Month: May 2021

Uber to spend Rs 18.5 cr for vaccinating its drivers in India

Uber on Friday announced its plans to spend Rs 18.5 crore to get 150,000 drivers on its platform vaccinated over the next six months as India grapples with the second wave of COVID-19.

“We’re announcing an INR 18.5 crore (USD 2.5 million) initiative to compensate the first batch of 150,000 Car, Auto and Moto drivers on the platform for time spent in getting their shots,” the company said in a statement.

All car, auto and moto drivers on Uber’s platform, by showing valid digital vaccination certificates, would be eligible for Rs 400 for each of their two COVID-19 vaccination shots, the company said in the statement. The drivers who’re able to show they’ve been vaccinated before April 30 will also be able to claim the funds, the statement added.

Uber said mass vaccination is key to tackle the COVID-19 crisis and it would soon begin to spread this initiative to drivers across its product lines to take up the offer.

The vaccination drive for Uber drivers is the latest step in the company’s Covid-19 response in India.

In March, the company had pledged ‘Rs 10 crore worth of free rides to help people get to and from the nearest vaccine centre’.  The app based cab services giant has facilitated 9,000 free online medical consultations for drivers and their families through DocsApp so far in 2021.

Since the initial phase of the pandemic, Uber has been providing financial assistance for up to 14 days to drivers who are diagnosed with COVID-19 or are on self-isolation at home.

Follow our live blog for more updates on COVID-19

India’s power consumption grows 41% in April

Power consumption in the country grew 41 percent in April to 119.27 billion units (BU) in the same month last year, showing a robust recovery in industrial and commercial demand for electricity, according to power ministry data.

Power consumption in April last year was recorded at 84.55 BU. On the other hand, peak power demand met, which is the highest supply in a day, during the first half of this month remained well above the highest record of 132.20 GW in April 2020.

During April this year, peak power demand met or the highest supply in a day touched the highest level of 182.55 GW and recorded a growth of nearly 38 per cent over 132.73 GW recorded in the same month in 2020.

Power consumption in April last year had dropped to 84.55 BU from 110.11 BU in the same month in 2019. This happened mainly because of fewer economic activities following the imposition of lockdown by the government in the last week of March 2020 to contain the spread of deadly COVID-19.

Similarly, peak power demand met or the highest power supply in a day also slumped to 132.73 GW in April last year from 176.81 GW in the same month in 2019, showing the impact of lockdown on economic activities.

Experts are of the view that high growth in power consumption, as well as demand in April, is mainly because of base erosion last year due to fewer economic activities which proved as a dampener on commercial and industrial consumption of electricity due to lockdown.

They said, “Now the high growth rate of power consumption has shown a healthy recovery in commercial and industrial demand.”

However, they cautioned that local lockdowns across the country to curb the surge of COVID-19 positive cases may impact commercial and industrial power consumption adversely in the coming months.

After a gap of six months, power consumption had recorded a 4.6 percent year-on-year growth in September and 11.6 percent in October.

In November 2020, the power consumption growth slowed to 3.12 percent, mainly due to the early onset of winters.

In December, power consumption grew by 4.5 percent while it was 4.4 percent in January 2021.

Power consumption in February this year recorded higher at 104.11 BU compared to 103.81 BU last year despite the fact that 2020 was a leap year.

In March this year, the power consumption grew nearly 23 percent to 121.51 BU compared to 98.95 BU in the same month of 2020.

During the entire fiscal of 2020-21, power consumption dipped by 1 percent to 1,271.54 BU from 1,284.44 BU in 2019-20.

COVID-19: Only six states launch vaccination for all above 18 today

The third phase of India’s COVID-19 vaccination drive, the largest in the world, is to begin with a slow start, with only six states initiating the phase three drive. The third phase aims to cover everyone above the age of 18.

Odisha, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Uttar Pradesh are the only 6 states that will launch vaccination for the 18-45 age groups from May 1. The Gujarat government will keep the vaccination limited only to the highly affected districts.

Several states are not able to launch the vaccination for all above 18 from May 1, as earlier announced by the Central government, due to the short supply or the delay in the arrival of the vaccines.

Maharashtra distributed 3 lakh doses of the Covishield vaccine across various districts and cities, the majority of which went to Thane, Pune and Mumbai. The state Chief Minister Uddav Thackeray has announced that all adults will be vaccinating and the state will bear the cost of the vaccine.

Uttar Pradesh similarly has only started the drive in 7 districts of Lucknow, Kanpur, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Meerut and Bareilly while the other 68 districts in the state will have to wait for more vaccines to be supplied.

Odisha announced the commencement of its vaccination drive only after the state was able to confirm the delivery of 1.5 lakh vaccine doses.

Rajasthan is also only starting the drive in its worst hit and most populous districts. Only 3 out of 33 districts will start the drive from May 1. Jodhpur, Ajmer and Jaipur will begin vaccinating adults between 18-45 years of age.

Gujarat announced late on Friday that it would start vaccinating people between 18 to 45 years of age from May 1 but only in ten of its districts.

Chhattisgarh, a particularly hard hit state in this wave, announced that it would begin the drive but from May 1 but Health Minister T. S. Singhdeo has stated that high-risk groups like Antyodaya cardholders and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) will get priority.

The other 23 states and 7 UTs have had to defer the start of the drive even as they have placed large orders of vaccines from the two manufacturers, Bharat Biotech and Serum Institute.

As the vaccination drive is delayed, at the same time India is recording over 4 lakh cases in the 24 hours leading up to May 1.

Coronavirus News: Sanjay Raut seeks SC-monitored national panel for COVID-19 management

Coronavirus News: India crossed the grim milestone of 4 lakh cases on Friday. The country reported over 4.02 lakh, the biggest single-day rise and as many as 3,000 deaths for the fourth straight day. Nearly 40 percent of the total cases were added in April.

However, India’s recoveries also saw the biggest single-day rise of 3 lakh.

