Maharashtra Reports Highest COVID Deaths so Far With 568 Deceased
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Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday tested positive for COVID-19, and said in a tweet that his sister and 85 year old mother are “in the same boat.”
Maharashtra on Wednesday, 21 April, reported 67,468 new COVID-19 cases, highest number of fatalities so far with 568 deceased and 54,985 discharges in the last 24 hours. Total case tally at 40,27,827 and active cases at 6,95,747.
Karnataka on Wednesday recorded it’s highest one day rise with 23,558 fresh COVID19 cases.
Meanwhile, night curfew has been imposed in Goa from 10pm to 6 am, starting on Wednesday night, amid a sharp nation-wide surge of COVID-19 cases.
India on Wednesday reported 2,95,041 fresh COVID-19 cases – the highest one-day spike so far. As many as 2,023 COVID fatalities and 1,67,457 discharges in 24 hours were recorded, as per the Union Health Ministry. The total case tally has now reached 1,56,16,130 with 21,57,538 active patients and 1,82,553 deaths. The total number of recoveries, meanwhile, stands at 1,32,76,039.
38 inmates at Byculla jail, including accused in Sheena Bora murder case Indrani Mukerjea, have tested positive for COVID-19, Byculla jail authority said on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday requested the various state governments to implement lockdowns only as a last-resort measure, as he addressed the nation amid a deadly second wave of COVID-19.
- Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal announced a lockdown in the national capital till 5 am on 26 April.
- The Centre on Monday announced that those above 18 will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine from 1 May.
- Uttar Pradesh will offer the COVID-19 vaccine free of cost from 1 May.
- Karnataka has imposed night and weekend curfews in the entire state. The night curfew will be in force from 21 April to 4 May, from 9 pm to 6 am.
- Section 144 of the CrPC has been imposed in Rajasthan from 22 April till 21 May.
- Uttar Pradesh will see weekend lockdowns from 8 pm, Friday, to 7 am, Monday.
Oxygen Tanker Reaches Delhi’s GTB Hospital Just in Time
After Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain stated on Tuesday that Delhi’s GTB Hospital was running out of medical oxygen, one oxygen tanker reached the hospital just in time at 1:30 am on Wednesday.
More than 500 critical COVID-19 patients on oxygen were admitted at the hospital and the supply was not expected to last beyond 2 am.
India Removes Import Duty on Remdesivir
India has removed import duty on remdesivir, an anti-viral drug which is currently used to treat COVID-19 patients.
The Ministry of Finance, in a notification issued on late Tuesday night, removed the duty on import of pharmaceutical ingredients used to manufacture of the drug.
In Highest One-Day Spike, India Reports 2.95 Lakh COVID-19 Cases
India on Wednesday reported 2,95,041 fresh COVID-19 cases – the highest one-day spike so far. As many as 2,023 COVID fatalities and 1,67,457 discharges in 24 hours were recorded, as per the Union Health Ministry. The total case tally has now reached 1,56,16,130 with 21,57,538 active patients and 1,82,553 deaths. The total number of recoveries, meanwhile, stands at 1,32,76,039.
Kejriwal, Baijal to Hold Meeting Today
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lt Governor Anil Baijal will hold a meeting at 11 am on Wednesday and discuss the issue of oxygen supply, COVID cases and deaths.
30 Inmates at Byculla Jail Test COVID-Positive
38 inmates at Byculla jail, including accused in Sheena Bora murder case Indrani Mukerjea, have tested positive for COVID-19, Byculla jail authority said on Wednesday.
Miscreants Flee With Oxygen Cylinders From Hospital in MP’s Damoh
A section of miscreants on Wednesday stole oxygen cylinders when a truck went to deliver them at Damoh district hospital in Madhya Pradesh’s Damoh.
The district collector said that the looting happened despite the hospital having adequate oxygen supply.
Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Tests COVID-19 Positive
Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal has tested positive for COVID-19 and asks those who have come in his contact to be observant and get themselves tested.
Odisha Reports 4,851 COVID-19 cases
Odisha reported highest daily rise of 4,851 COVID-19 cases. Total death toll rises to 1,958 with 5 more deaths.
