Coronavirus HIGHLIGHTS: Curfew in UP extended till May 31

Uttar Pradesh has extended its partial coronavirus curfew till May 31, a state government statement said on Saturday. Earlier, the UP government had clamped the restrictions till 7 am on May 24. “The Uttar Pradesh government is committed to safeguard the life and livelihood of people of the state. Keeping this in mind, the policy of partial coronavirus curfew was adopted,” the statement said, pointing out that the measure fetched positive results.

The Railways has delivered nearly 14,500 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen in over 884 tankers to various states since it started its operation, the national transporter said on Saturday. So far, 224 'Oxygen Express' trains have completed their journey and brought relief to various states, while eight others, loaded with over 563 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen (LMO) in 35 tankers, are currently on their way, it said. 'Oxygen Express' trains have been delivering over 800 tonnes of LMO to various states each day, the statement from the Railways said. Relief by 'Oxygen Express' trains has reached 13 states -- Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Telangana, Punjab, Kerala, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. --PTI

West Bengal reports 18,863 new Covid-19 cases, 19,202 recoveries and 154 deaths in the last 24 hours. Of the total, Kolkata records 3280 fresh cases.

451 more deaths were linked to Covid-19 in Karnataka on Saturday, 200 from Bengaluru Urban.
Tests done: 1,28,761
Positivity rate: 24.21%
New cases in: 31,183 (8214 in BLR)
Recoveries: 61,766 (36,030 in BLR)
Active cases: 4,83,204 (2,61,115 in BLR)
People vaccinated: 1,04,251

Delhi recorded 2,260 fresh COVID-19 cases and 182 fatalities on Saturday, with the positivity rate in the city slipping to 3.58 per cent, data shared by the health department showed. This is the lowest daily spike in cases recorded since March 31 (1,819) and the first time that the count has gone below the 3,000-mark since April 1, when 2,790 people tested positive for the viral disease. As per the latest health bulletin, these new fatalities pushed the death toll due to COVID-19 in the national capital to 23,013. --PTI

Two doses from either the Oxford/AstraZeneca or the Pfizer vaccine are over 80 per cent effective in preventing infection from the B1.617.2 variant of COVID-19, first discovered in India, a new UK government study has reportedly found. The Oxford/AstraZeneca two-dose vaccine is also being produced by the Serum Institute of India as Covishield and being administered among the adult population in India to protect against the deadly virus. The UK findings are said to be based on data from Public Health England (PHE) and have also revealed that the two doses provide 87 per cent protection from the B.117 variant, first discovered in Kent region of England and also considered highly transmissible.  --PTI

With black fungus cases rising in Uttarakhand, it was declared a notifiable disease in the state under the Epidemic Act, 1897 on Saturday. So far, 64 people have been infected with black fungus in the state and of them, four have died. Black fungus or mucormycosis has been declared a notifiable disease for its co-ordinated treatment as a growing number of people are contracting the infection post COVID-19, Health Secretary Pankaj Kumar Pandey said. The state government also issued an SOP on Saturday for the judicious distribution of Amphotericin B, a drug used in treating black fungus patients. Amphotericin B should be provided to only government medical colleges, institutions and Covid-dedicated hospitals on payment after they formally requisition for its supply on the prescribed format giving details of the patients and nature of infection. Rashmi Pant and Kailash Gunjyal have been appointed as the nodal officers for scrutinising the requisitions for Kumaon and Garhwal regions respectively, the SOP said. The current SOP supersedes an earlier order issued on May 18 for the judicious use of the drug, it said.  --PTI

A British Airways cargo flight carrying 18 tonnes of medical aid mainly comprising oxygen concentrators landed at the Delhi airport on Saturday morning, a statement said. The cargo flight from London landed in Delhi at 5.45 am on Saturday. "The total weight of the medical aid was 18 tonnes, made up of five thousand pieces. Among the medical equipment were hundreds of oxygen concentrators from charities, including Oxfam, Khalsa Aid, Christian Aid and LPSUK," the British Airways said. This is the airline's second relief flight to India in the last two weeks, it mentioned. --PTI

Though there is overall decline in case burden but COVID-19 positivity rate is still over 10 pc in 382 districts, the health ministry said. "Covishield wastage reduced from 8 pc on March 1 to 1 pc now, while Covaxin wastage decreased from 17 pc to 4 pc in same period," the minitry said.