Total cases: 1.91 crore

Total recoveries: 1.57 crore

Death toll: 2.12 lakhs

Active cases: 32.69 lakhs

Total vaccination: 1.52 crore (Increase: 2,224,548)

For updates on coronavirus and the ongoing vaccination drive, stay tuned with us.

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Thank you for joining our coverage of COVID-19. We will now wrap the blog. Good night, folks!

 

Amid COVID-19 lockdown, normal life continues to be affected across J&K

Normal life remained affected in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday with the imposition of a lockdown in the wake of an alarming surge in coronavirus cases in the Union Territory, officials said. Lockdown remained in force in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday as restrictions on the movement and assembly of people continued to remain imposed across the UT,” the officials said.

 

Goa reports 2,303 new COVID-19 cases, 54 deaths

Goa recorded 2,303 new coronavirus infections on Saturday which took its caseload to 93,355, a health department official said. With 54 persons succumbing to the infection, the death toll reached 1,222.

 

World shaken by India’s COVID-19 situation; Modi govt focussed on imagery, brand-building: Rahul Gandhi

As India logged a world record of over four lakh coronavirus infections on Saturday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the entire world is shaken by what is happening here and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “dropping the ball and throwing it to states” after prematurely taking credit for having “won against COVID19” when the second wave was already underway. “Rely on yourself is the motto. No one will come to help you. Definitely, not the prime minister,” Gandhi said, while alleging that the COVID19 situation has gone completely out of control for the Modi government, and wondered whether it was their way of making the states and the citizens truly ‘Aatmanirbhar’.

 

Crucial assembly election results on Sunday in shadow of raging COVID pandemic

Counting of votes will be held on Sunday in the high stakes Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry assembly elections, overshadowed by the raging COVID pandemic, as the BJP seeks to consolidate its hold over more states and the Congress along with its allies attempts to regain lost turf. There will be 2,364 counting halls as compared to 1,002 halls in 2016 in 822 assemble constituencies, a more than 200 percent increase, in view of the COVID guidelines, according to the Election Commission which had drawn flak from the courts over the conduct of polls during the pandemic.

 

Gujarat: Factory manufacturing fake Remdesivir busted; six held

The Gujarat police on Saturday busted a factory in Surat, which was allegedly manufacturing fake Remdesivir injections, used in the treatment of COVID19, and arrested six persons in this connection, an official said. Acting on a tipoff, the police in Morbi town arrested three persons for selling Remdesivir without prescription, Director General of Police (DGP) Ashish Bhatia told reporters.

 

Sent 3,000 oxygen concentrators to help India: UNICEF

The UNICEF said on Saturday that it sent critical lifesaving supplies, including 3,000 oxygen concentrators, to help India amid the ravaging second coronavirus wave. The United Nations child rights agency has supplied more than 500 high-flow nasal cannulas and 85 RTPCR machines.

 

Postpone scheduled marriage events: Gehlot tells people as COVID cases surge in state

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has appealed to people to postpone scheduled marriage events in the wake of the rising number of coronavirus cases in the state. “I appeal to those people who have weddings during this horrific second wave of Corona to postpone their marriage. Right now, everyone is worried about corona than happiness of marriage,” he tweeted.

 

Goa unable to start vaccination for people above 18 due to lack of doses

The Goa government could not start the drive to inoculate the 18 to 45 age group in the state on Saturday due to unavailability of vaccine doses. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the state has placed an order for doses with the Punebased Serum Institute of India.

 

Essar opens 100-bed COVID Care Centre in Dwarka

Essar group on Saturday said it has opened a 100bed Covid Care Centre with oxygen support at Devbhumi Dwarka district in Gujarat. The centre, duly equipped with oxygen support, will be operated by the Khambaliya Civil Hospital, the Essar group said in a statement. The 100 bed centre, located at Kajurda village at Khambaliya, was virtually inaugurated by Chief Minister Vijaybhai Rupani earlier in the day, the statement said.

 

COVID: Only 25 people can attend marriage event in U’khand now

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat on Saturday further lowered the cap on the number of people attending a marriage ceremony in the state from 100 to 25 in the wake of the sharp rise in COVID19 cases. Reviewing the COVID situation in the state via video conferencing, Rawat directed all district magistrates to limit the number of people attending marriage ceremonies to 25.

3 media persons test positive for COVID-19

Three of the 116 media persons, examined for COVID19, have tested positive at a special camp held for scribes on the premises of the Press Club here. The camp was organised for media persons who would cover on Sunday the counting of votes polled during the April 6 Assembly elections, a press release from the Deputy Director of Health and Family Welfare Services R Murali said on Saturday.

 

J’khand waits for additional vaccine stock to begin 3rd phase vaccination: Soren

Facing delay in vaccine supplies, Jharkhand which could not launch the inoculation drive for the people in the agegroup of 1844 years Saturday, has sought Centre’s intervention for facilitating procurement of at least 50 lakh vaccine doses, Chief Minister Hemant Soren said. The state had placed demand for 50 lakh vaccine doses in advance to launch the vaccination campaign for 1.57 crore population in the 1844 agebracket under the Liberalised and Accelerated Phase 3 Strategy of COVID19 vaccination for which registration had commenced since April 28.

 

COVID-19: HMD to recruit 500 people to increase syringe production capacity

Hindustan Syringes & Medical Devices Ltd (HMD) on Saturday said it will recruit 500 people to address the acute manpower shortage and increase its production capacity of autodisable syringes to 100 crore per annum by June 2021 to support the vaccination drive against COVID19. Manpower shortage has hit the organisation and production due to the ongoing second wave of COVID19, and as workers are on leave for the ongoing panchayat elections, harvesting and wedding season in Uttar Pradesh, HMD said in a statement.

 

Evolve national policy to deal with COVID, bring political consensus on it: Sonia to Centre

With India facing a surge in COVID19 cases, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday urged the Centre to evolve a national policy to deal with the pandemic after bringing about a political consensus on it. In a video message, she said it is time for the central and state governments to wake up and fulfil their duties.

