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Coronavirus News Highlights: India is witnessing a second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. So far, the country has recorded over 2.43 crore confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 2,66,207 deaths. A total of 2,04,32,898 people have recuperated from COVID-19 so far. There are 36,73,802 active cases in the country as of date, which comprises 15.41 percent of the total caseload, the data stated. India's recovery rate now stands at 83.5 percent. Globally, more than 16.15 crore people have been infected by the coronavirus and 33.53 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 18 crore, according to the Union Health Ministry.
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Maharashtra on May 15 reported a further decline in new COVID-19 cases with 34,848 infections further decline in new COVID-19 cases with 34,848 infections coming to light. But the state also reported 960 deaths, an increase But the state also reported 960 deaths, an increase over Friday. The caseload increased to 53,44,063 and death toll The caseload increased to 53,44,063 and death toll reached 80,512, the state health department said.
Uttar Pradesh government extends lockdown in the state till May 24.
COVID-19 patients on home care should not take Remdesivir medication and they should get admitted at a hospital if the oxygen level drops below 94, AIIMS doctors advised on Saturday.
The doctors were addressing a webinar on 'Medication and Care in Home Isolation' for COVID-19 patients.
"Remdesivir should never be taken at home. Positive attitude and regular exercise are a must for patients in home isolation, said Dr Neeraj Nishchal of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
"Dr Manish, also from AIIMS, said if the oxygen level goes below 94, patients should be admitted, adding that while checking oxygen level, age of the patient and other chronic diseases should be kept in mind.
Dr Neeraj, however, said that 80 per cent of infected patients experience very mild symptoms and suggested a repeat RT-PCR rest if the first test report comes negative. (PTI)
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Saturday said the state government plans to set up more than 250 pressure swing absorption (PSA) oxygen plants in the coming days keeping in mind a possible third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rupani made the announcement while talking to reporters after inaugurating a 10 MT PSA oxygen plant set up by Banas Dairy for COVID-19 patients in Palanpur.
"In the coming days, more than 250 PSA oxygen plants will be set up across the state to generate 300 MT oxygen so that we get oxygen from the air directly whenever it is required during a possible third wave of the pandemic," the chief minister said.
Active cases 99,970
Total cases 7,24,279
Death toll 6,913
Total recoveries 6,17,396
Total cases: 14,11,320
Death toll: 9,271
Total recovered cases: 11,94,582
Active cases: 2,07,467
281 more coronavirus deaths, 12,547 new cases in Uttar Pradesh.
COVID-19 infections in adults of all ages fell by 80% five weeks after a first dose of Pfizer, Moderna or AstraZeneca vaccine, according to Italian research published on Saturday.The first such study by a European Union country on the real-world impact of its immunisation campaign was carried out by Italy's National Institute of Health (ISS) and the Ministry of Health on 13.7 million people vaccinated nationwide.Scientists started studying data from the day Italy's vaccination campaign began, on Dec. 27 2020, until May 3 2021.The analysis showed that the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, hospitalisation, and death decreased progressively after the first two weeks following the initial vaccination."As of 35 days after the first dose, there is an 80% reduction in infections, 90% reduction in hospitalisations, and 95% reduction in deaths," the ISS said, adding that the same pattern was seen in both men and women regardless of age."This data confirms the effectiveness of the vaccination campaign and the need to achieve high coverage across the population quickly to end the emergency," ISS president Silvio Brusaferro said in the statement.
The first Oxygen Express arrived at Krishnapatnam Port in SPS Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh on Saturday, carrying 40 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen (LMO) in two cryogenic tankers from Durgapur in West Bengal.Another Oxygen Express carrying 76.39 tonnes of LMO from Kanalus in Gujarat would arrive in Guntur on Sunday, the South Central Railway informed in a press release."The Oxygen Express was operated from Durgapur in West Bengal and traversed a distance of nearly 1,650 km in around 27 hours.The Railways has operated the train along the Green Corridor which has helped in moving the Oxygen Express at an average speed of 65 Kmph," the SCR release said.State Principal Secretary (Health) Anil Kumar Singhal said six tankers carrying 110 tonnes of LMO from the Reliance plant in Jamnagar would arrive in Guntur on Sunday."In all we will be getting 230 tonnes of LMO over and above the 590 tonnes allotted to the state.We will store the additional oxygen in different districts to meet the emergency needs," Anil said.Another two tankers would also come from Durgapur in the next two days, he added.The Principal Secretary said they were planning to operate an Oxygen Express each in two directions (to and fro) to bring oxygen to Krishnapatnam Port from different places to cater to the requirement in the four Rayalaseema districts as well as SPS Nellore.
Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Saturday donated a sum of Rs one crore to the state government towards Covid-19 containment measures, the Raj Bhavan said.Purohit gave a cheque for the amount to Chief Minister MK Stalin who met him at the Raj Bhavan, it said in an official release."As a part of shouldering the responsibility of the Government of Tamil Nadu at this critical situation, the Governor of Tamil Nadu has donated Rs 1 crore from his Discretionary grant and as his own contribution of one month emoluments to the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund," it said.The Governor gave away the sum for control measures of Covid-19 and to provide relief to the affected people of Tamil Nadu, it said.Purohit's gesture came days after Stalin appealed for contributions to handle the pandemic effectively.The Governor "appealed to the people of Tamil Nadu to contribute generously to the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund to help the needy and also to follow corona appropriate behaviour," the release added.
West Bengal registers 144 new COVID-19 fatalities, highest so far in single day, 19,511 fresh cases
In a relief to road transporters, the Maharashtra government has done away with the mandatory RT-PCR test requirement for the truck drivers in the state, industry body AIMTC said on Saturday. The All India Motor Transport Congress, which is the top body of the transporters in the country, had demanded from the state government for waiving such a condition. The state government in its revised guidelines, issued on Saturday, said that the truck drivers "may be allowed to enter in the state only after checking the temperature and any other symptoms as well as status of each person on Aarogya Setu". “With persistent follow-ups at the highest level we are successful in getting revised guidelines regarding mandatory requirement of negative RTP-CR Test for drivers in Maharashtra,” Bal Malkit Singh, Chairman of the Core Committee, AIMTC, said in a statement. Earlier in the day, AIMTC got instructions from the Chief Secretary office issued to the field officials to release the vehicles immediately, he said, adding this was done promptly and the vehicles were released.
