India recorded over 2.57 lakh new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours ending 8 am Saturday, taking India’s total infections to over 2.62 crore. 

Out of the total cases, over 29 lakh are currently active, a number down under 30 lakh after three weeks, while over 2.30 crore people have recovered till now. 

With 4,194 new fatalities, the death toll is now at 2,95,525. Maharashtra’s daily count remains below 30,000. Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala are top contributors.

As fatalities and infections remained high, Karnataka, Goa and Kerala on Friday announced an extension to their existing curbs. While Karnataka announced a 14-day extension till June 7, Goa extended its curfew till May 31. Kerala, meanwhile, extended the lockdown till May 30 but announced an easing of the “triple-lockdown” in three districts.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will visit the United States from May 24 to 28 and meet top officials and vaccine manufacturers as India continues to face a massive shortage of vaccines in a raging second wave. Jaishankar will “persuade the US to send as many vaccines as possible to India and its neighbours”, sources said.

The vaccination drive against Covid-19 for the 18-44 age group in Delhi will have to be suspended from Monday as the vaccine stock is getting over, AAP MLA Atishi said on Friday. She said that less than a day’s stock of Covaxin is left for the 45-plus age group as well, while the Covishield stock for them can last for eight more days.

Source: The Indian Express

BDST: 1207 HRS, May 22, 2021
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