The number of active Covid-19 cases in India has dropped to 36,73,802 and comprise 15.07% of the total infections.Coronavirus Daily Cases and Deaths in India, Covid Vaccine India Live Updates: The Covid-19 crisis in India is far from over with the second wave of coronavirus continues its surge even though the number of daily cases is showing a declining trend. The country is still reporting more than 3 lakh Covid-19 cases daily for several weeks since the resurgence of the second Covid-19 wave. India saw 3,26,098 new coronavirus infections in the last 24 hours, taking the Covid-19 tally to 2,43,72,907, according to the data from the Union Health Ministry.
The number of active Covid-19 cases in the country has dropped to 36,73,802 and comprise 15.07 per cent of the total infections, while the national Covid-19 recovery rate has improved to 83.83 per cent, the Union health ministry said. The number of people who have recovered from coronavirus has increased to 2,04,32,898, while the case fatality rate stands at 1.09 per cent.
As India struggle with the raging virus, vaccination is the only way out of the coronavirus pandemic, say experts. India so far has vaccinated fully only 3 per cent of its population of 133 crore, which is worrying. In addition, there is this confusing policy by the Narendra Modi government. States/UTs are crying for vaccine supply; several vaccine centres have closed due to a shortage of vaccines. As the struggle for a vaccine continues, most of the states/UTs have imposed complete lockdown and the rest have announced strict Covid-19 restrictions in order to limit the spread of Covid-19 infections.
As the world’s second-most populous nation tries to find a way out of the second wave of coronavirus infections, here are the latest, confirmed updates on Covid-19 from India and around the globe:
Highlights
Serum Institute of India (SII) is doing its best to ramp up the production of COVID-19 vaccine Covishield to cater to demand in the country, Adar Poonawalla said on Saturday. Responding to a tweet by JSW Group Chairman Sajjan Jindal, Poonawalla said the vaccine major is doing its best to introduce vaccines on priority for the Indian market. | Read More
The Delhi government on Saturday issued standard operating procedures (SOPs) for issuing domiciliary oxygen concentrators for COVID-19 patients who have been discharged from hospitals. Earlier in the day, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced the launch of an oxygen concentrator bank for use by patients who are under home isolation. | Read More
Number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in India stands at 18,21,99,668 as per 8 pm provisional report today. 5,58,477 beneficiaries of the age group 18-44 years received their first dose of COVID vaccine today & cumulatively 48,21,550 across 32 States/UTs: Health Ministry (ANI)
13,565 new COVID19 cases, 149 deaths and 17,481 recoveries reported in Rajasthan today
Active cases 2,08,688
Total cases 8,49,379Death toll 6,621Total recovered cases 6,34,070 (ANI)
Punjab records 6867 new COVID19 cases, 8125 discharges and 217 deaths in the last 24 hours
Active cases 77,789 (ANI)
Amid vaccine shortage faced by Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said his government has written to Dr Reddy's Laboratories for supply of around 67 lakh doses of Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V. Dr Reddy's Laboratories launched Sputnik V -- the first foreign-made vaccine being used in the country -- on Friday. | Read More
The second wave of the pandemic in the country is likely to have a 'short-term setback' mostly affecting the blue-collar jobs and the gig or temporary workers especially in the retail, hospitality, aviation and construction industry, according to a report. As India's economy tried regaining its footing earlier this year, the number of job opportunities rose 32 per cent during January-March 2021 as compared to the preceding December quarter, hinting towards an economic revival in the country, the report by global recruitment specialist Michael Page said. However, it stated that in the ongoing second wave of the pandemic (April and May 2021), India is witnessing a decline in the economic activity owing to the localised lockdowns, but the impact on the economy is unlikely to be as devastating as in 2020. | Read More
