Coronavirus HIGHLIGHTS: Nigh Curfew Imposed In Tamil Nadu From 20 April, 10 PM - 4 AM; Full Lockdown On Sundays

Coronavirus HIGHLIGHTS, Sunday, April 18, 2021: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is holding a review meeting with the officials of the Uttar Pradesh govt to review the Covid situation in Varanasi. In a new record high, India recorded 2,61,500 fresh cases, taking the caseload to 1.47 crore infections. With 1,501 deaths in a day, the country also saw the deadliest day of the pandemic. Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has cancelled all his political rallies in Bengal keeping in view of the huge surge in Covid cases.

Background

Coronavirus HIGHLIGHTS, Sunday, April 18, 2021:: Union Ministers Dr Harsh Vardhan and Piyush Goyal responded Saturday to reports Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had tried, and was turned away from, speaking to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the lack of oxygen cylinders for critically ill Covid patients in his state.Dr Vardhan said he had reached out to Mr Thackeray and assured him Maharashtra - the worst-affected state in the country - would get an "adequate and uninterrupted supply of medical oxygen", and 1,121 ventilators.Maharashtra logged 67,123 coronavirus cases on Saturday in its biggest single-day spike since the start of the pandemic. The worst-hit state in the country also recorded 419 deaths because of the virus in the last 24 hours.Amid the spiralling Covid-19 crisis in Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said the situation has become “very serious and worrisome”, and oxygen, Remdesivir and Tocilizumab for patients are in short supply. His flurry of stark facts came on a day Delhi reported 24,345 new cases and the positivity rate shot up to 24.56 per cent.

18/04/2021 19:49:55

Coronavirus Cases in Rajasthan

Rajasthan reports 10514 new COVID-19 positive cases, 3084 discharges/recoveries and 42 deaths.

• Total positive cases: 414869


• Total discharges/recoveries: 344331


• Death toll: 3151


• Active cases: 67387

18/04/2021 19:47:56

Coronavirus Crisis in Delhi: CM Kejriwal, LG Anil Baijal to hold COVID review meet tomorrow

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and LG Anil Baijal to hold a meeting with senior government officers tomorrow over COVID-19 situation in the national capital

Delhi reported 25,462 fresh COVID cases (positivity rate - 29.74%), 20,159 recoveries, and 161 deaths in the last 24 hours.

• Active cases: 74,941


• Total recoveries: 7,66,398


• Death toll: 12,121

 

18/04/2021 19:25:31

Tamil Nadu: Nigh curfew imposed from April 20; Class 12th board exams postponed

Tamil Nadu govt imposes statewide night curfew (10 pm to 4 am) beginning April 20. As per the announcement, the state government has put a ban on inter and intra-state travel during night curfew. Full lockdown to be imposed on Sundays across the state. Class 12th board exams also postponed.

18/04/2021 18:06:16

Uttarakhand Govt Hikes Penalty For Not Wearing Mask From Rs 200 To Rs 500

At a high-level meeting, Uttarakhand CM Tirath Singh Rawat has instructed officers to increase penalty for not wearing mask to Rs 500 from Rs 200. He has also instructed to set up check posts at state borders & not let anyone enter the state without negative RT-PCR reports

18/04/2021 18:05:33

Shortage of oxygen in many hospitals, have requested Central Govt to provide oxygen on priority: Delhi Deputy CM

Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and Health Minister Satyendar Jain on SUnday visited Sardar Patel COVID Care Centre & Hospital, Radha Soami Satsang Beas in Chhatarpur. "500 beds will be functional by day after tomorrow and 5000 beds will be foundational in the next few days," Sisodia said. 

"There is shortage of oxygen in many hospitals of Delhi. Some hospitals have oxygen supply for 3-4 hours while some have oxygen supply for 10-12 hours. Situation is grim so we have requested Central Govt to provide oxygen to Delhi on priority," Delhi Deputy CM added. 

18/04/2021 17:09:30

Northern Railway prepares 463 COVID coaches, primarily meant for isolation

Northern Railway GM Ashutosh Gangal told ANI, "Northern Railway has 463 COVID coaches. These coaches are primarily meant for isolation and also if the need arises for very mild cases. These are not meant for serious cases.

We have already written letters to Chief Secretaries of the states where these coaches can be deployed so that if they have requirement they can approach us."

18/04/2021 15:00:22

Delhi Govt Requests Railways To Arrange Covid Beds At Anand Vihar & Shakur Basti Railway Station

Delhi government requests Railways to arrange Covid beds at Anand Vihar & Shakur Basti railway station with logistical support, medical staff and oxygen facilities on emergency basis and identify more facilities up to the level of 5,000 beds as was done last year.

18/04/2021 14:49:06

Mumbai Police Introduces Colour-Coded Passes For Essential Services

"Mumbai police introduces colour-coded passes for essential services vehicles. Red colour passes will be for all medical staff. Green for food and yellow for other essential services. Those found misusing the passes will face legal action": Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagrale said.

