Coronavirus Updates: Section 144 in Maharashtra from 8 pm tomorrow; essential services exempted

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Modi calls for united global efforts to defeat COVID19 pandemic

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday stressed the need for united global efforts to deal with the coronavirus crisis, saying mankind will not be able to defeat it unless everyone comes out of it.

In an address at the Raisina Dialogue, the Prime Minister said India tried to protect its 1.3 billion nationals from COVID-19, and, at the same time, tried to support the pandemic response efforts of others.

"We understand fully, that mankind will not defeat the pandemic unless all of us, everywhere, regardless of the colour of our passports, come out of it. That is why, this year, despite many constraints, we have supplied vaccines to over 80 countries," he said at the conference, held virtually.

The Prime Minister further said, "We will continue to share our experiences, our expertise and also our resources with humanity in the fight against the pandemic."

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List of activities that fall under essential services in Maharashtra

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Gujarat logs highest one-day spike in COVID-19 cases, deaths

Gujarat registered 6,690 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, the highest single-day count so far, taking the tally to 3,60,206, while a record number of 67 patients succumbed to the infection, the state health department said.
As many as 67 more persons died due to the infection, also the highest so far in a day, pushing the toll to 4,922, said a release by the department.

With 6,690 new cases, the statewide COVID-19 tally went up to 3,60,206, said the release.

Out of the 67 persons who succumbed to the infection in the last 24 hours, 25 died in Surat district, followed by 23 in Ahmedabad, 7 in Rajkot, 4 in Vadodara, 2 in Banaskantha and one each Anand, Bharuch, Chhotaudepur, Gandhinagar, Junagadh and Sabarkantha, it said.

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Maharashtra sees 60,212 new COVID-19 cases, 281 die

Maharashtra on Tuesday reported 60,212 fresh coronavirus positive cases, taking the tally to 35,19,208 while 281 fatalities pushed the toll to 58,526, the state health department said.

In view of the alarming rise in cases, the state government has announced a 15-day long statewide curfew from 8 pm on A14 pril. Maharashtra is now left with 5,93,042 active cases, the department said in a release.

Mumbai recorded 7,873 new cases and 27 fatalities, taking the tally to 5,35,264 and the toll to 12,093.

-PTI

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SOPs announced by Maharashtra govt

- Cinema halls, theatres, auditoriums, amusement parks, gyms, sports complexes to be closed

- Shooting for films, serial, advertisements to be closed

- All shops, malls, shopping centres not performing essential services to also remain closed from 8 pm, 14 April till 7 am, 1 May

- All places of worship, schools and colleges, private coaching classes, barbershops, spas, salons and beauty parlous will remain closed from tomorrow till 7 am on 1 May

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Shiv Bhojan thali free for 1 month, says CM Uddhav Thackeray

Maha Vikas Aghadi government's flagship economy meal scheme, 'Shiv Bhojan Thali' will be free of cost for the next one month, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray said. He also announced financial aid for the economically weaker section and said 3 kg wheat and 2 kg rice will be given to the 7 crore people under the category.

He also said that daily wages workers will be given Rs 1500 for one month and also announced similar financial assistance for five lakh registered hawkers.

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Second wave of COVID-19 putting lot of pressure on state's healthcare: Uddhav

Uddhav Thackeray said, during a televised address, that Maharashtra registered more than 60,000 cases in the last day. The chief minister added that the second wave of the coronavirus had put a lot of pressure on the state’s health infrastructure.

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CM urges retired and newly graduated healthcare workers to help govt fight the pandemic

"I appeal to doctors who have just graduated to come and help us. I am appealing to the health care workers to fight this battle. I am urging NGOs and other organisations to come forward to win this fight. Keep politics aside for now. If we all come together this time, we can win," said CM Uddhav Thackeray

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Essential services exempted from new SOPs: Uddhav Thackeray

As per the chief minister, detailed SOPs will be uploaded soon. The new restrictions will be in place for 15 days. 

