Even as the country reported more than 1.5 lakh cases for the second straight day on April 11, the Centre prohibited the exports of injection Remdesivir and Remdesivir Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) stating that there has been a sudden spike in demand for injection Remdesivir used in the treatment of COVID-19 patients.
“India is witnessing a recent surge in COVID cases and there is a potential of further increase in demand for injection Remdesivir in the coming days,” said the Centre in a statement.
You can track coronavirus cases, deaths and testing rates at the national and State levels here. A list of State Helpline numbers is available as well.
Here are the latest updates:
New Delhi
No on-board meals on flights shorter than two hours, orders govt
With COVID-19 cases on the rise across the country, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has barred airlines from serving in-flight meals for flights shorter than two hours.
The order, which comes into effect from April 15, also requires airlines to ensure that passengers seated on adjacent seats are served food in a staggered manner.
“The passengers would be informed of the above practices for strict compliance before the start of the catering services by way of passenger announcements,” states the order.
Maharashtra
Maharashtra govt postpones Class 10, 12 board exams
The Maharashtra government on April 12 postponed the State board exams of Classes 10 and 12 which were scheduled to be held later this month in view of a steep rise in COVID-19 cases in the State.
The board exams of Class 12 were to begin from April 23 and of Class 10 from April 30.
New Delhi
Expert panel recommends granting approval to Sputnik V for emergency use in India
An expert panel of India’s Central drug authority has recommended granting approval to Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V for emergency use in the country with certain conditions, sources said.
The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) on April 12 took up the application of Dr Reddy’s Laboratories seeking emergency use authorisation for Sputnik V.
Odisha
Odisha directs State-run hospitals to stop elective surgeries to decongest health facilities
The Odisha government on Monday directed State-run hospitals to stop all elective surgeries for decongesting the health facilities in the wake of the sharp rise in COVID-19 cases.
“Non-essential admissions are to be avoided while all elective surgeries are to be stopped. Only emergency surgeries need to be taken up with universal precautions,” said the State government issuing COVID-19 protocol for hospitals.
Maharashtra
Former Maharashtra BJP MLA Pascal Dhanare passes away
Former BJP MLA Pascal Dhanare died at a hospital in Mumbai on Monday, April 12, 2021, party sources said.
Dhanare (49), who was an MLA from Dahanu in Palghar district of Maharashtra from 2014 to 2019, was suffering from COVID-19 and was earlier admitted to a hospital at Vapi in Gujarat, they said.
After his condition deteriorated, he was shifted to a hospital in neighbouring Mumbai on Sunday night. Dhanare died in the early hours of Monday, the sources said.
He is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son.
Manipur
Manipur CM Biren unhappy over people’s poor response to vaccination
Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren has expressed his displeasure over the lukewarm response from the people to the government’s appeal to get themselves vaccinated against COVID-19.
He said, “All passengers coming to Manipur by air or road have to undergo COVID-19 testing. Officials are deployed at the Imphal international airport. Some passengers were found to be COVID-19 positive. The people should give overwhelming response to the call of the government”.
He said that the media should give the medical history of patients who got the jab. Unlike some other States, Manipur was not facing a vaccine shortage. Mr. Biren said, “There are about 6 lakh people in Manipur who are above 60 years of age, However about 2,000 people in this age bracket were inoculated. There are about 8 lakh people below the age group 45. But just a negligible people turned up for vaccine jabs”.
New Delhi
COVID-19 vaccine is need of country, everyone has right to safe life: Rahul Gandhi
Batting for coronavirus vaccine for all, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on April 12 said it is the need of the country as everyone has the right to a safe life.
He said this as part of “SpeakUpForVaccinesForAll” campaign launched by the party on social media, demanding COVID-19 vaccine for all citizens to protect them from the virus.
“Corona vaccine is the need of the country. You all should also raise your voice for it. Everyone has the right to a safe life,” he said in a tweet.
He also shared a short video about making the vaccine available for all citizens.
