Coronavirus News Highlights: Covaxin to be priced at Rs 600 per dose for state governments, Rs 1,200 for private hospitals

India reports 3,46,786 new Covid-19 cases, 2,624 deaths in the last 24 hours as the coronavirus situation remains grim in the country. The Centre said that basic Customs Duty on import of Covid -19 vaccines will be exempted for 3 months. Many states are observing weekend lockdowns in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus. Meanwhile, Pakistani PM Imran Khan said expressed solidarity with India in its Covid-19 battle.

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Bharat Biotech fixes price of Covaxin at Rs 600 per dose for state governments and Rs 1,200 for private hospitals

Centre, not states should bear full cost of vaccines: Arvind Subramanian

Terming India's Covid-19 vaccine pricing as complicated and politicised, former chief economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian on Saturday said the Centre and not states should bear the full cost of vaccines.

On April 19, the Centre announced that all above 18 years of age will be eligible for Covid-19 vaccination from May 1 while private hospitals and states will be able to buy doses from manufacturers.

Covid-19 surge: Palghar to get three oxygen generation plants

Amid a rise in the demand of liquid medical oxygen due to the surge in coronavirus cases, Palghar district in Maharashtra will get three generation plants to tide over the problem, a senior official said on Saturday.

Collector Manik Gursal said the oxygen generation plants, each with a capacity to fill 125 jumbo 10-kg cylinders daily, will be set up in Jawhar, Palghar and Dahanu.

Karnataka mulls lockdown-like curbs on all days of the week

Karnataka has hinted at lockdown-like measures during all days of the week and Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa’s Cabinet is likely to take a call on this on Monday.

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Nepal's former royal couple admitted to hospital for Covid-19 treatment

Nepal's former King Gyanendra Shah and Queen Komal Shah on Saturday have been admitted to a hospital here for treatment of coronavirus, days after they were tested positive for the viral infection on their return from India after participating in the Maha Kumbh at Haridwar.

The 73-year-old former King and 70-year-old former Queen were diagnosed with the disease on April 20.

The former royal couple and their daughter Prerana Singh have been admitted to the Norvic International Hospital for treatment of Covid-19, the hospital officials said.

Mumbai reports 5,888 new Covid-19 cases, 71 deaths and 8,549 in the last 24 hours

Tamil Nadu announces new set of restrictions in wake of soaring Covid-19 cases

New measures include closure of cinema halls, gyms, recreation clubs, bars. Big format shops, shopping malls have also been asked to down their shutters. New measures come into effect from Monday.

Gujarat reports 14,097 new Covid-19 cases, 6,479 discharges and 152 deaths in the last 24 hours

Karnataka reports 29,438 Covid-19 cases and 208 deaths

Bengaluru's share of Covid-19 cases in the state stands at 17,342 and 149 deaths.

Watch DH's playlist of videos on Covid-19 here

Gujarat Deputy CM Nitin Patel tests positive for Covid-19

Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel on Saturday informed that he has tested positive for coronavirus infection.

Patel, 64, who also holds the health portfolio, was admitted to the U N Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre here after testing positive.

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'Please help': Delhi hospitals appeal for assistance amid severe oxygen crisis

Narin Sehgal, the director of a hospital in Delhi, really don't know how to help his patients in a situation like this.

Amid an unprecedented crisis over oxygen supply as the second coronavirus wave ravages the country, some "helpless" hospitals in Delhi are advising relatives to shift their patients to another facility, while several others have been left with no option but to use their backup stock.

Making an urgent plea for oxygen supply, Narin Sehgal, director Sehgal Neo Hospital, Meera Bagh, said the facility had 120 Covid-19 patients out of the total 150 and oxygen was left for another two hours only.

Arvind Kejriwal writes to all CMs, requests them to send oxygen to Delhi ‘if they have spare’

Uttarakhand reports 5084 new Covid-19 cases, 1466 recoveries and 81 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Jammu & Kashmir decides to provide free Covid-19 vaccination for those aged between 18 and 45.

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar claims the state's Remdesivir quota has been reduced from 36,000 injections to 25,000 injections.

Kerala reports 26,685 fresh Covid-19 cases

TPR : 20.35

Recovered during the day : 7067

Deaths reported during the day : 25

Samples tested in last 24 hrs : 1,31,155

Under treatment : 1,98,576

Recovered so far : 11,73,202

Total deaths : 5080 (+ 330 non-covid)

Total reported so far: 13,77,186

Uttar Pradesh reports record 38,055 new Covid-19 cases, 23,231 discharges and 223 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Teachers' body condemns JNU over not opening Covid management centres on campus

The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers' Association (JNUTA) on Saturday condemned the "non-cooperative" attitude of the JNU administration in starting a Covid care facility on the campus.

In a statement, signed by JNUTA president Milap C Sharma and secretary Moushumi Basu, it asked the university authorities to not stand on "rigidities" and be flexible to demands that are being made by residents.

The teachers' association said it would indeed be "criminal" to keep physical facilities locked up and not made available for use by residents in need.