- Only essential services to be exempted from the restrictions 

- Public transport to be available for only those involved in essential services

- Only petrol pumps, financial institutions associated with SEBI and construction work to continue

- hotel/ restaurants to remain closed only take-away

- home deliveries allowed

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Section 144 to be imposed from 8 pm tomorrow across entire state

Uddhav Thackeray announces new SOPs as a part of 'Break The Chain' to curb cases. "Not a complete lockdown, but stricter guidelines coming", said the CM on Tuesday.

As per the new rules, Section 144 is being imposed on the entire state from 8 pm onwards from 14 April (tomorrow).

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100% of oxygen being used for COVID-19 cases: Uddhav Thackeray

100 percent of oxygen is being used for COVID-19 cases – 1200 metric tonnes is our use per day, said Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray

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Shortage of medical oxygen, beds, Remsdesivir in the state: Uddhav Thackeray

The state is currently continuously upgrading its healthcare infrastructure but it is under pressure. "There is a shortage of medical oxygen, beds and the demand for Remdesivir has also increased," Uddhav Thackeray said.

He further appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide Maharashtra with oxygen supply to grapple with the increase in cases.

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Over 500 testing labs present in state: Uddhav Thackeray

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray is addressing the state on the COVID-19 situation in the state. "Over 500 testing labs functioning at present in Maharashtra and we are testing much more now."

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Some states need to ramp up RT-PCR tests: Centre

Noting that India's COVID-19 cases trajectory in the second wave is "worrying", the Centre said states like Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat need to ramp up RT-PCR tests.

Addressing a press conference, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said the Centre is continuously trying to help states and union territories in tackling the pandemic in a more effective manner.

He said the previous highest surge has already been crossed and the "trend is going upward and that is a cause for worry".

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COVID-19 vaccines reduce chances of severe infection, mortality: ICMR chief

COVID-19 vaccines reduce the chances of developing severe infection and mortality, ICMR Chief Balram Bhargava said on Tuesday.

Responding to a question about people contracting the coronavirus infection even after taking both doses of COVID vaccine, he said these are "disease-modifying" vaccines and there is an 85 percent reduction in hospitalisation after vaccination which is well established internationally.

"These vaccines are disease-modifying. After two doses are administered, the antibodies develop. The COVID-19 vaccines reduce the chances of developing severe infection and death due to the disease," the ICMR Director General said.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is the country's apex health research body.

-PTI

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Yogi Adityanath goes into self-isolation after staff test positive

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday isolated himself after some officials in his contact tested positive for Covid-19.

"The officers of my office tested positive for coronavirus. They were in touch with me, therefore, as a precaution, I am isolating myself and starting all my work digitally," the CM said in a tweet in Hindi.

Some officials, including his OSD Abhishek Kaushik, tested positive for the coronavirus infection. The CM, however, did not identify the officials who tested for the infection.

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Remdesivir not for home use, meant for serious patients, says Centre

The Centre on Tuesday said doctors should ensure "rational and judicious" use of anti-viral drug Remdesivir, underlining it is to be given only to serious COVID-19 patients in hospitals and is not to be used in home settings.

At a weekly press conference, NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr V K Paul said, "Remdesivir is to be used only in those who require hospitalisation and are on oxygen support. That is the precondition. There is no question of its use in the home setting and for mild cases, and it is not to be procured from chemist shops."

Remdesivir is listed for use in serious COVID-19 patients in the Clinical Management Protocols for COVID-19 as an investigational therapy.

As the shortage of Remdesivir was reported in some areas, its export was banned and the medicine is available in plenty, Paul said, adding that "queuing outside chemist shops to procure Remdesivir is creating distortions".

-PTI

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93 persons test positive after attending village feast in Maharashtra

As many as 93 villagers in Maharashtra's Buldhana district have tested coronavirus positive, many of them after attending a village feast, sources said on Tuesday. The local authorities have declared the Pota village having a population of over 700 persons a containment zone.

