Covid LIVE: Maharashtra reports 58,993 cases in a day; over 8,500 in Delhi

Coronavirus live updates: Pune has recorded 12,090 cases, Delhi 7,437 Covid cases in the last 24 hours. PM Modi said Covid situation is very grim in some states. Stay tuned for corona-related news

8:15 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Tamil Nadu reports 5,441 new cases

Tamil Nadu reports 5,441 new coronavirus cases, 1,890 discharges and 23 deaths in last 24 hours, according to the health department

8:12 PM

Pandemic, hunger forces thousands into sex work in Mexico

Hardships caused by the coronavirus pandemic have forced former sex workers in Mexico back into the trade years after they left, made it more dangerous and reduced some to having sex in cars or on sidewalks for lack of available hotels.

 

Claudia, who like most of the sex workers interviewed asked to be identified only by her first name, had stopped working the streets a decade ago after she married one of her former clients. But when her husband lost his job early in the pandemic, the couple fell four months behind on rent for their apartment.

 

The only solution Claudia saw was to go back to working the streets. (AP)

8:08 PM

Rajasthan reports 3,970 new Covid-19 cases, 12 more deaths

Rajasthan records 3,970 fresh Covid-19 cases, taking the infection count to 3,54,287, while 12 more fatalities pushed the death toll to 2,898 on Friday, an official report stated.

 

Four deaths were reported from Udaipur, three from Banswara and one each from Barmer, Jodhpur, Kota, Rajsamand and Pali, it said.

 

Of the fresh cases, a maximum of 767 infections were recorded in Jaipur, followed by Jodhpur 498, Kota 439, Udaipur 360, Dungarpur 340 and Bhilwara 245, among others. (PTI)

8:06 PM

WHO chief descries 'shocking' vaccine imbalance

The head of the World Health Organisation said that over 87 per cent of the more than 700 million doses of coronavirus vaccine that have been administered worldwide have been given in wealthier countries.

 

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that on average, one in four people in rich countries have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, compared to only one in 500 people in low-income countries.

 

There remains a shocking imbalance in the global distribution of vaccines, Tedros said during a media briefing Friday. (AP)

7:54 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Mumbai sees 9,200 new cases

7:52 PM

What's allowed and what's not in Maharashtra lockdown?

As coronavirus resurgence threatens health systems in Maharashtra, the state government had announced a "strict lockdown" over the weekends. It will be in place from 8 pm on Friday till Monday 7 am. Maharashtra, on Thursday, reported 56,286 new Covid-19 infections and 376 deaths.

 

The state government issued detailed standard operating procedures (SOPs) on how to navigate through the lockdown. So, here's what allowed and not allowed during the weekend. Read here

7:40 PM

All Odisha-bound passengers must carry negative report: East Coast Railway

All Odisha bound passengers from anywhere in the country, boarding from April 10, must have an RT-PCR negative test report of maximum 72 hours before start of journey or final vaccination certificate. Those without valid documents to undergo 7 days mandatory quarantine: East Coast Railway

7:29 PM

428 new coronavirus cases in Goa

428 new coronavirus cases, 3 deaths and 159 recoveries reported in Goa today; case tally at 61,239, according to the state health department

7:28 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Karnataka reports 7,955 new cases

Karnataka reports 7,955 new coronavirus cases, 3,220 recoveries and 46 deaths in last 24 hours, according to the state health department.

7:19 PM

Number of patients has increased considerably in the state: Kerala Health Minister

7:06 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Kerala reports 5,063 new cases

Kerala reports 5,063 new coronavirus cases and 2,475 recoveries and 22 deaths. Number of active cases now at 36,185; so far 11,12,758 patients have recovered from the disease, according to the state health department.

6:53 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Gurugram reports 703 new cases

Coronavirus LIVE: Gurugram reports 703 new cases and 567 recoveries in the last 24 hours, according to the health department.

6:49 PM

In favour of vaccination of journalists of all age groups: Bihar CM

6:34 PM

A special transport vehicle carrying Covishield broke down in Patna

6:25 PM

Maharashtra CM to hold all-party meet on Saturday to discuss Covid-19

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will hold an all-party meeting on April 10 to discuss the Covid-19 situation in the state, a BJP leader said on Friday.

 

Talking to reporters, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Pravin Darekar said the decision to organise the all-party meeting was taken this afternoon.

 

"This decision was taken during the meeting held today to decide the postponement of MPSC exams scheduled for Sunday," he said. (PTI)