COVID: Night Curfew in Karnataka From 21 April to 4 May
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Amid a horrific nationwide surge in COVID-19 cases, night and weekend curfew have been imposed in Karnataka, starting 21 April. Both will continue till 4 May.
Section 144 of the CrPC has been imposed imposed in Rajasthan from 22 April till 21 May, in view of current COVID19 situation, reported ANI, citing the State Home Department.
In Pune, Yog Multispeciality Hospital has run out of oxygen supply. Dr Abhijeet Darak, of the hospital, informed, as per ANI, that one patient has died due to the lack of oxygen supply and they have only an hour’s supply left and 11 patients on ventilators.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday, 20 April, announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19.
Uttar Pradesh will now see weekend lockdown on Saturdays and Sundays, beginning on Friday 8 pm, till Monday 7 am, Awanish K Awasthi, Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department said on Tuesday, 20 April.
India on Tuesday reported 2,59,170 fresh COVID-19 cases, 1,761 fatalities and 1,54,761 discharges in 24 hours, as per the Union Health Ministry. The total case tally has now reached 1,53,21,089 with 20,31,977 active cases and 1,80,530 deaths. The total recoveries, meanwhile, stands at 1,31,08,582.
- Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has announced a lockdown in the national capital beginning Monday, 19 April night till 5 AM on 26 April
- The Centre on Monday has announced that those above 18 years of age are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine from 1 May
- TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee will not be campaigning in Kolkata for the West Bengal Assembly elections amid a surge in cases
- Congress leader Rahul Gandhi too has suspended all his rallies across the states
- The Centre has been taking a slew of measures to ramp up the production and supply of oxygen to the states
- Former Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh has tested positive for COVID-19. He has been hospitalised at the AIIMS trauma centre in New Delhi
- Telangana High Court has directed the State government to take a call on imposing night curfew or weekend lockdown to check spread of COVID-19
CDC Issues Warning for Passengers Travelling to India
Amid a surge in COVID cases (in India), travellers should avoid all travel to India. Even fully vaccinated travellers may be at risk for getting & spreading variants and should avoid all travel to India. If you must travel to India, get fully vaccinated before travel: CDC, USA
India Reports Spike of 2.59 Lakh Fresh COVID Cases
India on Tuesday reported 2,59,170 fresh COVID-19 cases, 1,761 fatalities and 1,54,761 discharges in 24 hours, as per the Union Health Ministry. The total case tally has now reached 1,53,21,089 with 20,31,977 active cases and 1,80,530 deaths. The total recoveries, meanwhile, stands at 1,31,08,582
PM Modi to Hold Meeting With Vaccine Makers Today
On Tuesday, PM Modi will hold a meeting with vaccine manufacturers via video conferencing at 6 pm. This will be his 3rd interaction with focus groups, after his meeting with doctors and pharmaceutical companies on Monday.
Delhi Hospital Runs Out Of Oxygen, Police Step In To Help
The Delhi Police operationalised a Green Corridor on Monday night to let two oxygen tankers reach a hospital in Paschim Vihar that had almost run out of oxygen. The Action Balaji hospital has 235 COVID patients who were left without any oxygen support till the crisis was resolved.
The two tankers, one carrying 14,000 litres of oxygen while the other with 5,500 litres, were stuck in Noida and Faridabad respectively due to the night curfew in the capital.
The issue was soon resolved, and oxygen supply was reinstated at the Balaji hospital.
After 4 COVID Deaths, AP Secretariat Employees Seek Work From Home
Andhra Pradesh government employees on Monday urged the state government to extend the work-from-home option in view of COVID-19 spread, reported PTI.
The AP Secretariat Association (APSA) and the AP Revenue Services Association submitted memoranda to the Chief Secretary, requesting that 50% of the staff be allowed to work on a rotation basis to check the spread of the virus. The associations said that four employees had succumbed to the virus in a week.
Two staffers of the Andhra Pradesh High Court also fell prey to coronavirus on Monday, court sources said.
First ‘Oxygen Express’ Leaves for Vizag To Bring 7 Tankers of Medical Oxygen to Mumbai
The first "Oxygen Express" carrying seven empty tankers left for Visakhapatnam on Monday, where they will be loaded with liquid oxygen for transportation to Maharashtra, the Central Railway (CR) said.
According to a Central Railway release, the Ro- Ro (roll-on-roll-off) train with seven empty tankers left for the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant from Kalamboli goods yard, about 40km from Navi Mumbai, at 8.05 pm on Monday.
The release said that at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, the tankers will be loaded with liquid medical oxygen and brought to Maharashtra, which is facing a shortage of the life-saving gas needed for treatment of critical COVID-19 patients.
Raid in Mumbai Leads to Recovery of 2,200 Vials of Remdesivir
Mumbai Police and Food and Drugs Administration teams raided two locations on Monday. In this raid, 2000 vials of Remdesevir were recovered at one exporter's location in Marol, Andheri East, which belongs to a pharmaceutical company, while 200 vials of Remdesevir were recovered at another exporter's location in New Marine Lines.