A local official said 15 villagers tested positive at a screening camp earlier this month and 78 tested positive in the second camp a few days later.

The official declined to comment on reports that most of those infected had attended a village feast held in Pota after the death of a local coronavirus patient at Khamgaon in the district recently. A villager said many had attended the feast.

The village has been declared a containment zone and testing of more people is underway there, the official said.

-PTI

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Andhra Pradesh reports highest daily COVID-19 count in six months

The upward climb of coronavirus cases continued as Andhra Pradesh added 4,228 afresh on Tuesday, the highest daily count in exactly six months. The active caseload also crossed the 25,000 mark to 25,850, the highest after October 30.

A health department bulletin said 1,483 patients had recovered and 10 more succumbed in 24 hours ending 9 am on Tuesday. The gross COVID-19 positives in Andhra Pradesh has now risen to 9,32,892, recoveries 8,99,721 and deaths 7,321, the bulletin said.

-PTI

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States should follow test, track, trace and treat strategy, says Centre

NITI Aayog member (Health) VK Paul said a serious situation is emerging. While the situation is worse in some states it is a countrywide problem and there has to be continued focus on test, track, trace and treat strategy and following COVID appropriate behaviour as well as embracing the vaccine, he said.

"Everyone should wear a mask," he said.

Amid reports of shortage of remdesivir, he said the drug is to be given only to hospitalised, serious patients and those on oxygen support, and there is no question of its use in home setting and it is not to be procured from chemist shops.

"As shortage of remdesivir was reported in some areas, its export was banned. This medicine is now available in plenty. We appeal to physicians to do rational, judicious use of remdesivir in hospitalised patients," he said. Paul also stressed on embracing Ayush products for boosting immunity.

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COVID vaccine can be taken during Ramzan, says ''fatwa'' by prominent Islamic seminary

COVID-19 vaccines can be taken in Ramzan and do not affect the ''roza'' (fast) observed during the holy month, a prominent Islamic seminary said in an edict here on Tuesday.

"The vaccine enters blood vessels and not the stomach. Therefore, taking it does not affect ''roza''. Only because of ''roza'', Muslims should not avoid taking the COVID-19 vaccine," the ''fatwa'' issued by Darul Ifta Farangi Mahal said.  The fatwa was in reply to a question from Abdul Rashid Kidwai, a resident of Madhya Pradesh.

Kidwai said that he had taken the first vaccine shot earlier and wanted to know if he can take the second dose which is due in the Ramzan period.

The fatwa had signatures of clerics -- Maulan Khalid Rashi Farangi Mahali, Maulana Nasrullah, Maulana Naemur Rehman Siddhiqui and Maulana Mushtaq. 

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Kin claim oxygen shortage led to 10 deaths in 2 Maharashtra hospitals

Relatives of 10 COVID-19 patients who succumbed at two hospitals in adjoining Palghar district alleged that a shortage of oxygen led to the deaths, a charge denied by civic authorities and the management of the medical facilities on Tuesday.

On Monday, seven coronavirus patients died in Vinayaka Hospital, located in Nalasopara East, while three others succumbed in Riddhi Vinayak Hospital, which is in the western part of the township, some 60 kilometres from Mumbai.

Angry relatives of the patients claimed that a lack of oxygen supply at the hospitals led to the deaths.

The issue got escalated after the former mayor of Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation Rajeev Patil, in an audio clip, claimed that a shortage of oxygen, required for treatment of critical patients, led to the deaths at the hospitals, which fall under the jurisdiction of the civic body.

Refuting the allegations, Kishore Gavas, deputy commission, Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation, on Tuesday said the deaths occurred as the patients were critical. Both hospitals have ample oxygen stock, the civic official said.

-PTI

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US recommends ‘pause’ on J&J's vaccine to investigate reports of blood clots

The US is recommending a “pause” in the administration of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to investigate reports of potentially dangerous blood clots.

