Coronavirus News highlights: Kerala imposes curfew between 9 pm and 5 am from April 20

India's total tally of Covid-19 cases on Monday crossed the 1.50-crore mark with around 25 lakh cases being added in just 15 days. The country is reeling under an acute shortage of oxygen, treatment drugs and hospital beds as the country's Covid-19 crisis worsens. Delhi announced a 6-day lockdown starting tonight to curb the spread of the virus. Meanwhile, UK PM Boris Johnson cancelled trip to India over coronavirus worries.

Kerala government imposes curfew between 9 pm and5 am from April 20,essential services have been exempted.

Jaishankar rejects criticism over export of Covid-19 vaccines

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday strongly rejected criticism over India's export of Covid-19 vaccines, saying there were global commitments for variety of reasons including for procurement of raw materials for production of the jabs.

At an online interaction, he said India prioritised vaccination of its people while describing those as "non-serious" people who questioned why the country was exporting at all. (PTI)

Himachal Pradesh government has ordered closure of all educational institutes till May 1 after a review meeting chaired by CM Jai Ram Thakur over Covid-19 situation

PM Modi interacted with leaders of the pharmaceutical industry virtually. He appreciated the role of the pharma sector in the fight against Covid-19. He stated that despite all challenges, the Indian pharma industry has also registered a growth of 18% in exports last year, which shows its potential: PMO

Madhya Pradesh reported12,897 fresh Covid-19 cases, 6,836 recoveries, and 79 deaths in the last 24 hours

The BJP has announced that only small public meetings with not more than 500 people will be held by PM Modi and other central ministers in West Bengal for rallies.

Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao tests positive for Covid-19

Odisha Additional Chief Secretary andSRC Pradeep Jena announced that to containthe spread of Covid-19 in Odisha, weekend shutdown in all urban areas will be in effect from April 24

Karnataka reports 15,785 new cases, 7,098 discharges and 146 deaths. The case tally at 11,76,850 and thedeath toll is 13,497. (PTI)

National lockdown can dent GDP growth by 2%, states should do with local curbs: Report

A month's national lockdown can hurt GDP growth by 2 percentage points, an American brokerage warned on Monday while expecting governments to continue with localised restrictions to arrest the Covid spread.

Stating that there has been a 7x jump in the new cases to 2.61 lakh a day from a month ago's 35,000 cases, analysts at Bofa Securities said they have grown "even more concerned that rising Covid-19 cases pose a risk to our still shallow recovery". (PTI)

JUST IN | 30 inmates from Kalyan Adharwadi Jail tested positive for Covid-19. All 30 inmates were shifted to Thane Civil Hospital for treatment

Covid-19: HC asks Centre to examine oxygen availability in other states

The Delhi High Court Monday expressed concern over the rise in Covid-19 cases and asked the Centre to examine the availability of oxygen in different states for diverting it to areas of surge and said "it is evident that the healthcare infrastructure is at the stage of imminent collapse".

Taking stock of the current pandemic situation, the high court asked the Central government to look into the aspect of shortage of oxygen supply in Delhi hospitals on an urgent basis. (PTI)

Chennai Police will install 200 checkpoints to monitor vehicles andmovement of people during the lockdown imposed in Tamil Nadu.Night curfew from 10 pm to 4 am has been imposed in the state from tomorrow. Sundays will have full lockdown. (ANI)

Rahul Gandhi targets govt over issue of insurance cover for health workers

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday hit out at the government over the issue of insurance cover for health workers in the country.

