LIVE updates: Chhattisgarh reports 14,994 new Covid-19 cases in last 24 hours
Among the states, Maharashtra with 66,159 new cases contributed the highest to the national tally of infections. Uttar Pradesh (35,156 cases) and Karnataka (35,024 cases) also reported over 35,000 new cases on the day.
India's active caseload of the coronavirus disease crossed the three million mark on Thursday, as the daily new infections continue to remain upwards of 300,000 every day. With 386,452 new Covid-19 cases on the previous day, the country saw yet another day when the daily tally reached a grim new record. Also, 3,498 patients lost their lives on the day, data from the Union ministry of health and family welfare showed. Globally, India is the second-worst affected country in terms of total positive cases, only after the US, and fourth-worst affected in terms of fatalities, the World Health Organization's (WHO's) Covid-19 dashboard showed....Read More
Among the states, Maharashtra with 66,159 new cases contributed the highest to the national tally of infections. Uttar Pradesh (35,156 cases) and Karnataka (35,024 cases) also reported over 35,000 new cases on the day. Many states have been witnessing a significantly higher number of new infections since the onset of the second wave of the pandemic.
Meanwhile, many countries have contributed critical equipment and medicines to India for tackling the ongoing Covid-19 crisis in the country. Earlier in the day, the ministry of external affairs said that a shipment of 700 oxygen concentrator units and 365 ventilators from Ireland arrived in India. Another flight with critical supplies from the US is expected to land later on Friday. Other countries including Singapore, Australia, Germany, France, Norway and Canada have also assured their assistance to India's efforts against the disease.
The Covid-19 vaccination drive is set to enter its third phase starting from May 1 and all adults have been declared eligible to receive a shot. The Union health ministry's latest update showed that more than 152 million doses of the vaccine have been administered until 8pm on the previous day.
Chhattisgarh reports 14,994 new Covid-19 cases
Punjab logs 6,132 new Covid-19 cases, 114 deaths
More than 154.8 million vaccine doses administered so far: Health ministry
The cumulative number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in the country stands at 154,854,096 as per the 8pm provisional report of Friday. This includes more than 26 lakh vaccine doses administered till 8pm Friday, said ministry of health and family welfare.
Gujarat reports 14,605 fresh Covid-19 infections, 173 deaths
Gujarat on Friday reported 14,605 new cases, 173 deaths and 10,180 discharges in the last 24 hours, reported ANI.
Manipur registers 271 fresh Covid-19 cases, 5 deaths
Starting vaccination drive for 18-44 years age group from tomorrow: Thackeray
"We will be getting only 18 lakh doses for 18-44 age group in May month," Thackeray said that adding that more than 12 crore doses will be needed to vaccinate a population of over six crore. "We are starting the vaccination drive for 18-44 age group from tomorrow," Thackeray said.
CM Thackeray orders structural, fire audit of all hospitals
In view of earlier fire accidents in hospitals that took the lives of many, the chief minister ordered for structural and fire audits of all field hospitals or jumbo Covid centres to avoid any mishap in the future.
275 PSA plants to be installed across state: Maha CM on oxygen shortage
Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray talked about shortage of oxygen as he said "We are using around 1700 metric tonnes of oxygen and produce around 1200 MT, around 500 MT has allocated by the Centre from other states which are far off." Thackeray added, "Have directed district collectors to install oxygen generation plants and if in case third wave hit the state there won't be any shortage of oxygen." He said around 275 PSA plants will be installed across the state.
Ramping health infrastructure but from where to get doctors, nurses: CM
Testing labs have increased only two to 609, testing close to 300,000 samples, said Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray. We are ramping up health infrastructure but from where to bring doctors and nurses etc, said the chief minister.
No new restrictions required as stability in daily cases: Maha CM
Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday said because of existing lockdown restrictions stability in daily cases have come, hence new restrictions are not required. "We would have reached one million active cases but currently we have restrained them to less than 700,000," Thackeray said.
Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray addresses state on Covid-19
Mumbai reports 3,925 fresh Covid-19 cases, 89 deaths
Himachal Pradesh registers 2,358 new Covid-19 cases
Tamil Nadu logs 18,692 new Covid-19 cases, 113 deaths
Goa reports 3,024 fresh Covid-19 cases, 22 deaths
West Bengal imposes restrictions on all kinds of gathering amid Covid-19 surge
West Bengal government on Friday prohibited all social, cultural, academic and entertainment-related gatherings in the state. The government also ordered closure of all shopping complexes, malls, beauty parlours, cinema halls, gyms and sports complexes, home deliveries and online services shall remain exempt.
Rajnath Singh grants emergency financial powers to armed forces to step up fight against Covid
Maharashtra's Nagpur reports 6461 new Covid-19 cases
Maharashtra's Nagpur reported 88 deaths, 6,461 new Covid-19 cases, 7,294 recoveries in the last 24 hours on Friday, as per Civil Surgeon Nagpur, reported ANI.
Punjab CM says due to Covid-19 vaccine shortage, phase 3 not to start from May 1
Due to non-availability of vaccine, phase three of vaccination of 18-45 age group cannot be started as scheduled in Punjab, said Capt Amarinder Singh's office on Friday.
PM stresses on need to ensure prompt identification of issues at local level
At council of ministers' meet, PM stresses upon need to ensure issues at local level are promptly identified, addressed.