Iran bans flights from India and Pakistan

Iran's state-run IRNA news agency is reporting the country's civil aviation agency has banned all flights to and from India and Pakistan because of the dramatic surge in coronavirus cases in the two nations.

IRNA says the decision was made by Iran's Health Ministry and it takes effect Saturday at midnight.

Mohammad Hassan Zibakhsh, spokesman for Iran's Civil Aviation Organization noted there are no routine flights between Iran and India and “flights are operated occasionally.”

Poonawala's SII defends Covid-19 vaccine pricing, says initial rates based on advance funding

Serum Institute of India, which makes the most used Covid-19 vaccine in the country, on Saturday defended pricing Covishield vaccine at 1.5 times the initial rate, saying the earlier price was based on advance funding and now it has to invest in scaling up and expanding capacity to produce more shots.

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Expediting all possible measures & removing roadblocks to tackle the challenges thrown up by the pandemic, tweets Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on waiving of customs duty for oxygen

Death and despair at the doors of stricken Delhi hospital

Barely breathing, Shyam Narayan arrived at the New Delhi hospital in a red rickshaw, his feet hanging over the side, but it soon became clear to his desperate family that the overwhelmed staff could not help him.

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Innacurate comparison between prices of Covishield in India and abroad, says Serum Institute of India.

Karnataka Home Minister asks woman to wear a mask during weekend lockdown inspection

Karnataka Home Minister Bommai found a mask-less woman at KR Market during an inspection of the weekend lockdown. “Wear this. It’s good for your health,” he tells her, giving her a mask.

Haryana to provide free vaccines to everyone aged above 18.

Centre waives custom duty and health cess on oxygen & related equipment

The Centre on Saturday decided to waive off basic custom duty and health cess on oxygen and oxygen related equipment for three months in order to give a boost to its supply and thereby address the burgeoning problem of medical oxygen crunch in hospitals across the country.

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11 CBNAAT facilities for decentralizing Covid-19 testing, to be set up across Ladakh. New machines procured to strengthen existing testing facilities, tweets Lt Governor of Ladakh.

PM Modi chaired a meeting to review steps taken to boost oxygen availability. He emphasised that there was an immediate need to augment the supply of medical-grade oxygen as well as equipment required for patient care both at home and in hospitals: GoI

PM stressed all ministries & depts need to work in synergy to up availability of oxygen & medical supplies. It was decided to grant full exemption from Basic Customs Duty & health cess on import of items related to oxygen & oxygen-related equipment for 3 months with immediate effect, said the Government of India.

PM directed Revenue Dept to ensure seamless & quick custom clearance of such equipment. It was also decided that dasic Customs Duty on import of Covid vaccines be also exempted with immediate effect for 3 months, it added.

Credit: Twitter/@DDNewslive

Australia stands with our friends in India as it manages a difficult second Covid-19 wave. We know how strong and resilient the Indian nation is. PM Narendra Modi and I will keep working in partnership on this global challenge: Australian PM

Six dead at Amritsar hospital due to 'oxygen shortage'

"Despite the district administration being repeatedly asked to extend help, no one turned up to do the needful," Sunil Devgan, the chairman and managing director of Neelkant hospital, alleged.

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Govt must be held morally, politically accountable: Anand Sharma on Covid-19 deaths

Noting that accountability of government is integral to democracy, Congress leader Anand Sharma on Saturday said the Narendra Modi dispensation must be held morally and politically accountable for the death of Covid-19 patients due to shortage of oxygen and critical medicines.

He said the government must answer why it did not put an exigency plan in place before the onset of the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

"Accountability of government is integral to democracy. This government must be held morally and politically accountable," Sharma said on Twitter.

'Prayers for speedy recovery': Pak PM Imran Khan expresses solidarity with India in fight against Covid

"I want to express our solidarity with the people of India as they battle a dangerous wave of Covid-19. Our prayers for a speedy recovery go to all those suffering from the pandemic in our neighbourhood & the world. We must fight this global challenge confronting humanity together." Khan tweeted.

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Four cryogenic tanks, to be used for transportation of oxygen in India, being airlifted from Singapore: MHA

Covid-19: Hospitals in Delhi gasp for oxygen amid staggered supply

Twenty critically ill patients died overnight at Jaipur Golden Hospital in Delhi amid a serious oxygen crisis, officials said.

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Covid-19: Shivamogga sees undeclared bandh

People were seen thronging grocery, vegetable shops and milk parlours since morning to buy essential commodities. All shops remained shut after 10:30 am.

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India's urban affluent hit by Covid-19 second wave after dodging first

In Mumbai, India’s financial center, almost 600,000 households are in buildings that have been partially or completely sealed by government authorities, which indicates the coronavirus is spreading rapidly among the city’s middle and upper-middle classes. Official data show 164,000 slum households are in areas demarcated as “containment zones,” despite the poor being packed in far more tightly.

