Over 3.32L new cases, 2,263 deaths in 24 hrs
New Delhi: Amid India staring at an oxygen shortage and several hospitals scrambling for it, the country recorded over 3 lakh new Coronavirus cases for the second consecutive day.
According to the Union Health Ministry data updated Friday morning, India recorded a single-day rise of 3,32,730 new cases, taking the tally to 1,62,63,695, while active cases crossed the 24-lakh mark. The death toll increased to 1,86,920 with a record 2,263 new fatalities.
Registering a steady increase, the active cases increased to 24,28,616 comprising 14.93 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has further dropped to 83.92 per cent.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,36, 48,159, while the case fatality rate has further dropped to 1.15 per cent, the data stated.
Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Rajasthan reported 75.01 per cent of the new COVID-19 cases registered in a day.
Maharashtra has reported 66,836 new cases. It is followed by Uttar Pradesh with 37,238 fresh infections, while Kerala reported 28,447 new cases on Friday.
The total number of vaccinations against COVID-19 has crossed 13.82 crore in the country with more than 27 lakh doses administered till 8 pm on Friday. The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country stood at 13,82,56,975, according to a provisional report compiled at 8 pm on Friday.
A total of 27,78,555 vaccine doses were given till 8 pm on Friday, the 98th day of the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination.
Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force Friday airlifted empty oxygen containers to various filling stations across the country.
Besides oxygen tankers and containers, the IAF also airlifted doctors and nursing staff from Kochi, Mumbai, Visakhapatnam and Bengaluru for various hospitals in Delhi, besides transporting essential medicines as well as equipment required by the designated COVID hospitals in various parts of the country.
India is struggling with the second wave of Coronavirus infection and hospitals in several states are reeling under a shortage of medical oxygen and beds in view of a rising number of cases.
Officials said the IAF deployed its transport aircraft C-17, C-130J, IL-76, An-32 and Avro while keeping its Chinook and Mi-17 helicopters on standby.
Earlier on Friday, the central government decided to resume providing free food grains to 80 crore poor beneficiaries in May and June to help them tide over the economic hardship in the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, a move that would cost the exchequer around Rs 26,000 crore.
"We will provide 5-kg additional food grains for free to PDS beneficiaries under the PMGKAY for two months — May and June. This time, we are not providing pulses under this scheme," Food and Public Distribution secretary Sudhanshu Pandey said.
"5 kg free food grains to be provided to the poor for the month of May & June 2021. 80 crore (approx) beneficiaries to get free food grains. Rs 26,000 crore will be spent by GOI on this initiative," Minister of State for Finance Anurag Singh Thakur said in a tweet.
World leaders also reached out to India and offered their support in dealing with the pandemic.
In a message of solidarity to the Indian people, French President Emmanuel Macron said, "France is with you in this struggle, which spares no-one. We stand ready to provide our support." His message was posted on Twitter by French Ambassador to India Emmanuel Lenain.
President of the European Council Charles Michel said India and the EU will discuss possible cooperation in fighting the pandemic at a virtual summit between the two sides on May 8.
The defence ministry, meanwhile, has decided to airlift 23 mobile oxygen generation plants from Germany. Officials said each plant will have a capacity to produce 40 litres of oxygen per minute and 2,400 litres per hour.
In another move, the ministry has decided to give extension to 238 short service commissioned doctors in the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) till December 31 to tide over the current situation.
Principal Spokesperson in the defence ministry A Bharat Bhushan Babu said the oxygen generation plants will be deployed in the AFMS hospitals treating COVID-19 patients.
To boost oxygen supply, the Centre also decided to immediately install DRDO-Tata Sons oxygen generation plants at various state-run hospitals like AIIMS, NIC Jhajjar, Safdarjung, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital among others. These will have a capacity to generate 1,000 litres of oxygen per minute.
In Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur, five coronavirus patients admitted to the ICU of a private hospital died allegedly after its oxygen supply ran out, prompting the authorities to order a probe.
The incident took place on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday at Galaxy Hospital.
"According to family members, the patients died after the stock of oxygen got over," said City Superintendent of Police Dipak Mishra.
With restrictions in place in several states due to the alarming rise in number of cases, many others also imposed curbs.
Police in Maharashtra reintroduced the e-pass system for inter-state and inter-district travel in "extreme emergency" situations. Fresh restrictions on travel, attendance in offices and weddings came into force on Thursday night. The state, which is facing an unprecedented surge in coronavirus cases, was already under several restrictions since April 14.
Night curfew will be clamped across Andhra Pradesh from Saturday in a bid to curb the virulent spread of coronavirus as the state crossed the one million mark in total cases.