 

COVID-19 cases cross 1 lakh-mark in HP, death toll at 1,500

Himachal Pradesh on Saturday recorded 885 fresh COVID19 cases, pushing the total number of cases to 1,00,172, a senior health official said. Besides, 16 more people succumbed to the virus pushing the death toll to 1,500, Special Health Secretary Nipun Jindal said citing the data updated till 2 pm.

 

Left parties accuse govt of wasting time while preparing for COVID

The Left parties on Saturday lashed out at the government, accusing it of wasting time in preparing for the COVID pandemic and said that if it does not deliver, it would lose its “moral authority to remain in office”. In a joint statement leaders of the CPI(M), CPI, CPIML, All India Forward Bloc and the Revolutionary Socialist Party said that India was in the grips of “the worst humanitarian health crisis since independence.” “Worse, the scourge of the pandemic continues to intensify.

 

COVID-19: Rajasthan govt orders 2,700 oxygen concentrators

Amid a surge in COVID19 cases, the Rajasthan government has ordered 2,700 oxygen concentrators to ensure uninterrupted and smooth supply of medical oxygen, state Health Minister Raghu Sharma said on Saturday. The minister said earlier 2,550 oxygen regulators were ordered, out of which 50 were supplied and 600 would be given in the next three days.

BJP MP Gautam Gambhir to distribute 200 oxygen concentrators in Delhi

After being lambasted by court over distributing COVID19 drug Fabiflu, BJP MP Gautam Gambhir will now provide 200 oxygen concentrators to those having mild or moderate symptoms of the infection in the national capital. The East Delhi MP said the oxygen concentrators will be provided free of cost and the step has been taken to strengthen the city’s fight against the deadly second wave of COVID19 which has cost so many lives.

The first consignment of Sputnik V vaccines from Russia arrive in Hyderabad pic.twitter.com/LoQOTAXOtz

— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2021

The first lot of Sputnik V vaccines from Russia arrive in Hyderabad#COVID19 pic.twitter.com/uMW0AtM2JD

— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2021

Uttarakhand: Amid rise in COVID cases in state, Dehradun Qazi offers to covert madarsa complexes into COVID care centers.

We’re ready to convert all madarsa complexes into COVID care centers. We’ll support the govt whatever way possible: City Qazi Mohd. Ahmed Qasmi pic.twitter.com/hlMkN5CrqE

— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2021

6 #COVID patients died in ICU ward & 2 in main ward (due to oxygen shortage) today. We could not save them even after making effort from our end. Since this wave hit the country, we’ve been demanding oxygen from the govt: Dr SCL Gupta, Medical Director of Delhi’s Batra Hospital pic.twitter.com/B5dQYhyQUj

— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2021

Our executive director is in regular touch with govt officers concerned & has been updating them about our oxygen stock. INOX & Goel — two oxygen suppliers supply us oxygen. Neither of them picks up our call: Dr SCL Gupta, Medical Director of Delhi’s Batra Hospital

— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2021

Indian Air Force has employed an IL-76 transport aircraft to carry three empty cryogenic oxygen containers from Singapore for Panagarh in West Bengal pic.twitter.com/ho3137iK9r

— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2021

“Water has gone above the head. Now we mean business. You (Centre) will arrange everything now, “the court said.

The Delhi High Court has listed the matter for further hearing on Monday.

— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2021

To facilitate treatment of #COVID19 patients, 4000 ICU beds will be set up in Bengaluru on a war footing. 500 ICU beds in each of the 8 BBMP zones will augment the healthcare infrastructure and reduce the caseload on existing hospitals: Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa

— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2021

HC directs Centre to ensure that Delhi receives its 490 MT oxygen supply today by whatever means.

— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2021

HC directs Centre Govt Counsel Amit Mahajan to forthwith take up the matter with the officers of central government on supply of oxygen from Linde and others.

Multiple hospitals tell HC that their supplier Linde Air is not providing the oxygen.

— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2021

HC says there is choking of beds. HC notes an official order by DGHS on revised discharge policy. The Court directs all hospitals to provide information on patients who have stayed more than 10 days, and the number of daily admissions and discharges.

— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2021

Sanjay Raut seeks SC-monitored national panel for COVID-19 management

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday demanded a Supreme Court-monitored national committee for COVID19 management to address issues related to an oxygen supply, availability of beds, medicines, and vaccination in all the states. He alleged that there was no transparency and clarity on the allocation of vaccine doses to states.

 

Govt permits oxygen concentrator imports via post, courier for personal use under gift category

The government has allowed imports of oxygen concentrators for personal use through the post, courier, or e-commerce portals under the gift category amid increasing demand for oxygen due to rising COVID19 cases, the commerce ministry said on Saturday. The exemption for oxygen concentrators is allowed only for a period till July 31, 2021, it said.

 

Karnataka Minister rules out stringent lockdown for now

Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar on Saturday said there is no proposal before the State government to impose a stringent lockdown though he admitted that at least three to four weeks of strict measures were required to contain the spread of the COVID19. “There is no proposal before the government to impose a complete lockdown. We want people to strictly follow the regulations,” he told reporters in Kalaburagi.

 

Vaccine shortage in Karnataka to be sorted out in 2 to 3 days: Yediyurappa

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Saturday said the shortage of vaccine in the state will be sorted out in the next three days, as he made a symbolic start of the inoculation drive for people above 18 years. Yediyurappa’s statement comes a day after he said vaccination for people above 18 years of age will be delayed as the vaccine has not been supplied yet to the state.

 

Lata Mangeshkar donates Rs 7 lakh to Maha CM relief fund for COVID-19

Legendary playback singer Lata Mangeshkar has contributed Rs seven lakh to Maharashtra Chief Minister’s relief fund to help combat the coronavirus pandemic in the state. Directorate General of Information and Public Relations (DGIPR) of the Maharashtra government shared the news on Twitter on Saturday.

