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India records over 3.86 lakh new cases, 3,498 deaths; Adityanath tests negative

Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech on Thursday announced that Covaxin will be available to state governments at a price of Rs 400 per dose.

Coronavirus India Updates: Uttar Pradesh Cheif Minister Yogi Adityanath has recovered from Covid-19 and has tested negative, he announced on Friday. “I have now become corona negative due to the good wishes of all of you and the care of doctors. Thank you for all the cooperation and best wishes given to me by you,” he tweeted. Adityanath tested positive for the virus on April 14.

India reported 3.86 lakh new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours ending 8 am Friday, its sharpest spike since the pandemic first gripped the country last year. With this the total caseload rose to over 1.87 crore. Out of the total cases, over 31 lakh cases are currently active while over 1.53 crore people have recovered after testing positive. Meanwhile, with 3,498 deaths, the death toll surged to 2.08 lakh.

The Centre on Thursday directed the states and Union territories to go for intensive local containment measures in the districts that have high number of COVID-19 cases to curb the spread of the viral disease. In the fresh guidelines issued May, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), however, did not mention about the imposition of a lockdown anywhere.

Maharashtra government on Thursday extended the restrictions put in place to arrest the spread of Covid-19 till May 15. In an order released by the state, it said: “The Disaster Management Act, 2005, finds it is necessary to continue the enforcement of the current restrictions throughout the state beyond 7 AM on 1st May, 2021 till 7 AM on 15th May, 2021 to break the chain of transmission effectively.”

In a major development, Bharat Biotech today announced that Covaxin will be available to state governments at a price of Rs 400 per dose. The firm, which had earlier pegged the price of the vaccine at Rs 600 per dose for state governments, said in a statement: “Recognising the enormous challenges to the public health care system, we have made Covaxin available to state governments at a price of Rs 400/dose.”

Nearly 1.33 crore people registered on the Co-Win platform for the next phase of the nationwide coronavirus vaccination drive, which will cover all adults between the ages of 18 and 45. However, with several states flagging an acute shortage of vaccines, the government is faced with a daunting task. Huge pressure is expected since many young men and women will seek vaccination and want to get back to work at the earliest.

PM Modi condoles death of Former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid his respects to Former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee, after he passed away due to Covid-19 complications. "Shri Soli Sorabjee was an outstanding lawyer and intellectual. Through law, he was at the forefront of helping the poor and downtrodden. He will be remembered for his noteworthy tenures as India’s Attorney General. Saddened by his demise,” Modi tweeted.

Vaccination of people above 18 in K’taka may be delayed: Health Minister

Vaccination of people above 18 years of age, which was supposed to start from May 1, may be delayed as the vaccines have not yet arrived, Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar said on Friday.

"We have made orders to Serum Institute in Pune for over one crore doses but the official news is that they are still not prepared to give it to us from tomorrow as scheduled," the Minister told reporters here.

He asked people who have enrolled themselves on the Cowin portal for inoculation to refrain from going to vaccination centres on May 1.

Over 200 scientists write to PM, request wider access to ICMR’s Covid-19 data

Over 200 scientists who are working closely with the government to combat the coronavirus pandemic have urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to facilitate wider access to the granular testing data that ICMR has been collating since the beginning of the pandemic.

As India continues to report record number of covid-19 cases, the current situation demands rapid and systematic data collection, reporting and release, so that data-driven mitigation measures can be implemented.

Keeping in mind the ongoing crisis, the scientists emphasized the need for systematic collection and timely release of data on(a) large-scale genomic surveillance for new variants. Along with this, testing and clinical data for better predictions of the spread of infection, the clinical outcomes of hospitalized patients, and immune response to vaccination in our population is also needed.

Yogi Adityanath recovers from Covid, tests negative

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath recovered from Covid-19 after his tests results came negative, he announced on Friday. "I have now become corona negative due to the good wishes of all of you and the care of doctors. Thank you for all the cooperation and best wishes given to me by you," he tweeted. Adityanath tested positive for the virus on April 14.
India records over 3.86 lakh Covid-19 cases, 3,498 deaths

India reported 3.86 lakh new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours ending 8 am Friday, its sharpest spike since the pandemic first gripped the country last year. With this the total caseload rose to over 1.87 crore. Out of the total cases, over 31 lakh cases are currently active while over 1.53 crore people have recovered after testing positive. Meanwhile, with 3,498 deaths, the death toll surged to 2.08 lakh.

