Breaking News, April 17

The Rajasthan government on Saturday fixed the rate for RT-PCR diagnostic tests for Covid-19 conducted by private laboratories at Rs 350, slashing it by Rs 150 from the earlier rate of Rs 500 per test.

Remdesivir will be provided free of cost to BPL patients while non-BPL patients will have to bear the cost of Remdesivir at the rate equal to the rate of procurement of Remdesivir by National Health Mission, Assam: State Health Department

Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday said that he has tested positive for COVID-19 but is feeling "fit and fine". The 49-year-old posted the development on his Twitter page.

"After getting repeated test for Covid-19, today my report has come out positive," Rijiju wrote in his twitter handle.

"I'm taking the advice of the Doctors. I request all those who have come in my contact recently to be observant, exercise self-quarantine and get themselves tested. I'm physically fit and fine."

Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria is scheduled to leave for France on Tuesday on a three-day visit during which he will hold talks with several senior French military officials and take stock of production and delivery timelines of some of the remaining Rafale jets.

Sri Lanka may place restrictions on overseas arrivals to limit the spread of coronavirus that has infected over 96,000 people and claimed more than 600 lives in the country, chief epidemiologist Sudath Samaraweera said on Saturday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a meeting at 8 pm tonight to review the COVID-19 and vaccination situation in India. Top officers across various ministries will participate.

The Haryana government on Saturday restricted the physical attendance in its offices to 50 per cent. Also, the entry of outsiders to the offices is curtailed.

• Around 24,000 COVID-19 cases have been reported in Delhi in the last 24 hours, data will come shortly...There is shortage of oxygen and Remdesivir in Delhi, says CM Arvind Kejriwal
• Delhi has a limited number of ICU beds. Oxygen and ICU beds are decreasing very sharply. We are taking several steps to scale up beds capacity, says Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal
•  I hope that we add 6,000 beds in two or three days. No one knows when the peak will come. Central govt gave 4100 beds in November but this time only 1800 beds have been given. I requested Dr Harsh Vardhan to reserve 50% beds for COVID patients, says Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal
• We will keep a close eye on the situation for some days. If the situation deteriorates, we will take whatever step is needed to save your lives, says Arvind Kejriwal
• Directions have been given to take strict action against people who will found hoarding or black marketing medicines, says Delhi CM
• We are receiving complaints that some labs are taking 2/3 days to give COVID19 reports to patients. The reason is that these labs are taking more samples than their capacity. Strict action will be taken against such labs that will not give report within 24 hrs, says CM Kejriwal

People returning to Gujarat after attending the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar will have to undergo an RT-PCR test before they are allowed to enter their respective cities and villages, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said on Saturday.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will address a press conference today at 5 pm.

We have now a larger spike in Delhi as compared to 6-7 months ago. In terms of health infrastructure and containment, what we were doing in the past we need to do that again: AIIMS Director Dr. Randeep Guleria

Two persons were arrested in an ATM cash withdrawal fraud amounting to Rs 92.39 lakh in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur district today. 

FIR registered against one police personnel on the charges of rape in Mumbai. The FIR was registered on the basis of a complaint from a woman police officer. Further investigation is underway. 

Bollywood actor Sonu Sood tests positive for COVID-19, he self-isolated himself. 

Indian Railways to impose a fine of Rs 500 for not wearing a mask at Railway premises amid COVID-19 pandemic. 

Jharkhand High Court grants bail to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad Yadav in Fodder scam case related to fraudulent withdrawal from Dumka Treasury. 

While addressing the rally, PM Narendra Modi said, "From bicycle to rail, paper to steel, aluminium to glass - people from all over India come in Asansol to work in factories. In a way, Asansol is mini India. People from all corners of India are seen here. But the misgovernance of Bengal government affected Asansol." 

A Delhi Court grants bail to Deep Sidhu, an accused in the 26th January violence case.

Former Karnataka chief minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy tests positive for COVID-19.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik writes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggesting certain measures in the light of COVID-19 pandemic. The letter reads, 'Vaccines may be made available outside the government supply chain in the open market so that willing citizens who can afford the vaccine can avail them'. 

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to hold a review meeting on the COVID-19 situation today. Nodal Minister for COVID-19 management Manish Sisodia, Health Minister Satyendar Jain and other officials will take part in the meeting.

As per the information given by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, "The Government has approved the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for White Goods (Air Conditioners and LED Lights) to be implemented over FY 2021-22 to FY 2028-29 with a budgetary outlay of Rs. 6,238 crore." 

Voting is underway for Belagavi Lok Sabha by-poll in Karnataka today. 

The polling in three assembly constituencies of Rajasthan began at 7:00 am today amid tight security arrangements.

EAM said in a statement, "Deeply shocked by shooting at FedEx facility in Indianapolis. Victims include persons of Indian American Sikh community. Our Consulate General in Chicago in touch with Mayor and local authorities in Indianapolis as well as community leaders. Will render all possible assistance." 

Polling for the fifth phase of election is underway in West Bengal today. 

The Maharashtra State COVID task force chairperson Dr Sanjay Oak has suggested that non-essential surgeries be postponed to save medical oxygen.
He said the decision on this, however, would have to be taken at a local level as factors such as the patient's condition and medical urgency are paramount. Amid a spike in cases, there is a reported shortage of medical oxygen in some parts of the state

Sikkim's COVID-19 caseload rose to 6,519 as 22 more people tested positive for the disease in the last 24 hours, an official said on Friday.
East Sikkim registered 18 new cases, while North Sikkim accounted for three and South Sikkim one, he said.

The state has 241 active cases and 6,005 people have recovered from the disease, 

The COVID-19 death toll remained unchanged at 136, and 137 patients have migrated to other states. Altogether, 86,765 samples have so far been tested for the infection, including 312 in the last 24 hours, the official added.