 

COVID-19: Mastercard donates USD 8.9 million to install 2,000 portable beds in India

Leading global payments company Mastercard has donated USD 8.9 million to a New York-based nonprofit body, American India Foundation, to install 2,000 portable beds in India, which is reeling from a deadly wave of the COVID19. “Mastercard has granted an incredible USD 8.9 million to the AIF COVID19 Response, to install 2,000 portable beds in India, addressing the immediate healthcare needs of the nation, the AIF announced on Friday.

 

Steel cos to set up 10,000 oxygenated beds for COVID patients

The government has directed steel companies to set up 10,000 oxygenated beds for treating COVID19 patients. While 5,000 beds will be set up by the steel PSUs, another 5,000 will be established by private companies like Tata Steel, JSPL, JSW Steel and AMNS India, Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Friday. In a tweet, the minister informed about a series of meetings held with leaders of the steel industry from both public and private sectors on stepping up the steel industry’s contribution towards fighting the COVID19 pandemic.

 

COVID-19 vaccination drive for 18+ fails to take off in Assam

The Assam government could not roll out the third phase of the COVID19 vaccination drive for people in the 1844 age group on Saturday due to the nonreceipt of vaccine supply from the Centre, a top NHM official said here. The process for the third phase of vaccination, as part of the nationwide drive to inoculate younger people, “will commence from the moment the corresponding number of vaccines are received from the Government of India”, National Health Mission director S Laxmanan told PTI.

 

COVID: UP begins vaccinating 18-44 age group in 7 districts

The Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday started the first phase of vaccination for the 1844 age group in seven districts that have more than 9,000 active COVID19 cases with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launching the programme from Avantibai Hospital here. An Uttar Pradesh government spokesperson said Adityanath had sent his state aircraft to Hyderabad to get the batch of vaccines for the inoculation programme for people in the 18plus category.

 

Gujarat CM urges sarpanchs to rid villages of COVID-19 in 15 days

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Saturday urged sarpanchs in the state to take steps for making their villages coronavirus free in the next 15 days. He made the appeal during a virtual meeting with the village heads on the occasion of Gujarat’s Foundation Day.

 

8 COVID-19 patients die at Delhi hospital due to oxygen shortage

Eight COVID19 patients, including the HOD of the gastroenterology department, of Batra Hospital, died due to oxygen shortage, officials said on Saturday. We are trying to revive five other critical patients, said Dr S C L Gupta.

There is a major issue of oxygen. SOS is coming from all hospitals. We’ve spoken in courts & written to the Centre that Delhi requires 976 tons of oxygen daily but we’ve been allotted only 490 tons of oxygen. Yesterday we received only 312 tons. How will this work?: Delhi CM pic.twitter.com/WNWJK3i5Li

— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2021

I request the decision-makers with folded hands to provide oxygen to Delhi: CM Arvind Kejriwal

— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2021

Gorakhpur: #COVID19 vaccination for people above 18 years of age has started at 10 centres in the district today, says a health department official.

Visuals from District Women’s Hospital, Gorakhpur vaccination centre. pic.twitter.com/WSndOUnVzw

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) May 1, 2021

Vaccination for people b/w 18-44 yrs started at only one centre. We’ve received 4.5 lakh vaccines, being distributed in all dists. Large scale vaccination in Delhi will begin from day after. There’s no walk-in now. Only those with appointment & registration have to come: Delhi CM pic.twitter.com/Y698Rc6lhr

— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2021

We’re prepared for vaccination of people 18 yrs and above. We’ll start vaccination as soon as we get the vaccines. We will get vaccines in a day or two. CM has called a meeting at 4pm today and all programs will be discussed there: MP Medical Education Minister Vishvas Sarang pic.twitter.com/yE2HT097Gs

— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2021

Lanka looking at sources outside India to purchase AstraZeneca vaccine due to supply delay

Sri Lanka is looking at sources other than India to purchase the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine in view of the delay in securing the vaccines from the Serum Institute of India, health authorities said on Saturday. The supply is being delayed from India. We have to understand that India has to look after their own country before supplying to us. It is not that they have told no to us,” Gen Shavendra Silva, the chief of the COVID prevention operations told reporters.

 

Australia bans arrivals from Covid-hit India; offenders to face a 5-year jail term, hefty fines

Australian citizens could face a five-year jail term or hefty fines of up to 66,000 dollars if they try to return home from India after Canberra made the journey temporarily illegal in an effort to curb the spread of the deadly viral infection in this country. The temporary ban begins on Monday and applies to any travellers who have visited India within 14 days of their intended arrival date in Australia.

 

Centre under pressure due to COVID-19 spike in states: Ajit Pawar

Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Saturday said the Union government is under pressure due to the surge in coronavirus cases in several states as it has to supply oxygen and other material. He was speaking to reporters after the state foundation day event in Pune, of which he is the guardian minister.

Inaugurated the 50-bed Covid Care Centre for @BlrCityPolice personnel and their families in the new police residential complex in Kadugodi.

My heartfelt thanks to Biocon Chief @kiranshaw for sponsoring this from her personal fund and @WFRising for all their help. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/HPcC7GXjv3

— Kamal Pant, IPS (@CPBlr) May 1, 2021

Goa: Four-day lockdown imposed from Thursday night to Monday morning amid increase in COVID cases in the state.

Only essential services like supermarkets, vegetable shops, grocery shops & some fish shops are open from morning 7 to 12 noon: Goa Minister Michael Lobo pic.twitter.com/WbM88a6fnj

— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2021

Delhi: Anand Swaroop, IG ITBP visited the wards of 500 oxygen bedded Sardar Patel Covid Care Centre, Radha Soami Beas, Chhatarpur to meet the patients and to see on the ground arrangements. pic.twitter.com/nrsKppa0pP

— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2021

Govt has included import of oxygen concentrators for personal use, through post, courier or e-commerce portals, in the list of exempted categories, where Customs clearance is sought as ”gifts”. This exemption is valid till 31 July 2021: Ministry of Commerce & Industry pic.twitter.com/yEUFgPjTai

— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2021

West Bengal: Oxygen tanks were loaded from Durgapur on Oxygen Express to provide Liquid Medical Oxygen to Delhi. These cryogenic tanks were flown in from Singapore by Indian Air Force. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/tII2fuWq0J

— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2021

HC questions Centre why cryogenic tankers not released by Rajasthan govt to Delhi despite orders

The Delhi High Court on Saturday questioned the Centre as to why four cryogenic tankers, which were meant for Delhi to treat COVID19 patients and held up by the Rajasthan government, have not been released yet despite the court’s earlier orders. A bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli said let necessary steps be taken to fulfill the assurance given by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on April 26 that these tankers will be released.

