Covid-19 Cases in India: Active caseload comprises 11.63 per cent of the total infections
Nearly 9,000 people have been infected with mucormycosis or Black Fungus across the country, Union Minister Sadananda Gowda said today. In view of the rapid surge, the government has sent over 23,000 additional vials of a key drug used for the treatment of the fungal infection to the affected states, he added.
India on Saturday recorded new cases of coronavirus infection at over 2.57 lakh, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 2,62 crore according to the Union Health Ministry data. The country saw a new record with 20,66,285 samples tested since yesterday.
The COVID-19 active caseload is 29,23,400 which now comprises 11.63 per cent of the total infections.
After recording over 3 lakh cases for nearly three weeks, India's daily cases dropped below the mark earlier this week. Nearly 30,000 Covid patients have died since May 15.
Worldwide, over 16.61 crore cases have been logged since the pandemic broke; 34 lakh people have died.
Here are the Live Updates on India Coronavirus (Covid-19 Cases) Cases:
Mumbai's Vaccination Centres Run By Civic Body Will Stay Shut Today
Coronavirus vaccination centres run by Mumbai's civic body will be shut today, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) announced on Saturday adding that the details for Monday will be shared by them on Twitter on Sunday.
"Dear Mumbaikars. There will be no vaccination at any of the centres tomorrow. Hope you all have a wonderful Sunday. The details for Monday will be shared tomorrow by this handle & the respective wards too," the civic body tweeted.
Three tankers airlifted by Kerala to West Bengal return with oxygen
Kerala airlifted three tankers to the Tata Steel Plant at Burnpur in West Bengal and brought them back by road to Kochi with oxygen.
Deputy Transport Commissioner Reji P Varghese said, "Oxygen was brought from Bengal due to lack of oxygen here. Three tankers were used for this. From here it was airlifted to Bengal. Returned safely by road. A tanker contains 9 tons of oxygen. The total oxygen reached today is 18 tons. There was a pilot vehicle from Cuttack to here."
One tanker had reached Kochi earlier on Thursday.
Covid Situation In India Stabilising: VK Paul
The coronavirus positivity rate has dropped from 24.83 per cent on May 10 to 12.45 per cent on May 22, NITI Aayog member VK Paul said. He said the coronavirus situation in the country is stabilising.
COVID-19 Deaths In Latin America Surpass 1 Million
The death toll from COVID-19 in Latin America and the Caribbean passed 1 million people on Friday, according to a Reuters tally, with the pandemic worsening in the part of the world with the highest per capita death rate.
Delhi Reports 3.5% Covid Positivity, Lowest Cases Since March 31
Delhi's positivity rate has dropped to 3.58 per cent, lowest since April 1, as the more contagious and dangerous wave of the coronavirus infections continued to recede. The national capital on Saturday logged 2,260 new Covid cases, lowest since March 31. At 182, even the single-day spike in death count saw a major dip.
Pune Reports 353 Cases Of Black Fungus, 20 Deaths So Far
As many as 353 new cases of black fungus (mucormycosis) and 20 deaths were reported in the Pune, according to the official data of district administration on Saturday.
The district has seen a spike in the cases of mucormycosis in the last couple of days and at presently there are about 115 patients who are still being treated in the different hospitals.
"Out of 353 cases reported in Pune district about 167 cases were reported from Pune city and 11 from Pune rural of which all have been treated and discharged from the hospitals. Presently there are 115 active patients of Mucormycosis in Pune district including 70 cases from Pimpri Chinchwad and 45 being treated at state-run Sassoon General Hospital," informed district administration.
Arvind Kejriwal Has 4 Suggestions For Centre To Increase Vaccination
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal this afternoon gave four suggestions to the central government on boosting vaccine production as he underlined the national capital has "paused the rollout" for 18-44 age group due to shortage of doses. "To protect the country from a third wave, it's important to speed up the vaccination drive," he stressed.
"All the doses that were received from the centre (for 18-44 age group) have been used. A few doses were left, which will also be used by the evening. This makes me very sad. We have written to to centre about this... as soon as we get the doses, we will re-open the centres," the Chief Minister said. (Read full story
here)
Ladakh Records 121 Cases, 1 Fatality; Curfew Extended
Ladakh registered 121 fresh COVID-19 cases and one fatality on Saturday, taking the union territory's infection tally to 17,146 and its death toll to 173.
The curfew imposed in the union territory to curb the spread of the virus has been extended by another week by the authorities. The restrictions will now be in place till 7 am on June 7.
The latest fatality due to the disease was reported from Leh. So far, Leh has accounted for 125 deaths and Kargil 48, officials said.