Serum Institute Announces Covishield Pricing
Serum Institute of India (SII) announced on Wednesday, 21 April that its Covishield vaccine would be priced at Rs 600 per dose at private hospitals and Rs 400 per dose at state government establishments.
ICMR Claims Covaxin Effective Against "Multiple Variants"
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has claimed that Covaxin, which it jointly developed with Bharat Biotech, is effective against “multiple variants” of the SARS-C0V-2 virus, including its “double mutant”strain. However, no research paper has been cited to substantiate the claim.
Tripura Imposes Night Curfew in Agartala Municipal Corporation Area
The Tripura government announced on Wednesday that it will impose a night curfew from 10 pm to 5 am in Agartala Municipal Corporation area from tomorrow for an indefinite period.
Tis Hazari's St Stephen's Hospital Seeks Immediate Help as Oxygen Supplier Linde Stops Supply
With 300 COVID-19 patients and a limit of two hours, St Stephen's Hospital, Tis Hazari is struggling to survive and is seeking immediate help, reported ANI.
‘Oxygen supplier Linde India has stopped our supply’, an official from St Stephen’s Hospital told ANI
2 COVID Care Centres Set Up For Delhi Police Personnel, 1 More to Be Operational Next
In view of the freshly rising incidents of COVID infection among Delhi Police personnel, Delhi Police has set up a fully functional COVID care center in the newly built quarters at PS Shahdra complex with 78 beds of which 20 are oxygen beds. Two more care centres have also been set up at Rohini and PTS Dwarka. Rohini facility has 20 beds of which 10 are oxygen beds. PTS Dwarka facility will be the next to go operational.
- Doctors from GTB HospItal, Nurses and paramedics from Hamdard Foundation to attend to patients
- Oxygen cylinders to be provided by Seva Bharati
- 30 oxygen beds available, more being set up.
All Above 18 Yrs to Be Administered COVID-19 Jab Free of Cost in MP: CMO
All aged above 18 years will be administered COVID-19 vaccine free of cost in Madhya Pradesh, reported ANI, citing Chief Minister's Office (CMO) quoting MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Current Active Cases Twice the Number of Maximum Active Cases Last Year: Union Healthy Secretary
There are 21,57,000 active cases in India currently i.e. twice the number of maximum active COVID-19 cases last year, reported ANI, citing Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan.
Rajesh Bhushan further informed:
- More than 13 crore people have been vaccinated in the country so far including 30 lakh doses administered in the last 24 hours.
- Around 87% of health workers and 79% of front-line workers have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccines.
0.04% Test Positive After 2nd Dose of Covaxin, 0.03% After Covishied: Govt
About 0.04 percent people tested positive after second dose of Covaxin and 0.03 percent after second dose of Covishield, reported PTI, citing the Government.
Night Curfew in Goa From Tonight
Night curfew imposed in Goa from 10pm (to 6am) tonight. Casinos, restaurants and bars, cinema halls allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity.
More Than 21,000 Test Positive After 1st Dose of Either Jabs, While More Than 5,500 After 2nd: Govt
More than 21,000 people tested positive after first dose of either Covishield or Covaxin, while over 5,500 tested positive after second dose, reported PTI, citing the government,
Assam Govt Converts Guwahati's Sarusajai Stadium into COVID Isolation Facility
Assam Government converts Guwahati's Sarusajai Stadium into a COVID19 isolation facility, reported ANI. At least 1000 people can reportedly be quarantined at the facility.
Goa Reports 1,502 New COVID19 Cases
Goa reports 1,502 new COVID19 cases, 17 deaths and 426 recoveries. Present case tally is 70,814, death toll 943.
Karnataka Records 23,558 New COVID-19 Cases
Karnataka records 23,558 fresh COVID-19 cases, 6,412 discharges and 116 fatalities in the last 24 hours; case tally at 12,22,202 and active cases at 1,76,188.
Goa Board Postpones Exams for Classes 10 and 12
Goa Board postpones 10th and 12th examinations. The Board will inform 15 days in advance before holding the exams, reported ANI, citing Goa CM Pramod Sawant.
