Coronavirus in India News Live Updates: PM Modi Chairs Meet on Covid Situation With CM, Emmanuel Macron Expresses Solidarity With India

LIFE IN A PANDEMIC | A mass cremation of victims who died due to the coronavirus disease is seen at a crematorium ground in New Delhi,

Holy Family Hospital Informs About Shortage of Oxygen | "We've liquid medical oxygen that will last one hour and the backup oxygen supply that will last two hours. We are waiting for Linde to come and fill the oxygen tanks," says Dr. Sumit Ray, Holy Family Hospital. 

In Solidarity with Indians Facing Resurgence of Covid-19 Cases, Says Emmanuel Macron | "I want to send a message of solidarity to the Indian people, facing a resurgence of COVID-19 cases. France is with you in this struggle, which spares no-one. We stand ready to provide our support," says French President Emmanuel Macron.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs a meeting with the Chief Ministers of high burden states, over the prevailing COVID-19 situation

Govt Issues Updated Clinical Guidance for Management of Covid-19 Patients |  The Union Health Ministry has issued an updated 'Clinical Guidance for Management of Adult COVID-19 Patients' recommending emergency use authorisation of remdesivir for patients with moderate to severe diseases, requiring supplemental oxygen, within 10 days of onset of symptoms. The guidelines issued by AIIMS, ICMR-COVID-19 National Task Force and the Joint Monitoring Group (DGHS) under the ministry stated that tocilizumab (a drug that modifies the immune system or its functioning) may be considered in patients with significantly raised inflammatory markers and not improving despite use of steroids with there being no active bacterial/fungal/tubercular infection.

11-year-old Indian boy is Singapore's Sole New Community Case of Covid-19 | An 11-year-old Indian boy was the sole community case of COVID-19 among the 24 new infections reported in Singapore on Thursday, according to a media report.  The boy was part of a cluster identified on April 21 that is linked to an imported case that was likely re-infected in India, the Channel News Asia reported on Friday. The  Dimensions International College student is a household contact of that imported case. He tested negative for COVID-19 on April 17 and April 19 during his quarantine. On April 21, he developed a fever and reported his symptom to the Ministry of Health. Another test was taken, which came back positive for infection. The boy was then taken to a hospital in an ambulance. He is also one of the two locally transmitted cases reported. 

Thirteen Covid-19 patients died in a hospital fire at Virar in Palghar district of Maharashtra early on Friday morning.

DMK president MK Stalin distributes COVID-19 kit in Tamil Nadu - containing a mask, hand sanitiser, and soaps among the people in Chennai.

Tamil Nadu CM Writes to PM Demanding 20 Lakh Vaccine Doses | TN CM Palaniswami writes to PM seeking immediate shipment of 20 lakh COVID vaccine doses amid rise in cases. 

India’s Cumulative Vaccination Coverage Exceeds 13.54 Crores | More than 31 lakh vaccine doses have been administered in the last 24 hours. Five states account for nearly 60% of India’s total active caseload and more than 1.93 lakh recoveries in the last 24 hours. 

Will Talk About Oxygen, Remdesivir in Today's Meeting, Says Maha Minister | "In today’s meeting with the PM, we will talk about Oxygen, Remdesivir, an adequate quantity of vaccines for the State...also the Virar fire incident, it is not national news. State govt will provide financial assistance to those affected," said Maharashtra Minister Rajesh Tope. 

Oxygen tanks reach Max Hospital, "We regret to inform that we are suspending any new patient admissions in all our hospitals in Delhi NCR till oxygen supplies stabilize," the hospital said. 

Delhi | An Oxygen carrying vehicle has reached Max Hospital, Saket after the hospital sent an SOS to the government

Another Oxygen carrying vehicle has reached Max Smart Hospital, says DCP South

(Visuals from Max Hospital, Saket) pic.twitter.com/Ko2geEzJmR

— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2021

Here's state-wise update of cases

India Reported a New Record High of 2,263 Deaths in Last 24 Hrs | India reports 3,32,730 new COVID-19 cases, 2,263 deaths and 1,93,279  discharges in the last 24 hours, as per Union Health Ministry 

Total cases: 1,62,63,695
Total recoveries: 1,36,48,159 
Death toll: 1,86,920
Active cases: 24,28,616 

Total vaccination: 13,54,78,420

25 patients have died at Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in the last 24 hours and the hospital is facing acute shortage of oxygen, the director of the hospital said on Friday morning.

C-17 and IL-76 aircraft of IAF have started airlifting big oxygen tankers from their place of use to the filling stations across the country to speed up the distribution of much needed oxygen.

COVID-19 cases in India continue to rise, and many citizens are unable to book basic facilities due to mounting pressure on healthcare services.

