Coronavirus LIVE: Maharashtra, Delhi, UP, Karnataka see record daily cases

Coronavirus live updates: India has added 2,142,934 fresh Covid-19 cases since April 1. Mumbai registered 9,925 new cases, Delhi 17,282 in the last 24 hours. Stay tuned for corona-related news

4:35 PM

Andhra CM requests PM Modi to supply 6 million doses to the state

4:26 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Union Home Secy reviews status in Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh

Union Home Secretary reviews coronavirus status and public health measures for its containment and management taken by Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh. Five-fold strategy of “Test, Track, Treat, Covid-appropriate behaviour and vaccination” are re-emphasised. States assured continued assistance from the Centre. Read full release here

4:23 PM

Coronavirus is airborne: Lancet study sheds light on ten reasons why

According to a new assessment published today in the medical journal Lancet there is consistent, strong evidence that the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes Covid-19, is predominantly transmitted through the air.

 

Therefore, public health measures that fail to treat the virus as predominantly airborne leave people unprotected and allow the virus to spread, according to six experts from the UK, USA and Canada, including Jose-Luis Jimenez, a chemist at the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) and the University of Colorado Boulder.

 

"The evidence supporting airborne transmission is overwhelming, and evidence supporting large droplet transmission is almost non-existent," Jimenez said. "It is urgent that the World Health Organization and other public health agencies adapt their description of transmission to the scientific evidence so that the focus of mitigation is put on reducing airborne transmission." Read here

4:10 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Taj Mahal shut till May 15 amid raging pandemic

4:04 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Odisha logs 3,108 new cases, 3 more fatalities

Odishas Covid-19 caseload on Friday mounted to 3,61,450 after 3,108 more people tested positive for the infection, while three fresh fatalities pushed the death toll to 1,938, a health department official said.

 

Meanwhile, keeping in view the Covid-19 surge, Odishas major tourist destination, the Sun Temple in Konark, has been closed with immediate effect.

 

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) said, due to the prevailing Covid-19 situation, all centrally-protected monuments, sites, and museums in the state will remain closed with immediate effect. (PTI)

3:57 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Niranjani Akhara's Ravindra Puri tests positive

3:36 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Running short of vaccines, says Odisha vaccination head

3:33 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Telangana's daily count rises to 3,840

Breaking another record in the daily spike in Covid-19 cases, Telangana reported 3,840 new cases and nine deaths during the last 24 hours, according to the state health department.

2:41 PM

Weekend curfew in Chandigarh from Friday 10 pm to Monday 5 am

Weekend curfew to be imposed in Chandigarh from Friday 10 pm to Monday 5 am. Only essential services will be allowed. The order will come into effect from tonight. The decision was taken in a high-level meeting of Chandigarh Administration, reports ANI

2:27 PM

PM Modi reviews situation to ensure adequate medical grade oxygen supply

PM Modi took a comprehensive review to ensure adequate medical grade oxygen supply in the country. Inputs from ministries like Health, DPIIT, Steel, Road Transport were also shared with the Prime Minister. He stressed that it's important to ensure synergy across ministries and state govts: Prime Minister's Office

2:19 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Karnataka CM tests positive again, taken to hospital

2:10 PM

Vaccination not shield against Covid, can reduce severity, fatality: Experts

Amid cases of the coronavirus infection being reported post vaccination from a few parts of the country, experts have said inoculation against Covid-19 "does not produce a shield" against the deadly virus, but helps reduce the severity of the infection and chances of death.

 

They have also said that "no causal link has been established" yet between vaccination and the complications suffered thereafter by a person through any clinical or epidemiological studies.

 

From Delhi to Chennai and even in tier-2 cities like Patna, cases of vaccination beneficiaries contracting the coronavirus infection have been reported in the last couple of months.

 

Thirty-seven doctors at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi have tested positive for Covid-19 since the latest surge in cases, five of whom were admitted for treatment, hospital sources said last week. (PTI)

2:07 PM

Additional trains being run during April-May, says Railway Board CEO

1,490 specials trains being operated on an average per day. 28 special trains are being operated as clones of highly patronised trains. Overall 70 per cent train services restored. To clear rush, additional trains being run during April-May: Chairman and CEO, Railway Board

2:02 PM

Set up helplines that inform availability of beds in Delhi hospitals: LG to officers

In the wake of an exponential rise in coronavirus cases in Delhi, Lt Governor Anil Baijal on Friday directed officers to set up helplines that inform availability of beds in hospitals besides establishing help desks to assist patients and attendants, an official said.

 

Baijal, who reviewed the enforcement of Covid appropriate behaviour, said that concerted and coordinated efforts are required from all agencies and stakeholders to contain the surge of coronavirus in the national capital.

 

The lieutenant governor also directed officers to ensure aggressive deployment and enforcement in areas in peak hours. (PTI)

2:00 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: General V K Singh self isolates after his employees test positive