Volunteers pack food for COVID-19 patients at a community kitchen during Corona lockdown in Kozhikode on Monday. (PTI photo)Coronavirus Cases in India Today, Coronavirus Statistics in India News: India’s official data showed a minor decline in the number of fresh coronavirus cases and Covid deaths in the last 224 hours. The Union Health Ministry’s official bulletin says that around 3.6 lakh new corona cases were reported across the country, whereas 3,754 people lost their lives due to the Covid-19 infection. With the nation fighting the invisible enemy, the focus is now on getting the vaccines and arranging for the Oxygen cylinders. While the Centre has told the Supreme Court that it can perfectly handle the vaccine crisis on its own, the SoS messages on social media say otherwise. In the latest editorial, the Lancet didn’t mince words and clearly said that the Narendra Modi government is responsible for the current catastrophe. ‘Modi’s actions are inexcusable,’ is what the noted medical Journal said.
The problem is not only about the ad-hoc approach such as lockdowns and restrictions but also the lack of any long-term action plan. What Lancet is saying in May, Indian scientists had said in March about another wave of coronavirus infections. Yet the Centre didn’t pay heed. From organising super spreader events such as Kumbh and Assembly elections to exporting the vaccines, the gross mismanagement has led to this day when people are dying not due to the disease but because of lack of medicines and Oxygen.
The new phase of vaccination has also slowed down because now the private entities are dealing with multiple issues such as procurement, transportation etc. Amid this is the perennial issue of the under-reporting of the cases and the deaths. If we don’t report accurate data, we will never know the extent to which the coronavirus pandemic has spread in the country. Meanwhile, states have tightened the corona curbs. National Capital is under lockdown with Delhi Metro services being suspended during the period. Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand have also extended the lockdown. With 28% positivity rate, Kerala is also locked up to help the healthcare workers. After Delhi, Ahmedabad and Lucknow, grim scenes are being reported from Bengaluru where the crematorium grounds are overwhelmed with the Covid deaths.
As the nation grapples with the devastating second wave of coronavirus, here are the latest Covid updates from India and across the globe:
Highlights
The number of daily coronavirus positive cases in Maharashtra, which has been reeling under the resurgent pandemic, dropped below 40,000 to 37,236 on Monday for the first time after March 31. Maharashtra’s overall caseload now stands at 51,38,973 while 549 fatalities pushed the toll 76,398, the state health department said. | Read More
The telecom department on Monday asserted that there is absolutely no link between 5G technology and the spread of COVID, as it urged the public not to be misguided by baseless and false messages being circulated on social media platforms. The claim that 5G trials or networks are causing coronavirus in India is "false" and without any scientific basis, an official release said. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) said several misleading messages are being circulated on various social media platforms, claiming that the second wave of coronavirus has been caused by the testing of the 5G mobile towers. "...these messages are false and absolutely not correct...the general public is hereby informed that there is no link between 5G technology and spread of COVID-19 and they are urged not to be misguided by the false information and rumours spread in this matter. The claims linking the 5G technology with the COVID-19 pandemic are false and have no scientific basis," it said. (PTI)
Based on the state administration's experience in dealing with the first and second waves of coronavirus in Gujarat, a detailed action plan will be chalked out in the coming days to tackle a possible third wave, said Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Monday. In view of the possibility of the 'third wave' hitting India, as predicted by healthcare experts, the CM held a meeting with top doctors, who are part of the government's task force on COVID-19, and scientists of the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) here to formulate a state-level strategy, said an official release. (PTI)
An FIR has been lodged against unidentified people for violating COVID19 protocols during the funeral procession of a religious leader in Badaun. FIR was lodged under IPC 188 and other relevant sections of IPC: Sankalp Sharma, SSP (ANI)
In a first, a prominent private school in the national capital has been converted into a 100-bed dedicated COVID care centre. Set up at Mount Carmel School in southwest Delhi's Dwarka, The Vijay Williams COVID Care Centre has a team of 75 volunteers, including doctors, nurses and paramedics, said school dean Michael Williams, who recovered from COVID-19 days ago and has lost family members to the viral disease, on Monday. 'Almost six weeks ago, our group of church friends started planning this. Almost 100 churches across Delhi have come together for this,' Williams told. (PTI)
We are also working on a method to ensure that the non tech savvy citizens and those who can’t operate the CoWin app with ease, and for their access to vaccines in time: Maharashtra Minister Aditya Thackeray (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh reports 9,715 fresh COVID cases, 7,324 recoveries, and 81 deaths in the last 24 hours
Active cases: 1,11,223Total recoveries: 5,63,754Death toll: 6,501 (ANI)
West Bengal on Monday reported record 134 COVID-19 deaths, besides registering the highest single-day spike of 19,445 new cases, the state Health Department said. The cases were detected after testing 62,186 samples in the last 24 hours, taking the positivity rate to 31.26 per cent. | Read More