 

Hospitals should learn from present experience and set up oxygen plants: HC

The Delhi High Court on Saturday said hospitals should learn from their experiences regarding oxygen scarcity during the prevailing COVID19 pandemic and set up plants for generating the lifesaving gas. A bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli said for commercial considerations, some hospitals reduce capital expenditures on things like oxygen plants which are essential in a hospital, especially the big ones.

India added to Ireland’s mandatory quarantine list from May 4

 

India is among the five countries that will be added to Ireland’s mandatory hotel quarantine list from Tuesday, the Irish government has announced. Besides India, the other countries that have been added to the list for mandatory quarantine from May 4 are Georgia, Iran, Mongolia and Costa Rica.

 

Priyanka Gandhi slams UP govt, SEC for conducting panchayat polls amid pandemic

Slamming the Uttar Pradesh government for conducting panchayat elections amid the raging COVID19 pandemic, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday said what is happening in the state is nothing less than a “crime against humanity” and the state election commission (SEC) is “playing along”. The Congress general secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh claimed that 700 teachers, including one who was pregnant and forced to attend poll duty, have died in the state.

 

Nepal govt decides to close 22 entry points with India amid COVID-19 surge

The Nepal government has decided to close 22 border points with India amid a sharp surge in COVID19 cases in the neighbouring country. The decision came after the COVID Crisis Management Coordination Committee (CCMC) on Friday recommended to the Council of Ministers to shut down 22 out of a total of 35 border points between Nepal and India, according to officials.

 

Gujarat Vaccination for 18-45 age group begins in 10 districts

People in the age group of 18 to 45 queued up outside the inoculation centres in 10 districts of Gujarat, where the COVID19 vaccination drive for this category began on Saturday. The drive began in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Kutch, Mehsana, Bharuch and Gandhinagar districts, which are most affected most by the pandemic, officials said.

 

MP: Truck laden with COVID-19 vaccine abandoned for 12 hrs

A truck carrying 2.40 lakh doses of Covaxin worth Rs 8 crore was left parked for nearly 12 hours after its driver went missing under mysterious circumstances in Madhya Pradesh’s Narsinghpur district, police said on Saturday. The Tamil Nadu-registered vehicle, which was transporting the vaccine from Hyderabad to Karnal in Haryana, was left abandoned for nearly 12 hours in Kareli area, Narsinghpur superintendent of police Vipul Shrivastava said.

 

Actor Bikramjeet Kanwarpal dies due to COVID-19 complications

Actor Bikramjeet Kanwarpal, who has appeared in films like “Page 3″ and ” 2 States” as well as popular television show “Adaalat”, has died due to coronavirus-related complications. He was 52. The actor, who was admitted in a city hospital here, passed away on Saturday morning. “He was admitted to hospital ten days ago at Seven Hills, he was later shifted to ICU as his condition worsened. He passed away today morning at around 5 am,” Kanwarpal’s close friend Himanshu Dadbhawala told PTI. After retiring from the Indian Army, Kanwarpal made his acting debut in early 2000. His other movie credits include “Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year”, “Jab Tak Hai Jaan”, “Aarakshan” and “The Ghazi Attack”.

 

Reliance produces over 11 percent of India’s total production of medical oxygen

Reliance Industries, on Saturday, said it produces over 1000 MT of medical-grade liquid oxygen per day, which is nearly 11 percent of India’s total production of medical-grade liquid oxygen. According to a media release, RIL meets the needs of every 1 in 10 patients in the country. Read more

 

Evolve political consensus on national policy to tackle COVID surge: Sonia Gandhi to Centre

With India battling a COVID-19 surge, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday urged the Centre to evolve a political consensus on a national policy to tackle the spread of the pandemic. In a video message, Gandhi said it is time that the central and state governments wake up and discharge their duties.

 

Former RJD MP Mohammad Shahabuddin dies of COVID-19 at Delhi hospital

Jailed former RJD MP Mohammad Shahabuddin died of COVID-19 at DDU Hospital here on Saturday, Delhi Prisons Department said. Director General (Prisons) Sandeep Goel said, Information has been received from DDU Hospital about the death of Mohd Shahabuddin, inmate of Delhi Prisons. He was suffering from COVID-19 and was admitted to DDU Hospital on April 20.

 

Maharashtra, Delhi among 10 states that account for 73.71 pc of new COVID cases: Govt

Ten states including Maharashtra, Delhi and Karnataka accounted for 73.71 per cent of the new COVID-19 cases reported in a day, the Union health ministry said on Saturday. With a record daily rise of 4,01,003 COVID-19 cases, India’s total tally climbed to 1,91,64,969 on Saturday, according to ministry data. Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar are also among the 10 states that reported 73.71 percent of the new cases. Maharashtra reported the highest number of new cases at 62,919, followed by 48,296 in Karnataka and 37,199 in Kerala.

 

Fauci suggests a few weeks’ lockdown in India to break chain of coronavirus transmission

Top US epidemiologist Anthony Fauci has suggested a lockdown for a few weeks in India as an immediate step to contain the spread of the coronavirus as its deadly second wave shows no signs of ebbing. Fauci, in an interview with The Indian Express, said another most important thing in the immediate is to get supplies of oxygen, medication, PPEs.

