India's new coronavirus infections reached a record of 184,372 in the last 24 hours, health ministry data showed on Wednesday, as most of the south Asian nation battles a second surge in cases.
The nationwide tally of infections is 13.9 million, with the data showing deaths rose by 1,027, for a toll of 172,085.
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:
Two universities postpone exams due to COVID-19 curbs
Two universities in Aurangabad and Nanded districts of Maharashtra postponed their examinations in light of the curbs imposed by the state government to control the rise in COVID-19 cases, an official said on April 14.
As per an official release, examinations scheduled in the next 15 days have been postponed by the two universities in Marathwada region. - PTI
Delhi Police chief reviews night curfew enforcement
Delhi Police Commissioner S.N. Shrivastava took a tour of different parts of the national capital to review the enforcement of night curfew in the city, officials said.
During his tour on Tuesday night, Mr. Shrivastava checked markets, religious places, busy road pickets and movement of essential vehicles, they said.
The police chief interacted with field functionaries and advised them to maintain personal safety while enforcing COVID-19 protocols, the officials said. - PTI
Meghalaya State board Class 12 exams to be held as per schedule: Dy CM
Meghalaya State board Class 12 examinations will be held as per schedule with utmost precaution to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said.
He said the State government has directed the authorities concerned to ensure strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols.
"The class 12 examinations of the Meghalaya state board will be held as per schedule but with utmost precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19," Mr. Tynsong told reporters after a review meeting in Shillong. - PTI
COVID-19 protocols to be strictly enforced in Andamans: Official
The Andaman and Nicobar administration on April 14 said COVID-19 protocols will be strictly enforced in the Union Territory and action will be taken against violators.
Information, Publicity and Tourism secretary of the union territory administration S.K. Singhsaid people not following the COVID-19 protocols is the major reason for the sudden surge in coronavirus cases in the archipelago.
He told reporters that there are no plans as of now to impose lockdown but COVID-19 protocols will be strictly enforced and action will be taken against violators. - PTI
Rajasthan education board suspends classes 10 & 12 exams
The Rajasthan government decided to postpone the State education board examinations for Classes 10 and 12.
The Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education, Ajmer was also directed to promote the students of Classes 8, 9 and 10 to the next classes.
The decisions were taken by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot after discussions with Education Minister Govind Singh Dotasra because of the second wave of coronavirus infection, the State government said in a statement. - PTI
CICSE says reviewing situation, will soon decide on conducting Class 10, 12 board exams
The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) said it is reviewing the COVID-19 situation and will soon take a decision on conducting class 10 and 12 board exams.
"We are reviewing the situation and will soon take a decision in this regard," CICSE Chief Executive and Secretary Gerry Arathoon said.
He, however, did not delve in to what the was board contemplating. The Class 10 exams are scheduled to begin from May 5 while Class 12 exams have already begun from April 8. - PTI
Congress candidate for Odisha Assembly by-election dies
Congress candidate for the by-election in Odisha's Pipili Assembly constituency, Ajit Mangaraj, died at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar, three days before the polling scheduled on April 17, family sources said.
However, the by-election is likely to be countermanded.
Mangaraj, 53, was hospitalised after falling ill during campaigning in Pipili last week. He had announced on Saturday that he tested positive for COVID-19.
Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and senior Congress leaders condoled his death. - PTI
SC issues additional precautionary measures within days of many staffers testing positive
Within days of many of its staffers testing positive for COVID-19, the Supreme Court has come out with additional precautionary measures for the entrants to its premises to contain the rapid spread of infection.
Under the new set of guidelines, all the entrants to the Supreme Court premises, including the Registry staff, staff of the coordinate agencies, advocates and their staff, if showing any symptoms similar to those notified for COVID-19 infection shall be subjected to Rapid/RT-PCR test.
The guidelines issued by the general administration section said, all controlling officers shall ensure that the staff in their control wears masks, maintains physical distancing and frequently sanitizes/ washes hands and follows the prescribed COVID appropriate behaviour.
“Persons with notified symptoms like fever, cough, body-ache, loss of taste and smell, diarrhea etc. shall restrict themselves from coming to office/premises, isolate themselves immediately and seek medical advice,” the guidelines said. - PTI
60 jail inmates, 11 staffers under treatment for coronavirus in Delhi
Over 60 inmates and 11 staff members in the three prison complexes of Delhi are presently undergoing treatment for COVID-19, officials said on Wednesday.
"A total of 190 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 so far," Director General (Prisons) Sandeep Goel said.
According to the data shared by officials, the number of active COVID-19 cases in Delhi prisons till Wednesday stands at 78, including 11 jail staff members.
"Of the 190 positive cases, 121 inmates have recovered and two have died, leaving 67 active cases. A total of 304 prison staff contracted the infection so far. Of them, 293 have recovered and 11 are still under treatment," Mr. Goel said. - PTI
10th State board exam will take place, says Karnataka govt
The Karnataka government said it has not taken any decision on cancelling the State board 10th standard exam.
The State Primary and Secondary Education Minister S. Suresh Kumar issued a statement saying, "The Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) exam will take place from June 21." The statement further said no decision like the CBSE has been taken.
However, keeping in view the situation in future, an appropriate decision would be taken, the Minister was quoted as saying in the statement. - PTI
EU to negotiate major vaccine contract extension with Pfizer
EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen announced plans Wednesday for a major contract extension for COVID-19 vaccines with Pfizer stretching to 2023.
