Maharashtra Reports Over 67k COVID Cases, PM Holds Review Meet
Catch all the updates on the coronavirus outbreak here.
Amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting to review the situation at 8 pm on Saturday, 17 April.
India reported 2,34,692 fresh COVID cases in the last 24 hours – the highest single-day spike ever – pushing the country’s overall COVID tally to 1,45,26,609, according to the Health Ministry data released on Saturday.
On Satuday evening, PM Modi spoke to Swami Avdheshanand Giri over the telephone and requested that the ongoing Kumbh Mela be only "symbolic" now. This comes after shahi snans have already taken place amid a health crisis.
- Several states, including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, have already imposed curfews and movement restrictions
- Delhi and Chandigarh have also imposed different forms of weekend lockdowns along with a night curfews
Over 27,000 New Cases in Uttar Pradesh
27,357 new coronavirus cases reported in Uttar Pradesh.
Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju Tests Positive
Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju says that he has tested positive for COVID-19.
Maharashtra Reports Over 67,000 New Cases
Maharashtra reports 67,123 new COVID cases in a single-day spike. The state recorded 419 deaths in the last 24 hours. The total number of active cases in the state stand at 6,47,933.
COVID Cases Likely to Rise in the Coming Day: KK Shailaja
Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja has said that the number of COVID cases in the state are expected to rise in the coming days because they have ramped up testing.
“We are expecting the number of positive cases to go up as around 2.30 lakh tests are expected to take place. Since our health system is quite fine-tuned to handle the positive cases, there is no need to worry as the hospitals are fully equipped,” Shailaja said.
She also said that the state needs another 50 lakh doses of vaccine as they are left with around 5.50 lakh doses only.
Former Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy Admitted to Apollo Hospital
Former Karnataka Chief Minister and JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy has been admitted to Apollo Hospital in Bengaluru. He has tested positive for COVID-19 earlier today.
Madhya Pradesh Govt Directs District Collectors to Quarantine Kumbh Returnees
Madhya Pradesh government has directed all district collectors to quarantine people returning from the Kumbh Mela, reports ANI.
Kerala Reports Over 13,000 New Cases
Kerala reported 13, 835 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours. The total number of active cases in the state stand at 80,019 and the death toll is at 4904.
PM Modi to Hold Meeting to Review COVID-19 Situation at 8 PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a meeting at 8 pm to review the COVID-19 and vaccination situation in the country.
Goa Govt Announces Ban on Export of Oxygen Cylinders
Goa government has announced a ban on export of oxygen cylinders amid the rise in the cases of COVID-19, reports PTI.
Sonia Gandhi Chairs CWC Meeting
Sonia Gandhi chaired a Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting today and held a detailed discussion with Chief Ministers of States ruled by Congress and where Congress is in alliance govt, to take stock of the COVID situation.
Gandhi said in a tweet, “What transpired was, gross unpreparedness and avoidable adhocism on part of Modi government in foreseeing and managing COVID crisis.”
She also stated, “As Central and State governments resort to partial curfews, travel restrictions, lockdowns; we will again be restricting economic activity that'll hit many including the poor and needy.”
She stress that it was, “Imperative to provide monthly income support and transfer Rs 6,000 in every eligible citizen’s account.”
Indian Railways to Impose a Fine of Rs 500 for Not Wearing a Mask
Indian Railways on Saturday announced that a fine of Rs 500 will be imposed on those who are not wearing a mask inside trains or at railway premises.
Police Is Strictly Enforcing Weekend Curfew
Delhi Police Commissioner SN Shrivastava said that the police is strictly enforcing the weekend curfew. People who are out of their house unnecessarily are being prosecuted and cases are being registered against them. Shrivastava has requested people to stay at home and not face any trouble.
Delhi CM Urges Citizens to Follow Weekend Curfew
Hours after the weekend curfew began in Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday appealed to the citizens to follow the guidelines imposed by the state government to win the war against Covid-19.
The weekend lockdown came into force from 10 pm on Friday. This is for the first time this year the national capital will witness strict prohibition on weekend and is likely to be extended if cases continue to rise.
"In view of the Covid-19, a curfew has been imposed in Delhi on Saturday and Sunday. Please follow it. We all have to defeat the pandemic together," Kejriwal tweeted.
Biggest Spike of 2.34 Lakh COVID Cases in India, 1,341 Deaths in 24 Hours
India has reported 2,34,692 fresh Covid cases in the last 24 hours, the highest single-day spike ever, pushing the country's overall Covid tally to 1,45,26,609, according to the Health Ministry data released on Saturday, 17 April.
Meanwhile, as many as 1,341 people died of Covid in the last 24 hours, taking the country's death toll to 1,75,649 so far. The daily active cases tally on Friday rose to 16,79,740.
Set Up Help-Desk, Inform People About Beds in Hospitals: LG to Delhi Govt
Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, who on Friday held a meeting with Chief Secretary Vijay Dev and the municipal commissioners to review the COVID preparedness in the national capital, directed the Delhi government to provide multiple sources of information about the availability of beds for COVID-infected persons in each government-run hospital.
Baijal also directed the state government to set up a 'help desk' to assist people coming to the hospitals for COVID test.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)