COVID-19 positivity rate has declined from 24.83 pc on May 10 to 12.45 pc on May 22, Health Ministry. "Eight states have more than 1 lakh active COVID-19 cases while 18 states have over 15 pc positivity rate," it said

Pointers from Health Ministry presser

• Overall new cases are declining since past 15 days
• Rural areas affected more in this wave
• Positivity is half as that was on May 10
• No restriction on breastfeeding after vaccination
• Six states are reporting high number of deaths

Overall new cases are declining since past 15 days, says Health Ministry

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain asks people to be watchful and not resort to self-medication, particularly steroids, says 15 hospitals in city are treating mucormycosis patients.

"Amphotericin B was available in the country in limited supply. Its availability & supply is now being increased. Ministry of Pharma is coordinating with Ministry of Health for providing license to 5 additional manufacturers," said Lav Agarwal, Joint Secy, Union Health Ministry

Tamil Nadu government on Saturday announced a week-long complete lockdown without any relaxations. All shops will function till 9 pm today and from 6 am to 9 pm tomorrow for public to keep stock up necessary items. Public, private busses will allowed to ply today and tomorrow to other districts.

he Madhya Pradesh government has declared black fungus or mucormycosis a notified disease in the state. The state Public Health and Family Welfare Department on Friday issued an order, in which it notified black fungus under the provisions of the Epidemic Diseases Act and the Madhya Pradesh Public Health Act.

A notifiable disease is required by law to be reported to the government authorities. The collection of information allows the authorities to monitor the disease and provides early warning of possible outbreaks. The order came after Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan held a meeting on Friday evening, an official statement said. 

Covid-19 vaccination for adults between the ages of 18 to 44 has halted in Delhi from Saturday due to no more doses available in Delhi’s stock,  Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced. Due to this, vaccination centres have been closed and only a few available doses will be administered at some centres today.

The Union Health Ministry on Saturday said that over 2.67 lakh doses of Covid-19 vaccines will be supplied across the country in the next 3 days. In its health briefing today, the ministry also said that over 1.60 crore doses are still available with states and union territories.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minsiter MK Stalin on Saturday said the committee of experts have recommended extending Covid-19 lockdown beyond May 24, without any relaxations. This comes after Stalin announced that lockdown deliberations would take place with a committee of experts and a panel of all party legislators. The lockdown that commenced on May 10 to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 was supposed to end on May 24.

As cases of “Black Fungus” rise across the country, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Saturday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take immediate action on the supply of “Liposomal Amphotericin-B”, an essential drug to treat Mucormycosis. 

In a letter to the prime minister, Gandhi writes: "I understand that Liposomal Amphotericin-B is absolutely essential for treatment of Mucormycosis. However there are reports of its acute scarcity in the market. I would request you to kindly take immediate action in this matter."

An Oxygen Express train piloted by an 'All Female Crew' arrived in the city with 120 metric tonnes of medical oxygen from Jamshedpur. "The 7th Oxygen Express to Karnataka has arrived in Bengaluru from Tatanagar (Jamshedpur) on Friday. This Oxygen Express train piloted by an all female crew will ensure continued supply of oxygen for COVID-19 patients in the State," Railway Minister Piyush Goyal tweeted on Saturday.

According to Railway officials, the 8th Oxygen Express also reached Bengaluru from Jamnagar in Gujarat, carrying 109.2 metric tonnes of the life saving gas early this morning.

Days after the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) asked a “detailed report” from Uttar Pradesh, the state government on Friday began the exercise of collating district-wise data of “unidentified dead bodies or unclaimed corpses” fished out or recovered from Ganga and its tributaries across the state.

Sources said that this is one of the 7-point on which the state government has sought a “weekly report” from the districts.

In a letter to 72 district magistrates, Achchhe Lal Singh Yadav, Additional Project Director, State Mission for Clean Ganga (SMCG)-Uttar Pradesh, asked them to report the “number of unidentified dead bodies/unclaimed corpses fished out/recovered from river/river bed or bank of the river Ganga and its tributaries and disposed/cremated as per the Standard Operating Procedures and guidelines.”

