Covid-19 Cases in India: The recovery rate is 83.50 per cent.
New cases of coronavirus infection in India were recorded over 3.40 lakh, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 2,40,46,809 according to the Union Health Ministry data.
The COVID-19 active caseload is 37,04,893 which now comprises 15.41 per cent of the total infections.
The recovery rate is 83.50 per cent, the data stated.
A total of 3,43,144 new infections were registered in a day, while the death count increased to 2,62,317 with 4,000 daily new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today he empathised with people's pain and suffering because of Covid and described the virus as an invisible and quick-changing enemy that was challenging the whole world.
"Because of this coronavirus, we have lost people close to us. The pain that citizens have suffered, that many experienced, I am feeling it equally," PM Modi said in his online address at a farmers' event.
Here are the Live Updates on India Coronavirus (Covid-19 Cases) Cases:
Nearly No Vaccination In Kashmir As Stocks Run Out, Zero Jabs In SrinagarCoronavirus vaccinations have practically come to a halt in Kashmir with many districts reporting zero doses administered on Saturday.
Only 504 people were vaccinated across 10 districts in the valley of 1.4 crore of people. Srinagar district, home to the capital city, reported zero vaccination.
Official sources say no vaccines are available in the region because supplies have not been replenished in the last week.
Have Asked Dr Reddy's For 67 Lakh Sputnik V Vaccine Doses: Arvind Kejriwal
Amid vaccine shortage faced by Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said his government has written to Dr Reddy's Laboratories for supply of around 67 lakh doses of Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V.
Dr Reddy's Laboratories launched Sputnik V -- the first foreign-made vaccine being used in the country -- on Friday.
Mr Kejriwal's announcement came after Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia earlier this week claimed that Covaxin manufacturer Bharat Biotech has refused to provide additional doses to the national capital.
COVID-19: Telangana logs 4,298 cases, 32 deaths; black fungus cases tracedTelangana on Saturday reported 4,298 COVID-19 cases taking the tally to over 5.25 lakh while the toll stood at 2,928 with 32 casualties, even as a few black fungus cases were traced, a bulletin said.
Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for the most number of COVID-19 cases with 601, followed by Medchal Malkajgiri (328) and Rangareddy (267), the bulletin said.
The State has 53,072 active cases and over 64,000 samples were tested.
The total number of cumulative cases stood at 5,25,007 while with 6,026being cured, the total recoveries were at 4,69,007.
Cumulatively, over 1.40 crore samples have been tested. The samples tested per million population were over 3.76 lakh, the bulletin said.
Russian envoy expresses happiness over COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V rollout in India
Russian Ambassador to India, Nikolay Kudashev on Saturday expressed his happiness over the rollout of COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V in India.
"Happy that the day, when @sputnikvaccine had rolled out in India, has come. Hope it will help our countries to cope with the global threat of #COVID19 following our special and privileged strategic partnership as well as fair and equal approach to international cooperation. Congratulations!" tweeted Mr Kudashev.
Sputnik V has become the first foreign-made vaccine to be used in India contributing to the world''s largest COVID-19 vaccination campaign.
Covid war rooms to be set up in 4 Tamil Nadu districts: MinisterWar rooms to combat Covid-19 will be set up here, in Tiruchy, Madurai and Salem as directed by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, said Minister M Subramanian on Saturday.
Talking to reporters after visiting various government hospitals and Covid centres, the Family Welfare Minister said steps to prevent the spread of coronavirus have been taken on a war-footing after Stalin took over as Chief Minister.
About 15 lakh vials at a cost of Rs 45 crore were received to vaccinate those between 18 and 45 years, he said.
Stating that steps were taken to increase the bed facility in the city where Ayurveda, Homeopathy and Siddha treatment would be provided, Subramanian said the measures were taken also for adequate supply of oxygen to Coimbatore.