In a joint statement Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration said it was investigating clots in six women in the days after vaccination, in combination with reduced platelet counts. More than 6.8 million doses of the J&J vaccine have been administered in the US.

US federal distribution channels, including mass vaccination sites, will pause the use of the J&J shot, and states and other providers are expected to follow.

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Beds in Jaipur hospitals filling up fast as COVID-19 cases surge

Amid rising COVID-19 cases, beds across hospitals in Jaipur are filling up fast, according to hospital authorities, reports PTI. A senior official of the state health department said all private hospitals with 60 or more beds have been asked to reserve 25 per cent of them inwards and another 25 per cent in ICU for COVID-19 patients.

On Monday, Rajasthan recorded 5,771 fresh COVID-19 cases that took the state's total tally to 3,69,564, while 25 more fatalities, the biggest single-day jump, pushed the death toll to 2,951, according to an official report.

Jaipur district recorded the highest number of fresh cases in the state at 961. It is often the biggest contributor to Rajasthan's COVID-19 tally.

Dr Ajeet Singh Shekhawat, superintendent of Rajasthan University of Health Sciences Hospital here, told PTI, "For the last three days, more than 100 patients are being admitted to the hospital every day. The situation is alarming this time and the beds are filling up fast."

The hospital has 1,200 beds, including 450 oxygen beds and 200 ICU beds, he said.

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On vaccine supply, issue about better planning not shortage', says Centre

On the supply of vaccines to states, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said: "Till now, we've provided 13,10,90,000 doses to states and Union Territories. On one hand, we have states like Kerala where there is zero wastage (of vaccine) and on the other hand, we have several other states where there still is 8-9% of wastage." 

"As per data till 11 am today, unutilised doses available with states/UTs is over 1,67,20,000. This month - till April end - 2,01,22,960 doses will be provided to states/UT. This clearly shows that issue is about better planning & not the shortage of doses," he added.

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Maharashtra govt not testing enough to keep pace with rise in daily new cases, says Centre

The government on Tuesday said that 53 central teams have been sent to different districts across the country to help state and union territory (UT) governments tackle the surge in coronavirus cases.

"In Maharashtra, you'll find that average daily cases, week on week, have grown significantly and reached a level of 57,000 plus. Tests/mn growing but not keeping pace with growth of average daily cases. If you look at share of RT-PCR tests, it's progressively coming down," Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

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Daily deaths showing an increasing trend, says Centre

"If you look at daily deaths, they also are showing an increasing trend. However, the previous surge's highest point was 1,114 and presently we have reported 879 deaths", says Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan.

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Upward trend in cases cause for worry, says Centre

"We have 89.51% people who have been cured, 1.25% deaths & 9.24% active cases. If we look at new cases, we will find that the previous highest surge has already been crossed and the trend is going upward. That is a cause for worry," Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said during a press briefing.

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WHO urges countries to suspend sale of wild animals in markets

The United Nations' health agency on Tuesday urged countries to suspend the sale of live animals captured from the wild in food markets as an emergency measure, saying wild animals are a leading source of emerging infectious diseases like the coronavirus.

The World Health Organization, backed by key partners, issued new guidance saying that animals -- particularly wild animals -- "are the source of more than 70 per cent of all emerging infectious diseases in humans, many of which are caused by novel viruses."

The coronavirus's origins more than a year ago have been the source of intense speculation, much of it centred around the likelihood that it was carried by bats and passed to humans through an intermediary species sold as food or medicine in traditional Chinese wet markets. The pandemic first appeared in the city of Wuhan, China.

-AP

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UP records highest-ever daily spike of 18,021 cases

Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday reported the highest-ever single-day spike of 18,021 coronavirus cases while 85 fatalities took the death toll in the state to 9,309, a senior official said here. The total number of cases in the state stands at 7,23,582 and the active caseload is 95,980.

"In the past 24 hours, 18,021 fresh cases were reported while 3,474 people were discharged in this period. There are 95,980 active cases while 6,18,293 were treated and discharged. The state reported a total of 9,309 deaths till now since the start of the pandemic," Additional Chief Secretary of Health Amit Mohan Prasad told reporters.