Japan
Tokyo adopts tougher COVID-19 rules, starts vaccinating elders
Tokyo adopted tougher measures against the coronavirus Monday as it struggles to curb the rapid spread of a more contagious variant ahead of the Olympics in a country where less than 1% of people have been vaccinated.
Japan started its vaccination drive with medical workers and expanded Monday to older residents, with the first shots being given in about 120 selected places around the country.
The tougher COVID-19 rules, just three weeks after a state of emergency ended in the capital, allow Tokyo’s Governor to mandate shorter opening hours for bars and restaurants, punish violators and compensate those who comply. The measures remain through May 11.
Bhutan
Bhutan vaccinates 93% of adults in 16 days
When plotted on a graph, the curve of Bhutan’s COVID-19 vaccination drive shoots upwards from the very first day, crossing Israel, United States, Bahrain and other countries known for vaccinating people rapidly.
Those countries took months to reach where they are, painstakingly strengthening their vaccination campaigns in the face of rising coronavirus cases. But the story of Bhutan’s vaccination campaign is nearly finished — just 16 days after it began.
The tiny Himalayan kingdom wedged between India and China has vaccinated nearly 93% of its adult population since March 27. Overall, the country has vaccinated 62% of its 800,000 people.
The rapid rollout of the vaccine puts the tiny nation just behind Seychelles, which has given jabs to 66% of its population of nearly 100,000 people.
Tamil Nadu
Duraimurugan is stable, says hospital
The condition of DMK general secretary Duraimurugan, who tested positive for COVID-19, is stable, a statement issued by Rela Hospital on Monday said.
He was admitted to the hospital for further medical investigations and close monitoring. He is “very stable now with no cause for concern”. A panel of doctors is closely monitoring his parameters and health condition, the statement said.
New Delhi
Supreme Court re-schedules hearing by an hour as 50 staff test COVID-19 positive
Over 50 staff in the Supreme Court have been tested COVID-19 positive, triggering alarm bells in the highest court.
Sources said the judges may, in future, return to functioning from their respective residences. Some of the judges, including Chief Justice of India Sharad A. Bobde, used to sit in the Supreme Court to virtually hear the day’s cases.
New Delhi
Have written to Centre to scale up COVID-19 beds in its hospitals: Satyendar Jain
Amid an unprecedented surge in coronavirus cases in the national capital, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said on April 12 that the city government has written to the Centre to again scale up COVID-19 beds in its hospitals in New Delhi.
Interacting with reporters, he also appealed to people to step out of their homes only if necessary and wear masks all the time.
India overtakes Brazil as world’s second worst-hit country by COVID-19
India reported a record 1,68,912 COVID-19 infections overnight, data from the Health Ministry showed on April 12, overtaking Brazil to become the second-most affected country globally by the coronavirus.
India’s overall tally reached 13.53 million, surpassing Brazil’s 13.45 million cases, according to data compiled by Reuters. The United States leads the global tally with 31.2 million cases.
Deaths in India stood at 904, taking the total to 1,70,179,data showed. – Reuters
Tamil Nadu
Chennai airport to keep e-pass counters operative
Passengers who are arriving at the Chennai airport can get e-passes from the counters opened in the arrival hall of the domestic terminal, if they fail to get it online.
A few days ago, the Tamil Nadu government introduced restrictions because of the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases and said e-registration was mandatory for international and domestic passengers, except those arriving from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry.
Every day, thousands of e-passes have been issued at the counters at the Chennai airport.
Maharashtra
Highest-ever spike of 63,294 cases in Maharashtra
Maharashtra on Sunday reported its highest-ever single-day surge with 63,294 cases as the State’s active case tally breached the 5.50 lakh mark to touch 5,65,587.
A high fatality spike of 349 deaths (210 of which were reported in the last 48 hours, while the rest were from an earlier period) pushed the total death toll to 57,987. The State’s case fatality rate has incrementally declined to 1.7%. In contrast to the spike, just 34,008 recoveries were reported as the State’s recovery rate dipped to 81.65%.
(With inputs from Correspondents and Agencies)