Curfew Extended In Himachal Pradesh Till May 26 Amid Spike In Covid Cases
The Himachal Pradesh government has extended the curfew to break the chain of the coronavirus in the state till May 26. A three-hour daily relaxation in the curfew would be provided for opening essential commodity shops, informed the state government.
All the shops dealing with construction materials would also remain open on Tuesday and Friday in a week for three hours in order to check the exodus of labourers and workers, it said.
Himachal Pradesh is presently under a lockdown from May 7 to May 17.
The cabinet also decided that marriage functions would only be allowed in houses or courts with 20 invitees. There will also be no wedding procession, it said.
Coronavirus: Around 40% Of Punjab's Covid Deaths Occurred In Last 44 DaysAround 40 per cent of the total Covid-19-related fatalities in Punjab took place in the last forty-four days, indicating the severity of the second wave of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Punjab had reported a total of 6,868 deaths due to the infection as on March 31.
The death count rose to 11,477 as on May 14, showing 4,609 more people succumbing to the disease since April 1 this year, the state Health Department's data revealed.
India's Covid Situation Hugely Concerning, Says WHO ChiefIndia's COVID-19 situation remains hugely concerning, with several states continuing to see a worrying number of cases, hospitalisations and deaths, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Friday, warning that the pandemic's second year will be "far more deadly" than the first for the world.
Ghebreyesus added that the WHO is responding to the COVID-19 surge in India and has shipped thousands of oxygen concentrators, tents for mobile field hospitals, masks and other medical supplies.
"India remains hugely concerning, with several states continuing to see a worrying number of cases, hospitalisations and deaths," he said at the daily media briefing.
"And we thank all the stakeholders who are supporting India," the WHO Director-General said.
India is in the midst of a deadly wave of the coronavirus pandemic, with 3,43,144 people testing positive for the virus on Friday, taking the country's caseload to 2,40,46,809. The death count stands at 2,62,317.
Maharashtra Daily Covid Cases Drop Below 40,000 For First Time Since March 31Maharashtra on Friday reported 39,923 new COVID-19 cases and 695 deaths, the state health department said.
The number of new infections dipped below 40,000 for the first time since March 31 when 39,544 cases had been recorded. On Thursday, the daily case count was 42,582.
The state's caseload now is 53,09,215, while the death count has reached 79,552.
Of 695 fatalities reported on Friday, 311 had occurred in the past 48 hours, 142 last week and the rest before the last week but were added to the tally now.
Once again, recoveries outnumbered new cases as 53,249 patients were discharged from hospitals, taking the total recoveries to 47,07,980, the health department said.
Pandemic To Be 'Far More Deadly' This Year, Warns WHOWorld health experts issued a grim warning Friday that the second year of Covid-19 was set to be "far more deadly", as Japan extended a state of emergency amid growing calls for the Olympics to be scrapped.
"We're on track for the second year of this pandemic to be far more deadly than the first," said the World Health Organization's director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The mood also darkened in Japan where the coronavirus state of emergency took in another three regions just 10 weeks before the Olympics, while campaigners submitted a petition with more than 350,000 signatures calling for the Games to be cancelled.
With Tokyo and other areas already under emergency orders until the end of May, Hiroshima, Okayama and northern Hokkaido, which will host the Olympic marathon, will now join them.
Amarinder Singh Asks Punjab Villages To Only Allow Entry To Covid-Negative PeopleWith the coronavirus pandemic spreading rapidly in rural areas, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday urged villagers to only allow COVID-negative people to enter their villages.
During a Facebook Live telecast, Mr Singh called for the implementation of strict measures to check the spread of the viral disease in the rural areas over the next two months, which, he said, would be "extremely crucial".
"Now the rural areas are seeing a surge in (COVID-19) cases, so we need to be very careful," the chief minister said.
"Don't allow (unwell) people to enter (villages). Ask them to bring a (COVID-negative) certificate from the doctor," he said.
Mr Singh asked villagers to conduct "thikri pehra", wherein a few villagers, especially youths, form teams to guard village boundaries to prevent the entry of all outsiders except those providing essential services or government officials.
