Coronavirus India News Highlights: So far, India has recorded over 1.99 crore confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 2,18,959 deaths. A total of 1,62,93,003 people have recuperated from COVID-19 so far. There are 34,13,642 active cases in the country as of date, which comprises 17.13 percent of the total caseload, the data stated. India's recovery rate now stands at 81.77 percent. Globally, more than 15.31 crore people have been infected by the coronavirus and 32.09 lakh have died so far. India has begun the third phase of the vaccination drive in which everyone above 18 years of age will be able to get the COVID-19 vaccine. India's regulator has granted restricted emergency use approval for three vaccines -- Covishield, Covaxin and Sputnik V. The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in India has crossed 15.71 crore, according to the Union Health Ministry.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates |
BMRCL has established a 100 bed COVID Care Centre to help in the efforts of Govt of Karnataka to combat surge of COVID-19. In accordance with guidelines of BBMP, this CCC facility has been established by BMRCL at Hotel Ekaa in Bangalore: Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | 15,786 new COVID19 cases, 11,525 recoveries and 153 deaths were reported in Haryana in last 24 hours
Total cases: 5,43,559
Total recoveries: 4,29,950
Death toll: 4,779
Active cases: 1,08,830
Coronavirus LIVE Updates |
Corona Curfew in 4 districts of Srinagar, Baramulla, Budgam & Jammu which is there till 7 am on May 6 will be extended till 6 am on May 10 (Monday). Samba district will also be under Corona Curfew from 7 pm on May 5 (Wednesday) till 7 am on May 10 (Monday): Office of LG, J&K
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Punjab reports 7,601 fresh COVID-19 cases, 6,115 discharges, and 173 deaths in the last 24 hours
Active cases: 61,935
Total discharges: 3,27,976
Death toll: 9,645
Coronavirus LIVE Updates |
Case registered at Jayanagar Police Station for alleged fraud committed in allotment of beds on BBMP portal for #COVID patients. 2 accused arrested&others are being questioned for alleged fraud in allotment of beds in return for money from patients: CP,Bengaluru City.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates |
Himachal Pradesh reports 3,824 new COVID19 cases and 1,992 recoveries in the last 24 hours; case tally at 1,10,945 and active cases at 23,572
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Maharashtra reports 51,880 new COVID19 positive cases, 65,934 recoveries and 891 deaths in the last 24 hours
Active cases: 6,41,910
Total death toll: 71,742
Coronavirus LIVE Updates |
Deepika Padukone tests positive for COVID-19
Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone tests positive for COVID-19, say reports.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates |
500 oxygen plants will be established in various districts in the coming three months: DRDO Chairman
500 oxygen plants will be established in various districts, at least one plant will be set up in each district in the coming three months: DRDO Chairman G Satheesh Reddy
Coronavirus LIVE Updates |
Jalandhar district administration orders 25 oxygen concentrators to reduce demand for oxygen gas
Punjab | In a bid to have effective COVID management at Civil Hospital, the district administration has ordered 25 oxygen concentrators to reduce demand for oxygen gas. It received the first lot with 10 pieces yesterday: Public Relations Officer, Jalandhar
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Poland tightens quarantine rules after cases of Indian COVID-19 variant
People travelling to Poland from Brazil, India and South Africa will have to quarantine, the Polish health minister said on Tuesday, as he announced cases of a COVID-19 variant first detected in India in the Warsaw and Katowice areas.The outbreaks poses a fresh risk to Poland just as it starts to emerge from a highly damaging third wave of the pandemic.“In the case of Brazil, India and South Africa, people travelling from these locations will automatically have to quarantine without the possibility of getting an exception due to a test,” Health Minister Adam Niedzielski told a news conference.The number of infections involving the Indian variant in Poland has now reached 16, including two cases in the family of a Polish diplomat who had returned from India, Niedzielski said.Poland has so far reported 2,808,052 cases of COVID-19 and 68,133 deaths.Poland reopened shopping centres on Tuesday, the beginning of a gradual unfreezing of the economy that will see restaurants, hotels and schools reopening at different points in May.
