Coronavirus India Updates: India Cases Continue To Rise Unabated, PM Urges States To Avoid Lockdown

New coronavirus infections dropped for the first time in a week, albeit marginally, at a time the government decided to extend inoculations to everyone above the age of 18, and states further tightened curbs.

2.59 lakh people tested positive for the infection in the last 24 hours, according to the Health Ministry's update at 8:00 a.m on April 20. Active cases surged past 20 lakh for the first time ever.

Key Figures

• Total number of confirmed cases: 1,53,21,089
• Active cases: 20,31,977
• Total cured/discharged/migrated: 1,31,08,582
• Total deaths: 1,80,530
• New infections in 24 hours: 2,59,170
• Recoveries in a day: 1,54,761
• Deaths in a single day: 1,761

India will open up Covid-19 vaccinations to everyone above 18 years of age from May 1, under the third phase of the country’s immunisation drive.

Authorities have administered over 12 crore vaccination shots in the first two phases so far. The country plans to cover about 25 crore people with two doses by July.

Read the latest updates on the second Covid-19 wave in India here:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation about the Covid-19 situation at 8:45 p.m., his office announced on Twitter.

Modi’s address comes as the country grapples with a deadly second wave of the virus that has overwhelmed the healthcare infrastructure.

Top ministers of the Maharashtra government have requested Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to impose a full lockdown in the state as cases continue to rise unabated despite numerous curbs.

"We have requested the CM to announce a complete lockdown in the state from tomorrow at 8 pm. This was the request of all ministers to CM, now it is his decision," Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope told reporters, according to ANI.

Besides Tope, Minister of Textiles and Fisheries Aslam Sheikh also said that the state is heading towards a complete lockdown considering the shortage of medical oxygen and other supplies.

The Maharashtra government further tightened Covid-19 restrictions throughout the state and issued guidelines which will remain in force from 8 p.m. on April 20 till 7 a.m. on May 1, according to an order issued by the Chief Secretary.

• All groceries, vegetables and fruit vendors, dairies, meat and all other food shops to be open only between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m.
• Shops related to agricultural implements and farm produce, pet food, materials for impending rainy season, too, will be open only between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m.
• Home delivery from the said shops may be allowed between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.
• The allowed timings, however, may be changed by the local authority.
• The local Disaster Management Authorities can include any additional entities/services as essential only after the consent of the State Disaster Management Authority.

All other conditions will remain in accordance with the government order dated April 13, 2021 and additions/clarifications already issued thereof.

The Supreme Court stayed Monday’s Allahabad High Court order, imposing lockdown in five cities in Uttar Pradesh.

The Uttar Pradesh government had moved the Supreme Court challenging the lockdown order, saying that the High Court did not have the domain to issue such directions.

The Supreme Court bench, led by the Chief Justice of India, today imposed a stay on the order.