Coronavirus LIVE: UK to add India to travel red-list, says health minister
Coronavirus live updates: India reported 273,810 coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases today. Delhi govt has imposed a week-long lockdown. Stay tuned for corona-related news
Schools closed, political parties shun mega poll rallies as Covid cases rise sharply in WB
The raging Covid-19 crisis cast its long shadow in West Bengal, which is in the midst of its long drawn assembly election, as all schools were ordered on Monday to close early for summer vacation and political parties announced that they would shun mega rallies for the remaining three phases of the poll.
The state reported the highest single-day spike of 8,426 new Covid-19 cases on Monday and 38 people died of the infection in the state, as per the Health Department.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday said her government disfavoured lockdown or night curfew but ordered all government and private offices to function with 50 per cent attendance.
The state government issued a notice this afternoon stating that summer vacation in schools which are aided and run by it will begin early from Tuesday itself in view of rising Covid-19 cases and heatwave sweeping across the state.
Delhi medical store owner held for black marketing of Remdesivir
A pharmacy store owner and his employee were arrested in Delhi on Monday in connection with alleged black marketing of antiviral drug Remdesivir, police said.
The accused were identified as Basant Goel (41), a resident of Delhi's Vivek Vihar and his employee Ramoutar Sharma (27), a resident of North Chhajupur in Delhi, a police official said.
Delhi Police's Crime Branch launched an investigation after a case was registered by them on Monday in connection with the black marketing of Remdesivir in Delhi.
Delhi's share of oxygen diverted to another state: Delhi government claims in HC
The Delhi government, which is battling to cater to the need of oxygen for COVID-19 patients, Monday claimed in the Delhi High Court that one of the reasons for the shortage of oxygen was diversion to one of the largest states of the country.
When the submission to this effect was made, a bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli asked the state's name but senior advocate Rahul Mehra, representing the Delhi government, refrained from naming it and said it could become political.
When the bench said it is not political for us, Mehra replied It is one of the largest states. I will leave it at that.
During the hearing, Delhi government said that the firm which used to supply 140 metric ton of oxygen per day to the hospitals in the national capital has suddenly stopped its supply and is diverting to another state.
Covid LIVE: Remdesivir not magic bullet, does not reduce mortality, say health experts
Amid a steep spike in COVID-19 cases leading to increased demand for medicines to treat coronavirus, top health experts in the government on Monday said anti-viral drug remdesivir is "not a magic bullet" and does not reduce mortality.
Addressing the media, AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria said remdesivir should only be given to patients hospitalised with moderate illness, who had a fall in oxygen saturation and have infiltrates on chest X-rays or CT-scan.
"Remdesivir is not a magic bullet and this is not a drug that reduces mortality. We may use it as we don't have a very good antiviral drug. It has a limited role and we should be very careful in its usage," he said.
"In major studies, remdesivir was shown to be useful only in those hospitalised patients with falling oxygen saturation and having infiltrates on chest X-ray or CT-scan. It is of no use if given early in mild and asymptomatic patients and also if administered too late," Dr Guleria said.
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First Published: Apr 19 2021 | 6:37 AM IST