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Coronavirus LIVE Updates: The Chhattisgarh administration has announced a lockdown in four more districts from midnight. Jashpur, Koriya, Balodabazar, Dhamtari will shut down from midnight, while Raigad, Mahasamund and Bilaspur will be under similar restrictions from April 14. With this, 13 of 29 districts of Chhattisgarh will be under coronavirus lockdown.
All eyes on Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s meeting with the state Covid-19 task force today as a decision on a 15-day ‘strict’ lockdown could be taken amid alarming rise in coronavirus cases, senior NCP leader and minister Nawab Malik said. Maharashtra’s overall Covid-19 case tally stood at 33,43,951 as on Saturday while the overall death toll is 57,638. The state is now left with 5,36,682 active cases.
“The number of patients is increasing so fast that if we do not decide on a lockdown today, a lockdown-like situation will automatically arise tomorrow. Today the situation is getting worse. We are also constantly considering Covid-19 task force experts in the state. On the one hand there is a public sentiment but on the other hand, there is an outbreak of coronavirus, in which case if you want to win this battle you have to go through some hardships,” a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) quoted him as saying.
Congress Candidate in TN Assembly Polls, Madhava Rao Dies of COVID-19 | Congress party's Srivilliputhur constituency candidate in the April 6 Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, P S W Madhava Rao died on Sunday due to COVID19 complications, his family said. Rao was 63 years old and is survived by his only daughter. He died at a private hospital in Madurai this morning where he was admitted on March 20 for treatment, Rao's soninlaw, K Rajiv told PTI.
Maharashtra to Set Up Control Rooms for Smooth Supply of Remdesivir | The Maharashtra government has decided to set up districtlevel control rooms to ensure smooth supply of Remdesivir injections and prevent hoarding and blackmarketing of the drug, officials said on Sunday. Remdesivir is considered a key medicine in the fight against COVID19, especially in adult patients with severe complications.
Maternal Health Should Get Priority Even During Emergencies Like COVID: Experts | On the occasion of National Safe Motherhood Day on Sunday, experts said maternal health and family planning services should not be compromised and given due priority even in emergency situations like the COVID19 pandemic. National Safe Motherhood Day is observed every year on April 11 on the birth anniversary of Kasturba Gandhi, wife of Mahatma Gandhi.
There is no shortage of oxygen. 4,000 Remdesivir injections are already available and 5,000 injections will arrive today. We are observing Tika (vaccination) Utsav in the entire state. No Lockdown will take place in Madhya Pradesh: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan
20-30% Covid-19 Infected People Lose Natural Immunity Against Infection in 6 Months: Study | Research conducted by the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) revealed that the immunity for Covid-19 lasts for 6-7 months at least, but between 20% and 30% of those infected lose this immunity after 6 months.
“The key finding of 20-30% of subjects losing virus-neutralizing activity, despite staying seropositive, at 6-month follow-up helps understand why the large second wave has not spared cities like Mumbai with high seropositivity,” Dr Anurag Agarwal, the director of IGIB said in a tweet. Read the full story here.
Gujarat Crosses 5,000 Daily Cases for First Time | Continuing the recent trend of surge in cases, Gujarat on Saturday recorded its highest single-day tally of Covid-19 infections so far at 5,011, taking its overall tally to 3,42,026, while 49 deaths in the past 24 hours mounted the state's Covid death toll 4,746.
In just 10 days of April, Gujarat has reported 34,328 Covid cases at an average of 3,433 cases per day. In whole of March, Gujarat had reported 37,809 Covid cases at an average of almost 1,220 cases daily.
If the Health System Collapses, Delhi May Face Another Lockdown, Says Arvind Kejriwal | Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said the state government was not in favour of imposing lockdown in the national capital, but 'if the health system collapsed then lockdown would be the only option'.
"I will request all citizens of Delhi to follow Covid-19 protection measures. I will also appeal to the people to go to the hospital only when it is urgent.
"The Delhi government assures you that healthcare workers will visit you and guide you for home isolation. Come to hospital only if the case is serious," Chief Minister said while addressing a press conference.
India’s Cumulative Vaccination Coverage achieves a landmark of 10 crore with over 35 Lakh doses given in the last 24 hours
India continues to administer highest average doses per day
10 states account for 81% of the Daily New Cases
Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar launched Tika (vaccination) Utsav at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical College & Research Institute earlier today.
Arunachal Pradesh Logs Three More Cases, Tally 16,878 | Three more persons tested positive for COVID-19 in Arunachal Pradesh, pushing the tally in the northeastern state to 16,878, a senior health department official said on Sunday. The fresh cases were detected from Lower Dibang Valley, Changlang and the Capital Complex region.
People arrive at inoculation centres to receive COVID-19 vaccine as Tika (vaccination) Utsav begins today. Visuals from Duli Chand Gupta polyclinic in Delhi
"Masks and vaccine are most imp weapons to fight pandemic. I urge all to get vaccinated," says Mayor North DMC Jai Prakash.
