Coronavirus news highlights: Goa reports test positivity rate of 50%

India is facing a debilitating surge in coronavirus cases and has been recording more than 3.5 lakh fresh Covid cases on a daily basis for the past few days. On Friday, the country registered nearly 3.86 lakh new coronavirus infections, pushing the total tally of Covid-19 cases to over 1.87 crore, while active cases crossed the 31-lakh mark.

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No vaccination of 18-44 age group in Maharashtra from May 1 due to Centre: Congress

The Congress on Friday alleged that the vaccination of people from 18 to 44 age group is not taking off in Maharashtra from May 1 due to the "reckless approach" of the Centre.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping offers to help India fight Covid-19

Chinese President Xi Jinping offered to help India fight against the coronavirus pandemic, state media reported on Friday.

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Delhi government hopes to complete Covid-19 vaccination drive in three months

Delhi Chief Minister on Friday expressed hope that all Delhiites will be given Covid-19 vaccine within the next three months amid no clarity on vaccine availability at a time the drive has been expanded to cover those in the 18-44 age group.

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Uttar Pradesh Panchayat polls a Covid-19 'super spreader'?

With reports of deaths of as many as 135 peopleincluding teacherswho were on poll duty, and many more infected, the recently concluded panchayat polls in Uttar Pradesh —which is among the worst affected states in the country —appears to have become a ''super spreader''.

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Pandemic once in a century crisis; participation of society key: PM Modi

The much anticipated Union Council of Ministers meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the rampaging Covid-19 noted that the present pandemic crisis is "once in a century crisis" and stressed that the participation of society is a key aspect to accomplish the gigantic task ahead, expressing confidence that the country will rise to the occasion and defeat the virus.

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Goa goes into lockdown; test positivity rate at 50%

Amid an extremely high test positivity rate of over 50 per cent,Goawent into a four-day -long "lockdown" to curb Covid-19 cases as people stayed indoors, while streets were largely bereft of vehicles in the tourist state on Friday.

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'Shooter Dadi' Chandro Tomar dies due to Covid-19

Octogenarian shooter Chandro Tomar, nicknamed 'Shooter Dadi', died on Friday after battling Covid-19. She was 89.

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Bihar Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Singh dies of Covid

Chief Secretary of Bihar, Arun Kumar Singh, died due to Covid-19 here on Friday.

A 1985-batch IAS officer, Singh was appointed as Bihar’s Chief Secretary on February 28 this year. Prior to this, he was Development Commissioner in the state. He is the fourth IAS officer in Bihar who passed away due to Covid-19 this month.

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Maharashtra government to take back Covid-19 vaccines from private hospitals

The Maharashtra government on Friday announced that it would take back Covid-19 vaccines from private hospitals and administer these doses to people through state-run health centres only.

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Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal tests positive for Covid-19

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday. Baijal said he has mild symptoms and has been isolating himself.

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There is no shortage of medical oxygen in country, supply being augmented for Covid-19 relief, Centre tells SC

(PTI)

States run out of Covid-19 vaccines, nation-wide inoculation drive delayed

Several states have run out of Covid-19 vaccines a day before a planned widening of a nationwide inoculation drive, authorities said on Friday, as new infections in the crisis-hit country surged to another daily record.

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Night curfew in Telangana extended for 7 more days till 5 am on May 8. The statewide night curfew comes into effect at 9 pm and continues till 5 am.

(ANI)

Relief supplies from the United States in the wake of India's Covid-19 situation arrive at the Indira Gandhi International Airport cargo terminal in New Delhi, India, Friday, April 30, 2021. Credit: AP/PTI Photo

Covid-19 crisis: Anand Mahindra shares viral ad to spread positivity, optimism

In a new Twitter post on Thursday, industrialist Anand Mahindra posted a viral Coca-Cola commercial to spread positivity and optimism as India fights the deadly second wave of Covid-19.

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Bihar chief secretary Arun Kumar Singh passes away at a hospital in Patna where he was undergoing treatment for Covid-19.

(ANI)

Delhi High Court says it is a war against Covid, not a battle.

The Court observation came when one of the oxygen suppliers, Vinayak Gases, tells High Court that its owners are down with Covid and they are providing everything.

(ANI)

Why can't the Centre follow national immunization program policy with respect to Covid vaccines, asks SC as it flags concerns about the exclusion of SC/STs, disenfranchised from vaccination coverage.