The state recorded 85 deaths in the past 24 hours, the highest single-day toll this month, according to official figures. 

-PTI

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COVID-19 pandemic 'a long way from over', says WHO chief

Even though more than 780 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have now been administered globally, the pandemic is "a long way from over" but it can be brought under control in months with proven public health measures, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said.

The coronavirus, which emerged first in central China's Wuhan city in December 2019, has infected more than 136,500,400 people and killed over 2,944,500 people across the world.

In January and February, the world saw six consecutive weeks of declining cases. We have now seen seven consecutive weeks of increasing cases, and four weeks of increasing deaths. Last week was the fourth-highest number of cases in a single week so far. Several countries in Asia and the Middle East have seen large increases in cases, WHO Director-General Ghebreyesus said.

Speaking to reporters in Geneva, he said while more than 780 million doses of vaccine have now been administered globally, vaccines are a powerful tool but not the only tool.

-PTI

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India fast-tracks approvals for foreign COVID-19 vaccines

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare announced on Tuesday that it will fast-track the emergency-use authorisations given to foreign COVID-19 vaccines that have already been given approval in other countries. This is being done to widen the choice of COVID-19 vaccines available in the country, especially considering the steep surge in case numbers recently.

This move could also do speed up India's inoculation drive, which is currently facing issues with the limited number of doses and choices available for people.

The new strategy was discussed in the 23rd meeting of the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) held on 11 April 2021. This recommendation has now been accepted by the Central government.

"Vaccination is one of the critical pillars of COVID control and management," the health ministry said in a statement.

Many of the vaccines being developed and manufactured in foreign countries have already been granted authorisation by either US FDA, EMA, UK's MHRA and Japan's PMDA. Many have also been listed in WHO's Emergency Use Listing. 

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Morgues overflow with bodies of COVID-19 victims in Chhattisgarh

Bodies of Covid-19 victims have been piling up in mortuaries and crematoriums in Raipur, as the Chhattisgarh administration struggles to deal with the sudden surge in cases of viral infection and fatalities.
 
In some videos on social media, bodies were seen lying on stretchers outside the mortuary of Raipur's Dr B R Ambedkar Memorial Hospital (DBRAMH), the state's biggest government-run hospital, and last rites of victims being performed from morning till late night in crematoriums here.
 
Talking to PTI on Tuesday, state Health Minister T S Singh Deo said the overall situation is "very concerning" and the sudden rise in Covid-19 cases and deaths has posed a challenge for authorities.

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Lockdown in Durg district extended till 19 April

Durg Collector Sarveshwar Bhure Tuesday said that lockdown in the district has been extended for 5 days, till 19th April, news agency ANI reported.

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Court actor Vira Sathidar dies of COVID-19 related complications

Actor-activist Vira Sathidar, best known for featuring in the National Award-winning film Court, died on Tuesday due to Covid-19 related complications, filmmaker Chaitanya Tamhane confirmed. The actor, who was in his early sixties, was admitted to a city hospital after he contracted the coronavirus.

According to Tamhane, who directed him in the acclaimed 2014 film Court, the actor was put on the ventilator and breathed his last around 3 am.

“It's true. He passed away at around 3 am in the hospital. He had Covid-19 and was on a ventilator. It's extremely unfortunate news. It is yet to sink in,” Tamhane told PTI.

Sathidar rose to prominence after playing the role of protest singer Narayan Kamble in Court who is accused of encouraging a manhole worker to commit suicide through one of his folk songs.

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Maharashtra set to announce new guidelines on lockdown, says minister

Amid talk of an extended lockdown in Maharashtra, state minister Aslam Shaikh has said the government will come up with fresh restrictions to curb the coronavirus spread on Tuesday itself.

Speaking to reporters, the Mumbai guardian minister also said the state government will also have to decide guidelines regarding the people returning from Kumbh Mela in Haridwar as COVID-19 appropriate behaviour was not followed at that congregation.

