Covid LIVE Updates: Delhi, Andhra Pradesh ask for liquid medical oxygen to be transported by Railways

PM Modi addresses rallies in Suri, Malda, Berhampore, and Bhawanipur via video conferencing

Health Min held meeting to discuss ramping up COVID dedicated & ICU beds at govt’s 4 hospitals – AIIMS, Lady Hardinge, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia & Safdarjung

These hospitals also been asked to make preparations to add more beds if pandemic surges further: Union Health Min Dr Harsh Vardhan

Ministry of Defence gives extension to Short Service Commissioned Doctors in AFMS till Dec 31, 2021 to tide over current surge in medical services

This will augment strength of AFMS by 238 more doctors, reports ET Bureau.

UP: Record single-day spike of 37,238 COVID19 cases and 196 related fatalities

UP’s infection tally to over 10 lakh, death toll to 10,737; active case count 2,73,653: Officials

We are running 1,514 special trains, 5,387 suburban trains, and 947 passenger trains per day: Chairman Railway Board

Overall 70% train services have been restored: Suneet Sharma, Chairman Railway Board

Delhi has asked us for 50 coaches (800 beds) which have been placed at Shakur Basti: Chairman Railway Board

25 coaches (400 beds) have been placed at Anand Vihar. However, so far, patients have not yet come: Suneet Sharma, Chairman Railway Board

Delhi High Court issues notice to Centre and Delhi government on the two hospitals plea

Delhi High Court suggests Delhi Government that as a large number of people are calling on a single number of nodal officer which is already circulated, at least circulate 3-4 more numbers

We have succeeded to manage the time by refilling our Oxygen cylinders from various small vendors in Delhi. We have just received a liquid oxygen tanker which will last for 14 hours

– Dr Kousar A Shah, COO, Aakash Healthcare in Dwarka, Delhi

Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh has ordered immediate recruitment of 400 nurses and 140 technicians to govt medical colleges

He will soon write a letter to PM Modi seeking direction to PGI Satellite Centres & Military Hospitals in Punjab to provide COVID beds to citizens: CMO

Union Home Minister Amit Shah to review the preparedness at Ahmedbad’s Dhanvantari Covid Hospital today

This facility, a collaborative initiative of DRDO and Gujarat University, will be functional from tomorrow.

Bram Health-care Private Limited and Batra Hospital & Medical Research Centre move Delhi High Court on issue relating to shortage of oxygen

Hearing is underway. Bram health care urges Court to issue direction to supply 125-150 oxygen cylinder.

Around 93,000 railway beneficiaries affected by COVID-19

72 rail hospitals, 5,000 beds dedicated to their care: Rly Board Chairman

DRDO COVID centre in Delhi Cantt which currently has 250 beds, will get 250 more beds likely by today evening: Government official

Each tanker of ‘Oxygen Express’ carries 16 tonnes of oxygen: Railway Board Chairman

Delhi’s oxygen demand likely to be met by Rourkela, while that of Andhra Pradesh by Angul, Odisha: Rly Board Chairman

Odisha’s reports its highest-ever single-day spike of 6,215 new cases

eight fresh fatalities push death toll to 1,973: Health department official

Delhi govt has just sent us request for some ‘Oxygen Express’ trains, have asked them to keep trucks ready: Railway Board Chairman

Japan declares virus emergency three months before Olympics

Delhi, Andhra Pradesh have asked for liquid medical oxygen to be transported by Railways: Railway Board Chairman

A single dose of the antiviral Virafin administered subcutaneously early on shows significant clinical and virological improvement in moderate COVID-19 adult patients

Zydus Cadila received emergency use approval from the DCGI for the use of Pegylated Interfin alpha-2B, ‘Virafin’ to help treat moderate COVID-19 infection in adults

23 mobile oxygen generation plants are being airlifted from Germany. These will be deployed in AFMS hospitals catering to COVID patients. These oxygen generating plants are expected within a week

– Defence Ministry

Every state should ensure no oxygen tanker, meant for any state, is stopped or gets stranded: PM at meeting with CMs

Safety of hospitals should not be neglected; Awareness must be increased to alleviate any kind of panic buying: PM

Government of India to provide to free food grains under PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana for May and June 2021

Railways, Air Force being deployed to reduce travel and turnaround time for oxygen tankers: PM

If we work as one nation, there will be no scarcity of resources

– PM at meeting on COVID-19 situation with CMs of high burden states

RBI directs banks to halve dividend payouts amid 2nd Covid wave

In a notification to all the commercial and co-operative banks, RBI said that in view of the continuing uncertainty caused by the ongoing second wave of Covid-19 in the country, it is crucial that banks remain resilient and proactively raise and conserve capital as a bulwark against unexpected losses.