Coronavirus in Punjab LIVE Updates | Punjab government:
Shops selling fertilizers, horticulture implements, grocery, liquor among others are allowed to open till 5pm except during the weekend curfew, in view of Covid-19 restrictions in the state.Movement of persons on foot/bicycle for permissible purposes shall be freely allowed. In case of motorized traffic, valid identity cards or e-pass may be used.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope says COVID-19 vaccine doses received today to last 2-3 days, in talks with Dr Reddy's to procure Sputnik V
Few centres were closed y'day due to doses' shortage. Got 9 lakh vials today, to last for 2-3 days. 1 lakh inoculated so far in 18-44 age group. Order placed for 18.5 lakh vaccines (Covishield & Covaxin). In talks with Dr Reddy's to procure Sputnik V: Maharashtra Health Minister
Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu LIVE Updates | Tamil Nadu reports 21,228 new COVID cases, 19,112 recoveries and 144 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Total cases: 12,49,292
Total recoveries: 11,09,450
Active cases: 1,25,230
Death toll: 14,612
Coronavirus LIVE Updates |
India receives essential medical supplies from several countries, including US, Ireland, United Arab Emirates and Kuwait
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa declare journalists as front line workers.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Air India airlifts 190 tonnes of medical equipment from various countries in last 10 days
Air India says it has airlifted over 190 tonnes of medical equipment from various countries, including Germany, US, UK and Singapore, in last 10 days
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Tata group to airlift 60 cryogenic tankers from overseas, build 400 oxygen plants
Tata group will airlift 60 cryogenic oxygen tankers from overseas and build around 400 oxygen generating units that can be used by hospitals in smaller towns amid the pandemic, according to a senior official of Tata Sons.Besides, the group makes around 5,000 beds available forCOVID-carewith its various firms coming together in the fight against the second wave of the COVID-19, the official added.The group is alsoreskillingsome of its staff, especially within Indian Hotels, which has converted many of its hotels intoCOVID-carefacilities to prevent a shortage of support staff for the patients."As we speak, we are making available around 900 MT of oxygen per day, that is Tata Steel alone. Our people in Tata Steel identified that the bottleneck is in transportation. We need special cryogenic containers. Indiadoesn''t have it. So, one just has to find them outside and get them airlifted.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Bajaj Healthcare launches generic favipiravir tablets for COVID-19 treatment
Drug firmBajajHealthcare on Tuesday announced the launch of its antiviralFavipiravirtablets under the brand name ''Favijaj'' used for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 infections in the country.The company has received approval from India''s drug regulatorDCGI to manufactureand market the tablets,BajajHealthcare said in a BSE filing."We hope the availability of an effective treatment such asFavijajwill considerably ease the pressure and offer patients much-needed and timely therapy options,"BajajHealthcare Joint MD Anil Jain said.The company hassuccessfully developed the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and the formulation forfavipiravirthrough its own in-house R&D team,BajajHealthcare said.Shares ofBajajHealthcare closed at Rs583.05per scrip on BSE, up steep 10.85 percent from its previous close.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Three Oxygen Express Special trains arrive in Delhi division from Hapa, Rourkela junction & CTDI Durgapur in today.
Three Oxygen Express Special trains arrive in Delhi division ofNothernRailway fromHapa,Rourkelajunction &CTDIDurgapurin today. Three more Oxygen Express trains are en route & expected to arrive in Delhi NCR tomorrow, saysChief Public Relations Office, Northern Railway.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope: Positivity rate in state has dropped from 27 to 22%.
We're testing 2.80 lakh persons daily & there's been no shortage in testing. From 63,000, tally forCOVIDpatients have come down to 61,000. At 84.07%, our recovery rate is highest in country:
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Delhi HC tells Centre that we need compliance of Supreme Court's order relating to oxygen supply to Delhi
"Contempt may be the last thing but it is there. Enough is enough. There is no way that you won't supply 700 MT right away. We won't hear anything except compliance" says Delhi HC.
Coronavirus in Delhi LIVE Updates | Experts:
More virulent strain of COVID-19, insufficient infrastructure to handle critical cases and hoarding of essential drugs has led to more deaths in Delhi.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | IPL 2021 suspended: Here's why the game isn't insured against COVID-19
The 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL)has beensuspendedwith immediate effect, theorganisersannounced on May 4.This came amid news reports of players across multiple teams testing positive for COVID-19 in recent days."TheBCCIdoes not want to compromise on the safety of the players, support staff and the other participants involved inorganisingtheIPL. This decision was taken keeping the safety, health and well-being of all stakeholders in mind," theIPLGoverning Council (GC) said in a statement.While the event has been suspended, sources toldMoneycontrolthat insurance will not pay for delays.
