Covid LIVE: Not happy about curbs, but have to break the chain, says Uddhav

Coronavirus live updates: Maharashtra, UP, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, MP, Gujarat, Rajasthan- have shown steep rise in daily Covid-19 cases. Stay tuned for corona-related news

3:40 AM

Gehlot for imposing strict anti-Covid norms in state

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday said it is necessary to take strict and effective steps similar to lockdown and directed officials to form guidelines to curb the virus spread.
 

He appealed to the people to behave as if there is a lockdown, saying the second wave of Covid-19 is more dangerous.
 

Gehlot said the socio-religious and cultural activities in the state need to be restricted as the death rate is increasing.

Extending the curfew duration, reducing the number of participants in marriages and other social functions, cutting down the presence of people at workplaces and the number of passengers in public transport are the need of the hour, he said.
 

"Given these suggestions, necessary guidelines should be prepared. It is necessary to take drastic steps. The general public may suffer a bit from this, but saving lives is paramount," Gehlot said during a Covid-19 review meeting at his residence.

3:35 AM

329,056 more vaccinated against Covid-19 in Maharashtra

Maharashtra has carried out the vaccination of 329,056 more people against Covid-19, taking the cumulative figure to 1,05,71,680, said a state health department official on Tuesday.
 

The state on Monday vaccinated 6,938 healthcare professionals, 18,854 frontline workers, 1,88,553 people in the 45-59 age group and having comorbidities and 1,14,711 senior citizens (total 3,29,056), he said.
 

With this, 12,78,391 healthcare workers and 15,58,299 frontline workers have received vaccine doses so far, the official said.
 

Similarly, the state has inoculated 33,83,427 people in the 45-59 age group and with comorbidities, and 43,51,563 senior citizens till date, he said.
 

The nationwide vaccination against Covid-19 started on January 16 with healthcare professionals and was later extended to other priority groups.
 

3:29 AM

Give relief, ramp up health infra: Maharashtra BJP after new curbs

Former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said the Uddhav Thackeray-led government in the state must give concessions in electricity bills, property tax and GST, following the announcement of new "lockdown-like" restrictions to check coronavirus cases.
 

"The state seems to have not offered any concessions in electricity bills, property tax or GST. Similarly, no financial assistance announced for salon operators, small businessman, flower vendors among others. These comprise of a major labour force who will have no means of earnings," Fadnavis said.
 

"The state should immediately use the reserved fund of Rs 3,300 crore for restricting Covid-19 spread. It should be utilised for adding more beds and procurement of medical equipment. The state should issue directives accordingly," the BJP leader added.
 

The leader of opposition in the Assembly said the government's priority should be to improve health services, increase availability of ventilators, Remdesivir injections, oxygen supply, oxygenated beds etc to minimise the the suffering of patients.
 

3:28 AM

Israel to accept foreign tourists after year-long break

Israel on Tuesday said it will reopen the country to vaccinated foreign tourists in May, more than a year after closing its borders to most international visitors due to the coronavirus pandemic.
 

The Tourism Ministry said a limited number of tourist groups will be allowed to enter the country starting May 23, with individual visitors allowed at a later stage. All foreign tourists entering the country will be tested for coronavirus before boarding flights to Israel and must present a serological test to prove they have received a Covid-19 vaccine.
 

Israel suffered a major economic blow due to the coronavirus pandemic. In recent months, it has carried out highly successful vaccination program that has allowed it to reopen most sectors of the economy. But the tourism industry, limited only to serving Israelis, remains blighted.
 

“After opening the economy, it is time to allow tourism in a careful and calculated manner,” Health Minister Yuli Edelstein said in a joint statement with the Tourism Ministry.
 

Yossi Fattal, head of the Israel Incoming Tour Operators Association, an industry trade group, welcome the decision but said “the speed and way it is being handled are worrying.” He said the group doesn't understand why it is so much easier for a vaccinated Israeli than a tourist who has received the same vaccine to enter the country. He called on Israel to adopt international standards for recognizing vaccinations and not rely on serological tests, which he said raise privacy concerns.
 

Israel has recorded over 836,000 cases of Covid-19 and at least 6,304 deaths since the start of the pandemic. 
 

3:27 AM

US pauses use of J&J vaccine over rare blood clots, rollout delayed in Europe

US federal health agencies on Tuesday recommended pausing use of Johnson & Johnson's Covid-19 vaccine for at least a few days after six women under age 50 developed rare blood clots after receiving the shot, dealing a fresh setback to efforts to tackle the pandemic.
 

Johnson & Johnson said it would delay rollout of the vaccine to Europe, a week after regulators there said they were reviewing rare blood clots in four recipients of the shot in the United States. South Africa also suspended use of J&J's vaccine.
 

Acting US Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Janet Woodcock said the agency expected the pause to be a matter of days, and was aimed at providing information to healthcare providers on how to diagnose and treat the clots.
 

The moves come after European regulators said earlier this month they had found a possible link between AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine and a similar rare blood clotting problem that led to a small number of deaths.
 

FDA official Peter Marks said it was "plainly obvious" the J&J cases were "very similar" to the AstraZeneca ones. He said there had been no similar blood clot cases reported among recipients of the Moderna or Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines, which use a different technology and accounted for the vast majority of US vaccinations so far.