 

COVID-19 vaccination update

COVID-19 VACCINATION: MAY 1 UPDATE |

3 private hospitals Apollo, Max & Fortis to begin vaccination for 18 plus in select centres; State govts await vaccine supply#vaccination #COVID19India

— CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18Live) May 1, 2021

 

Pakistan to slash international flights to curb COVID-19 cases

Pakistan plans to reduce the number of inbound international flights to 20% of current numbers to curb rising COVID-19 cases, the official body overseeing the country’s pandemic response said on Saturday. “In view of prevailing global and regional disease trends, Pakistan has decided to reduce inbound international travel from 5 May to 20th May,” said the National Command Operation Center (NCOC), which oversees the government’s pandemic response, on Twitter.

 

PIL for CBI probe into politicians procuring Remdesivir mentioned in HC 

A PIL demanding an FIR and CBI probe into claims of politicians being able to procure and distribute Remdesivir, used for treating COVID-19 patients, even as others run pillar to post to get the medicine, was mentioned before the Delhi High Court on Saturday. The plea was mentioned before a bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli by advocate Virag Gupta who was asked by the court to bring the petition on record during the day.

 

China helps India fight COVID 2.0

61 cargo flights, transporting urgently needed medical supplies, have been in operation from #China to #India in the past two weeks: China’s Ambassador to India. https://t.co/TTtEL5IdCf

— CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18Live) May 1, 2021

 

Uber to spend Rs 18.5 cr for vaccinating its drivers in India

Uber on Friday announced its plans to spend Rs 18.5 crore to get 150,000 drivers on its platform vaccinated over the next six months as India grapples with the second wave of COVID-19. Read more

 

CM Adityanath confident of UP’s vaccination drive

We ordered 1 crore vaccines (for the 18+ age group). We have received vaccines for the 45+ category too. We have purchased directly from the companies. We have also floated global tenders for 5 crore vaccines in the state. I am sure we will be able to take this forward successfully: CM Yogi Adityanath to ANI

 

India adds over 4 lakh cases in last 24 hours

#CoronavirusUpdates | India has added more than 4 lakh cases in last 24 hours#COVID #COVID19India pic.twitter.com/B5LtPCuhyn

— CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18News) May 1, 2021

 

Biden asked his administration to provide all assistance to India: Officials

President Joe Biden has asked his administration to provide all assistance to India, which is battling one of the worst outbreaks of COVID-19, and has assured that the US would stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the country, top officials from the two nations have said. Biden sent two of his top officials to the Dulles Airport here on Friday evening from where another flight with USAID assistance materials including oxygen cylinders, N95 masks and filters to be used in the production of vaccines were dispatched to News Delhi. The first two flights arrived in New Delhi a day earlier.

 

COVID-19: Centre releases Rs 8,873 cr to states from SDRF

The Centre has released Rs 8,873.6 crore to states as the first instalment of the central share of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for 2021-22 for various COVID-19 containment measures, including setting up of hospitals and oxygen generation. The Union Home Ministry said as a special dispensation, the Department of Expenditure, under the Ministry of Finance, has released the amount in advance of the normal schedule at its recommendation.

 

Ladakh adds 103 COVID-19 cases, 3 more deaths

Ladakh’s COVID-19 tally climbed to 13,969 with 103 fresh cases while the death toll mounted to 143 as three more people succumbed to the disease, officials said on Saturday. The number of active cases in the union territory, however, dropped to 1,450 from 1,597 on Friday as 247 more patients were discharged, the officials said quoting a bulletin issued by the Directorate of Health Services.

 

Randhir Kapoor shifted to ICU, remains stable, says hospital source

Veteran actor Randhir Kapoor has been shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) days after testing positive for COVID-19. The 74-year-old actor is being treated at the Kokilaben Hospital here and according to a hospital source his health condition is currently stable. “He is the ICU for observation. He is stable. He will be in the hospital for a few days.” a hospital source told PTI. Randhir Kapoor is the eldest son of celebrated actor-filmmaker Raj Kapoor.

 

Scientists say India government ignored warnings amid coronavirus surge

A forum of scientific advisers set up by the government warned Indian officials in early March of a new and more contagious variant of the coronavirus taking hold in the country, five scientists who are part of the forum told Reuters. Despite the warning, four of the scientists said the federal government did not seek to impose major restrictions to stop the spread of the virus. Millions of largely unmasked people attended religious festivals and political rallies that were held by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and opposition politicians.

 

Also Read: Only six states launch vaccination for all above 18 today

 

Thane district’s COVID-19 count up by 3,046, death toll by 60

With the addition of 3,046 coronavirus cases, the infection count in Thane district of Maharashtra mounted to 4,67,181, an official said on Saturday. These cases were reported on Friday, he said. As the virus claimed the lives of 60 patients during the day, the death toll in the district rose to 7,586. Thane’s COVID-19 mortality rate is now 1.62 percent. In neighbouring Palghar district, the COVID-19 case count has gone up to 85,661, while the death toll is 1,562, another official said.

 

Don’t go to vaccination centres unless you receive a message

People who have registered on CoWIN app & received a message can go to vaccination centres. Don’t go to centres until and unless you receive a message. If you have registered but have not received a message, don’t go to the centre: Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar#COVID19 pic.twitter.com/Jph3IEk3Lj

— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2021

 

Heartbreaking to see COVID-19 crisis utterly overwhelm India’s health systems: US lawmakers

Top US lawmakers have expressed serious concern over the sudden spike in coronavirus cases in India, saying it is “heartbreaking” to see the “crisis utterly overwhelm the health systems” in the country. “India’s latest surge of COVID-19 infections is a humanitarian crisis that requires our assistance,” Congressman Brad Sherman, Democratic Co-Chair of India Caucus in the House of Representatives, said on Friday.

