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Coronavirus News LIVE Updates: Thirteen Covid-19 patients died due to lack of oxygen at the Goa Medical College for the third consecutive night. Fifteen patients had died at the GMCH in the early hours of Thursday, the state government told the Bombay High Court, two days after 26 coronavirus patients had succumbed at the same facility. The Goa bench of the HC said state authorities told it some of the casualties may have taken place due to “logistical issues” related to connecting oxygen cylinders to the manifold (group of large gas cylinders) that resulted in interruption and drop in pressure in supply lines of oxygen to patients. The HC observed that despite its order on providing medical oxygen to COVID-19 patients at the GMCH, there were 15 deaths during the dark hours of 2 am and 6 am in the government-run facility on Thursday. The bench was hearing a bunch of petitions on recent death of COVID-19 patients at the GMCH allegedly due to lack of medical oxygen.
In the biggest indication that the United States is fast returning to pre-pandemic life, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said fully vaccinated people are no longer required to wear masks. The recommendation holds true for both indoors and outdoors, the CDC said. Following the announcement on Thursday, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris appeared before reporters at the Rose Garden of the White House without wearing masks. “I think it’s a great milestone. A great day. It’s been made possible by the extraordinary success we’ve had in vaccinating so many Americans so quickly,” Biden said. Referring to the latest CDC guidelines, Biden said fully vaccinated people are at a very, very low risk of contracting COVID-19. Therefore, if you’ve been fully vaccinated, you no longer need to wear a mask. But if you’ve not been vaccinated, or if you’ve been getting a two-shot vaccine and you’ve only had your first shot but not your second, or you haven’t waited the full two weeks after your second shot, you still need to wear a mask,” the President said.
He said 250 million vaccine shots have been given in 114 days. “We are seeing the results. Cases are down in 49 of 50 states. New York Times has reported that hospitalisations are the lowest they’ve been since April of 2020, over a year ago, right after the start of the pandemic. Deaths are down 80 per cent and also at their lowest level since April of 2020,” Biden said. He said that the virus tragically rages in other countries. “In less than four months, we’ve gone from 5.5 per cent to nearly 60 per cent of the adults in America with at least one shot in their arm. We’ve gone from stagnation to an economy that is growing faster than it has in nearly 40 years. We’ve gone from an anemic job creation, to a record for job creation for a new administration,” Biden added.
Japan will provide India with 500 ventilators and 500 oxygen concentrators
Japan will provide India with 500 ventilators and 500 oxygen concentrators in addition to the previously announced aids, making the total number of equipment delivered from Japan to 800 each. Japan continues to stand with India in her #FightCOVID! #JapanIndia
— Embassy of Japan in India (@JapaninIndia) May 14, 2021
We Allocate 40,000 Doses Per Day Based on Vaccine Availability: BBMP Commissioner | Based on COVID-19 vaccines availability, we allocate 40,000 doses per day to 198 wards i.e. 200 doses per ward. Priority is being given to people aged 45 years & above for 2nd jab since a limited quantity of vaccines is available, said Gaurav Gupta, BBMP Chief Commissioner.
READ | No Slot, Hyderabad Dwellers Go Extra Mile for Jabs, Digital Divide Curbs Vaccine Access In Rural Belt
With vaccine centres in Hyderabad packed to the rafters, beneficiaries, especially those awaiting their second dose, are travelling as far as 100 km to nearby semi-urban towns to get the jab.
13 Covid-Infected Patients Succumb at Goa Medical College Amid Oxygen Shortage
Black Fungus has Claimed 52 Lives in Maha So Far: Official | As many as 52 people have died due to Mucormycosis, a rare but dangerous fungal infection, in Maharashtra since the COVID-19 outbreak last year, a senior health department official said on Friday. Mucormycosis, also known as black fungus, became a much talked about subject after some recovering and recovered coronavirus patients were found infected with the disease, whose symptoms include headache, fever, pain under the eyes, nasal or sinus congestion and partial loss of vision. As many as 52 people in Maharashtra have died due to the Mucormycosis disease since the COVID-19 outbreak last year. All of them were COVID-19 survivors, but succumbed to the black fungus infection, the official told.