Over 3.86 new Covid-19 cases in India

India reported 3.86 lakh new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours ending 8 am Friday, its sharpest spike since the pandemic first gripped the country last year. With this the total caseload rose to over 1.87 crore. Out of the total cases, over 31 lakh cases are currently active while over 1.53 crore people have recovered after testing positive. Meanwhile, with 3,498 deaths, the death toll surged to 2.08 lakh.

Covid-19 assistance flights from US arrives in Delhi

Amid India’s Covid-19 second wave, the United State’s assistance flight arrived in Delhi on Friday with oxygen support, concentrators, oxygen generation units, vaccine manufacture supplies and more. More such flights are expected in the coming weeks.

15.21 crore vaccine doses administered so far, 20 lakh in a day: Health ministry

The total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered across the country has crossed 15.21 crore with over 20 lakh shots being given till 8 pm on Thursday, the Union Health Ministry said.
      
Also, the total registrations on CoWIN portal for phase three vaccination has crossed 2.28 crore in just two days, according to data till 9:30 pm, it said.
    
The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country stands at 15,21,05,563 according to the 8 pm provisional report. (PTI)

Don’t have vaccines for 18-45 age group, says Delhi health minister

The Delhi government decided to procure 67 lakh doses of Covishield vaccine, three lakh of which will be delivered by May 3, after its Health Minister Satyendar Jain said on Thursday the city currently doesn’t have vaccines for the 18-45 age group whose immunisation is set to start on Saturday.
    
Official sources said inoculation of people in the 18-45 age group may not kick off in Delhi on May 1 as scheduled for across the country, citing the first consignment of Covishield vaccine from Serum Institute of India will reach the national capital in the first week of May.
    
Around 1.5 crore people are targeted to be vaccinated in Delhi, of which 31 lakh have received at least one dose so far, they said. (PTI)

Maharashtra may see 3rd wave of COVID-19 in July-Aug: Tope

Still reeling under a deadly second wave of COVID-19, Maharashtra may witness a third wave of the infection in July-August, said health minister Rajesh Tope on Thursday.
    
The grim prediction by Tope came on a day when Maharashtra, the state worst-hit by the pandemic in the country, recorded 66,159 fresh coronavirus cases and 771 fatalities.

Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, he said, As per epidemiologists, Maharashtra could witness a third wave of COVID-19 in July or August. "Maharashtra is trying to be self-sufficient in terms of availability of medical oxygen by then. It has been said the state could reach to the plateau level of COVID-19 cases by the end of May. If it is hit by a third wave in July or August, it would increase the challenges before the state administration," he said. (PTI)

Manipur govt declares entire greater Imphal area as containment zone for seven days

Manipur Government on Thursday declared the entire greater Imphal as containment zone for seven days after the state witnessed continuous surge in Covid positive cases. The state on Thursday reported 314 new cases of Covid and five more deaths.

Of the total positive cases, 296 from general population and 18 from Central armed paramilitary forces, pushing the tally to 31,315 while the total Covid related death stands at 400.

On Wednesday, the state reported as many as 259 persons tested positive and two more Covid-19 related deaths.

An order issued by the state home department stated that movements that are permitted in the containment areas include movement of vehicles carrying oxygen, all health care-related activities and Covid related duties, persons venturing out for Covid vaccination, relief, frontline workers, media among others.

All offices in greater Imphal area shall remain closed except for employees and personal staff working in Home, Health, Relief and DM, police department and district administration.

Enough stock of Remdesivir, oxygen in state: Maha govt to HC

The Maharashtra government told the Bombay High Court on Thursday that there was enough stock of Remdesivir and medical oxygen in the hospitals in the state. In an affidavit in response to two PILs alleging improper management of the COVID-19 crisis in the state, the government said the Centre has allocated 4,35,000 vials of Remdesivir for the period till April 30. --PTI

IAF airlifts 13 empty cryogenic oxygen tankers from Bangkok, Singapore, Dubai

The Indian Air Force (IAF) airlifted 13 empty cryogenic oxygen tankers from Bangkok, Singapore and Dubai to India on Thursday. India is struggling with the second wave of the coronavirus infection as hospitals in several states are reeling under a shortage of medical oxygen and beds. The IAF is currently transporting empty cryogenic oxygen tankers from three destinations outside India, a statement issued by it said. Three tankers from Bangkok, four from Singapore and six from Dubai were airlifted to India using the C-17 aircraft, it added. The IAF is also conducting multiple domestic flights to transport oxygen tankers and cylinders within the country. --PTI