Plasma therapy on COVID-19 patients has not been found effective in reducing the progression to severe disease or death and is likely to be dropped from the clinical management guidelines, sources said. In a meeting of the ICMR-National Task Force for COVID-19 on Friday, all members were in favour of removing the use of convalescent plasma from the Clinical Guidance for Management of Adult COVID-19 Patients citing its ineffectiveness and inappropriate use in several cases, they said. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) will issue an advisory on the matter soon, they said. | Read More
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called for augmenting healthcare resources in rural areas to focus on door to door testing and surveillance, and asserted that localised containment strategies are the need of the hour, especially in states with high positivity rate in districts. Chairing a high-level meeting, Modi said states should be encouraged to report their COVID-19 numbers transparently “without any pressure of high numbers showing adversely on their efforts”, remarks that come amid reports that many states have been under-reporting their case and fatality tallies. | Read More
Partial coronavirus curfew in UP extended till 7 am of May 24: govt statement (PTI)
Tamil Nadu records 33,658 new COVID19 cases, 303 fatalities and 20,905 discharges todayActive cases 2,07,789
Total cases 15,65,035Death toll 17,359Total discharges 13,39,887 (ANI)
1,447 new coronavirus cases, 62 deaths in Mumbai: civic body (PTI)
7,571 new COVID19 cases, 72 deaths and 11,973 recoveries reported in Madhya Pradesh today
Active cases 99,970
Total cases 7,24,279Death toll 6,913Total recoveries 6,17,396 (ANI)
Andhra Pradesh registers 22,517 new COVID19 cases, 98 deaths, 18,739 recoveries in the past 24 hours
Total cases: 14,11,320Death toll: 9,271Total recovered cases: 11,94,582
Active cases: 2,07,467 (ANI)
Goa reports 1957 new COVID19 cases, 58 deaths and 3512 recoveries in the last 24 hours
Active cases: 30,774Total cases: 1,34,542 (ANI)
West Bengal registers 144 new COVID-19 fatalities, highest so far in single day, 19,511 fresh cases: Health Dept (PTI)
We repeatedly asked private COVID hospitals in Goa -- around 21 -- to reserve 50% beds for COVID patients but they didn't comply. Hence, Govt will take control of admissions at these hospitals from Monday. Govt will pay for the treatment at these hospitals. These hospitals will be run by the hospital staff. We're only taking control of admissions. A government officer will be stationed at each of these private hospitals, who will ensure that 50% of the beds are reserved for COVID-19 patients: Goa CM Pramod Sawant (ANI)
Karnataka reports 41,664 new COVID-19 cases, 34,425 discharges, and 349 deaths in the last 24 hours
Active cases: 6,05,494Total recoveries: 15,44,982Death toll: 21,434 (ANI)
Mumbai reports 1,147 new COVID-19 cases, 2,333 recoveries, and 62 deaths in the last 24 hours
Active cases: 36,674Total recoveries: 6,34,315Death toll: 14,200 (ANI)
Kerala's COVID-19 tally has risen to 20,88,208 with 32,680 fresh cases, death toll has climbed to 6,339 with 96 more fatalities: State government (PTI)
In Covid pandemic circumstances, no one shall be denied a service/benefit just because she or he doesn’t have an Aadhaar: Unique Identification Authority of India (ANI)
First Oxygen Express reaches Andhra Pradesh with two tankers containing 40 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen: South Central Railway (PTI)
Relaxations provided under Gas Cylinders Rules, 2016, so as to fast track approvals for imported cylinders and pressure vessels for storage and transportation of medical oxygen: Govt of India (ANI)
Tribal-dominated Jharkhand on Saturday saw its fresh fatalities plunge below 100 for the third time in May at 76, with capital Ranchi also witnessing COVID-19 related deaths coming down to 28. This is a 37 per cent dip, compared to an average 121 fatalities during May so far. The death toll in the state has climbed to 4,366, as per a Health Department bulletin. Ranchi district recorded 28 new fatalities as compared to 40 a day before. The state had recorded 97 fatalities each on May 13 and May 10 while to date this month, the highest number of 159 deaths was registered on May 2. (PTI)
Goondas Act will be invoked against those who hoard Remdesivir injections and oxygen cylinders, and sell them at an exorbitant price: Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin (ANI)
Received over 1.73 lakh Covishield doses on Saturday; now have 6 days of stocks of this vaccine available for 45 age group: AAP MLA Atishi | Read More
West Bengal: People line up outside liquor shops in different parts of Kolkata ahead of the imposition of a two-week lockdown starting at 6 am tomorrow.