Oxygen Express Reaches Chennai from Durgapur
"The first #OxygenExpress has reached Chennai from Durgapur with medical Oxygen for COVID-19 patients in Tamil Nadu," tweets Railways Minister Piyush Goyal pic.twitter.com/GjPsbgv1nn
— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2021
People follow Covid-19 protocols on the ocassion of Eid-ul-fitr
Karnataka: People offer #EidUlFitr namaz at their home following COVID protocols in Hubli as state-wide lockdown is imposed till May 24 pic.twitter.com/qB6GOapK2D
— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2021
READ | 'Great Milestone, Great Day': Fully Vaccinated Americans No Longer Need to Mask Up, Maintain Social Distancing
In the biggest indication that the United States is fast returning to pre-pandemic life, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said fully vaccinated people are no longer required to…
Today's Data Highlights
- 3.43 lakh new cases, 3.45 lakh new recoveries, 4000 new deaths, 5.6k dip in active cases
- Maharashtra reports 42.58k new cases, Kerala 39.96k, Karnataka 35.3k
- Maharashtra reports 850 new cases, Karnataka 344, Delhi 308
- India's weekly trend of new cases shows a -6% dip
- India's total recoveries crosses the 2 crore mark
- 13 states/UTs report dip in active cases. Maharashtra (-12.8k), Delhi (-5k), Gujarat (/4.6k)
- 18.76 lakh new tests in India. Test positivity rate: 18.3% (19.45% the previous day)
- Test positivity rate: Goa 35.16%, Sikkim 33.92%, West Bengal 29.57%
- 20.27 lakh new vaccine doses administered. Total: 17.93 crore. 10.34 lakh received 1st dose yesterday, 9.93 lakh second dose.
- 4.05 crore Indians fully vaccinated. 2.92% of population
READ | Mental Health Takes Hit Amid Covid-19 As Quack Therapists Mushroom On Social Media
As the second Covid wave wreaks havoc across the country, it has taken a massive toll on mental health.
Here's State-wise update of the cases
India Reports 3,43,144 Fresh COVID-19 Cases, 4,000 Deaths in Last 24 Hours | India reports 3,43,144 new COVID19 cases, 3,44,776 discharges and 4,000 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per Union Health Ministry
Total cases: 2,40,46,809
Total discharges: 2,00,79,599
Death toll: 2,62,317
Active cases: 37,04,893
Total vaccination: 17,92,98,584
As many as 31,13,24,100 samples have been tested in the country up till May 13 including 18,75,515 samples tested yesterday, said the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
Eastern Command, Gajraj Corps has set up 5 ICU and 45 Oxygen beds in Tezpur Medical College, Tezpur.
#IndiaFightsCOVID19
— ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) May 14, 2021
हौसला न छोड़, कर सामना जीत जायेंगे हम ।
As part of the continued fight against COVID -19, #IndianArmy #EasternCommand #GajrajCorps has set up 5 ICU and 45 Oxygen beds in Tezpur Medical College #Tezpur.#Unite2FightCorona pic.twitter.com/eknBgrK8kW
Manipur BJP Chief S Tikendra Singh Dies of Covid-19 | Manipur BJP president S Tikendra Singh who had been undergoing treatment for COVID-19 at a hospital in Imphal passed away on Thursday evening. He was 69. He had tested positive for the virus on April 27. Chief Minister N Biren Singh while informing about the death tweeted, "Im at a loss of word to learn that Prof S Tiken Singh, president BJP Manipur, has passed away just a while ago.
READ | Despite Highest Number of Daily Cases, India Does Not Label Itself in Community Transmission Category
Despite registering highest number of cases globally every day, WHO report says India is yet to label itself in the category of community transmission (CT), opting instead for the lower, less serious…
Centre Should take COVID-triggered Black Fungus Infections Seriously, Says Gehlot | Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday expressed concern over the occurrence of black fungus infection among recovered COVID-19 patients and said the Centre should take it seriously. The black fungus infection, also known as mucormycosis, is caused by a fungus called mucormycosis. "It is very worrying to see cases of mucormycosis disease among patients who have recovered from coronavirus in various states of the country, including Rajasthan. It has been learnt that this disease is affecting diabetics who have recovered from coronavirus more," Gehlot said in a series of tweets in Hindi. "The Centre should take it seriously and conduct research to prevent it. Also, medicines and injections needed for the prevention and treatment of this disease such as amphotericin should be arranged so that there is no shortage," he said.
Dr Anthony Fauci, top US infectious disease expert on vaccine efficacy
I don't have much information on Covaxin, but what I do know is Sputnik seems to be quite efficacious, at a high level of close to 90% or so, but I don't have enough information on the Covaxin: Dr Anthony Fauci, top US infectious disease expert in an interview to ANI#COVID19 pic.twitter.com/50xMw2x9Rk
— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2021
Over 50 lakh Patients Served by eSanjeevani During COVID-19 Pandemic: Govt | In around a little over a year, the Union Health Ministry's telemedicine initiative eSanjeevani has served more than 50 lakh patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patient to doctor remote consultation services were rolled out by the Union Health Ministry in April 2020, while the OPDs (outpatient department) in the country were closed during the first lockdown, the ministry said. The flagship National Telemedicine Service of the Union Health Ministry, eSanjeevani, is operational in 31 states and union territories in the country and daily around 40,000 patients across the country are using this contactless and risk-free modality of healthcare services delivery, it said in a statement.