Coronavirus India News LIVE Updates | Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has sought immediate intervention of PM Narendra Modi & Union Home Minister Amit Shah to ensure uninterrupted supply of medical oxygen with additional allocation of 50 MT oxygen & 20 additional tankers: Chief Minister's Office, Punjab
Coronavirus India News LIVE Updates | UAE extends suspension of entry for travellers from India
The United Arab Emirates has extended a ban on entry from travellers coming from India, the foreign ministry in Abu Dhabi said in a statement on its website Tuesday, to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The statement did not specify a date to lift the suspension, which was first announced on April 22."Flights between the two countries will continue to allow the transport of passengers from the UAE to India," it said.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Pfizer increases 2021 sales forecast for Covid-19 vaccines to $26 billion
Pfizer sharply increased its projections for 2021 revenues and profits on Tuesday, citing much higher sales from its Covid-19 vaccine sales.The drugmaker now estimates 2021 revenues of $26 billion from the vaccine, up from $15 billion previously. Pfizer sees profits of between $3.55 and $3.65 per share, up 45 cents from the previous range.
Coronavirus India News LIVE Updates | Eli Lilly to donate 400,000 tablets of its COVID-19 treatment to India
Eli Lilly and Co said on Tuesday it would make an immediate initial donation of 400,000 tablets of its COVID-19 treatment to the Indian government for eligible hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Sitaram Kunte, Maharashtra Chief Secretary in a letter to Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba:
Amid rising demand for medical oxygen, present allocation of the State be enhanced by at least 200 MT. Allocation from Jamnagar, Gujarat be enhanced from 125 MT/day to 225 MT/day.The letter further reads, "From ISO Tankers imported from Singapore, Dubai and other locations abroad, allocate at least 10 LMO tankers to the state to enable us lifting of GoI allocated LMO quota from Steel Plant at Angul via RoRo."
Coronavirus India News LIVE Updates | EMA opens review of China's Sinovac coronavirus jab
The European Medicines Agency said Tuesday it has started a "rolling review" of China's Sinovac coronavirus jab, a process that could lead to eventual approval for the European market.The EMA's human medicines committee's "decision to start the rolling review is based on preliminary results from laboratory studies (non-clinical data) and clinical studies," the Amsterdam-based agency said.
Coronavirus India News LIVE Updates | Samsung pledges $5mn for COVID-19 relief efforts
Tech giant Samsung on Tuesday said it has pledged USD 5 million (Rs 37 crore) towards efforts that will support India's battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. Samsung will donate USD 3 million to the Centre as well as to the states of Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. In addition, Samsung will provide USD 2 million worth of medical supplies, including 100 oxygen concentrators, 3,000 oxygen cylinders, and one million LDS syringes in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, a statement said. LDS or Low Dead Space syringes minimise the amount of drug left in the device after injection, optimising vaccine usage.
The technology has demonstrated up to 20 per cent greater efficiency and if existing syringes were to deliver one million doses, LDS syringes could deliver 1.2 million doses with the same amount of vaccine. Samsung has helped the manufacturer of these syringes increase production capacity, the statement said. The massive rise in infections in the second wave of the pandemic has led to hospitals in several states reeling under a shortage of medical oxygen and beds.
Social media timelines are filled with SOS calls with people looking for oxygen cylinders, hospital beds, plasma donors, and ventilators. Organisations across the spectrum have come forward to source and donate oxygenators, breathing machines, and ventilators. The South Korean tech major said it will also cover the vaccination costs for over 50,000 eligible employees and beneficiaries in India as vaccine doses become available. This will also include all Samsung Experience Consultants, who work at electronics retail stores across the country. Besides, Samsung has also set up in-house facilities and teams across the country to help employees and their families with information and access to medical supplies as well as hospital facilities and home-care. In April 2020, Samsung had contributed Rs 20 crore to India''s fight against the pandemic.
Coronavirus LIVE Update | Kuwait to bar unvaccinated from travelling abroad.
