Coronavirus HIGHLIGHTS: Kerala To Undergo Night Curfew From Tuesday Between 9 PM To 5 AM

Coronavirus News India HIGHLIGHTS, Monday, April 19, 2021: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal alleged that the Centre has reduced Delhi's quota of medical oxygen and diverted it to other states. Maharashtra has declared six states — Goa, Kerala, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, and Gujarat as sensitive origins, and people coming from these will have to carry a negative report of RTPCR tests. Centre has diverted the industry supply of oxygen to medical use to plug the shortage of the element the country is facing.

Background

Coronavirus HIGHLIGHTS, Monday, April 19, 2021: The supply of oxygen meant for industries will now be diverted for medical use in the country as it battles a record surge in the COVID-19 cases in the deadly second wave of the pandemic, said a letter from the government to the chief secretaries of all the states.Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday alleged that the Centre has reduced Delhi's quota of medical oxygen and diverted it to other states. He also wrote to Union minister Piyush Goyal, alleging that 140 Metric Tonnes of Oxygen meant for Delhi was diverted to other states and should be restored. Asserting the Centre is taking steps to boost the supply of oxygen to hospitals across the country amid the surge in Covid-19 cases, Union Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday said a green corridor is being created to fast the movement of ‘Oxygen Express’ trains to facilitate the smooth transport of oxygen to states.Amid a surge in Covid cases, Maharashtra has declared six states — Goa, Kerala, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Gujarat— as sensitive origins. Those travelling from here will need to carry a negative RT PCR report. They will be stamped and have to go under home quarantine for 15 days. A fine of Rs 1,000 will be imposed in case of a violation.

19/04/2021 22:58:02

Gautam Buddh Nagar District Administration Extends Night Curfew

Gautam Buddh Nagar district administration has extended the night curfew (between 8 pm and 7 am) till April 30.

19/04/2021 22:49:10

Kerala To Undergo Night Curfew From Tuesday Between 9 PM To 5 AM

Kerala government imposes curfew between 9 pm to 5 am from April 20; essential services exempted. "Tuition centers shall only function through online medium & should not hold physical classes," the order reads.

 

19/04/2021 22:26:12

FM Nirmala Approves Advance Payment Of Rs 4,567 Crores To SII & Bharat Biotech: Sources

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today approved an advance payment of Rs 4,567.50 crores to Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech. Finance Ministry has approved Rs 3,000 crores for Serum Institute of India & Rs 1,567.50 crores for Bharat Biotech: news agency ANI quoted Sources as saying.

19/04/2021 22:26:10

FM Nirmala Approves Advance Payment Of Rs 4,567 Crores To SII & Bharat Biotech: Sources

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today approved an advance payment of Rs 4,567.50 crores to Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech. Finance Ministry has approved Rs 3,000 crores for Serum Institute of India & Rs 1,567.50 crores for Bharat Biotech: news agency ANI quoted Sources as saying.

19/04/2021 21:39:53

Himachal Pradesh Govt Orders Closure Of All Educational Institutes Till May 1

Himachal Pradesh government orders closure of all educational institutes till May 1 after a review meeting chaired by CM Jai Ram Thakur over Covid-19 situation. The state has recorded 1,695 cases today.

19/04/2021 21:07:11

Britain Adds India To Travel 'Red-List'

Britain is adding India to its travel 'red-list' after detecting 103 cases of a coronavirus variant first identified in the country, Health Minister Matt Hancock said as quoted by Reuters.

19/04/2021 20:25:40

Sale Of Platform Ticket To Stop At All Stations In Delhi Division

"Sale of platform ticket to stop at all stations in Delhi division immediately to avoid a rush of people at the stations,": Deepak Kumar, CPRO, Northern Railway said.

Earlier, DJ Narain, ADG (PR) in Railway Ministry had said that rush happens when there is speculation that trains wouldn't be available or stopped. "There is no such situation now. Even under curfew guidelines, one is allowed to travel to the station with a valid ticket. Trains to continue to run," he added.

19/04/2021 20:16:46

Summer Vacations In Delhi Govt Schools From Tuesday

Delhi Government announces new dates for Summer vacations in all government, government-aided and unaided recognised schools. The holidays have been rescheduled and will now begin on April 20 and end on June 9.

