Coronavirus News Highlights: India's active Covid-19 cases to peak at 38-48 lakh by mid-May, say IIT researchers

The World Health Organization chief voiced alarm Monday at India's record-breaking wave of Covid-19 cases and deaths, saying the organisation was rushing to help address the crisis.

. Kannada producer/director/actor Ramu reportedly passed away on Monday due to Covid-19 related complications.

. The Centre's top health advisor on Monday said it was perfectly safe for women to takeCovid-19 vaccines during their menstrual cycle.

. Notwithstanding the claims by the state government, chaos, apathy and poor health infrastructure marred Covid-19 management in Uttar Pradesh as Covid-19 cases continued to remain high in the state.

. Australia will send oxygen, ventilators and personal protective equipment to India as part of an immediate support package to the country which is battling with the latest surge of the Covid-19 cases, Health Minister Greg Hunt said on Monday.

. A month-long national lockdown to arrest the spread of Covid-19 2.0 could shave off 100-200 bps of GDP, leading to a 300 bps risk to annual growth, a brokerage report has flagged while expressing doubts over the ability of local lockdowns to control the pandemic.

. Switzerland has added India to its list of high-risk countries from which travellers must enter quarantine following the surge of cases in the subcontinent and the discovery here of a first case of new variant of Covid-19 first identified in India.

. The central government on Monday asked the Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech to lower prices of their Covid-19 vaccines amid criticism from various states who objected to profiteering during such a major crisis.

. A day after putting a ban on the use of liquid oxygen for non-medical purposes, the government on Monday allowed three sectors -- ampules and vials, pharmaceutical and defence forces -- to use the commodity.

. The Delhi High Court Monday took strong note of black marketing in oxygen cylinders, reportedly being sold at Rs 1 lakh per unit in the national capital for treating seriously ill Covid-19 patients, and asked the AAP government to take action against those indulging in it, saying distribution of gas cylinders is "your baby".

. Two Australian cricketers became the latest stars to pull out of the Indian Premier League on Monday as top bowler Pat Cummins said the tournament was being kept open to distract attention from the growing coronavirus toll on the country.

. As India grappled with a raging second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, the government on Monday sought to allay people's fears, saying unnecessary panic is causing more harm than good.

. India has enough stock of medical oxygen, but the issue is its transportation from the producing states to high-demand areas which the government is trying to address, the Home Ministry said Monday.

. India has asked the European Union to send medical oxygen and Gilead's antiviral drug Remdesivir to fight a surge in Covid-19 cases, an EU official said on Monday, adding that the aid could be made available soon.

. Indian Railways has transported more than 302 MT of oxygen safely & securely to various states across India. Another 154 MT of liquid medical oxygen is on its way. One Oxygen Express train carrying 4 tankers is expected to reach Delhi from Raigarh today: Govt of India (ANI)

. The Centre has decided to leave the import of Covid-19 vaccines to state authorities and companies, two government officials told Reuters , a decision that may slow acquisitions of shots as a second wave of the pandemic rips through the country.

. We believe it's possible to increase minimum interval b/w first & second shots of Sputnik V from earlier approved 21 days up to 3 months. Extending interval will not affect vaccine-induced immune response & in some cases will enhance&prolong it: Director, Gamaleya Research Centre (ANI)

. The Armed Forces on Monday recalled its medical personnel who had retired or taken premature retirement in the last two years to work at Covid-19 facilities across the country.

. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on Monday issued a show-cause notice to some private labs in the city for not updating the Covid-19 RT-PCR test results on the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) portal within 24 hours after the tests were done.

. Citizens should practice restraint and discipline amid the surge in Covid-19 cases before blaming the government, the Aurangabad bench of Bombay High Court said on Monday while passing several directions on the pandemic.

. The cumulative number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed 14.19 croreas part of the world's largest vaccination drive, which completed 100 days on April 25, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday.