In a sign of confidence in a company that has been a mainstay of Europe's vaccination drive so far, Ms. von der Leyen said the EU will start negotiating to buy 1.8 billion doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine through 2023. - AP
Russian President Putin gets 2nd COVID-19 vaccine shot
President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday he got his second COVID-19 vaccine shot, three weeks after getting the first dose.
The Russian leader announced getting the jab, which was kept out of the public eye, at a session of the Russian Geographical Society, in which he took part via video link.
“Right now, before entering this hall, I have also gotten the second jab. I hope everything will be fine. I don't even hope as much as I'm sure of it,” Mr. Putin said.
Mr. Putin got his first coronavirus shot on March 23, also out of sight of the cameras, and the Kremlin wouldn't reveal which of the three vaccines currently approved for use in Russia the president has taken. - AP
U.P. Chief Minister tests positive
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath tests positive for COVID-19 after having some symptoms.
After seeing initial symptoms, Mr. Adityanath said he got tested and found that he was positive.
"I am under self-isolation and following the advice of doctors. [I am] carrying out all work virtually," Mr. Adityanath said on Twitter.
Mr. Adityanath recently campaigned in the West Bengal elections. Several officials in his office had tested positive on Tuesday.
- Omar Rashid
Kerala CM to be discharged today
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will be discharged from the Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode today evening as he has tested negative for SARS-CoV-2, according to a medical bulletin. He was admitted to the hospital on April 8.
Mr. Vijayan was asymptomatic when admitted, the bulletin added.
Akhilesh Yadav, UP minister Ashutosh Tandon test positive for COVID-19
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Uttar Pradesh minister Ashutosh Tandon have tested positive for COVID-19.
In a tweet in Hindi on Wednesday, Mr. Yadav said, "My corona test report has come positive. I have isolated myself and started treatment at home itself. People who have come in contact with me in the past few days should get themselves tested. They are requested to stay in isolation for some days." Mr. Yadav had recently visited Haridwar where the Kumbh Mela is underway and met various religious leaders, including Akhara Parishad chairman Mahant Narendra Giri who had tested positive for COVID-19 earlier.
On reaching Lucknow, Mr. Yadav got himself tested on Tuesday.
Uttar Pradesh Urban Development Minister Tandon tweeted, "After observing initial symptoms of corona, I got myself tested, and the report has come positive. On the advice of doctors, I have isolated myself at home. People who have come in contact with me in the past few days should get themselves tested." - PTI
COVID-19 patients with sedentary habits more likely to die, finds study
Among COVID-19 patients, a lack of exercise is linked to more severe symptoms and a higher risk of death, according to a study covering nearly 50,000 people who were infected with the virus.
People physically inactive for at least two years before the pandemic were more likely to be hospitalised, to require intensive care, and to die, researchers reported on Tuesday in the British Journal of Sports Medicine .
As a risk factor for serious COVID-19 disease, physical inactivity was surpassed only by advanced age and a history of organ transplant, the study found .
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav tests positive for COVID-19, reports Omar Rashid
House-helps can go to work, says BMC chief
Mumbai civic chief I.S. Chahal said house-helps would be allowed to travel and work during the fresh set of restrictions announced by the Maharashtra Relief and Rehabilitation ministry on Tuesday under a 'break the chain' initiative that asked many establishments and non-essential services to close down till May 1.
Chahal told PTI that domestic helps or maids will be allowed to travel and go to work during this period.
BMC additional commissioner Suresh Kakani said a fresh set of orders will be issued tomorrow as clarification for the residents of Mumbai.
"We will explain which works or services can remain open during the period. The break the chain restrictions will come into effect from tomorrow 8 p.m. We will issue our orders before it," Kakani said. - PTI
500 to 700 COVID-19 norms violation cases booked daily in Chennai, say police
Public compliance with the mask norm has improved, thanks to the campaigns conducted by the city police, Chennai police commissioner Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal said on Tuesday.
He was speaking after inaugurating a COVID-19 awareness campaign at T. Nagar. With public cooperation, “we successfully controlled the first wave in the State” and the second wave could be checked only if people followed the safety norms, he said.
Andhra food blogger Seema Gurnani succumbs to COVID-19
She was a foodie in the true sense, seeking new food experience as a hobby rather than simply eating out of convenience or hunger. Food blogger and travel enthusiast Seema Gurnani actively pursued new and diverse flavours of food for fun, not to simply fill her belly but also to share her passion through her food blog called Panda Reviewz. Born and raised in the city, Ms. Gurnani died recently in her battle with COVID-19 virus.
Seema’s last post on Facebook was on March 11, which was a review of the Trippy Tree Café in Vijayawada. She is seen talking about the food and ambience of the café in her video.
Make use of online services in view of COVID-19, says Employees Provident Fund Organisation
In view of the recent spike in the number of COVID-19 cases, the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has requested all subscribers/pensioners/PF members to make use of online services to enquire about their Provident Fund claim-related matters.
PF members and employers coming under the jurisdiction of Regional Office, Chennai (North) can send e-mails to ro.chennai1@epfindia.gov.in while those within the jurisdiction of Regional Office, Chennai (South) have been requested to send emails to ro.chennai2@epfindia.gov.in.
U.P. CM isolates after officials test positive
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said he had isolated himself after some officials in his office has tested positive for COVID-19.
“These officials have been in contact with me. As a precaution I have isolated myself and will carry out all work virtually,” Mr. Adityanath tweeted.