As the number of daily Covid cases emerging in Gurgaon have dropped over the last fortnight, the district’s recovery rate has also seen a jump, rising to 93.8 percent as of Saturday morning. According to data available with the health department, ten days ago, on May 11, this figure was 77.18 percent.

After recording a surge in Covid cases from the end of March and all through April, the number of new cases emerging in the district everyday have seen a drop over the last two weeks. This week, less than 2,000 new cases have been recorded everyday, despite more than 8,000 tests being done daily.

On Friday, for the first time since April 10, the number of new cases that emerged in Gurgaon dropped below 1,000, as 623 people tested positive – this despite 8,008 people being tested. The number of recoveries on the day, meanwhile, was more than six times the number of new cases, with 3,953 people recovering from the infection. (With Sakshi Dayal)

The International Monetary Fund has proposed a USD 50 billion global vaccination plan that would cover at least 40 per cent of the global population by the end of 2021 and at least 60 per cent by the first half of 2022. With strong and coordinated action now and with little in terms of financing relative to the outsized benefits the world can durably exit this unprecedented health and economic crisis, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said in her address to the G20 Health Summit.

"For some time, we have been warning of dangerous divergence of economic fortunes. It will only worsen as the gap widens between wealthy countries that have access to vaccines and poor countries that do not," she said.

Canada has extended the ban on direct flights from India and Pakistan by one more month until June 21 in a bid to arrest the spread of new variants of the COVID-19, according to an official announcement. The ban on flights from India and Pakistan was extended as the previous 30-day ban, first imposed on April 22, was set to expire on Saturday, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) News reported.

"The Minister of Transport is of the opinion that it is necessary for aviation safety and the protection of the public," according to a notice to airmen.(with PTI)

India recorded over 2.57 lakh new covid 19 cases in the last 24 hours ending 8 am Saturday, taking India’s total infections to over 2.62 crore. Out of the total cases, over 29 lakh are currently active while over 2.30 crore people have recovered till now. With 4,194 new fatalities, the death toll is now at 2,95,525.

A decision on whether to extend the two-week lockdown in Tamil Nadu or not do so would be deliberated with a committee of experts and a panel of all-party legislators, Chief Minister M K Stalin said here on Friday. Whether the curbs should be continued further and in case of extension of restrictions, what relaxations could be offered would all be discussed with experts and MLAs from all parties on Saturday in Chennai, he told reporters.

The lockdown that commenced on May 10 to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 will end on May 24.

Taking cognisance of the low vaccination rate in some districts of Jammu and Kahsmir, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha on Friday passed strict directions to deputy commissioners for scaling up the inoculation drive in their respective districts. He said the vaccination, testing and effective COVID management will be the parameters for monitoring performance of the officers in J-K. Sinha also set timelines for establishment of five-bedded COVID care centres at panchayats in far-flung areas of the UT.

"Maximise the testing for areas with high positivity rate. Fix vaccination and testing targets for tehsildars and BDOs," the LG said. He said officers should share good practices and take comprehensive measures to bring down the COVID-19 positivity rate across the districts, besides tracking the trend on daily basis.

Kashmir Zone Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar on Friday visited several places in the Srinagar City with other senior officials and reviewed the lockdown arrangements. He was accompanied by IG CRPF, Srinagar; DIG central Kashmir, SSP Srinagar and other police and security force officers. During the tour of Srinagar city, the IGP Kashmir visited Nishat, Fore Shore Road, Habbak, Lalbazar, Zadibal, Nowhatta, Bhorikadal, Rajourikal (Mirwaiz Manzil), Sakidafar, Qamarwari, Parimpora, Hyderpora, Baghat, Sanatnagar and Panthachowk areas. The officers interacted with officers and jawans deployed on the ground and instructed them to strictly implement and enforce coronavirus guidelines and other lockdown orders on ground. (With PTI)

ACED WITH a massive shortage of vaccines in a raging second wave of the Covid-19 epidemic, the Government is sending External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to the US next week to meet top officials and vaccine manufacturers to firm up deals for supply.

President Joe Biden announced five days ago that the US will begin shipping 20 million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-vaccines to needy countries by June-end, in addition to 60 million shots of AstraZeneca.

