India has set a new grim global record with 4,529 Covid patients succumbing to the virus in the last 24 hours, breaching the highest daily death record reported by the United States in January (4,475). In the same time, the country also reported 2.67 lakh new cases, pushing the overall tally to 2.54 crore.
India’s overall tally of Covid-19 cases now stands at 2,54,96,330 with 32,26,719 active cases and 2,83,248 deaths so far.
According to the Health Ministry, a total of 3,89,851 people have been discharged in the last 24 hours, with 2,19,86,363 being cured from Covid till date.
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 32,03,01,177 samples have been tested up to May 18 for Covid-19. Of these 20,08,296 samples were tested on Tuesday.
The Health Ministry said that a total of 18,58,09,302 people have been vaccinated so far in the country, including 13,12,155 who were administered vaccines in the last 24 hours.
Here’s more updates:
*In 22 states, positivity rate in higher than 15 per cent, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said in a tweet last evening. India’s average positivity rate stood at 13.31 per cent this morning.
*The Telangana government extended the ongoing statewide lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus infections till May 30. The state had first imposed a 10-day lockdown from May 12, while allowing a daily relaxation between 6 am and 10 am.
*Every family in Delhi that has lost a member to Covid will be awarded ex gratia of Rs 50,000, and those who lost earning members or breadwinners will get an additional Rs 2,500 per month as pension, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Tuesday.
“We cannot compensate for the loss but we can help you in these difficult times,” Kejriwal said. “If the husband dies, the pension will be given to the wife. If the wife dies, it will be given to the husband. If an unmarried person dies, the pension will be given to his or her parents.”
*If vaccine demand is more than supply it creates problem. Instead of 1, let 10 more companies be given license for vaccine manufacture…Let them supply in country & later if there’s surplus, they may export. It can be done in 15-20 days: Union Min Nitin Gadkari (18.05): Nitin Gadkari(ANI).
