Hours after a public spat between the Union Health Minister and Opposition-led State of Maharashtra over COVID-19 vaccine availability, India has added over 1 lakh new cases of the virus for the second day in a row.
Meanwhile, Serum Institute of India, the world's biggest vaccine manufacturer based in Pune, has asked the government for a grant of ₹3,000 crore to increase its capacity to make AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine.
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:
We have to stop vaccine wastage, says PM Modi
"Earlier States had been praised and criticised looking at case rates, I said it then and I say it now not to bother about it, keep testing rates high. Let those who criticise do so. Our target is to have 70% as RTPCR tests."
"In our last meeting too we had agreed that high number of RTPCR tests should be done and properly. Labs need shift work. Containment zones should have testing for all living in it. For tracking, every contact should be tracked and traced. Large areas, in an undefined way should not be made into containment zones. COVID fatigue should not be allowed to take over. Mortality rates are also a cause of concern, we must make sure this must be as low as possible."
"We must have an analysis of cases where death has occurred, at what stage was patient tested, what comorbidities he/she had. Ambulances , ventilators and oxygen availability should be checked. On Vaccination- across the world, even rich countries have set criteria for vaccination and India has not done anything differently. New vaccines are being considered, manufacturing is also being looked at. Their stock etc is also being reviewed periodically. We have to stop vaccine wastage. The all india strategy on vaccination was done with states on board. Try to get 100% result for above 45 years category.
"11th-14th April can be considered as a special vaccination utsav (festival).11th is the birth anniversary of Jyotiba Phule. 14th April is the birth anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar. Such a festival can lift morale."
We need to get back to combat COVID-19 on a war footing: PM Modi
"Dear CMs and colleagues of GoI , today you have raised important points and given good suggestions. The presentation by the health secretary has clearly shown that a challenging situation is coming up again and it needs governance improvements. I know that the year long fight has led to some tiredness but we need to remember that the country has crossed the peak levels of the first wave and doubling rates are also higher," says PM Modi.
"Several States are showing grave trends of cases rising. People and administration both seem to have become casual and this has increased our troubles. We need to get back to combat COVID-19 on a war footing."
"Compared to earlier we have more experience, resources and a vaccines. Health care workers are working hard and with sincerity. I request all States to rely on the experience they garnered through the last year. We didn’t have PPE kits, labs for testing , ventilators etc so we had to develop capacity through a lockdown."
"I also request you to rename night curfew as “Corona curfew”. It would be good to start this Corona curfew around 9 p.m. and end early morning. Please do concentrate on micro containment zone and we will gain from that."
"Last time we had brought down 10 lakh active cases to 1.25 lakh cases, we can do so again as we now have experience. Test, track , treat and COVID appropriate behaviour and management is the way to go forward. We have to bring down the positivity rate under 5%."
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan tests positive for coronavirus
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday tested positive for COVID-19 .
His daughter Veena Vijayan had tested positive for the virus on Tuesday. Following this, Mr. Vijayan's samples were collected and tested at the Kannur Government Medical College hospital.
Interestingly, the Chief Minister had taken the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine a month ago. He had been campaigning across the State during the Assembly elections, which got over on April 6.
Lockdown fear: Migrants leaving Gujarat amid COVID-19 surge
Fearing another lockdown in the wake of a sudden spike in COVID-19 cases in Gujarat, migrant workers and their families have started leaving Surat and Ahmedabad, two of the State's most severely affected cities.
However, government officials on Thursday claimed the number of those leaving was very low and people cannot be stopped from moving from one place to another.
"There are no formal reports which suggest that a large number of migrants are leaving. However, we have asked district authorities to ensure that workers do not face any trouble," state Additional Chief Secretary, Labour and Employment, Vipul Mittra told PTI .
Since there is no lockdown and trains are also running, people are free to move anywhere in the country, he said. Mr. Mittra said though some people are going back to their native places, "it's not happening on large scale". - PTI
Night curfew imposed in G.B. Nagar, Ghaziabad till April 17
Taking into account the surge in COVID 19 cases, a night curfew has been imposed in Gautam Buddha Nagar and Ghaziabad.
