This is the lowest spike in daily infections since April 9.Coronavirus India Highlights: Delhi on Monday recorded 648 fresh Covid cases, lowest since March 18, and 86 new deaths. According to a health bulletin , the positivity rate in the national capital also fell below 1%.
The Bihar government on Monday extended the ongoing Covid-19 lockdown across the state for another week, till June 8 to curb the spread of coronavirus. In a tweet, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said, “In view of the corona infection, it has been decided to extend the lockdown by one week i.e. till June 8, 2021. But an additional discount is being given for business. Everyone wear mask and maintain social distance.”
Highlighting the technical difficulties faced by people in rural areas, the Supreme Court on Monday questioned Centre on mandatory registration on the CoWIN app in order to get vaccinated. It added that there is digital divide in the country and that policy makers should pay attention to the realities on ground. This comes as cases continue to rise in rural parts of the country, with vaccination numbers lagging behind. Meanwhile, the Central government told the Supreme Court that it will be able to vaccinate the entire adult population in India by the end of 2021.
India recorded over 1.52 lakh new covid-19 cases in the 24 hours ending 8 am on Monday, taking the country’s total infections to over 2.80 crore. This is the lowest spike in daily infections since April 9. Out of these, active cases further declined to over 20 lakh and the number of recoveries escalated to over 2.56 crore. With 3,128 new fatalities, the lowest since April 26, the death toll is now at over 3.29 lakh. As daily infections see a downward trend, several states announced a few relaxations while many have extended the lockdown measures.
In an important development, the Centre is looking at redefining its vaccine strategy and planning to begin testing the feasibility of mixing two different covid-19 vaccines to see if it helps boost immune response to the virus, The Indian Express has learnt. The government will also likely review the impact of extending the interval between covishield doses. A newly proposed vaccine tracker platform is likely to launch shortly too, sources said.Tamil Nadu continued to be the top contributor with 28,864 cases. Maharashtra count below 20,000 for second consecutive day.
Beneficiaries being inoculated inside Vishnudas Bhave Auditorium, Vashi on Thursday morning. (Express Photo by Amit Chakravarty)
Seeking fast-track approvals to bring Moderna's single-dose COVID-19 booster vaccine in India expeditiously, Cipla has requested the government for indemnification and exemptions from price capping, bridging trials and basic customs duty, while stating that it is close to committing over USD 1-billion as advance to the US major, sources said on Monday. Commending the government for its efforts to increase the vaccine availability in the country for achieving effective protection against COVID-19, the Indian pharma giant has said its discussions with Moderna on the COVID-19 booster vaccine are nearing finalisation and for that, they are seeking the "partnership and support of the government to make this programme successful". Requesting the government to provide confirmation on four critical points --- exemption from price restriction, indemnification, bridging trial waiver and basic customs duty exemption, Cipla has said such an assurance will help make this significant financial commitment of more than USD 1 billion (over Rs 7,250 crore) advance to Moderna for its booster vaccine in India, sources privy to the development said. --PTI
Karnataka on Monday reported less than 16,604 new Covid-19 cases and 411 fatalities, taking the total number of infections to 26.04 lakh and the death toll to 29,090. A total of 44,473 patients were discharged from hospital during the day.
The total number of cases recorded in the state till date is 26,04,431, which includes 29,090 deaths and 22,61,590 discharges, the state bulletin said.
