New Delhi: Eight people have died in Delhi due to lack of oxygen again. Several people, including a doctor, who was being treated at Batra Hospital, died due to lack of oxygen. The death occurred between 12 noon and 1.30 pm today, hospital officials told the Delhi High Court. The High Court directed that the medical records of all the hospitals in Delhi, including the Central Government, be made available immediately.

The court has been seeking information since April 1. Information such as oxygen stock, number of patients admitted, death, and number of beds should be produced. Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has blamed the Center for the oxygen crisis. With 976 tonnes of oxygen required daily, the Center allows only 490 tonnes. Only 312 tonnes were delivered yesterday. Arvind Kejriwal also asked how the crisis would be resolved in this case.

Washington: The United States has announced a waiver of the ban on travelers from India in the wake of the covid outbreak. Concessions have been announced for travelers in the categories of students, university teachers, and journalists. The exemptions were announced by US Secretary of State Tony Blinken.

The ban was imposed on passengers from May 4. Biden had explained that the situation was not right as there were several genetically modified variants of the covid 19 viruses in India. India has similar concessions to travel restrictions for travelers from Brazil, China, Iran, and South Africa. The exemption will be available to students starting winter classes, university teachers, journalists, and other individuals assigned to critical services in Covid-affected countries.

Ahmedabad: The death toll from a fire at a hospital in Gujarat has risen to 18. The accident took place at a hospital in Bharuch this morning. About 50 patients who were undergoing treatment here were rescued by locals and firefighters, officials said.
The fire broke out on the ground floor of a four-story building.

Firefighters put out the blaze within an hour. The rest of the patients have been admitted to other hospitals.  Twelve of them died due to fire and smoke, reports said. Preliminary investigation shows the fire was caused because of a short circuit, police says. 

New Delhi: Central proposal to tighten control in states as Covid outbreak intensifies. The Union Home Ministry has demanded strict control till May 31. The districts or regions where the test positivity rate has increased by 10 percent in a week and 60 percent of Covid patients have been admitted to hospital beds can be declared as Containment Zones. The Center also suggested that states could declare a 14-day lockdown if the situation remains critical.

At the same time, the government has decided to tighten controls in the state. Similar restrictions will be imposed on the mini lockdown from next Tuesday to Sunday.

Thiruvananthapuram: An order has been issued to provide free vaccines to people between the ages of 18 and 45. In the third phase of the central government’s national vaccination policy, it was decided to vaccinate people between the ages of 18 and 45 from May 1, but it was not free. The order issued by Principal Secretary Rajan N Khobragade said that two doses of the vaccine would be given free of cost to those in this category, subject to the decision of the Supreme Court and the High Court in this regard.

Kochi: The Kerala High Court has directed that strict restrictions be imposed in the state to prevent the spread of Covid in Kerala. The High Court has directed that no rallies be held in the state from May 1 to 4 in connection with the counting of votes in the Assembly elections and that strict action be taken against those who violate the Covid guidelines in the present circumstances.

Do not allow the joyous demonstrations of political parties after the declaration of election results. The police and the district administration should ensure this. The court also directed that a case be registered against those who assemble illegally under the Prevention of Infectious Diseases Act.

New Delhi: Covid vaccine rate has also been slashed. The price of the vaccine given to the state governments has come down. The dose was reduced to Rs 400, Bharat told Biotech. Covaxin is developed by leading pharmaceutical companies Bharat Biotech and ICMR.

Earlier, the Serum Institute had to pay Rs 400 to the state governments. The price of the prescribed vaccine was reduced to Rs.300. Bharat Biotech was decided to distribute Covaxin at Rs 600 for the state government. The company now reduced 200 Rs from this amount, reports said.