. States with more than 1 lakh active cases - Maharashtra, UP, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu: Health Ministry (ANI)

. Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi has been waiting for three days to refill its oxygen cylinders, which are used while transporting critically ill Covid patients, and is currently on beg and borrow mode, sources said on Monday.

. As India begins ramping up its Covid-19 vaccine production to meet the rising Covid-19 cases daily, indigenous vaccine maker Bharat Biotech is struggling to procure the key ingredient in its vaccine.

. The US on Sunday assured India and its people of support during the trying second wave of coronavirus which has been devastating the country overthe past month. The Joe Biden administration said that it was "determined to help India in its time of need." and is set to send necessarylife-saving medical supplies and equipmentto help India fight the virus.

. All MBBS graduates under government bond in Gujarat have been asked to immediately join duty in the wake of a shortage of doctors at Covid-19 hospitals in the state.

. Essential shops and grocery stores can stay open between 6 and 10 in the morning. Construction, manufacturing, and farming activities are exempted from the lockdown.

. Karnataka will impose a two-week lockdown starting 10 pm on April 27, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa announced on Monday.

. US drugmaker Moderna Inc on Monday filed an application for emergency use authorisation of its Covid-19 vaccine in the Philippines, Food and Drug Administration chief Rolando Enrique Domingo told reporters.

The Philippines expects the delivery of 194,000 doses of Moderna's vaccine in May, and another one million shots in July.

The Philippines, which is battling one of the worst Covid-19 outbreaks in Asia, has so far approved the emergency use of six vaccines in the country.

. My sincere request to Gujarat CM to take cognisance of the delays in delivery of Liquid Medical Oxygen tanks, cylinders & vaporisers from manufacturers in Gujarat. In this crisis hour, it will be good if we all could work together ensuring timely service delivery, says Jharkhand CM.

. "Your institution is singularly responsible for the second wave of Covid-19", Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee told Election Commission of India.

The court warned that it will stop counting of votes on May 2 if ECI does not put in place a proper plan to ensure following of Covid-19 protocols.

. The Delhi High Court on Monday directed hospitals in the national capital to "scrupulously follow" the AAP government's circular on not to insist on Covid positive test reports before admitting patients showing symptoms of coronavirus.

A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jasmeet Singh also directed the Delhi government to "widely publicise" its April 23 circular on the matter.

The order came while disposing of a PIL seeking directions to the Delhi government to order hospitals not to insist on Covid positive reports to hospitalise patients who show symptoms of coronavirus.

. A top European Union official said Sunday that Americans who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 should be able to travel to Europe by summer, easing existing travel restrictions.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told The New York Times that the union's 27 members would accept, unconditionally, all those who are vaccinated with vaccines that are approved by the European Medicines Agency.

The agency has approved the three vaccines used in the United States.

. Israel's Health Ministry said on Sunday it is examining a small number of cases of heart inflammation in people who had received Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine, though it has not yet drawn any conclusions.

Israel's pandemic response coordinator, Nachman Ash, said a preliminary study showed "tens of incidents" of myocarditis occurring among more than 5 million vaccinated people, primarily after the second dose. Ash said it was unclear whether this was unusually high and whether it was connected to the vaccine. Most of the cases were reported among people up to age 30.

. India's coronavirus cases hit a record peak for a fifth day on Monday as countries including Britain, Germany and the United States pledged to send urgent medical aid to help tackle the crisis overwhelming its hospitals.

Infections in the past 24 hours rose to 352,991, with overcrowded hospitals in Delhi and nationwide turning away patients after running out of supplies of medical oxygen and beds. With a population of 1.3 billion, India has a tally of 17.31 million infections and 195,123 deaths, after 2,812 deaths overnight, health ministry data showed.