There is no clarity yet on the distribution details but India is likely to be one of the beneficiaries. AstraZeneca’s vaccine, which is being manufactured and distributed in India as Covishield, has not yet been authorised for use in the US with several irregularities coming to the fore at the Baltimore plant where it is made along with the J&J vaccines. (Read Shubhajit Roy's report here)

ndia will be in a position to vaccinate at least all of its adult population by the end of 2021, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Friday. At a meeting to review the pandemic situation in nine states and union territories, the minister said, "Between August and December 2021, India will have procured 216 crore vaccine doses, while by July this year, 51 crore doses will be procured." --PTI

After fighting with COVID-19 at a city hospital for 10 days, Neelam Rani was finally allowed to leave the facility, but only if her daughter, could arrange oxygen support at home for her recovery. Short of money and hope, Neelam's daughter Shweta Nagpal contacted all the people who could help, even looked to buy oxygen cylinders but lost the hope to get one for her mother. --PTI

Tamil Nadu on Friday reported 36,184 new coronavirus infections with the State capitals daily COVID-19 count registering a slight decline to 5,913 as against 6,073 the day before. The number of deaths today was 467 people - 168 at private hospitals and 299 in government facilities. The total fatalities so far rose to 19,598. The number testing positive till date increased to17,70,988 and the number of active cases, including isolation, remains at 2,74,629. --PTI

West Bengal's COVID-19 death toll jumped to 14,054 on Friday after 159 more patients succumbed to the virus, the health department said in a bulletin. As many as 19,847 fresh cases of the infection pushed the coronavirus tally to 12,29,805, it said. The state now has 1,32,181 active cases, while 10,83,570 people have recovered from the virus, including 19,017 since Thursday. A total of 47 deaths were reported from North 24 Parganas, followed by 33 in Kolkata, 12 in Paschim Bardhaman and nine in Nadia among other districts, it said. --PTI

Amid an acute shortage of COVID-19 vaccines in the country, executive director of Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) Suresh Jadhav on Friday alleged that the government began inoculating people from multiple age groups without taking into account the available stock of vaccines and the WHO guidelines. Speaking at an e-summit organised by Heal Health, a health advocacy and awareness platform, Jadhav said the country should have followed the WHO guidelines and prioritised vaccination accordingly. Initially, 300 million people were to be administered the vaccine for which 600 million doses were required. But before we reached the target, the government opened vaccination for all above 45 years followed by those aged 18 and above despite "knowing well that so much vaccine is not available", Jadhav said. "That is the greatest lesson we learnt. We must take into account the availability of the product and then use it judiciously," added Jadhav. --PTI

In the backdrop of Cyclone Taukte and the ongoing pandemic, the Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday organised a conference to review the status of preparedness for dealing with natural disasters that may arise during the South-West Monsoon 2021.

Presided over by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, the Annual Conference of Relief Commissioners and Secretaries of the Departments of Disaster Management of States and Union Territories was organised through video conference.

“In his inaugural address, the Union Home Secretary stressed on the need for building up capacities and response reflexes to ensure 24×7 preparedness throughout the year. He also advised all authorities to make extra efforts to secure all health facilities, oxygen generation plants from heavy rains/floods during the South-West Monsoon or any other impending disaster,” an MHA statement said. Read more

Technology firm Honeywell on Friday said it setting up COVID-19 care centres and critical care facilities across five states. The company has partnered with the governments of Maharashtra, Delhi, Haryana, Karnataka and Uttarakhand to help tackle the ongoing pandemic. As part of this initiative, Honeywell said it is also donating 1,000 oxygen concentrators, 50 ventilators, 10,000 N95 respirators, and 2,500 personal protective equipment (PPE) kits to various government and private hospitals. --PTI

The Kerala government on Friday announced a one week extension of the state-wide lockdown till May 30, to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The state has been under lockdown since May 8 after weekend restrictions and lockdown-like curbs imposed earlier failed to create any desired impact in terms of the daily caseload of the infected persons. On May 16, the lockdown was extended to May 23. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also announced the withdrawal of "triple lockdown" measures being implemented in three districts-- Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Thrissur from May 16. However, the "triple lockdown" will be continued in Malappuram district. Kerala has been witnessing a huge spike of cases and deaths during the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. --PTI

Maharashtra on Friday recorded 29,644 new Covid cases and 555 fatalities taking the tally of the infection to over 55 lakh and toll more than 86,618. The state has so far recorded over 50 lakh recoveries too.

