1. India on Monday reported a record-breaking 3,52,991 new cases in a day, taking the total number of infections since the pandemic broke out in January 2020 to 1,73,13,163. This is the highest ever single-day rise in cases reported by any country so far, and the fifth consecutive day when the country has set such a grim global record. For the first time, 2,812 deaths were registered. The toll is now 1,95,123.
  2. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Joe Biden had a telephonic conversation on Monday, a day after America said it would send raw material for the Covishield vaccine. “Had a fruitful conversation with @POTUS @JoeBiden today,” Modi tweeted. “We discussed the evolving COVID situation in both countries in detail. I thanked President Biden for the support being provided by the United States to India. My discussion with @POTUS @JoeBiden also underscored the importance of smooth and efficient supply chains of vaccine raw materials and medicines. India-US healthcare partnership can address the global challenge of COVID-19.”
  3. All India Institute of Medical Sciences Director Dr Randeep Guleria urged hospitals to use oxygen judiciously amid an acute shortage in the country. The Ministry of Home Affairs claimed that India has enough stock of medical oxygen but the main challenge was its transportation. The Centre, meanwhile, told the Delhi High Court that states cannot procure oxygen and it has to be done on a national level only.
  4. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh announced daily restrictions on movement in the state from 6 pm to 5 am. “Due to continuous and rapid rise of Covid-19 cases in Punjab, Cabinet today has decided to impose daily lockdown from 6 pm to 5 am and weekend lockdown from Friday 6 pm to Monday 5 am,” the chief minister tweeted. “Urge you all to stay at home and step out only if absolutely necessary. Seek your full cooperation.”
  5. Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa announced a two-week lockdown in the state from 9 pm on Tuesday. The decision was taken in a Cabinet meeting after consulting the state’s expert committee, Yediyurappa said. The Cabinet also decided to provide coronavirus vaccines free of cost at government hospitals for those between 18 to 45 years of age.
  6. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that his government will provide free coronavirus vaccines to everyone above 18 from May 1, when India’s third phase of inoculation begins.
  7. The Madras High Court said the Election Commission should be booked on charges of murder for allowing rallies to continue in poll-bound states, despite an unprecedented surge in coronavirus cases in India. “Were you on another planet when the election rallies were held?” the court said. “Your officers should be booked on murder charges probably.”
  8. All retired armed forces medical personnel or those who took early retirement in the last two years will be recalled to work in Covid-19 facilities near their current residences, the Centre said.
  9. Four Congress-ruled states – Rajasthan, Punjab, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand – on Sunday said they will not be able to start vaccinating all adults from May 1 because the Centre had allegedly hijacked vaccine stocks from manufacturers, leaving very little for them.  
  10. Globally, the coronavirus has infected more than 14.6 crore people and killed over 31 lakh since the pandemic broke out in December 2019, according to Johns Hopkins University. Over 8.46 crore people have recovered from the infection.