Covid LIVE: Maharashtra sees record 985 deaths in a day, over 63,000 cases

Coronavirus live updates | Statewise list of fresh Covid-19 cases: Maharashtra 66,358, Uttar Pradesh 32,921, Kerala 32,819, Karnataka 31,830 and Delhi 24,149 cases. Stay tuned for corona-related news

Coronavirus live updates: A day after reported a slight dip in the number of fresh Covid infections and fatalities, India on Wednesday recorded a massive surge of 360,960 cases and 3,293 deaths, according to MoHFW. The cumulative caseload stands at 17,997,267 and the death toll from the virus has crossed the 200,000-mark. India now has nearly 3 million active cases. India has been reporting over 300,000 cases daily for almost a week now.

Maharashtra witnessed nearly 900 deaths. The state reported 66,358 new cases, Uttar Pradesh 32,921, Kerala 32,819 and Karnataka 31,830 cases in the last 24 hours. Meanwhile Delhi recorded 24,149 fresh Covid-19 cases and over 300 deaths for 6th day in a row.

The six most affected states by total cases are Maharashtra (4,410,085), Kerala (1,405,655), Karnataka (1,400,775), Uttar Pradesh (1,086,625), Tamil Nadu (1,081,988), and Delhi (1,047,916).

According to a TOI reports, a proposal has been drawn up for a lockdown, with exemptions for a set of defined essential services, in around 150 districts with Covid-19 positivity rate of over 15% as health systems in these areas are seen to be under stress due to the pandemic.

A final decision will be taken by the Centre in consultation with state governments.

World coronavirus update: Coronavirus cases rise unabated across the globe with 149,313,302 infected by the deadly contagion. While 127,451,084 have recovered, 3,148,014 have died so far. The US remains the worst-hit country with 32,926,352, followed by India, Brazil, France and Russia. However, in the past seven days, India has added the highest number of fresh cases at 2,311,021, followed by the US (408,104) and Brazil (392,743).

10:59 PM

CM chairs meet over plan to increase no. of oxygen beds in Delhi hospitals

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal chaired a meeting on Wednesday to chalk out a plan for increasing the number of oxygen beds and strengthening the home isolation system in the national capital, following a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases and deaths.

"Convened a meeting with the officials. Discussed the plan to increase oxygen beds in the coming days, and strengthen home isolation system in Delhi. Please take all precautions and stay safe," Kejriwal said in a tweet.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Health Minister Satyendar Jain, the additional chief secretary and the health secretary were also present at the meeting, along with health officials.

"We are noticing that this new strain of the coronavirus is quite dangerous and often leads to respiratory and breathing issues. It has become very important to provide beds to every patient who needs oxygen. We have to expedite the process to add more ICU and oxygen beds in the coming weeks," Kejriwal said at the meeting.

"We have to further strengthen our home isolation system. Every patient who is recovering from COVID-19 under home isolation should receive regular calls from Delhi government doctors and an oximeter. We have to monitor the daily condition of every patient recovering from the disease in home isolation," he added.

10:18 PM

COVID-19 goof-up: Test reports issued without taking samples in UP

A probe has been ordered into claims that the administration here issued COVID-19 test reports without taking samples, officials said on Wednesday.

In a complaint to the district magistrate and chief medical officer, Raghvendra Kumar Mishra, a resident of Harpur locality claimed that his brother, Brijendra Mishra, was tested for the novel coronavirus infection on April 18 at the district hospital, and the reports confirmed him as COVID-19 positive on April 20.

Raghavendra said a team of the health department visited his place, and took samples of other family members on April 20. He said his father and mother also tested positive for the infection.

He alleged that when the team reached his place, his paternal uncle, Rishikant, and maternal uncle, Brajnandan, were not there, but the officials submitted the duo's test reports stating that they had tested negative for COVID-19.

He further claimed that the health department informed him over the phone that his family members were tested for the infection on April 23, and that Rajendra Mishra (another brother) had been tested positive.

10:13 PM

COVID: Kejriwal chairs meeting to increase O2 beds, strengthen home isolation system

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday chaired a meeting to chalk out a plan for increasing oxygen beds and strengthening home isolation system in the national capital following a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases and deaths.

"Convened a meeting with officials. Discussed the plan to increase oxygen beds in the coming days, and strengthen home isolation system in Delhi. Please take all precautions and stay safe," he tweeted.

Delhi logged a record 381 COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday, while the positivity rate stood at 32.72 per cent. This was the sixth day on the trot that Delhi has recorded over 300 deaths due to coronavirus.

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

The national capital had recorded 20,201 cases on Monday, 22,933 on Sunday, 24,103 on Saturday, 24,331 on Friday, 26,169 on Thursday, and 24,638 on Wednesday.

10:11 PM

Haryana govt issues directions for restricted sale of Remdesivir, Tocilizumab

Haryana's Food and Drugs Administration Department on Wednesday issued directions for restricted sale and distribution of drugs like Remdesivir and Tocilizumab used to treat patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms in a bid to stop its irrational use.

A department spokesperson said that keeping in view the emergency and unmet medical need for COVID-19 disease, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) had approved restricted emergency use of Remdesivir injectable formulations for treatment of patients with severe COVID-19 infection.

