Coronavirus News highlights: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor tests Covid-19 positive

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday asserted that lockdowns should be the "last resort" to deal with the raging pandemic. Everyone above 18 years of age will be eligible to get vaccinated against Covid-19 from May 1, the central government has said. India's total tally of Covid-19 cases climbed to 1,56,16,130 with 2,95,041 new coronavirus infections being reported in a day, while active cases surpassed the 21-lakh mark, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday. Follow DH for latest updates.

Union Government allocates supply of Remdesivir to 19 States/UTs with High Burden of Covid cases.

Shashi Tharoor has tested positive for Covid-19.

Night curfew has been imposed in Goa from April 21 till April 30. The restriction will remain in force from 10 pm till 6 am.

More than 21,000 tested positive after first dose of either Covishield or Covaxin, while over 5,500 tested positive after 2nd dose, says Centre.

India now has twice the number of maximum active Covid-19 cases last year

Chhattisgarh govt announced free Covid-19 vaccine for all above 18 years.

Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank tests positive for Covid-19

Haryana Health Minister accuses Delhi govt of looting oxygen tankers

Uttarakhand tightens restrictions in view of Covid-19 surge

The Uttarakhand government has ordered the closure of markets in urban areas barring shops dealing in essential commodities from 2 pm onwards and changing the curfew timing across the state from 9 pm to 7 pm.

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Following the Govt of India directives, we are announcing the prices of the Covishield vaccine -- Rs 400 per dose for state governments and Rs 600 per dose for private hospitals: Serum Institute of India (SII)

(ANI)

Goa CM Pramod Sawant to declare further information on Covid restriction today at 5 pm

India took only 95 days to administer 13 crore doses of Covid-19 vaccine, fastest country to do so: Union Health Ministry

(ANI)

Noted Bengali poet Shankha Ghosh dies days after testing positive for Covid-19, says his family

(DHNS)

Pet market dodges Covid malaise in dog-crazy Brazil

While the coronavirus crisis has depressed most sectors of the economy in Brazil, the country with more dogs than children splurged much attention, and money, on its pets in 2020.

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Parents of cricketer MS Dhoni have been admitted here at the hospital after testing positive for Covid-19. Their oxygen level is stable: Pulse Superspeciality Hospital, Ranchi, Jharkhand

(ANI)

One day complete lockdown imposed in Chandigarh today on Ram Navami, to prevent large gatherings amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Police personnel check IDs of people moving amid the lockdown.

(ANI)

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lt Governor Anil Baijal to hold a meeting at 11 am today. Issue of Oxygen supply, Covid-19 cases and deaths to be taken up in the meet.

(ANI)

Passengers who were to travel between India & UK may note that in view of recent restrictions announced by the UK, flights from/to the UK stand cancelled from April 24to April 30, 2021. Further updates regarding rescheduling, refunds & waivers will be informed shortly: Air India

(ANI)

India reports 2,95,041 new Covid-19 cases, 2,023 deaths and 1,67,457 discharges in the last 24 hours, as per Union Health Ministry.

Total cases: 1,56,16,130
Total recoveries: 1,32,76,039
Death toll: 1,82,553
Active cases: 21,57,538

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Body dies, soul doesn’t, writes doctor hours before she dies of Covid-19

Body dies, soul doesn’t, wrote Mumbai-based doctor Manisha Jadhav on Facebook, hours before she passed away due to the deadly Covid-19 infection.

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Even today they're busy with campaigning. They're laughing from the stages (at rallies). People are crying, screaming for help, seeking oxygen, beds, medicines, & you're going to huge rallies & laughing! How can you?: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

(ANI)

Why were Indians not prioritised? Vaccine shortage is due to bad planning, Remdesivir shortage due to no planning, oxygen shortage due to no strategy. It's Govt's failure: Priyanka Gandhi

Maharashtra Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal says CM Uddhav Thackeray will announce decision about lockdown tomorrow

(PTI)

US tracking course of Covid-19 outbreak in India very closely

The United States is tracking the course of the Covid-19 outbreak in India “very closely”, the State Department has said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has advised Americans to avoid all travel to India.

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A 35-year-old Covid patient in Punjab died allegedly by hanging himself from a fan in Ludhiana's Civil Hospital.

He was admitted to the hospital the previous day, was vaccinated at 5 pm. An hour later, hospital staff found him hanging from fan. Probe on: ACP Waryam Singh

(ANI)

India Gate and Rajpath wear a deserted look during Covid-induced lockdown, in the backdrop of a cloudy sky, in New Delhi, Tuesday, April 20, 2021. Credit: PTI Photo

Five states, UTs have no private Covid-19 vaccine facilities: Government data

With the third phase of Covid-19 vaccination opening up in less than two weeks for everyone above 18 years largely through private facilities, government data shows almost all small states and union territories are still entirely or mostly dependent upon government facilities.

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