Bengaluru reported 3,992 fresh infections even as the city saw 20,332 discharges and 242 deaths on Monday. The total number of active cases in the city is 3,13,730. While the positivity rate stood at 13.57 per cent, the case fatality rate (CFR) is at 2.47 per cent. Read more
Mumbai on Monday reported 676 COVID-19 cases, the lowest since February 23 this year, taking its tally to 7,06,251, a civic official said. The day also saw 20 deaths, taking the toll to 14,884, he added. On Sunday, the city had reported 1,066 cases and 22 deaths, while on February 23, the addition to the tally was 643, he added. However, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) data revealed that the number of tests conducted in the last 24 hours was 17,865, lower than the 25,548 carried out on Sunday, which may be leading to a routine dip in cases on Monday, officials said. --PTI
Kerala CM writes to CMs of 11 states (Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan, Maharashtra), urging them to unitedly demand the Centre to procure vaccines needed by States & distribute free of cost
Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar on Monday urged the media to "continuously" inform and educate people about the importance of COVID vaccines and COVID-appropriate behaviour so that all those above 18 years can be inoculated by December this year. In a video message on Twitter, the minister said the COVID pandemic is a major crisis and vaccination is "the right treatment" for it. But, even after inoculation, people should take all precautions and follow COVID-19 safety protocols like maintaining distance, wearing masks and keeping hands clean, he said. "COVID-19 is a major crisis. Inoculation is the right treatment. People should also understand that even after inoculation, they should take precautions like maintaining a distance of two yards, wearing a mask and washing hands," Javadekar said in Hindi. --PTI
The Andhra Pradesh government on Monday gave the green signal for the use of the traditional medicine, touted as a miracle cure particularly for Covid-19 patients, being prepared by an Ayurvedic practitioner B Anandaiah in Krishnapatnam village in SPS Nellore district. The government, however, did not permit Anandaiah to administer the eye drops that were found to enhance the oxygen levels within a few minutes. At a high-level review meeting on Covid-19, chaired by Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, the government decided to permit the administration of three traditional drugs, simply named P, L and F. -- PTI
The Delhi Police fined 1,080 people on Sunday for not wearing face masks, officials said on Monday. According to police data, on March 30, 920 people were fined for not wearing masks and 19 for not maintaining social distancing. On March 31, 1,091 were fined for not wearing masks and 16 others for violating social distancing norms. On Sunday, 108 people were also fined for not maintaining social distancing, the officials said. "The Delhi Police has issued over one lakh challans to people during lockdown for not wearing masks and violating social distancing etc. We urge people not to come out of their homes unnecessarily and follow Covid appropriate behaviour despite the fact that the cases are declining and the process of unlocking has started," Delhi Police Additional Public Relations Officer (PRO) Anil Mittal. --PTI
Centre writes to all state, asks them to ensure private hospitals do not have vaccine packages and hotel stays as part of immunisation drive. Allows only Hospital Vaccination, corporate or housing society Vaccination, government office Vaccination centres and door service in case of specially able population.
This notification comes after hotels and hospitals started tying up for vaccine-stays.
The Andhra Pradesh government on Monday imposed a covid-19 curfew in the state till June 10, the Chief Minister's Office said. (With ANI)
Delhi International Airport on Monday announced the launch of a dedicated COVID-19 vaccination centre in association with Manipal Hospital from June 1. Set up at Terminal-1 of Indira Gandhi International Airport, the facility aims to provide vaccination opportunity to over 60,000 employees of various stakeholders -- airlines, cargo business, ground handling agencies, Air Traffic Control, among others, working at the airport, Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) said in a release.
All staff who are over 18 years of age can register themselves and get jabbed at the centre on a payment basis, either through their employer or directly by themselves. The government has identified aviation as a priority sector and those working with it should be considered as a priority group for vaccination, this current effort by DIAL is in line with that, it said.
Maharashtra Chief Secretary has extended the lockdown till June 15 and the corporations of Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Pimpri Chinchwad, Pune, Aurangabad, Nashik, Vasai Virar, Nagpur – all civic bodies with more than one million census shall be considered as separate administrative units within respective territorial jurisdiction of local disaster management authorities for the restrictions that are placed for breaking the chain of corona virus.
The Bihar government on Monday extended the ongoing Covid-19 lockdown across the state for another week, till June 8 to curb the spread of coronavirus,
In a tweet, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said, “In view of the corona infection, it has been decided to extend the lockdown by one week i.e. till June 8, 2021. But an additional discount is being given for business. Everyone wear mask and maintain social distance.”
Pune reported 2,187 new Covid-19 cases on Sunday, a slight decline from the previous day when 2,290 cases were registered. The daily spike in new cases have remained below 5,000 since the past 2 weeks now.