These 2200 Remdesivir vials were produced for export but were kept stocked by the exporters as there is a ban on the export of Remdesevir. FDA officials are following due procedure to make these vials available to hospitals, Mumbai Police said on Tuesday.
CEC, EC Test Positive for COVID-19: Report
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sushil Chandra and Election Commissioner (EC) Rajiv Kumar have tested positive for COVID-19 and have been working from home, according to Election Commission of India (ECI) officials, reported The Hindu.
Dr Jitendra Singh Tests Positive for COVID-19
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Tuesday said that he had tested positive for COVID-19.
Weekend Lockdown to be Imposed in UP
Uttar Pradesh will now see weekend lockdown on Saturdays and Sundays, beginning on Friday 8 pm, till Monday 7 am. During this lockdown, only essential services will be allowed. Meanwhile, night curfew will remain imposed in all districts, ANI reported, quoting Awanish K Awasthi, Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department.
Ex-Nepal King Tests COVID Positive After Returning From Kumbh
Nepal's former king, Gyanendra Shah, who returned from India after participating in the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar, has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, sources in the Health Ministry said on Tuesday, according to IANS.
Accompanied by his wife Komal Shah, the former king returned to Nepal on Sunday after which they underwent a mandatory testing for COVID-19.
The couple tested positive for the virus on Tuesday and were under home isolation, the sources said, adding that contact tracing have also started following the development.
Pakistan Bans Travel From India for Two Weeks
Pakistan has banned travel from India for two weeks in the wake of the unprecedented resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic in the neighbouring country, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) in Islamabad said.
The NCOC on Monday decided to place India in its C Category list, following which all passengers coming from India via land or air routes will not be allowed to enter the country, reports Xinhua news agency.
Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi Tests Positive for COVID-19
Bharat Biotech Announces COVAXIN Capacity Expansion to Support Vaccination Bid Worldwide
As per Bharat Biotech:
- Capacity expansion has been implemented across multiple facilities in Hyderabad and Bangalore, to reach - 700 million doses / year, one of the largest production capacities for Inactivated viral vaccines worldwide
- IMDG agonist molecule synthesis and manufacturing has been successfully implemented in India eliminating dependency on imports
- Raw materials, packing materials and single use consumables for manufacturing have been secured to meet our capacity requirements
Union Home Secy Reviews Status of COVID-19, Containment, Other Public Health Measures in All UTs
Union Home Secretary on Tuesday, 20 April, reviewed status of COVID-19, Containment and other Public Health Measures in all UTs, and advised ramped up testing and infrastructure, large containment zones, strict enforcement of COVID appropriate behaviour, and movement Restriction.
Plan Augmentation of Hospital Infrastructure in advance for next three weeks, advised the Union Home Secretary.
Education Minister Advises Postponment of Upcoming UGC-NET Exams
Education Minister Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has advised the National Testing Agency to Postpone UGC-NET exams.
Pokhriyal was quoted by ANI as saying:
“Keeping in mind the safety and well-being of candidates and exam functionaries during COVID19, I have advised National Testing Agency to postpone the UGC-NET Dec 2020 cycle (May 2021) exams.”
Migrants Returning From Maha, Delhi to Be Transported Safely to Their Homes: UP CM
As per the UP Chief Minister’s Office (CMO): “Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath has given strict instructions to the Home Department and the Transport Department that the migrant workers returning from Maharashtra and New Delhi should be safely transported to their homes.”
“All arrangements to ensure this to be made,” said the CMO, as per ANI.
Pune Multispeciality Hospital Runs Out of Oxygen
Yog Multispeciality Hospital in Pune has run out of oxygen supply.
Dr Abhijeet Darak, of the hospital, informed, as per ANI, that one patient has died due to the lack of oxygen supply and they have only an hour’s supply left and 11 patients on ventilators.
Further, Dr Darak informed:
“We have 14 ICU beds and 23 oxygen beds. The district collector has assured supply of 20 oxygen cylinders but hospital administration is not aware when will it reach them. If those cylinders reach, they can last for another 3 to 4 hours.”
Maharashtra: Food and Grocery Shops to Remain Open Till 1 Am
Maharashtra government says grocery and food shops will remain open only from 7 am to 11 am till 1 May. However, home delivery from such shops may be allowed till 8 pm
Assam Government Issues New COVID Guideline
Assam government issues order with new COVID guidelines, to remain in effect till 30 April.
- All market places except chemist shops, shops in malls and weekly markets to close by 6 pm.
- Not more than 20 persons will be allowed at funerals.
- Tea gardens and industrial units may function with strict guidelines.
Corona Curfew Extended to All 20 Districts in Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir released new restrictions for COVID-19 containment.
- 'Corona curfew' from 10 pm to 6 am has been extended to all 20 districts.
- Public transport to ply with 50 percent seating capacity
- Only 50 percent shops will be opened in market complexes on a rotation bases.
Elections of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee Postponed
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal gives approval to the proposal for postponement of the elections of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee. The elections were scheduled to be held on 25th April.
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan Says "Our Start Is Good"
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said that last year, over 80 percent people were treated under home isolation.
