Mumbai on Sunday reported 1,544 fresh coronavirus positive cases following testing of 22,430 samples, the lowest such number so far this month, the city civic body said.

A total of 60 patients died, taking the overall count of COVID-19 fatalities in Mumbai to 14,260, it said.

Mumbai's tally of cases now stands at 6,88,696.

On Saturday, Mumbai reported 1,447 coronavirus positive cases after 24,896 samples were tested.

With 22,430 new tests, the total number of samples tested so far in Mumbai has risen to 58,98,605, as per the update given by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

The number of daily fatalities in Mumbai remained more or less the same.

Mumbai's death count remained in the range of 51 to 90 so far this month, it said.

The number of recovered patients outnumbered the number of daily cases on Sunday.

A total of 2,438 patients were discharged from hospitals during the day, taking the count of recoveries to 6,36,753, it said, adding Mumbai's case recovery rate now stands at 92 per cent.

The number of active cases in the financial capital has dipped to 35,702, as per the BMC.

Mumbai had reported the highest 11,163 infections in a day on April 4.

At 90, the city had seen the highest number of fatalities in a day during the second wave on May 1 this year.

As per the BMC, Mumbai's average growth rate of COVID-19 cases for the period between April May 9 to May 15 is 0.29 per cent, while the doubling rate of cases is 231 days.

Mumbai is left with 86 active containment zones located in slums and chawls, while the number of sealed buildings dipped to 339.   -- PTI

The Union health ministry on Sunday said 11,058 oxygen concentrators, 13,496 oxygen cylinders, 19 oxygen generation plants and about 5.3 lakh Remdesivir vials received as global aid have been delivered to various states/UTs from April 27 to May 15.

India has been receiving international donations and aid of COVID-19 relief medical supplies and equipment since April 27 from different countries and organisations to augment its efforts to combat the pandemic outbreak.

The Centre is expeditiously delivering the global aid to the states and Union territories (UTs) to supplement their resources and efforts, the ministry said.

Cumulatively, 11,058 oxygen concentrators, 13,496 oxygen cylinders, 19 oxygen generation plants, 7,365 ventilators/Bi PAP, about 5.3 lakh Remdesivir vials have been delivered/dispatched through road and air, from April 27 to May 15.

Major consignments received on 14th-15th May 2021 from Kazakhstan, Japan, Switzerland, Ontario (Canada), USA, Egypt and British Oxygen Co (UK) include oxygen concentrators (100), ventilators/BiPAP/CPAP (500), oxygen cylinders (300), Remdesivir (40,000) besides masks and protective suits, the ministry said.   --  PTI

Delhi has only one day of Covaxin stock left for those aged above 45, healthcare and frontline workers while Covishield doses for this category can last up to five days, Aam Aadmi Party MLA Atishi said on Sunday.      Delhi has so far received 44.94 lakh vaccine doses for this age group, of which 41.68 lakh have been administered, she said.

According to the AAP)legislator, 1.18 lakh people in Delhi were vaccinated on May 15 and around 10.5 lakh people have taken both vaccine doses so far.

After Sunday evening, New Delhi will have only one day of Covaxin stock and five days of Covishield doses left for those aged 45 years and above. We appeal to the central government to immediately make more vaccines available for this category, she said.

The capital has received 8.17 lakh doses for the 18-44 age group so far, of which 5.25 lakh have been used till Sunday morning, she said.

Since we have exhausted the Covaxin stock for this category, all such vaccination centres have been shut. We have six days of Covishield stock left, she said.

We appeal to the Centre to provide more doses of Covaxin and Covishield. If Covaxin cannot be arranged, more doses of Covishield should be given to keep the inoculation drive going, she said.   -- PTI

A suspected Pakistani drone was seen hovering along the International Border (IB) in Jammu, prompting security forces to launch a massive search operation to check if it had dropped anything inside the Indian territory, officials said on Sunday.

However, nothing suspicious was found during the search operation, they said.

This comes two days after a Pakistani drone dropped an AK-47 rifle, a pistol and some ammunition along the IB in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir.

The suspected Pakistani drone was seen hovering in Kanachak sector here late on Saturday night.

Some residents saw a streak of yellow light in the skies for quite some time before it vanished in the darkness, officials said.

