Coronavirus Live: Delhi reports 17,282 cases, 104 deaths in last 24 hours

Coronavirus live updates: India has recorded 184,372 fresh Covid cases and 1,025 deaths in the last 24 hrs. Janta curfew will be imposed in Maharashtra from today. Stay tuned for corona-related news

3:02 AM

6 pm to 5 am curfew in entire Rajasthan from Friday

Amid a surge in coronavirus infection cases, the Rajasthan government on Wednesday decided to impose a night-long curfew from 6 pm to 5 am in the entire state from April 16.
 

The night curfew was declared earlier in 10 urban areas of the state but with the spread of infection showing no sign of abating, the state government decided to enforce the regulatory measure in the entire state.
 

The order imposing the night curfew in the entire state was issued on late Wednesday evening.
 

“Night curfew will be there from 6 in the evening till 5 in the morning and markets will be closed by 5 pm,” the government order said.
 

According to the new guideline, all educational and coaching institutes and libraries too will remain closed from April 16 to 30.
 

The number of guests in private functions, marriages and other social gatherings has been restricted to 50.
 

The directions related to the marriage and social functions will apply from April 16 to May 31, the order said.
 

Not more than 20 persons will be allowed for the funeral, the order said, adding there will be no permission for any kind of public, social, political, sports, entertainment, educational, cultural, religious events, procession, fairs and festivals.
 

Worship at religious places too will be performed only by the authorities of the religious places and the arrangement of online darshan will continue.
 

Cinema halls, theatres, multiplexes, amusement parks and other places for entertainments will be closed and there will be no permission to operate swimming pools and gyms. Read more


 

11:59 PM

7,888 new coronavirus cases in Pune district, 94 patients die

Pune district in Maharashtra reported 7,888 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, which took its overall tally to 6,76,014, a health official said.

The death toll due to the pandemic reached 10,989 with 94 succumbing to the infection, he said.
 

"Of the 7,888 new cases, 4,206 were from areas within thePuneMunicipal Corporation limits, where the case count has grown to 3,44,029," he said.

A total of 4,895 patients were discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours, the official said.
 

Pune city's neighbouring industrial township of Pimpri Chinchwad reported 1,517 new cases, where the COVID-19 count now stands at 1,73,319. 

11:03 PM

Shahi snan in Haridwar: Lakhs ignore Covid concerns to take holy dip

Throwing caution to the wind amid rising cases of coronavirus, lakhs of people congregated Wednesday on the ghats in Haridwar to take a dip in the Ganga during the third shahi snan of the Kumbh mela.
 

Over 13.5 lakh people, including sadhus from 13 akhadas, had bathed in the Ganga by the end of a day on which the authorities faced another scare -– a fire at one of the tents in the sprawling mela area.
 

Five people suffered minor injuries when a ‘pandal' in Vivekananda Ashram caught fire, Kumbh mela's chief fire officer Narendra Singh Kunwar said. The ashram is at Kankhal, a few kilometres away from the main Har ki Pairi ghat.
 

Wednesday's `royal bath' marked Mesh Sankranti and Baisakhi, and fell two days after a similar convergence of seers and other devotees for the second shahi snan – mammoth events where following social distancing norms appears almost impossible.
 

Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Om Prakash said the number of devotees at the third shahi snan – said to be the most important in a series of four -- was much less than expected due to the coronavirus pandemic.
 

On Mesh Sankranti day during the last Kumbh mela in 2010, about 1.6 crore people bathed in the Ganga at Haridwar, an official said.
 

Random tests among the sadhus at the akhadas indicate a coronavirus positivity rate of nearly 4 per cent. So far, 19 of the 500 samples from the mela site have come back positive.
 

Police personnel were seen distributing masks in the mela area.
 

But social distancing norms were violated openly by the seers when they and their followers descended the steps at Har ki Pairi to wade into the river.

No masks were worn by a large proportion of them.
 

The sadhus from the akhadas took the dip along with their revered deities, carried in ornate palanquins, at Har ki Pairi, which was reserved exclusively for them. Lakhs of ordinary devotees bathed at the other ghats of the river in Haridwar and Rishikesh.
 