The decline in cases in the last 24 hours coincided with fewer number of tests having been conducted. Only 22,097 samples were tested on Sunday, the lowest in more than two weeks. The district has tested more than 50 lakh samples to date.
Rural areas of Pune continue to account for most of these cases. On Sunday, these areas contributed 1,125 cases, or more than half from the entire district. However, the positivity rate is gradually declining in these regions as well. (With Seona James)
Highlighting the technical difficulties faced by people in rural areas, the Supreme Court on Monday questioned Centre on mandatory registration on the CoWIN app in order to get vaccinated. It added that people in rural areas may face difficulties due to this. This comes as cases continue to rise in rural parts of the country, with vaccination numbers lagging behind.
The Central government on Monday told the Supreme Court that it will be able to vaccinate the entire adult population in India by the end of 2021.
British intelligence agencies now believe it is “feasible” that the COVID-19 pandemic began with a coronavirus leak from a Chinese bio laboratory, a media report said here on Sunday, prompting Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi to demand that the WHO must fully investigate the origins of the deadly virus.
The origins of the COVID-19 remain a widely debated topic, with some scientists and politicians maintaining that the possibility of a lab leak of the deadly virus exists.
Western intelligence, including in Britain, at first considered there was only a “remote” chance that it had leaked from the laboratory, where research is conducted into bat-derived coronaviruses, including one closely associated with COVID-19. But there has since been a reassessment, and a lab escape is thought “feasible”, The Sunday Times reported, citing sources. (PTI)
With medical practitioners warning that Covid-19 symptoms are much worse among smokers, the pandemic has seen a rise in the number of people wanting to kick the habit.
“The proportion of people who call and register for quitting is much higher, so the number of people seriously wanting to quit has increased. 90 per cent of callers calling during Covid are because of the health concerns around the disease,” Dr. Pratima Murthy, Professor of Psychiatry and Head of the Department at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS) Bengaluru said. (With Anuradha Mascarenhas)
India's covid recovery rate increased to 91.60% on Monday. The weekly positivity rate is currently at 9.04% and daily positivity rate at 9.07%, less than 10% for 7 consecutive days, according to the Union Health Ministry.
India may soon begin testing the feasibility of a regimen that mixes two different Covid-19 vaccines to see if it helps boost immune response to the virus.
The testing may be carried out both using vaccines that are currently available in the country, and those that are in the pipeline, The Indian Express has learnt. Work is expected to begin “in a few weeks”, according to Dr N K Arora, chairman of the Covid-19 working group under the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI). (Read Prabha Raghavan's report here)
India recorded over 1.52 lakh new covid-19 cases in the 24 hours ending 8 am on Monday, taking the country's total infections to over 2.80 crore. This is the lowest spike in daily infections since April 9. Out of these, active cases further declined to over 20 lakh and the number of recoveries escalated to over 2.56 crore. With 3,128 new fatalities, the lowest since April 26, the death toll is now at over 3.29 lakh.
After 47 days, less than 100 bodies were cremated or buried as per Covid protocol on Saturday. According to data from the East, North and South MCDs, which manage crematoriums and graveyards in the city, last rites of 82 people – 79 cremations and three burials – were conducted.
The last time less than 100 bodies were cremated or buried as per Covid protocol was on April 12, when 77 bodies were received. The next day saw 170 bodies.
By the last week of April, when cases and deaths spiked at the height of the second wave, crematoriums were under pressure as they carried out more than 700 last rites (as per Covid protocol) a day. This eased slightly in the second week of May, with the number of such cremations dropping below 450. Since then, there has been a constant drop. (With Abhinav Rajput)
RSS Sahapracharpramukh (joint publicity chief) Narendra Kumar said media reports of corpses flowing through the Ganga and buried on its banks was part of an “agenda”. In a virtual speech on the occasion of Maharshi Narad Jayanti, Kumar said, “Dead bodies in Ganga were also seen in 2015 and 2017. There was no Covid-19pandemic then. So to connect them to Covid-19 now is clearly part of an agenda.” Read more
The daily Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra are on a decline but these numbers are just close to last year's peak levels, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said on Sunday. Addressing people through social media, Thackeray asked them not to let their guard down against the virus while bracing for the third wave of the pandemic.
