Coronavirus LIVE: BMC to start vaccinations for 18-44 age group today

Coronavirus live updates | Statewise list of fresh Covid-19 cases: Maharashtra 66,159, Karnataka 39,047, Kerala 38,607, Uttar Pradesh 35,156, and Delhi 24,235 cases. Stay tuned for corona-related news

1:52 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Puducherry reports 1,195 fresh cases

Puducherry reports 1,195 fresh coronavirus cases, 654 discharges, and 11 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the health department

1:20 PM

India extends ban on international flights till May-end

1:15 PM

We have not received vaccines yet and are in constant touch with companies: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

We have not received vaccines yet and are in constant touch with companies: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

1:15 PM

Don't queue up outside Covid vaccination centres, Delhi CM Kejriwal appeals to public

Don't queue up outside Covid vaccination centres, everyone will get inoculated with appointment: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal appeals to public

12:28 PM

US won't release AstraZeneca's vaccine until sure about safety: Official

The US Food and Drug Administration will not release AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine for export to other countries until it is sure the doses have been manufactured to US quality standards and will be safe and effective, a government official told CNN on Thursday.

 

According to CNN, The White House said on Monday it would ship doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to other countries, including India, after a safety review by the FDA.

 

AstraZeneca has yet to apply for emergency use authorisation (EUA) in the US, but the company has been making tens of millions of doses in the US in the expectation that it will apply for and receive EUA eventually. Read on...

12:25 PM

Maharashtra coronavirus updates: Thane district reports 3,384 new Covid-19 cases, 60 deaths

With the addition of 3,384 new coronavirus cases, the infection count in Thane district of Maharashtra mounted to 4,64,135, an official said on Friday.

 

These new cases were reported on Thursday, he said.

 

As the virus claimed the lives of 60 morepatients, the death toll in the district rose to 7,526, the official said.

 

The mortality rate in the district stood at 1.62 per cent, he added.

12:22 PM

Lockdowns worsen India's fiscal woes fueled by weak auctions

The unfolding Covid crisis in India is raising expectations that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government will need to raise more funds for stimulus even as the outbreak worsens its finances.
 

States and cities through the country, including the New Delhi capital and its financial hub Mumbai, have implemented lockdowns or curfews, which are seen impacting public revenue. That comes as the authorities are lagging their existing financing target by 188 billion rupees ($2.5 billion) just one month into the new fiscal year, according to Bloomberg’s calculations based on official data. Read on...

12:16 PM

Ford Motor to donate surgical masks, N95 masks to help India fight Covid-19

American auto major Ford Motor Company on Friday said it is donating 5 million surgical masks, 1 lakh N95 masks and 50,000 gowns to help fight the surge of Covid-19 cases in India.

 

The company further said Ford Fund is also donating $200,000 (around Rs 1.5 crore) to support organisations providing essential Covid-19 relief in India and Brazil.

 

"To help mitigate the surge of coronavirus cases in India, @Ford is donating 5 million surgical masks, 100K N95 masks and 50K gowns to the area," Ford said in a tweet.

 

In addition, it said, "Ford Fund is donating $200,000 to support organizations providing essential Covid-19 relief in India and Brazil." Read on...

12:14 PM

UK sharply cuts global aid due to coronavirus pandemic's economic impact

The United Kingdom said Thursday it is temporarily reducing its international aid from 14.5 billion pounds (about $20 billion) last year to 10 billion pounds this year (USD 14 billion) because of the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and two UN agencies announced huge funding cuts of more than 80 percent.

 

The UN Population Fund, which now calls itself the UN's sexual and reproductive health agency, said it had been informed that its flagship family planning programme was being cut from 154 million pounds ($211 million) to around 23 million pounds ($32 million). In addition, it said 12 million pounds ($17 million) is being cut from its core operating funds. READ ON...

12:11 PM

Coronavirus: Remdesivir batch withdrawn after fever in patients

Quite a few Covid patients admitted in Pune hospitals reported fever with chills (rigor) on Thursday after receiving a dose of remdesivir, prompting the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials to withdraw vials of the drug of a particular batch. Around 3,120 of these vials were given to Covid hospitals across 17 districts in the state, including Pune, on Wednesday. “We withdrew them as a precaution after three Pune hospitals reported rigor in patients. We shall check if the vial contents developed any contamination. The drug is safe; there is no need to panic,” said Shyam Pratapwar, FDA assistant commissioner (drugs), Pune.

12:05 PM

Walmart, Flipkart, PhonePe announces support for India's pandemic battle

Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, said on Friday it will use its global resources to expand support for Covid-19 relief efforts in India.

 

Walmart, the Walmart Foundation, Flipkart and PhonePe, along with Walmart’s Global Technology and Sourcing hubs, are collaborating to counter oxygen shortages, support the national vaccination drive and donate to organizations making a difference in communities nationwide.

 

“Walmart is a global family. We feel the impact of this devastating surge on our associates, families and friends across India, and it’s important that we come together to support however we can,” said Doug McMillon, President and CEO of Walmart Inc. Read on...

11:58 AM

Joe Biden admin working to expand oxygen supply chain in India: USAID

The Biden administration is working to expand the oxygen supply chain in India to save lives and wage a successful battle against what has now become one of the worst outbreaks of the Covid-19 pandemic in the world, a USAID official has said.

 

India on Friday reported 3,86,452 new coronavirus infections, the highest single-day rise so far, pushing the total tally of Covid-19 cases to 1,87,62,976, while active cases crossed the 3.1 million mark.

 

The death toll increased to 2,08,330 with 3,498 daily new fatalities.

 

Obviously this is now one of the worst Covid-19 outbreaks in the world. Read on...

11:43 AM

Death and data: Are Delhi's numbers for Covid-19 outbreak believable?

Delhi’s numbers for Covid-19 deaths do not match records from cremation grounds handled by the municipal corporations. Media reports suggest that Delhi may be under-reporting coronavirus deaths by a factor of two.

 

A closer look at the numbers reveals many more data anomalies in the government’s statements. A Business Standard analysis finds that Delhi may be under-reporting the number of cases as well. Read on...

11:30 AM

Oxygen crisis: US govt assistance flight arrives in Delhi

11:27 AM

Delhi coronavirus update: 5 arrested for making fake Covid-19 reports using forged means

Two of the accused are lab technicians while a third is a doctor and application scientist at a testing lab. They used to collect samples, test at a lab without an entry & print report on fake letterhead of lab.