Coronavirus HIGHLIGHTS: Maharashtra Daily Cases Dip Below 40,000; Mumbai Records 1,657 New Infections

Welcome to the ABP News Blog for Thursday, May 14, 2021. More than seventy patients have died at the Goa Medical College and Hospital in Panaji reportedly due to lack of oxygen supply. All across India, 3,43,144 new COVID 19 cases, 3,44,776 discharges, and 4,000 deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours, as per Union Health Ministry. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal today said that around 8,500 new COVID-19 cases have been reported in Delhi and the positivity rate has come down to 12% in the last 24 hours. The armies of India and Pakistan today exchanged sweets at the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.

Background

Coronavirus HIGHLIGHTS, May 14: The central government and Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech are willing to invite other companies which want to produce Covaxin to help scale up its production, a top government advisor said on Thursday, as India grapples with a dire shortage of coronavirus vaccines."People say that Covaxin should be given to other companies for manufacturing. I am happy to say that Covaxin manufacturing company (Bharat Biotech) has welcomed this when we discussed it with them," NITI Aayog member Dr VK Paul said.the Union health ministry agreed on Thursday to extend the gap between two doses of Serum Institute of India (SII)’s Covishield to 12-16 weeks, acting on the recommendation by an advisory group on Covid-19 vaccines in India.There is no change for Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin; the two doses of these vaccines are administered four-six weeks apart.India will have enough doses to inoculate all citizens by December, the head of the national task force on Covid-19 vaccines said on Thursday, dangling the prospect of a final victory against a virus that is now devastating homes and families across the country.Between August and December, Niti Aayog member Dr Vinod Kumar Paul said, 216 crore vaccine doses would become available, which means that there would be surplus doses after every Indian is vaccinated.

14/05/2021 22:18:00

296 Patients With Mucormycosis Admitted In Ahmedabad Hospital

296 patients with Mucormycosis admitted here, separate ward opened. If needed, we'll increase beds. Govt provides us medicines - amphotericin & oral anti-fungal drugs - for its treatment, daily as per need: Dr JV Modi, Medical Superintendent, Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad, Gujarat

14/05/2021 21:14:41

Mumbai Records 1,657 New Cases, 62 Deaths

14/05/2021 21:10:53

Maharashtra Records 39,923 New Covid Cases, 695 Deaths

Maharashtra reports 39,923 new Coronavirus cases, 53,249 discharges and 695 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Total cases 53,09,215
Total recoveries 47,07,980
Death toll 79,552
Active cases 5,19,254

14/05/2021 18:29:59

Expect To Produce 850 Mn Doses Of Sputnik V In India: CEO Kirill Dmitriev

Sputnik V is a Russian-Indian vaccine. A big part of its production will be in India. We expect to produce more than 850 million doses of Sputnik V in India this year. We hope for the introduction of Sputnik V Lite in India soon: Russian Direct Investment Fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev

14/05/2021 14:45:05

Central to supply nearly 1 crore 92 lakh of vaccine doses to states between May 16 to 31

"Central government will supply nearly 1 crore 92 lakh of Covid-19 vaccines to States/UTs free of cost, during the fortnight of 16th-31st May 2021,": Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said.

14/05/2021 14:23:40

Shivraj Govt to bear Covid treatment cost for journalists and their families

The state government will bear the cost of COVID19 treatment of journalists of print, electronic & digital media. We will also bear the cost of their family members' COVID19 treatment: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan

14/05/2021 13:56:42

Maharashtra: Ex-civic chief booked for hosting event amid COVID-19 curbs

A case has been registered against the former chief of the civic body in Mahad of Maharashtra's Raigad district for allegedly violating COVID-19 curbs by holding an event to celebrate her wedding anniversary, police said on Friday.

The former president of the Mahad Municipal Council Bharati Sakpal and her husband Satish hosted an event to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary at Ladavali Tal village on Wednesday night, an official from the Mahad police said.

Based on a tip-off, the police raided the venue and found more than 28 persons at the event, he said.

A case was registered against 28 people, who were present at the event and 50 to 60 others who had gathered in the area, under relevant sections of the IPC, COVID-19 Rules and Maharashtra Police Act, the official said, adding that no arrests have been made so far.

As per the restrictions imposed by the local administration, no public gatherings and celebrations are permitted and only 25 guests are allowed at weddings.