Karnataka reports 382 more Covid-19 deaths, 223 from Bengaluru (Urban & Rural). Active caseload in state drops to 3,42,010 as recoveries (28,053) outnumber new cases (20,378). Most cases from Bengaluru Urban (4734), Hassan (2227), Mysuru (1559).
The total COVID-19 recoveries in Andhra Pradesh crossed 15 lakh on Sunday, resulting in a drop in the number of active cases as fresh positives too continued their downward slide for more than a week now. In 24 hours ending 9 am on Sunday, 21,133 Covid-19 patients in the state had recovered and 94 others succumbed while 13,400 new cases were reported, a health bulletin said. The gross positives went up to 16,85,142 and the recoveries to 15,08,515. The overall toll touched 10,832, it said. The active caseload is now 1,65,795. --PTI
"Curfew will continue in districts which have more than 600 active COVID cases for one more week. When active cases will come under 600 the curfew will end automatically. We've eased restrictions in 55 districts from 7 am to 7 pm," said UP CM Yogi Adityanath, in Lucknow. "Uttar Pradesh has registered 1900 COVID cases today. The active cases stand at 41,000. We've the lowest fatality rate in the country, lowest positivity & highest recovery rate," he added.
Delhi reports 946 new Covid-19 cases (positivity rate 1.25%), 1803 recoveries, and 78 deaths in the last 24 hours Total cases 14,25,592 Active cases 12,100.
A day after Pimpri-Chinchwad witnessed confusion over the opening of shops during the weekend, shops dealing in essential items in many parts of the industrial city functioned normally on Sunday.
On Saturday, there was confusion among the shopkeepers as there was no order from the PCMC allowing them to operate.
On Friday, the Maharashtra government allowed the opening of shops on weekends as per the weekday timings. The decision was taken at a meeting presided over by Health Minister Rajesh Tope. However, by Friday evening, the PCMC failed to issue the orders to allow shopkeepers to operate. The order came only on Saturday afternoon. Read more
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin visited the Covid ward at ESI Hospital in Coimbatore donning personal protective equipment (PPE) kit. He enquired the doctors about the treatment they are providing to those infected with the virus.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin Sunday visited the Covid ward at ESI Hospital in Coimbatore, donning a personal protective equipment (PPE) kit. He enquired the doctors about the treatment they are providing to those infected with the virus.
An official in charge of the oxygen supply system at the SNR Hospital in Karnataka’s Kolar district, around 60 km from Bengaluru, has a desperate story to tell about the night of April 25, when he and others at the hospital tried to provide oxygen for 250 Covid-19 patients – with an oxygen supply system that could support only 120 patients.
“As the number of patients in the district hospital kept growing we told the officials that the system cannot support 250 patients needing oxygen. Nobody listened. On April 25 we sat the whole night pouring water on the vapouriser of the oxygen system to ensure it does not freeze up and cause a drop in the oxygen pressure,” said Somanna, the technician.
“Even the district surgeon was with us pouring water. He said he would arrange a tanker of water to keep the oxygen system from freezing up and choking supplies,” the technician said.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said that his government is aiming at inoculating 30 per cent of the 3.2-crore population of the state by August 15 if vaccines are available.
The state has only 20,000-25,000 vaccine doses for people in the 18-44 years age group at present, he said.
Sarma, while visiting the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), said he has spoken to authorities of two vaccine-producing companies, which have promised to supply seven lakh doses in June for the 18-44 years age group.
"The two companies have promised to send seven lakh vaccines for this group in June, but they could not say any date," he told reporters here.
The pace of immunisation for people in the 18-44 years age bracket will be slow till the first week of the next month, the chief minister said. (PTI)
On the occassion of Goa Statehood Day, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant Sunday announced assistance of Rs 2 lakh to families that lost their breadwinners to Covid-19 and EWS families that lost their loved ones to Covid-19.