A group of students from the Rotaract Club of Jagannath Institute of Management Sciences, Vasant Kunj (JIMS VKII) has taken it upon themselves to ensure adequate supplies of Covid19 medicines for those undergoing free treatment at various facilities in Delhi/NCR. In a unique initiative, the Club announced the launch of its #handsthathelp@rotaractjimsvkii campaign on 21/5/2021 (Friday) wherein 12 Covid medicines collection points have been created for sourcing leftover Covid medicines from the residential pockets of Delhi/NCR. Through their social media campaign, the Club seeks voluntary donations from Delhiites by circulating messages in the residents’ welfare association groups (via whatsapp) of various localities in Delhi/ NCR.

Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Friday said there were 197 cases of black fungus or mucormycosis in hospitals across Delhi till Wednesday night, including non-residents who have come to the city for treatment. The minister also said many inoculation centres for the 18-44 age group are being shut in Delhi from Friday as the city has run out of vaccine for this category. "Delhi had exhausted its Covaxin stock many days ago. Covishield doses, too, have been consumed. Many centres are being shut today," Jain said. --PTI

Four people from Damoh and Balaghat districts in Madhya Pradesh have died of Mucormycosis, a dangerous fungal infection seen in some COVID-19 patients and those who had recovered, even as the state grapples with a shortage of injections for its treatment, officials said on Friday. Deepak Soni (39) and Nitin Jain (30), both from Damoh, died of the infection, also called black fungus, on Thursday, after recovering from COVID-19, while Sheshram Kuchalahi (38) and Chinu Lalwani (42), the other two deceased, hail from Balaghat, officials said . "Soni died in a hospital in Nagpur, Jain died in Damoh. Four other patients of Mucormycosis have been sent to Bhopal for treatment," Damoh ENT specialist Vishal Shukla told PTI. --PTI

Amid an acute shortage of vaccines in the national capital, Delhi Development Minister Gopal Rai on Friday accused the Centre of "failing" in its duty of providing vaccines to states, and hoped that the system improves at the earliest. Aam Aadmi Party MLA Atishi had on Thursday said Delhi's stock of Covishield vaccine for the 18-44 age group will last less than a day and the government will have to shut more than 150 vaccination sites. We have already exhausted Covaxin stock, she had said. "The vaccines that were supposed to be given to the people of India have been sent abroad and it was done on the direction of the central government. "I think the Centre is completely failing at this (providing vaccines) and we can only hope that this system improves as soon as possible so that maximum people can be vaccinated and the future dangers can be deferred," said Rai, after inaugurating a 100-bed COVID care facility at the Ambedkar College in Babarpur. --PTI

In the last 24 hours, Delhi has reported 3,009 new Covid-19 cases and 252 deaths. The total number of active cases in the capital currently stands at 35,683, while the death toll has surged to 22,831. 

With many children losing both their parents to Covid and women being vulnerable to trafficking after loss of kin, the Ministry of Home Affairs has asked states and Union Territories to review their existing facilities for vulnerable sections of the society.

Taking into account the impact of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemicparticularly on vulnerable groups, the MHA has again reiterated to states/ UTs to focus on vulnerable sections, especially children who may have been orphaned due to loss of parents due to COVID-19. Read more

The Goa government on Friday said it will set up a separate ward to treat people infected with black fungus at the Goa Medical College and Hospital's super-speciality block.

Speaking to reporters, state Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said the state has so far recorded six cases of mucormycosis or black fungus, of which one patient has died.

A separate 25-bed ward will be dedicated to treat people suffering from the fungal infection, which is prevalent in COVID-19 patients who have recovered, he said. Places such as Delhi were bifurcating the cases of black fungus from coronavirus cases, he said. (PTI)

The first case of black fungus or mucormycosis in Jammu and Kashmir was on Friday detected in a 40-year-old man here, officials said. The COVID-19 patient, who is admitted to Government Medical College (GMC) hospital, is critical, Financial Commissioner Health and Medical Education, Atal Dulloo, said. Giving details, Principal GMC hospital, Dr Shashi Sudan Sharma told PTI that the man suffers from diabetes and was immunocompromised. (PTI)

Expressing grief on the death of noted environmentalist Sunderlal Bahuguna, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that it is a "monumental loss" for our nation, and he manifested our centuries-old ethos of living in harmony with nature.

