LIVE News Updates: We are confident we will be able to win over pandemic by people’s participation, says PM

India reports 2,59,170 new COVID-19 cases, 1,761 deaths and 1,54,761 discharges in the last 24 hours, as per Union Health Ministry

We are facing the second wave of COVID19 now. I understand the pain you are going through and express my sympathies to the families who have lost their loved ones due to COVID: PM Modi

Maharashtra govt announces cancellation of Class 10 exam of state board

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation on the COVID-19 situation at 8:45 this evening

Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma has tested positive for COVID-19 and has been shifted to a private hospital in Gurgaon, sources said Tuesday.

The 68-year-old Sharma (68), who was admitted to the Apollo Hospital in Delhi late last night, tested positive for the infection Tuesday and has now been moved to the Medanta Hospital, sources close to him said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several Congress leaders including Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Randeep Surjewala wished him an early recovery.

"Wishing best health and a quick recovery to senior Congress leader Shri Anand Sharma Ji," PM Modi tweeted.

Mumbai reports 7,214 fresh COVID19 cases, 35 deaths and 9,641 recoveries; case tally 5,93,906, death toll 12,439

Delhi and Maharashtra have complained of shortage of oxygen, Maharashtra Minister Aslam Sheikh has hinted towards complete lockdown in the state.

"Serious oxygen crisis persists in Delhi. I again urge centre to urgently provide oxygen to Delhi. Some hospitals are left with just a few hours of oxygen": Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

Looking at the shortage of supply of medical oxygen, Maharashtra is heading towards a complete lockdown; guidelines regarding it will be announced soon: Maharashtra Minister Aslam Sheikh

UT Administrator V P Singh Badnore has decided to impose lockdown in Chandigarh for tomorrow (Wednesday): PRO, Chandigarh Administration

In what is being billed as a game changer for professional boxing in the country, the World Boxing Council (WBC) has endorsed the Indian Championship fight between Chandni Mehra and Suman Kumari on May 1 in Jalandhar

UGC NET exam scheduled to begin on May 2 has been postponed, Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has tweeted.

People will have blood on their hands, if medicines and resources are diverted without application of mind: HC to Centre

Jharkhand government announces lockdown from April 22-29 with few exemptions. Essential services allowed, religious places to remain open but the gathering of devotees not allowed. Mining, agricultural & construction activities permitted

After experiencing mild symptoms, I’ve just tested positive for COVID.

All those who’ve been in contact with me recently, please follow all safety protocols and stay safe, Rahul Gandhi tweeted.

PM has allowed open market sale of covid vaccine after shipments abroad have depleted stocks here: WB Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at Bhagawangola.

TMC submits a memorandum to West Bengal state election commission requesting them to club together phases 6, 7 and 8 of the ongoing West Bengal Polls

Weekend lockdown to be imposed in UP on Saturdays & Sundays. Lockdown will come into effect on Friday 8 pm & continue till Monday 7 am. Only essential services will be allowed. Night curfew will remain imposed in all districts: Awanish K Awasthi, Additional Chief Secy, Home Dept

No lockdown in UP, for now, SC put on hold Allahabad HC's order

Telangana government imposes night curfew till April 30.

Uttar Pradesh government moves Supreme Court challenging the Allahabad High Court order on imposing lockdown in its five cities, on the ground that the High Court did not have the domain to issue such kind of directions.

The Chief Justice of India (CJI) led bench of the Supreme Court decides to hear the matter today

A day after announcing COVID vaccine for all above 18 years from May 1, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet the vaccine manufacturers on Tuesday evening through video conferencing.

With the Centre deciding to open vaccination for all above 18 years from May, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday said the government should ensure adequate availability of vaccines.

"Finally the Central govt has relented & taken decision to allow everyone above 18 to be vaccinated. The Central govt should now ensure adequate availability of vaccines so that people above the age of 18 years can be vaccinated asap, " he tweeted.

"We look forward to a rational & transparent strategy for vaccine distribution among states in the coming days," he added.

Two UK strains and one other mutant strain found in three samples sent for testing to National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Delhi: Dr Deepak Juyal, VRDL lab of Doon Medical College, Dehradun, Uttarakhand

Telangana confirmed 5,926 fresh coronavirus cases, the highest ever in a single day, pushing the total infection count to over 3.61 lakh, while the toll rose to 1856 with 18 more fatalities.

In view of the rising Covid cases in the state, the Himachal Pradesh government on Monday decided to close all educational institutions till May 1.  The faculty of schools, colleges and universities has also been exempted from the duty.

The government also decided to put a complete ban on transfers of field functional staff, informed an official spokesperson saying that the decision was taken by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur while presiding over a high level meeting with senior officers to review the Covid-19 situation in the State, here today. The state Cabinet meeting would be held on April 22 to take few more decisions to contain the spread of Covid-19 virus, he informed.

The CM has directed the officers to enhance the bed capacity in the hospitals. He said that steps would be taken to ensure proper availability of oxygen and medical staff in the State.  He said that bed capacity would be enhanced in Government Medical College, Nerchowk, IGMC, Shimla, Zonal Hospital Dharamshala, Tanda Medical College at Kangra, Sunder Nagar Hospital and various other hospitals. He said that health workers would be posted in appropriate number for care of Covid-19 patients.

Thakur said that special emphasis was being laid on providing better health care and other facilities to the patients under home isolation.

Odisha reported 4,761 new COVID-19 cases, 1,503 recoveries and five deaths on April 19; case tally at 3,77,464 Active cases: 27,821 Total recoveries: 3,47,637 Death toll: 1,954

Andhra Pradesh government declares closure of academic year 2020-21 and announces summer holidays for Classes 1 to 9 from today for all schools functioning under all managements, in view of prevailing COVID19 situation

Amid a surge in COVID cases (in India), travellers should avoid all travel to India. Even fully vaccinated travellers may be at risk for getting & spreading variants and should avoid all travel to India. If you must travel to India, get fully vaccinated before travel: CDC, USA

The overall global Covid-19 caseload has topped 141.8 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 3.02 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University.