Family members of Covid-19 patients wait to fill their empty cylinders with medical oxygen outside an oxygen filling centre, at Bhogal, New Delhi. (Express Photo: Amit Mehra)
Coronavirus: Symptoms, treatment of Covid-19
The list already included fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell and sore throat. They may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus.
India reported a record 3,780 deaths in the last 24 hours, the highest daily toll since the pandemic began. Over 900 deaths were from Maharashtra, while Delhi and Uttar Pradesh reported 338 and 351, respectively. At least 13 states are reporting more than 100 deaths a day. These include previously uncounted deaths from earlier days. The country reported 3.82 lakh cases of the novel coronavirus in the 24 hours ending 9 am Wednesday. Of these, Maharashtra recorded 51,880 cases, while Karnataka reported 44,631. Active cases are now more than 34.87 lakh.
As India continues to report over three lakh Covid-19 cases a day, several states are still flagging a shortage of oxygen supply. The Haryana government told the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday that several lives would be lost if it didn't receive timely supply of oxygen; the Maharashtra government and Mumbai's civic body BMC wrote separately to the Centre requesting enhanced allocation of oxygen; and 41 hospitals in New Delhi with 7,000 patients raised alarm bells on a single day on May 3.
The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday observed that the "death of Covid patients just for non-supplying of oxygen to the hospitals is a criminal act and not less than a genocide" by those responsible for ensuring the continuous procurement and supply. Meanwhile, production has come to a halt in the country's largest oxygen cylinder manufacturing units as they were included in the ban on use of industrial oxygen. Despite a clarification from the Centre, the ban is yet to be lifted by the Gujarat government.
An online meeting of the Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council lasted just 10 minutes on Tuesday morning before it was decided to postpone the tournament indefinitely. BCCI secretary Jay Shah told attendees that it was untenable to carry on because of the breach in the IPL bio-bubble. The secretary told the GC members that the safety of the players was most important and the only option was to postpone the tournament.
The tournament which the BCCI was conducting in the midst of a raging pandemic in India had to be called off midway, with 29 games played and 31 left to be conducted.
With the global community responding to India’s Covid crisis by sending aid in the form of medicines, oxygen concentrators and ventilators, the Centre has now begun distributing these, with the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Tuesday saying 40 lakh items have been sent to 38 institutions across 31 states.
“The global community has extended a helping hand in supporting efforts of Government of India in this collective fight against the global COVID-19 pandemic… The materials are being given by countries due to the immediate and urgent requirements in different parts of the country. This help is over and above what Govt of India is already providing, and is thus an additionality for the states and UTs,” the Health Ministry said in a statement.
The Railways’ isolation coaches have admitted 146 Covid-19 patients, discharged 80 and are currently treating 66, the Railway Ministry said Tuesday. The Railways has deployed nearly 4,000 Isolation coaches with almost 64,000 beds to serve as isolation units during the second wave of the pandemic.
“At some locations, the Railway authorities have also provided new logistical solutions like supported ramps on stair-cases for hassle-free transport of sick patients besides facilitative conveniences… for better isolation on railway platforms that serve as freeway for movement of medical personnel and supplies,” it said.
Covid-19 patients at the Covid Care Centre at Shehnai banquet in New Delhi (Express Photo/Amit Mehra)
Punjab has recorded 8,874 fresh Covid cases — its highest single-day surge — and 154 deaths within 24 hours, according to the state bulletin on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the state has received a fresh supply of 1.75 lakh vaccine doses from the Centre, including 1 lakh doses of Covishield and 75,000 doses of Covaxin for healthcare, frontline workers and those aged 45 years and above.
Punjab has reported a total of 4,16,350 Covid cases, of which 66,568 are active. Read More
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued an advisory on right to health in view of the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. “We have taken into account ground reports relating to human rights violations, particularly denial of right of access to healthcare, and advised states to implement recommendations and submit reports of the action taken within four weeks,” said Bimbadhar Pradhan, secretary general of NHRC.
The advisory was issued on May 4 and, among key recommendations, the rights body said it was the responsibility of a public hospital to transfer the patient to an appropriate hospital if it did not have adequate number of beds for Covid-19 treatment. Read More
People arriving in the national capital from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana through any mode of transport will have to undergo 14 days of mandatory institutional quarantine, said an order issued by the Delhi government on Thursday.
However, those who have been administered both doses of any COVID vaccine or carry a negative RT-PCR test report not older than 72 hours prior to undertaking the journey, will be required to be home quarantined for seven days, it said.