A search, which began at 5:30 am on Sunday, was carried out by joint teams of Army, Border Security Force (BSF) and police in a vast area between Panch Talli and Laliyal, about 1,500 meters from the IB, they said.

"A massive search operation was carried out in Kanachack sector after the suspected movement of the drone but nothing objectionable was recovered during the operation," a police official said.

Security forces along the border are on high alert to scuttle any attempt by Pakistan to push in terrorists or weapons and narcotics into India, he said.  

On June 20 last year, the BSF had shot down a Pakistani hexacopter drone with a payload of 5.5 kg in Kathua district, leading to the recovery of a sophisticated US-made M4 semi-automatic carbine and seven Chinese grenades.

On various other occasions over the past year, the BSF and the police have also recovered large quantities of arms and ammunition including sticky bombs dropped into the Indian territory by Pakistani drones.   -- PTI

The Crime Branch has arrested two foreign nationals for duping over 1,000 people across the country on the pretext of providing oxygen cylinders and COVID medicines amounting to Rs 2 crores.

The duo -- one from Nigeria and another from Ghana -- were arrested by the Crime Branch team of Stars-II.

While one was apprehended on Thursday, his associate was arrested on Saturday.

As per an official press note from the crime branch, the two foreign nationals along with their associates made false claims of providing oxygen cylinders and COVID medicines in the midst of the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic that has created a huge demand for oxygen and medicines.

On May 5, a complainant reported that he was in extreme need of an oxygen cylinder for his relative suffering from COVID-19.

He found one mobile number on social media claiming to provide oxygen cylinders.

When the complainant contacted on that mobile number through WhatsApp message, the receiver asked him to pay Rs 16,000 for oxygen cylinder and Rs 4,000 as a delivery charge.

Complainant made payment of Rs 20,000 in the given bank account of the accused with an assurance that the cylinder would reach at his address.

However, on not receiving any oxygen cylinder, and after several attempts to contact the accused, a complaint was registered at Jyoti Nagar police station in northeast Delhi.

According to the Crime Branch, several complaints of cheating relating to the same mobile number have been registered at different police stations of Delhi.

One of their associates operates from Bengaluru while their other associates in Africa assist in this fraud.

The accused named in the FIR are Chika Benneth, 42, and Jonathan Kojo, 44, both residents of Khirki Village, Delhi.

The crime branch informed that 165 SIM cards, 22 mobile phones, 5 laptops, 2 wifi dongles, and 4 debit cards used in the commission of the crime have been recovered from the possession of the two accused in the case.

The two foreign have so far used more than 20 bank accounts spread all over India to receive the fraudulent money.

An acute oxygen crisis in the country induced by the increasing number of coronavirus cases has pushed several people in the involvement of crimes related to all necessary medicines and medical equipments.

Several cases of black-marketing, selling fake medicines/injections have been reported across the country.    -- ANI

Police on Sunday lobbed tear gas shells and used force to disperse a group of farmers who tried to march towards the venue where Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar was scheduled to inaugurate a COVID hospital.

Police said the farmers jumped police barricades and they had to use force and resort to tear gas shelling to disperse them.

Khattar inaugurated the newly built 500-bedded Chaudhary Devi Lal Sanjeevani COVID Hospital in Hisar and farmers were stopped before they could reach the venue, the police said.

The farmers claimed that a few of them were injured in police action.

A police spokesman said farmers pelted stones at the force and some personnel were injured and subsequently hospitalised.

Police said they detained some agitators, included women, as they were marching towards the venue to create obstructions in the chief minister's event.   -- PTI

Owing to the possibility of intensification of the cyclonic storm Tauktae, all airlines have cancelled their flight operations to and from Goa on Sunday.

The official Twitter handle of Airports Authority of India, Goa International Airport tweeted, 'Considering prevalent weather conditions in, around, en route Goa due to very severe cyclonic storm 'Tauktae', all airlines have cancelled their flight operations to and from Goa for today'.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that Cyclone Tauktae will hit the coastal areas of Goa by late afternoon and is very likely to keep moving in the north northwest direction.

It further stated that due to the effect of the cyclone, the state will continue to witness strong winds and rainfall throughout the day.

