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.

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.

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.

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) Union Government on Wednesday said that there are more than 21.57 lakh active Covid cases in the country, which is double the maximum number of active cases India had last year.

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.

New Delhi, April 21 (IANS) A man outside the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) hospital in New Delhi could be seen weeping inconsolably after losing his eight-month pregnant wife and unborn child on Wednesday afternoon.

Amaravati, April 21 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Covid command and control centre Chairman K.S. Jawahar Reddy has directed District Collectors and special officers to double the availability of beds from 18,000 to 37,000.

Srinagar, April 21 (IANS) National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar on Wednesday ordered starting of online classes and closure of hostels within one week to ensure safety of students and staff in the wake of COVID spread in Kashmir.

Chandigarh, April 21 (IANS) With the spike in coronavirus cases in Haryana, the state government on Wednesday announced summer vacation in all schools till May 31.

New Delhi, April 21 (IANS) Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said on Monday Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin neutralises multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2 and effectively neutralises the double mutant strain as well.

Lucknow, April 21 (IANS) In a major relief to pregnant women, the Lucknow District Magistrate Roshan Jacob has said that such women will be admitted in hospitals and given medical care without waiting for the mandatory Covid report.

New Delhi, April 21 (IANS) While several states claimed a shortage of Covid vaccine, it has been learnt that many states have wasted huge quantities of it. Tamil Nadu, Haryana and Punjab are three top states that reported the highest wastage of vaccines. While Kerala, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh were the states which reported zero wastage of Covid vaccine.

Panaji, April 21 (IANS) Cases in Goa are on the rise because the state has increased the number of daily tests, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Wednesday, a day after the state logged its highest number of deaths and its daily infection rate peaked at 1,160 in 24 hours.

New Delhi, April 21 (IANS) Despite allowing vaccination for all above 18 years, the Covid vaccine will not be available for sale at chemists or pharmacies. As per the government sources, only Covid Vaccination Centres (CVCs) and hospitals are allowed to give the vaccines in the third phase of vaccination starting from May 1.

New Delhi, April 21 (IANS) Amid acute shortage of oxygen in Delhi hospitals, the Covid positivity rate in the national capital has shot up to 32.82 per cent (till April 20, night), making health management more challenging in the city.

Kolkata, April 21 (IANS) Covid takes its toll again. Famous poet, literary critic and social activist Shankha Ghosh died of Covid at the age of 89 at his residence on Wednesday morning. He was in isolation at his home after he tested Covid-19 positive on April 14.

Chennai, April 21 (IANS) Director of Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Dr Rakesh Aggarwal has in a circular directed all hospitals and clinics to take prior appointment from the institute before referring Covid patients who are critically ill and in need of bed and oxygen support at the JIPMER.

Amaravati, April 21 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy ordered a penalty of Rs 100 on all maskless people in public places at a time when Coronavirus is raging.

Chennai, April 21 (IANS) The Union Territory of Puducherry has decided to impose lockdown from April 23 (Friday night) till April 26 (Monday morning) amidst the rising number of Covid-19 cases.

Bhopal, April 21 (IANS) The non-government organisation (NGO) 'Art of Living' will contribute to the ongoing fight against coronavirus infections in Madhya Pradesh, said the Art of Living' founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar during a telephonic conversation with Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Mumbai, April 21 (IANS) Around 39 women inmates of the Byculla Women's Jail, including murder-accused Indrani Mukerjea have tested Covid-19 positive and have been shifted to an isolation centre, official sources said here on Wednesday.