The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) stated in the order that a virulent variant of COVID-19 is reported to have been found recently in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The new strain of COVID-19 has a shorter incubation period with high transmission rate and the progress of disease is much more rapid in this strain, it said. (PTI)
The city airport on Thursday issued new guidelines for domestic passengers arrivals, making RT-PCR negative report mandatory for passengers landing in Mumbai from seven states, including Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
Domestic passengers arriving from Delhi, Rajasthan, Goa, Kerala, Gujarat, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh need to carry RT- PCR negative reports with them before boarding the flight, the private airport operator said in an advisory tweeted on Thursday.
The RT-PCR sample collection should have been done within 72 hours before scheduled time of landing, it said. (PTI)
Amid a surge in coronavirus cases, the Rajasthan government on Thursday announced a strict lockdown in the state from May 10 to 24 under which marriage functions, intrastate movement and MGNREGA works have also been suspended.
Marriage functions will be allowed only after May 31. The advance booking amount given to marriage gardens, bands etc. will be either returned or adjusted later, the government said. However, marriages will be permitted during this period only in courts or at home in the presence of maximum of 11 people, according to a state cabinet decision.
The decision to impose a "strict lockdown" was taken at a virtual cabinet meeting Thursday night. Chief Minster Ashok Gehlot said the lockdown will be in force from 5 am on May 10 to 5 am on May 24.
The state witnessed a surge in coronavirus cases over the past few days. It reported 161 coronavirus-related deaths and 17,532 fresh cases on Thursday, pushing the toll to 5,182 and the infection count to 7,02,568, according to an official report. (PTI)
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday hinted at a lockdown in the state to curb the rising COVID-19 cases and said a final decision on the matter would be taken in the next 2 to 3 days.
Sawant attended a meeting of MLAs through video conferencing to take stock of the COVID-19 situation in the state. Talking to reporters after the meeting, the Chief Minister said the state government was thinking positively about the lockdown and a decision will be taken in the next 2 to 3 days. "We will talk to all stakeholders before taking the decision," he said.
Goa on Thursday reported its highest daily tally so far with 3,869 COVID-19 cases that took the infection count to 1,08,267, an official from the health department said. The toll mounted to 1,501 after 58 patients died of the infection during the day, the official said. (PTI)
The Delhi Police has registered over 300 cases in connection with cheating and black-marketing or hoarding of oxygen cylinders and medical equipment during the second wave the COVID-19 pandemic, officials said on Thursday.
Delhi Police's Public Relations Officer (PRO) Chinmoy Biswal said a total of 303 FIRs have so far been registered in connection with such incidents.
"Of these, 225 were registered in connection with cheating people on the pretext of providing Remdesivir injections and oxygen cylinders in the last few days, since a helpline (011-23469900) number was launched to receive public complaints along with the cyber helpline (155260), which is already in service.
"Seventy-eight cases of black-marketing and hoarding of oxygen cylinders and medical equipment have been registered and a total of 144 people arrested so far," he said. (PTI)
Joining the chorus of activists and opposition parties in the state, the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) on Thursday urged chief minister Pramod Sawant to enforce a lockdown in the state with Covid-19 infections in the state nearing 30,000 active cases. On Thursday there were 29,752 active cases in Goa and 58 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours.
The GCCI said that the lockdown imposed in the state last year from March 22 to May 4 had helped in controlling the spread of the virus. “ Unfortunately, this time around, we have so far been reluctant to use the tried and tested method and seem to be concentrating more on the economic revival rather than survival of the citizens”.
The GCCI said partial lockdowns are not effective. “There is a growing concern in the minds of the citizens and the local authorities that is reflected in several of the Village Panchayats and Municipalities declaring their own lockdowns which are in contrast to the partial lockdowns imposed by the District Administrations”.
GCCI president Manoj Caculo wrote in his letter to the Chief Minister “We submit that the healthcare infrastructure in the State is already on the brink of being overwhelmed, and there is an urgent need to take the extreme measure of total lockdown for at least 15 days with a view to arrest the increasing number of positive cases and fatalities and give much required breather to revive the Healthcare systems and the health workers to rejuvenate and ramp up the capacities and capabilities.”
"PM Narendra Modi speaks to CMs of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand about COVID-19 situation in their states," government sources said. "PM Narendra Modi also speaks to LGs of Puducherry, Jammu & Kashmir about COVID-19 situation in two union territories," government sources said.
Manipur government Thursday extended containment period in greater Imphal, areas under Imphal Municipal Council, till May 16. Night curfew will remain in force from 7pm to 5am.
Despite a “severe shortage” of water affecting many parts of Delhi, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) on Thursday said it has no plans to restrict or cut water supply to Covid hospitals or other healthcare facilities.
In a statement, the DJB said media reports have claimed that it was planning to cut water supply in Covid hospitals across the capital due to shortage.
