Jammu, April 21 (IANS) The Jammu and Kashmir government said on Wednesday that the present Covid situation in the Union Territory is challenging as the growth rate of positive cases is 8.12 per cent more than what it was last year.

Jammu, April 21 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir logged 2,204 new Covid cases on Wednesday while the number of active cases rose to 14,928 with 13 deaths during the last 24 hours.

Chennai, April 21 (IANS) Puducherry, which has announced a lockdown from Friday evening to Monday morning, has reported five more deaths from Covid-19 since the last 24 hours as on Wednesday, taking its toll to 722.

New Delhi, April 21 (IANS) The Centre has roped in the Indian Air Force to airlift oxygen cylinders, regulators, and essential medicines as the national capital region faces shortage of oxygen cylinders and medicines.

Kolkata, April 21 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is going to write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the 'non-uniformity' of vaccine prices.

Hyderabad, April 21 (IANS) Telangana's Industry and Information Technology Minister K.T. Rama Rao on Wednesday said that four lakh remdesivir injections will be made available in all the government hospitals within the coming one week.

London, April 21 (IANS) Researchers have identified differences in the immune response to Covid-19, between people with no symptoms, compared to those suffering a more serious reaction to the virus.

Mumbai, April 21 (IANS) In a unique suggestion, the Maharashtra Congress on Wednesday demanded Covid-19 'Vaccination At Home' - on the lines of the polio campaign - for all eligible people as they cannot reach the inoculation centres owing to the ongoing lockdown restrictions.

New Delhi, April 21 (IANS) Amid shortage of oxygen reported in several government and privates hospitals in Delhi since last few days due to sudden increase of Covid-19 cases, the city government found some relief as the Centre has agreed to increase Delhi's oxygen quota, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Wednesday.

New Delhi, April 21 (IANS) Respiratory droplets are the most prominent source of transmission for Covid-19. However, flushing a toilet can generate large quantities of microbe-containing aerosols depending on the design, water pressure or flushing power of the toilet at public restrooms, an Indian-origin researchers-led study has warned.

Jerusalem, April 21 (IANS) Does your kid love to eat ultra-processed junk foods like packaged chips, soups, hot dogs and fries? Besides the increasing risk of obesity, eating junk foods can also affect your bones, warn researchers.

Hyderabad, April 21 (IANS) Leading vaccine maker Bharat Biotech and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Wednesday announced interim results from phase 3 clinical trials of Covaxin, which show 78 per cent overall clinical efficacy and 100 per cent efficacy against severe Covid-19.

Nashik (Maharashtra), April 21 (IANS) In a horrific incident, at least 22 Covid-19 patients on ventilator support died at a hospital in Nashik after a sudden drop in pressure due to leakage in the oxygen supplies, officials said.

New Delhi, April 21 (IANS) Emphasising on judicious use of oxygen, AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria said if a person's oxygen saturation is 93 per cent to 99 per cent, then that person does not need oxygen, and taking it will instead be harmful.

Hyderabad, April 21 (IANS) Telangana Health Minister E. Rajender on Wednesday reiterated that there is no scarcity of remdesivir in the state, in wake of recent reports of several people landing up at the doors of pharma units in a desperate bid to procure the anti-viral drug for their kin suffering from Covid.

New Delhi, April 21 (IANS) In a leaked video Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia is seen taking a meeting at the GTB hospital and directing officials to take quick decisions without waiting for approvals from the Secretariat.

New Delhi, April 21 (IANS) To scale up production of its Covishield vaccine, the Serum Institute of India (SII) had borrowed money from banks instead of waiting for the government's aid to arrive.

Chandigarh, April 21 (IANS) Faced with shortage of medical oxygen supply for Covid-19 patients, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday urged the Centre to ensure uninterrupted oxygen supplies, with at least 120 metric tonnes (MT) daily allocation for the state, while reiterating his request for urgent steps to set up two pending PSA plants approved two months ago.

Panaji, April 21 (IANS) Goa will be under night curfew from 10 pm to 6 am till April 30, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said in the wake of an unprecedented spike in the number of Covid-19 cases in the state.

New Delhi, April 21 (IANS) Increasing efforts towards faster mass vaccination and virus surveillance is the key to ward off dangers posed by a triple-mutant coronavirus now present in the country, health experts said on Wednesday.

New Delhi, April 21 (IANS) Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank on Wednesday tested positive for coronavirus. At present, he is in home quarantine and following the Covid protocols.

Gurugram, April 21 (IANS) Gurugram Deputy Commissioner Yash Garg on Wednesday said that the Covid situation is completely under control here as he ruled out clamping a fresh lockdown.

Chennai, April 21 (IANS) Amid the spike in coronavirus cases, the Greater Chennai Corporation is mulling to increase Covid testing to 25,000 tests per day.

Chennai, April 21 (IANS) DMK President M.K. Stalin on Wednesday urged the Tamil Nadu government to take steps on a war footing to procure necessary drugs, and oxygen, augment patient beds and prevent Covid-19 vaccine wastage.

New Delhi, April 21 (IANS) Pre-symptomatic transmission of Covid-19 is a big concern, with estimates that 30 to 59 per cent cases are especially coming from transmission from pre-symptomatic people and less from asymptomatic people, warns expert Jose-Luis Jimenez.