14/05/2021 13:52:47

Goa Forward Party Files Complaint Against CM Sawant After 75 People Die Due To Oxygen Dip

Goa Forward Party has filed a complaint against Goa CM Pramod Sawant, Chief Secy Parimal Rai & nodal officer for oxygen allocation to hospitals Swetika Sachan "for causing deaths of several COVID19 patients due to interrupted supply of O2 in Goa Medical College Hospital"

14/05/2021 13:45:05

Delhi's Positivity Rate Comes Down To 12%

Around 8,500 new COVID 19 cases have been reported in Delhi and the positivity rate has come down to 12% in the last 24 hours: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

14/05/2021 13:17:28

Delhi govt to provide financial help to families who lost their bread earner due to Covid

The Delhi Chief  Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that the AAP govt will bear the cost of education of those children whose parents lost their live due to Covid 19. Kejriwal said that those children are not alone and the government will support them as much as possible. The Delhi CM also said that if the earning member of the family has succumbed to Covid then the govt will provide financial help to those families.

14/05/2021 12:43:49

PM Modi ask people to follow covid guidelines strictly

Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the 8th installment of financial benefit under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme via video conferencing.

He also addressed tha nation on current Covid situation and said that from the ambulance drivers to the nurses at hospitals everyone is working on war footing. PM also said that he he grieved by the loss people are facing due the the second Covid wave and advised everyone to follow the covid guidelines of wearing masks and social distancing.

14/05/2021 12:08:43

Covaxin Stock Almost Over: Delhi Health Minister

Covaxin stock has almost ended. We only have 2-3 days of stock for Covidshield vaccines for 18- 44 years of age group. We can't mix already assigned centers for Covaxin & Covishield vaccines: Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain.

The Health Minister also said that yesterday we reported 10,489 positive cases & the positivity rate was 14.24%. The highest positivity rate was 36% in Delhi so now it is less than half of it. We're seeing a decline in trends from April 24

14/05/2021 11:33:35

13 more patients died at GMCH hospital due to oxygen shortage

Thirteen Covid-19 patients died due to lack of oxygen at the Goa Medical College for the third consecutive night. Fifteen patients had died at the GMCH in the early hours of Thursday, the state government told the Bombay High Court, two days after 26 coronavirus patients had succumbed at the same facility. 

14/05/2021 11:50:43

Black Fungus has Claimed 52 Lives in Maha So Far: Official

As many as 52 people have died due to Mucormycosis, a rare but dangerous fungal infection, in Maharashtra since the COVID-19 outbreak last year, a senior health department official said on Friday. Mucormycosis, also known as black fungus is a disease that is found in recovered and recovering patients affected by Coronavirus whose symptoms include headache, fever, pain under the eyes, nasal or sinus congestion and partial loss of vision.

14/05/2021 09:12:21

Preparing to send 159 oxygen concentrators to India: Pentagon

The US defense forces are preparing to send 159 oxygen concentrators to India via a commercial flight next week, the Pentagon said.

"Defense Logistics Agency is preparing 159 oxygen concentrators at Travis Air Force Base. They are scheduled to ship via commercial air for a Monday, that's the 17th of May, delivery to India," Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said at a news conference on Thursday.

"We obviously remain in close communication and touch with our partners in the Indian government and stand by to continue to assist in any way that would be helpful," he said in response to a question.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has also made it very clear that he wants the Pentagon to lean in and do as much as it can, obviously in full coordination and consultation with leaders in India, Kirby said.

14/05/2021 08:46:08

Odisha's Covid Update

Odisha reports 12,390 new COVID 19 cases, 8,665 recoveries and 22 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Total cases: 5,88,687

Total recovered cases: 4,82,345

Death toll: 2,273

Active cases: 1,04,016

14/05/2021 07:36:26

Pfizer's effectiveness in older people is more if the dose gap is increased

Pfizer's COVID19 vaccine generates antibody responses three-and-a-half times larger in older people when a second dose is delayed to 12 weeks after the first: Reuters quoting a British study

14/05/2021 07:34:50

No vaccination for 18-44 age group in Karnataka from Friday

The Karnataka government has temporarily suspended the Covid-19 vaccination for the age group of 18 to 44 years from Friday, as it does not have enough vaccines, the state health department has said in a statement.

14/05/2021 07:34:07

Biden praises US CDC's new guidelines on no mask usage for vaccinated people

President Joe Biden took his biggest step yet toward declaring victory over the coronavirus pandemic -- as public health officials said fully vaccinated Americans can ditch their masks in most settings, even indoors or in large groups.

“Today is a great day for America in our long battle with coronavirus,” Biden said in the White House Rose Garden on Thursday, calling the US vaccination program an “historical logistical achievement.”