Coronavirus LIVE: PM announces vaccination festival between April 11 and 14

Live updates: Mumbai has recorded 8,938 cases and, Delhi 7,437 cases in the last 24 hours. PM Modi is meeting CMs to discuss rising cases. Stay tuned for all coronavirus updates

4:59 PM

Hero MotoCorp to bear coronavirus vaccination cost of its workforce

The country's largest two wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp on Thursday said it will cover the COVID-19 vaccination cost of its workforce, including permanent and contractual employees.

 

The company will also facilitate similar vaccination initiatives across its group companies such as Hero FinCorp, Hero Future Energies, Rockman Industries, Hero Electronix and AG Industries, the two wheeler major said in a statement.

 

Hero MotoCorp would also be working closely with its dealers and supply chain partners to facilitate similar vaccination for their employees, it added. Read here

4:57 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Andhra Pradesh reports 2,558 new cases

Andhra Pradesh reports 2,558 new coronavirus cases, 915 recoveries, and 6 deaths, in the past 24 hours, according to the state health department. 

4:50 PM

Andhra govt says vaccine stock will last only days

Andhra Pradesh Medical and Health Dept officials have informed the CM that only 300,000 doses of Covid vaccine are available in the state as on today. They explained that the stocks will last for two days only: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister's Office

4:41 PM

Second lockdown if imposed to be detrimental for economy: Nippon Paint India

Amid rising Covid-19 cases, Nippon Paint India on Thursday said a second lockdown, if imposed, will be detrimental not only for the industry but for the economy as well.

 

Stating that the manufacturing sector is still reeling under the effects of the last lockdown, the company said labourers are skeptical and anticipating a second lockdown they have started planning their return journeys as the memories of the last lockdown are still fresh in their minds.

 

"With India in the middle of a second wave of coronavirus, second lockdown, if imposed, will be detrimental not only for the industry but for the economy as well," Nippon Paint India President (Automotive Refinishes and Wood Coatings) Sharad Malhotra said in a statement. (PTI)

4:33 PM

Philippines to temporarily suspend use of AstraZeneca shot for under 60s

Philippine health officials have decided to temporarily suspend the use of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine for people below 60 following reports of rare blood clots.

 

The European Medicines Agency on Wednesday reported a possible link but did not recommend any age restrictions on using the drug in adults.

 

The Department of Health and the Food and Drug Administration said experts were reviewing information related to AstraZeneca's side effects to come up with a recommendation on the vaccine's use. (AP)

4:03 PM

LIVE: Chhattisgarh CM urges PM Modi to allow all people above 18 to get vaccinated

Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel urges Prime Minister Narendra Modi to allow all people above 18 years of age to get vaccinated against Covid-19, in wake of alarming rise in coronavirus cases

4:01 PM

AstraZeneca blood clot worries complicate bid to vaccinate the world

Growing worries that AstraZeneca Plc’s Covid-19 vaccine causes rare blood clots could hinder immunization campaigns across the world, from London to Seoul.

Reviews by UK and European Union regulators finding potential links to the unusual side effects are another blow for the shot, a cheaper and easier-to-deploy product that many nations are counting on in a bid to end the pandemic.

 

Safety concerns could shake confidence in the injection, even though regulators reiterated that its benefits outweigh the risks. Many regions are turning their attention to vaccines from Johnson & Johnson and developers in China, Russia and elsewhere, but they’re still in a difficult position with demand for doses far outstripping supply. Read here

3:53 PM

We've decided to increase the number of beds by 100,000, says MP CM

3:38 PM

LIVE: We aren't short on vaccines, says Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar

3:12 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Night curfew in Noida from 10 pm to 5 am till April 17

3:05 PM

FinMin asks home, health ministries to vaccinate all bank staff on priority

Following repeated appeals from bankers for vaccination since the shots were rolled out in January, the finance ministry has now requested the home ministry and the health ministry for vaccination of all the 1.35 million staff in the banking sector irrespective of age, and also employees of National Payments Corporation of India.

 

The finance ministry has requested the ministry of home affairs and the ministry of health and family welfare to consider issuing instructions enabling Covid vaccine on a priority basis for bank and NPCI employees who are on the frontline and dealing with customer and critical infrastructure for seamless banking and payment system. Read here

2:58 PM

Health officials step up efforts to bring down coronavirus cases in TN

With the heat and dust raised by the election rallies and poll day fever settling down, the Tamil Nadu Health department and civic officials have stepped up efforts to detect Covid cases with renewed vigour while sensitising people to opt for vaccination without fail.

 

Health workers recommenced door-knocks to thermal scan the residents in addition to ascertaining if the people have taken the shots.

 

"We need some protection from the virus. So, vaccination is the best option now. Take the shots at the nearest health centre if you have not done so far," Naresh, a health worker, said. (PTI)

2:53 PM

French Open postponed by a week due to Covid-19

The French Open has been postponed by a week due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the French Tennis Federation (FFT) said in a statement on Thursday. The clay court Grand Slam will be held from May 30 to June 11, with the qualifying rounds scheduled for May 24 to 28.

 

The FFT said that the decision was made in response to France President Emmanuel Macron's announcement last month that a scheduled to progressively get cultural and sporting events in the country back up and running would be set up from mid-May onwards, subject to the improvement of the health situation. (IANS)

2:48 PM

Maharashtra govt to raise vaccine, Remedisivir shortage issues before PM Modi today

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Thursday said his government would raise issues of Covid-19 vaccine and Remedisivir drug shortages before Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the virtual meet scheduled for today.

 

"We will raise four issues before the Prime Minister in today's video conference meet. The issues will be; Remdesivir supply and price control, supply of oxygen from nearby states to Maharashtra, shortage of vaccine dosages, and the ventilator operational support," Tope said.

 

The Maharastra Health Minister added that according to the latest release order of vaccines by the Centre, Maharashtra was only given 7.5 lakh vaccine dosages. While Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana etc, have been given far more vaccines than Maharashtra. (ANI)

2:22 PM

Maharashtra Health Minister says the current vaccine stock will last only a day or day and a half

Maharashtra Health Minister says the state has only 900,000 doses of Covid vaccine available and that the current stock will only last for a day or day and a half.