The Union Health Ministry has announced that all claims of "COVID warriors" under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package, which was launched in March last year in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, will be settled till April 24, after which a fresh insurance policy for them will become effective. (PTI)

Mohali will remain under complete lockdown on Wednesdayon the occasion of Ram Navami, to avoid gatherings (ANI)

Delhi High Court has directed Inox, an oxygen firm to honour its contract with Delhi Government and hospitals in the national capital and continue to supply oxygen and restore 140 metric ton supply immediately (ANI)

Punjab CM Amarinder Singh reviewed the Covid-19 situation in the state and has ordered the extension of night curfews from 8 pm to 5 am. He has also orderedclosure of all bars, cinema halls, gyms, spas, coaching centres, sports complexes from April 20 to 30. There is aban on gatherings of over over 20 including weddings andfunerals in the state. (ANI)

"In the second wave, oxygen utilization has been found to be 54.5 per centversus 41.1 per centearlier while the requirement of mechanical ventilation is 27 per centversus 37 per centbefore. Ventilator requirement is much less yet oxygen requirement is higher,"ICMR DG Dr. Balram Bhargava told ANI

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has asked people to not panic. She said that hergovt has formed a task force to tackle Covid-19 surge. (PTI)

"In the last one year of Covid management, we have learnt that 2 things are most important — drugs andtiming of drugs. If you give them too early/late, it would cause harm. Giving a cocktail of drugs on day 1 can kill your patient and would be more harmful," AIIMS Director Dr. Randeep Guleria has said. (ANI)

There is no dearth of oxygen but there are some logistical issues that we are sorting out. We will sort it out in a couple of days. We have called a meeting under our Industry Minister, all the producers & suppliers of oxygen: Karnataka Health Minister

The issue is not Oxygen, but there are some big hospitals that don't have plans. So that logistical issue is still there, how to handle that is what we are contemplating. But we'll somehow resolve it, said Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar.

(ANI)

UK PM Boris Johnson cancels trip to India due to coronavirus worries

"In the light of the current coronavirus situation, Prime Minister Boris Johnson will not be able to travel to India next week," a joint statement from the British and Indian government, released by Johnson's office, said.

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Delhi under 6-day lockdown: What's allowed and what's not

Delhi reported 25,462 new cases of Covid-19 on Sunday, almost one-third of the number of persons tested for the infectious disease. The national capital has 74,941 active cases of Covid-19.

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Cabinet Secretary convenes video conference on issue of medical oxygen with Chief Secretaries & officials of Maharashtra, MP, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, UP, AP, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Delhi.

All the state government-run schools to remain closed from tomorrow till further notice. Early Summer vacation has been announced, in view of the surge in Covid-19 cases: West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announces lockdown from 10 pm tonight till 5 am on April 26

This is what Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal had to say:

In the last 24 hours, around 23,500 cases were reported. In last 3-4 days, around 25,000 cases have been reported. Positivity rate&infection have increased. If 25,000 patients come every day then system will crumble, there's a shortage of beds.

Delhi’s health system has been stretched to its limit, is under stress. Harsh measures will have to be taken to prevent a collapse of the health system.

Delhi is facing the fourth wave of Covid-19...25,000 cases have been reported now. Delhi's health system has reached its limits. I don't say that the system has collapsed but it has reached its limits.

Essential services, food services, medical services will continue. Weddings can be held with a gathering of only 50 people, passes will be issued separately for it. A detailed order will be issued shortly.

In the next 6 days, we will make arrangements for more beds in Delhi. We thank Central govt for helping us. The lockdown period will be used to arrange oxygen, medicine. I request everyone to follow the guidelines.

Kejriwal also appealedto the migrant labourers and said, "I appeal to you with folded hands. It's a small lockdown, only for 6 days. Don't leave Delhi & go. I'm very hopeful that we won't need to further extend the lockdown...Govt will take care of you."

Shiv Sena demands special Parliament session for discussing Covid-19

"All states are facing problems, we can discuss the situation and come out with measures," said the partychief spokesperson Sanjay Raut.

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Delhi likely to be under curfew for seven days. Announcement expected shortly.

A youth rides a bike in front of closed shops during a weekend lockdown imposed by the government amidst risingCovid-19 coronavirus cases, in NewDelhion April 18, 2021. Credit: AFP Photo

Streets and markets in Jaipur wear a deserted look as 'Anushashan Pakhwada' has been imposed in the state from 5 am today to 5 am, May 3, in wake of surge in Covid-19.