"Grim Scenes, People Lining Up With Bodies": Goa Crematoriums Witness Rush As Cases RiseEven as hospitals in Goa see a surge in COVID-19 cases, the scenes at crematoriums in the coastal state are equally grim, as bodies continue to line up for last rites.
One of the oldest crematoriums in Goa located in Margao city had to construct four additional platforms and dedicate three of its existing ones to cater to people who died of COVID-19.
The century-old crematorium, managed by Mathagramasth Hindu Sabha, opened its doors to COVID-19 casualties after it was found that they were not being entertained by other facilities.
Mizoram Extends Covid Lockdown By 7 Days Till May 24The total lockdown imposed in Aizawl and other district headquarters from May 10 has been extended for another 7 days to flatten the COVID-19 transmission curve.
The government order issued on Friday said that the existing complete lockdown, which was scheduled to be lifted on May 17 (4 am) has been extended till 4 am of May 24.
"As COVID-19 positive cases continue to surge inspite of the stringent measures taken, the competent authority has decided to continue with the total lockdown with an anticipation of flattening the curve of the disease transmission thereby preventing probable overburdening of healthcare facilities," the order said.
The second corona wave continues to trouble the northeastern state.
Mizoram on Friday reported 201 COVID-19 cases, pushing the state's tally to 8,377.
Bengal's Covid Quota Downwardly Revised Every Day: Mamata Banerjee Writes To PM ModiWest Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting him to be fair and quick in allotment of pressure swing adsorption (PSA) plants for the state, amid the relentless surge in COVID-19 cases.
In her letter to the Prime Minister, the Trinamool chief said that Bengal, which was scheduled to get 70 PSA plants, has now been intimated that four such oxygen generating units would be set up in the first phase.
She also complained of lack of clarity in the intimation about the remaining plants.
"The Centre apparently has been contemplating to supply PSA plants to hospitals in states. Priorities are being fixed and re-fixed, implementing agencies are being settled and unsettled, quota for West Bengal is being downwardly revised and further downwardly revised every day."
96-Year-Old Delhi Woman Beats Covid; Neighbours Hail Her "Willingness To Live"Pushpa Sharma is the new talk of the town in Delhi's Shahdara area where her neighbours are amazed by the grit of the woman, who has recovered from COVID-19 at the age of 96 years.
Her family members, who too were down with the deadly virus, credit her "willpower" and the "positive atmosphere" at their home for her recovery at a time when the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has hit the country hard.
Ms Sharma, who lives with her son Arun Kumar (67) and daughter-in-law Meena (64) in Naveen Shahdara, tested positive for the infection on April 18, but was under treatment at home, and doctors confirmed her recovery on May 9 following tests, her grandson Kunal (35) said.
He said it was almost a fortnight of challenging times for the whole family but "Chaai ji" -- as Ms Sharma is fondly addressed by everyone in the family and neighbourhood -- has finally recovered from the severe infection and looks good.
"The second wave was already there and the condition in Delhi hospitals did not look good either. The scarcity of resources was known to everyone. So, we decided to keep her at home only and consulted doctors," Mr Kunal told PTI.
Sputnik Light May Be India's 1st One-Dose Vaccine, Talks In June: SourcesRussia's Sputnik Light could be the first single-dose vaccine to be used in India and Dr Reddy's will hold talks with the government and the regulator in June for immediate launch, sources told NDTV today.
For now, the two-dose Sputnik V will be rolled out at 35 centres across India.
The imported vaccine shot will cost ₹ 995.40 in India, Dr Reddy's Laboratories, which is manufacturing the vaccine in India, says.
The first dose of the vaccine was administered in Hyderabad today as part of a soft launch by Dr Reddy's.
Delhi's Daily Covid Cases Down To 8,500, Positivity Rate Dips To 12%Delhi recorded 8,500 fresh COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, the first time the figure has dipped below 10,000 since April 10, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said today. The city's test positivity rate has also dipped to 12 per cent, he said during a digital press conference.
