Coronavirus updates LIVE: During this, the vaccination drive in the country is still ongoing.Coronavirus Lockdown and Curfew Extended Highlights, Covid-19 Cases in India Highlights: As India battles a severe second wave of the coronavirus, the cases seem to be reducing in the country. In the past 24 hours, the country has reported 2,40,842 new cases, along with 3,741 deaths. This has led the total case count in the country to 2,65,30,132, while the number of deaths have crossed 2.99 lakh, according to the data shared by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Sunday. The active cases in the country stand at 28.05 lakh currently, while the total number of recovered cases stand 2,34,25,467.
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan called yoga guru Ramdev’s statement on allopathic medicines extremely unfortunate, and asked him to withdraw it. “Your statement on allopathy can break morale of healthcare workers, weaken our fight against Covid,” Vardhan told Ramdev, as per PTI.
Over the past few days, the country has been recording a steady decline in the number of daily cases, even as the daily number of COVID-19 tests are at a record high of 20 lakh for a few days.
During this, the vaccination drive in the country is still ongoing, even as there has been a shortage of doses, according to some states. The ministry shared that by the end of the vaccination session on Saturday, a total of 19.49 crore vaccine doses have been administered, of which 15.19 crore are first doses and 4.3 crore are second doses.
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Highlights
Punjab reports 5,094 new COVID-19 positive cases, 8,527 recoveries, and 172 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Total positive cases: 5,38,994Active cases: 57,505 (ANI)
COVID-19 | Rajasthan reports 6,521 new positive cases, 113 deaths, and 16,520 recoveries in the last 24 hours.
Total positive cases: 9,16,042Active cases: 1,12,218 (ANI)
COVID-19 | Delhi reports 1,649 new positive cases, 189 deaths, and 5,158 recoveries in the last 24 hours.
Total positive cases:14,16,868Active cases: 27,610 (ANI)
COVID-19 | Manipur reports 767 new positive cases, 609 recoveries and 14 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Total positive cases: 44,089Active cases: 6,534 (ANI)
India becomes 3rd nation after the US, Brazil to cross 3 lakh COVID deaths (ANI)
COVID-19 | West Bengal reports 18,422 new positive cases, 156 deaths, and 19,429 recoveries in the last 24 hours.
Total positive cases: 12,48,668Active cases: 1,29,362 (ANI)
COVID-19 | Maharashtra reports 26,672 new cases, 29,177 recoveries, and 594 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Total positive cases: 55,79,897Active cases: 3,48,395 (ANI)
Lockdown extended in Rajasthan till June 8: State govt (PTI)
COVID-19 death toll in Rajasthan rises to 7,703 with 113 more fatalities, 6,521 new cases push infection count to 9,16,042; number of active cases stands at 1,12,218: Officials (PTI)
Uttarakhand reports 3,050 new COVID-19 positive cases, 6,173 recoveries, and 53 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Total positive cases: 3,13,519Active cases: 54,735 (ANI)
COVID-19 | Goa reports 1,621 new positive cases, 2,545 recoveries, and 42 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Total positive cases: 1,46,460Active cases: 17,277 (ANI)
COVID-19 | Chandigarh reports 360 new positive cases in the last 24 hours. Total active cases at 4,874 and total positive cases at 58,489. (ANI)
Karnataka reports 25,979 new COVID-19 positive cases, 35,573 recoveries and 626 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Total positive cases: 24,24,904Active cases: 4,72,986 (ANI)
COVID19 | 1,309 new positive cases, 4,059 recoveries, and 59 deaths reported in Himachal Pradesh, in the last 24 hours.
