As India recorded over two lakh new COVID-19 cases for the second straight day, the Centre on Friday unveiled plans to ramp up output of indigenous vaccine Covaxin ten times to reach 10 crore doses by September and accelerate the manufacture of antiviral drug remdesivir, and also called for increasing the production of medical oxygen. In the wake of reports of shortage of the medical grade oxygen for COVID-19 patients in different parts of the country in the last few days, Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook a comprehensive review to ensure its adequate supply, and said steps should be taken to augment the production. He also asked officials to ensure seamless and free movement of tankers carrying this commodity throughout the country.
Coronavirus | Former Union Law Minister writes to CJI on worsening pandemic
Updated:
Updated:
April 16, 2021 21:49 IST
Calling for curbs on ‘super spreader’ gatherings, Ashwani Kumar said, ‘The right to life stands at the pinnacle in the hierarchy of constitutional rights’
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Congress leader and former Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar. File
| Photo Credit:
Sandeep Saxena
Calling for curbs on ‘super spreader’ gatherings, Ashwani Kumar said, ‘The right to life stands at the pinnacle in the hierarchy of constitutional rights’
Former law minister Ashwani Kumar on Friday wrote to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and other judges of the top court to take note of the worsening coronavirus situation and issue “suitable directions” to Centre and State governments to ban political rallies, protest assemblies, and religious or festive congregations of more than 50 people.
Maharashtra leads with 63,729 infections, followed by U.P. and Delhi
India registered 2,33,728 new COVID-19 cases as of 11.45 p.m. on April 16, the highest single-day spike so far. As many as 1,338 deaths were recorded on the day.
Maharashtra reported 63,729 infections (accounting for 27% of the new cases) on April 16, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 27,426 new infections and Delhi with 19,486 new cases. Maharashtra also recorded the highest number of casualties (398) on April 16. Delhi followed with 141 new deaths, while Chhattisgarh registered 138 new casualties
The figures do not include cases and deaths from the Union Territory of Ladakh. The data is sourced from
covid19india.org, an independent aggregator of daily COVID-19 figures.