 

US to remain in communication with India on its needs to fight COVID-19: White House

The US will continue to maintain communication with India about its needs to address the COVID-19 crisis, the White House has said, as critical American aid supplies started arriving in the country. Two American military aircraft on Friday brought to India large amounts of emergency medical supplies as part of the Biden administration’s support to the country’s fight against a devastating wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

 

At least 18 COVID-19 patients die in hospital fire in Gujarat’s Bharuch: Report

At least 18 coronavirus patients died after a fire broke out at a hospital in Gujarat’s Bharuch in the early hours on Saturday. There were around 50 other patients at the four-storeyed Welfare Hospital when the fire broke out in the Covid-19 ward at 1 am. They were rescued by locals and firefighters, an official said.

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COVID-19 INDIA UPDATE

— India records the biggest single-day rise of 4,02 lakh

— Nearly 40 percent of India’s total covid cases have been added in April

— Increase in active cases remains below 1 lakh, it’s up 98,482

— Recoveries see the biggest single-day rise of 3 lakh

— Rise in deaths remains above 3,000 for 4th straight day; it’s up 3,523

— Recovery rate slips to 81.84 percent from the previous day’s 82 percent

— Positivity rate back to 21 percent; it’s 20.94 percent vs yesterday’s 20.13 percent

— Single-day vaccination slightly higher than yesterday; it’s 27.44 lakh vs 22.24 lakh

— 7-day avg for vaccination falls to 23.73 lakh; lowest level since April 5

— Last 24 hrs saw highest single-day testing so far; it’s at 19.45 lakh

— Total cases at 1.91 crores, active 32.69 lakh, recoveries 1.57 crore & deaths 2.12 lakh

At least 18 COVID-19 patients die in hospital fire in Gujarat’s Bharuch: Report

At least 18 coronavirus patients died after a fire broke out at a hospital in Gujarat’s Bharuch in the early hours on Saturday.

There were around 50 other patients at the four-storeyed Welfare Hospital when the fire broke out in the Covid-19 ward at 1 am. They were rescued by locals and firefighters, an official said.

“As per information at 6.30 am, the death toll in the tragedy stood at 18. Immediately after the fire, we had confirmation of 12 deaths,” a police official told PTI.

12 patients in the Covid-19 ward died due to the fire and resultant smoke, Bharuch SP Rajendrasinh Chudasama said. It is not clear if the remaining six also died in the Welfare Hospital or while being shifted to other hospitals.

The Covid-19 designated hospital is situated on the Bharuch-Jambusar highway, around 190 km from the state capital Ahmedabad and is being run by a trust.

The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, the official said.

The fire was controlled within an hour and around 50 patients were rescued by locals as well as firefighters, a fire official said. They were shifted to nearby hospitals, he added.

COVID crisis in India very serious, cases yet to peak: US official

The COVID-19 crisis in India is indeed very serious, the Biden Administration said on Friday, noting that the cases have not peaked yet. I’m afraid that the crisis in India with the surge in the virus is indeed very, very serious.

India’s reporting an increasing number of cases almost every day. The crisis has not peaked yet, Gayle E Smith, the State Department Coordinator for Global COVID Response and Health Security told reporters at a news conference here.

Smith explained that in a surge, there’s a lag time between when people are infected, when they become sick and when they may need care.

“I think this is something that’s going to need urgent and persistent attention for some time. That’s why we have in the immediate sense been focused on key supplies like oxygen support, protective medical gear, vaccine manufacturing supplies, diagnostic tests and other things that are needed quite simply to respond to this immediate surge, she said.

Also Read: Biden restricts travel to US from India

The Biden Administration is looking at other things that can be done to build up supply chains within India so that there can be a more steady supply of all those things that are needed to manage this over time,” Smith asserted.

Smith said once the Administration received the request of items from India, the interagency quickly moved to get these approved. There are a couple of outstanding things that agencies are working on.

But again, we’ve rotated these goods in on a steady rhythm so far so I think it’s been a pretty prompt response, Smith said. State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said the United States will continue to lead the world in confronting COVID-19.

Smith also praised the role being played by the US corporate sector in this assistance effort towards India. With the crisis in India, we have been very active on responding to that. Planes have landed with supplies. Our teams are closely engaged with the Government of India to see what else may be needed additionally, she said.

Also Read: India’s daily COVID-19 cases hit 4 lakh

India’s Serum Institute plans to start vaccine production outside India

The Serum Institute of India, which manufactures the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, is planning to start vaccine production in other countries as it struggles to meet supply commitments, its chief executive officer told The Times.

“There’s going to be an announcement in the next few days,” Adar Poonawalla was quoted as saying by the newspaper in an interview published on Friday.

Poonawalla said last week that the Serum Institute would be able to raise its monthly output to 100 million doses by July, later than a previous timeline of end-May. Several states in India have run out of vaccines against COVID-19.

He hoped to increase the Serum Institute’s production capacity from 2.5 billion to 3 billion doses a year within six months, the Times reported, adding that he flew to London before Britain banned travellers from India eight days ago.

Coronavirus cases and deaths have surged in India as the world’s second-most populous country has reported over 4 lakh cases on Saturday and more than 300,000 new infections daily for nine consecutive days.

The surge has led to a public health crisis and forced the government to seek oxygen, medicines and other essentials from abroad.

The nation’s coronavirus cases may peak between May 3-5, according to scientists advising the government.

Some health experts said India became complacent when new cases were running at about 10,000 a day and the novel coronavirus seemed to be under control. Authorities lifted restrictions, allowing the resumption of large festivals and political rallies.

US exempts categories of students, academics, journalists from India travel ban

Certain categories of students, academics, journalists and individuals have been exempted from the India travel ban announced by President Joe Biden, the US State Department said.

The exemptions were issued by Secretary of State Tony Blinken, hours after Biden issued a proclamation restricting travel from India beginning May 4 because of the “extraordinarily high COVID-19 caseloads and multiple variants circulating in the country”.

According to the State Department, the travel ban exemption is in line with a similar exemption that the US has granted to some categories of travellers from Brazil, China, Iran and or South Africa.

In keeping with the Department of State’s commitment to facilitate legitimate travel to the United States, Secretary Blinken decided today to apply the same set of National Interest Exceptions to India that he had previously applied to all other regional travel restrictions currently in effect as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the State Department said.