In a video message posted on Twitter on Saturday, Chief Minister of Goa Dr Pramod Sawant had said, "In view of Cyclone Tauktae, the State has activated its lifesaving machinery on beaches. NDRF team comprising 22 personnel carrying life-saving equipment has already arrived. Also, control rooms have been set up at District and Taluka level." -- ANI

The Centre on Sunday asked the state governments to keep ration shops, also called fair price shops, open for a longer duration and on all days to ensure timely and safe distribution of both subsidised and free foodgrains to the poor.

An advisory in this regard has been issued by the Union Food Ministry following representations that during the current lockdown in some states/UTs, ration shops' timings have been curtailed due to which the intended beneficiaries might not be getting adequate time to lift their entitled foodgrains.

'In view of ongoing lockdown in some States/UTs, that may curtail the functioning hours of Fair Price Shop (FPS), an advisory has been issued on 15th May, 2021...to keep the FPSs open, preferably on all days of the month,' the ministry said in a statement.

The Centre is distributing highly monthly subsidised foodgrains of 5 kg per person at Rs 1-3 per kg via ration shops to over 80 crore poor under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).

Over and above this, additional 5kg of free grains are being distributed to the same beneficiaries under the PMGKAY (Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana) scheme for two months -- May-June in order to minimise economic hardships being faced by the NFSA beneficiaries during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the advisory, the Centre has asked states to keep the ration shops open for distribution of foodgrains under the NFSA as well as PMGKAY scheme in a staggered manner throughout the day, maintaining proper social distancing and adhering to all COVID-19 protocols, it said.

To facilitate this, states have been requested to ensure that FPSs are exempted from the restricted hours of opening of regular markets as foodgrains are covered under essential items, it added.

Further, the Centre has asked states to take necessary steps for timely distribution of foodgrains at their FPSs without causing hardships to the beneficiaries, and to give wide publicity to the measures undertaken in this regard.  -- PTI

The Mumbai civic body on Sunday decided to keep its COVID-19 vaccination drive suspended for the third day on May 17 in view of the warning about cyclone Tauktae, municipal commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal said.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had on Friday announced that there would be no inoculation on May 15 and 16 considering the India Meteorological Department's cyclone warning.

The vaccination programme will now be implemented on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Chahal said.

According to the IMD, cyclone Tauktae has intensified into a 'very severe cyclonic storm' and is very likely to reach the Gujarat coast in the evening hours of May 17 and cross it between Porbandar and Mahuva in Bhavnagar district around the early morning of May 18.

A BMC official had earlier said that the civic body has shifted 580 patients from Covid care centres in the city as a precautionary measure in view of the warning that cyclone Tauktae is likely to pass close to the city.

Meanwhile, Chahal also said the central government has issued directions to maintain a gap of 12 to 16 weeks between two doses of Covishield vaccine.

Hence, nobody except health care workers and frontline workers will be eligible for the second Covishield dose at present as vaccination for other categories had commenced on March 1.

"Due to this change, the civic body has decided to extend the walk-in (vaccination) facility for citizens above 60 years of age for the first Covishield dose during May 18- 20," he said.

Last week, the BMC had announced that the citizens above 60 years of age, who are waiting for the second dose of Covishield vaccine, the beneficiaries yet to get the second dose of Covaxin and the disabled person can opt for walk-in vaccination from Monday to Wednesday.   -- PTI

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav  Thackeray on Sunday said an alert has been sounded in coastaldistricts of the state in the wake of cyclone Tauktae, and thestate administration has braced up to ensure uninterrupted electricity and oxygen supply in COVID-19 hospitals.

Thackeray gave the assurance to Union Home MinisterAmit Shah during a virtual meeting in the morning on thepreparedness for tackling the cyclonic storm.

According to the India Meteorological Department(IMD), cyclone Tauktae has intensified into a 'very severecyclonic storm' and is approaching the Gujarat coast.

The IMD has forecast high speed winds along and offsouth Maharashtra-Goa and adjoining Karnataka coasts over thenext couple of days.

During the meeting, Thackeray said jumbo COVID-19 centres and other facilities can protect patients from rain.

But, in view of the cyclonic storm, some patients from Mumbai and other areas have been shifted to safer places.

He said all steps have been taken to ensure oxygen production plants on the coastline and transport of oxygen to rest of the state remain unaffected.

Thackeray also informed that residents along the coastline have been moved to safer places and disaster management units have been activated.  