The state chief secretary has said that liquor shops will remain closed during the lockdown. (ANI)
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There is no shortage of medical oxygen in Karnataka. We are taking all measures including by deploying oxygen concentrators & oxygen generators and are trying to mobilize oxygen from different parts of the country: Deputy CM CN Ashwath Narayan (ANI)
There is an increase in the death toll. Late admission to hospitals is the main cause. 20%-25% of cases are admitted within 24 hours. 90% of patients are in home isolation. We've formed a team & to check conditions of patients in home isolation. Earlier we were doing random testing, later when the positive rate increased to more than 20-30%, it means we've to accept there is a community spread so we’ve changed our strategy to do the quality test only for symptomatic & primary contacts: BBMP Special Commissioner Health (ANI)
The Forum for Durgotsab, an organisation comprising 500 durga puja committees, on Saturday organised COVID-19 awareness campaigns in several market areas of the city and its outskirts to sensitise the public. Members of the committees took out tableaux with messages about Covid protocols like avoiding gatherings, wearing masks and using sanitisers, in their respective localities. The committee members also distributed masks. The forum organised the campaigns in 80 places from Salt Lake City to Thakurpukur. "We organised campaigns at Jadubabur Bazar and Lansdown Market in the Bhawanipore area, among several other places," Secretary of 75 Pally Puja Committee, Subir Das, told PTI. The campaigns, which found support from singer Lopamudra Mitra and elocutionist Satinath Mukherjee, were organised from 7 am to 12 noon. (PTI)
The overall COVID-19 situation in the country is stabilizing and the government will work towards ensuring further stabilisation, NITI Aayog member V K Paul said on Saturday. At a press conference on Saturday, top health officials said 10 states account for 85 per cent of the total coronavirus cases in the country. The Union Health Ministry said 11 states have over one lakh active COVID-19 cases, 17 have less than 50,000 cases while eight have active cases between 50,000 and one lakh. It also said Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh, which are recording a high number of novel coronavirus cases, are also reporting decline in the number of active cases. Twenty-four states have a COVID-19 positivity rate of more than 15 per cent while Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Daman and Diu, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh have reported a major drop in case positivity, it said. India in a day recorded 3,26,098 COVID-19 cases that took the tally to 2,43,72,907, while 3,890 new fatalities pushed the death toll to 2,66,207, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Saturday. (PTI)
The Government of India's disastrous vaccine strategy will ensure a devastating third wave (of COVID-19). It can't be repeated enough - India needs a proper vaccine strategy: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi | Read More
Himachal Pradesh government extends 'Corona Curfew' till 6 am on May 26 (ANI)
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Through the Sea-Bridge, under the relief campaign initiated by the government of Kuwait, on Saturday, May 15, 2021, a commercial vessel reached India with Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO). Giving details of the same with Financial Express Online, the ambassador of Kuwait to India, Jasem Al Najem said, “The fourth vessel is MV Capt Kattelmann. It has already reached Mumbai port and has a load of 75 MT of LMO and also has 1000 Oxygen Cylinders.” So far Kuwait has sent in 215 MT of LMO and 2600 Oxygen cylinders. | Read More
Puducherry reports 1598 new COVID19 cases, 1774 discharges and 20 deaths in the last 24 hours
Active cases: 17,228 (ANI)
Odisha Govt forms a high-level advisory committee led by K Srinath Reddy, President, Public Health Foundation of India to suggest measures to the state govt to tackle the possible third wave of COVID-19 pandemic (ANI)
When govt has increased gap between the 1st and 2nd dose of the Covishield vaccine to 12-16 weeks, the UK is announcing that they’re going back to the gap of 8 weeks, at least for people over the age of 50. I'm not competent to second guess the scientists & medical experts but my humble appeal to them is please don’t play the game of the govt. The govt is laying a trap in which scientists & medical experts will fall & the govt will pass the blame on them. Please make up your mind and speak the truth irrespective of the government what's from you to say or the government says independently: Congress leader P Chidambaram (ANI)
Tribal-dominated Jharkhand on Saturday saw its fresh fatalities plunge below 100 for the third time in May at 76, with capital Ranchi also witnessing COVID-19 related deaths coming down to 28. This is a 37 per cent dip, compared to an average 121 fatalities during May so far. The death toll in the state has climbed to 4,366, as per a Health Department bulletin. Ranchi district recorded 28 new fatalities as compared to 40 a day before. The state had recorded 97 fatalities each on May 13 and May 10 while to date this month, the highest number of 159 deaths was registered on May 2. READ MORE
Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has compared the COVID-19 vaccination situation in the country to an arranged marriage. Mazumdar-Shaw, the executive chairperson of biotechnology major Biocon, in a lighter vein compared the two while bringing out the confusion that currently prevails regarding the entire vaccination process. "The vaccine situation in India is like arranged marriage. First u r not ready, then u don't like any, then u don't get any!! Those who got are unhappy thinking may be the other one would have been better. Those who did not get any are willing to get any one," Mazumdar-Shaw tweeted on Saturday. Earlier this week, Mazumdar-Shaw had expressed concern over shortage of COVID-19 vaccines and sought better transparency from the government regarding their availability so that citizens could patiently wait for their turn. "Very concerned about why vaccines are in such short supply. Can we please know where the 70 million doses are being deployed every month? @MoHFW_INDIA We need better transparency to avoid the suspense. If a timetable of supplies is made public people can patiently wait their turn,' Mazumdar-Shaw had tweeted while tagging the Health Ministry. India has announced expansion of its COVID-19 vaccination drive by allowing its large population aged over 18 to get inoculated from May 1. (PTI)
The Himachal Pradesh government has decided to extend the coronavirus-induced curfew in the state till May 26. The decision to extend the curfew was taken in a state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Saturday. Informing about the cabinet decisions, state Parliamentary Minister Suresh Bhardwaj told the media that the three-hour daily relaxation in the curfew would be provided for opening essential commodity shops. The minister said hardware shops would also open on Tuesday and Friday. Bhardwaj urged the public to either postpone the weddings or hold them in a simple way at their homes with not more than 20 people. (PTI)