Coronavirus News highlights: PM Modi urges states to consider lockdown as last option

India's daily Covid-19 case tally on Tuesday remained above the 2-lakh mark, but logged a record number of daily fatalities. As cases mounted across the nation, a number of states introduced fresh restrictions, While Delhi announced a 6-day lockdown, Kerala and Telangana have imposed night curfews which will take effect from tonight. Meanwhile, the Centre announced that all adults will be eligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccine from May 1. Stay tuned for more updates...

Karnataka imposed weekend curfew

Karnataka imposed weekend curfew. Night curfew will remain force from 9 pm till 6 am. Read more

PM Modi addresses nation on Covid-19 situation

Consider lockdown as the last option, PM Modi tells states. "I urge to focus on micro containment zones," he said.

PM Modi urges youth to form groups in their communities to help the needy in these times. "There would be no need for lockdowns, containment zones if it is done," he said.

PM Modi lauds citizen groups who have come forwards to help the Covid-affected.

Enabling vaccines to those above age 18 will help the workforce and migrants in the city, says PM Modi. Industries should install trust in the workers, he added.

Vaccines will continue to be free in govt-run hospitals, says PM Modi

India is the fastest to vaccinate 10, 11 and 12 crore does, says PM Modi

India has a strong pharma sector. The industry has revamped the production of medicines in recent times, says PM Modi

The demand for Oxygen has increased all over the country. The efforts have begun across the country to fulfill the demand for Oxygen. Oxygen plants have been established in states to fill the need, says PM Modi.

I reach out to all doctors, ambulance drivers, health workers who have sacrificed their time with their families to fight against the Covid-19, says PM Modi.

India had recovered but the Covid-19 has once again returned like a typhoon. To those who have lost family members, I express my condolences, says PM Modi.

PM to address nation at 8.45 pm

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday urged the Centre to provide medical oxygen to Delhi, saying some hospitals are going to run out of it in a few hours.

Mumbai reported7,214 new Covid-19 cases, 35 deaths and 9,641 recoveries. The state'scase tally stands at 5,93,906, death toll at 12,439.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to travel to Portugal for India-EU summit next month in view of Covid-19 situation.

DMK President M K Stalin on Tuesday expressed concern over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi testive positive for coronavirus and wished him a speedy recovery.

"Last year, over 80 per centpeople were treated under home isolation. Our start is good but we need to increase our facilities more. We are creating more temporary beds in hospitals. We are also working on increasing the manpower,"Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took a review of progress in Covidhospitals. He urged the DPSUs, OFB and DRDO to work on war footing to provide oxygen cylinders and extra beds to civil administration/state governments at the earliest. (ANI)

UGC-NET exam postponed in view of Covid-19 situation

TheUGC-National Eligibility Test (NET) scheduled to be held from May 2 to 17 has been postponed in view of the Covid-19 pandemic situation, Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' announced on Tuesday. Read more

Jammu & Kashmir announces restrictions for Covid-19 containment including 'Corona curfew' from 10 pm to 6 am extended to all 20 districts.Public transport will ply with 50 per centseating capacity and markets will open with 50 per cent shops on rotation bases. (ANI)

The Centre has informed Delhi High Court that in order to ensure a continuous supply of oxygen for medical purposes, the use of oxygen for industrial purposes has been banned except for certain critical industries with effect from April 22

Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee writes to PM Modi, says Centre's vaccine policy hollow and without substance

Rahul Gandhi tests Covid-19 positive

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said he tested positive for Covid-19.

Not fixing vaccine cost for states paving way to profiteering: Chidambaram

By liberalising the price of vaccine & not fixing a price for states at the same rate as available to Union Govt, the govt is paving the way to unhealthy price bidding & profiteer. States with limited resources will be at a considerable disadvantage: Congress leader P Chidambaram (ANI)

Delhi CM Kejriwal in quarantine after wife tests Covid-19 positive

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has put himself underquarantine after hiswife Sunita Kejriwal testedpositive for Covid-19 on Tuesday.The CM's wife is in home-isolation, news agencyANIreported.

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Maharashtra grocery shops to be open only from 7 am to 11am

India hopes US will soon ease ban on vaccine material exports

India is hopeful the United States will soon lift a ban on the export of vaccine raw materials that threatens to slow India's inoculation drive, two Indian government sources told Reuters on Monday, after the foreign ministers of the two nations spoke.

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Covid-19 wave: Uttar Pradesh imposes lockdown for one weekend

The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday imposed a weekend lockdown that will be in effect fromFriday, April 23,8 pmtill Monday, April 26,7 am.

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'Remdesivir procured by BJP was meant for Maharashtra govt'

Days after the Remdesivir procurement controversy, it now appears that the injections being procured by the BJP were intended for the Maharashtra government.