10:45 PM

Pak working on single-dose Covid-19 vaccine with China's help: Official

A senior Pakistani official has said that the country was working to develop its own single-dose coronavirus vaccine with China's support, a media report said on Wednesday.
 

Executive Director of National Institute of Health (NIH), Major General Aamer Ikram, said this during a briefing to the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on National Health Services on Tuesday, The Express Tribune reported.
 

“We are going to make a single-dose vaccine for Covid-19. We conducted the clinical trial of Chinese Covid-19 vaccine CanSinoBio in Pakistan,” he said.

Later talking to the media, Ikram said Pakistan was among the first countries to take part in the clinical trial of CanSinoBio vaccine.
 

He said Pakistan had requested China to transfer the technology for the vaccine and the raw material for the vaccine is going to arrive this month.
 

“We hope that we will be able to take some measures for preparation of the vaccine by the end of April.
 

“Our team is ready to undertake this task while a Chinese team has also arrived in Pakistan. The Chinese team will oversee our team at the NIH,” he said.
 

10:01 PM

WB CEO calls all party meeting to ensure strict implementation of corona protocol during campaigning

West Bengal chief electoral officer (CEO) Aariz Aftab Wednesday called an all party meeting on April 16 following the Calcutta High Court direction to the CEO and all district magistrates in the state to ensure strict implementation of Covid-19 protocol during campaigning for the remaining four phases of the state election, an EC official said.
 

All political parties in the state have been asked to send only one representative each for the meeting which will discuss matters related to the campaigning for the last four phases of the poll, he said.
 

There will be discussions on the norms of social distancing and relevant Covid-19 protocol, the official added.
 

State Additional Director General of police (Law and Order) Jag Mohan and state health secretary N S Nigam will also be present in the meeting, he said.
 

The Calcutta High Court had on Tuesday directed that all health-related guidelines should be maintained in the strictest possible manner with regard to campaigning by political parties for the West Bengal assembly polls in view of the resurgence in Covid-19 cases.
 

Hearing two PILs in this regard, a division bench presided by Chief Justice T B N Radhakrishnan had ordered that all district magistrates will ensure that the guidelines laid down by the EC and CEO are strictly implemented in letter and spirit and if necessary, with police aid.
 

The court had said that it is in the public interest that the administration should ensure that all the Covid-19 guidelines are strictly adhered to by all concerned, including those engaged in election campaign activities.

10:00 PM

WB records 5,892 fresh Covid cases; 24 new deaths

West Bengal on Wednesday recorded its highest-ever single-day spike of 5,892 coronavirus cases, taking the tally to 6,30,116, the state health department bulletin said.
 

The death toll rose to 10,458 after 24 more fatalities were registered from different parts of the state, it added.
 

In the last 24 hours, 2,297 Covid patients recovered in the state, it said.
 

The discharge rate has slightly dipped to 93.16 per cent.
 

The number of active cases rose to 32,621.
 

Since Tuesday, 43,463 samples have been tested in the state, taking the total number of such clinical examinations to 96,32,841, the bulletin said.
 

Increase in coronavirus infections is a cause of worry for the state which is in the middle of elections.
 

Four rounds of voting are over and the rest as many will be conducted by April 29.
 

Results will come on May 2 along with other states where voting is over.
 

9:59 PM

Ensure strict implementation of new Covid-19 curbs: Uddhav

The tough new measures announced by the Maharashtra government for the next 15 days to break the Covid-19 transmission chain came into force on Wednesday night with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray directing officials to ensure their strict implementation.
 

The "lockdown-like" restrictions, which exclude essential services, became operational at 8 pm and will remain in force till 7 am on May 1.
 

Thackeray, in his address via social media to the people of the state on Tuesday night, had announced the sweeping restrictions, curtailing the movement of people and non-essential activities, to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the country's worst-hit state.
 

Section 144 of CrPC, prohibiting assembly of five or more people at one spot, will be in force during the period, Thackeray had said, but refrained from terming the new curbs as a lockdown.
 

