Coronavirus LIVE: UK to add India to travel red-list, says health minister

Coronavirus live updates: India reported 273,810 coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases today. Delhi govt has imposed a week-long lockdown. Stay tuned for corona-related news

10:23 PM

Schools closed, political parties shun mega poll rallies as Covid cases rise sharply in WB

The raging Covid-19 crisis cast its long shadow in West Bengal, which is in the midst of its long drawn assembly election, as all schools were ordered on Monday to close early for summer vacation and political parties announced that they would shun mega rallies for the remaining three phases of the poll.

The state reported the highest single-day spike of 8,426 new Covid-19 cases on Monday and 38 people died of the infection in the state, as per the Health Department.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday said her government disfavoured lockdown or night curfew but ordered all government and private offices to function with 50 per cent attendance.

The state government issued a notice this afternoon stating that summer vacation in schools which are aided and run by it will begin early from Tuesday itself in view of rising Covid-19 cases and heatwave sweeping across the state.

10:00 PM

Delhi medical store owner held for black marketing of Remdesivir

A pharmacy store owner and his employee were arrested in Delhi on Monday in connection with alleged black marketing of antiviral drug Remdesivir, police said.

The accused were identified as Basant Goel (41), a resident of Delhi's Vivek Vihar and his employee Ramoutar Sharma (27), a resident of North Chhajupur in Delhi, a police official said.

Delhi Police's Crime Branch launched an investigation after a case was registered by them on Monday in connection with the black marketing of Remdesivir in Delhi.

9:47 PM

Delhi's share of oxygen diverted to another state: Delhi government claims in HC

The Delhi government, which is battling to cater to the need of oxygen for COVID-19 patients, Monday claimed in the Delhi High Court that one of the reasons for the shortage of oxygen was diversion to one of the largest states of the country.

When the submission to this effect was made, a bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli asked the state's name but senior advocate Rahul Mehra, representing the Delhi government, refrained from naming it and said it could become political.

When the bench said it is not political for us, Mehra replied It is one of the largest states. I will leave it at that.

During the hearing, Delhi government said that the firm which used to supply 140 metric ton of oxygen per day to the hospitals in the national capital has suddenly stopped its supply and is diverting to another state.

9:45 PM

Covid LIVE: Remdesivir not magic bullet, does not reduce mortality, say health experts

Amid a steep spike in COVID-19 cases leading to increased demand for medicines to treat coronavirus, top health experts in the government on Monday said anti-viral drug remdesivir is "not a magic bullet" and does not reduce mortality.

Addressing the media, AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria said remdesivir should only be given to patients hospitalised with moderate illness, who had a fall in oxygen saturation and have infiltrates on chest X-rays or CT-scan.

"Remdesivir is not a magic bullet and this is not a drug that reduces mortality. We may use it as we don't have a very good antiviral drug. It has a limited role and we should be very careful in its usage," he said.

"In major studies, remdesivir was shown to be useful only in those hospitalised patients with falling oxygen saturation and having infiltrates on chest X-ray or CT-scan. It is of no use if given early in mild and asymptomatic patients and also if administered too late," Dr Guleria said.

8:40 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Himachal Pradesh reports 1,695 fresh cases

Himachal Pradesh reports 1,695 fresh coronavirus cases, 593 recoveries, and 13 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the state health department.

8:32 PM

Covid LIVE: Britain to add India to travel red-list, says health minister

Britain is adding India to its travel "red-list" after detecting 103 cases of a coronavirus variant first identified in the country, health minister Matt Hancock said on Monday.
 

"We've made the difficult but vital decision to add India to the Red List. This means anyone who is not a UK or Irish resident or a British citizen cannot enter the UK if they've been in India in the previous 10 days," Hancock told parliament.
 

"UK and Irish residents and British citizens who've been in India in the past 10 days before their arrival will need to complete hotel quarantine for 10 days from the time of arrival." The rules come into force at 4 a.m. local time (0300 GMT) on Friday, Hancock said. (Reuters)

8:26 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: PM interacts with leaders of pharma industry

Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with leaders of pharmaceutical industry via video conferencing. The Prime Minister appreciated the crucial role of the pharma sector in the fight against the pandemic. He appreciated the way the pharma industry is working even in such trying conditions. Read full release here

8:19 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Karnataka reports 15,785 new cases

Karnataka reports 15,785 new coronavirus cases, 7,098 dischages and 146 deaths; case tally at 11,76,850, death toll 13,497, according to the state health department.