19/04/2021 20:02:42

Weekend Shutdown In Odisha's Urban Areas From April 24

In the interest of public health and containment of the Covid-19 spread in the State, weekend shutdown on Saturday and Sunday in all urban areas of the State with effect from April 24: Odisha Additional Chief Secretary & SRC Pradeep Jena.

19/04/2021 19:00:30

UP Govt Responds To Allahabad HC Order, Will Not Impose Complete Lockdown In 5 Cities

In response, the Uttar Pradesh government has refused to implement a complete lockdown. "UP Government will not impose a complete lockdown in the cities but impose strict restrictions. The UP Government is submitting its reply before the Court on its observations,": ANI quoted Navneet Sehgal, Assistant Chief Secretary - Information, as saying.

Allahabad High Court has ordered imposition of lockdown in Prayagraj, Lucknow, Varanasi, Kanpur Nagar and Gorakhpur. "We direct the government to strictly enforce them forthwith," the court ruled on Monday.

19/04/2021 18:39:04

Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh Tests Covid Positive

Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has tested positive for Covid-19. He has been admitted to the AIIMS Trauma Centre in Delhi.

19/04/2021 17:28:39

OPD Facilities At AIIMS Closed, Only Telemedicine Facility Available

OPD facilities have been closed at AIIMS, only the telemedicine facility will be available. Admission to the regular hospital has also been closed. Along with this, Elective surgery also closed for the time being. This arrangement will go on for two weeks, after which the situation will be reviewed.

19/04/2021 17:00:17

'Evident That Healthcare Infrastructure At Imminent Collapse': Delhi HC Expresses Concern

Delhi High Court expresses concern on the rise of Covid-19 cases, says "it is evident that the healthcare infrastructure is at the stage of imminent collapse". Meanwhile, it has also directed the Delhi government to provide food to daily wagers at their worksite and utilise the service of mid-day meal contractors.

19/04/2021 16:33:02

Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh Approves Fresh Covid Restrictions

Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh reviews Covid-19 situation and orders extension of night curfew timings (8 pm to 5 am), closure of all bars, cinema halls, gyms, spas, coaching centres, sports complexes from Apr 20 to 30; ban on gatherings of over 20 including weddings and funerals: Chief Minister's Office

19/04/2021 16:03:59

Delhi Metro Update Ahead of 6-Day Lockdown

In view of the curfew imposed in Delhi from 10 pm today till 5am on 26 April, Delhi Metro services will be available during the morning (8 AM to 10 AM) and evening (5 PM to 7 PM) peak hours across the network with a headway (frequency) of 30 minutes: Delhi Metro

19/04/2021 15:59:15

Plasma Therapy doesn't play a huge role in Covid recovery: AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria

Studies show plasma therapy has limited role & isn't of much use. Less than 2% COVID patients require Tocilizumab that's being used lot these days. Majority of patients with mild symptoms/asymptomatic will improve with just symptomatic treatment: AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria

19/04/2021 15:33:09

Mamata Banerjee Requests EC To Combine Election Phases Amid Covid Surge

With folded hands, I request Election Commission to hold three phases of polls on a single day or in two days. Please don't play with the lives of people: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in Chakulia, Uttar Dinajpur

19/04/2021 14:44:21

PM to hold virtual meet with doctors and pharma companies

Today PM Narendra Modi will interact with leading doctors from across the country via video conferencing on the COVID 19 situation, at 4:30 pm. At 6 pm, he will hold a video conference with top pharma companies in the country.

19/04/2021 14:23:35

Karnataka: Zilla Panchayat and Taluq panchayat elections postponed due to COVID surge

Karnataka Minister KS Eshwarappa on Monday announced that Zilla Panchayat and Taluq panchayat election have been postponed. The minister said, "As number of COVID19 cases are increasing, after discussing with officials & experts, we have decided to postpone Zilla Panchayat and Taluq panchayat election, also thinking to appoint adminstrators in those zilla and Taluq panchayat."

