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Over 400 Covid deaths in Delhi for second consecutive day

Odisha government on Sunday announced a 14-day lockdown in the state, starting from May 5 to May 19. During the period, essential services will continue to function and restricted movement of people will be allowed.

In light of the ongoing heavy surge in Covid cases, 13 Opposition leaders including Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, former prime minister HD Deve Gowda and Uddhav Thackeray, in a joint statement Sunday asked the Centre to launch a free mass vaccination drive across the country with a budgetary allocation of 35,000 crore. The leaders have also asked the Centre to provide uninterrupted oxygen supply to all hospitals and health centres.

As the national capital continues to struggle with high Covid cases and the resultant oxygen shortage, Delhi High Court on Sunday asked the Delhi government to ensure that oxygen cylinders, flow meters and medicines required for COVID-19 treatment are not sold above MRP. “Those found hoarding and black-marketing medicines and equipment related to COVID-19 should be booked,” the HC said.

Haryana will go into a complete lockdown for a week from May 3, state minister Anil Vij has said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is holding a virtual meeting with experts to review availability of oxygen, medicine and human resources to deal with the pandemic.

A day after India’s daily Covid cases passed the grim four lakh mark for the first time, the country registered 3,689 deaths — the highest toll reported in a day so far. As many as 3.92 lakh fresh cases were reported in the last 24 hours.

Odisha government on Sunday announced a 14-day lockdown in the state, starting from May 5 to May 19. During the period, essential services will continue to function and restricted movement of people will be allowed.

In other news, counting of votes in four states and a Union Territory is underway, bringing to an end a heated, acrimonious poll season amid a raging pandemic.