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Amid an unprecedented rise in COVID-19 cases, the Centre has announced that those above 18 years of age are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine from 1 May
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has announced a lockdown in the national capital beginning Monday, 19 April night till 5 AM on 26 April.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting on the COVID-19 situation at 11:30 am today. He will also hold a discussion with top doctors and pharma companies later in the day.
India on Monday reported 2,73,810 new COVID-19 cases, 1,619 fatalities and 1,44,178 discharges in 24 hours, as per the Union Health Ministry. The total case tally has now reached 1,50,61,919 with 19,29,329 active cases and 1,78,769 deaths.
While the Centre and the states are tackling the rising pressure of the ferocious second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hong Kong has announced that it will ban flights from India, Pakistan, and the Philippines for 14 days starting 20 April, the country said in a statement on Sunday.
A nurse and two medical supporters from Indore's Barod Hospital were arrested for black marketing Remdesivir on Sunday night, Amrita Singh, Station In charge, Rajendra Nagar Police Station, told ANI.
“They were selling the injection for Rs 35,000. A case has been registered,” she said.
Mewalal Choudhary, JDU MLA and former Bihar minister, passed away due to COVID-19 at a hospital in Patna, ANI reported.
Hong Kong will ban flights from India, Pakistan and the Philippines for 14 days starting April 20, the government said in a statement Sunday.
India on Monday, 19 April reports 2,73,810 new COVID-19 cases, 1,619 fatalities and 1,44,178 discharges in the last 24 hours, as per the Union Health Ministry. The total case tally has now reached 1,50,61,919 with 19,29,329 active cases and 1,78,769 deaths.
26,78,94,549 samples tested for COVID-19 up to 18 April, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Of these, 13,56,133 samples were tested yesterday.
Odisha reported 4,445 new positive cases, 1309 discharges and four deaths on 18 April.
Delhi Government has deputed officers at Oxygen filling plants, medical oxygen cylinders and Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) suppliers to oversee the entire procurement process of medical oxygen by the filler agency.
Telangana reported 4,009 new COVID-19 cases, 1878 recoveries and 14 deaths on 18 April. The total case tally of the state now stands at 3,55,433.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said that the state government is taking all necessary steps amid the COVID surge and the Assembly elections in the state.
“With the massive surge in COVID-19 cases across India, the Government of West Bengal is taking all necessary steps to protect its people. I have reached out to the PM to help us with additional medicines and vaccines required,” Banerjee said.
“I have also directed all top officials to make elaborate arrangements and step up their efforts at every level to deal with the COVID-19 situation in WB. Chief Secretary along with key officials will be doing a press conference at 2 pm to discuss details of the plan,” she said.
As per the directions of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, DRDO supplies 150 jumbo cylinders of Oxygen to the Uttar Pradesh government, ANI reported. At least 1000 cylinders are to be sent to Lucknow.
In view of the rise in COVID-19 cases in Delhi, the Delhi High Court ordered that all the judicial officers of the District Courts in Delhi shall take up only urgent cases of their respective courts via video conferencing.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair an important meeting on the COVID-19 related situation at 11:30 am today.
Amid an unprecedented rise in COVID-19 cases, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal announced a lockdown in the national capital beginning Monday, 19 April night till 5 AM on 26 April.
While essential services, food services, medical services will continue, weddings can be held with a gathering of only 50 people andpasses will be issued separately for it, Kejriwal said.
The Cabinet Secretary convened a video conference on Monday on the issue of medical oxygen supply with Chief Secretaries and senior officials of Maharashtra, MP, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhatisgarh, UP, AP, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Delhi.
ICMR DG Dr Balram Bhargava said that the second wave of the pandemic has seen more requirement of oxygen than before.
“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,” he told ANI.
“We have had tremendous amount of laxity. COVID-19 inappropriate behaviour and various unidentified mutation - of them some are of concern like the UK, Brazilian and South African variants - which have been demonstrated to have higher transmissibility,” he said.
The Bombay High Court on Monday directed the Maharashtra government to release about 10,000 vials of the Remdesivir drug to COVID hospitals in Nagpur for the time being.
PM Modi will interact with leading doctors from across the country via video conference on the COVID-19 situation at 4.30 pm. He will also hold a conversation with top pharma companies in the country at 6 pm.
Advocates enrolled with Bar Council of Delhi, if infected with COVID19 will be extended financial help of Rs 25,000 on home quarantine and if hospitalised and not covered by any insurance scheme will be given Rs 50,000, reported ANI, citing Chairman, Bar Council of Delhi.
Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa has called a meeting via video conference of Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council leaders on 20 of April to discuss COVID19 management. Governor Vajubhai Vala will also be attending the meeting, reported ANI.
A PIL has been moved in Delhi High Court for the release of Under Trial Prisoners (UTPs) on interim bail in the wake of the prevalent COVID19 situation in the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
Based on a formal request by Indian Railways, the Indian Army has made available its critical rolling stocks for transportation of Oxygen laden trucks to meet the critical requirement of Oxygen for COVID19 hospitals across the country, reported ANI, citing the Indian Army.
