Coronavirus news highlights: Merkel, Macron urge US to export Covid-19 vaccines

With 4,01,078 new coronavirus infections being reported in a day, India's total tally of Covid-19 cases climbed to 2,18,92,676, while the active cases crossed the 37-lakh mark, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Saturday. The Ministry has revised the national policy for admission of patients to Covid-19 facilities. KKR pacer Prasidh Krishna has tested positive for Covid-19. Tamil Nadu announced a complete lockdown from May 10-24 to curb the Covid-19 cases. Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron urge US to export Covid-19 vaccines.

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Bangladesh detects first cases of Indian coronavirus variant

Bangladesh has detected its first case of a highly infectious coronavirus variant first identified in India, the country's health directorate said on Saturday, weeks after it sealed its borders with its neighbour.

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PM Modi's actions inexcusable: Lancet slams Centre for 'precipitating' Covid-19 crisis

The Narendra Modi government on Saturday came under sharp attack from Lancet medical journal, which blamed the government for precipitating the public health crisis caused by the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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PM Modi holds one-on-one conversation with 11 CMs, two LGs on Covid-19 situation in last three days

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday spoke to Chief Ministers of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu on the Covid-19 situation.

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DCGI approves Covid drug developed by DRDO for emergency use

Indian drug regulator has approved an indigenous anti-cancer drug for emergency treatment of Covid-19 patients as the medicine has shown to significantly reduce the symptoms and oxygen dependence in such patients much ahead of the standard care.

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UK reports another 2,047 Covid-19 cases, 5 deaths

Britain reported another 2,047 Covid-19 cases on Saturday and another 5 deaths within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test.

Government data also showed 35,188,981 people had received their first dose of a Covid vaccine and 17,214,436 had both shots.

Mumbai reports 2,678 new Covid-19 cases, 3,608 recoveries and 62 deaths today

Total cases 6,74,072
Total recoveries 6,10,043
Death toll 13,749

Active cases 48,484

Great enthusiasm among youth to get Covid-19 vaccine: Kejriwal

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said the number of Covid-19 vaccination centres will be increased three times in Delhi and demanded that the Centre supply around 2.6 crore more vaccine doses for inoculation of all people in the national capital in the next three months.

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Merkel urges US to export Covid-19 vaccines

Maharashtra minister accuses Karnataka govt of blocking oxygen supply

Maharashtra minister Satej Patil on Saturday accused the neighbouring Karnataka government of `interrupting' oxygen supply to Western Maharashtra from a steel plant in Bellary, and asked the Centre to intervene.

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Covid-19 crisis result of Centre doing no work in last 6 months: Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said that the Covid-19 crisis in the country has become so severe because of the inaction of the BJP led Government at the Centre.

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Japan ships 100 oxygen concentrators to India on May 8. Credit: PTI Photo

Young volunteers help in improving condition of domiciliary care centres in Kerala

Two young volunteers from the Alappuzha district in Kerala who carried a Covid-19 patient suffering from chest pain in a two-wheeler to a hospital are receiving much appreciation as their act had even brought to the government's attention the lack of basic facilities at domiciliary Covid-19 care centres across the state.

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Kerala records 41,971 Covid-19 cases on May 8

Positivity rate at 28.25%

Recovered during the day: 27,456

Deaths reported: 64

Samples tested in last 24 hrs: 1,48,546

Under treatment: 4,17,101

Recovered so far: 14,43,633

Total deaths: 5746 (+ 346 non-covid)

Total reported so far: 18,66,827

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Haryana to launch Covid vaccination drive for journalists: CM

Haryana Chief Minister M L Khattar on Saturday announced the launch of a vaccination drive for all media personnel in the state, noting that it is the government's responsibility to ensure the well-being of every journalist who is "dedicatedly rendering their services" in this hour of crisis.

The chief minister, while presiding over a review meeting with top officials regarding the ongoing Covid-19 situation in the state, said that during this massive vaccination drive the Covid-19 vaccines would be administered to every media person, an official statement said.

No coronavirus cases in 180 districts in a week: Harsh Vardhan

In his virtual address at the 25th meeting of the Group of Ministers (GoM) to discuss the pandemic situation, the minister said that as on date, 1.34 per cent of Covid-19 patients were in ICU, 0.39 per cent on ventilator support and 3.70 per cent on oxygen support.

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Over 9 lakh Covid-19 patients on oxygen support across India, 1.7 lakh on ventilator: Vardhan

While 1,70,841 Covid patients across the country are on ventilator, as many as 9,02,291 patients are on oxygen support, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Saturday.

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Supreme Court constitutes National Task Force to look into oxygen distribution

The Supreme Court on Saturday constituted a National Task Force (NTF) to assess, recommend the need, and distributionof oxygen for the entire country.

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Black fungus claims eyesight of some Covid-19 survivors in Gujarat

Cases of Mucormycosis, a fungal infection, affecting some Covid-19 survivors are on the rise in Gujarat which has left many patients blind, doctors and officials claimed on Saturday.

Mathur Savani, chairman of Surat-based Kiran Super multi-speciality hospital, said mucormycosis was detected in a patient who had recovered from Covid-19 disease around three weeks back.