Private German company Linde pitches in to help in India’s oxygen crisis

Anyone who gets an RT-PCR positive report shouldn’t immediately start thinking that they’ve to be hospitalised. They should first contact a doctor. Hospitals have a COVID app. At Medanta, we’ve such an app too, you fill in the details & get a call from doctor

– Dr Trehan, Medanta

Karnataka: Metro rail services will be closed on Saturdays and Sundays, in view of Weekend Curfew

15,000 vials of Remsdesivir reached Raipur airport today, says Chhattisgarh Health Minister TS Singh Deo

“It has been sent to CGMSC godown for counting and storage. Distribution of the same will follow immediately, later in the day,” he added.

Haryana: Oxygen tanker headed from Panipat to Sirsa goes missing, police file FIR, says official

Reports PTI

Second Oxygen special train for Lucknow with loaded tankers of oxygen departed from Bokaro today, likely to reach tomorrow: Ministry of Railways

Delhi CMO clarifies on live sharing of CM’s address

Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds meeting via video conference with oxygen manufacturers in the country

O2 demand is up due to rise in no.of cases. Steel industry has offered Oxygen from their Plants. So special tankers have been ordered & Govt is helping them in transportation. Supply chain can improve in 5-7 days. Govt’s efforts underway

– Dr Naresh Trehan, Chairman Medanta to ANI

Our oxygen supply chain has been diverted to Uttar Pradesh: West Bengal CM

The supply chain is being maintained in BJP states. Where will we get oxygen from?: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee

Imposition of lockdown is not intended; poor people will die. Instead, restrictions should be maintained and we have no plans about lockdown at the moment

– WB CM Mamata Banerjee

Mylab to deploy 50 high-volume mobile testing labs for COVID-19 across India

Provide vaccine to the states at the same rate as the Central govt: Chhattisgarh CM

Please provide an action plan for vaccine availability to the states for running vaccination drive for those above 18 years of age from May 1, said Chhattisgarh CM in a meeting of CMs with PM Modi today

Oxygen being supplied to hospitals in Lucknow amid Police protection for safe transportation

False reports: Chairman, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital on 25 deaths due to lack of O2

False reports that they died due to lack of O2. When O2 pressure lowered in ICU beds, gave patients O2 manually. Didn’t let anyone die without O2. Inox told us after getting state govt’s NOC, they’ll supply 9000-10,000 cubic meters of O2 daily: Chairman, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital

Oxygen supply scheduled to come to Delhi from Odisha, West Bengal be airlifted or brought through Oxygen express

– Kejriwal in PM’s COVID meet

Centre should take over all oxygen plants through Army, every truck should be accompanied by Army escort vehicle

– Kejriwal in PM’s COVID meet

Govt Sources say Delhi CM Kejriwal used the PM-CM conference on Covid as a platform to play politics

Govt sources say he “chose to spread lies on vaccine prices despite knowing that Centre does not keep one vaccine dose with itself and shares with states only.” (Reports ANI)

We fear big tragedy may happen due to lack of oxygen for patients, national plan needed to deal with situation

– Kejriwal in PM’s COVID meet

I request with folded hands that PM gives direction to CMs to ensure smooth movement of oxygen tankers coming to Delhi

– Kejriwal at COVID meet

Delhi HC issues notice to Centre, Delhi Govt on plea seeking free meals to needy amid COVID

The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notices to the Centre and Delhi Government on Delhi Rozi Roti Adhikar Abhiyan petition seeking to ensure resumption of hunger relief centers for providing free hot cooked meals to all in view of the recent restrictions imposed in the national capital amid rising cases of COVID-19.

We never said a word and did not stop high courts, we had asked Centre to go to HCs and report to them

– SC

States should get vaccines at the same rate at which central government is procuring vaccines from manufacturers

– Delhi CM

SC adjourns national Oxygen plan hearing till Tuesday after SG Tushar Mehta seeks time

SC grants time to Centre to file reply in suo motu case on distribution of essential supplies and services during COVID-19 pandemic.

There’s a huge shortage of oxygen in Delhi: CM

Will people of Delhi not get oxygen if there is no oxygen-producing plant here? Please suggest whom should I speak to in Central Govt when an oxygen tanker destined for Delhi is stopped in another state?: Delhi CM in meeting with the PM

The lordships should look into the interstate movement as there is a serious shortage of oxygen

– Senior lawyer, Vikas Singh, for the Supreme Court Bar Association, tells the Supreme Court

Uttarakhand CM calls an all-party meeting to discuss the COVID19 situation in the State, today: Chief Minister’s Office

Chief Justice of India SA Bobde allowed Harish Salve to recuse from the case

“Please permit to recuse from the case,” senior advocate, Harish Salve said and pleaded to withdraw as amicus curiae

“People are dying due to lack of oxygen,” CJI Sharad Arvind Bobde observed

Supreme Court starts hearing the suo motu cognisance case on COVID19 crisis