To ensure that vaccination is swift & efficient, after discussing issue with CM Uddhav Thackeray Ji, as guardian minister of Mumbai, we've asked Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to explore possibilities of global procurement of vaccines: Maharashtra Minister Aditya Thackeray (ANI)
Centre failed in their vaccination policy, they failed in providing oxygen to state govts & UTs because the supply of vaccine is in the exclusive domain of union govt. They slept on their own scientists' warning that 2nd wave will come but despite that, the govt failed: Owaisi (ANI)
Centre failed in their vaccination policy, they failed in providing oxygen to state govts & UTs because the supply of vaccine is in the exclusive domain of union govt. They slept on their own scientists' warning that 2nd wave will come but despite that, the govt failed: Owaisi (ANI)
Jharkhand to launch free vaccination for 18-44 age group on May 14: Chief Minister Hemant Soren (PTI)
With the world’s worst outbreak of COVID-19 severely straining the health system in the country, the government has made sweeping changes in the way departments procure medical supplies, including allowing procurement of the same item at different rates. Relaxing tendering norms, the Department of Expenditure has allowed global tenders to be floated for less than Rs 200 crore as well. | Read More
Since the coronavirus pandemic first began last year, search engine giant Google has taken several measures globally and enhanced its services globally to aid people’s understanding and knowledge about the virus and its related aspects. Now that India is facing an aggressive second wave of the virus for nearly three months, Google has said that it is working with public health services, hospitals as well as non-profit organisations to focus on three areas – amplification of vital safety and vaccination messages, provision of the latest authoritative information for people and provision of financial assistance to affected communities, health authorities as well as other organisations. While a lot of its efforts now are enhancements of the features that it began providing last year, these features have helped to some extent in fighting misinformation and in providing quick help. | Read More
Despite the time of festivals (including Ramazan and Eid) the decision (to extend the corona curfew) was taken to keep everyone safe. I once again appeal to all the people to adhere to the COVID19 curfew: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha (ANI)
Mumbai reports 1,794 new COVID19 cases, 74 deaths and 3,580 recoveries in the last 24 hours
Total positive cases: 6,78,269Total active cases: 45,534 (ANI)
Mumbai reports 1,794 new COVID19 cases, 74 deaths and 3,580 recoveries in the last 24 hours
Total positive cases: 6,78,269Total active cases: 45,534 (ANI)
COVID19 | Himachal Pradesh reports 4,359 new positive cases, 2,355 recoveries and 53 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Total active cases: 34,417Total positive cases: 1,35,782 (ANI)
Odisha Cabinet decides to float global tender to procure COVID-19 vaccine: official (PTI)
Maharashtra reports 37,236 new positive COVID-19 cases, 549 deaths and 61,607 recoveries in the last 24 hours
Total active cases: 5,90,818Total positive cases: 51,38,973Total death toll: 76,398Total recoveries: 44,69,425 (ANI)
COVID19 | Manipur reports 424 new positive cases, 13 deaths and 87 recoveries in the last 24 hours.
Total active cases: 4,604 Total positive cases: 35,778 (ANI)
Uttarakhand reports 5,541 new COVID-19 positive cases, and 168 deaths in the last 24 hours. Total active at 74,480 and total positive cases at 2,49,814 (ANI)
Gujarat reports 11,592 fresh COVID cases, 14,931 discharges, and 117 deaths in the last 24 hours
Total cases: 6,92,604Total discharges: 5,47,935Active cases: 1,36,158Death toll: 8,511
Total vaccination in the state: 1,37,49,335 (ANI)
A total of 8,900 oxygen concentrators, 5,043 oxygen cylinders, 18 oxygen generation plants and about 3.4 lakh Remdesivir vials received as aid from foreign countries have been delivered or dispatched to various states and union territories between April 27 and May 9, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday. Major items received on May 9 from the UK, South Korea, USISPF, include 1,000 ventilators/BiPAP/CPAP, 2,267 oxygen concentrators, 10,000 oximeters and 200 cylinders, it stated. | Read More
A total of 8,900 oxygen concentrators, 5,043 oxygen cylinders, 18 oxygen generation plants and about 3.4 lakh Remdesivir vials received as aid from foreign countries have been delivered or dispatched to various states and union territories between April 27 and May 9, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday. Major items received on May 9 from the UK, South Korea, USISPF, include 1,000 ventilators/BiPAP/CPAP, 2,267 oxygen concentrators, 10,000 oximeters and 200 cylinders, it stated. | Read More
COVID19 | Karnataka reports 39,305 new positive cases, 32,188 recoveries and 596 deaths in the last 24 hours. Total active cases at 5,71,006 and total positive cases at 19,73,683 now (ANI)
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan writes to PM Narendra Modi requesting him to allocate the entire 219 MT oxygen produced in Kerala to the state after May 10. "Projected number of patients may be rise to around 6,00,000 by May 15," he writes. (ANI)
Jammu & Kashmir reports 3,614 new COVID-19 positive cases, 2,855 recoveries and 56 deaths in the last 24 hours. Total active cases are now 49,951 (ANI)
Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI) on Monday said waiving intellectual property rights will not lead to increased production of COVID-19 vaccines, as it is not the barrier to their adequate availability in India. A proposal moved by India and South Africa before the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to temporarily suspend trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights for the COVID-19 vaccines to increase their access amid the coronavirus pandemic has gained support across a number of countries, including the US. | Read More
Last week, drug firm Roche India received approvals for the Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) from the Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) for the antibody cocktail to be used in treatment of the Coronavirus infection. The antibody cocktail can now be imported to India as well as be marketed and distributed via a strategic partnership with Cipla. It is to note that the approvals have come at a time when India is facing a tsunami of COVID-19 cases on an everyday basis. The idea is to help infected people get treatment before the conditions worsens and turns into high risk. | Read More
As many as 1,952 employees of the Indian Railways have succumbed to coronavirus so far and around 1,000 are getting infected on a daily basis, a senior official said on Monday. The Railways is one of the largest employers in not just the country but the world with around 13 lakh employees. "Railways is not different from any other state or territory and we are also getting COVID cases. We are in the business of transport and have to move freight and people. Around 1,000 (COVID) cases are reported daily," Railway Board Chairman Suneet Sharma said. "We have our hospitals" We have augmented the number of beds, we have built oxygen plants in rail hospitals. We take care of our staff. As of now, we have 4,000 beds occupied by staff and their families. Our effort is to see that they recover quickly. As of yesterday, 1,952 rail employees have died due to COVID-19 since March last year," he added. (PTI)
AAP leader Atishi Monday said the Delhi government will have to close vaccination centres where Covaxin is being administered to beneficiaries in the 18-44 age group after Tuesday evening if its stocks are not replenished. Delhi's Covaxin stock for this category would last till Tuesday evening, she said, adding Covishield doses for this age group can last up to four days. "On Monday morning, Delhi had 2.74 lakh vaccine doses for people in the 18-plus category," she said, releasing the city's 'Vaccination Bulletin'. "After Tuesday evening, the Delhi government will have to start closing down the vaccination centres where Covaxin is being administered (to the 18-44 age group). We will also have to shut down Covishield inoculation centres after four days," she said. (PTI)
In support of the fight against Covid-19 and as part of the Indian Navy's ongoing operation 'Samudra Setu II', INS Kolkata arrived at New Mangalore Port on Monday carrying critical medical supplies including liquid medical oxygen from Qatar and Kuwait, a defence official said. 'The ship brought in 400 bottles of Oxygen and two containers of 30 MT Liquid Medical Oxygen that were embarked at Qatar and Kuwait. (PTI)
Kerala on Monday reported as many as 27,487 new COVID-19 cases and 65 fatalities, taking the caseload to 19,00,060 and death toll to 5,879, the state government said. While the total number of active cases stands at 4,19,726, the positivity rate is at 27.56 per cent, showing signs of decline. With 31,209 recovering from the disease in the last 24 hours, the total number of people recovered reached 15,04,160. As many as 99,748 samples were tested and the test positivity rate (TPR) was 27.56 per cent. | Read More
Ambulances coming from Andhra Pradesh, being stopped at Telangana border and not allowed to cross if the COVID patient doesn't have permission and bed confirmation from any hospital in Telangana. Ambulances carrying COVID patients with no such approvals are being sent back. Higher-level officials from Andhra Pradesh have spoken with officials in Telangana government. The Telangana officials have assured that such issues will be resolved within a short time. (ANI)
Coronavirus vaccine: Even 10 days after the vaccination drive was opened up for people aged above 18 years, several states have not yet been able to begin the vaccination of people in the 18 – 44 age group, mainly due to lack of adequate doses. In Punjab, for example, the phase 1 and phase 2 of vaccination drive – in which healthcare workers, frontline workers and people above the age of 45 years are being inoculated – in being carried out, the third phase of vaccination has yet to begin. To understand this issue of vaccine shortage, it is important to know all about the vaccine supply chain in India. | Read More
Chandigarh administration decides to extend corona curfew by another one week. The night curfew from 6 pm to 5 am will be implemented. Day-time movement will be allowed. (ANI)
255 bedded COVID hospital set up by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Uttar Pradesh government opened in Lucknow today (ANI)
Second wave posed a new challenge before us - the demand for oxygen went up suddenly. We have to supply oxygen to Ayodhya too, from where it is being supplied to nearby districts. We are thankful to Govt of India & PM Modi who are running special trains for this. Oxygen Express is being run, tankers being sent on large aircraft of Air Force. Yesterday, we supplied 1000 MT of oxygen in the state. But it shouldn't remain restricted to supply, Oxygen Plants should be established too. Work is underway to set up 300 Oxygen Plants in state. We have also provided Oxygen concentrators to all districts. In the first phase, all districts have been provided the same. More concerntrators will also be provided: UP CM Yogi Adityanath (ANI)
Instead of giving COVID-19 vaccine to states, BJP govt sold jabs to foreign countries: Delhi Deputy CM and AAP leader Manish Sisodia (PTI)