(ANI)

Citizens communicating their grievance on social media can't be wrong information: SC at Covid hearing

We want to make it very clear that if citizens communicate their grievance on social media, then it cannot be said it's wrong information. We don't want any clampdown of information. We will treat it as a contempt of court if such grievances are considered for action.

(ANI)

A 'mandap decorator', Pascal Saldhana, supplies oxygen for free to people at the request of his wife who is on dialysis for past 5 years after both her kidneys failed.

EU's channelling support to India via EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

Govt to import 4.5 lakh vials of Remdesivir; first consignment of 75,000 vials to land today: Chemicals, Fertilisers Ministry

(PTI)

"We've requested both companies to make available to us 67 lakh doses each in next 3 months. Delhi govt is ready to make payments for it. People of Delhi will be given free vaccines."

We're making all efforts to see that people of Delhi are vaccinated in the next three months, Kejriwal said.

(ANI)

Biden administration working to expand oxygen supply chain in India: USAID official

The Biden administration is working to expand the oxygen supply chain in India to save lives and wage a successful battle against what has now become one of the worst outbreaks of the Covid-19 pandemic in the world, a USAID official has said.

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Yogi Adityanath recovers from Covid-19, tests negative

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said he has tested negative for Covid-19.

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Adani Group to open Covid Care Centre in Ahmedabad school

5 arrested for making fake Covid-19 reports using forged means

Please do not visit hospitals tomorrow: Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar appeals to 18-44 age group as vaccines ordered by the government are yet to come.

(DHNS)

Citizens above the age of 45 wait to receive a dose of Covid-19 vaccine at MMRC Dedicated COVID Health Centre at NESCO, as coronavirus cases surge in Mumbai, Thursday, April 29, 2021. Credit: PTI Photo

Chhattisgarh CM urges PM Modi to give priority to the socially and economically weaker sections, in the light of shortage of vaccine.

In no respite, India witnessed a record single-day rise of 3,86,452 new coronavirus infections and 3,498 deaths on Friday. This is the ninth day in a row that the nation witnessed over 3 lakh daily Covid infections, the highest in the world.

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What we know about the Indian variant as coronavirus sweeps South Asia

India has recorded the world's sharpest spike in coronavirus infections this month, with political and financial capitals New Delhi and Mumbai running out of hospital beds, oxygen and medicines.

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Brazil says Russian Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V carried live cold virus

Tainted batches of Russia's Sputnik V Covid vaccine sent to Brazil carried a live version of a common cold-causing virus, the South American country's health regulator reported in a presentation explaining its decision to ban the drug's import.

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India's Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu held an interaction with members of the business community on the current Covid-19 pandemic situation in the country.

(PTI)

Family members wearing PPE suits, wait for cremation of Covid-19 victims, amid the rise in cases across the country, in New Delhi, Thursday, April 29, 2021. Credit: PTI Photo

Collapse of governance as second Covid-19 wave ravages India

While the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic is fast spreading in the country, taking a bigger toll of lives and misery, it is clear that the prime responsibility for the disastrous turn is with the governments, both at the Centre and in the states.

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Those between 18 and 45 years of age, for whom the vaccination drive begins from May 1, may have to wait longer as Karnataka's private hospitals have expressed doubts about offering vaccines.

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One worker died, at least two injured after an oxygen cylinder exploded during refilling at Panki Oxygen Plant earlier this morning. Police is present at the site of the incident located in Dada Nagar industrial area.

(ANI)

Delhi sees record 395 Covid-19 deaths, over 24,000 fresh cases

This was the eighth day in a row that Delhi has recorded over 300 deaths due to Covdi-19.

It had reported 368 deaths on Wednesday, 381 on Tuesday, 380 on Monday, 350 on Sunday, 357 deaths on Saturday, 348 on Friday and 306 on last Thursday, according to government data.

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Relatives in personal protective equipment (PPE) suits watch the cremation of their loved one who died of the Covid-19 coronavirus at Nigambodh Ghat Crematorium in New Delhi. Credit: AFP Photo

India receives more medical supplies from international community as nation battles Covid-19

More medical supplies from the international community arrived in India on Thursday as the country battles a devastating second wave of coronavirus pandemic that has stretched its healthcare infrastructure to its limit amid surging cases.

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Covid-19 vaccination suspended in Mumbai for three days as stocks run out

"The BMC will not hold any vaccination camp on Friday, Saturday and Sunday because existing stock has been exhausted. With this, the civic body is likely to postpone its vaccination drive for 18-44 age category beyond May 1," the statement said.

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