Kuwait's government is barring unvaccinated residents from travelling abroad starting later this month, the latest attempt to tame the spiralling coronavirus outbreak in the Gulf Arab sheikhdom. The Cabinet decision, to take effect May 22, sparked instant anger and confusion, coming just after health authorities announced that global vaccine supply shortages would force them to delay the distribution of second vaccine doses.
Those who received the first Pfizer-BioNtech dose must wait six weeks for their second, and Oxford-AstraZeneca recipients must wait 3-4 months. The government said those unable to get the shot for any reason would be exempt from the new travel ban. Already, authorities have banned the entry of expatriates into the Gulf state, stranding many foreign workers and their families abroad. The government said those unable to get the shot for any reason would be exempt from the new travel ban.
Coronavirus LIVE Update | Remdesivir production increased to 1.05 crore vials a month: Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers.
The production capacity of the drug has crossed 1.05 crore vials per month as on May 4, a nearly three-fold increase from 37 lakh vials per month on April 12 this year, Mandaviya said in a tweet. The minister said the antiviral drug is now being produced across 57 plants in the country compared to 20 facilities a month ago. Production of Remdesivir is being enhanced and in the few days, India has seen the manufacturing capacity of the antiviral drug go up by three times, Mandaviya said.
Coronavirus LIVE Update | Remdesivir production increased to 1.05 crore vials a month: Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers.
The production capacity of the drug has crossed 1.05 crore vials per month as on May 4, a nearly three-fold increase from 37 lakh vials per month on April 12 this year, Mandaviya said in a tweet. The minister said the antiviral drug is now being produced across 57 plants in the country compared to 20 facilities a month ago. Production of Remdesivir is being enhanced and in the few days, India has seen the manufacturing capacity of the antiviral drug go up by three times, Mandaviya said.
Coronavirus LIVE Update | Seven oxygen tankers arrive in Gujarat from UAE.
Seven tankers carrying 20 metric tonnes of medical oxygen arrived at Gujarat's Mundra port from the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, the Ministry of External Affairs said. The shipment will help augment the oxygen availability in the country, the MEA said on Twitter.
Coronavirus LIVE Update | Goa government extends COVID-19 curbs on non-essential services.
Given the alarming rise in cases and alarmingly high positivity rate, the state government had imposed a four-day lockdown in the state, which was lifted on Monday morning but decided to continue the restrictions till May 10.
The Goa government on Tuesday decided to bring non-essential services, including restaurants, under the ambit of the COVID-19 induced restrictions in the state which will remain in force till May 10. Modifying the previous order issued by the state government on the extent of the restrictions, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told reporters that non-essential services will remain closed keeping in mind the "sentiments of the people".
Coronavirus LIVE Update | Air India pilots threaten to stop working they don't get vaccinated on priority.
"If Air India fails to set up vaccination camps on a Pan India basis for the flying crew above the age of 18 years on priority, we will stop work,” the Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association (ICPA) said in a statement.
Coronavirus LIVE Update | IPL 2021 suspended as players across multiple teams test positive for COVID-19
The 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been suspended for now, BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla told news agency ANI. This came amid news reports of players across multiple teams testing positive for COVID-19 in recent days.
"The BCCI does not want to compromise on the safety of the players, support staff and the other participants involved in organising the IPL. This decision was taken keeping the safety, health and well-being of all stakeholders in mind," the IPL Governing Council said in a statement.
Coronavirus LIVE Update | Delhi government to provide financial aid to auto, taxi drivers; free ration.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday announced that the Delhi government will provide free ration to 72 lakh ration card holders in the city for the next two months and financial assistance of Rs 5,000 to auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers to help people tide over the COVID-19 crisis. However, he said, this does not mean that the lockdown imposed in the national capital to break the chain of transmission will last for two months.
The national capital is under lockdown till May 10 due to a steep rise in a number of COVID-19 cases. (PTI)
Coronavirus LIVE Update | Mahindra Logistics launches Oxygen on Wheels; connects producers with hospitals.
Mahindra Logistics on Tuesday launched, Oxygen on Wheels (O2W), a free service to augment the availability of oxygen by connecting producers with the hospitals and medical centres. The service has been rolled out in cities such as Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Chakan, Nasik and Nagpur in Maharashtra with the company deploying around 100 vehicles to overcome the transportation bottleneck with safe and quick transportation to deliver oxygen cylinders on demand, a release said.