To be imposed from April 9, the night prohibition/regulation order would remain in effect from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., till April 17.
Emergency services have been kept out of the order. Media persons and those travelling outside the city would be allowed to move with valid travel documents. - Anuj Kumar
French Open postponed by a week because of pandemic
The French Open tennis tournament will be delayed by one week because of the coronavirus pandemic, organisers said on April 8.
The clay-court Grand Slam tournament was set to start on May 23, but first-round matches will now get underway on May 30.
The French tennis federation said the decision was taken in order to maximise chances the event will be played “in front of as many spectators as possible" in a safe environment.
Last year’s tournament had been pushed back to September because of the health crisis, with crowds limited to 1,000 per day. - AP
Allow all above 18 years to get COVID-19 vaccine: Baghel to PM
Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel on April 8 requested PM Narendra Modi to allow all people above 18 years of age to get vaccinated against COVID-19, in the wake of an alarming rise in cases of the viral infection.
Earlier this week, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray also requested Mr. Modi to allow people above 25 years to receive COVID-19 shots. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal had also appealed to the Centre to open the vaccination for all aged above 18 years.
"Now, when the COVID-19 infection is increasing, we always think that the younger generation of our young country should be prepared to manage the future challenges like they always did," Mr. Baghel said in a tweet in Hindi, adding "It is, therefore, necessary that the minimum age of vaccination should be set at 18 years. Humble request to @PMOIndia @narendramodi ji," - PTI
Maharashtra must turn to other states to procure remdesivir: Fadnavis
BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said to address the shortage of remdesivir, the Maharashtra government should procure the drug from States that are not witnessing a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and take action against black marketing of the injection.
"The same is happening now as well. Not all States are witnessing a second wave. Hence, the government should procure remdesivir from States that are not in the second wave of the pandemic and companies that are producing the drug," he said.
"Those criticising the Centre should see that Maharashtra has more vaccines than Uttar Pradesh, which has double the population of the State," Mr. Fadnavis said. - PTI
Piaggio Vehicles to bear cost of vaccination of all staff
Italian auto major Piaggio Group's Indian subsidiary Piaggio Vehicles has said it will bear the cost of vaccinating all its staff, their immediate family members besides all community members working at the manufacturing plant catchment area, against COVID-19.
“In these exceptionally difficult times we stand with the local government to provide our support and help them increase the pace of vaccination. We aim to provide our staff and their family members with full assistance during the pandemic.
"With this vaccination drive, we continue to make the health and welfare of both our staff, their families and neighbouring community a priority,” said Diego Graffi, Managing Director and CEO, Piaggio Vehicles Pvt Ltd (PVPL). The automaker said it will provide reimbursement for vaccination of all their regional office employees and their immediate family members. - PTI
Tamil Nadu government announces COVID-19 restrictions
Temple festivals, religious events banned from April 10.
Small traders at Koyambedu wholesale market alone banned from April 10.
Fruit and vegetables shops, shopping malls, large format stores, jewellery stores can operate only with 50% capacity till 11 p.m.
Only 50% capacity allowed at tea shops, restaurants, allowed to operate till 11 p.m.
Recreation clubs, Entertainment parks, large event venues, zoos, parks, museums allowed to function with only 50% capacity.
Cinema halls in malls and stand alone theatres allowed to function with only 50%% capacity.
Social, political, educational, entertainment, sporting and cultural events allowed in indoor venues with a maximum capacity of 200 persons.
Buses between districts and within Chennai allowed to operate with only seated passengers. No standing passengers allowed in buses. - T.K. Rohit
Maharashtra COVID-19 situation ‘grim’, Centre has assured help: Sharad Pawar
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on April 8 said the Centre has assured to help Maharashtra where the COVID-19 situation is currently “grim”.
In a live address on Facebook, Mr. Pawar, whose party shares power in Maharashtra with the Shiv Sena and the Congress, said he spoke to Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on April 7 and the latter assured to support Maharashtra and other States to tackle the situation.
