India on Wednesday allowed Covid-19 vaccination at both public and private workplaces across the country from April 11.Coronavirus Covid-19 Lockdown India April 8 Highlights: As India stares at a possible health crisis amid the second wave of Coronavirus infections in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold a meeting today with chief ministers/administrators of all states/UTs to discuss ways to tackle the ongoing Covid-19 situation in the country. The meeting will be held virtually. Two days back, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan had a meeting with CMs of 11 states/UTs which are witnessing a sharp spike in Covid-19 cases.
Several states/UTs have announced curbs to limit the spike; some have imposed night curfews and even weekend lockdowns, put restrictions on the movement of people from other states, especially from the hotspots states. According to reports, some states are facing a shortage of beds in the hospitals and vaccines for the inoculation drive, which is making the Covid-19 situation even worse as India this week reported its all-time high in Covid-19 daily spike (more than 100,000 coronavirus infections, only second country to achieve the grim milestone after the US).
With the Covid-19 situation in India becoming worse with every passing day, the clamour for widening Covid-19 vaccination is growing louder. Along with health experts, several states and UTs have urged the Centre to lower the age restriction for vaccination to 18 years to cover more people. The government, however, has allowed workplace vaccination to cover more people under the ongoing third phase inoculation in the country in which people above 45 years of age are getting Covid-19 vaccines.
India on Thursday witnessed a record single-day surge of 1,26,789 new coronavirus infections, pushing its Covid-19 tally to 1,29,28,574; the number of active cases too breached the 9-lakh mark again, according to the Union Health Ministry data.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday took his second dose of Covid-19 vaccine at AIIMS Delhi. He urged those eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine shot to take it soon to defeat the virus. “Got my second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at AIIMS today. Vaccination is among the few ways we have, to defeat the virus. If you are eligible for the vaccine, get your shot soon. Register on CoWin.gov.in,” Modi tweeted after taking the vaccine.
In order to limit the spread of Coronavirus infection, the worst-hit state Maharashtra imposed night curfew and weekend lockdowns. Punjab, too, imposed night curfew; apart from restrictions on social gatherings, the state has also banned political rallies. Madhya Pradesh has also announced several Covid-19 curbs. Chhattisgarh announced a 10-day lockdown in Raipur. Night curfew will also begin in major cities of Uttar Pradesh, including Lucknow, Varanasi, and Kanpur, from today.
As India reported a new high in single-day coronavirus infection and states announced new curbs and restrictions to limit the Covid-19 spike, here’s FE Online blog covering every single development – virus, vaccine, Covid-19 guidelines, curbs, night curfew and lockdown, etc.— all you need to know. We will also keep an eye on global happenings as well. Follow our live blog and get instant, verified updates on the coronavirus pandemic:
Highlights
'Corona curfew' (night curfew) to be imposed in urban areas of Jammu, Udhampur, Kathua, Srinagar, Baramulla, Budgam, Anantnag and Kupwara districts between 10pm-6am from 9th April: Office of LG, Jammu and Kashmir - ANI
Delhi Government directs 115 private hospitals to reserve 50% of their total ICU and ward bed capacity for COVID19 patients. - ANI
Maharashtra: Mumbai Crime Branch has arrested one person from the Jogeshwari area, recovered 12 Remdesivir injections bought allegedly for black marketing from him - ANI
People coming to Odisha by any public or private vehicle have to produce RT-PCR negative report obtained within 72 hrs of entry or final vaccination certificate (after two doses of vaccination). People coming without such report will have to undergo 7 days mandatory Home/ Institutional quarantine. This will be effective from April 12, says Odisha govt - ANI
All public transport coming from Odisha to Chhatisgarh & vice versa suspended from 10th to 30th April. Transport dept with State Police & Dist Collectors to set up Border Check Points at strategic locations/ border to manage entry of incoming persons/ vehicles: Odisha Govt - ANI
Punjab reports 3,119 fresh COVID-19 cases, 2,480 discharges, and 56 deaths
Total cases: 2,63,090Total cured cases: 2,29,367Active cases: 26,389Death toll: 7,334 - ANI
'Corona curfew' (night curfew) will be imposed between 10pm-5am from 10th to 20th April in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mangaluru, Kalaburagi, Bidar, Tumkuru, Udupi and Manipal. Essential services to be exempted: Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa - ANI
PM Modi says that people, in general, have been seen with an attitude that doesn't really appreciate face mask discipline. He says that people must not forget the despite vaccination, nobody should let the guard down.
PM Modi says that all states and Centre officials should look forward to 'teeka utsav' between April 11 and April 14. He said that while April 11 is Jyotiba Phule's Anniversary, April 14 is BR Ambedkar's anniversary. Focussing on zero wastage, this 'teeka utsav' can help bring in a maximum number of beneficiaries.
