,892. – ANI
In a bid to avoid crowding during the Ram Navami celebrations, Sri Ram Janmabhoomi complex has decided to go for closed-door celebrations this year. The decision was shared by the Ram Janmabhoomi via its official Twitter handle just now.
Shortly after the Yogi Adityanath govt said that there was no need for a complete lockdown in Uttar Pradesh, the Allahabad High Court has ordered a total shutdown in state capital Lucknow and other major cities such as Varanasi, Prayagraj and Kanpur. The lockown will remain in force till April 26 as of now. The High Court has also ordered the Chief Medical Officer and DM of Lucknow and Prayagraj to take stock of the situation and ensure full availability of Covid drugs, Oxygen and ICU beds. Uttar Pradesh is among the top surge states in India’s corona tally.
The couple who was captured on camera for misbehaving with cops during Sunday lockdown has now come up with a brazen explanation. Abha Gupta, the woman seen in the video shouting at the policemen, now claims that she feels breathless while wearing a mask and that’s why she didn’t wear one. She also said that though she had the face mask with her, she didn’t wear it as she thought she was in her car with her husband and didn’t need it. After the arrest, Abha also said that she thinks that masks should be worn in ‘public places.’ On the other hand, Pankaj Dutta, blamed his wife and said that she didn’t ‘allow’ him to wear the face mask. He claimed that whenever Abha is not around, he always wears a mask.
Drugs Control Department of the Delhi government has set up a control room to counter the shortage of COVID-19 management drugs in the national capital: Delhi CMO
Mohali will remain under complete lockdown on Wednesday, on the occasion of Ram Navami, to avoid gatherings amid the surging COVID19 cases in the region: Punjab Government
Delhi High Court expresses concern on the rise of COVID19 cases, says, “it is evident that the healthcare infrastructure is at the stage of imminent collapse”.
Due to heavy COVID19 situation in India, Russian Embassy’s visa section temporarily ceases its operations until further notice: Russian Embassy in India
Rates for RT-PCR and Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) by private labs have been reduced to Rs 450 and Rs 300 respectively: Punjab Chief Minister’s Office. Punjab CM reviews COVID19 situation; orders extension of night curfew timings (8 pm to 5 am), closure of all bars, cinema halls, gyms, spas, coaching centres, sports complexes from Apr 20-30; ban on gatherings of over over 20 including weddings & funerals
Delhi High Court directs the Delhi government to provide food to daily wagers at their worksite and to utilise the service of mid-day meal contractors. – ANI
“There is no need to impose a complete lockdown. Weekend lockdowns will continue to curb the spread of COVID19”: Chief Minister’s Office, Uttar Pradesh – ANI
It is of no use if steroids are given on day 1. They are useful only in moderate to severe illness when oxygen saturation is falling, said AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria.
Recovery trials showed that steroids will benefit but it’s also imp to know when they’re given. If given early before your saturation (O2) falls, it has harmful effect. COVID patients who got steroids early had higher mortality than those who didn’t, he added. (ANI)