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The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the Centre to provide detailed information on all COVID-19 vaccines purchased by the government to date, including Covaxin, Covishield, and Sputnik V. The data should include: (a) the dates of all Central government procurement orders for all three vaccinations; (b) the quantity of vaccines ordered as of each date; and (c) the expected date of supply, according to the Court.

The apex court has also asked the Centre to share its plan on how and when the government will vaccinate the remaining population in phases 1, 2, and 3. Further, the Court also sought information on the steps being taken by the Central government to ensure drug availability for mucormycosis.

There will be no exams this year for CBSE Class 12 students due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today. The decision, he said, was taken in the interest of students.

"Health and safety of our students is of utmost importance and there would be no compromise on this aspect," a statement from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said. "Anxiety among students, parents and teachers, which must be put to an end...Students should not be forced to appear for exams in such a stressful situation. All stakeholders need to show sensitivity for students," it said.

Within minutes of the decision on CBSE, it was informed that the Council for Indian School Certificate, too, had called off its Class 12 Board Exams for this year.

From studying the effectiveness of a single dose of Covishield to mixing vaccines, the Centre is considering tweaking its vaccine strategy, according to several media reports. This gains significance coming in the backdrop of India, which is battling the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, facing a severe vaccine shortage.

All the vaccines currently authorised for use in India — Covishield, Covaxin and Russia’s Sputnik V — are two-dose vaccines.

Cautioning people against a third wave of Covid infections and asking them not to lower their guard, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray today announced that the restrictions imposed in the state to curb the spread of the infection will be extended till June 15.

He said that the state government will take stock of the situation in each district and may tighten or relax the curbs in specific areas.

"I don't know when and what date the third wave will come. So we should not let our guard down," he said. "In the last three-four days, the numbers matched the peak of the last wave. But one good thing is the recovery rate which is now 92 per cent. Even the Case Fatality Rate has reduced," the Chief Minister said. He said that while Covid cases are decreasing in the cities, rural areas of the state are seeing a spike. He thanked the people of the state for their determination in following restrictions imposed to stem the surge in cases.

New Delhi:  A Delhi court on Saturday granted bail to businessman Navneet Kalra in a case pertaining to the seizure of oxygen concentrators from his upscale restaurants, including Khan Chacha, here. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Arun Kumar Garg has directed the accused not to contact the customers to whom he had sold the concentrators, not to tamper with evidence or influence the witnesses, and join the investigation as and when called by the police.

During a recent raid, 524 oxygen concentrators, which are a crucial medical equipment used for COVID-19 patients, were recovered from Khan Chacha, Town Hall, and Nege & Ju restaurants owned by Kalra.