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Allow states to have own apps for Covid-19 vaccination: Maharashtra CM Thackeray

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has urged the central government to allow states to develop their own applications for Covid-19 vaccination programme.

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Postponed IPL 2021 should be held in UK in September, says Pietersen

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen wants the remaining matches of this year's postponed Indian Premier League to be shifted to the United Kingdom in September, instead of the UAE.

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Consider allotment of required oxygen, Remdesivir injections to Rajasthan: HC to Centre

The High Court here asked the Centre to consider allotting the required medical oxygen and Remdesivir injections to Rajasthan for the treatment of Covid-19 patients as the state government submitted before it that the needful is not being done as demanded by them.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Indrajit Mahanty and Justice Vinit Kumar Mathur said this on Friday while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) over the issue.

Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray writes to PM about the state's vaccination drive

Prasidh Krishna tests positive for coronavirus

Kolkata Knight Riders pacer Prasdih Krishna has tested positive for coronavirus and is in quarantine in his home town Bengaluru, a BCCI source said on Saturday.

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Arvind Kejriwal demands 2.6 crore Covid vaccine doses for inoculation of all in Delhi in next three months

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said the number of Covid-19 vaccination centres will be increased three times in Delhi and demanded that the Centre supply of around 2.6 crore vaccine doses for inoculation of all people in the national capital in the next three months.

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US assures India help to fight Covid-19

The US has assured India of its unwavering commitment to engage, collaborate and fight the raging coronavirus crisis together as the health ministers of the two countries discussed the current surge in Covid-19 cases in India.

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SC orders release of prisoners to decongest jails

Taking note of an "unprecedented surge" in Covid-19 cases in the country, the Supreme Court on Saturday passed directions for decongestion of prisons and ordered forthwith release of all those prisoners who were granted bail or parole last year in view of the pandemic.

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KKR pacer Prasidh Krishna test positive for Covid-19

In fight against Covid variants some firms target T cell jabs

Getting Covid vaccines into the arms of the world's population is an international priority -- but will today's jabs stay effective against virus variants that are spreading across the globe?

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When, and how, should you start exercising after recovering from Covid-19? Here's all you need to know

Covid-19 patients have reported many symptoms such as sore throat, fever, body ache or loss of taste and smell. Although most symptoms disappear after recovery, a lot of people have complained that fatigue and weakness continue for weeks thereafter.

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Covid-19: FTII students want suspension of online classes for 2020 batch

The students' association of Pune- based FTII has sought immediate suspension of online classes for the 2020 batch students, saying that it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to attend classes due to the challenges posed by the coronavirus crisis.

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Kangana Ranaut tests positive for Covid-19

Bollywood actor KanganaRanautsaidshe has tested positive for Covid-19.

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Uttar Pradesh battles Covid-19 and govt denial

People in India's most populous state Uttar Pradesh are fighting not just a raging pandemic but also alocal government that many say is in denial.

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With 4,187 record deaths in 24 hours, India's Covid-19 crisis worsens

With 4,01,078 new coronavirus infections being reported in a day, India's total tally of Covid-19 cases climbed to 2,18,92,676, while the active cases crossed the 37-lakh mark, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Saturday.

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Adar Poonawalla stumbles over Covid-19 promises

Adar Poonawalla made big promises. The 40-year-old chief of the world’s largest vaccine maker pledged to take a leading role in the global effort to inoculate the poor against Covid-19. His India-based empire signed deals worth hundreds of millions of dollars to make and export doses to suffering countries.

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Millions plunge into poverty in Covid-ravaged India

The government estimates India’s gross domestic product shrank 8% in the year ended March, its biggest contraction since 1952.

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Tamil Nadu government announces complete lockdown for two weeks starting May 10 to May 24 to control the spread of Covid-19.

WHO lists Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use in all countries

Covid threatens Everest climbing comeback plans

More than 30 sick climbers have been evacuated from the foot of Mount Everest, raising fears that coronavirus may scupper a hoped-for bumper season on the world's highest mountain.

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Govt lifts cash payment limit for Covid-19 treatment

The government Friday allowed cash payment beyond Rs 2 lakh in hospitals and nursing homes treating Covid-19 patients.

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Amid India’s Covid-19 crisis, a community mobilises

As California moves toward reopening, another crisis is unfolding halfway across the globe. India recorded about 410,000 coronavirus cases Thursday, a new global high, and 3,980 deaths, the highest national daily death toll in any country outside the United States. Experts believe the true number of cases and deaths is much higher.

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7-day total lockdown in Mizoram announced from May 10.

COVID-19: Indian-American Congresswoman issues appeal to raise funds for India

Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal has issued an urgent appeal to raise funds for India, which is experiencing one of the worst outbreaks of Covid-19.

"India needs our help — and it's our moral responsibility to rise to the challenge. This is a global pandemic and until we crush the virus everywhere, we cannot fully recover,” Jayapal said on Friday.

Jayapal, who was recently in India to visit her family before the surge spiraled out of control, said all the funds raised would go to three initiatives. (PTI)