Coronavirus in India April 9 Highlights: Weekend lockdown in Maharashtra; Rajasthan flags vaccine shortage; and more

In a new daily high, India detected 1,31,968 cases of the novel coronavirus in the 24 hours ending 9 am on Friday. The country’s Covid-19 caseload includes 9,79,608 active cases, 7.5 per cent of the total infections; 1,19,13,292 recoveries, taking the recovery take to 91.22 per cent; and 1,67,642 deaths, a 1.28 per cent fatality rate.

India reported 780 deaths on Thursday, the highest fatalities in a day since October 18, 2020. Nearly half the deaths, or 376, were from Maharashtra. Chhattisgarh reported 94, Punjab 56, Uttar Pradesh 39, Karnataka 36, Gujarat 35, Madhya Pradesh 27, Delhi 24, Tamil Nadu 19, Kerala 18 and Haryana 11.

Meanwhile, Union Health Ministry Friday said the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has exceeded 9.78 crore till 8 pm.

At a mask shop in Agartala. (Express Photo: Abhishek Saha)

Here’s the top Covid-19 news on April 9, 2021:

Over 9.78 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses administered so far: Govt

Union Health Ministry Friday said the total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has exceeded 9.78 crore. According to a provisional report till 8 pm, 9,78,71,045 vaccine doses have been given so far. The beneficiaries include 89,87,818 healthcare workers (HCWs) who have taken the first dose and 54,78,562 HCWs who have been given the second dose, 98,65,504 frontline workers (FLWs) who have got the first dose and 46,56,236 FLWs who have been administered the second dose.

Apart from this, 2,81,30,126 and 5,79,276 beneficiaries aged between 45 and 59 have been given the first and second doses respectively. Also, 3,85,92,532 and 15,80,991 individuals over 60 years have received their first and second doses. “Total 32,16,949 vaccine doses were given till 8 pm on Friday, the 84th day of the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination,” PTI quoted the ministry as saying.

Delhi records over 8,000 COVID cases, highest since Nov 11; 39 more deaths

Delhi on Friday recorded 8,521 new COVID-19 cases –– the highest single-day surge since November 11 (8,593 cases, highest till date) last year. As many as 39 people succumbed to the infection, taking the city’s toll to 11,196, said the  health department. This is also the first time that over 8,000 cases have been recorded in a day this year. The positivity rate reduced slightly to be recorded at 7.79 per cent on Friday from 8.1 per cent on Thursday.

Tamil Nadu mulls night curfew, additional curbs if present measures do not yield results

Night curfew and additional curbs may have to be imposed in Tamil Nadu if the many efforts aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 do not yield results, the state government said Friday. If several measures to contain the virus like fever camps and reintroduction of some restrictions, effective from April 10, did not help, ‘night curfew and additional curbs’ may have to be clamped, it said. The government had said that retail stores in big vegetable markets like the Koyambedu complex in Chennai and other large facilities in districts shall not be allowed to operate from April 10.

Weekend lockdown in Maharashtra

The weekend lockdown in Maharashtra began at 8 pm one Friday and would continue until 7 am on Monday. The new curbs, called ‘Break the Chain’, were announced on April 4 and are to remain in force till the end of the month.

Maharashtra reported 58,993 new coronavirus cases on Friday, which took its caseload to 32,88,540, while 301 deaths due to the infection pushed the toll to 57,329, the health department said. There are 5,34,603 active cases in the state with total recoveries standing at 26,95,148. Capital Mumbai crossed five lakh total Covid-19 infections today with 9,200 new cases.

Maharashtra CM to hold all-party meet on Saturday to discuss COVID-19

With cumulative case count crossing 5 lakh in the state, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is scheduled to hold an all-party meeting on Saturday to discuss the COVID-19 situation in the state, a BJP leader said on Friday. Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Pravin Darekar, while speaking to media, said the decision to organise the all-party meeting was taken this afternoon. “This decision was taken during the meeting held today to decide the postponement of MPSC exams scheduled for Sunday,” PTI quoted Darekar as saying. When asked about the weekend lockdown from Friday night, Darekar said the government should take a decision on financially supporting all the small businesses. Thackeray also asked private hospitals to adopt some of the jumbo COVID-19 treatment facilities set up in the state.

Night curfew in South Andaman district from April 10

The South Andaman district administration has decided to clamp night curfew in the district starting from April 10 due to the recent surge in COVID-19 infections and also to curb the spread of the virus, PTI reported on Friday. District Magistrate of South Andaman, Suneel Anchipaka in an order on Friday said the movement of individuals shall remain strictly prohibited from 10 pm to 5 am. Come into force in South Andaman district from the midnight of April 10, the night curfew shall be effective till April 30, the official said.

At Charbagh Railway Station in Lucknow on Thursday (Express Photo: Vishal Srivastav)

Delhi: Offline academic activities for Class IX-XII students discontinued till further orders

All offline academic activities for students of classes IX to XII have been discontinued till further orders in Delhi, the Delhi government’s Directorate of Education (DoE) has notified.

This move has been taken in response to the rapid rise in the number of COVID cases in the capital.

“In view of the sudden surge in the cases of COVID-19 in Delhi, all the Heads of Govt., Govt. Aided and Unaided Recognised Schools are hereby informed that conduct of all Academic and Examination Activities through physical mode shall remain suspended with immediate effect till further orders,” read the order by the DoE.

Rahul Gandhi writes to PM: ‘Open vaccination to all’

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday with an appeal for universal vaccination. Gandhi said there was “no clear reason” why the government was exporting vaccines, and urged the Prime Minister to “open up vaccination for everyone who needs it”.

Gandhi requested PM Modi to provide vaccine suppliers with resources to increase manufacturing capacity; place an immediate moratorium on vaccine export; fast track approvals of other vaccines; open vaccination to everyone who needs it; double central allocation for vaccine procurement from the existing Rs 35,000 crore; give state government a greater say in vaccine procurement and distribution; and provide direct income support the the vulnerable sections amid the second wave.

Pimpri-Chinchwad halts vaccination drive due to shortage of doses

The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) on Friday shut down 87 vaccination centres — 59 of its own and 28 private ones — owing to shortage of vaccines. However, the Pune Zilla Parishad said citizens from Pimpri-Chinchwad can get vaccinated at the Aundh General Hospital.

PCMC’s Additional Health and Medical Chief Dr Pavan Salve said, “All vaccination centres will remain shut on Friday as there is no stock available.”

Railways: No plans to curtail, stop train services

The Railways has assured there are no plans to curtail or stop train services amid the second wave of Covid-19. Several cities are seeing an exodus of workers as restrictions are reimposed.

“There is no plan to curtail or stop train services. We will run as many services as required. There is no cause for alarm. We can run trains immediately on demand if there is any rush. This rush is normal during the summer season and we have already announced trains to clear the rush,” Railway Board Chairman Suneet Sharma was quoted as saying by PTI.