9:52 PM

Chorus grows louder for cancellation of class 10, 12 board exams; no decision by CBSE yet

The chorus for cancellation of upcoming board exams for class 10 and 12 grew louder on Tuesday in wake of the exponential rise in Covid-19 cases even as the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) said it has not taken any decision yet in this regard.
 

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia appealed to the Centre to cancel the exams saying the examination centres can become super spreaders and alternative methods for assessment need to be explored.
 

CBSE officials denied any change in plan "yet" and reiterated that the arrangements are being made to ensure social distancing by increasing examination centres by over 50 per cent. The exams are scheduled to begin from May 4.
 

"The exams cannot be cancelled, these are subjective exams which are crucial in nature and cannot be conducted online. The board is taking all necessary measures as per Covid-19 guidelines. The exam centres have been increased and all Covid protocols will be followed strictly," said a senior board official.
 

While sources indicated that the board may consider postponing the exams if the situation worsens, the official, maintained, "there has been no decision yet".
 

The board had earlier this month announced that if students fail to appear for ongoing practical exams after they or any family member testing positive, the schools will conduct re-tests for them at an appropriate time.
 

The CBSE official also did not comment on whether the same relaxation will be given to students in theory exams as well.
 

Earlier in the day, Kejriwal said that conducting the exam can contribute to large scale spread of the virus.
 

9:43 PM

Maharashtra sees 60,212 new Covid-19 cases, 281 die

Maharashtra on Tuesday reported 60,212 fresh coronavirus positive cases, taking the tally to 35,19,208 while 281 fatalities pushed the toll to 58,526, the state health department said.
 

In view of the alarming rise in cases, the state government has announced a 15-day long statewide curfew from 8 pm on April 14.
 

Maharashtra is now left with 5,93,042 active cases,the department said in a release.
 

Mumbai recorded 7,873 new cases and 27 fatalities, takingthe tally to 5,35,264 and the toll to 12,093.
 

A total of 31,624 patients were discharged during theday in Maharashtra, taking the count of recoveries to28,66,097, it said.
 

With 2,37,658 new tests, the number of samples testedso far in Maharashtra has gone up to 2,25,60,051, thedepartment added.
 

Currently, 32,94,398 people are in home quarantinewhile 30,399 people are in institutional quarantine in the state.

 

Maharashtra's case recovery rate is 81.44 per cent andthe fatality rate is 1.66 per cent, the department said.
 

Mumbai division, including Mumbai city and satellitetowns, recorded 16,596 cases and 46 deaths during the day,taking the count of cases to 11,15,194 and the fatalities to 21,245.
 

Nashik division reported 8,650 cases including 2,659in Nashik city.
 

Pune division saw 12,372 fresh infections including5,214 in Pune city.

9:42 PM

Only asymptomatic staff allowed to attend office, laboratory: JNU

The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) administration on Tuesday announced that it will only allow asymptomatic staff members to attend its offices, laboratories and libraries.
 

The university issued a circular saying anyone with a mild cold or cough or fever can stay at home.
 

"Only asymptomatic officers/staffs shall be allowed to attend the office/ laboratory/library. Anyone with a mild cold/cough or fever needs to stay at home and they would apply for a suitable leave," it said.
 

The institution added that social distancing should be maintained "even during lunch timings and seating arrangement should be done in such a way that adequate social distancing is maintained, as far as feasible".
 

The university has reiterated its earlier direction to the deans, chairpersons and head of departments to stagger the working hours/days for offices, laboratories and libraries.
 

For the employees who are at higher risk, the administration said "they should take extra precautions and preferably not get exposed to any front-line work requiring direct contact with the public".
 

9:21 PM

Here's what's allowed and what's not allowed in Maharashtra Curfew

Cinema halls, theatres, auditoriums, amusement parks, gyms, sports complexes to be closed. Shooting for films, serial, ads to be closed. All shops, malls, shopping centres that are not performing essential services to also remain closed for 15 days

9:07 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Uddhav announces Rs 1,500 aid to registered 1.2 million construction workers

Uddhav Thackeray announces Rs 1,500 aid to registered 1.2 million construction workers.  Registered house maids will also be provided aid

9:07 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Uddhav announces Rs 1,500 aid to registered 1.2 million construction workers

Uddhav Thackeray announces Rs 1,500 aid to registered 1.2 million construction workers.  Registered house maids will also be provided aid

9:03 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Local train and bus services will function for essential services only, says Uddhav

Local train and bus services will function for essential services only. Petrol pumps, financial institutions associated with SEBI and construction work to continue, says Maharashtra CM

9:00 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Hotels and restaurants will remain shut, says Uddhav

Coronavirus LIVE: Hotels and restaurants will remain shut, but street vendors are allowed to function from 7 am to 8 pm. Take away is allowed, says Uddhav Thackeray

8:59 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Section 144 to be imposed in the entire state from tomorrow, says Uddhav

Section 144 to be imposed in the entire state from tomorrow. I will not term this as lockdown, says Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray

8:56 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Thackeray announces Janata curfew-like curbs from 8 pm tomorrow

From April 14 evening, we have to break the chain imposing section 144 across the state for next 15 days. Don't venture out of homes for unnecessary work. It is like Janata Curfew, says Uddhav Thackeray