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Coronavirus News Live Updates: India on Monday recorded 3,52,991 new Covid-19 cases and 2,812 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Amid India seeing unabated Covid-19 cases in the country, the UK has said it is sending vital medical equipment to support the country. This will include ventilators and oxygen concentrators. AFP reported that London will ship more than 600 pieces of equipment to New Delhi to support its fight against the virus, following a request from India and Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledging the UK would do “all it can” to help. “We stand side by side with India as a friend and partner during what is a deeply concerning time in the fight against Covid-19,” Johnson said in a statement.
India saw 22.5 lakh new Covid-19 cases in the last one week, the highest ever the world has seen, pushing India’s health infrastructure to a brim.
With 3,52,991 people testing positive for coronavirus infection in a day, the highest so far, India's total tally of COVID-19 cases has climbed to 1,73,13,163 while active cases have crossed the 28-lakh mark, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday. The death toll increased to 1,95,123 with a record 2,812 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.
Ticket Prices on India-US Flights See a Steep Hike After 'Do Not Travel' Advisory | Airfares on India-US flights have increased significantly since the American government's advisory to its citizens to avoid travelling to India due to a recent surge in COVID-19 cases, aviation industry sources said on Sunday. The average fare for an economy class ticket on an India-US flight is around Rs 50,000, but the fares for this week's flights are hovering around Rs 1.5 lakh, the sources mentioned. High demand for tickets on India-US flights after the advisory on Thursday has led to the spike in fares, they said. "Many passengers want to go to the US immediately as they don't want to get stuck here if further restrictions are put in place on India-US flights," said one of the sources.
India Reports 3.5 Lakh New Cases, 2,812 Deaths | India reports 3,52,991 new Covid-19 cases, 2812 deaths and 2,19,272 discharges in the last 24 hours, as per Union Health Ministry.
Total cases: 1,73,13,163
Total recoveries: 1,43,04,382
Death toll: 1,95,123
Active cases: 28,13,658
Total vaccination: 14,19,11,223
Google to Provide Rs 135 Crore Grant to India: Sundar Pichai | Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google said that he is devastated to see the worsening Covid crisis in India. He said that Google is providing Rs 135 crore to India and UNICEF for medical supplies and grants to help India.
Devastated to see the worsening Covid crisis in India. Google & Googlers are providing Rs 135 Crore in funding to @GiveIndia, @UNICEF for medical supplies, orgs supporting high-risk communities, and grants to help spread critical information.https://t.co/OHJ79iEzZH
— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) April 26, 2021
Grateful to US Govt for Mobilising Help: Satya Nadella | Satya Nadella, Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft and an Indian American said, "I am heartbroken by the current situation in India. I’m grateful the U.S. government is mobilizing to help. Microsoft will continue to use its voice, resources, and technology to aid relief efforts, and support the purchase of critical oxygen concentration devices."
I am heartbroken by the current situation in India. I’m grateful the U.S. government is mobilizing to help. Microsoft will continue to use its voice, resources, and technology to aid relief efforts, and support the purchase of critical oxygen concentration devices.
— Satya Nadella (@satyanadella) April 26, 2021
WATCH | Burj Khalifa in United Arab Emirates lights up with tricolour, to show support to India, amid the prevailing Covid-19 situation in the country.
#WATCH | United Arab Emirates: Burj Khalifa lights up with tricolour, to show support to India, amid the prevailing COVID19 situation in the country
— ANI (@ANI) April 25, 2021
(Video source: Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi, UAE) pic.twitter.com/Btk2eLhAzy
Deputy Secretary of State Wendy R Sherman said that she is in touch with Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla and Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu. "The American people stand in solidarity with our friends in India during these difficult times. We are rapidly providing therapeutics, ventilators, PPE, raw material for vaccines, and more," she said in a tweet.
I’ve been in close touch with FS @HarshVShringla and Amb @SandhuTaranjitS in recent days. The American people stand in solidarity with our friends in India during these difficult times. We are rapidly providing therapeutics, ventilators, PPE, raw material for vaccines, and more. https://t.co/2izPobvN8k
— Wendy R. Sherman (@DeputySecState) April 25, 2021
Aid from UK to Arrive by Tuesday | The first shipment from US is expected to arrive by Tuesday including life saving equipment, including 495 concentrators, 120 non-invasive ventilators and 20 manual ventilators. Aid from France and EU is also expected to come in this week itself.
5 Tonnes of Oxygen to Reach Delhi Today from US | Air India's A102 is transporting five tonnes (5000kg) of oxygen concentrators as cargo from the John F Kennedy International Airport in New York and is scheduled to land in Delhi by today noon. The next flight from the US to India is scheduled to depart from Newark airport and will land in Delhi on April 27.
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Mumbai recorded 5,542 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, its lowest single-day rise this month, giving hope to thousands of frontline workers and the beleaguered administration which has been crumbling…
Hollywood Singer Sends Video Message to Biden to Help India | Popular Hollywood singer Mary Millben has sent a video message to US President Joe Biden urging him to help India, which is grappling with the deadly second wave of coronavirus. Applauding Biden for prioritising Americans in the coronavirus vaccination distribution, Milben, who is a big fan of Indian culture and its people, said the US is headed to better days, but in India the days worsen.