Mr. Pawar said the rapid spread of the viral infection and the rising number of active cases was a cause of concern, and the State government had no option but to impose curbs as the gravity of the situation cannot be ignored.
60-hour weekend lockdown in all Madhya Pradesh 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.
COVID-19 testing to be increased to 1 lakh a day in Bengaluru
The city reported nearly 5,000 COVID-19 positive cases on Wednesday. Towards minimising the second wave and breaking the chain of spread, Minister for Health K. Sudhakar said the government was adopting a simple strategy – enforcement and stringent measures in place and increasing vaccinations among the general population.
On Thursday, the Minister chaired a review meeting with officials from Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), Bengaluru (Urban) and Bengaluru (Rural) districts.
RT-PCR negative report must to visit tourist places in Mysuru
A travel advisory has been issued to people travelling from Bengaluru to Mysuru to carry an RT-PCR negative report with them in a bid to curb the spread of the pandemic in the district.
However, this is only in the nature of an advisory and will come into force from April 10 and be valid till April 20. The district administration in Mysuru has appealed to the travellers to comply with the advisory and cooperate to prevent COVID-19 from spreading to the rural hinterland.
The appeal comes in the wake of rise in COVID-19 cases in Bengaluru.
Students of classes 10, 12 want board exams cancelled
Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, over one lakh students of classes 10 and 12 have signed petitions urging the government to either cancel board exams scheduled to be held in May or conduct them in online mode.
The hashtag "cancelboardexams2021" has been trending on Twitter for the past two days.
However, both the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) have said that adequate safety arrangements are being made for students and all COVID-19 guidelines will be followed during the exams. - PTI
Maharashtra CM takes second dose of COVID-19 vaccine
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray takes his second dose of COVID-19 vaccine at JJ hospital in Mumbai on Thursday. 
NCP president Sharad Pawar on Thursday said the Centre has assured to help Maharashtra where the COVID-19 situation is currently "grim".
In a live address on Facebook, Mr. Pawar, whose party shares power in Maharashtra with the Shiv Sena and Congress, said he spoke to Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Wednesday and the latter assured to support Maharashtra and other states to tackle the situation.
Mr. Pawar said the rapid spread of the viral infection and the rising number of active cases was a cause of concern, and the state government had no option but to impose curbs as the gravity of the situation cannot be ignored. - PTI
PM Modi gets 2nd dose of COVID-19 vaccine at AIIMS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday took the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine at the All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. He received the first dose of Bharat Biotech's Covaxin on March 1.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister shared a picture of himself taking the second dose of the vaccine and said: “Got my second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at AIIMS. Vaccination is among the few ways we have, to defeat the virus. If you are eligible for the vaccine, get your shot soon. Register on CoWin.gov.in.”
India reports highest daily spike of over 1.26 lakh new cases
India registered a record single-day spike of 1,26,789 new COVID-19 cases, pushing its infection tally to 1,29,28,574, while the number of active cases too went upwards to breach the nine lakh-mark again, Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday showed.
The death toll due to the disease in the country increased to 1,66,862, with 685 new fatalities being reported in a day, according to the data updated at 8 a.m.
New Zealand suspends entry for travellers from India
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Thursday temporarily suspended entry for all travellers from India, including its own citizens, following a high number of positive coronavirus cases arriving from that country.
The suspension will start from 1600 local time on April 11 and will be in place until April 28, Ms. Ardern said in a news conference. During this time the government will look at risk management measures to resume travel.
Private hospitals seek time to hand over 50% beds
Although the State government has directed private hospitals to reserve 50% beds for government-referred COVID-19 patients, the hospital managements say it may take a couple of weeks to begin the system as they already have other patients admitted.
Members of the Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (PHANA) said that officials had discussed bed reservation of upto 40% with them.
PHANA president Prasanna H.M. said, “While we have no objection to reserving 50% as we had done last year, beds in most hospitals are now occupied by private COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients.” He further added, “We will be in a position to hand them over as and when the beds fall vacant.”
(With inputs from Correspondents and Agencies)