18/04/2021 13:53:35

Medical Infrastructure In Varanasi Has Helped In Fight Against Covid: PM Modi

PM reiterated the importance of masks & urged all to ensure 'do gaj ki doori'. He said that as a representative of Varanasi, he takes constant feedback from public & in last 5-6 years, medical infrastructure has advanced in Varanasi that has helped in the fight against COVID19: PMO

 

 

18/04/2021 12:20:19

Less Than 100 ICU Beds Left In Delhi: CM Arvind Kejriwal

Positivity rate increased from 24% to 30% in last 24 hours. Less than 100 ICU beds left & there's oxygen shortage. Spoke to Dr Harsh Vardhan yesterday & Amit Shah ji this morning regarding lack of beds & informed them that we're in dire need: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

18/04/2021 11:52:48

Rahul Gandhi Suspends Bengal Poll Rallies

After Trinamool Congress' Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi suspends Bengal election rallies in view of the Covid-19 situation. "I am suspending all my public rallies in West Bengal. I would advise all political leaders to think deeply about the consequences of holding large public rallies under the current circumstances."

18/04/2021 11:51:56

Govt To Ramp Up Remdesivir Production

Govt is working on scaling up Remdesivir production & its price reduction. 1.5 lakh vials/day being produced and will be doubled up to 3 lakh vials/day in 15 days. 20 more plants approved for production in addition to existing 20: Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya

18/04/2021 11:21:39

West Bengal appoints 4 member task force to review covid situation in the state

West Bengal government forms a 4-member 'Task Force on augmentation of COVID beds in private hospitals/nursing homes' in response to upsurge in COVID 19 cases in state Sanjay Bansal, Secretary in Health & Family Welfare Dept to chair the task force & act as State Nodal Office

18/04/2021 10:48:40

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal to hold press conference at noon

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has called a meeting today amid a huge surge in Covid in the national capital  that has crossed an unprecedented 24,000 new cases over 24 hours.

Yesterday, the Delhi government had flagged a shortage in oxygen and the drug Remdesivir.

Yesterday, Mr Kejriwal said the situation is "very serious and worrisome".

18/04/2021 10:36:23

PM To Review Covid Situation In Varanasi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a meeting at 11 am to review the COVID19 situation in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The meeting will be attended by top officials, local administration and doctors who are involved in fighting COVID in Varanasi: Prime Minister's Office (PMO)

18/04/2021 09:29:52

India Records Over 2.6 Lakh Covid Cases In A Single Day

India reports 2,61,500 new COVID19 cases, 1,501 fatalities and 1,38,423 discharges in the last 24 hours, as per Union Health Ministry

Total cases: 1,47,88,109

Active cases: 18,01,316

Total recoveries: 1,28,09,643

Death toll: 1,77,150

Total vaccination: 12,26,22,590

18/04/2021 08:35:16

Mayor claims 'more COVID deaths' took place than reported by Delhi govt

More deaths from COVID-19 took place on Friday according to municipal records vis-a-vis the figures reported by the city government, North Delhi Mayor Jai Prakash claimed on Saturday.

According to the official data shared by the health department, 141 fatalities were reported on April 16.

The North Delhi mayor, however, claimed that the "death count from COVID-19 was 193 on Friday".

"According to cremations and burials performed of COVID-19 victims, the number of fatalities stands at 193," he claimed.

In civic areas across Delhi, 300 platforms have been reserved for COVID victims, he said.

Last year too, the BJP-led civic bodies and the AAP-ruled Delhi government had a war of words over "discrepancy" in number of deaths from the pandemic reported by the two authorities.

18/04/2021 08:14:00

Indore receives 60 tonnes of oxygen

Amid oxygen shortage, Indore received 60 tons of oxygen, yesterday "We thank Reliance for providing us with liquid oxygen in time of distress. It's 60 tons,& we've been told that every day we'll be receiving 100 tons" said Tulsi Ram Silawat, Madhya Pradesh Minister

18/04/2021 07:31:47

Seven pharma firms slash prices of Remdesivir after govt intervention

Seven companies producing Remdesivir in India have slashed prices by an average of 39% as the use of the drug shot up amid a surge in Covid-19 infections across the country. The sharpest price cut was by Zydus Cadila which reduced the price of its brand Remdac from ₹2,800 for a 100mg vial to ₹899, followed by Redyx by Dr Reddy’s whose price went from ₹5,400 per vial to ₹2,700, according to the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority.

18/04/2021 07:31:33

Uttar Pradesh Under Lockdown today

Uttar Pradesh has announced a lockdown every Sunday across the state till May 15 in order to curb the spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19). The Sunday lockdown comes days after Allahabad High Court asked chief minister Yogi Adityanath to consider imposing complete lockdown-like measures for two to three weeks in areas worst hit by the virus.

18/04/2021 07:30:21

Maharashtra Reports Over 67,000 Covid Cases, Highest Single-Day Surge

With Maharashtra registering the highest single-day spike of 63,729 cases, the situation in the state looks grim with the hospitals struggling to attend to the patients due to scarcity of beds and oxygen support besides long queues witnessed outside crematoriums in certain cities.

The daily usage of oxygen in Maharashtra, which is the worst affected by the pandemic, has touched almost 1,500 metric tonnes and the state government is making all possible efforts to meet the daily demand against the production capacity of 1,200 metric tonnes.

18/04/2021 07:29:58

PM asks companies to increase vaccine production

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held a meeting to review the preparedness of public health response to Covid-19 as cases continue to spike at an alarming rate across the country. PM Modi said that all necessary measures must be taken to ramp up the availability of hospital beds for Covid patients. He reiterated the need for testing, tracking and treatment to tackle the current situation.

In the meeting attended by top officials of ministries and state governments, Modi emphasised on the need for the local administrations to be proactive and sensitive to people’s concerns. He also reviewed the status of supply of Remdesivir and other medicines.