"Maharashtra chief minister has already spoken to members of the COVID-19 task force. He also held discussions with political leaders including those from Opposition parties, and with members of industries. We tried a weekend lockdown, night curfew and other measures.

"We will come up with fresh guidelines today to break the chain of coronavirus. There will be a standard operating procedure for the entire state, which will be announced (on Tuesday) itself," he said.

Addressing an all-party meeting last week, CM Thackeray had hinted at the imposition of an extended lockdown in the state to curb the surge in cases.

On Sunday, he held a meeting with members of the state COVID-19 task force and said a standard operating procedure (SoP) will be prepared after holding consultations.

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Russia's Sputnik V vaccine approved for emergency use, confirms health ministry

India's drug regulator has granted permission for restricted emergency use of the Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V with certain conditions, the Union Health Ministry announced on Tuesday, while stating that Dr Reddy's Laboratorieswill import the vaccine for use in the country. The approval by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) paves the way for a third vaccine to be available in the country.

Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd (DRL) had applied for the grant of permission to import and market Gam-COVID-Vac combined vector vaccine, popularly called Sputnik-V, developed by M/s Gamaleya Institute, Russia for Emergency Use Authorization, the ministry said in a statement. The vaccine is indicated for active immunization to prevent COVID-19 disease in individuals of aged 18 years and above and should be administered intramuscularly in two doses of 0.5 ml each with interval of 21 days.  The vaccine has to be stored at -18C.The vaccine comprises two components I and II, which are not interchangeable. "After careful consideration, the recommendations of the SEC have been accepted by the Drugs Control General (India).DRL will import the vaccine for use in the country," the ministry said.

PTI

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Maharashtra accounts for nearly 45% of active cases, says health ministry

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Maharashtra reports 258 COVID-19 deaths in past 24 hrs

Of the 879 new COVID-19 fatalities registered on Tuesday, Maharashtra reported 258 deaths, 132 from Chhattisgarh, 72 each from Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, 55 from Gujarat, 52 each from Karnataka and Punjab, 37 from Madhya Pradesh, 25 from Rajasthan, 19 each from Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand, 14 each from Haryana and West Bengal, and 11 each from Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.

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Over 10.85 crore people vaccinated against COVID-19 till now

On day 3 of 'Tika Utsav' on Tuesday, India’s cumulative vaccination coverage exceeded 10.85 crores (10,85,33,085) with over 40 lakh doses being administered in the past 24 hours, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said. 

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India to produce 850 mn Sputnik V doses annually, says Russia’s sovereign wealth fund

The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) has said more than 850 million doses of the Sputnik V vaccine are going to be produced annually in India, which has also given approval for the emergency use of the vaccine against coronavirus infections in the country. 

The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has registered the vaccine under the emergency use authorisation procedure. This is based on results of clinical trials in Russia as well as positive data of additional Phase III local clinical trials in India conducted in partnership with Dr Reddy's Laboratories.

The vaccine has been approved for use in countries with a total population of 3 billion people or about 40 percent of the global population, and India has become the 60th country to approve Sputnik V, RDIF, Russia's sovereign wealth fund, said in a statement.

India is also the most populated country to register the vaccine and also the leading production hub for Sputnik V, it added.

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Decision on COVID-19 lockdown in Maharashtra after 14 April, says Rajesh Tope

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Monday said that residents of the state need to mentally prepare themselves for an impending lockdown.

"There will be prior information given to people before the lockdown is implemented. At this point of time all that I would want to say to the residents of the state is that they should mentally prepare themselves for a lockdown," Tope said.

On Sunday, Tope had said that Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was planning to hold consultations with various departments of the state government and a formal announcement on the lockdown could take place after a cabinet meeting on 14 April.

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Pubs, hairdressers set to reopen as UK eases virus lockdown

Millions of people in Britain will get their first chance in months for haircuts, casual shopping and restaurant meals on Monday, as the government takes the next step on its lockdown-lifting road map.

