Covid LIVE: PM Modi asks EU to back India, SA on patent waiver for vaccines

Coronavirus live updates: Coronavirus cases are surging rapidly in states like Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Bengal, Bihar, Haryana, Odisha and Uttarakhand. Stay tuned for corona-related news

6:24 PM

Delhi received 487 MT oxygen on Friday, says Deputy CM Sisodia

Delhi on Friday received 487 metric tonnes (MT) oxygen against its requirement of around 700 MT per day, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said on Saturday.

 

Sisodia, who is also the nodal minister of Delhi government for Covid management, said, "We need around 700 MT oxygen per day to meet the requirements of the growing number of Covid patients getting admitted to the several hospitals.

 

"However, Delhi on Friday received only 487 MT oxygen. The requirement is likely to go up to around 976 MT a day in the coming days." Read here

6:19 PM

Decision on lockdown should have been taken by Centre: Rajasthan CM Gehlot

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday said a decision regarding the coronavirus lockdown should have been made by the Centre for better coordination among states.

 

In a statement, the chief minister said several states have imposed a lockdown to tackle the problem and prohibited the entry of people from other states.

 

"A lockdown is more needed than ever to prevent the infection spread. It is my opinion, on the basis of previous experience, the decision should have been made at the level of the Centre so that the common people, including the labourers, face minimum hardships and at the same time, there is better coordination among the states," Gehlot said. Read on....

6:17 PM

Haryana to launch Covid vaccination drive for journalists: CM

Haryana Chief Minister M L Khattar on Saturday announced the launch of a vaccination drive for all media personnel in the state, noting that it is the government's responsibility to ensure the well-being of every journalist who is "dedicatedly rendering their services" in this hour of crisis.

 

The chief minister, while presiding over a review meeting with top officials regarding the ongoing Covid-19 situation in the state, said that during this massive vaccination drive the Covid-19 vaccines would be administered to every media person, an official statement said.

 

"Every journalist will be given priority during the vaccination drive and preparations for vaccination administration would be made at media centres in all districts," Khattar was quoted as saying in the statement. (PTI)

6:14 PM

Harsh Vardhan urges citizens to not skip second dose of Covid vaccine

Reiterating the importance of full protection through two Covid Vaccine doses, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Saturday appealed to all citizens to get the second dose which boosts the immunity against Covid manifold, adding that 53,25,000 doses will be supplied to the states soon.

 

A total of 17,49,57,770 doses have been delivered to the states, out of which 16,65,49,583 doses have been consumed and 84,08,187 doses are still available with the states," he said.

 

He further added that a total of 53,25,000 doses are on the pipeline and will be supplied to the states soon. (PTI)

5:40 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Kerala reports 41,971 new cases

Kerala reports 41,971 new cases, 27,456 recoveries and 64 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the state health department

5:36 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Manipur govt imposes curfew in seven districts till May 17

Manipur govt has imposed curfew in seven districts till May 17 to check the spread of coronavirus. 

5:15 PM

Decision on lockdown should have been taken by Centre: Gehlot

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday said a decision regarding the coronavirus lockdown should have been made by the Centre for better coordination among states.

 

In a statement, the chief minister said several states have imposed a lockdown to tackle the problem and prohibited the entry of people from other states.

 

"A lockdown is more needed than ever to prevent the infection spread. It is my opinion, on the basis of previous experience, the decision should have been made at the level of the Centre so that the common people, including the labourers, face minimum hardships and at the same time, there is better coordination among the states," Gehlot said. (PTI)

4:45 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Supreme Court sets up a national task force to streamline oxygen allocation

Supreme Court bench, headed by Justice DY Chandrachud, in its order, constituted a National Task Force (NTF) to assess, recommend the need and distribution of oxygen for the entire country, Bar and Bench reported.

4:36 PM

Maharashtra CM urges Centre to allow states to develop own apps for vaccination programme

Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray urges Centre to allow states to develop own apps for vaccination programme or CoWIN app for each state

4:19 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Delhi reports 17,364 new cases

Delhi reports 17,364 new coronavirus cases, 20,160 recoveries and 332 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the state health department

3:40 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: EU seals deal with Pfizer for up to 1.8 bn extra vaccine doses

3:24 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Haryana CM says seeing upsurge in covid cases in rural areas

3:03 PM

Positive test now not mandatory for admission to a Covid facility: Govt

In a relief to patients, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Saturday revised the national policy for admission of Covid patients to various categories of Covid facilities. "This patient-centric measure aims to ensure prompt, effective and comprehensive treatment of patients suffering from Covid-19," the ministry said. According to the revised policy, requirement of a positive test for Covid-19 virus is not mandatory for admission to a Covid health facility. A suspect case must be admitted to the suspect ward of Covid Care Center (CCC), Dedicated Covid Health Centre (DCHC) or Dedicated Covid Hospital (DHC) as the case may be. Read full govt release here

2:15 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: PM speaks to Madhya Pradesh CM to review Covid situation

1:54 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: PM says Maharashtra is fighting a good battle against second wave