PM Modi said that despite the efforts, the ground realities are starkly different. He said that the Covid fatigue must not hamper the contact tracing SOPs across India.
I appeal to you all to stress on COVID19 testing. Our target is to do 70% RT-PCR tests. Let the number of positive cases come high, but do maximum testing. Proper sample collection is very important, it can be checked through proper governance: PM Modi during meeting with CMs - ANI
PM Modi says that there are reports that many states are not paying enough attention to the level of testing. He says that the administration must not worry about a high number of positive results. Every state must ramp up testing, says PM Modi
PM Narendra Modi holds meeting with Chief Ministers on the current COVID19 situation. "A challenging situation is emerging again. I request you all to give your suggestions to tackle the COVID19 situation", says PM Modi. - ANI
We need to fight the second surge in cases. Many states including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Punjab have crossed first wave of peak in COVID19 cases. This is a serious concern. People have become complacent. In most States administration has also become relaxed: PM - ANI
There is a need to work on war footing again to fight COVID19. Despite all the challenges, we have a better experience, resources & a vaccine: PM Modi - ANI
PM Narendra Modi is addressing the nation after meeting the Chief Ministers on the Covid surge. Stresses on micro-containment zones and night curfews.
Delhi High Court defers the Lok Adalat scheduled for April 10, due to the recent rise in COVID-19 cases in Delhi
Uttarakhand reports 787 new COVID19 positive cases, 265 recoveries and 3 deaths.
Total cases 1,05,498Active cases: 5,042Death toll: 1,744 - ANI
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday tested positive for COVID-19. Sourcesfrom the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) told PTI that the CM, who is currently at his residence in Kannur in North Kerala, was asymptomatic. "Currently, the chief minister is asymptomatic. But he is likely to be shifted to the Kozhikode Medical College," CMO sources said. His daughter Veena Vijayan and son-in-law P A Mohammed Riyas had earlier tested positive. Vijayan had extensively travelled across the state as part of the electioneering for the Assembly polls which was held on April 6. (PTI)
Sachin Tendulkar discharged from hospital after recovering from COVID19. He will be in home quarantine for few days. He had tested positive for COVID19 on March 27.
We've decided to increase the number of beds by 1 Lakh, some of these will be in COVID care centres - at least one in every district. Govt is also taking beds from pvt sector, the strength of pvt hospitals will also be brought into use. There is no crisis of oxygen supply: MP CM (ANI)
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Thursday requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to allow all people above 18 years of age to get vaccinated against COVID-19, in the wake of an alarming rise in cases of the viral infection. Earlier this week, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray also requested Modi to allow people above 25 years to receive COVID-19 shots. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal had also appealed to the Centre to open the vaccination for all aged above 18 years. "Now, when the COVID-19 infection is increasing, we always think that the younger generation of our young country should be prepared to manage the future challenges like they always did," Baghel said in a tweet in Hindi. "It is, therefore, necessary that the minimum age of vaccination should be set at 18 years. Humble request to @PMOIndia @narendramodi ji," he added. (PTI)
It has been decided to impose night curfew from 10 pm to 5 am in Ghaziabad district. The order comes into effect from tonight: Ajay Shankar Pandey Ghaziabad DM COVID-19 (ANI)
Noida administration imposes night prohibition/regulation order in the district from 10 pm to 5 am till 17th April 2021. All movement of essential goods/commodities and essential/medical services shall be exempted. (ANI)
Passengers coming from Mumbai and Karnataka via flight will have to undergo mandatory COVID19 test here, even if they have got themselves tested. There is no need of night curfew: Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma (ANI)
Italian auto major Piaggio Group's Indian subsidiary Piaggio Vehicles has said it will bear the cost of vaccinating all its staff, their immediate family members besides all community members working at the manufacturing plant catchment area, against COVID-19. Piaggio also said it has partnered with a private hospital for vaccination at its Pune and the Baramati manufacturing facilities in Maharashtra. (PTI)
BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said to address the shortage of remdesivir, the Maharashtra government should procure the drug from states that are not witnessing a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and take action against black marketing of the injection. Speaking to reporters at Nagpur airport, Fadnavis said the state government should pay attention to the availability of remdesivir, as instances of black marketing had been reported last year. "The same is happening now as well. Not all states are witnessing a second wave. Hence, the government should procure remdesivir from states that are not in the second wave of the pandemic and companies that are producing the drug," he said. (PTI)
Fearing another lockdown in the wake of a sudden spike in COVID-19 cases in Gujarat, migrant workers and their families have started leaving Surat and Ahmedabad, two of the state's most severely affected cities. However, government officials on Thursday claimed the number of those leaving was very low and people cannot be stopped from moving from one place to another. 'There are no formal reports which suggest that a large number of migrants are leaving. However, we have asked district authorities to ensure that workers do not face any trouble,' state Additional Chief Secretary, Labour and Employment, Vipul Mittra told PTI. Since there is no lockdown and trains are also running, people are free to move anywhere in the country, he said. (PTI)