On the occassion of Goa Statehood Day, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant Sunday announced assistance of Rs 2 lakh to families that lost their breadwinners to Covid-19 and EWS families that lost their loved ones to Covid-19.
There is no room for complacency despite new Covid-19 cases showing a declining trend and the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is gearing up to tackle a possible third wave by boosting the health infrastructure.
PMC will reserve 252 ICU beds and 82 ventilator beds in private hospitals of the city for the children as experts have predicted its impact on children.
The civic administration had started the preparation for a dedicated Covid treatment facility for Pediatric Care at civic-owned Rajiv Gandhi Hospital in Yerawada by setting up 160 oxygen beds and 40 ICU beds. It has also decided to reserve beds for children in Jumbo Hospital on COEP ground, Baner hospital and oxygen beds for pregnant women in its Sonawane hospital.
Even as government-run vaccination centers for those in 18-44 age group remain shut in Delhi for a week, several private hospitals in the capital continue to offer paid vaccination doses through drive-in facilities.
On Sunday morning, Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain inaugurated a drive-through vaccination drive to be held on Sunday and Monday at DLF Avenue, Saket by Max Hospital, Saket. Covishield vaccines will be available there for Rs 1,100 per dose.
On Saturday, a week-long vaccination drive for all categories above 18 years by Madhukar Rainbow Children’s Hospital also began at Sainik Farms. The hospital is offering Covishield at the same price Rs. 1,100.
In his monthly radio programme titled 'Mann Ki Baat', Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday said the nation is fighting Covid-19 with all its strength.
Modi said the daily production of liquid medical oxygen which was 900 MT during normal times, has risen to over 10 times to nearly 9,500 MT. "During 2nd wave of COVID19, a major challenge was to supply medical oxygen to remote areas. To counter challenges that the country faced, drivers of Cryogenic oxygen tankers helped by working on war footing & saved lives of lakhs of people," he added.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Sunday announced Rs 10 lakh aid for kin of journalists who died due to COVID-19.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Sunday announced Rs 10 lakh aid for kin of journalists who died due to COVID-19.
Last August, when Brazil had emerged as among the worst hit nations by Covid, Pfizer Inc. offered the health ministry to set aside as many as 70 million doses of the vaccine it was developing. It got no answer. So it made the offer again. And then a third time.
The next month, the company’s former Brazil head, Carlos Murillo, told congress, Pfizer’s global chief put the offer in writing to President Jair Bolsonaro with copies to the vice president, chief of staff, ministers of health and economy and ambassador to the U.S.
He never heard back.
The severity of Covid in Brazil, with 16 million cases and 450,000 lives lost, has often been attributed to Bolsonaro, who still wades unvaccinated and maskless into crowds. A congressional probe is making clear, however, that his neglect has been matched by incompetence at nearly every level of government in key processes — negotiations with drug companies, relations with other countries and supply chain management.
Ladakh has registered 138 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the Union Territory's infection tally to 18,448, officials said on Sunday, as Lt Governor R K Mathur reviewed the situation and directed police to exercise extensive patrolling in villages to avoid gatherings.
The Union Territory has recorded a total of 187 Covid-related deaths so far since the outbreak of coronavirus last year with the worst-hit Leh district accounting for 136 fatalities followed by Kargil at 51.
Ladakh, which is under partial lockdown till June 7, has recorded over 4,479 coronavirus cases and 44 deaths in May till date.
Of the new cases detected during the past 24 hours, 123 are in Leh and 15 in Kargil. This puts the number of active cases in the twin districts to 1,603 -- 1,381 in Leh and 222 in Kargil.
A total of 141 more COVID-19 patients have recuperated from the disease in Ladakh, taking the count of recoveries so far to 16,658. (PTI)
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar Sunday extended the ongoing Covid lockdown in the state till June 7. This is the fifth time that the lockdown has been extended in the state since May 3.
Khattar said shops can operate from 9 am to 3 pm, with shopkeepers following the odd-even formula. Educational institutions will remain closed till June 15 and the night curfew will continue from 10 pm to 5 am.
Shopping malls can open from Monday with restricted footfall. All anganwadi centres will remain shut till June 30.