India reports 1,52,879 new COVID-19 cases, 90,584 discharges, and 839 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per Union Health Ministry
Total cases: 1,33,58,805
Total recoveries: 1,20,81,443
Active cases: 11,08,087
Death toll: 1,69,275
Total vaccination: 10,15,95,147
Cities and States That May Go Under Lockdown Next | As India reported an unprecedented surge of 1,45,384 fresh coronavirus cases on Saturday, the highest single-day surge so far, Mumbai emerged as one of the worst-affected states. Several states have imposed night curfews and Covid-19 restrictions and others are looking at imposing strict lockdowns to contain the spread of the second wave. Read the full story here.
Covid-19 Testing Numbers | 25,66,26,850 samples have been tested till April 10 including 14,12,047 samples tested yesterday: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
Maharashtra: 5,754 New COVID-19 Cases in Thane, 24 More Deaths | With the addition of5,754 new cases of coronavirus, the infection count in Thane district of Maharashtra has reached 3,73,364, an official said on Sunday. These new cases were reported on Saturday.
Twenty four more people have also succumbed to the viral infection, raising the death toll in the district to 6,688, the official said. The COVID-19 mortality rate in Thane stood at 1.79 per cent, he said.
So far, 3,13,113 patients have recuperated from the infection in the district, which reflects a recovery rate of 83.86 per cent. As of now, there are 53,563 active COVID-19 cases in the district, the official said.
Weekend lockdown imposed from 8 pm on Friday to 7 am on Monday in Maharashtra. Visuals from Shivaji Park in Dadar, Mumbai:
Odisha Seals Border with Chhattisgarh Amid Surge in COVID-19 Cases | Amid the surge in COVID-19 cases in Odisha, the government on Saturday sealed its border with Chhattisgarh and intensified patrolling along the interstate boundary.
Districts bordering Chhattisgarh have registered a spike in coronavirus cases over the past few days, prompting the administration to issue an order asking people from the neighbouring state to furnish their COVID-negative reports for entry to the state, senior officials said.
Maharashtra Covid-19 Figures | Maharashtra on Saturday reported 55,411 fresh coronavirus positive cases and 309 fatalities, taking the tally to 33,43,951 and the toll to 57,638, the state health department said. Maharashtra is now left with 5,36,682 active cases.
A total of 53,005 people were discharged during the day, taking the count of recoveries in Maharashtra so far to 27,48,153, it said in a release. The case recovery rate is 82.18 per cent while the fatality rate is 1.72 per cent.
'Tika Utsav' Kicks Off from Today, India's Special Drive to Vaccinate Maximum Citizens | India will observe ‘Tika Utsav’ or vaccine festival across the country from Sunday (April 11) to April 14 with an aim to inoculate a maximum number of eligible people against the coronavirus amid a surge in cases. At the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several states such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are gearing up with appeals being made to eligible people to get themselves vaccinated during the duration of the ‘Tika Utsav’.
All eligible citizens can register and book an appointment with the help of CoWIN portal and Aarogya Setu App. On-site registration facility is also available. The Tika Utsav is being seen as a special drive to vaccinate as many eligible people as possible.
Meanwhile, rising number of COVID-19 cases hits tourism industry in Kochi.
"After unlock, industry picked up pace but now again tourists are not coming as cases are increasing. We are returning to the situation that existed during the lockdown," a Shikara boat driver said.
"People stopped coming here after the government imposed restrictions like mandatory quarantine. We are receiving only 10% of the bookings we received before the imposition of the lockdown last year," Sabu, a tourist taxi driver in Kochi said yesterday.
BJP's Surat unit distributed Remdesivir injections to relatives of needy COVID-19 patients yesterday.
"We're giving free injections to the needy in line with state BJP chief CR Patil's announcement to distribute 5,000 Remdesivir injections," Udhna MLA Vivek Patel said.
Maharashtra Headed For a 15-day Total Shutdown? | Tell me what solution do you have? I am open to all suggestions. How can we bring this under control?” a fired-up Uddhav Thackeray is said to have asked a contingent comprising his cabinet ministers and leaders from Opposition parties at the all-party meet called on Saturday to discuss measures to curb the alarming rise in Covid-19 cases in the state.
The meeting, which was attended by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, Health Minister Rajesh Tope, Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil, Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat, Congress leader Ashok Chavan, Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole, Urban development Minister Eknath Shinde, LoP Legislative Assembly Devendra Fadnavis, LoP Legislative Council Pravin Darekar, Maharashtra BJP president Chandrakant Patil, Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte, Health Secretary Pradeep Vyas, among others, remained inconclusive. Read the full story here.
New Restrictions in Delhi | The Delhi government on Saturday issued fresh guidelines to curb the rising cases of coronavirus infections in the national capital. Announcing strict measures, the government prohibited all social, political and religious gatherings and also put restrictions on sports, entertainment and academic events. While allowing stadiums to operate, the government banned the presence of spectators in them. It further directed that all swimming pools are to remain shut and can only be used for training purposes.
The order limited the number of people who can be present at a funeral and a marriage to 20 and 50 respectively. Cinema halls and multiplexes are to function at 50 per cent capacity, it said. Further, the government advised private offices to stagger timings and follow the work from home system if possible. Read the full story here.
Amid rising COVID-19 cases, migrant workers begin to return to their native places from Surat in Gujarat fearing another complete lockdown in the state.
"People are going home because they fear lockdown could be imposed once again. And they want to avoid the pain they endured during the lockdown last year," a worker said yesterday.