The Indian Army has further reportedly informed that the first demand received is for 32 wagons of which the first rake is likely to leave Panvel for Visakhapatnam for filling Oxygen by this evening
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at a meeting conducted via video conferencing with presiding officers, reportedly said:
“To contain the spread of COVID-19, we all need to work in tandem and on a war footing. In these tough times, it's responsibility of all presiding officers and leaders to stand by people.”
Dr VK Paul, Member-Health, Niti Aayog, as per ANI, said on Monday that Air-borne transmission is more prevalent than surface transmission.
“As for Remdesivir production, it had gone down but now from 26 lakh vials per month, it has been scaled up to 40 lakh vials per month, while aiming for 76 lakh vials/month,” he further informed.
Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court directs Maharashtra government to supply 10,000 Remdisivir injections to Nagpur city by 8 pm on Monday, 19 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 frequency of 30 minutes.
For non-peak hours, metro services across the network will be available with a frequency of 60 minutes only. Services during this period can be availed only by the exempted category of people on the production of valid ID cards.
Drugs Control Department of the Delhi government has set up a control room to counter the shortage of COVID-19 management drugs in the national capital, reported ANI, citing the Delhi Chief Minister’s Office.
Mohali to remain under complete lockdown on Wednesday, on the occasion of Ram Navami, to avoid gatherings amid the surging COVID19 cases in the region, reported ANI, citing the Punjab Government.
The functioning of the Chhattisgarh High Court has been declared as closed till 26th April 2021.
The order announcing the same reads:
Jharkhand has reportedly capped the cost of High Resolution Computed Topography (HRCT) scans which can potentially play a role in diagnosing the damage, complications suffered by COVID-19 patients patients and also among negative cases. The scan is to be charged between Rs 2500-3000.
This cap is applicable in all private centres.
Amid a heavy surge in COVID-19 cases in India, Russian Embassy's visa section temporarily ceases its operations until further notice, reported ANI, citing the Russian Embassy in India.
Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, the Allahabad High Court has reportedly shut down for a week.
Lockdown has been announced from tonight in Prayagraj, Lucknow, Varanasi, Kanpur Nagar and Gorakhpur till 26 April. Essential services have been allowed.
Telangana High Court on Monday, 19 April, directed the State government to take a call on imposing night curfew or weekend lockdown to check spread of COVID-19.
"If government does not act on this in next 48 hours, court will pass orders," the HC said.
Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra has informed via a tweet, that keeping in mind the current COVID19 situation, Ram Navami will be celebrated at the Sri Ram Janmabhoomi complex, Ayodhya without devotees.
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), starting Thursday, 22 November, is switching from physical OPD service to telephonic services and temporarily postponing routine hospitalisation including elective surgeries.
The Government of India, has as per ANI, announced “liberalised and accelerated Phase 3 strategy of COVID-19 vaccination from 1 May.”
Everyone above the age of 18 to be eligible to get vaccine, reported ANI, citing the government.
Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao tests positive for COVID-19. He has mild symptoms and has been advised isolation. A team of doctors is monitoring his health.
Former Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh has tested positive for COVID-19. He has been hospitalised at the AIIMS trauma centre in New Delhi, reported ANI.
The veteran Congress leader was administered a COVID test after he had spiked a fever. Singh had received both his doses of Covaxin, the first on 4 March and the second on 3 April.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) defers interviews for civil services examination due to surge in COVID-19 cases.
Karnataka reports 15,785 new COVID-19 cases, 7,098 discharges and 146 deaths. Total case tally stands at 11,76,850, with 13,497 as the total death toll.
Gujarat reports 11,403 new COVID-19 cases, with 117 deaths, and 4,179 recoveries in the last 24 hours. Total active cases stand at 68,754.
Maharashtra recorded 58,924 new COVID-19 cases, 52,412 recoveries and 351 deaths today. Total case tally reaches 38,98,262, death toll at 60,824.
The Delhi government, on Monday, 19 April, issued a circular advancing the summer vacation in all city schools.
The vacation, earlier scheduled from May 11 to June 3, will now begin from tomorrow, 20 April and schools will remain shut till June 9, the order said.
The Bharataiya Janata Party has announced that they have decided to hold public meetings in poll-bound West Bengal with not more than 500 people.
“It has been decided that only small public meetings with not more than 500 people will be held by PM Modi and other central ministers in West Bengal. All these public meetings will be held in open spaces following COVID19 guidelines,” said the party, as per ANI.
Earlier in the morning, All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Derek O’Brien in a tweet. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will not campaign in Kolkata for theongoing Assembly Elections anymore, amid a surge in COVID-19 cases.
Himachal Pradesh government on Monday, 19 April, ordered closure of all educational institutes till 1 May after a review meeting chaired by CM Jai Ram Thakur over COVID-19 situation The state recorded 1,695 cases on Monda.
38 children have tested positive for COVID-19 at the remand home in Chapra in Bihar, and have been admitted to the district hospital, says Civil Surgeon.
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