In a video conference meeting on Wednesday with his cabinet colleagues, divisional commissioners, district collectors, municipal commissioners and police officials, Thackeray stressed on effective implementation of the measures.
 

There should not be any confusion about the orders issued by the state. If anyone has doubts, the official should contact his or her superiors or the department concerned.
 

"We can not afford to be callous and let the coronavirus infection spread further, the chief minister said.
 

Thackeray said efforts are on to make available medical oxygen which is needed in treatment of critical Covid-19 patients.
 

We have seen a mutation in the coronavirus strain.
 

It is spreading at a higher speed and affecting the youth in large numbers.
 

"Efforts are underway on a war footing to make oxygen available for patients. Doctors should get themselves updated about the treatment of Covid-19 patients, he said.
 

9:30 PM

Arvind Kejriwal to hold a meeting with LG Anil Baijal tomorrow over rise in Covid cases

9:22 PM

Delhi reports 17,282 new Covid-19 cases, 9,952 recoveries

9:04 PM

Covid LIVE: 15-day Maharashtra curfew begins; record 17,282 cases in Delhi

8:50 PM

Covid LIVE: 15-day curfew begins in Maharashtra; state sees 58,952 cases

8:37 PM

Delhi crematoriums, graveyards struggle to manage resources as Covid-19 kills 409 in just 13 days

Mashqoor Rashid makes a grim projection as he oversees the burials of coronavirus victims' bodies one after another at the city's largest graveyard.

 

"At this rate, we will run short of land in a month," he tells PTI at the Qabristan Ahle Islam near ITO. "Since last week, on an average 10-15 bodies of COVID victims are being buried daily here. Yesterday, 18 burials were performed."

 

Suman Gupta, the general secretary of Badi Panchayat Vaishya Beese Agarwal organisation that manages the city's main crematorium at the Nigambodh Ghat, has an equally sobering number to share.

8:36 PM

Covid LIVE: Curfew in all Rajasthan cities between 6 pm-6 am from Apr 16-30

8:24 PM

Mumbai reports 9,925 fresh Covid-19 cases, 54 deaths in past 24 hours

Mumbai on Wednesday recorded 9,925 new COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 5,44,942, while 54 more patients succumbed to the infection, the city civic body said.

 

The daily case tally shot up in the financial capital after remaining below 8,000 for the last two days. On Monday, the city had witnessed 6,905 COVID-19 cases followed by 7,898 on Tuesday.

8:22 PM

Maharashtra | Curfew restrictions come into effect in Nagpur

7:56 PM

COVID-19 protocols to be strictly enforced in Andamans: Official

The Andaman and Nicobar administration on Wednesday said COVID-19 protocols will be strictly enforced in the union territory and action will be taken against violators.

 

Information, Publicity and Tourism secretary of the union territory administration S K Singhsaid people not following the COVID-19 protocols is the major reason for the sudden surge in coronavirus cases in the archipelago.

 

He told reporters that there are no plans as of now to impose lockdown but COVID-19 protocols will be strictly enforced and action will be taken against violators.

7:32 PM

Mumbai reports 9,925 fresh Covid-19 cases, 54 deaths in past 24 hours

7:32 PM

Covid-19: CICSE says reviewing situation, will soon decide on conducting class 10,12 board exams

The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) Wednesday said it is reviewing the COVID-19 situation and will soon take a decision on conducting class 10 and 12 board exams. The CICSE announcement comes following the CBSE's decision to cancel class 10 exams and postpone class 12 papers in view of the surge in COVID-19 cases.

 

"We are reviewing the situation and will soon take a decision in this regard," CICSE Chief Executive and Secretary Gerry Arathoon said.

 

He, however, did not delve in to what the was board contemplating.

7:18 PM

In world first, Denmark ditches AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine

Denmark on Wednesday became the first country to stop using AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine altogether, following news of its possible link to very rare blood clot cases, health authorities said. The decision will push back the scheduled conclusion of Denmark's vaccination scheme to early August from July 25, they said.

