Coronavirus HIGHLIGHTS: 'Maharashtra Govt Making Fool-Proof Plan, Will Give People Time To Prepare,' Minister Aslam Shaikh On Lockdown
Coronavirus India HIGHLIGHTS: Speaking about the likely Covid-19 lockdown in Maharashtra, Minister Aslam Shaikh informed that "the state government is making a fool-proof plan on what needs to be allowed and for how many days, during the lockdown. This will give sufficient time to people if they want to move somewhere or come here, and prepare them mentally, ahead of lockdown". He also revealed that the government will release strict SOPs for upcoming festivals.
Background
Coronavirus HIGHLIGHTS, 12 April 2021: India recorded 1,52,879 fresh infections reported since yesterday, setting another grim one-day record as the country's Covid tally reached over 1.33 crore cases. 839 deaths in the last 24 hours pushed the total death count to 1.69 lakh.
Active cases have seen a steady increase for the 32nd day in a row. The active cases increased to 11,08,087 comprising 8.29 per cent of the total infections, while the recovery rate further dropped to 90.44 per cent, the Health Ministry said.
This comes on a day when the country kicked off a 4-day-long “Tika Utsav” or vaccine festival to inoculate a maximum number of eligible people against the coronavirus. It is being held following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to the chief ministers of all states and union territories during a meeting over the coronavirus situation on Saturday.
Maharashtra (14% of new tests), Uttar Pradesh (13%), and Gujarat (9%) led the list in terms of the absolute number of new tests conducted on April 10. However, in terms of tests conducted relative to the population size, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand were the front-runners.
50% Beds In Karnataka's Private Hospitals To Be Reserved For Covid Patients
Private hospitals in Karnataka will reserve 50 percent of beds for treating Covid patients amid surging cases, state Health Minister K. Sudhakar informed on Monday.
"Private hospitals across the state have been directed to reserve 50 percent of their beds for Covid patients as they did during the pandemic's first wave last year," Sudhakar said at a virtual meeting with the Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (Phana) members.
According to the state health bulletin, 9,579 new cases were reported across the state on Sunday, with 6,387 from Bengaluru, while the infection claimed 52 lives, including 40 in this tech city during the last 24 hours.
Yet to receive SEC communication on Sputnik V approval: DRL
Hyderabad (IANS): Amid reports that the subject expert committee (SEC) has approved Dr. Reddy's Laboratories' (DRL) application for the Russian vaccine candidate Sputnik V to tackle Coronavirus pandemic, the city-based company is yet to receive official communication about the approval.
"There is no approval received yet. We are still awaiting the statement from the SEC. Once we get something, we will release a statement," a DRL official told IANS on Monday.
He said that the SEC has to first pass on the recommendation to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) and then the latter has to give the nod.
The pharmaceutical major is expecting that this process might take a day or two.
When quizzed on the company's preparedness to produce the vaccine in large numbers, the official said 'we will be releasing details as and when we get some input there (from SEC and DCGI)'.
This development comes at a time when several Indian states are facing severe vaccine shortage and is a positive development.
Meanwhile, Dr. Reddy's scrip rallied on the bourses, reacting to the approval news reports.
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