In view of rise in Covid-19 cases in Delhi, the Delhi High Court orders that all the judicial officers of the District Courts in Delhi shall take up only urgent cases of their respective Courts, through video conferencing.

PM Modi to chair meet on Covid-19 on April 19

This comes amid India's record surge in Covid-19 cases and deaths and an acute shortage of life-saving drug Remdesivir, hosiptal beds and oxygen cylinders.

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Credit: PTI Photo

India sees record 2.73 lakh single-day Covid-19 cases, 1,619 deaths

Registering a steady increase for the 40th day in a row, the active cases stand at 19,29,329, comprising 12.18 per cent of the total infections, while the national Covid-19 recovery rate has dropped to 86.62 per cent, the ministry said.

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Karnataka posts 19,067 Covid-19 cases and 81 deaths, biggest daily spike ever

The state’s case numbers have climbed acutely from April 14, with the doubling rate now appearing to have dropped from seven to nine days to under five days.

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Maha Vikas Aghadi government plans total lockdown amid Covid-19 surge in Maharashtra

Exactly 13 months after the Covid-19 pandemic claimed its first victim in Maharashtra, the state's death toll crossed the 60,000-mark with the addition of 500-plus casualties on Sunday and the daily new cases in the state galloped north to a new high and jumped the 68,000 barrier.

Meanwhile, the Maha Vikas Aghadi government is contemplating a total lockdown in the state or further strengthening the restrictions – as there were several cases of violations reported during last week.

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Maharashtra declares Kerala, Goa, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttarakhand and Delhi and NCR as places of "sensitive origin" in the wake of the raging second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

'Anushashan Pakhwada' (self-discipline fortnight) to be imposed in Rajasthan from 5 am today till 5 am, May 3. All workplaces, businesses & markets including general activities will be restricted. No restrictions on the movement of govt officials.

Mamata Banerjee will not campaign in Kolkata anymore. There will be only one 'symbolic' meeting on the last day of campaigning in the city on April 26. She has restricted election rallies' time in all districts to 30 minutes: TMC leader Derek O'Brien

West Bengal Chief MinisterMamataBanerjee during a roadshow campaign for State Assembly polls, amid the rise in Covid-19 cases across the country, in Kolkata, Thursday, April 15, 2021. Credit: PTI Photo

Passengers coming from outside Chhattisgarh to be tested at airports, railway stations, bus stands & inter-state borders. Testing to be done in rural areas as well. Strict action against those black marketing essential medicines: CM Bhupesh Baghel

Proper arrangements to be made for sending migrants to isolation centres and hospitals,Baghel added.

(ANI)

In this combo photo, streets across cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Lucknow, Agra, Prayagraj during weekend lockdown, imposed by authorities to curb the surge in coronavirus cases countrywide, on Sunday, April 18, 2021 | PTI Photo

No relation between surge in Covid-19 cases and election rallies: Himanta Biswa Sarma

Asked if the spike in Covid-19 cases is linked to election rallies and campaigns held for the three-phase assembly polls which concluded on April 6, Sarma also senior BJP leader, said that no connection could be established between the two. "We had conducted a study to find out if Covid-19 cases had increased where more election rallies were held, but this could not be established. Out of the 126 assembly constituencies in the state there are no cases in around 100 constituencies," he said.

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Covid-19: Hong Kong suspends flights connecting India from April 20 to May 3

The Hong Kong government's decision has come after 50 passengers of two Vistara flights this month were found positive for Covid-19 when tested on arrival.

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Growing calls for more oxygen, beds as India's Covid-19 crisis deepens

Hospitals usually reserved for employees of ministries or public sector companies should convert some of their wards into Covid-19 facilities equipped with ICU and oxygen-supported beds, ventilators, laboratories and healthcare staff, the government said.

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