7:58 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Maharashtra sees 58,924 cases

58,924 new coronavirus cases, 52,412 recoveries and 351 deaths reported in Maharashtra today; case tally reaches 38,98,262, death toll 60,824, according to the state health department

7:49 PM

UPSC defers interviews for civil services examination due to surge in cases

UPSC defers interviews for civil services examination due to surge in Covid-19 cases: Statement

7:44 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Telangana CM tests positive

7:44 PM

Grateful that Centre accepted suggestions of Uddhav Thackeray: Aditya Thackeray

7:25 PM

Vaccine manufacturers incentivized to further scale up their production, says govt

Vaccine manufacturers incentivized to further scale up their production, as well as attract new national and international players, says govt

7:25 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Everyone above 18 eligible to get vaccine from May 1, says govt

Coronavirus LIVE: Everyone above 18 eligible to get vaccine from May 1, says govt

7:13 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Mumbai reports 7,381 fresh cases

Mumbai reports 7,381 fresh cases, 8,583 recoveries and 57 deaths; case tally at 586,692, according to the city health department.

7:12 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Tamil Nadu reports 10,941 fresh cases

Tamil Nadu reports 10,941 fresh coronavirus cases, 6,172 recoveries, and 44 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the state health department

7:08 PM

Covid-19: Maharashtra to set up plants at hospitals to produce oxygen

With the demand for medical oxygen on the rise in Maharashtra in view of the Covid-19 surge, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Monday pitched for setting up plants to produce the gas at hospitals itself, an official statement said.

 

Pawar, who held a meeting to discuss the pandemic situation in the state, ordered district collectors and municipal commissioners to immediately undertake the process to make purchases of plants which can be set up in two to three weeks, it said.

 

Meanwhile, a decision was taken at the meeting to allow grocery shops to remain open from 7 am to 11 am only to curb the trend of people roaming outside through the day under the pretext of making purchases, the statement said. (PTI)

6:38 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Former PM Manmohan Singh tests positive, taken to AIIMS

Coronavirus LIVE: Former PM Manmohan Singh tests positive, taken to AIIMS, news agency ANI reported

6:23 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Uttarakhand reports 2,160 new cases

Uttarakhand reports 2,160 new coronavirus cases and 24 deaths; case tally rises to 126,193, death toll 1,892, according to the state health department.

6:22 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Kerala reports 13,644 new cases

Kerala reports 13,644 new coronavirus cases, 21 deaths and 4,305 recoveries; active cases at 103,004, according to the state health department.

6:08 PM

UP lockdown in 5 cities: All hawkers must go off the road by 11 am everyday till April 26

Allahabad High Court says all hawkers including fruits and vegetable vendors, milk vendors and bread vendors, in five cities must go off the road by 11 am every day till April 26

6:00 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Zero tolerance against the hoarders during curfews, lockdowns, says govt

The union government asked state governments to ensure that essential supplies like food items, drugs, hygiene products and other essential services remain available at fair prices. States may undertake publicity and awareness activities so as to mitigate panic buying of essential commodities.  National level Meeting with the Principal Secretaries of the Department of Food and Consumer Affairs of the State Government held today to ensure the same. Read full release here

5:43 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: PM Modi interacts with leading doctors from across the country

5:42 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Relatives of infected patients queue up to buy and refill oxygen cylinders

5:36 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: High Court directs UP govt to close all establishments in 5 cities

Coronavirus LIVE: High Court directs UP govt to close all establishments in 5 cities --- Prayagraj, Lucknow, Varanasi, Kanpur and Gorakhpur --- till April 26

5:00 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: HC asks Centre to look into the aspect of shortage of oxygen in Delhi

Coronavirus LIVE: HC asks Centre to look into the aspect of shortage of oxygen supply in Delhi hospitals on urgent basis

4:59 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Delhi HC stalls state govt action against labs

High Court says Delhi govt's direction on action against labs for not delivering Covid-19 test reports within 24 hours, not to be implemented

4:52 PM

Delhi govt sets up a control room to counter the shortage of Covid drugs

4:37 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: DRDO develops SpO2 based supplemental oxygen delivery system

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed SpO2 (Blood Oxygen Saturation) supplemental Oxygen Delivery System for soldiers posted at extreme high-altitude areas. Developed by Defence Bio-Engineering & Electro Medical Laboratory (DEBEL), Bengaluru of DRDO, the system delivers supplemental oxygen based on the SpO2 levels and prevents the person from sinking in to a state of Hypoxia, which is fatal in most cases, if sets in. This automatic system can also prove to be a boon during the current Covid-19 situation. Read the full release here

4:35 PM

Ventilator requirement is much less during the current wave, says ICMR chief

Ventilator requirement is much less during the current wave but oxygen requirement is higher, says ICMR's Balram Bhargava