Coronavirus News LIVE Updates: Maharashtra Curfew for 15 Days from 8 pm Tomorrow; Essential Services Exempted, Says CM Uddhav Thackeray

The second wave of coronavirus in India is turning out to be more dangerous than earlier outbreaks as the infection is spreading at an exponential rate across the country.

Gujarat Logs Highest One-day Spike in Covid-19 Cases, Deaths | Gujarat registered 6,690 new coronavirus cases today, 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.

Haryana Records Biggest Single-day Jump of 3,845 Covid-19 Cases | Haryana today recorded the biggest single-day jump of 3,845 fresh COVID-19 cases that took the state's cumulative tally to 3,24,544, while 16 more fatalities pushed the death toll to 3,298, a health department bulletin said. Among the districts that reported a big spike in cases are Gurgaon (998), Faridabad (417), Karnal (324), Panipat (227), Panchkula (278) and Sonipat (246), it said.

Considering the rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra, the state Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) is exploring possibilities of procuring oxygen from neighbouring states of…

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced a statewide curfew for 15 days from April 14 to contain the rapid spread of the coronavirus in its second wave.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that the Raisina Dialogue, India's flagship global conference on geopolitics, has taken place at a watershed moment in human history, when a global…

Section 144 to Impose in Maharashtra from Tomorrow | "Section 144 being imposed for next 15 days in a way of 'Janta Curfew'. This will come into effect from 8 pm tomorrow. All necessary services will continue. Public transport is not shut but restricted for only emergency service providers. Health, Pharma, Transporters, Vaccines producers, animal related shops will remain open," said Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray while addressing the State today.

Maharashtra CM Speaks on Shortage of Oxygen Supply | "Remdesivir demand has suddenly increased. Now, manufacturers will take time to increase production. I have requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to please give us more oxygen. Industries have already started giving us oxygen. But will need permission from the Centre to get oxygen from other States. We have been allowed to get oxygen from Eastern states. Factories are hundreds of kms away. We want uninterrupted supply. Give orders to Air Force to help us get oxygen by air. I have requested the Prime Minister. This is emergency situation. I will call the Prime Minister for this demand," said Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

CM Uddhav Thackeray Begins Addressing Maharashtra | "Maharashta has recorded more than 60,000 cases today. It's very serious situation. The Covid-19 situation was quite controlled till December-January. Pressure on us now. We are facing oxygen shortage. I am trying to get everyone on board. For how long can we discuss, without coming to a decision?," said Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray while addressing the State today.

Migrant Labours Gather at Pune Railway Station | Huge crowd seen at Pune Railway Station on Tuesday amid coronavirus-induced lockdown scare. Maharashtra is witnessing unprecedented surge in Covid-19 cases. The state government is likely to impose lockdown.

Delhi Covid-19 Cases | Delhi today reports 13,468 new Covid-19 cases, 7,972 discharges and 81 deaths.

🏥Delhi Health Bulletin - 13th April 2021🏥#DelhiFightsCorona pic.twitter.com/ZMHnqqGQJy

— CMO Delhi (@CMODelhi) April 13, 2021

Uttar Pradesh Records Highest-ever Daily Spike of 18,021 Covid-19 Cases | Uttar Pradesh today 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 here. The state recorded 85 deaths in the past 24 hours, the highest single-day toll this month, according to official figures.

Maharashtra is likely to announce a complete lockdown from April 15 for at least two weeks in view of alarming rise in coronavirus cases, even though daily count on Monday saw a slight dip.

Johnson & Johnson Delays Vaccine Rollout in Europe | Johnson & Johnson says it is delaying the rollout of its coronavirus vaccine in Europe amid a US probe into rare blood clots. The company announced the decision Tuesday after regulators in the United States said they were recommending a “pause” in administration of the single-dose shot to investigate reports of potentially dangerous blood clots, reports AP.

Maharashtra Minister on Imposing Strict SOPs | "The Chief Minister will take a decision related to imposing strict SOPs today. We have to break the chain of transmission of infection. We could have avoided lockdown if the number of cases was less. The government will do its best to save lives," ANI quotes Maharashtra Minister Aslam Sheikh as saying.

Celebrities who are asymptomatic should take treatment at home, not occupy beds in the hospital. Some celebrities like Akshay Kumar, Sachin Tendulkar did not need to get admitted to the hospital. Beds should be left for the needy: Maharashtra Minister Aslam Sheikh

— ANI (@ANI) April 13, 2021

93 Persons Test Covid-19 Positive After 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 today. 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.

UP CM Isolates Himself After His Officers Test Covid-19 Positive | Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has isolated himself after some of his officers test positive for Covid-19.

मेरे कार्यालय के कुछ अधिकारी कोरोना से संक्रमित हुए हैं।

यह अधिकारी मेरे संपर्क में रहे हैं, अतः मैंने एहतियातन अपने को आइसोलेट कर लिया है एवं सभी कार्य वर्चुअली प्रारम्भ कर रहा हूं।

— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) April 13, 2021

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.

Kerala Reports Over 7,000 Fresh Cases, 20 More Deaths | Kerala recorded 7,515 Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, including 36 health workers, taking the total caseload to 11.80 lakh and active cases mounted to 52,132, the state government said. As many as 2,959 people were cured of the infection, taking the total recoveries to 11,23,133. A health department bulletin said 73,441 samples have been sent for testing, taking the overall number to 1,38,87,669. The test positivity rate stood at 10.23 per cent.

Delhi Govt Order Amid Covid-19 Crisis | In the view of the fast growing cases of Covid-19 in the national capital, Delhi government has decided that there will be no in-person meeting in Delhi government offices, autonomous bodies, PSUs, corporation, local bodies etc. Only the meeting related to coronavirus, legal matters and any other very important issues will be allowed to happen, according to sources.

Kerala has announced more stringent steps to contain the spread of coronavirus in the State after daily cases show an upward jump after the elections on April 6.

Problem Not of Covid-19 Vaccine Shortage but of Planning: Govt | Over 1.67 crore Covid-19 vaccine doses are still available with states and UTs, the Centre said today, underlining that the problem is not of vaccine shortage but of better planning. Addressing a press conference, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said so far states and UTs have received 13,10,90,370 vaccine doses, out of which the total consumption, including wastage, has been 11,43,69,677. "As per 11 am data, unutilised doses available with states and union territories for administration is 1,67,20,693. From now till April end, 2,01,22,960 doses are in supply pipeline to states and UTs," he said.

Day after Russia’s Sputnik V received expert panel nod for emergency use in India, shots from other countries are expected to get a fast-track approval as infection rates continue to soar to a record…

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 today, 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.

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.

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

The Centre on Tuesday decided to fast track approvals for foreign produced COVID-19 vaccines that have been granted Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) in other countries to “expand the basket of…

Union Health Secretary speaks on reports of Covid-19 vaccine shortage.

#WATCH: Union Health Secretary speaks on reports of #COVID19 vaccine shortage. He says, "...As per 11 am data today, unutilised doses available with states/UTs is over 1,67,20,000. By April end we'll provide 2,01,22,960 doses. Issue is about better planning & not shortage..." pic.twitter.com/MxI9WxFiMy

— ANI (@ANI) April 13, 2021

US Recommends 'Pause' for J&J Vaccine Over Clot Reports | The US is recommending a pause in 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.

Health Ministry Speaks on Use of Remedsivir | Remedsivir to be used only in hospitals not in pharma shops. "Remedsivir is for those people who will be admitted in hospitals. No question for those who are at home," said Head of Covid-19 Taskforce VK Paul during Health Ministry briefing.