Around 3,000 beds have cleared up in the past 10 days, he said, indicating that the second wave was easing in the city.
"On April 20, there were more than 28,000 cases in Delhi...it has now fallen to 8,500 now. The positivity rate has fallen to 12 per cent. It had hit 36 per cent by April 22," Mr Kejriwal said. "It means fewer people in Delhi are now falling ill, admissions in hospitals have reduced considerably."
Delhi Government To Educate Children Orphaned By Covid: Arvind KejriwalChief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said the Delhi government will extend financial help to families which have lost their earning members to the coronavirus and also bear the cost of education and upbringing of children orphaned by the pandemic.
He said in the past 24 hours, Delhi has recorded around 8,500 cases as against over 28,000 cases on April 20 and that the positivity rate has come down to 12 per cent as against 36 per cent on April 22.
But the fight against the coronavirus has not ended and there is no room for leniency, the chief minister said in an online briefing.
"I know many children who have lost both their parents. I want to tell them that I am still there. Do not consider yourself an orphan. The government will take care of their studies and upbringing," Mr Kejriwal said.
Former AAP Legislator Jarnail Singh Dies Due To Covid-Related ComplicationsFormer AAP MLA Jarnail Singh passed away here on Friday due to COVID-related complications, his family said. He was 48.
Jarnail Singh was admitted in the Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital for the past 12-13 days, his brother Karnail said.
"His High-resolution CT (HRCT) of the chest score was 14/25 which was a little above moderate in terms of infection. But then his condition deteriorated," he said.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia condoled the demise of Jarnail Singh.
"Deeply saddened by the untimely demise of former Delhi MLA Sh Jarnail Singh ji. May God bless his soul. He will always be fondly remembered for his contributions to society," Mr Kejriwal said in a tweet.
Nepal allows ''special flights'' to evacuate stranded foreignersNepal has permitted special flights to evacuate over 7,000 foreign nationals, including Indians, stranded in the country after it suspended all international flights to check its worst COVID-19 surge amid acute shortages of medical facilities.
Tourists from abroad have been anxiously waiting to get out of Kathmandu after the government extended the lockdown by two weeks, and cancelled all flights, except the two weekly bubble services to India, following a surge in coronavirus infections.
Foreign embassies have stepped up efforts to repatriate stranded trekkers and mountaineers.
More than 7,000 foreigners, including some 2,000 Indians, are estimated to be stranded in Nepal, the Kathmandu Post reported.
"We have allowed a few evacuation flights based on the request of foreign embassies in Nepal," Rajan Pokhrel, director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, was quoted as saying by the daily.
Coronavirus Latest Updates: India's COVID-19 recovery rate at 83.50 per cent
India's cumulative recoveries crossed the 2-crore mark over the last 24 hours, taking the national recovery rate to 83.50 per cent, the Union Health Ministry reported on Friday.
As many as 2,00,79,599 recoveries have been reported so far, including 3,44,776 in the last 24 hours. 3,43,144 fresh cases were also reported during the same time period, resulting in a decline of 5,632 active cases.
Ten states account for 71.16 per cent of the new recoveries -- Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat and Delhi.
COVID-19: Four IAF aircraft arrive in Chennai with oxygen cylinders from Singapore
Amid shortage of the life saving gas due to the massive surge in COVID-19 cases across the country, four IAF aircraft arrived in Chennai on Friday morning carrying oxygen cylinders from Singapore.
As per the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Chennai Customs, working in close coordination with the state government, ensured their smooth and swift clearance.
Earlier in the day, a consignment from Qatar consisting of 200 oxygen concentrators, 40 ventilators and 4,300 Remdesivir vials reached the country.
Taking to Twitter, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi expressed thanks to Qatar Amir, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani and the government.
