Over 16.24 Cr COVID vaccine doses administered in India: Govt
The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country so far stands at 16,24,30,828, the health ministry said on Wednesday. It said 2,30,305 beneficiaries in the 18-44 age group received the first dose of the vaccine on Wednesday across 12 states and Union territories.
The total number of people in this age group who have been inoculated against the viral disease stands at 9,02,731, the ministry said.
The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country stands at 16,24,30,828, according to a provisional report compiled at 8 pm.
May 05, 2021 – 23:24 (IST)
Coronavirus Latest News LIVE Updates
30 districts showing rising trend in no. of COVID cases for two weeks, most in south
Thirty districts in the country are showing a continued rise in the number of coronavirus cases for the last two weeks, of which 10 are in Kerala, seven in Andhra Pradesh, three in Karnataka and one in Tamil Nadu, the Centre said on Wednesday.
Joint Secretary in the Health Ministry Lav Agarwal said Bengaluru (Urban) has recorded 1,49,241 cases over the last one week, followed by Chennai, which has recorded 38,379 cases.
He said in Kerala, Kozhikode, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram, Alappuzha, Palakkad, Thiruvananthapuram, Kannur and Kollam districts have recorded a continued rise in the number of cases for the last two weeks. Besides Bengaluru (Urban), Mysuru and Tumakuru districts of Karnataka, Solapur and Satara districts of Maharashtra have recorded a high number of cases over the last two weeks, he said.
May 05, 2021 – 23:11 (IST)
Coronavirus Latest News LIVE Updates
Third wave of COVID ‘inevitable’: Govt
The government on Wednesday said that a third wave of coronavirus pandemic was “inevitable”, although a time-frame for it could not be predicted. In a press briefing by the Ministry of Health Affairs on Wednesday, officials said the long COVID wave of such “ferocity” that the country was experiencing currently “was not predicted”.
Twelve states, including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh, have more than 1 lakh active COVID cases, the government said. Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Rajasthan and Bihar are among the states that show increasing trend in daily cases, it said.
May 05, 2021 – 22:58 (IST)
Coronavirus Latest News LIVE Updates
6th flight of emergency relief for India in 6 days: US embassy
US-India partnership involves all aspects of the relationship—govt, business& ppl. This week, vaccine components arrived in India from the US that will enable the manufacturing of 20 million doses of Covishield vaccine. Together we will defeat COVID-19, Daniel B Smith, US Ambassador in India said.
May 05, 2021 – 22:19 (IST)
Coronavirus Latest News LIVE Updates
UK variant dominates north India; double mutant in west
The UK strain of coronavirus is currently dominating parts of north India while the double mutant variant is found mostly in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat, Director of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Sujeet Singh said on Wednesday. He, however, added that the B1.1.7 lineage of SARS CoV-2 (UK variant) is declining in proportion across the country in the last month and a half.
The double mutant variant, also known as B.1.617, is mostly dominating Maharashtra (761), West Bengal (124), Delhi (107) and Gujarat (102).
The South African variant, also known as B.1.315, was predominantly found in Telangana and Delhi. The Brazilian variant (P1) was only found in Maharashtra in a negligible proportion.
May 05, 2021 – 21:35 (IST)
Coronavirus Latest News LIVE Updates
COVID-related drugs, oxygen cylinders still taxed in India
A report in NDTVhighlighted that key drugs and medical supplies, including Remdesivir and medical grade oxygen, still attract high taxation in India, even when most of the country is facing an acute shortage.
The issue was also highlighted in a PIL submitted before the Supreme Court last week, wherein advocate Astha Sharma requested court intervention to waive off 12 percent GST on medical equipment and drugs crucial for fighting coronavirus.
May 05, 2021 – 21:25 (IST)
Coronavirus Latest News LIVE Updates
With Covid cases rising, EC defers bypolls across states
In view of the rising Covid cases, the Election Commission of India decides to defer by-elections of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Khandwa (Madhya Pradesh) and Mandi (Himachal Pradesh) Parliamentary constituencies and 8 Assembly constituencies in various states
May 05, 2021 – 21:06 (IST)
Coronavirus Latest News LIVE Updates
Vaccination for 18-44 age group restricted to few districts due to inadequate doses: Rajasthan health minister
Rajasthan Health Minister Raghu Sharma on Wednesday said the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination drive in the state for people aged 18 years and above is restricted to a few districts due to non-availability of adequate doses. The government had started vaccinating people in the 18-44 age group from May 1.
“There are about 3.25 crore people in the age group of 18 to 44 years in the state. In such a situation, the state needs around seven crore doses, including both the dosage and wastage. Vaccination has to be restricted to a few districts due to inadequate doses, Sharma said. Immunisation work will be carried out extensively in the entire state as soon as sufficient doses are received from the centre,” he added.
May 05, 2021 – 20:44 (IST)
Coronavirus Latest News LIVE Updates
Maharshtra preparing for third wave, says Thackeray
The state is producing around 1200 MT oxygen but the consumption has today increased to around 1,700. MT, says Thackeray. We have written to the Centre yesterday asking for more 200 MT of oxygen, he said adding that the Centre has allowed the state to get 500 MT from other states. The state has started preparing for the third wave, he said adding that authorities have been told to work towards ramping up production to 3,000 MT.
The chief minister said Remdesivir is being provided to every district as per its need. From yesterday, the task force has started providing guidance to family doctors over Zoom calls aboutwhich medicines to give COVID patients getting treated at home and how to decide which patients need to be admitted to hospitals, he informs. Maharashtra is on the path to becoming self sufficient in terms of oxygen, Remdesivir, other facilities to not only tackle the second wave but also prevent a third wave, if it comes, from having a disastrous effect on the state, he said.
May 05, 2021 – 20:38 (IST)
Coronavirus Latest News LIVE Updates
Number of cases going down in some districts, increasing in others, says Uddhav Thackeray
The SC has lauded Maharashtra, especially Mumbai for its fight against COVID-19, said Uddhav Thackeray and thanked people for helping the government and the BMC. Referring to restrictions in the state, he said the rise in cases has started to decline marginally but added that the state was standing on a dangerous turn. The number of patients is going down in some districts of Maharashtra but also increasing in some other districts, he adds.
We have been preparing since the last month and the Centre’s principal scientific advisor has advised to prepare for third wave,says Uddhav Thackeray. Speaking about the health facilities, he said there are around 4.5 lakh isolation beds, 30,000 ICU beds and around 12,000 ventilators in the state. With regards to vaccination, we have to give vaccines to around 6 crore citizens in 18-44 age group. As we get vaccine doses, we can increase pace to even 10 lakh doses per day, he says.