"You've got to use some resources for your people", Dr Anthony Fauci Suggests on India's Vaccination Drive
You(India) have got to work out arrangements with countries & companies while ramping up your capability of making vaccines. India is one of best if not biggest vaccine producers. You've got to use some resources for your people: Dr Anthony Fauci, top US infectious disease expert pic.twitter.com/LNDFPYa8ag
— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2021
Total Number of COVID Vaccine Doses Given in India Nears 18 Cr | The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country inched closer to 18 crore, the Union Health Ministry said on Thursday. It said 4,37,192 beneficiaries in the age group of 18-44 years received their first dose of COVID vaccine on Thursday and cumulatively 39,14,688 across 32 states and union territories since the start of the third phase of the vaccination drive. "The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country stands at 17,91,77,029 as per the 8 pm provisional report," the ministry said.
READ | Health Ministry Accepts Proposal To Increase Gap Between 2 Covishield Doses To 12-16 Weeks
The Union health ministry agreed on Thursday to extend the gap between two doses of Serum Institute of India (SII)’s Covishield to 12-16 weeks, acting on the recommendation by an advisory group on…
COVID Care Centre be Set up in JNU to Isolate those Who Tested Positive: HC to Varsity, Delhi Govt | The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed that a COVID care centre be set up inside the Jawaharlal Nehru University for immediate isolation of those residents who have tested positive as coronavirus cases inside the campus are "quite high". Justice Prathiba M Singh said the premises for setting up the centre be set up in consultation with the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) of the area. "This would enable such affected persons to immediately isolate and for their basic parameters to be monitored. In the creation of the isolation facility, if the services of any of the faculty members who are part of the petitioner association are required, their recommendations/ assistance may also be availed of by the COVID Task Force," the court said.
The second batch of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine will arrive in India on May 14, after the first batch of 1.
DCPCR Chief Advises Pregnant Women, Lactating Mothers be Brought Under Covid-19 Vaccination Process | The Delhi Commission For Protection Of Child Rights chairman Anurag Kundu has written to the Union Health Secretary urging him to include pregnant women and lactating mothers under the coronavirus vaccination process. Currently, they are excluded from the COVID-19 vaccination drive because of a lack of clinical trials data on the effect of coronavirus vaccine on these two groups.
4. Create a registry for pregnant women and lactating mothers being vaccinated so that a continuous monitoring mechanism can exist to see if the vaccine has an adverse effect on pregnant women.
— Anurag Kundu (@AnuragKunduAK) May 13, 2021
Excluding such an important group is an unwise solution and may even prove costly.
More Frequent Side-effects Reported Mixing Pfizer and Oxford Covid Jabs, Study Suggests | Administering one dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine followed by one of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine (or vice versa) induces a higher frequency of mild to moderate side-effects compared with standard two doses of either vaccine, initial data from a key UK trial suggests. The Oxford-led Com-Cov study is exploring the safety and efficacy of mixed-dose schedules given that they are being considered in several countries – including the UK – to fortify vaccine rollout programmes that are dependent on unstable vaccine supplies.
Preparing to Send 159 Oxygen Concentrators to India: Pentagon | The US defense forces are preparing to send 159 oxygen concentrators to India via a commercial flight next week, the Pentagon said. "Defense Logistics Agency is preparing 159 oxygen concentrators at Travis Air Force Base. They are scheduled to ship via commercial air for a Monday, that's the 17th of May, delivery to India," Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said at a news conference on Thursday.
Covid-19 help aid arrives from Kazakhstan
"Further deepening our Strategic Partnership. Welcome shipment of over 5.6 million masks/respirators that arrived from Kazakhstan," tweets MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi pic.twitter.com/tUo2c9Vmph
— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2021
Call for ‘Surge Vaccinations’ as UK Cases of India Covid-19 Variant Double | Ministers are under growing pressure to deploy “surge vaccinations” in Covid hotspots, with some local authorities pushing to extend the offer of jabs to over-18s to stop the spread of a coronavirus variant. Boris Johnson said he was anxious about the spread of the variant first detected in India, as cases more than doubled in a week. Government scientific advisers held urgent talks with just days until the next significant phase of social unlocking that would allow people in England from different households to gather indoors again for the first time in five months.
Fully Vaccinated Americans No Longer Need to Wear Masks, Says CDC Director | United States CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky announces that fully vaccinated Americans no longer need to wear masks or physically distance, indoors or outdoors in almost all circumstances.