Collectors of Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, Raigad andPalghar districts and Mumbai municipal commissioner have been instructed to ensure that the oxygen production plants of 900 metric tonne capacity along the sea coast are safe, he said.

Officials of the electricity and public worksdepartments are also on alert, the CM said.

He said arrangements have been made to ensure 12 to16-hour oxygen backup in districts to be affected by thecyclonic storm.

"A total of 160 metric tonne of oxygen is expected toreach Maharashtra from Jamnagar in Gujarat by Monday. If thereare problems in the Jamnagar plant due to the cyclone, arrangements have been made to get the additional stock from other places," he said.

Thackeray said fishermen were also returning to thecoast from the sea.  

He also informed the Union minister that the state hasadequate stock of medicines.   -- PTI

IMAGE: Patients from BKC Jumbo Covid facility in Mumbai are being shifted from the makeshift tents as a precautionary measure in view of strong winds due to Cyclone. Photograph: Rajesh Karkera for Rediff.com

The National Disaster Rescue Force (NDRF) has deployed a total of 101 teams across the states that will most likely be affected due to Cyclone Tauktae.

As many as 79 teams, along with 22 on standby have been deployed. Rescue and relief teams of the Army, Navy and Coast Guard, along with ships and aircraft have also been deployed.

The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), under the chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary, Rajiv Gauba met on Sunday to review the preparedness of Central and State Ministries/Agencies to deal with Cyclonic Storm 'Tauktae' in the Arabian Sea.

Director-General of the India Meteorological Department said that cyclone is expected to reach the Gujarat Coast in the morning of May 18 (Tuesday) with wind speeds ranging from 150 to 160 km/hour, accompanied by squally winds, heavy rainfall and storm surge in the coastal districts of the state.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretaries of the States of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and advisors to the administrators of the Union Territories of Lakshadweep and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.

The incoming cyclone has intensified into a 'very severe cyclonic storm' over the east-central Arabian Sea and is very likely to intensify further during the next 12 hours, said the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday morning.

At least four people have lost their lives and 73 villages across six districts in Karnataka have been affected amid the intensification of Cyclone Tauktae, said the Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) on Sunday.   -- ANI

The second batch of Russia's COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V on Sunday landed at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, Sputnik V official twitter page said.

'Second batch of Sputnik V @sputnikvaccine arrives in Hyderabad, India,' the tweet said along with pictures of vaccine boxes being unloaded from an aircraft.

Dr Reddy's Laboratories on May 14 soft launched imported COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V vaccine which is priced at Rs948, with five per cent GST per dose (retail price).

'Given the recent launch of the Russian vaccine in the Indian vaccination campaign, this second delivery has become very timely. The efficacy of the #SputnikV is well-known in the world,' Nikolay Kudashev Russian Ambassador to India tweeted.

The first consignment of 1.50 lakh doses of Sputnik V vaccine from Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) landed in India on May 1, and received regulatory clearance from the Central Drugs Laboratory.

The Indian drug-maker had earlier said these consignments will be used across different channels as a pilot to line up the supply chain for the larger vaccination programme rollout.  -- PTI

At least four people have lost their lives and 73 villages across six districts in Karnataka has been affected amid the intensification of Cyclone Tauktae, said the Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) on Sunday.

Over six districts including three coastal districts and three Malnad districts of Karnataka have received heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in the past 24 hours due to the effect of Cyclone Tauktae.

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa is closely monitoring the cyclone situation in coastal areas and is in contact with district in-charges and ministers to ensure rescue and relief operations in the affected districts.

'We are closely monitoring the cyclone situation in coastal areas, I am in contact with district in-charges and ministers and DCs of the affected districts to ensure rescue and relief operations,' Yediyurappa tweeted.

'Due to cyclone Tauktae, heavy to extremely heavy rainfall was observed over 6 districts, 3 coastal districts and 3 Malnad districts in the past 24 hours. The rainfall is accompanied by gale winds speed reach 70 to 80 km/hour, gusting at times upto 90 km/per along and off Karnataka Coast. So far, 4 people have lost their lives, 73 villages affected,' said the KSDMA in an official statement issued today.

It stated that 313 stations recorded more than 64.5 mm (Heavy) rainfall in Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, Shivamogga, Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru districts from 8.30 am of May 15 to 8.30 am of May 16, 2021.