The Union Health Ministry Sunday said that nearly 12 crore vaccine doses will be available for the national COVID vaccination program in June 2021.
Regarding Covid vaccination and the issuance of its certificate for those travelling abroad, the Kerala government Sunday said, "Beneficiaries may apply for Final/Provisional certificate based upon their current vaccination status by uploading the relevant documents supporting the same."
The government added that beneficiaries who have taken Covaxin and want a certificate with passport number added to it can also apply. "Beneficiaries yet to complete 84 days after Covishield's 1st dose, but need vaccination schedule completion for travelling abroad may apply for priority vaccination on eHealth portal with documents for travelling & get vaccinated at 4-6 weeks interval after 1st dose," it said, news agency ANI reported.
Regarding Covid vaccination and the issuance of its certificate for those travelling abroad, the Kerala government Sunday said, 'Beneficiaries may apply for Final/Provisional certificate based upon their current vaccination status by uploading the relevant documents supporting the same.'
The government added that beneficiaries who have taken Covaxin and want a certificate with passport number added to it can also apply. 'Beneficiaries yet to complete 84 days after Covishield's 1st dose, but need vaccination schedule completion for travelling abroad may apply for priority vaccination on eHealth portal with documents for travelling & get vaccinated at 4-6 weeks interval after 1st dose,' it said, news agency ANI reported.
Mohd Manzoor Hussain (68), a Srinagar resident, faced a difficult past month, first coping with Covid, then his wife’s death and later with his mucormycosis. Unable to get access to surgical intervention to scrape off the fungus in Srinagar, the retired forest officer decided to travel to Mumbai for treatment.
On Saturday, sitting in doctor’s cabin after discharge, he smiled and said, “I just want to go home. It’s pleasant in Kashmir. Mumbai is very hot.”
Shortage of Amphotericin B injections, in some cases dearth of specialist doctors, is forcing patients for inter-city and inter-state travel to seek mucormycosis treatment. In the process, the treatment cost is scaling up to lakhs.
Ahead of the Cabinet meeting, Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday urged the Telangana government to not extend the prevailing lockdown in the state. A lockdown, with a four-hour daily relaxation, is in force across the state since May 12. After 10 days, it was further extended till May 30.
The state Cabinet will meet today to discuss if the lockdown in Telangana must be extended.
In a series of tweets, the MP said data showed COVID cases were declining in the state much before the lockdown was imposed. “I must reiterate my opposition. It’s not a strategy to combat COVID-19. It APPEARS as a “hard on pandemic” strategy but all it does is destroy the lives of poor,” Owaisi tweeted.
India recorded 1,65,553 new Covid-19 cases and 3,460 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to data from the Union Health Ministry.
The total cases in India now stand at 2,78,94,800 while the death toll has reached 3,25,972. There are 21,14,508 active coronavirus cases while as many as 2,54,54,320 people have recovered from the disease. A total of 21,20,66,614 vaccine doses have been administered in the country so far, the health ministry said. The death toll in the last 24 hours is the lowest in over three weeks. Out of which, Maharashtra reported 846 deaths, while Karnataka had 492 fatalities.
India recorded 1,65,553 new Covid-19 cases and 3,460 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to data from the Union Health Ministry.
The total cases in India now stand at 2,78,94,800 while the death toll has reached 3,25,972. There are 21,14,508 active coronavirus cases while as many as 2,54,54,320 people have recovered from the disease. A total of 21,20,66,614 vaccine doses have been administered in the country so far, the health ministry said. The death toll in the last 24 hours is the lowest in over three weeks. Out of which, Maharashtra reported 846 deaths, while Karnataka had 492 fatalities.
The Centre has asked states and union territories to initiate legal or administrative action against institutions which are giving package for Covid vaccination in collaboration with hotels in violation of prescribed guidelines.
In a letter to all states and UTs, Additional Secretary to Health ministry Manohar Agnani said it has come to the notice of the Union health ministry that some private hospitals are giving package for Covid vaccination in collaboration with some hotels, which is against the guidelines issued for the National Covid Vaccination Program.