Weekend lockdown in Haryana cities, including Gurugram, from 10pm today to 5am on Monday in view of Covid-19
Puducherry logs nearly 1,200 fresh Covid-19 cases
The Covid-19 case tally in the Union territory of Puducherry rose to 58,622 on Friday after 1,195 were found to be positive, while 12 deaths took the toll to 805, PTI reported the health department as saying.
Gujarat govt to give free Covid-19 vaccines in 10 districts of state: CM Rupani
Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani on Friday said the state government will provide free Covid-19 vaccine to people above 18 years of age in 10 districts of the state with a high number of cases on May 1, the establishment day of Gujarat, reported ANI.
Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar receives first dose of Covid-19
Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday took his first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine in Chandigarh. He also appealed to the people to get vaccinated. "I appeal to the people of the state, that all of you must get the vaccine and encourage the people around you to also get the vaccine," Khattar tweeted.
Delhi L-G Anil Baijal tests positive for Covid-19
"I have tested positive for Covid with mild symptoms.
Have isolated myself since the onset of symptoms and all those who were in contact with me have been tested. Will continue to function and monitor the situation in Delhi from my residence," Baijal tweeted on Friday.
Bihar chief secretary Arun Kumar Singh passes away in Patna while undergoing Covid-19 treatment
Bihar chief secretary Arun Kumar Singh passed away on Friday at a hospital in Patna where he was undergoing treatment for Covid-19, reported ANI.
EU announces support packages from 5 countries to support India's Covid-19 efforts
The European Union announced support packages from France, Italy, Austria, Finland and additional supplies from Ireland, reports ANI.
Ten states added 77.44% to 3,498 deaths in last 24 hours
Ten states accounted for 77.44 per cent of the 3,498 new fatalities reported in the last 24 hours, says Union health ministry.
11 states account for 78.18% of India's total active cases
India's Covid-19 active caseload stands at 3,170,228 and 11 states including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka reported 78.18 per cent of the total.
Ten states contribute 73% to new Covid-19 infections in India in last 24 hours
Ten states, Maharashtra, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, account for 73 per cent of the new Covid-19 cases in India.
India's daily positivity rate at 20.13 per cent with over 1.9 million samples tested
India's daily Covid-19 positivity rate stands at 20.13 per cent with 1,920,107 samples for the disease and 386,452 new cases.
Over 24 million beneficiaries register on Co-WIN platform for Covid-19 vaccination, says govt
More than 24 million beneficiaries have registered for the Covid-19 vaccine shot on the Co-WIN digital platform as cumulative vaccinations exceeded 152 million doses, the central health ministry said.
India's Covid-19 recovery rate stands at 81.99%
India's Covid-19 recovery rate currently stands at 81.99 per cent, according to the latest data from the Union health ministry. So far, 15,384,418 patients have been discharged.
Karnataka health minister hints at delay in Covid-19 vaccination roll out for people between 18 and 44 years of age
Karnataka health minister Dr K Sudhakar said that the state might not receive the vaccines ordered from Serum Institute, Pune, from May 1 and said that people will be notified once the vaccines are obtained, reports ANI.
10 states have more than 100,000 active Covid-19 cases, says Centre
Data from the Union health ministry showed that 10 states have more than 100,000 active Covid-19 cases.
Indonesia's drug regulators gives its nod to Sinopharm's Covid-19 vaccine
Indonesi'a drug authority has approved Sinopharm's Covid-19 vaccine for a private vaccination scheme, under which companies procure the vaccine for the vaccination of their staff, reports Reuters.
Active Covid-19 caseload accounts for 16.90% of overall cases in India
Data from the Union health ministry showed that 3,170,228 active cases in the country accounted for 16.90 per cent of the overall confirmed cases. Also, fatalities constituted 1.11 per cent and recoveries accounted for 81.99 per cent.
In another biggest single-day spike, India registers 386,452 new Covid-19 cases
India reported more than 300,000 new cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) for the ninth straight day on Friday. With 386,452 new Covid-19 cases, the tally reached 18,762,976, data from the Union ministry of health and family welfare showed.
External affairs ministry confirms arrival of US Covid-19 medical supplies
The ministry of external affairs confirmed the arrival of Covid-19 medical supplies from the US. The supplies include 423 oxygen cylinders with regulators.
Covid-19: 286 million samples tested, over 1.9 million tests on April 29 says ICMR
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said that with 1,920,107 samples tested for Covid-19 on April 29, cumulative testing reached 286,392,086.
Kerala CM announces new oxygen plant to be set up at Kasargod
Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has announced a new oxygen plant to be set up in the Chattanchal industrial park under the Kasargod district panchayat.
First emergency Covid-19 relief shipment from US arrives in India
The US embassy in India said that the first of many Covid-19 emergency shipments from the US has reached India.
Japan to provide 300 oxygen generators, 300 ventilators to back India's Covid-19 efforts
Japanese ambassador to India Satoshi Suzuki said that the country would provide 300 oxygen generators and 300 ventilators to India.
Covid-19 equipment from Ireland arrive in India, MEA says 'deeply value the support'
Spokesperson for the ministry of external affairs said that 700 oxygen concentrators units and 365 ventilators from Ireland arrived in India.
Mizoram reports 140 new Covid-19 cases, tally goes past 6,000-mark
With 140 new Covid-19 cases, Mizoram's tally reached 6,019 as of 7am, reports ANI.
90% risk of contracting Covid-19 if face masks, 6-feet-distancing rule discarded, a health ministry graphic shows
A graphic by the Union health ministry showed that there is a 90 per cent risk of transmission of coronavirus when face masks, six-feet-distancing rule are not followed.