 

Results of investigations into the blood clots "showed real and serious side effects," health agency head Soren Brostrom said in a statement. READ MORE...

7:01 PM

21 at women's national boxing camp, including top coaches, test positive for Covid-19

Indian women's boxing's High Performance Director Raffaele Bergamasco and head coach Mohammed Ali Qamar are among 21 campers who have tested positive for COVID-19 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium here but none of the infected pugilists are bound for Olympics.

 

The Sports Authority of India (SAI) issued a statement to confirm the development at the camp but did not give away names of those affected. However, a source close to the team told PTI that the top members of the coaching staff are among those who have tested positive.

6:45 PM

Kumbh Mela used to begin in Jan, but due to Covid, state govt started this in April: Haridwar DM

6:25 PM

No shortage of remdesivir in state-run hospitals: Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan says there's no shortage of remdesivir in state-run hospitals and directed officials to transport it by using aircraft if needed.

6:23 PM

Most poll-bound states, save Tamil Nadu, kept testing low till elections

Assembly elections are in full swing this year particularly in West Bengal, where the polls have been scheduled over a protracted period of one month. Polling days have passed by in Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry, the lone union territory in fray.

 

But as the campaign rages in WB, Covid-19 is spreading with a speed never imagined before in multiple states. Including, of course, the states mentioned above. Did poll bound states change their strategy of tackling Covid-19 because they had elections? READ MORE...

6:18 PM

Tamil Nadu reports 7,819 new Covid cases, 3,464 recoveries and 25 deaths

5:38 PM

Moderna Covid jab efficacy marginally drops to 90% in US trial

Updated results from an ongoing Phase 3 clinical trial in the US have shown Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine to be 90 per cent effective against all cases of the disease, and greater than 95 per cent against severe cases.

 

While the updated cases show continued strong efficacy of the vaccine, the efficacy represents a marginal drop from an earlier figure of 94.1 per cent published in The New England Journal of Medicine in December.

 

The ongoing study involves more than 30,000 people across the US. The new results are based on 900 adjudicated cases of Covid-19 as of April 9, Moderna said on Tuesday. The previous study was based on 185 cases.

5:01 PM

Production of Remdesivir was reduced as Covid-19 cases were decreasing: Dr Harsh Vardhan

4:48 PM

Russian President Vladimir Putin gets second Covid-19 vaccine shot

President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday he got his second COVID-19 vaccine shot, three weeks after getting the first dose. The Russian leader announced getting the jab, which was kept out of the public eye, at a session of the Russian Geographical Society, in which he took part via video link.

 

Right now, before entering this hall, I have also gotten the second jab. I hope everything will be fine. I don't even hope as much as I'm sure of it, Putin said.

 

Putin got his first coronavirus shot on March 23, also out of sight of the cameras, and the Kremlin wouldn't reveal which of the three vaccines currently approved for use in Russia the president has taken.

4:33 PM

Long wait at crematoriums in Gujarat amid Covid-19 surge

Relatives of Covid-19 victims as well as those who died of other ailments are forced to wait for hours for performing the last rites as many crematoriums in Gujarat are witnessing a huge rush since the last one week.

 

Though Hindus generally do not cremate the dead after sunset, many of them are left with no option but to perform the last rites of the deceased at night in view of the rush of bodies at various crematoriums, officials said on Thursday.

4:20 PM

There is no shortage of vaccines, govt gives vaccines to every state: Union Health Minister

4:17 PM

Covid ICU beds with ventilators fully occupied in 69 of 94 hospitals in Delhi

Amid an unprecedented surge in coronavirus cases in the national capital, COVID-19 ICU beds with ventilators are fully occupied in 69 of 94 hospitals with such facilities and only 79 beds are vacant, according to data shared on an official app on Wednesday.

 

According to the Delhi Corona App till about 2 PM, in 75 of the 110 hospitals, all COVID-19 ICU beds without ventilators had patients. Out of 1,177 COVID ICU beds with ventilators, only 79 were vacant, while 348 out of 2,130 COVID ICU beds without ventilators were vacant, according to the app.