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Why is passion to win war against Covid-19 not same as passion to win Assembly polls: Sibal to PM Modi

Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Tuesday asked why he was not showing the same passion to win the war against coronavirus as shown to win elections.

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Rajnath Singh asks armed forces to extend help to civil administrations

As India reels under a massive spike in coronavirus cases, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has asked the Army to extend assistance to state administrations to deal with the pandemic, including by offering help in creation of additional capacities to treat Covid-19 patients.

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India's crematoriums struggle as Covid-19 victims pile up

A summer storm is buffeting New Delhi as Mohammed Shamim wearily pauses to glance at yet another ambulance arriving with a coronavirus victim to bury, just minutes after the last.

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Madhya Pradesh receives consignment of 15,000 Remdesivir injections from Karnataka

Fadnavis faces flak as 22-year-old nephew Tanmay gets Covid-19 vaccine

Maharashtra’s Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis came under severe criticism after a (now deleted) photo of his 22-year-old Tanmay Fadnavis taking a Covid-19 vaccine jab went viral.

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UP govt moves SC, refuses to follow HC order to impose lockdown

The Uttar Pradesh government moved the Supreme Court challenging the Allahabad High Court order on imposing lockdown in its five cities, on the ground that the High Court did not have the domain to issue such kind of directions, according to news agencyANI.

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Israel logs 8 cases with Indian Covid-19 variant, says vaccines partially effective against it

Israel has registered eight cases of a coronavirus variant first identified in India and believes that the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is at least partially effective against it, an Israeli health official said on Tuesday.

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Bengaluru epicentre of Covid-19 in Karnataka: Sudhakar

Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar on Tuesday said Bengaluru has emerged as an epicentre of coronavirus cases in Karnataka and there was a need to work on a war footing.

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Union Minister Jitendra Singh tests positive for Covid-19

A long line of ambulances with Covid-19 victims in front of a crematorium in Bengaluru

Credit: DH Photo/B K Janardhan

Night curfew in Telangana till May 1 morning

The Telangana government on Tuesday ordered a night curfew between 9 pm and 5 amacross the state till the end of April amid rising coronavirus cases. The curbs will be in effect till 5 am on May 1.

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Centre should ensure adequate availability of vaccines: Gehlot

With the Centre deciding to open vaccination for all above 18 years from May, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday said the government should ensure adequate availability of vaccines. (PTI)

Coronavirus India update: State-wise Covid-19 cases, deaths on April 20

India surpassed 1.5crore coronavirus infections amid the unprecedented surge indaily Covid-19 cases and deaths in the past few weeks.The country continues to be the second-worst hit nation in the world after the first positive case was confirmed on January 30 in Kerala.

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Adults in all US states are now eligible for Covid-19 vaccination

All adults in every US state, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico are now eligible for a Covid-19 vaccine, meeting the April 19 deadline that President Joe Biden set two weeks ago.

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Chhattisgarh: People being offered tomatoes to incentivise getting vaccinated against Covid-19

Manmohan Singh's health stable, best possible care being given: Harsh Vardhan

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Tuesday said that former PM Manmohan Singh's health condition is stable. Singh had tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday evening.

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Over 32 lakh doses of Covid-19 vaccine administered in past 24 hours

32,76,555 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine were administered in the last 24 hours.

India sees worst spike in death toll, logs over 2 lakh Covid-19 cases for 6th straight day

India's total tally of Covid-19 cases crossed 1.53 crore with a single-day rise of 2,59,170 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases surpassed the 20-lakh mark, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday.

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PM Modi will hold a meeting with vaccine manufacturers via VC at 6pm today

This would be his 3rd interaction with focus groups, after doctors and pharma companies yesterday.

Avoid all travel to India, says US CDC amid rise in Covid-19 cases

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised people to avoid any travel to India amid a surge in Covid-19 cases in the country.

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AP declares closure of academic year for classes 1-9 in view of Covid-19 situation

Andhra Pradesh government declares closure of academic year 2020-21 and announces summer holidays for Classes 1 to 9 from today for all schools functioning under all managements, in view of prevailing #COVID19 situation

Migrant workers leave for their hometown as Delhi's 6-day lockdown comes into effect

Demand for paracetamol, pulse oximeters soars during second Covid-19 wave

The second Covid-19 wave has sent demand skyward for paracetamol and equipment like thermometers and pulse oximeters.

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Covid-19 deaths in Bengaluru rise due to ICU shortages

The shortage of ICU beds and oxygen has triggered a dramatic rise in the number of Covid-19 deaths in Bengaluru, in a repeat of what the city had seen in the darkest days of the pandemic last year.

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J&J seeks permission for phase-3 trial of its single-shot Covid-19 vaccine in India, import licence

Multinational pharma giant Johnson & Johnson has applied to India's drug regulator seeking permission to conduct phase-3 clinical trial of its single-dose Covid-19 vaccine in India as well as import licence, sources said.

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