Nationwide restrictions have been in place in England since early January, and similar rules in the other parts of the UK, to suppress a surge in coronavirus infections that swept the country late last year, linked to a more transmissible new variant first identified in southeast England.

Britain has had Europe’s worst coronavirus outbreak, with more than 127,000 confirmed deaths.

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Santosh Kumar Gangwar tests COVID-19 positive

Union Labour and Employment Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar has tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Tesday, according to media reports.

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Crisis looms over Kolkata hospitals amid shortage of COVID-19 beds, spike in cases

Amid the steep rise in COVID-19 cases, hospitals in the city are staring at a bed crisis with most of them underscoring that their critical care units are all occupied.

Some of these facilities are planning to restrict admission of general patients for the time being, while others expressed helplessness and said they won't be able to expand their critical care units for lack of funds and space.

In state-run Infectious Diseases and Beliaghata General (ID&BG) Hospital, all beds at the high dependency units and general wards are full.

"The situation is very critical. We are staring at a major crisis. Ours is a small hospital, there is no option to boost the infrastructure," principal Anima Haldar said, further expressing her inability to increase the number of beds, despite at least 30 COVID-19 patients visiting the facility every day.

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Over 25.92 cr COVID-19 samples tested so far: ICMR

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 25,92,07,108 COVID-19 samples have been tested up to 12 April, of which 14,00,122 were tested on Monday alone. 

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BS Yediyurappa rules out possibility of COVID-19 lockdown in Karnataka

Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa on Tuesday dismissed the possibility of a lockdown in the state and called for an all-party meeting on the COVID situation on 18 April.

"No question of lockdown right now. Technical advisory committee has said that positive cases will increase here till 2 May hence people must abide by COVID appropriate behaviour," said Yediyurappa.

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RECAP: West Bengal records 4,511 new COVID-19 cases

West Bengal on Monday registered 4,511 fresh COVID-19 cases, the highest single-day spike since the pandemic started last year, pushing the state's tally to 6,19,407, the health department said in a bulletin.

Kolkata also set a record of 1,115 new cases. The state reported this year's highest COVID-19 fatalities at 14 on Monday, pushing the toll to 10,414.

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Over 4,970 new COVID-19 cases in Thane

With the addition of 4,971 new cases of coronavirus, the infection count in Thane district of Maharashtra has reached 3,85,068, an official said on Tuesday. Besides these new cases reported on Monday, 26 more people also died of the viral infection, pushing the toll in the district to 6,733, he said.

The COVID-19 mortality rate in the district is 1.75 percent, he said.

So far, 3,20,820 patients have recuperated from the infection in the district, which reflects a recovery rate of 83.32 percent.

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Russia's Sputnik V vaccine gets expert panel nod for emergency use in India

India is set to get a third COVID-19 vaccine to aid in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic after the Russian vaccine Sputnik V has been approved for emergency use by an expert panel of India's central drug authority, according to several media reports.

The Subject Expert Committer (SEC) has recommended that the vaccine be allowed for use in India with certain conditions, sources told PTI.

Now, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) will take the final call.

This comes as India hit a new coronavirus infection record with 1,68,912 new cases, the highest single-day rise so far, taking the total tally of cases to 1,35,27,717, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

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India's COVID-19 recovery rate drops to 89.5%

With 97,168 more COVID-19 patients being cured of the infectious disease, the number of recoveries in the country has risen over 1.22 crore, said the Union health ministry on Tuesday. The COVID-19 recovery rate has dropped to 89.5 percent.

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India reports 879 COVID-19 deaths in past 24 hrs

With the death of 879 more COVID-19 patients in the past 24 hours, the toll in the country has increased to 1,71,058 on Tuesday, said the health ministry.

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India records 1,61,736 new COVID-19 cases

India registered 1,61,736 fresh COVID-19 infections taking the overall count to 1,36,89,453 on Tuesday, said the Union health ministry on Tuesday.