France to Send Oxygen Equipment to India to Help with Covid Crisis | France will send oxygen respiratory equipment to India in the coming days to help the country deal with the serious COVID-19 crisis there, the office of French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday. Earlier on Sunday, the European Commission activated its EU Civil Protection Mechanism and said it was seeking to send oxygen and medicine to India after receiving a request from Delhi.
Vice President Kamala Harris also assured India of providing all assistance, including urgently sending necessary medical life-saving supplies and equipment. "The US is working closely with the Indian government to rapidly deploy additional support and supplies during an alarming COVID-19 outbreak. As we provide assistance, we pray for the people of India including its courageous healthcare workers," Harris said in a tweet.
The U.S. is working closely with the Indian government to rapidly deploy additional support and supplies during an alarming COVID-19 outbreak. As we provide assistance, we pray for the people of India—including its courageous healthcare workers.
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) April 25, 2021
Delhi Reports 22,933 New Cases, Lowest in Nine Days | Delhi recorded 350 COVID-19 deaths and 22,933 cases with a positivity rate of 30.21 percent on Sunday, even as hospitals across the city continued to send out SOS calls for oxygen supply. This is the fourth day on the trot that Delhi has recorded over 300 deaths due to coronavirus. It had reported 357 fatalities, the highest so far since the pandemic began a year ago, on Saturday, 348 on Friday and 306 on Thursday, according to government data.
US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have assured India and its people of providing all assistance, including urgently sending necessary medical life-saving supplies and equipment, to help the country combat the deadly coronavirus crisis. Just as India sent assistance to the United States as our hospitals were strained early in the pandemic, we are determined to help India in its time of need, Biden said in a tweet.
Just as India sent assistance to the United States as our hospitals were strained early in the pandemic, we are determined to help India in its time of need. https://t.co/SzWRj0eP3y
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 25, 2021
10,193 New Coronavirus Cases in Pune District, 139 Deaths | Pune district in Maharashtra reported 10,193 new coronavirus cases and 139 fatalities on Sunday, which took its infection tally to 7,93,186 and death toll to 12,306, an official said. Of the new cases, 4,631 were from the areas located within the Pune Municipal Corporation limits, where the caseload has now reached 4,00,117, he said.
16 Critical Covid-19 Patients Rescued After Fire in Gujarat Hospital | As many as 16 critical COVID-19 patients were rescued and shifted to safer places after a fire broke out in the ICU of a private hospital here on Sunday night, officials said. No casualty was reported due to the blaze, they added. A fire broke out in Ayush Hospital located on the fifth floor of a multi-storey building on Station Road in Surat at around 11.40 pm Sunday, after which sixteen patients admitted in the ICU were rescued and shifted to safer places with no casualty being reported in the incident, the officials said.
Germany Will Send Oxygen, Medical Aid to India | Germany will send oxygen and medical aid to India in the coming days to help it tackle its COVID-19 crisis, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Monday. A German defence ministry spokeswoman said the foreign ministry had asked the military to look into providing a mobile oxygen production facility as well as support to transport other emergency and relief goods to India.
India Adds 22.5 Lakh Cases, 16,257 Deaths in a Week | India on Sunday reported 3.35 lakh cases and 2,807 deaths, both being new global highs. Between April 18 and April 25, India reported 22.49 lakh cases, highest cases by any country in any seven-day period since the pandemic. Compared with 8,588 deaths reported in the week ending April 18, the last seven day saw 16,257 deaths.
Delhi Records 350 Deaths, Lockdown Extended by Another Week | Delhi recorded 350 COVID-19 deaths on Sunday with the government deciding to extend the ongoing lockdown for another week, while a few hospitals struggled to arrange continuous supply of oxygen. While the situation was better at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital on Sunday with the officials saying it is the first time in three days that all patients are getting the life-saving gas at "normal pressure", several hospitals including Pentamed, Jaipur Golden and Gandhi Hospital, took to social media to send out SOS messages about dwindling stocks.
UP Govt Orders 50 Lakh Doses of Covisheild, Covaxin Each | To ensure availability of adequate doses of COVID-19 vaccine in Uttar Pradesh, the state government has ordered 50 lakhs doses of Covishield and Covaxin each from manufacturing companies. Covishield is manufactured by Serum Institute of India and Covaxin by Bharat Biotech Limited. In a statement issued here on Sunday, the UP government said that in pursuance with the Centre's order, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is planning to take the vaccine across the state in an organised manner. The state government has already offered the vaccine free of cost to everyone over the age of 18 from May 1, it said.
The tweets by Biden and Harris are the first reactions by the top American leadership after the recent outbreak of deadly COVID19 pandemic in India. The two have been criticizsed by friends of India in the US, including some of their own party leaders, for slow response to the American help to their natural ally. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said she has been in close touch with Foreign Secretary Harshvardhan Shringla and India's Ambassador to US Taranjit Singh Sandhu in recent days on the issue.
Biden, Harris Assure India of Support in Fight Against COVID-19 | US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have assured India and its people of providing all assistance, including urgently sending necessary medical life-saving supplies and equipment, to help the country combat the deadly coronavirus crisis. Just as India sent assistance to the United States as our hospitals were strained early in the pandemic, we are determined to help India in its time of need, Biden said in a tweet.