Total cases: 1,79,034Active cases: 25,979 (ANI)
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan calls yoga guru Ramdev's statement on allopathic medicines extremely unfortunate, asks him to withdraw it. Your statement on allopathy can break morale of healthcare workers, weaken our fight against Covid: Health Minister Harsh Vardhan to Ramdev (PTI)
Mizoram on Sunday reported 214 new COVID-19 cases, pushing the state's tally to 10,220, a senior official said. The death toll remained unchanged at 31. Aizawl district registered the maximum number of new cases 158, followed by Lunglei and Lawngtlai, which reported 18 and 14 cases respectively, he said. At least 43 children are among the new patients. Sixty-five new cases were detected at Zoram Medical College's RT-PCR laboratory, five at the state's TrueNat facilities, and 144 via Rapid Antigen Test, he said. (PTI)
There will be no Covaxin doses left for those aged above 45, frontline & healthcare workers in Delhi after Monday. No clarity yet from Centre on supply of next installment of Covaxin for those above 45 years. No clarity yet from Centre on supply of next installment of Covaxin for those above 45 years in Delhi: AAP MLA Atishi (PTI)
A team of three engineers from Indore in Madhya Pradesh has been rendering their ventilator-related technical services free of cost in government-run hospitals in different parts of the state amid the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. The team, popularly known as 'Ventilator Express' on social media, not only installs new ventilators sent under the Central government's PM Cares Fund, but also repairs old ones and makes them operational once again. In the last one-and-a-half months, the members of the team- Pankaj Kshirsagar (production engineer), Chirag Shah (mechanical engineer) and Shailendra Singh (environmental engineer) - have travelled hundreds of kilometres in the state to provide their services. Talking to PTI on Sunday, Kshirsagar said his team has already rendered technical services in Indore as well as in Dhar, Shajapur, Rajgarh, Sagar, Damoh, Katni, Mandla and Shahdol districts. (PTI)
Around 64,000 people given COVID-19 vaccine jabs in Delhi on May 22: AAP MLA Atishi (PTI)
We've requested Centre to bring Pfizer vaccine for nearly 3 crore teachers & students in country. If Pfizer isn't available, another vaccine being used for those above 18 years should be considered as about 20%-25% of class 12 students are 18+ & 70% are between 17-18 yrs: Delhi Education Minister & Deputy CM Manish Sisodia (ANI)
Given that the 3rd COVID wave is likely to impact students, Delhi govt is not in favour of conducting exams in any form. We have proposed to conduct Class 12 exams like class 10, on the basis of historical references. We've conveyed the same to the Centre.: Delhi Education Minister & Deputy CM Manish Sisodia (ANI)
The Haryana government on Sunday extended the coronavirus lockdown till May 31, according to an order issued here. State Chief Secretary Vijai Vardhan in the order said the lockdown, which was earlier imposed till May 24, has been extended by a week till 5 am on May 31. In a bid to contain the coronavirus spread, the state government had first imposed the lockdown on May 3, which was extended every week since then. The Haryana government has termed the lockdown as "Mahamari Alert/Surkshit Haryana (Epidemic Alert/Safe Haryana)". The state has so far reported 7,33,628 infection cases, including 7,415 deaths. (PTI)
Amid the raging coronavirus pandemic and some experts warning of a possible third wave, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday appealed to people to consult doctors immediately if children show any symptoms. Addressing paediatricians virtually, the chief minister said the immediate diagnosis was the need of the hour. | Read More
Amid the raging coronavirus pandemic and some experts warning of a possible third wave, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday appealed to people to consult doctors immediately if children show any symptoms. Addressing paediatricians virtually, the chief minister said the immediate diagnosis was the need of the hour. "Don't be complacent and negligent regarding any symptoms in children. Consult a doctor immediately," Thackeray said. (PTI)
COVID19 restrictions under 'Surakshit Haryana' extended for a week till 5 am on May 31: Haryana Government. (ANI)
A group of small and medium Indian technology companies and a defence PSU have joined hands to manufacture oxygen concentrators based on an open source design project Marut, initiated by robotic and automation startup Technido to meet the immediate need of patients and reduce dependency on imports. According to the companies involved in the project, the oxygen concentrator (OC) with 10 litres per minute flow with purity of above 93 per cent and capability to operate round-the-clock can be retailed at about half the price of imported units in the range of Rs 65,000-70,000 per piece. The prices can further reduce to Rs 35,000-40,000 apiece on bulk purchase of 100 units or more, according to Technido. (PTI)
Amid a spike in COVID-19 cases, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has authorised deputy commissioners to utilise all available staff for Covid-related work like mobilisation for vaccination, testing and surveillance, an official order said on Sunday. It also stated that ASHA and Anganwadi workers would be trained and empowered to assist in Covid mitigation efforts in the Union territory, while the health department would ensure establishment of telemedicine arrangements in all districts to enable patients to call and consult doctors. (PTI)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Sunday directed District Collectors to intensify measures like door to door survey to detect people with COVID-19 symptoms during the week long intense lockdown commencing on May 24. Conducting medical camps for early detection of infected people, increasing testing and continuation of the vaccination drive without slackness were among the measures the Chief Minister underscored. (PTI)