First doses of Sputnik V administered in India. Deepak Sapra, Global Head of Custom Pharma Services at Dr Reddy's Laboratories receives the first jab of the vaccine in Hyderabad: Sputnik V
COVID-19 Updates: Australia resumes repatriation flights from India for stranded citizens amidst disastrous virus spreadThe repatriation flights facilitated by the Australian government for its stranded citizens in India resumed from Friday, according to foreign minister Marise Payne.
Payne said that a flight on Friday departed from Sydney to pick up Australian passengers in New Delhi before arriving back in Darwin on Saturday.
"It has also carried life-saving oxygen equipment to India to support its COVID-19 response," she said.
Payne said the passengers would have to undergo a strict quarantine to make sure they are not carrying the variant of the coronavirus first identified in India.
"These passengers will quarantine at the Centre for National Resilience at Howard Springs in the Northern Territory," she said, adding all passengers would undergo PCR and Rapid Antigen Testing before they travel.
Just In| 8,500 fresh COVID-19 cases in Delhi, positivity rate has dipped to 12%, says Arvind Kejriwal
Coronavirus Cases Updates: Puducherry logs 1,974 fresh COVID-19 cases, overall tally rises to 80,947Puducherry logged 1,974 new coronavirus cases during the last 24 hours pushing the overall tally to 80,947, a senior official of the Health Department said on Friday.
Thirty more patients (16 men and 14 women) succumbed to the virus during last 24 hours ending 10 AM Friday as the toll rose to 1,099, Director of Health and Family Welfare services S Mohan Kumar said.
The Puducherry region accounted for 1,580 of the 1,974 fresh cases followed by Karaikal (224), Yanam (152) and Mahe (18).
The new cases were identified at the end of the examination of 9,148 samples, projecting a test positivity rate at 21.57 per cent.
Four IAF aircraft carrying oxygen cylinders from Singapore have arrived in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Chennai Customs, working in close coordination with the state government, ensured smooth and swift clearance: Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC)
COVID-19: Vaccination drive for 18-44 age group to begin in Himachal Pradesh from Monday
The vaccination drive against COVID-19 for the 18-44 age group will begin in Himachal Pradesh from May 17, a health official said on Friday.
The state recently received 1,07,620 doses of Covishield vaccine from the Serum Institute of India, Pune for this category, Special Health Secretary Nipun Jindal said.
Vaccination for the 18-44 age group will be given only on Mondays and Thursdays, and slots will be visible on the COWIN portal two days prior to each scheduled session, he said.
The state has already placed an order for more vaccines for this age group, Mr Jindal added.
All the eligible persons will have to register themselves and schedule their appointment for vaccination on the COWIN portal, he added.
Coronavirus Live Updates: Mizoram reports 201 fresh COVID-19 cases, tally rises to 8,377Mizoram reported 201 fresh COVID-19 cases, including security personnel and an infant, pushing the tally to 8,377, an official said on Friday.
The state now has 2,150 active cases, while 6,204 people have so far recovered from the disease, he said.
A total of 23 people have died due to the contagion.
Two Border Security Force (BSF) and one Indian Army personnel, and a three-month-old infant were among those who were infected since Thursday, the official said.
Of the fresh cases, 143 infections were reported from Aizawl district and 37 from Lunglei.
Mizoram has conducted 3,39,955 sample tests till date.
Meanwhile, State Immunisation Officer Lalzawmi said 2,31,589 people have been administered the first dose of Covishield in the state.
COVID-19: Australia to resume repatriation flights from India
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday said the temporary pause on flights from India to Australia will end at May 14 midnight and facilitated commercial flights by the Australian Government will resume as promised, with a strict pre-flight testing regime.
In a Facebook post, Morrison said, "At midnight tonight, the temporary pause on flights from India to Australia ends and facilitated commercial flights by the Australian Government will resume as promised, with a strict pre-flight testing regime to keep Australians safe."
"The pause gave our quarantine system much-needed breathing space to minimise the risk of COVID-19 getting out of quarantine into the community and having a third wave here."
