Coronavirus India Updates: Record Spike In Infections Take Active Caseload Above 15 Lakh
Track news and developments around the second wave of Covid-19 in India here.
India Offers Rs 65 Crore Grant To Double Covaxin Output By June
Ministry of Science and Technology said that the Department of Biotechnology will provide Rs 65 crore financial grant to Bharat Biotech International Ltd. to expand capacity.
Current production capacity of Covaxin vaccine will be doubled by May-June 2021 and then increased nearly 6-7 fold by July-August 2021, according to the statement.
Hence production will increase from 1 crore vaccine doses in April to 6-7 crore vaccine dose/month in July – August. Output is expected to reach nearly 10 crore doses per month by September 2021.
India continued to report a record spike Covid-19 infections, prompting Delhi to join Maharashtra in tightening curbs.
More than 2.17 lakh people tested positive for the coronavirus in a matter of 24 hours, according to the Health Ministry's update as of 8:00 a.m. on April 16. Active caseload stood near 15.7 lakh for the first time ever.
Authorities also reported a spike in daily fatalities related to Covid-19 to the levels last seen in September 2020. More than 1,000 people succumbed to the illness for the third consecutive day.
Key Figures:
Total number of confirmed cases: 1,42,91,917
Active cases: 15,69,743
Total cured/discharged/migrated: 1,25,47,866
Total deaths: 1,74,308
New infections in 24 hours: 2,17,353
Recoveries in a day: 1,18,302
Deaths in a single day: 1,185
Total vaccination shots given: 11,72,23,509
States are announcing localised restrictions to contain the spread of Covid-19. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kerjriwal announced a weekend curfew in the city where malls, gyms, spas and auditoriums will be closed.
Maharashtra has already imposed a state-wide curfew that will stay in effect till 7 a.m. on May 1. Essential services remain exempt from the Section 144 restrictions on movement.