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One C-17 aircraft of the Indian Air Force transports two empty container trucks for liquid oxygen to Jamnagar from Pune

Steel plants from across the country have supplied 1.43 lakh metric tons of medical oxygen to different states till now: Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Steel

India's Oil MinisterDharmendraPradhan, Credit: Reuters File Photo

Delhi HC asks the Centre when is the allocated 480 MT of oxygen coming to Delhi. Court says the smooth and full allocated supply of oxygen to Delhi can resolve the many problems.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is reviewing the Ministry of Defence’s efforts to deal with the prevailing Covid-19 situation in the country: Office of the Defence Minister

An Oxygen tanker arrives at Jaipur Golden Hospital in the national capital

Special campaign launched across the country to provide oxygen from the PM CARES fund as part of which 11 new PSA oxygen plants have been set up in Gujarat. The extra amount of oxygen produced in Gujarat will be delivered to other states: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Credit: PTI File Photo

All ICU beds at our hospital are full for the last 4-5 days. Some critical patients need 40-50 ltr of oxygen per minute to maintain oxygen saturation level. The oxygen supply chain is compromised: Dr. Suresh Kumar, MD, LNJP Hospital

Credit: PTI File Photo

Delhi's Batra Hospital receives emergency oxygen supply minutes after exhausting stock

There are around 350 patients admitted in the hospital, of which 265 are Covid-19 positive and 30 are in the ICU.

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Customs Department to expedite clearances for import consignments relating to the pandemic

(ANI)

We are closing the admissions because of an oxygen shortage. We are discharging the patients, says Covid in-charge of Delhi's Saroj Hospital

The government of India’s procurement price for both Covid-19 vaccines remains Rs 150 per dose. GOI procured doses will continue to be provided totally free to states: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Credit: AFP File Photo

Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurates an Oxygen plant at Ayurvedic Hospital, Kolwada village, Gandhinagar Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel also present

Our deepest prayers and complete solidarity to the government and people of India in this most difficult period of the pandemic. Praying and hoping for quick relief and recovery: Tandi Dorji, Bhutan's Minister for Foreign Affairs

(ANI)

Oxygen Express arrives in Nashik from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh

20 critically ill patients die in Delhi's Jaipur Golden Hospital amid oxygen scarcity

"The oxygen pressure has dipped as we are running out of stock," Dr D K Baluja, the medical director of Jaipur Golden Hospital, told PTI.

He said the hospital has over 200 patients and they had only half an hour of oxygen was left at 10:45 am.

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India reports 3,46,786 new Covid-19 cases, 2,624 deaths and 2,19,838 discharges in the last 24 hours, as per Union Health Ministry Total cases: 1,66,10,481 Total recoveries: 1,38,67,997 Death toll: 1,89,544 Active cases: 25,52,940

Mass cremation of Covid-19 victims at Old Seemapuri Crematorium ascoronaviruscases surge, in New Delhi, Friday, April 23, 2021. Credit: PTI

Karnataka Government has imposed a weekend lockdown (till 6am on Monday) in to curb the spread of Covid-19 infection Visuals from Bengaluru::

Weekend lockdown imposed in all urban areas of the state till 5 am on Monday; Exemption of one hour (5am -6am) for morning walk & other physical activities Visuals from Bhubaneswar

Bengaluru: A 61-year-old Covid-19 patient died allegedly by suicide by hanging himself from a ceiling fan at Vijaynagar Hospital last night; body to be shifted to Victoria hospital, say police

(ANI)

AIIMS has postponed the INI-CET PG 2021 entrance exam till further notice, due to the current Covid-19 situation - ANI

Oxygen Express train carrying 30,000 litres of liquid medical oxygen arrives in Lucknow from Bokaro, Jharkhand: UP govt senior official - PTI

Oxygen Express train carrying liquid medical oxygen arrives in Lucknow at 6.30 am: UP Addl Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Kumar Awasthi - PTI

Telangana Health Department urges people who are returning from Kumbh Mela to isolate themselves for 14 days and if they have any symptoms then they must get tested immediately: State Govt - ANI

People wait to cremate Covid-19 victims at a crematorium ground in New Delhi. Credit: Reuters Photo

Over 3 lakh new Covid cases for second consecutive day; IAF airlifts empty oxygen containers to filling stations

With India staring at an oxygen shortage and several hospitals scrambling for it including in Delhi, where 25 Covid patients died in Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in a 24-hour span, the Indian Air Force Friday airlifted empty oxygen containers to various filling stations across the country, which recorded over 3 lakh new coronavirus cases for the second consecutive day.

(PTI)

Mumbai discontinues emergency sticker categorisation

Karnataka Bank's branches, in the state of Karnataka, will be operational from 10 am to 2 pm, till May 31, 2021, in order to control the increasing Covid cases.

Covid patients die on trolleys outside Delhi hospital

Straining against his weight, Shayam Narayan's brothers haul him from a rickshaw onto a hospital trolley in India's capital New Delhi.

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Good morning, readers. Welcome to your live coverage of the coronavirus outbreak.