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

2:20 PM

Tamil Nadu announces fresh curbs to check Covid surge: Report

Tamil Nadu on Thursday announced fresh restrictions to contain the fresh wave of coronavirus infections. According to the fresh guidelines, weddings will be restricted to 100 persons and funerals to 50. There will be a maximum of 50 per cent occupancy in theatres, malls and shops, according to multiple media reports.

1:57 PM

Maharashtra: A Central team arrives at BKC Vaccination Centre in Mumbai

1:52 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Mamata to skip meeting called by PM to discuss rising cases

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee to skip meeting called by PM Narendra Modi with chief ministers to discuss Covid-19 situation, reports PTI

1:43 PM

Maharashtra received less vaccines than Gujarat: State health minister

Gujarat is half of the population of Maharashtra. Gujarat has got 10 million vaccines till now, however, we have got only 104,000 vaccine dosages, says Maharashtra Health Minister

1:39 PM

Ten states showing upward trajectory of daily new Covid cases

Ten states including Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Kerala and Punjab have shown a steep rise in the daily Covid-19 cases accounting for84.21 per centof the 1,26,789new infections, the health ministry said on Thursday.

 

The national weekly Covid-19 positivity rate has increased by 6.21 per cent from 2.19 to 8.40 per centin the first seven days of March and April, the ministry said.

 

India registered a record single-day spike of1,26,789 new coronavirus infections pushing the nationwide COVID-19 tally of cases to1,29,28,574, according to the ministry data updated on Thursday morning. (PTI)

1:38 PM

60-hour weekend lockdown in all MP cities: CM Chouhan

A lockdown will be enforced in all cities of Madhya Pradesh from 6 pm on Friday to 6 am on Monday to check the spread of the coronavirus infection, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Thursday.

 

Talking to reporters here after chairing a meeting to review the Covid-19 situation in MP, Chouhan said his government aims to increase the number of beds for Covid-19 patients in the state to one lakh.

 

"A lockdown will be enforced in all cities of the state from 6 pm on Friday to 6 am on Monday," Chouhan said.  (PTI)

1:36 PM

Raised the issue of discrimination in vaccine delivery with Harsh Vardhan: Maharashtra Health Minister

1:34 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Arunachal Pradesh reports 8 more cases

Arunachal Pradesh reports 8 more Covid-19 cases, infection tally rises to 16,861. The state now has 17 active cases of the disease, according to the state health department.

1:33 PM

Centre giving far less vaccines than required to Maharashtra: State health minister

1:25 PM

Election fever? States holding elections slow down Covid-19 testing

Ideally, states going into election should follow a rigorous testing strategy, given the possibility that rallies and door-to-door campaigning can turn into super spreader events. But data from India shows that there is a tendency to dial down testing during elections.

 

Last year, Bihar decreased its testing during the election phase, and now almost all Indian states in the election mode seem to have either done the same or not increased it enough. Bihar reduced its testing after the model code of conduct was announced, Assam and Kerala have followed in its footsteps during this election. So, while Kerala was testing 61,806 samples on February 26--the day the model code of conduct was announced--on April 6, the last day of the election, this figure had reduced to 49,250 tests. On the other hand, Assam was conducting nearly 13,300 daily during this entire period with no increase in testing. Read on...

1:20 PM

Coronavirus updates: Indore faces shortage of Remdesivir, oxygen supplies

Madhya Pradesh's Indore is facing a shortage of Remdesivir injection and oxygen supplies due to an increase in Covid-19 cases.

 

Consumers have alleged black-marketing of these medicines while the district administration spoke about possible price regulations.

 

People said they are being charged Rs 2,000 to 2,500 instead of Rs 899 for Remdesivir.

 

"The way coronavirus cases are growing in the city, about 5,000 injections are required on daily basis, but barely 1,500 are available for the people. That is why the market is witnessing a shortage of the product. These injections come from Maharashtra and Gujarat, and since the cases are increasing there too, we are getting less supply," said Dharmendra Kothari, a Remdesivir injection seller told ANI.

1:17 PM

There is no possibility of lockdown or night curfew in Assam: Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma

There is no possibility of lockdown or night curfew in Assam. I request everyone to get themselves tested if they have symptoms. There is no need to panic but we should remain alert: Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma 

1:05 PM

All urban areas of MP to go into lockdown from 6pm tomorrow to 6 am on Monday amid Covid surge

All urban areas of Madhya Pradesh will go into a lockdown from 6 pm tomorrow to 6 am on Monday in a move to control the steep surge in coronavirus cases in the state.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said "appropriate action" will be taken for cities with rising cases after a meeting.

 

"For cities where cases have increased, appropriate action will be taken after meeting of crisis management group. We are making containment areas in big cities," news agency ANI reported Mr Chouhan as saying.

 

"In view of the pandemic, use face masks, maintain social distancing and sanitise hands frequently... Not getting infected with coronavirus is the biggest service of the state today," the Chief Minister's Office tweeted in Hindi.

 

The weekend-long curfew comes as fresh infections continue to explode - the state reported over 4,000 cases in the last 24 hours taking the total tally to over 3.18 lakh.

12:39 PM

Coronavirus pandemic: Lockdown in Raipur for 10 days, starting Monday: Media reports

Coronavirus pandemic: Lockdown in Raipur for 10 days, starting Monday: Media reports

12:30 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Lockdown in Madhya Pradesh from 6 pm Friday to 6 am on Monday, reports NDTV

Coronavirus LIVE: Lockdown in Madhya Pradesh from 6 pm Friday to 6 am on Monday, reports NDTV