Of the new cases, 97 were in Leh and 24 in Kargil. This puts the number of active cases in the twin districts to 1,599 - 1,351 in Leh and 248 in Kargil.
Uttarakhand Government Issues SOPs To Prevent Black Marketing Of Black Fungus Medicine
The Uttarakhand Government has issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to prevent the black marketing of black fungus medicine keeping in view cases of the disease being reported across the country.
"The Uttarakhand government has issued SOPs for the prevention and black marketing of Amphotericin B, a black fungus medicine, according to the rule. The drug will be available only in dedicated Covid-19 Health Care Center Medical Colleges and only in state government institutions", informed the official release.
The government order stated that the medicine for case management, namely, Amphotericin B will only be issued to DCH and medical colleges/institution of state of Uttarakhand, if available and no other private or individual prescription will be entertained. (Read full story
here)
Andamans Reports 31 New Cases, 2 More Deaths
Andaman and Nicobar Islands COVID-19 tally rose to 6,789 as 31 more people tested positive for the infection while two new fatalities pushed the number of deaths to 98, a health department official said on Saturday.
The union territory now has 274 active COVID-19 cases, of which 267 are in South Andaman district and seven in North and Middle Andaman district, the official said.
India Crossed Grim Milestone Of 2 Crore On May 4
India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20 lakh-mark on August 7 last, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19 last year.
India crossed the grim milestone of 2 crore on May 4 this year.
Delivered 13,319 Tonnes Of Liquid Medical Oxygen To States So Far: Railways
The Railways has so far delivered 13,319 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen (LMO) in more than 814 tankers to states across the country since it started operating the Oxygen Express service last month.
So far, 208 Oxygen Express trains have completed their journey, while 13 more are on the way with over 1,018 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen, the Ministry of Railways said in a statement. (Read full story
here)
JUST IN: India records 2.57 lakh fresh Covid cases, 4,194 deaths; highest testing in 24 hours (20,66,285)
Early diagnosis of Mucormycosis critical: Senior Delhi Doctor
Dr Suresh Kumar, Medical Director at Delhi''s LNJP Hospital, said that early diagnosis of Mucormycosis is critical and people should not take steroid without consulting doctors.
Dr Suresh told ANI that the black fungus can be detected in people whose immunity is very weak or is taking steroids in large quantities.
"There are 12-13 patients of black fungus at LNJP, out of these, most patients have type 2 diabetes. They took steroids continuously for 20-22 days. People should take steroids only if prescribed by doctors. The steroid should not be used for more than 10 days during COVID treatment," Dr Suresh said.
To prevent black fungus, he said that mortified oxygen should be used during the COVID-19 treatment and people should keep a check on their blood sugar level.
Tripura Reports Its First Case Of Black Fungus Infection In Covid Patient
Tripura reported its first case of Mucormycosis or Black Fungus in a COVID-19 patient, two days after the infection was declared an epidemic by the centre. Announcing the first case, Tripura Education Minister Ratanlal Nath said the infection was found in a 68-year old patient who was undergoing treatment for Covid at a private hospital in Agartala.
"The centre asked the state government to include Mucormycosis under Epidemic Diseases Act, 1987 and to report all suspected and confirmed cases in each district under all facility level which will be shared to the health department," Mr Nath said. (Read full story
here)
India, Pfizer Seek To Bridge Dispute Over Vaccine Indemnity: Report
Pfizer and the Indian government are seeking to resolve tensions over a demand by the US drugmaker for legal protection from any claims linked to the use of its COVID-19 vaccine in one of the world's biggest markets, two sources told Reuters.
India has not given any manufacturer of a COVID-19 vaccine indemnity against the costs of compensation for any severe side effects, which is a condition Pfizer has obtained in many countries where its shots have already been widely used, including Britain and the United States.But three other sources told Reuters that some form of legal protection is still on the table as India and Pfizer work to reach a vaccine deal. (Read full story
here)
120-Year-Old Kashmir Woman Takes Covid Jab; Honoured By Army Commander
A 120-year-old woman has become an inspiration for people living in rural areas of Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district after she took a lead in her remote hamlet to get vaccinated against COVID-19, prompting Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Y K Joshi to felicitate the centenarian at her home on Friday.
In an environment where vaccine hesitancy has been witnessed among sections of the public, 120-year-old Dholi Devi got herself the shot on May 17 that has been able to transform the mindset of the local population, an army officer said.
"Dholi Devi represents the voice of hope during the pandemic gloom and the entire village has now voluntarily come forward for inoculation inspired by her," he said.
Speaking to reporters, Ms Devi said she is 120-years-old and took the vaccination and faced no problem at all.