Students seeking to commence studies in the fall, academics, journalists and individuals who provide critical infrastructure support in countries affected by a geographic COVID-19 restriction may qualify for the exception, it said.

This includes qualified applicants who have been present in India, Brazil, China, Iran, or South Africa, it added. The pandemic continues to limit the number of visas our embassies and consulates abroad are able to process, it said.

As always, visa applicants should check the website of the nearest embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date information about visa appointment availability, the State Department said.

As the global situation evolves, the Department continues to seek ways to process more visa applications, in line with science-based guidance from health authorities and with the health and safety of staff and applicants as our priority, it said.

In a national interest exemption issued by the State Department on April 26, which it said is good for India too, students with valid F-1 and M-1 visas intending to begin or continue an academic programme commencing August 1 or later do not need to contact an embassy or consulate to seek an individual exemption to travel. They may enter the United States no earlier than 30 days before the start of their academic studies.

Students seeking to apply for new F-1 or M-1 visas should check the status of visa services at the nearest embassy or consulate. Those applicants who are found to be otherwise qualified for an F-1 or M-1 visa will automatically be considered for an NIE to travel, it said.

The Department of State also continues to grant NIEs for qualified travellers seeking to enter the US for purposes related to humanitarian travel, public health response and national security.

These travellers and any others who believe their travel to be in the United States’ national interest should also review the website of the nearest US embassy or consulate for instruction on how to contact them, it said.

In another memorandum on April 8, the Secretary of State had determined that the travel of immigrants, fianc(e) visa holders, certain exchange visitors, and pilots and aircrew travelling to the United States for training or aircraft pickup, delivery or maintenance is in the national interest for purposes of approving exceptions under the geographic COVID presidential proclamations.

These proclamations restrict the entry of individuals physically present, within the 14-day period prior to their attempted entry into the United States, in the People’s Republic of China, Islamic Republic of Iran, Schengen Area, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Federative Republic of Brazil, or Republic of South Africa. This article provides further details regarding this determination. India has now been added to the list.

Also Read: India’s daily COVID-19 cases hit 4 lakh

Australia bans arrivals from India, says offenders face jail, fines

Australian residents and citizens who have been in India within 14 days of the date they plan to return home will be banned from entering Australia as of Monday and those who disobey will face fines and jail, government officials said.

The temporary emergency determination, issued late on Friday, is the first time Australia has made it a criminal offence for its citizens to return home.

The move is part of strict measures to stop travellers to Australia from the world’s second most populous nation as it contends with a surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths.

The restrictions come into effect from May 3 and breaching the ban risks civil penalties and up to five years imprisonment, Health Minister Greg Hunt said in a statement.

“The government does not make these decisions lightly,” Hunt said.” However, it is critical the integrity of the Australian public health and quarantine systems is protected and the number of COVID-19 cases in quarantine facilities is reduced to a manageable level.”

The government will reconsider the restrictions on May 15.

India’s coronavirus death toll passed 200,000 this week, and cases are nearing 19 million as virulent new strains have combined with “super-spreader” events such as political rallies and religious festivals.

Neela Janakiramanan, an Australian surgeon with family in India said the decision to “criminalise” Australians returning from India was disproportionate and overly punitive.

“Indian-Australians are seeing this as a racist policy because we are being treated different than people from other countries who have had similar waves of infection like the U.S., the UK and Europe. It is very hard to feel anything other than targeted as an ethnic group.”

Human rights groups also voiced indignation at the ban, suggesting the government’s focus should be on improving its quarantine system, not on punishment.

“This is an outrageous response. Australians have a right of return to their own country,” Human Rights Watch’s Australia director, Elaine Pearson said in a statement.

“The government should be looking for ways to safely quarantine Australians returning from India, instead of focusing their efforts on prison sentences and harsh punishments.”

Australia, which has no community transmissions, on Tuesday introduced a temporary suspension of direct flights from India until mid-May. However, some Australians, including cricketers Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson, returned via Doha.

Tuesday’s move had left over 9,000 Australians stranded in India, 650 of whom are registered as vulnerable, officials said.

Australia has all but stamped out the coronavirus after closing its borders to non-citizens and permanent residents in March 2020, recording just 29,800 cases and 910 deaths.

Biden restricts travel to US from India

US President Joe Biden on Friday issued a proclamation, restricting travel to the United States of all non-citizens who have stayed in India in the past 14 days.

The proclamation, which comes into effect on May 4, has been issued due to the “extraordinarily high COVID-19 caseloads and multiple variants circulating in India.”

US nationals, those on Green Cards, their non-citizen spouses and children below 21 years of age, are among the various categories exempted from the restrictions.

The new travel restrictions have been imposed for an indefinite period and will require another presidential proclamation to end it.

“I have determined that it is in the interests of the United States to take action to restrict and suspend the entry into the United States, as nonimmigrants, of non-citizens of the United States who were physically present within the Republic of India during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States,” Biden said.

The decision has been taken at the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), within the Department of Health and Human Services, which determined India is experiencing widespread, person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

The World Health Organization has reported that the Republic of India has had more than 18,375,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The magnitude and scope of the COVID-19 pandemic in India surging, Biden said, adding that India accounts for over one-third of new global cases.

The number of new cases in India is accelerating at a rapid rate, he said. Biden said there have been more than 300,000 average new daily cases in India over the past week.

A variant strain of the virus, known as B.1.617, is also circulating in India, along with other variant strains, including B.1.1.7, first detected in the United Kingdom, and B.1.351, first detected in the Republic of South Africa.

The CDC advises, based on work by public health and scientific experts, that these variants have characteristics of concern, which may make them more easily transmitted and have the potential for reduced protection afforded by some vaccines, said the proclamation.

After reviewing the public health situation within India, the CDC has concluded that proactive measures are required to protect the nation’s public health from travellers entering the United States from that jurisdiction, he said.

Also Read: US exempts categories of students, academics, journalists from India travel ban