The Maharashtra government on Thursday extended the ongoing lockdown in the state till June 1 to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The state government also imposed stringent restrictions as it made carrying a negative RT-PCR test report mandatory to enter the state through any mode of transportation.

As per the fresh orders, any person entering the state of Maharashtra through any means of transport will have to carry a negative RT-PCR test report which will have to be issued from up to a maximum of 48 hours before the time of entry into the state.

Himachal Pradesh Government will provide free treatment to COVID patients under Himcare and Ayushman Bharat schemes in registered private hospitals, said officials on Wednesday.

According to the state government, only the beneficiaries of the Himcare and Ayushman Bharat scheme can avail of the facility. Further, the private hospitals must be designated as a dedicated COVID hospital.

COVID-19 vaccines approved by the United States like Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson have effectiveness against the B1617 variant of the virus that is predominant in India, which is experiencing one of the worst outbreaks of the pandemic, a top American health official said.

The observation is based on the latest data about the variant and the three major vaccines approved by the United States, said Dr Francis Collins, Director of National Institute of Science.

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) cleared Bharat Biotech's Covaxin trials on children from two to 18 years on Thursday (May 13). Bharat Biotech said its phase II and III trials would be carried out on "525 healthy volunteers.

The trial will involve two vaccine doses injected on Day 1 and Day 28. This is the first time in India that a COVID vaccine will be tested on children.

The Rajasthan state cabinet on Wednesday gave the nod to float a global tender to purchase 1 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

The state government has also issued orders to establish 105 oxygen plants in 62 places.

The Uttarakhand Government has ordered officials for mass distribution of Ivermectin tablets to all residents as a preventive medicine against the spread of COVID-19, a senior official said.

This announcement comes after Goa and Karnataka issued similar directions.

Days after corpses of suspected COVID-19 patients were spotted floating on the Ganga river in eastern UP and Bihar, and on the Yanumna in Uttar Pradesh, reports have now shown that multiple bodies have been buried in sand at two locations along the Ganga river in Unnao district of UP.

Visuals from the two locations show buried bodies with locals looking on. However, there was no confirmation if these bodies were of COVID patients.

New COVID-19 cases again breached the 3.5 lakh benchmark on Wednesday after remaining low for two consecutive days. Deaths due to the virus remained over 4,000 for the second day in a row. Overall, the day saw 3,62,720 new cases taking the caseload tally to 23,703,665 and recorded 4,120 deaths taking the death tally to 2,58,317.

Further, 3,52,181 people were discharged from the hospital in the last 24 hours. As per the WHO report, since May 10 fresh COVID-19 cases reported from India have remained over 50% of the world's total cases.

In an open letter, a group of eminent global business and policy leaders has urged US President Joe Biden to demonstrate a decisive American leadership in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The group of 16 business and policy leaders raised concern over the rampant spread of the virus in places like India and the Philippines, and the likelihood of mutations perpetuating the world if left unchecked.

The wait is finally over! In what seem to be a good news for farmers, the government will start transferring Rs 2000 to farmers' accounts from May 14 (Friday) under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM-KSNY). Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the 8th instalment of farmers under PM Kisan Yojana on May 14. PM Modi will also interact with farmers across the country at 11 am, informed Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh.

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