Coronavirus HIGHLIGHTS: PM Chairs High-Level Meet, Asks Officials To Rapidly Upgrade Health Infrastructure
Coronavirus HIGHLIGHTS: Amid criticism from several states, the Centre has asked the Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech to lower the price of their Covid-19 vaccines. As India reels with the second Covid wave, the government has advised people to wear a face mask even at home, especially if a Covid-19 patient was around. However, the government has asked to avoid unnecessary panic as it was causing more harm than good. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephonic conversation with US President Joe Biden on Monday during which the two leaders discussed various regional and global challenges posed by the pandemic.
Some hospitals in the city on Tuesday said they are in a comparatively better situation in terms of oxygen supply. Here's the list:
- Dr D K Baluja, medical director of Jaipur Golden Hospital, said the hospital has enough supply to last the day.
- Sudhanshu Bankata, executive director of Batra Hospital, said they have reopened admissions.
- Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, which repeatedly sent out SOS last week over oxygen shortage as lives of hundreds of patients at the facility hung by a thread, received two tonnes of liquid medical oxygen this morning.
- Officials at Fortis Healthcare said the situation is stable now and admissions are on.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was informed about the increasing production of the life-saving gas, whose shortage has been reported in several places amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, at a high-level meeting on Tuesday during which he asked officials to work closely with state governments to start PSA Oxygen plants at the earliest.
PM Modi reviewed the availability of medical infrastructure and directed officials to ensure rapid upgradation of health facilities.
The production of liquid medical oxygen (LMO) has risen to 8,922 MT per day and is expected to cross 9,250 MT by the end of the month, the government said.
On the backdrop of rising Coronavirus cases, the Nagaland government on Tuesday announced that the state will go into a ‘lockdown with consolidated guidelines’ for two weeks starting April 30. However, the government has clarified that this was not a complete lockdown.
Delhi High Court on Tuesday said it has not made any request for creating COVID-19 facilities for its judges, staff and their families in a five star hotel. "We have not made any such request for taking over facilities of a five star hotel," the bench said and directed the Delhi government to "take corrective steps immediately".
Taking suo motu cognisance of the news reports which said that 100 rooms of Ashoka Hotel in national capital have been converted into a COVID health facility for judges of Delhi High Court on its request, a bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli said,"No communication has been made to anyone in this regard".
Delhi High Court asked Delhi government to file affidavit mentioning the status of the stock of liquid and gaseous oxygen with refillers by 10 am tomorrow. "Our confidence has shaken, you put your house in order," HC told Delhi government on oxygen crisis in national capital.
Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued contempt notice asking Arvind Kejriwal-led government to take action against erring cylinder dealers
The court order came when it was informed by Delhi Heart and Lung Institute that they are facing oxygen shortage and the concerned nodal officer is helpless.
Delhi High Court has also suggested Delhi government to get information from all hospitals and pharmacies on the supply of Remdesivir and other drugs. HC has also asked AAP government to appoint accounting officers.
Assam: Kamrup Metropolitan district orders closure of all educational institutes (govt & private) including colleges, universities, & coaching institutes and students' hostels till May 11. Online classes have to be made available for students, the order reads.
On behalf of all Taiwanese people, I would like to express my serious concern over the rapid spread of Covid-19 in India. Taiwan stands with India in this difficult time, & we are ready to provide help: President of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen
Supreme Court allows Vedanta to operate oxygen production unit at its Sterlite copper plant in Tuticorin, in Tamil Nadu, on a stand-alone basis. "The plant shall be operated & only produce oxygen & for no other purpose," says Justice DY Chandrachud.
Earlier, curfew was imposed in 20 cities, including 8 major cities, from 8 pm to 6 am. Curfew will be imposed to other cities Himmatnagar, Palanpur, Navsari, Valsad, Porbandar, Botad, Viramgam, Chhota Udaipur and Veraval - Somnath from 8 pm to 6 am: Gujarat CMO
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal after visiting the Covid facility under construction near GTB Hospital said, 'Almost all ICU beds in Delhi are occupied right now. 500 ICU beds each are coming up at the ground near GTB hospital and the main Ramlila Ground, 200 ICU beds at Radha Soami complex. So, around 1200 proper ICU beds will be ready by 10th May'.
Appearing for Vedanta, senior lawyer Harish Salve tells SC, "We'll run only oxygen plant & not power plant. Electricity will be provided by the state." Justice DY Chandrachud asks, "When can you start the plant?" "We can start producing oxygen in maybe 10 days," Salve replies.
To address shortage of oxygen tankers in the country, the Union Govt has imported 20 cryogenic tankers of 10 MT and 20 MT capacity and allocated them to States: Government of India
The move will ensure the availability of immediate medical attention even during night hours to acute cases in these areas to the veterans and their dependents. The validity of this sanction is up to August 15, 2021: Office of the Defence Minister
At least 51 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, taking the tally in the Union Territory to 5,716, a health department official said Tuesday.
Nine new patients have travel history, and 42 were detected during contact tracing, he said according to PTI.
India reports 3,23,144 new Covid-19 cases, 2771 deaths and 2,51,827 discharges in the last 24 hours, as per Union Health Ministry
Total cases: 1,76,36,307
Total recoveries: 1,45,56,209
Death toll: 1,97,894
Active cases: 28,82,204
Total vaccination: 14,52,71,186
Senior Congress leader and former MP Karuna Shukla passed away last night at a hospital in Chhattisgarh where she was under treatment for Covid-19. She was also the niece of former PM, late Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
28,09,79,877 samples tested up to 26th April 2021, for Covid-19. Of these 16,58,700 samples were tested yesterday: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
The first Oxygen Express train for Delhi carrying around 70 tonnes of the life-saving gas reached the national capital early Tuesday morning, officials said. This oxygen will now be disbursed by the Delhi government to various hospitals, they said.
In the wake of the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, the statewide restrictions in Maharashtra to continue till May 1st.
France has announced that it will provide India with eight high capacity oxygen generators, liquid oxygen for 2000 patients for five days, as well as 28 ventilators and equipment for ICUs
After several states raised concerns over high prices quoted by Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech, the central government on Monday asked the two vaccine manufacturers to lower the price of their Covid-19 vaccines. Both the companies are soon expected to come up with revised pricing
Background
Coronavirus HIGHLIGHTS - Tuesday, April 27 : As India reels with the second Covid wave, the Centre has advised people to wear a face mask even at home, especially if a Covid-19 patient was around. However, the government has asked to avoid unnecessary panic as it was causing more harm than good.
Amid criticism from several states who raised concerns over prices of vaccination, the Centre has asked Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech to lower the price of their Covid-19 jabs.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephonic conversation with US President Joe Biden on Monday during which the two leaders discussed the health situations in respective countries and exchanged views on various regional and global challenges posed by the pandemic.
Meanwhile, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has expressed concerns over worsening situation in India. The situation in India, where Covid-19 cases have surged, is "beyond heartbreaking", and the WHO is sending extra staff and supplies there to help fight the pandemic, he said.
On Tuesday, India reports 3,23,144 new Covid-19 cases, 2771 deaths and 2,51,827 discharges in the last 24 hours, as per Union Health Ministry.
In view of the growing Covid crisis, Australia bans passenger flights from India until May 15 said PM Scott Morrison.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Centre to explain the rationale and basis behind different pricing of COVID-19 vaccines.
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