Coronavirus LIVE Update | US expert Fauci advises India to marshal all resources, including Army, to fight COVID surge, says situation very desperate.
Terming the situation in India very desperate, America's top public health expert Dr Anthony Fauci has suggested the government marshal all its resources, including the armed forces, to immediately build makeshift field hospitals, and urged other countries to help with not only materials but also personnel. (PTI)
Coronavirus LIVE Update | Indian Air Force brings oxygen cylinders, other equipment from the UK.
Nearly 35 tonnes of equipment, including 450 empty oxygen cylinders, airlifted by the IndianAir Force (IAF) from the UK arrived here early on Tuesday. The equipment was brought from Brize Norton, by one of two IAF C-17 Globemaster aircraft that earlier left for the UKon May 2 from its Jamnagar airbase in Gujarat to bring the supplies, a Defence release said.
Coronavirus LIVE Update | Maharashtra, Karnataka and Delhi are among 10 states that account for 71.71 per cent of the 3,57,229 new COVID-19 cases in the country, the Union Health Ministry said on Tuesday.
India's daily positivity rate now stands at 21.47 per cent.The ministry said that Maharashtra has reported the highest daily new cases at 48,621. It is followed by Karnataka with 44,438 while Uttar Pradesh reported 29,052 new cases. Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh are among the other states in the list of 10.
Ten states account for73.15 per cent of the new deaths. Maharashtra saw the maximum casualties (567) followed by Delhi (448) and Uttar Pradesh with 285 daily deaths.
Ten states account for73.14 percent of the new recoveries, the ministry said.
Coronavirus LIVE Update | HC seeks Centre and Delhi government's stand on plea to increase cremation, burial sites in the national capital.
A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jasmeet Singh issued a notice to the Centre, Delhi government, National Disaster Management Authority and the municipal bodies seeking their stand on the plea by a lawyerto temporarily increase the number of cremation and burial sites in the city in view of the "overwhelming" number of people dying due to COVID-19 daily.
Coronavirus LIVE Update | More than 75 lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccine are available with states and union territories and they will receive over48 lakh more within the next three days, the Union health ministry said.
Coronavirus LIVE Update | Indian naval ship deployed to transport filled oxygen tankers from Kuwait.
An Indian Navy ship set sail to Kuwait on Tuesday to ferry liquid oxygen-filled cryogeniccontainers to meet the high demand for the life saving gas in thecountry following a spike in coronavirus cases. As part of Operation Samudra Sethu II, INS Shardul, a Landing Ship Tank of the Southern Naval Command, based in Kochi, was deployed for bringing large oxygen containers from abroad, a Defence spokepersonsaid.
Several ships of the Indian Navy have been pressed into serviceas part of the initiative to augment ongoing national servicemission 'Oxygen Express'. (PTI)
Coronavirus LIVE Update | Bihar imposes complete lockdown till May 15, says CM Nitish Kumar.
Coronavirus LIVE Update | Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the only way to stop the spread of coronavirus now was a full lockdown with the protection of minimum income guarantee scheme, NYAY, for the vulnerable sections.
GOI doesn’t get it.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 4, 2021
The only way to stop the spread of Corona now is a full lockdown- with the protection of NYAY for the vulnerable sections.
GOI’s inaction is killing many innocent people.
Coronavirus LIVE Update | COVID strikes IPL: CSK-RR clash to be rescheduled due to Balaji's positive report.
The BCCI will reschedule Wednesday's IPL match between Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals here as CSK has been forced into hard quarantine after bowling coach L Balaji tested positive for COVID-19. As per the Board's Standard Operating Procedure, anyone who has come in contact with an infected person has to undergo six days of hard quarantine and return three negative RT-PCR reports during the course of it. (PTI)
Coronavirus LIVE Update | Thane adds 2,193 cases taking the total COVID-19 cases of Maharashtra to 4,74,987, an official said on Tuesday.
Besides these new cases reported on Monday, the virus also claimed the lives of 43 more people, pushing the death toll in the district to 7,728, he said.The COVID-19 mortality rate in Thane stood at 1.62 per cent, he added. Details of recovered and under-treatment patients were not provided by the district administration.
In theneighbouring Palghar district, the COVID-19 case count has gone up to 89,781, while the death toll is 1,603, another official said. (PTI)
