Coronavirus news highlights: Bengal reports record spike of 12,876 Covid cases, 59 new deaths

India on Friday reported a record-high 3,32,730 Covid-19 cases amid the ongoing second wave of the pandemic, according to data released by the Union Health Ministry. Many states including Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka have imposed curbs to control the spread of Covid-19.

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

Covid: Hospitals in Delhi continue to face oxygen shortage even after emergency supply

Some hospitals in the national capital continued to grapple with severe shortage of medical oxygen on Friday even after receiving emergency supplies.

The Max Hospital-Saket on Friday morning sent out an SOS, saying it was left with "an hour's oxygen supply" and over 700 patients admitted.

Two hours later, in a tweet, the hospital confirmed that it had received emergency supplies, which will "last another two hours".

Karnataka's strict weekend curfew comes into effect

A strict weekend curfew to contain Covid-19 came into effect in the main cities and towns of Karnataka including Bengaluru from Friday night, and it will remain in force till Monday morning.

Bengal reports record spike of 12,876 Covid cases, 59 new deaths

West Bengal on Friday registered the highest single-day spike of 12,876 Covid-19 cases taking the tally to 7,13,780, the state health department said in a bulletin.

The death toll also went up to 10,825 with 59 fresh fatalities, it added.

AstraZeneca vaccine benefits increase with age: EMA

The EU's drug watchdog said Friday that a review of AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine found its benefits increase with age and still outweigh the risks for adults despite links to blood clots.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) was presenting its findings after the European Commission asked it to look into concerns that prompted several countries to restrict its use to older people.

Andhra Pradesh announces imposing night curfew from April 24 to curb spread of Covid-19.

People aged above 18 years will be administered Covid-19 vaccine free of cost, at both government & private hospitals: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat

Uttarakhand reports 4,339 new Covid-19 cases, 1,179 recoveries, 49 deaths in the last 24 hours; active cases at 29,949

Andhra Pradesh government to provide free Covid-19 vaccines for those above 18 years of age. State to go under night curfew from Saturday.

UP records highest single-day spike of 37,238 Covid-19 cases, 196 deaths

A record single-day spike of 37,238 Covid-19 cases and 196 fatalities pushed Uttar Pradesh's infection tally to over 10 lakhs and the death toll due to the disease to 10,737, officials said here on Friday.

Read more

Defence ministry decides to airlift 23 oxygen generation plants from Germany

The defence ministry has decided to airlift 23 mobile oxygen generating plants from Germany as several states reeled under an acute shortage of medical oxygen due to a massive surge in coronavirus cases, officials said Friday.

They said each plant will have a capacity to produce 40 litres of oxygen per minute and 2,400 litres every hour.

Maha DGP asked to probe Virar hospital fire: Walse Patil

Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil on Friday said he has asked the state Director General of Police (DGP) to conduct an in-depth probe into the fire at a hospital in Virar, which claimed the lives of 13 coronavirus patients.

The blaze erupted in the ICU located on the second floor of the four-storeyed Vijay Vallabh Hospital, a private facility, at Virar in Palghar district shortly after 3 am on Friday.

PM Narendra Modi chairs high-level meeting on Covid-19 situation with CMs of 11 states and UTs

Ensure no oxygen tanker is stranded: PM tells states

PM said that every state should ensure that no oxygen tanker, whether it is meant for any state, is stopped or gets stranded. He urged the states to set up a high-level co-ordination committee to carry oxygen to different hospitals of the state

Second Oxygen Express train from Bokaro to Uttar Pradesh.

Karnataka Congress leader R V Deshpande tests positive for Covid-19

"Our oxygen supply chain has been diverted to Uttar Pradesh. The supply chain is being maintained in BJP states. Where will we get oxygen from?,"West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has said. (ANI)

Visuals from Virar Covid Center where a fire led to deaths of 13 people.

The Centre should take over all oxygen plants through Army. Every truck should be accompanied by an Army escort vehicle: Kejriwal in PM's Covidmeet

People are in major pain due to oxygen shortage. We fear big tragedy may happen due to lack of oxygen for patients. A national plan is needed to deal with this situation: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said during PM's meet onCovidsituation (PTI)

PM Modi holds meeting with CMs of 10 states over Covid situation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting on Friday with chief ministers of 10 states with the most number of Covid-19 cases.

The meeting via video conferencing comes amid a huge surge in coronavirus cases, which have now clocked a daily total of over 3 lakh in the country.

Chief ministers of Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi are among those who attended the meeting. (PTI)

Delhi, 9 states account for 75 pc of new Covid-19 cases: Health Ministry

Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Rajasthan reported 75.01 per cent of the new Covid-19 cases registered in a day, the Union Health Ministry said on Friday.

India added a record 3,32,730 new coronavirus cases in a span of 24 hours, taking the country's infection tally to 1,62,63,695, according to the ministry data updated on Friday. (PTI)

UK borrows 303 billion pounds in 2020/21 financial year

Britain's government borrowed 303.1 billion pounds ($420.1 billion) in the financial year which ended last month, an increase of 246 billion pounds on the previous year as it resorted to a huge surge in spending and tax cuts to offset the economic hit from the Covid-19 pandemic. (Reuters)

Health Ministry releases document advising proning for self care for Covid-19 patients

The Union Health Ministry has advised 'proning for self care' for coronavirus patients, stating that it is extremely beneficial for such patients with compromised breathing comfort, especially during home isolation.

The ministry, in a document, said proning is the process of turning a patient with precise, safe motions, from their back onto their abdomen so that the individual is lying face down.

"Proning is a medically accepted position to improve breathing comfort and oxygenation. It is extremely beneficial in Covid-19 patients with compromised breathing comfort, especially during home isolation," the document stated. (PTI)

"In today’s meeting with PM Modi, we will talk about Oxygen, Remdesivir, an adequate quantity of vaccines for the state...also the Virar fire incident, it is not national news. State government will provide financial assistance to those affected,"Maharashtra Minister Rajesh Tope told ANI.

UPDATE:Oxygen tanker has arrivedat Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi after the hospital sentSOS earlier today

J&J's Covid-19 vaccine expected to be imported to India by July, says DBT Secy (Reuters)

Australia urges AstraZeneca to send 1 mn Covid-19 vaccine doses to PNG after EU clearance

Australia's Minister for Trade has urged AstraZeneca to dispatch 1 million Covid-19 vaccine doses to Papua New Guinea amid concerns about the spread of the virus there, saying the EU had pledged no hindrance to the exports.

"We have very clear assurances (from Brussels) that AstraZeneca does not have to apply through the EU export transparency regime to send those one million doses to Papua New Guinea," Minister Dan Tehan told reporters in London on Thursday, speaking during a trade mission to Europe. (Reuters)

'AIIMS to test only symptomatic workers, isolate only those who are positive'

"In view of the current situation of Covid-19 leading to insufficient resources for contact tracing andshortage of staff, only symptomatic health care workers should be tested and only testing positive be isolated,managed as per the clinical condition,"AIIMS, Delhi has said

Jharkhand to provide free Covid-19 vaccine to all above 18 years of age

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Thursday night said that his government will provide Covid-19 vaccine to people above 18 years of age for free.

Soren's statement came after the Centre announced a 'liberalised' policy making all adults above 18 years of age eligible to get inoculated from May 1 and allowing state governments and private hospitals to purchase vaccines from manufacturers. (PTI)