Chipko movement pioneer Bahuguna died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rishikesh on Friday after battling COVID-19 for several days. He was 94. He breathed his last at 12.05 pm, AIIMS Director Ravikant said. (PTI)

Oxygen leakage at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri triggered panic among COVID patients and their families on Friday morning, officials said.

The incident happened around 9.15 am when the leakage was detected in a pipe supplying oxygen to the COVID block of the hospital, they said. The oxygen clouded the room where the leak was detected, triggering panic among the patients who thought that fire may have broken out.

The COVID patients started running out in panic amid the chaos, while large number of people, including their family members, gathered outside the block. (PTI)

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant extended the on-going curfew in Goa till May 31, reported ANI. The Goa government had imposed curfew-like restrictions for 15 days starting from May 9.

Noted environmentalist Sunderlal Bahugana succumbed to Covid-19 at AIIMS in Rishikesh, PTI reported. 

During a press conference with frontline workers in Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the growing challenge posed by the surge in ‘black fungus’ cases in different parts of the country.

“In our ongoing fight against Covid-19, a new challenge of Black fungus has surfaced. We must focus on taking precaution and preparation to deal with it,” he said.

The National Capital has recorded 197 cases of the ‘black fungus’ disease in private and government hospitals, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said. During a press conference, he warned that Delhi was also quickly running out of vaccines to inoculate the 18-44 age group.

Addressing the progress of the vaccination drive in the National Capital, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said that there were not enough Covishield vaccines to inoculate the 18-44 age group and Covaxin vaccines were also quickly running out. "Many vaccination centres will close today," he added. 

In a virtual conference, Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with healthcare and other frontline workers from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. "Varanasi has set a great example by the way it has equipped Pt Rajan Mishra COVID hospital & increased the number of oxygen beds and ICU beds in the city, in such a short span of time," he said. 

"With the concept of 'Jahan Bimar, Wahan Upchar', the practice of making containment zones to distributing door-to-door medicines in your city & villages is commendable," he added. 

Vaccination for those above 45 years of age resumed in Pimpri-Chinchwad on Friday with the municipal corporation seeking help from the police to avoid overcrowding at the centres. The inoculation drive was suspended on Thursday due to unavailability of vaccines.

The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation has also decided to provide vaccines to senior citizens and people who are bed-ridden at their residences.

The PCMC health department said on Friday that only those above 45 years of age will get their first or second dose of the Covishield vaccine. The jabs will be given at PCMC-run Yamunanagar hospital, Savitribail Phune school, Bhosari, New Jijamata hospital, Acharya Atre auditorium, Khinswara hospital, Thergaon, New Akurdi hospital, Ahilyadevi Holkar school, Sangvi between 10 am and 5 pm. Every centre will inoculate 150 beneficiaries. Read the full report here. 

Mizoram on Friday registered its highest single-day spike of 296 COVID-19 cases, which pushed the tally to 9,740, a health department official said. The death toll remained unchanged at 30, he said.

Three BSF jawans, one Assam Rifles personnel and at least 50 children are among the new patients. Of the 296 fresh cases, 105 were detected at Zoram Medical College's RT-PCR laboratory, five at the state's TrueNat facilities and the rest via Rapid Antigen Test.

Twelve new patients have travel history, while the remaining 274 were found to have locally contracted the virus. Mizoram currently has 2,303 active cases, while 7,407 people have recovered from the infection. (PTI)

Odisha on Friday reported the highest single-day spike of 12,523 new COVID-19 cases and a record 27 more deaths, a Health Department official said. The new cases were recorded after testing 61,665 samples on Thursday, taking the positivity rate to 20.30 per cent. The state has so far reported 6,68,422 cases of COVID-19 and 2,430 deaths.

Of the new infections, 7,012 were detected at different quarantine centres and the remaining 5,511 were local contact cases. Khurda district, of which the state capital Bhubaneswar is a part, reported the highest 1,842 new cases, followed by Cuttack (1084), Angul (930), Sundargarh (715), Puri (568) and Mayurbhanj (546). (PTI)