The highest rainfall of 385 mm was recorded at Nada station, Kundapura taluk in Udupidistrict, said State Disaster Management Authority.

15 stations recorded greater than 200 mm of rainfall in Udupi district in the state. More than 64.5 mm (Heavy) rainfall was observed in 286 locations between 8.30 am of May 15 to 6.45 am of May 16, 2021 in the state, said KSDMA.

Mentioning the preliminary damage, it stated that there has been coastal erosion due to rough sea along the coast, roads along the shore have been damaged (assessment in progress).

There has also been uprooting of trees due to gale winds and damage to poles and transformers, said State Disaster Management Authority.  -- ANI

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday announced extension of the ongoing lockdown by one more week in the national capital to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The lockdown imposed on April 19 has been extended for the fourth time till May 24 morning.

It was scheduled to end at 5 am tomorrow.

The COVID-19 situation has been improving in Delhi with the number of cases and positivity rate going down steadily in the past few days.

The chief minister said the lockdown is being extended as the gains made so far in combating the coronavirus cannot be lost due to relaxations now. -- PTI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday chaired a review meeting with the Chief Ministers of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Administrator of Daman and Diu and Dadra Nagar Haveli to assess the preparedness of States and Central ministries to deal with the situation arising out of Cyclone Tauktae.

The incoming cyclone intensified into a 'very severe cyclonic storm' over the east-central Arabian Sea and is very likely to intensify further during the next 12 hours, said the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday morning.

It is very likely to move north-northwestwards and reach Gujarat coast in the evening hours of May 17 and cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva (Bhavnagar district) around May 18 early morning, the IMD said.National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) officials have also assured on Friday that they are well prepared for Cyclone Tauktae and 53 teams have been committed, 24 teams pre-deployed, and 29 teams are on standby ready for the 5 most vulnerable states-- Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat and Maharashtra. -- ANI

With Cyclone Tauktae likely to intensify further, Central Water Commission on Sunday stated that a severe flood situation is likely in parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Central Water Commission tweeted, 'Orange Bulletin No 4 issued by #CWC #NewDelhi for #Kerala & #Tamilnadu is appended.'

'The Manimala river at Kallooppara in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala is flowing in severe situation at a level of 6.65m, 0.65 m above its danger level. While the river Kodaiyar at Thiruvarambu in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu is flowing at a level of 12.43 m, 0.43 m above its danger level,' it added.

Earlier today, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted that Cyclone Tauktae intensified into a 'very severe cyclonic storm' over the East-central Arabian Sea and is very likely to intensify further during the next 24 hours.

Kerala is also likely to experience light to moderate rainfall at many places with heavy to very heavy falls at isolated places on May 16 and heavy falls at isolated places on May 17, according to the latest national bulletin issued by IMD. -- ANI

As many as 24 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will be deployed by today evening in Gujarat as the state braces for the impact of cyclone Tuauktae that is approaching the coastal areas of the state.

According to NDRF deputy commandant Ranvijay Kumar Singh, 13 teams out of 24 were called from Punjab and Odisha.

"Our teams are prepared with all the necessary equipment and will be on standby. Wherever it is required, teams will be deployed," Singh said.

He added, "24 teams will take their place by 5 pm, with 13 teams from outside. Eight teams were called from Punjab and five from Odisha."

Earlier today, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted that Cyclone Tauktae intensified into a 'very severe cyclonic storm' over East-central Arabian Sea and is very likely to intensify further during the next 12 hours.

It is very likely to move north-northwestwards and reach Gujarat coast in the evening hours of May 17 and cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva (Bhavnagar district) around May 18 early morning, the IMD said.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has instructed state ministers to reach Bharuch with immediate effect to review the preparedness of the government to tackle possible cyclone situations.

The State government has also directed the Department of Roads and Buildings, Forest Department to ensure that the communication network, roads, and power supply are maintained properly and it can be quickly restored if affected by falling trees or otherwise affected by the potential hurricane. -- ANI

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan on Sunday said he has received the second and final dose of the novel coronavirus vaccine. 

 

The 78-year-old star, who had taken the first jab last month, took to Instagram to give an update to fans and followers.