Odisha CM expresses grief over tragic incident in Virar, Maharashtra

Deeply saddened by the loss of lives in the tragic fire accident at a #COVID19 hospital in #Virar, Maharashtra. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief and pray for the speedy recovery of those who have sustained injuries.

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) April 23, 2021

A Norwegian climber hoping to summit Everest confirmed Thursday that he has tested positive for Covid-19, in a blow to Nepal's hopes for a bumper mountaineering season on the world's highest peak.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Condoles Death of Virar victims 

Anguished to hear about the loss of lives due to fire at Virar Covid Hospital ICU. My deepest condolences to the families who have lost their family in the devastating incident.

— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) April 23, 2021

Max Hospital Demands Oxygen Supply

SOS - Less than an hour's Oxygen supplies at Max Smart Hospital & Max Hospital Saket. Awaiting promised fresh supplies from INOX since 1 am. @drharshvardhan @msisodia @PMOIndia @ArvindKejriwal @PiyushGoyal @SatyendarJain over 700 patients admitted, need immediate assistance 🙏🏼

— Max Healthcare (@MaxHealthcare) April 23, 2021

COVID Care Facility at Jaipur's Radha Soami Satsang Beas Centre to be Operational from Apr 25 |  A 500-bed COVID care facility, being developed on the premises of the Radha Soami Satsang Beas centre in Beelwa on Tonk Road here, will become operational from April 25, officials said on Thursday.  The bed capacity at the facility can be increased up to 8,000, they added. "In the first phase, 500 medical surgical unit beds have been made available in the COVID care centre, which will be operational from Sunday at the Radha Soami Satsang Beas centre," according to a spokesperson of the Rajasthan government. The work of setting up the centre by joint teams of various departments is progressing at a rapid pace, he said, adding that the number of beds will be increased in a phased manner in accordance with the requirement.

Canada’s government said it would temporarily bar passenger flights from India and Pakistan for 30 days starting on Thursday as part of stricter measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

Thane Journalist Dies of Covid-19 | Sopan Bongane, a senior journalist from Thane died of COVID-19 at a hospital in Pune on Thursday, family sources said.   Bongane, 68, had served in prominent Marathi news papers during his career.   Thane Guardian Minister Eknath Shinde, MLA Sanjay Kelkar among others condoled his death. 

Health Ministry Releases Document Advising Proning for Self Care for Covid-19 Patients | The Union health ministry on Thursday advised proning for self care' for coronavirus patients, stating that it is extremely beneficial for such patients with compromised breathing comfort, especially during home isolation. The ministry, in a document, said proning is the process of turning a patient with precise, safe motions, from their back onto their abdomen so that the individual is lying face down. Proning is a medically accepted position to improve breathing comfort and oxygenation. It is extremely beneficial in COVID-19 patients with compromised breathing comfort, especially during home isolation, the document stated. Listing the importance of prone lying, the ministry said prone positioning improves ventilation, keeps alveolar units open and breathing easy.

Manipur's Covid-19 Tally Crosses 30,000-mark with 86 New Cases | Manipur's COVID-19 tally crossed the 30,000-mark on Thursday as 86 more people tested positive for the disease, an official said. The fresh infections pushed the coronavirus caseload in the northeastern state to 30,047, he said. The death toll rose to 381 after a 56-year-old man from Imphal East district succumbed to the infection at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences here, the official said. The new cases include 31 from Imphal East, 17 from Imphal West, 14 from Kakching, nine from Churachandpur, six from Bishnupur, four from Thoubal, two each from Chandel and Senapati and one from Kangpokpi district.

Govt Offices in U'khand to Remain Closed for 3 Days for Sanitisation | All government offices in Uttarakhand will remain closed for the next three days till Sunday for proper sanitisation in view of a rising number of coronavirus cases. The order to this effect was issued by the state health department. Through another order, the department has asked all medical colleges, nursing schools and paramedical colleges to switch back to the online mode of education for the month of May and send the students residing in the hostels to their homes. Additional Chief Secretary Radha Raturi also issued an order, closing all government and private schools, colleges and universities till further instructions and asking them to continue with the online mode of teaching.

The first 'Oxygen Express’ carrying liquid medical oxygen departed for Maharashtra from Visakhapatnam on late Thursday night.

Rajasthan Cabinet Reviews COVID Situation in State | The Rajasthan cabinet reviewed the COVID-19 situation and the shortage of oxygen and medicines in the state on Thursday and said the Centre should allocate oxygen to the states judiciously. A cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, was held in the evening, in which the arrangements for COVID management were discussed. The preparations for the vaccination of people above the age of 18 years were also discussed at the meeting, according to a press release. The cabinet expressed concern over the shortage of medical oxygen and Remdesivir injections in the country and stressed on an equitable allocation of these to the states, according to the release.

UPDATE | Jharkhand to provide free COVID-19 vaccine to all above 18 years of age: CM