He said the government has also issued directions that Remdesivir formulations are required to be sold under the prescription of medical specialists only.

Further, Remdesivir formulations are required to be supplied for use only to the hospital/institutions to ensure proper use of the drugs as recommended, he said in a statement.

10:01 PM

3,000 covid infected go 'missing' in Bengaluru, to be traced by police: Minister

Posing another challenge to the already overburdened system tackling the covid crisis, about 3,000 infected people have gone missing in the city and many have switched off their phones, prompting the government to task the police to trace them.

Karnataka Revenue Minister R Ashoka claimed that the missing people are spreading the disease, in a state that has seen the positive cases skyrocket in the past few days.

On Wednesday, the southern state recorded its highest single-day spike of 39,047 cases and 229 deaths, with Bengaluru Urban logging 22,596 of those infections.

Ashoka said police have been asked to trace the missing people. However, the police remained tight-lipped on their strategy to track the 'missing' individuals.

9:59 PM

Total Covid vaccination across India nears 150 mn mark, over 2 mn doses given on Wednesday

The total COVID-19 vaccination across the country inched closer to the 15-crore mark with more than20 lakh vaccine doses given till 8 pm on Wednesday, the Union health ministry said.

The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country stands at 14,98,77,121 according to the 8 pm provisional report.

These include 93,66,239 healthcare workers (HCWs) who have taken the first dose and 61,45,854 HCWs who have taken the second dose, 1,23,09,507 frontline workers (FLWs) who have received the first dose, 65,99,492 FLWs who have taken the second dose.

Besides,5,09,75,753and31,42,239 beneficiaries over 45to 60 years old also have been administered the first and the second dose, while 5,14,70,903 and 98,67,134 people aged above 60 years have taken the first and the second dose.

Total 20,49,754 vaccine doses were given till 8 pm on Wednesday, the one hundred and third day of the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive.

Out of which, 11,92,394 beneficiaries were vaccinated for the first dose and 8,57,360 beneficiaries received the second dose of the vaccine according to the provisional report, the ministry said, adding that final reports would be completed for the day by late night.

9:53 PM

Allahabad HC Judge dies of Covid-19

Justice Virendra Kumar Srivastava of the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court died of COVID-19 on Wednesday.

Srivastava, who had tested positive for coronavirus, was undergoing treatment at the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute (SGPGI) in Lucknow.

While giving this information, Allahabad High Court Registrar (Protocol) Ashish Kumar Srivastava said that Justice Srivastava died at SGPGI on Wednesday.

The Allahabad High Court and its Lucknow bench will remain closed on Thursday to mourn the death of Justice Srivastava.

9:50 PM

Covid crisis a trailer of what might happen due to climate change: Jayant Sinha

Climate change is a "very very serious issue" and the coronavirus crisis in some way is actually a trailer for what might happen if the environment change goes unchecked, the chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance, Jayant Sinha, said on Wednesday.

Addressing an event organised by Bombay Chambers of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), Sinha noted that India has a huge problem of job creation and the country is not creating good jobs fast enough.

" Climate change is a very very serious issue today ... coronavirus crisis in some way is actually a trailer for what might happen if we have unchecked climate change," he said.

Sinha said that everybody is worried about the pandemic because of the terrible impact it has around the world.

He pointed out that after Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), every single serious epidemiologist warned that the world is going to face a global pandemic.

9:45 PM

BJP MLA Kesar Singh Gangwar succumbs to coronavirus

Kesar Singh Gangwar, the sitting BJP MLA from Bareilly's Nawabganj constituency, on Wednesday succumbed to Covid-19. He was 64.

Family sources said that Gangwar was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Noida for the past few days, where he died. He had recently tested positive for coronavirus.

Gangwar is survived by his wife, three daughters and a son.

He was a member of the Legislative Council from the BSP in 2009, and in 2017 he joined the BJP, and won the Assembly election from Nawabganj.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and state Legislative Assembly Speaker Hriday Narayan Dixit condoled his death, while state BJP chief Swatantradev Singh and general secretary (organisation) Sunil Bansal expressed their sorrow.

9:43 PM

People with comorbidities will be given preference in Delhi in 3rd phase of Covid vaccination

The third phase of the Covid-19 inoculation drive for those in the 18-44 age group is likely to begin at "moderate" pace in the national capital and people with comorbidities will be given preference, officials said on Wednesday.

The Delhi government has placed an order for over 1.3 crore doses with manufacturers. The vaccine will be delivered in phases, an official aware of the development said.

Private hospitals will have to procure vaccines directly from manufacturers, he said.

"We are likely to have a moderate start and it will be ramped up gradually," the official said.

The Centre will continue to provide vaccine for those aged above 45.

"So, there will be three channels - Centre, state and private and therefore, the number of beneficiaries being vaccinated a day will increase," another official said.

9:22 PM

Over 63,000 cases in Maharashtra

9:22 PM

Over 63,000 cases in Maharashtra

8:52 PM

Mumbai's daily case count rises

8:38 PM

Goa's Covid tally rises to 85,009 with 3,101 new cases in a day

7:49 PM

Rajasthan CM in self-isolation after wife tests positive for Covid