“It is a fact that due to severe shortage of raw water supply from Haryana, there is an overall reduction of 60-65 million gallons per day (MGD) in the water production, which is adversely affecting potable water supply in many parts of Delhi, especially the tail-end of command areas. The situation is aggravated due to the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic and the peak water demand during the summer months,” the DJB said in a statement. Read more
Kejriwal caps ambulance charges in Delhi
Those arriving in West Bengal by train must carry negative RT-PCR report, the Railways said on Thursday citing an order from the chief secretary of the state. West Bengal is the latest among a number of states which have made it mandatory for passengers to carry negative RT-PCR tests in order to gain entry into the state. "The Chief Secretary, Government of West Bengal have issued an order... Incoming passengers by long distance trains and inter-state buses will also mandatorily carry RT- PCR negative test reports. "No West Bengal-bound passenger is expected to board a train or bus with destination in West Bengal without such a test report. Random checking will be arranged in this regard, for inter alia, checking the authenticity of the test reports also," the Railways said quoting the state government order. West Bengal, which was in election mode with the Assembly poll results being announced on May 2, has reported a huge surge in cases in the past few days. --PTI
Gurugram district administration today announced the launch of a dedicated WhatsApp COVID-19 helpline to provide citizens access to critical information and a central repository of all COVID-19 resources. The helpline has been developed by a group of volunteers, private sector organizations and with the support of various departments within the Gurugram District Administration. The helpline is free to use and is available in Hindi and English. Citizens can send ‘Hi’ to the number +91 9643277788 on WhatsApp or click on https://wa.me/919643277788 to directly connect to the helpline.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal thanked the Centre on Thursday for supplying Delhi with 730 metric tonnes of oxygen and requested hospitals to increase COVID beds that they had to cut down due to shortage of the life-saving gas in the past few days. If 700 MT of daily oxygen supply is ensured by the Centre, Delhi government can set up around 9,000-9,500 more oxygen beds, he said. Kejriwal said Delhi received 730 MT of oxygen on Wednesday and the city would require daily supply of 700 MT till the second coronavirus wave lasts. He urged hospitals that were forced to cut down number of oxygen beds due to shortage of the gas in recent days, to increase it now to previous level. This way, he added, 1,000-2,000 more beds will be added, he said. --PTI
Delhi High Court on Thursday suggested Delhi government to rope in LPG cylinder distributers for distribution of oxygen cylinders. Delhi government told the court that they are working on the website for online booking for refilling of oxygen cylinders
Centre moves SC against Karnataka HC order asking it to increase daily liquid medical oxygen allocation for state to 1200 MT instead of 965 MT. The central government sought stay of Karnataka HC order asking it the state's supply . "Will have to look at paper book before issuing any order," says SC on Centre's plea for stay of Karnataka HC order on supply of LMO. --PTI
PM Modi on Thursday undertook a comprehensive review of the Covid-19 situation in India. "He was given a detailed picture on the Covid outbreak in various states and districts. He was informed about the 12 states which have more than 1 lakh active cases. PM was also apprised about the districts with high disease burden," said PIB in a statement.
The statement also said, "PM was briefed about the ramping up of healthcare infrastructure by the states. PM directed that states should be given help & guidance about leading indicators to ramp up healthcare infrastructure.The need to ensure quick and holistic containment measures were also discussed. PM noted that an advisory was sent to the states to identify districts of concern where case positivity is 10% or more & bed occupancy is more than 60% on either oxygen supported or ICU beds. PM also reviewed the availability of medicines. He was briefed about the rapid augmenting of production of medicines including Remdesivir."
PM reviewed the progress on vaccination and the roadmap for scaling up production on vaccines in the next few months. He was informed that around 17.7 crore vaccines have been supplied to the states. PM also reviewed the state wise trends on vaccine wastage. PM was briefed that around 31% of eligible population over the age of 45 has been given atleast one dose. PM spoke about the need to sensitise states that the speed of vaccination doesn’t come down.
Citizens should be facilitated for vaccination despite lockdowns and healthcare workers involved in vaccination must not be diverted for other duties.Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, Dr Harsh Vardhan, Piyush Goyal, Mansukh Mandaviya other ministers and top officials were present at the meeting.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal writes to PM Modi, says, "I express my gratitude on behalf of people of Delhi for the supply of 730 MT oxygen yesterday. I request you to supply the same amount of oxygen daily to Delhi."
The UK strain of coronavirus is currently dominating parts of north India while double mutant could be found mostly in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat, Sujeet Singh, Director of National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has said. He, however, added that the B1.1.7 lineage of SARS CoV-2 (UK variant) is declining in proportion across the country in the last month and a half.
Addressing a press briefing on Wednesday, Singh said the UK strain is dominating parts of north India including Punjab (482 samples) and Delhi (516), followed by Telangana (192), Maharashtra (83) and Karnataka (82). He said 10 top government laboratories and institutions have been sequencing the genomes of coronavirus since December. A total of 18,053 samples have been sequenced so far, he added.