Coronavirus India Highlights: Covid pandemic ‘once-in-a-century’ crisis, says Union Council of Ministers

Coronavirus India Highlights: Terming the pandemic a ‘once-in-a-century’ crisis, the Union Council of Minister on Friday said Covid-19 has thrown a big challenge to the world. The Council said this in a statement after a meeting with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the current Covid situation in India. In the meeting the PM urged the Union ministers to stay in touch with people of their regions, help them and keep getting their feedback.

As India continues to grapple with surge in Covid-19 cases and the resultant oxygen shortage at hospitals, the Centre on Friday said the second wave of Covid-19 is five times the peak in first wave in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, 4.5 times in Chhattisgarh and 3.3 times in Delhi.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said that the national capital has not yet received covid-19 vaccinations and that his government is in constant touch with companies for the same. This comes a day before India is set to open vaccinations for all adults. “We’ve requested both companies to make available to us 67 lakh doses each in the next 3 months. Delhi govt is ready to make payments for it. People of Delhi will be given free vaccines, kejriwal said at a Covid-19 presser.

In a “strong message” to all states and DGP of states, the Supreme Court said that any clampdown on information in which citizens are communicating their grievances will be treated as a contempt of court. “We want to make it very clear that if citizens communicate their grievances on social media and the internet then it cannot be said to be wrong information,” Justice Chandrachud said during a hearing today.

Meanwhile, as India grapples with a deadly Covid-19 second wave, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is chairing a meeting of the Union Council of Ministers on Friday.  The meeting of the council of ministers is the first in the aftermath of the second wave. Sources said the pandemic and the response of the government is likely to be discussed in the virtual meet. The ongoing vaccination drive, which will now open for those in the 18-45 age group from May 1, could also be discussed.

Centre released new Covid-19 guidelines on home isolation, managing fever, and use of remdesivir. Read our explainer here