Coronavirus live updates: Tamil Nadu chief minister Stalin flags 'severe crisis' over oxygen with PM Modi

The US has so far sent six planes carrying emergency supplies to India, which is battling one of its worst public health crises.

Utah's governor said Thursday the state has no plans to require masks for students in K-12 schools next fall, following months of mounting pressure from parents calling for the mandate's end.

A bold US bid to waive patents on much-needed coronavirus vaccines was strongly opposed by Germany on Thursday, threatening to derail the proposal that requires the consensus of World Trade Organization members to pass.Rich nations have faced accusations of hoarding shots while poor countries struggle to get inoculation programs off the ground, with the virus surging across the developing world in contrast to the easing of restrictions in Europe and the United States.

Daily Covid-19 cases in India hit another peak as more than 4.14 lakh fresh infections were reported on Thursday even as 3,927 more people succumbed to the pandemic.

On Friday, she's set to deliver remarks at a State Department event focused on the effort to combat Covid-19 in India, and she's expected to express US solidarity with the nation.

Daily Covid-19 cases in India hit another peak as more than 4.14 lakh fresh infections were reported on Thursday even as 3,927 more people succumbed to the pandemic. Daily deaths have stayed above 3,000 for 10 days now, with cumulative fatalities at 36,110, translating to an average of 150 deaths every hour. This is the highest death toll reported by any country for a 10-day span.

All persons arriving in the national capital from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana will have to undergo mandatory government institutional quarantine. This comes after reports of a more virulent variant of the virus found in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, that reportedly has a shorter incubation period and a higher transmission rate. All passengers coming by airlines, trains, buses, cars, trucks, or any other mode of transportation will have to quarantine for 14 days at facilities established or identified by the concerned District Magistrate. Any person who has been successfully received both doses of the vaccine and produces a certificate to the effect, or have negative RT-PCR report not older than 72 hours prior to undertaking the journey will be allowed home quarantine for 7 days.

Goa set a new record with 41% coronavirus positivity rate measured over a 14-day period between April 21 and May 4 and there are at least 13 states, including Delhi, where the fortnightly infection rate was more than 21%. Such a high rate of infection points to under-reported cases and the need to increase testing. West Bengal is the third worst affected state with a positivity rate of 30% in the April 21-May 4 fortnight.

Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR) on Thursday clarified that lockdown would not be imposed in the state as it would bring life to a standstill and lead to the total collapse of the financial system. Rao took this decision after examining states where lockdowns were in place and positive cases did not come down, along with past experiences.

Vaccine maker Biological E is gearing up to churn out 75 to 80 million doses per month of its recombinant protein vaccine candidate from August this year. The company also says it will be one of the most affordable vaccines in the country.

Tamil Nadu has just one day's liquid medical oxygen stock left, and the issue has reached a critical point in the state, officials told Madras high court on Thursday. The state's health department brass told the court that while 25MT of oxygen is being diverted from Sriperumbudur to Andhra Pradesh or Telangana, the 40MT it was supposed to get in return from Palakkad in Kerala has not come.

American civil rights activist Rev Jesse Jackson said he would speak to Biden to immediately release 60 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines to India. Expressing concern over the current situation in India, Rev Jackson said he will personally speak to the healthcare industry to donate oxygen concentrators and cylinders to India and follow up with the pharmaceutical giants to ensure therapeutic supplies to the country.

Doctors and experts say those following a healthy nutritional diet and exercise have better immunity to fight the disease even when they get infected. While co-morbidities such as diabetes and heart disease have made people vulnerable even during the first wave, doctors are particularly concerned about obesity in severe patients this time as it also hinders proning — a crucial technique in managing oxygen levels even in hospitalised patients of Covid-19. Dieticians suggest leafy green vegetables, berries, citrus, garlic and onions. Fruits high in Vitamin C and banana are also recommended for improving immunity. Experts suggest light regular exercise to trigger circulation which in turn activates immunity receptors.

The charge’d affaires at the US embassy Dan Smith tweeted, “The US-India partnership involves all aspects of the relationship: government, business and people. This week vaccine components arrived in India from the US that will enable the manufacturing of 20 million doses of Covishield vaccine.”