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

1:55 PM

Delhi CM Kejriwal to hold meeting over Covid-19 situation at 4:00 pm

Amid surging coronavirus cases in the national capital, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will hold a meeting over the Covid-19 situation in Delhi at 4 pm today.

 

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain and other senior officials will be present at the meeting.

 

Delhi is among the ten states that have shown a rise in the Covid daily new cases, said the Union Health Ministry on Friday. Read here

1:51 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Two days after testing negative, Karnataka CM taken to hospital

1:47 PM

Why wearing mask is not enough to keep Covid at bay

With Covid-19 spreading fiercely in many parts of the country, it has now become extremely important to follow all the precautionary measures, besides wearing a mask, to keep infections at bay, health experts have said.

 

It is important to understand that the virus responsible for Covid-19 spreads mainly from person to person. Therefore, coming in close contact with a sick person can put them in danger.

 

Doctors have therefore advised that in times like these indoors social gathering could be full of risks. (IANS)

1:29 PM

UP govt imposes Sunday lockdown in the state amid Covid surge, reports ANI

UP govt imposes Sunday lockdown in the state amid Covid surge, reports ANI

1:25 PM

Delhi coronavirus: LG Anil Baijal asks chief secretary to set up help desk in every hospital

Delhi LG Anil Baijal asks chief secretary to set up help desk in every hospital to assist patients and attendants, says Official

1:25 PM

Andhra govt revives State Covid Command and Control Centre

The Andhra Pradesh Government has revived the State COVID Command and Control Centre with immediate effect to take necessary steps for COVID-19 management and vaccination in the state on a daily basis.

 

The State Chief Secretary Adityanath Das issued an an order on Thursday appointing special officers for COVID-19 management and vaccination.

 

As per the government order, senior IAS officers in the state are assigned specific duties.

1:15 PM

Covid-19 related restrictions like "corona curfew" that are in place will continue: Karnataka CM

Covid-19 related restrictions like "corona curfew" that are in place will continue and government will decide on future course of action aimed at controlling its spread on April 20: Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa

1:06 PM

Mizoram logs 25 new Covid-19 cases, tally rises to 4,447

Mizoram's Covid-19 tally rose to 4,447 as 25 more people, including a 91-year-old woman, tested positive for the virus, an official said on Friday.

 

Of the 25 fresh cases, 19 were reported from Aizawl district, 3 cases each from Kolasib and Serchhip districts, he said.

 

Eleven patients have travel history, the official said.

 

Mizoram now has 258 active Covid-19 cases, while 4,477 patients have recovered from the virus.

1:00 PM

Another dose of vaccine likely to be needed with 12 months: Pfizer CEO

Pfizer Chief Executive Officer Albert Bourla said people will likely need a third dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine within 12 months of getting fully inoculated.

 

Bourla told CNBC News on Thursday that it is possible people will need to get vaccinated against the coronavirus annually, reports Xinhua news agency.

 

"We need to see what would be the sequence, and for how often we need to do that, that remains to be seen," he told CNBC.

 

"A likely scenario is that there will be likely a need for a third dose, somewhere between six and 12 months and then from there, there will be an annual re-vaccination, but all of that needs to be confirmed. And again, the variants will play a key role," he said. Read on...

12:54 PM

China's Q1 GDP grows at record pace as recovery speeds up after pandemic

China's economic recovery quickened sharply in the first quarter from a coronavirus-induced slump earlier last year, propelled by stronger demand at home and abroad and continued government support for smaller firms.

 

Gross domestic product (GDP) jumped a record 18.3% in the first quarter from a year earlier, official data showed on Friday, slower than the 19% forecast by economists in a Reuters poll, and following 6.5% growth in the fourth quarter last year. Read on...

12:46 PM

Decision in 3 working days after foreign Covid-19 vaccine firms apply

The Indian health regulator will take a decision within three working days of a foreign vaccine maker seeking emergency use approval, the Centre said on Thursday in a definite move to accelerate the inoculation process.

 

Also, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) will work in a time-bound manner for every step connected to vaccine approval. For instance, import licence and registration certificates will be processed within three working days of the approval. In addition, bridging clinical trial protocols must be cleared within seven working days for vaccines approved by international regulators. Read on...

12:39 PM

Coronavirus: Bihar CM calls a high-level meeting of senior officials, district magistrates and SPs

Coronavirus: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar calls a high-level meeting of senior officials, district magistrates and SPs

 

12:29 PM

People are intentionally violating restrictions - to defy Maharashtra govt: BJP leader Narayan Rane, in Mumbai

Maharashtra CM has imposed a lockdown by naming it as restrictions. People are intentionally violating these restrictions. Shop owners are also neglecting govt order because they don't believe this govt: BJP leader Narayan Rane, in Mumbai

12:23 PM

Cremation of those who die due to Covid-19 is recommended: Diocese of Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Cremation of those who die due to Covid-19 is recommended. The ashes will be preserved in the niches of the cemetery with full dignity according to the church burial ritual: Diocese of Ahmedabad, Gujarat

12:18 PM

All those under home quarantine to be stamped on their hands: Karnataka health minister K Sudhakar

All those under home quarantine to be stamped on their hands: Karnataka health minister K Sudhakar