With rising coronavirus cases, the Archbishop of Bengaluru Rev Peter Machado ordered the suspension of public liturgical services in churches, chapels and institutions of Bengaluru urban and rural districts from April 7 to 20. "In view of the new stringent directives of the government, issued on April 6 wherein the police department has clamped down on all the public religious services, it is right and fitting that we should cooperate with the government, as it is for our own good, safety and benefit, and to curb the spread of the new coronavirus pandemic," Rev Machado said in his message to all the churches and church associated institutions. While prohibiting all the public religious services in churches, chapels and Institutions of Bengaluru Archdiocese from April 7 to 20, Rev Machado said the churches and chapels maybe kept open for private visits and adoration. (PTI)
Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala cumulatively account for 74.13 per cent of India's total active COVID-19 cases. Maharashtra alone accounts for 55.26 per cent of the total active cases in the country: Health ministry (PTI)
The French Open tennis tournament will be delayed by one week because of the coronavirus pandemic, organizers said Thursday. The clay-court Grand Slam tournament was set to start on May 23, but first-round matches will now get underway on May 30. The French tennis federation said the decision was taken in order to maximize chances the event will be played in front of as many spectators as possible" in a safe environment. Last year's tournament had been pushed back to September because of the health crisis, with crowds limited to 1,000 per day. (AP)
The Delhi High Court Thursday refused to entertain a plea seeking to direct the AAP government to take immediate measures for controlling and minimising the impact of another wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. A bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli said the government has been doing everything to control the impact of the virus and it was not inclined to entertain the plea. "Everything is being done by the government, maintaining masking guidelines, social distancing, people are getting vaccinations... The prayers stated herein are all general prayers, what else do you want the government to do?", the bench said. The bench, however, granted liberty to petitioner- advocate Rakesh Malhotra to move another application with specific suggestions and appropriate prayers. (PTI)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will not attend the virtual meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the COVID-19 situation with CMs, sources in the state government said on Thursday. Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay will be present in the meeting, they said. Banerjeee will be busy campaigning for the ongoing assembly elections in the state, the sources said. (PTI)
Uttarakhand: Forest Research Institute (FRI) premises in Dehradun closed for common people after 14 trainee officers of the institute tested positive for COVID19. (ANI)
Coronavirus LIVE: A Central team has arrived at BKC Covid Vaccination centre in Mumbai to assess the current situation in the city.
Jharkhand Health Minister Banna Gupta on vaccination progress: "Around 18,27,800 vaccines have been administered as first dose, 2,78,000 vaccines as second dose. We have spoken to Union Health Minister and requested him to immediately provide us around 10 lakh vaccines for first dose. We will get it either today or tomorrow (April 9). Around 83 Lakh people need to get first and second doses of vaccine. It means we will need around 1.60 crore doses. We are getting it gradually. We do have vaccines available with us but there has been a shortage at some locations. So we have spoken to the Union Health Minister. We have stock for the next 1-2 days. We have made a request to the Union Home Minister and I am hopeful that he will provide us the vaccine."
Maharashtra Helath Minister Rajesh Tope: According to the latest release order of vaccines from the Centre, Maharashtra has been given 7.5 lakh vaccine dosages only while Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana etc have been given far more vaccines than Maharashtra. I talked to Dr Harshavardhan immediately after this, even Sharad Pawar talked to him. I raised issue of discrimination with us. We have most number active patients, positivity rate and death with 12 crore population. Why we are given so few vaccines? Harshvardhan Ji assured me that corrections will be done soon. We are still waiting. We want 1.6 crore vaccine dosages per month and 40 lakh every week because we are vaccinating 6 lakh people every day.
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope says that his state wants at least 40 lakh vaccine dosages every week. "Instead of supplying vaccines to other countries, supply them to our own states. The centre is helping us but it is not helping us in the way it should. Gujarat is half of the population of Maharashtra. Gujarat has got 1 crore vaccines till now, however, we have got only 1.04 lakhs vaccine dosages," says Rajesh Tope.
Connected car systems, audio and visual products major Harman International on Thursday said it will cover the total cost of vaccination against COVID-19 for its eligible employees and their dependents in India. The company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, said as many as 8,400 employees in the country and their dependents who are enrolled in the company's medical benefits programme will benefit from this policy. "This is in continuation with the necessary protocols taken by Harman since the beginning of the pandemic to safeguard its employees," the company said in a statement. (PTI)
We aim to conduct at least 1 lakh COVID19 tests in the next 7 days so that Bihu can be celebrated; we will also issue SOPs for Bihu celebration: Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa (ANI)