19/04/2021 13:37:32

No Difference In the % Of Covid Deaths In 1st & 2nd Wave

Higher requirement of oxygen was found in this wave. There is no difference in the percent of death between the first wave and second wave from the data we have: ICMR DG Dr. Balram Bhargava

19/04/2021 12:54:45

Delhi Lockdown

Essential services, food services, medical services will continue during the 6-day lockdown in Delhi. Weddings can be held with a gathering of only 50 people and passes will be issued separately for it, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal announced in a press conference on Monday. 

19/04/2021 12:22:22

Healthcare System Under Stress: Kejriwal

Delhi chief minister in a press conference on Monday stressed that Delhi's health system is almost on its brink, though he claimed that the "healthcare system has not collapsed yet".

Arvind Kejriwal exclaimed that extreme measures are to be taken in order to control the covid spread.   

19/04/2021 12:08:30

Schools In Urban Areas Closed Till May 14 In Nepal

Nepalese Minister Prabhu Shah told ANI that the Nepal govt has decided to close all schools in urban areas till 14th May in the wake of rising coronavirus cases.

19/04/2021 11:50:53

Hold Special Session Of Parliament: Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said that he has demanded a special session of Parliament looking at the current corona situation. "I've been speaking to political leaders of the country. They say the situation is grim in their states too. So, if govt calls a special session, there'll be an open discussion on the situation of all states, Sanjay Raut said. 

19/04/2021 11:04:59

PM to Chair review meeting at 11:30am

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair an important meeting to review the Covid situation in the country. The Health secretaries, cabinet secretaries will be present at the meeting. PM Modi will discuss the vaccination drive in the country and will take an update on the supply of oxygen to the states. PM Modi's meeting will also focus on the shortage of beds the country is facing amid the upsurge in Covid cases

19/04/2021 09:37:18

India Records Over 2.73 Lakh Cases In A Single Day

India reports 2,73,810 new COVID19 cases, 1,619 fatalities and 1,44,178 discharges in the last 24 hours, as per Union Health Ministry.

Total cases: 1,50,61,919

Active cases: 19,29,329

Total recoveries: 1,29,53,821

Death toll: 1,78,769

Total vaccination: 12,38,52,566

19/04/2021 08:44:50

Bihar: Mewalal Choudhary, JDU MLA Passes Away Due To Covid, CM Nitish Expresses Grief

Bihar: Mewalal Choudhary, JDU MLA, and former minister passes away due to COVID19 at a hospital in Patna.

CM Nitish Kumar condoles the demise of Mewalal Choudhary. CM says that his demise is saddening and an irreplaceable loss in the field of education and politics. His last rites will be performed with full state honours

19/04/2021 08:00:25

Maharashtra Marks 6 States as 'Sensitive Origin'

 Maharashtra on Sunday declared six states, including Delhi, as the places of 'sensitive origin' in a bid to stop the influx of other variants of coronavirus variants from other parts of the country.  Kerala, Goa, Gujarat, Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand have been marked as 'sensitive origin' locations, in an order signed by Maharashtra chief secretary Sitaram Kunte. 

19/04/2021 07:59:39

Mamata Banerjee To Hold Small Duration Meetings, No Campaign In Kolkata

In view of a spike in COVID-19 cases in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday said her Trinamool Congress would organise small meetings in Kolkata and she would give short speeches in rallies in districts where polling would be held in the remaining three phases. Speaking to a TV channel, Banerjee said she would shorten her speeches at campaign in different parts of the state to around 20 minutes or so from the usual time of 50 minutes to one hour so that the people don't have to stay long at the meetings.

19/04/2021 07:58:46

Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot criticises Union Minister Piyush Goyal over 'Oxygen demand' statement

Asserting the Centre is taking steps to boost the supply of oxygen to hospitals across the country amid the surge in Covid-19 cases, Union Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday said a green corridor is being created to fast the movement of ‘Oxygen Express’ trains to facilitate the smooth transport of oxygen to states.

Goyal, however, said the state governments should keep the demand for medical oxygen under control.

This has irked the citizens of the country who are facing a crisis of oxygen during these tough times. 

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also took to Twitter and condemned the Railway Minister