"Dusara bhi ho gaya! (second one also done) Covid one, not the Cricket one ! Sorry sorry, that was a really bad one.." Bachchan captioned a picture of him receiving the shot.

The number of vaccine doses administered in India will reach 51.6 crore by the end of July, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said.

   

India has so far administered over 18 crore jabs to eligible beneficiaries.

 

Vardhan, during his discussion with the health ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, said vaccine production was being ramped up to cater to the increased demand.

 

"Production of vaccines is being steadily ramped up to cater to increased demand while vaccines that are being produced now continue to be equitably apportioned and swiftly sent to States/Union Territories.

 

"We will have 51.6 crore vaccine doses by the end of July including the 18 crore doses already administered. Sputnik has been approved. This along with the slated approval of the new vaccine of Zydus Cadila, Serum Institute of India- Novavax vaccine, Bharat Biotech's nasal vaccine and the Genova mRNA vaccine will push the availability of COVID vaccines to 216 crore doses in the August-December period," he said.

During his interaction with the state health ministers and principal secretaries/additional chief secretaries of the four states in the presence of Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Vardhan highlighted the challenges faced by the states.

 

He said that Gujarat has displayed a gradual increase in the positivity rate since April and the recovery rate stands at 79 per cent, which is lower than the national average. 

He noted that nearly 100 per cent ICU beds in Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Mehsana and 97 per cent and 96 per cent of oxygen beds in Ahmedabad and Vadodara, respectively, stood occupied indicating saturation.

 

Andhra Pradesh has had an increasing positivity rate since early April and the weekly growth rate was as high as 30.3 per cent, he said, adding that Chittoor, East Godavari, Guntur, Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam were flagged as districts of concern in the state.

 

Uttar Pradesh saw an exponential growth in cases in a six-week period (5,500 to 31,000 cases and two per cent to 14 per cent positivity rate) with Lucknow and Meerut having more than 14,000 active cases with all categories of bed showing more than 90 per cent occupancy.

 

In Madhya Pradesh, 10 districts have more than 20 per cent positivity with over one lakh active cases all over the state. Indore, Bhopal, Gwalior and Jabalpur were flagged as districts of concern, the minister said.

 

During the meeting, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat were cautioned for having a high proportion of deaths in the age group 18-45 years.

 

Vardhan also expressed a strong view that the present plateauing of COVID cases should not be taken as a sign for complacency but as a breathing space to expand, revamp and improve health infrastructure. 

 

State health administrators were advised to increase ICU and oxygen-supported beds, undertake oxygen audits, take stock of availability of medicines in the states and strengthen their medical workforce. -- PTI

India recorded 3.11 lakh fresh cases of coronavirus in a day taking the total tally of COVID-19 infections to 2,46,84,077, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

 

A total of 3,11,170 new cases were reported in a day, while the death toll climbed to 2,70,284 with 4,077 daily fatalities,  the data updated at 8 am showed. 

The active cases have reduced to 36,18,458 comprising 14.66 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to 84.25 per cent, the data updated at 8 am showed. 

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 2,07,95,335, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.09 per cent, the data stated. -- PTI

Congress MP Rajiv Satav died at a private hospital here on Sunday, days after recovering from coronavirus infection, hospital sources said.

The 46-year-old leader was on ventilator support at the hospital after his health deteriorated.

Satav, considered close to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, had tested positive for coronavirus infection on April 22.

Satav was later diagnosed with a new viral infection and was in a critical condition. -- PTI

Schools in the United States should continue to use masks for the 2020-2021 academic year as all students will not be fully vaccinated, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Saturday.

The CDC in its latest guidance said all kindergarten through grade 12 schools "should implement and layer prevention strategies and should prioritize universal and correct use of masks and physical distancing." Testing to identify individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination for teachers and staff provide additional layers of COVID-19 protection in schools.

The recommendation comes after the agency on Thursday said fully vaccinated people do not need to wear masks outdoors and can avoid wearing them indoors in most places.

The CDC said masks should be worn at all times by all people in school facilities and buses while maintaining a six-foot distance between teachers and students.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday announced that people who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no longer need their masks indoors and outdoors.

In a guideline on its website, the CDC said that if people are fully vaccinated, they can resume their activities without any further restrictions prior to the pandemic.

"Fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance," it said. -- ANI

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation shifted 580 patients from Covid care centres in the city as a precautionary measure after India Meteorological Department warned that Cyclone Tauktae is likely to pass close

to the city, a BMC official said on Sunday.

The BMC on Saturday night shifted 580 patients from BKC (243), Dahisar (183) and Mulund (154) jumbo Covid care facilities to state and civic-run hospitals in Mumbai, the official said.

Officials are also contemplating a possible shut down of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link as a precautionary measure because of IMD's announcement that the cyclone may pass close to the city on Sunday.

The BMC had on Friday alerted city hospitals to avoid last-minute confusion over beds and availability of oxygen devices.

Suburban rail services in Mumbai will operate on Sunday, the official said.

The IMD on Saturday night said the cyclonic storm Tauktae, the first to hit the Indian Coast this year, has intensified into a "severe cyclonic storm" and is heading towards the coast of Gujarat and the Union Territory of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

The IMD had said the storm is likely to pass the Mumbai coast late Saturday or early Sunday from a distance, so minimal damage is expected. It will, however, cause gusty winds and heavy rain in a few places in Mumbai, Thane and Palghar.

The IMD had also informed the BMC that Mumbai is not in the direct line of the threat of the cyclone. However, as it will pass through the sea near the Mumbai coast, its effect is likely to be accompanied by rain and strong winds.

The BMC has asked ward officers to ensure hoardings do not fall on the road and to remove them if they fall. The 24 ward officers have been told to be ready with manpower and equipment and prepare shelter homes in case people living near low-lying areas need to be relocated, the official said. -- PTI

Cyclonic storm Tauktae has intensified and is expected to reach Gujarat coast by May 18 and bring heavy rain to some areas, the India Meteorological Department said.

The cyclone is likely to cause heavy rainfall in the coastal districts of Gujarat, including extremely heavy falls in Junagadh and Gir Somnath and heavy to very heavy rain at a few places in the districts of Saurashtra, Kutch and Diu, namely Gir Somnath, Diu, Junagadh, Porbandar, Devbhoomi Dwarka, Amreli, Rajkot, Jamnagar, the IMD said.

 

The Western Railway said it has cancelled 56 trains either originating or terminating in Gujarat's Saurashtra region as a precaution.

"Cyclone Tauktae is very likely to intensify further into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm during next 12 hours and intensify further.

"It is very likely to move north-northwestwards and reach Gujarat coast in the morning of 18th & cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar & Naliya around 18th May Afternoon / evening," the IMD said in its latest update.

Heavy rains were reported in Maharashtra's coastal Ratnagiri district on Saturday, said K S Hosalikar, head SID, Climate Research and Services, IMD, Pune.

Mumbai can expect showers from Sunday afternoon, said Shubhani Bhute, senior director (weather) IMD, Mumbai.

The IMD has issued an 'orange alert' which means heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over entire Konkan and hilly areas of western Maharashtra, mainly Kolhapur and Satara on Sunday and Monday, she said.

Business newspaper Financial Express' Managing Editor Sunil Jain passed away here on Saturday due to post-COVID-19 complications, his sister Sandhya Jain said.

   

Jain had tested positive for the coronavirus and was admitted at AIIMS.

 

"We lost my brother Sunil Jain this evening to Covid+its complications. Doctors, staff at AIIMS battled heroically, but the demon was too powerful. May Tirthankaras guide his onward journey; deep gratitude to all who stood by us in these darkest days," she tweeted.

 

Paying condolences, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "You left us too soon, Sunil Jain. I will miss reading your columns and hearing your frank as well as insightful views on diverse matters. You leave behind an inspiring range of work. Journalism is poorer today, with your sad demise. Condolences to family and friends. Om Shanti."

 

Anant Goenka, executive director of the Indian Express Group which owns Financial Express, described Jain as a friend who was of unquestionable integrity and inspired with his professional commitment.

 

"Privileged to have known him, will cherish his passion, balance & wisdom.Your Express family will miss you," he tweeted.

 

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman expressed shock at his death.

 

A regular Twitter user, Jain had posted about his poor health on May 3 and then expressed his thanks in his last tweet on the same day after he was admitted at AIIMS.

 

"Thank you everyone for all the help. I don't even know whom all to thank. Am in AIIMS emergency now. So I'm safe hands," he had tweeted. -- PTI