Covid LIVE: Stricter curbs in Maharashtra, offices to work with 15% staff

Coronavirus live updates: India has added 1,628,641 Covid cases in the last 7 days. CM Uddhav Thackeray is likely to take a call on lockdown in Maharashtra today. Stay tuned for corona-related news

Coronavirus live updates: India reported its biggest-ever spike of nearly 300,000 fresh coronavirus (Covid-19) cases on Wednesday, according to MoHFW. With this, India's Covid tally has scaled to 15,616,130 cases. India also registered the highest-ever single-day spike in Covid-related deaths with 2,023 fatalities. The death toll from the deadly infection stands at 182,570. The country now has over 2.1 million active cases.

The rise in case numbers has been exponential in the second wave. Badly-affected cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Bhopal, Kolkata, Allahabad and Surat have almost run out of hospital beds. The situation is much more dire when it comes to ICU beds. Several cities have just a few dozen ICU beds left and they are now frantically trying to build extra capacity in hotels and stadiums. Multiple government hospitals in Delhi on Tuesday said their oxygen stock would last only for only few hours and “people will die” if they do not get oxygen. A list shared by the government showed that in some hospitals, oxygen will last only for four to five hours. With 277 new deaths in last 24 hours, Delhi's death toll from Covid-19 now stands at 12,638. The national capital recorded 28,395 new Covid-19 cases in highest single-day spike. 

Meanwhile, according to media reports, Uddhav Thackeray is likely to take a call on lockdown in Maharashtra and would announce his decision on Wednesday. THe state recorded 62,097 new cases and 519 deaths in the last 24 hours. 

The five most affected states by total cases are Maharashtra (3,960,359), Kerala (1,197,301), Karnataka (1,109,650), Tamil Nadu (962,935), and Andhra Pradesh (942,135). 

World coronavirus update: Coronavirus cases rise unabated across the globe with 143,518,120 infected by the deadly contagion. While 122,126,726 have recovered, 3,056,396 have died so far. The US remains the worst-hit country with 32,533,924, followed by India, Brazil, France and Russia. However, in the past seven days, India has added the highest number of fresh cases at 1,628,641, followed by the US (1,628,641) and Brazil (456,304).

10:26 PM

Maharashtra announces stricter curbs

All government offices in Maharashtra, except the essential ones that are directly involved in Covid management, to operate with only 15 per cent staff

9:43 PM

Full faith that Centre will deliver Oxygen: Delhi HC

Delhi High Court says we have full faith that you (Centre) will deliver oxygen. Max Hospital in Delhi's Patparganj will get supply of oxygen in 2 hours. But many other hospitals are also facing a shortage. You can pass an order as it is a national emergency, no industry will say no, Court adds.

9:42 PM

Delhi HC hears urgent application regarding oxygen shortage at Max

Delhi High Court hears an urgent application regarding the oxygen shortage at Max Hospital. SG Tushar Mehta representing the Centre tells the court that supply of oxygen is on its way and it will reach the hospital shortly. Oxygen has been delivered at one of the Max hospitals.

8:45 PM

'Why is govt not waking up to reality': Delhi HC on oxygen supply crisis

8:16 PM

Maharashtra sees 67,468 new cases in a day

Maharashtra on Wednesday witnessed 67,468 new Covid cases within the span of 24 hours. The state also recorded 568 deaths in a day. 

8:08 PM

Cong's Tharoor tests positive

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday. "Folks should know that my sister has had two doses of the Pfizer vaccine in California and my mother & I took our second Covishield shot on April 8. So we have every reason to hope that though vaccines cannot prevent infection, they will moderate the impact of the Covid virus," he said on Twitter.

 

7:39 PM

Kejriwal thanks Centre

Delhi CM thanked Centre for increasing quota of oxygen. 

7:01 PM

Karnataka sees record 23,558 cases in a day

6:16 PM

Night curfew in Goa

Night curfew will be imposed in Goa from 10pm (to 6am) tonight. Casinos, restaurants and bars, cinema halls allowed to operate at 50 per cent capacity.

5:49 PM

Important to wear a mask even after vaccine, says Guleria

The vaccine prevents you from getting the disease in the form of severe illness. It may not prevent you from getting the infection. Important to understand that even after the vaccine we may have a positive report, it is why important to wear a mask even after vaccine, said Dr Randeep Guleria.

 

 

 

 

5:45 PM

Dr Guleria, Dr Shetty, and Dr Trehan address issues related to Covid-19

4:50 PM

0.04% people tested positive after second dose of Covaxin: Govt

4:16 PM

Anguished by loss of lives in Nashik, says PM Modi

PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday condoled the Nashik tragedy on Twitter. "The tragedy at a hospital in Nashik because of oxygen tank leakage is heart-wrenching. Anguished by the loss of lives due to it. Condolences to the bereaved families in this sad hour," he said on Twitter.

3:52 PM

Pokhriyal tests positive for Covid

Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal says he has tested positive for coronavirus.

3:22 PM

BJP leaders react to Nashik oxygen leak incident

"What happened in Nashik is terrible. It's being said that 11 people died which is very disturbing. I demand that the other patients be helped and shifted if needed. We demand a detailed inquiry," said former Maharashtra CM and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Nashik oxygen tanker gas leak tragedy.

 

"I am distressed to hear the news of the accident of oxygen leak in a hospital in Nashik. I express my deepest condolences on this irreparable loss of those who have lost their loved ones in this accident. I pray to God for the efficiency of all the other patients," said Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Twitter.