India COVID-19 Latest News: 3.52 lakh new cases, 2,812 deaths; Tamil Nadu to shut cinemas

Valerie April 26, 2021 | 22:39

India COVID-19 Updates (April 26): Active cases crossed the 28 lakh mark, while over 1.43 crore people have recovered after testing positive. Cinemas, places of worship, malls, bars, and salons must be shut in Tamil Nadu from April 26.

Health workers wearing Personal Protective Equipment gears help a patient inside an ambulance at a recovery center to treat Covid-19 coronavirus patients, in Mumbai on April 22, 2021. (Photo: AFP)

3.52 lakh new cases, 2,812 deaths

As India continues to grapple with an aggressive Covid second wave, the country once again recorded its highest single-day spike with over 3.52 lakh cases in the last 24 hours. The death toll increased to over 1.95 lakh with 2,812 new fatalities. Active cases crossed the 28 lakh mark, while over 1.43 crore people recovered after testing positive. Till now, the country has vaccinated over 14.19 crore people, according to The Indian Express.

Hospitals in Delhi continued to face problems in getting timely oxygen supply and oxygen cylinders as the city enters the seventh day of the oxygen crisis. On Monday morning, Sir Ganga Ram hospital said that the hospital is having trouble in getting oxygen cylinders- a temporary technique used by the institutes in case of emergencies.

With Covid-19 cases surging and medical oxygen in short supply, the Centre on Sunday announced in-principle approval for 551 dedicated Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) medical oxygen generation plants, to be set up in identified government hospitals in district headquarters across the country using PM-CARES funds.

Hospitals in Delhi continued to face problems in getting timely oxygen supply and oxygen cylinders as the city enters the seventh day of the oxygen crisis. (Photo: Reuters)

Delhi to vaccinate all adults for free

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced free vaccinations for everyone above the age of 18 in the national capital when the drive begins on May 1. Kejriwal said a grant for the purchase of 1.34 crore vaccines was approved and that a detailed plan to carry out the drive on a large scale is being finalized. Delhi became the latest to announce free vaccinations. Gujarat, Odisha, and Rajasthan made their announcements on Sunday. Other states include Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh, according to Indian Express.

“We are preparing a plan to figure out how this can be done at a large scale and as quickly as possible. We have given the nod to 1.34 crore vaccines. During the pandemic, vaccines are proving to be crucial. Those who have been vaccinated are either not falling ill or are not getting very severe symptoms. Till a few weeks ago in the UK, the situation was as dire as it is in India. That wave has now abated and experts think that it is because of aggressive vaccination,” Kejriwal said.

Talking about pricing for states, Kejriwal said, “One manufacturer has said it will provide the dose for Rs 400, while the other one has said it is providing it to the state for Rs 600. Both will provide it to the Centre for Rs 150. I think the price should be the same,” he said.

Family members and relatives wait for the funeral of a COVID-19 victim at a crematorium. (Photo: PTI)

Tamil Nadu to shut cinemas, places of worship, bars from April 26

Cinemas, places of worship, malls, bars, and salons must be shut effective April 26, the Tamil Nadu government announced on Saturday reintroducing more curbs following surging COVID-19 cases. People from abroad and other states shall be allowed entry to Tamil Nadu only if they have registered in the portal and information on registration should be produced to authorities on arrival.

Those from the neighboring union territory of Puducherry are exempted from the e-registration norm, the government said in an official release. The general public must not be allowed in temple consecration functions too. Sporting activities, except those related to international and national level events, would also not be permitted, according to Economist Times.

Not more than 50 people may assemble for marriages and for a funeral the upper limit is 25, the government said. The current restrictions like night curfew (10 pm-4 am), and Sunday lockdown would continue to be on. Groceries and all other kinds of retail outlets may continue to operate as usual and department stores could function without using an airconditioning facility and by sticking to the '50 percent' customer capacity norm. Recreation clubs, all types of bars, auditoriums, big format shops, shopping complexes, and malls shall not be allowed to operate, the government said. In all corporations and municipal areas, beauty parlors spas, and salons are not allowed and only takeaway services should be offered in restaurants, hotels, and tea shops.

More than 600 pieces of vital medical equipment will be sent to India to support the country in its fight against Covid-19. (Photo: Indian Express)

14-day lockdown across Karnataka Bengaluru from Tuesday

After the Karnataka cabinet meeting on Monday, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa has announced lockdown across the state from April 27 at 9 pm till May 9. According to Yediyurappa, the essentials shop will remain open from 6 am to 10 am every day. No public transport will be available.

The separate guidelines will be issued by the government later in the day. Since the Covid cases are increasing in Karnataka and in the same capacity in the city Bengaluru, few members of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) which held a meeting on April 24 in had advised the government for a two-week-long down. Following their recommendation, the government has decided on the two weeks lockdown.

Meanwhile, Karnataka reported another biggest single-day spike of 34,804 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total caseload to 13.39 lakh, while 143 related fatalities pushed the toll to 14,426, the Health Department said on Sunday. Bengaluru Urban alone accounted for 20,733 cases. The day also saw 6,982 patients getting discharged after recovery.

France plans to assist India with oxygen capacity in the coming days to help the country cope with a record surge in Covid-19 infections. (Photo: NDTV)

France, US to send virus-hit India Covid supplies 'immediately'

The United States will "immediately" make supplies of material to make vaccines, as well as therapeutics, tests, ventilators, and protective equipment available to India, facing a Covid-19 surge, the White House has said. "The United States has identified sources of specific raw material urgently required for Indian manufacture of the Covishield vaccine that will immediately be made available for India," a White House statement said.

It listed other initiatives Washington is taking to help India battle its surge, but did not mention sending surplus AstraZeneca vaccine, as a backlash grows over the fate of the US stockpile of some 30 million doses which have not been approved for use.

France plans to assist India with oxygen capacity in the coming days to help the country cope with a record surge in Covid-19 infections, the French presidency has said. The assistance is to include badly needed oxygen respirators, a source with knowledge of the plans told AFP without providing further details.

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