. Delhi govt has decided to provide free vaccines to everyone above 18 years of age. Today we have given the approval for the purchase of 1.34 crore vaccines. We will make an effort to ensure that it is purchased soon and administered at the earliest to people, said Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

. Hong Kong and Singapore on Monday announced plans to resurrect their scrapped coronavirus travel bubble with dedicated flights between the two cities starting on May 26.

The two business hubs had to abandon a highly anticipated quarantine-free travel corridor late last year after Hong Kong was hit with a fourth wave of infections.

From May 26, one flight per day carrying up to 200 passengers will shuttle between the two cities. Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines will share the route with two daily flights planned from June 10 onwards.

. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on Monday expressed his solidarity with India and its Covid-19 situation, adding that his company will aid relief efforts in the country. Nadella was "heartbroken" by the pandemic situation facing India, he said.

. The eight states of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Kerala cumulatively account for 69.67% of India’s total active cases.

. The demand for free vaccination for everyone 18 years of age and above grew on Sunday, ahead of the key Karnataka cabinet meeting scheduled for Monday.

. Tokyo Olympic organizers and the IOC are to unveil new plans this week to explain how 15,400 Olympic and Paralympic athletes can compete in Japan when the games open in three months in the midst of a pandemic.

The rollout of the second edition of the so-called "Playbooks" — an IOC guidebook explaining how the games can be pulled off — comes as Tokyo, Osaka and several other areas have been placed under a third state of emergency as coronavirus cases surge.

Japan, which has attributed about 10,000 deaths to Covid-19, has also been slow with local vaccination with about 1% so far getting shots.

. India on Sunday reported 3,52,091 new Covid-19 cases and 2,812 deaths, the largest single-day rise in the world, according to the latest Union Health Ministry data. This is the fifth day that India recorded over 3 lakh daily infections.

. Cinemas, places of worship, malls, bars and salons must be shut effective April 26, the Tamil Nadu government announced on Saturday reintroducing more curbs following surging Covid-19 cases. People from abroad and other states shall be allowed entry to Tamil Nadu only if they have registered in the portal http://eregister.tnega.org and information on registration should be produced to authorities on arrival.

. The Fijian capital Suva entered a 14-day lockdown Monday as the Pacific island nation battled to contain a Covid-19 spike following a "superspreader" funeral event.

Around 100,000 people in the city must stay in containment zones and non-essential businesses are shuttered after the first community coronavirus cases in 12 months were detected.

A soldier contracted the virus at a quarantine facility and is believed to have transmitted it to a maid, who then exposed up to 500 people at a funeral.

. Congress on Sunday accused the Modi government of allowing vaccine makers profiteer to the tune of Rs 1.11 lakh crore by allowing differential pricing for Covid-19 vaccines.

. China reported 11 new Covid-19 cases on April 25, down from 13 cases a day earlier, the national health authority said on Monday.

The National Health Commission, in a statement, said all of the new cases were imported infections originating from overseas. The number of new asymptomatic cases, which China does not classify as confirmed cases, rose to 18 from 14 cases a day earlier.

. "In any battle, time is of the greatest essence. While the dreaded disease is spreading like a tsunami, it was critical to ease the controls and allow a free hand to the state governments as well as the private sector. Hence, under the able guidance of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, we decided to ease the vaccination policy norms," writes Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan.

. Noting that existing infrastructure “might not be able to cope" with the surge in Covid cases, the Centre on Sunday suggested that states should identify geographies with higher positivity or bed occupancy rate, and take local containment measures for 14 days.

Coronavirus News Highlights: India's active Covid-19 cases to peak at 38-48 lakh by mid-May, say IIT researchers

Thank you for following the live coverage of the coronavirus on DH. We will see you again tomorrow!

Covid-19 situation in India 'beyond heartbreaking': WHO chief

Kannada producer & actor Ramu passes away due to Covid-19

Safe for women to take Covid-19 vaccine during period, no reason to postpone, says Centre's health expert

Chaos, apathy mar Uttar Pradesh's Covid-19 management as cases soar

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