Karnataka Witnesses Highest Single Day Rise: 23,558 New Cases
Karnataka on Wednesday, recorded it’s highest one day rise with 23,558 fresh COVID19 cases.
6,412 discharges and 116 fatalities were also recorded in the last 24 hours; case tally at 12,22,202 and active cases at 1,76,188
Suggestions to Club Remaining Three Phases in 1, Amid COVID, Not Feasible: EC
ECI, as per ANI, has replied to TMC's Derek O Brien on his request to club remaining phases of West Bengal polls, saying:
"Suggestion to club the phases 6, 7 and 8 is not feasible. EC has already mandated detailed guidelines to ensure that safety norms are adhered to without any exceptions.”
Centre Has Decided to Increase Delhi's Quota For Oxygen: CM Kejriwal
Kerala Govt to Provide COVID Vaccine Free of Cost to All
Kerala government to provide COVID19 vaccine free of cost for all above 18 years of age, reported ANI, citing CM Pinarayi Vijayan.
Shashi Tharoor Tests COVID-19 Positive
Cong Leader Adhir Chowdhury Tests COVID-19 Positive
Kerala Not Going to Implement Lockdown Presently, People Asked to Follow COVID Guidelines Strictly: CM
Kerala is not going to implement any lockdown at the present juncture. Instead, people are being asked to follow the COVID guidelines strictly, reported ANI, citing Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Punjab Reports 4,970 New COVID-19 Cases
Punjab reports 4,970 new COVID-19 cases, 69 deaths and 2,727 recoveries in the last 24 hours.
Total cases: 3,14,269
Total recoveries: 2,67,289
Death toll: 8,114
Active cases: 38,866
Haryana Reports 9,623 New COVID-19 Cases
Haryana on Wednesday reported 9,623 new COVID-19 cases, 45 deaths and 3,928 recoveries. Total case tally stands at 3,81,247, death toll at 3,528.
Maharashtra Reports 67,468 New COVID-19 Cases
Maharashtra reported 67,468 new COVID-19 cases, 568 fatalities and 54,985 discharges in the last 24 hours. Total case tally at 40,27,827 and active cases at 6,95,747.
Pune Reports 10,902 New COVID-19 Cases
Pune district reported 10,902 new COVID-19 cases, 120 fatalities and 11,174 recoveries in the last 24 hours.
Active cases: 1,01,376
Total cases: 7,53,353
Total recoveries: 6,40,379
Death toll: 11,767
Manufacturing Capacity of Remdesivir Ramped up to 74 Lakh Vials per Month
The Union Health Ministry announced that seeing the sudden surge in demand for Remdesivir for COVID-19, manufacturing capacity of domestic Remdesivir manufacturers has been ramped up from 38 lakh vials per month to 74 lakh vials per month.
Twenty additional manufacturing sites have also been approved.
Delhi Reports 24,639 New COVID-19 Cases
Delhi reported 24,638 new COVID-19 cases, 24,600 recoveries and 249 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Total cases: 9,30,179
Total recoveries: 8,31,928
Death toll: 12,887
Active cases: 85,364
Chhattisgarh Announces Free Vaccines for Adults
The Chhattisgarh government announced on Wednesday, that all people over 18 years of age will receive COVID vaccine free of cost.
Gujarat Records 12,533 New COVID-19 cases
As per Gujarat’s health department, 12,553 new COVID-19 cases and 125 deaths were recorded in the state.
Madhya Pradesh Records Highest COVID-19 Spike With 13,107 New Cases
As per Madhya Pradesh’s health department,13,107 new COVID-19 cases, the highest spike so far was recorded in the state. Total death toll stands at 4,788 with 75 more deaths.
TNM Leader Madan Mitra Tests COVID Positive, Rushed to Kolkata's Apollo Hospital
Trinamool leader Madan Mitra has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus and has been rushed to Kolkata's Apollo Hospital from the Bengal government-run SSKM Hospital, where he was admitted earlier after he complained of breathing problems.
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