Odisha's COVID-19 tally mounted to 6,92,382 on Sunday as the state reported its highest single-day spike of 12,852 new cases, despite undergoing lockdown for more than two weeks, a health department official said. The state also registered 28 fresh COVID fatalities, the biggest one-day count, which took the toll to 2,484, he said. Of the new cases, 7,195 were reported from quarantine centres and the remaining 5,657 detected during contact tracing. (PTI)
Amid declining trend in COVID-19 deaths in Jharkhand that recorded 41 fatalities in the last 24 hours, Chief Minister Hemant Soren said that partial lockdown in the state and strictures have resulted in success of the struggle against coronavirus. The government is not hesitating in taking tough decisions, if needed, and is focussing on protecting rural areas after breaking the chain of transmission of the virus in urban areas, Soren said. "In this battle of livelihood and life, we are working very carefully to save both," the chief minister said. (PTI)
Puducherry govt announces extension of lockdown till May 31 in Union Territory. (PTI)
The Delhi government is not in favour of the CBSE exploring options to conduct the Class 12 board examinations and going ahead with the process without vaccinating the students will prove to be a big mistake, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said on Sunday. He said this during a high-level meeting called by the Ministry of Education to decide the fate of the pending Class 12 board exams and the subsequent entrance exams, which were postponed in view of the second wave of COVID-19. "Two options were discussed at the meeting. The first was conducting the exams in the present format for the major subjects and marking for the rest of the subjects on the basis of the performance in these papers. (PTI)
A woman can get vaccinated against COVID-19 anytime after the delivery of her baby, healthcare experts have said and stressed on the need to permit vaccination of even pregnant women to protect them from the infection. The government recently allowed vaccination for lactating mothers. The NITI Aayog Member (Health) has stressed that there is no problem in breastfeeding after vaccination and it must not be halted "even for an hour". Healthcare experts have also said that a woman can get vaccinated against COVID-19 anytime after the delivery of her baby. (PTI)
Absence of medical resources forced COVID-19 patients to fend for themselves and look for oxygen concentrator as an alternative to liquid medical oxygen (LMO) and even procure the device from overseas amid short supply, the Delhi High Court has said. The court made the observation while declaring as "unconstitutional" the Centre's decision to impose Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) on oxygen concentrators which are imported by individuals or received as gifts for personal use. The verdict came on a plea by 85-year-old Gurcharan Singh, who was suffering from COVID-19, challenging the imposition of IGST on the import of oxygen concentrators as gift for personal use. He had said his nephew sent an oxygen concentrator for him as a gift from the US to ameliorate his condition. (PTI)
BSP supremo Mayawati on Sunday said the fungal diseases linked to COVID-19 are extremely serious and fatal, and that the Centre and state governments should take robust steps to tackle the situation. "Not only coronavirus, the fungal diseases related to the infection are also extremely serious and fatal. The Centre and the state governments must work with full seriousness and in a concrete manner because preparations to tackle COVID situation in the country are still incomplete," she tweeted in Hindi. (PTI)
The Aurangabad Municipal Corporation has formed 10 teams to implement 'break the chain' restrictions that have been in force since April to tackle the COVID-19 outbreak, an official said on Sunday. These teams, each comprising four members, have the right to register cases against shops, establishments and the like found violating outbreak norms, and have been functioning since Saturday between 11am to 8pm, the official said. On Saturday, they collected fines amounting to Rs 2.17 lakh and sealed three shops for allegedly violating norms, he said. (PTI)
A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court raising the issue of alleged overcharging for cremations and ambulance services during the COVID-19 pandemic and seeking a direction to the Centre to consider formulating a policy to protect the rights of the dead. Referring to reports about several bodies found floating in the river Ganga, the plea said the Centre should be directed to advise all states and Union Territories (UTs) to frame guidelines prescribing rates for cremation or burial of those who have died due to the deadly virus and also for ambulance services along with penal actions for non-compliance at the earliest. (PTI)
Indian naval ship INS Trikand reached Mumbai on Sunday with 40 metric tonnes of Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) from Qatar, as part of the ongoing Operation 'Samudra Setu II' to support India's fight against the coronavirus pandemic, an official said. "As part of ongoing #COVID relief Operation #SamudraSetu_II, #INSTrikand arrived at #Mumbai today with two Liq Med O2 (LMO) containers of 20 MT each $@$# 100 O2 cylinders from #Qatar," the Navy spokesperson tweeted. (PTI)
Delhi records 1,649 COVID-19 cases, lowest since March 30, and 189 deaths; positivity rate dips to 2.42 per cent: Health Bulletin. (PTI)
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday expressed confidence that the vaccination drive would be expedited after the state starts getting adequate supply of doses from June. Inaugurating a field training workshop titled Pediatrics COVID-19 , Thackeray said his government was relentlessly pursuing the issue of vaccine supply, adding that his government was ready to make one-time payment for 12 crore doses for beneficiaries in the 18-44 age group, who account for six crore of the state's total population.. "I am confident the vaccination drive will pick up once the supply is smooth after June," the CM asserted. (PTI)