Thane district reports 1,782 new COVID-19 cases, 70 deaths
With the addition of 1,782 new coronavirus cases, the infection count in Thane district of Maharashtra rose to 4,96,104, an official said on Friday.
The new cases were reported on Thursday.
The virus claimed the lives of 70 more patients, pushing the death toll in the district to 8,311, he said.
The mortality rate stood at 1.67 per cent, he added.
Details of recovered and under treatment patients were not provided by the district administration.
With the addition of 1,303 new cases, the COVID-19 tally in adjoining Palghar district crossed the 1-lakh mark and reached 1,00,842, another official said.
Just In| 3.43 lakh fresh COVID-19 cases in India, 4,000 deaths in 24 hours
Just In| As many as 31,13,24,100 samples have been tested in the country up till May 13 including 18,75,515 samples tested yesterday: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
"Further deepening our Strategic Partnership. Welcome shipment of over 5.6 million masks/respirators that arrived from Kazakhstan," tweets MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.
COVID-19: India receives shipment of ventilators, Remdesivir from EU
Amid the COVID-19 crisis in India, an aircraft carrying a shipment of ventilators, Remdesivir and medical equipment from EU member states, arrived in New Delhi on Friday.
External Affairs Ministry (EAM) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi acknowledged the continued solidarity shown by European countries including Germany, Netherlands, and Portugal.
"EU solidarity and cooperation continues. Aircraft arrives carrying 223 ventilators, 25000 vials of Remdesivir and other medical equipment from Germany, 30000 vials of Remdesivir from Netherlands and 5500 vials of Remdesivir from Portugal. Value support of our European Union partners," EAM spokesperson tweeted.
Indian Army set up a COVID care hospital with 50 oxygen beds for locals in Uttarakhand's Joshimath yesterday.
India welcomes COVID-19 assistance from Kazakhstan
India welcomed the arrival of the shipment of 5.6 million masks/respirators from Kazakhstan on Friday as part of global assistance to combat the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
External Affairs Ministry (EAM) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said this is a sign of growing strategic partnership between the two countries.
"Further deepening our Strategic Partnership. Welcome shipment of over 5.6 million masks/respirators that arrived from Kazakhstan," Mr Bagchi tweeted.
On Thursday evening, Qatar and South Korea had sent a consignment of medical supplies to India.
A special flight from South Korea carrying medical aid arrived at the airport.
In Pandemic Milestone, US Lifts Indoor Mask Guidance For Vaccinated People
The top US health agency on Thursday said it was lifting mask-wearing guidance for people who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, a watershed moment that President Joe Biden called "a great day" in the long pandemic fight.
The announcement by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) marked an abrupt turnaround after more than a year of urging people to cover their faces to stem the spread.
"Anyone who is fully vaccinated can participate in indoor and outdoor activities, large or small, without wearing a mask or physical distancing," CDC director Rochelle Walensky said during a briefing.
"If you are fully vaccinated, you can start doing the things that you had stopped doing because of the pandemic."
Medical aid from Doha, Qatar arrived at the airport on a special flight.
Coronavirus News: Centre says it'll provide assistance to all companies willing to manufacture vaccines
Amid a political war of words between the Centre and the Delhi government over the availability of sufficient vaccines to inoculate all adults in the national capital, the central government on Thursday said it will provide all possible assistance to all companies willing to manufacture the vaccine to ramp up the supply.
It, however, flagged the non-availability of a sophisticated laboratory with most vaccine makers that is necessary to produce the indigenously developed Covaxin jab, PTI reported.
Coronavirus News: Plea in Delhi High Court demands compensation for families of COVID-19 patients who died due to lack of oxygen
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been moved in the Delhi High Court seeking direction to the Centre and state government to give appropriate compensation to families of people who died due to lack of supply of oxygen on time.
The petition also sought direction to provide compensation to people severely affected during the Covid-19 pandemic and who are unable to meet their basic needs after having lost their sole breadwinner, ANI reported.