He added, “Our start is good but we need to increase our facilities more. We're creating more temporary beds in hospitals. We are also working on increasing the manpower.”
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Reviews COVID Situation
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired a meeting via video conferencing at 1 pm today to review the COVID-19 situation. The meeting was attended by the three Service Chiefs, Chief of Defence Staff, all Secretaries, DRDO Chairman and DG Armed Forces Medical College.
He asked officials to make optimal use of resources to align with civil needs. He also asked officials to analyse and let him know what more is required and assured that it will be procured immediately.
Singh urged the DPSUs, OFB and DRDO to work on war footing to provide oxygen cylinders and extra beds to civil administration/state governments at the earliest.
Pimpri Chinchwad Police Arrest Two For Fake RT-PCR Reports
Pimpri Chinchwad Police have arrested two people for issuing fake RT-PCR reports in the Hinjewadi area. The accused have been booked under relevant sections of the IPC
Section 144 Imposed in Rajasthan From 22 April to 21 May
Section 144 of the CrPC has been imposed imposed in Rajasthan from 22 April till 21 May, in view of current COVID19 situation, reported ANI, citing the State Home Department.
Lockdown in Chandigarh Tomorrow
UT Administrator V P Singh Badnore has decided to impose lockdown in Chandigarh for tomorrow (Wednesday), reported ANI, citing PRO, Chandigarh Administration.
All India Army Recruitment Rallies in NE States & Upcoming Common Entrance Exam Postponed
All Indian Army recruitment rallies in North-East states and Common Entrance Exam scheduled for 25 April have been postponed till further orders, reported ANI.
‘Have Requested CM to Announce Complete Lockdown’: Maha Health Minister
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope, on Tuesday, 20 April, as per ANI, said that they have requested the CM to announce a complete lockdown in the state starting 8 pm.
“This was the request of all ministers to CM, now it is his decision,” Tope said.
Maharashtra Minister Aslam Sheikh, on his part, said:
70 Doctors, 55 Nurses Test COVID-19 Positive in Bihar's Patna Medical College & Hospital
70 doctors and more than 55 nurses have tested positive for COVID19 so far, in Bihar’s Patna Medical College and Hospital.
Seven doctors were tested positive on Tuesday, itself, reported ANI, citing the Superintendent, Patna Medical College and Hospital.
COVID-19 Surge: PM Modi to Address the Country at 8:45 pm Tonight
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be addressing the nation at 8:45 pm on Tuesday, 20 April.
His address comes amid the sharp surge in COVID-19 cases and the second wave of the pandemic being witnessed across the country.
62,097 New COVID19 Cases Reported in Maharashtra
62,097 new COVID19 cases, 54,224 recoveries, and 519 deaths reported in Maharashtra today; case tally reaches 39,60,359, death toll 61,343.
10,986 New COVID Cases Reported in Tamil Nadu
10,986 new COVID cases reported in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday.
- 3711/ 10,986 cases from Chennai
- 99,246 persons tested
- 6250 patients discharged. 48 new deaths.
Total: 10,13,378 cases, 9,20,369 discharged & 13,205 deaths.
Bhadrachalam Sri Ram Navami to be Celebrated Without Devotees This Year: Telangana CM
Bhadrachalam sri ram navami this year will not be celebrated on its usual scale due to the Corona Pandemic, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao said.
The CM urged the devotees of Sri Ram and Seetha to watch the celebrations online to be held at Bhadrachalam amidst the presence of a limited number of priests and officials this year.
Night and Weekend Curfew in Karnataka From 21 April
Amid a horrific nationwide surge in COVID-19 cases, night and weekend curfew have been imposed in Karnataka, starting 21 April. Both will continue till 4 May.
Night Curfew will be underway from 9 pm to 6 am every night, while weekend curfew will be underway from Friday 9 pm to Monday 6 am, during the given period.
Delhi Records 28,395 New COVID-19 Cases
Delhi, on Tuesday, recorded 28,395 new COVID-19, 19,430 discharges and 277 deaths.
Total cases: 9,05,541
Total discharges: 8,07,328
Active cases: 85,575
Death toll: 12,638
Night Curfew Imposed in Telangana
Telangana government on Tuesday, imposed night curfew from 9 pm to 5 am till 30 April.
Oxygen May Not Last Beyond 4 Hours at GTB Hospital: Delhi Health Minister
Haryana Reports 7,811 New Cases
Haryana reported 7,811 new cases, 3,367 recoveries and 35 deaths on Tuesday. Total case tally at 3,71,624, death toll at 3,483.
Maharashtra Announces Rs 107 Crore Package for Autorickshaw Drivers
Maharashtra government announces Rs 107 crore package for state's 7.15 lakh autorickshaw drivers. Each of them will get Rs 1,500 as relief.
Remdesivir API, Injection Now Import Duty Free
Union Minister Piyush Goyal announced that imports of Remdesivir API, injection and specific inputs have been made import duty free.
Gujarat Reported Record Daily Rise Of 12,206 COVID-19 Cases
Gujarat reported record daily rise of 12,206 COVID-19 cases and 121 deaths as announced by the Health Department.
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