The Centre has discontinued allocation of the antiviral drug remdesivir to the states as supply has now surpassed demand. It will, however, maintain a stockpile of 50 lakh vials for emergency requirements.
The home ministry late on Friday expanded the list of states and districts where the respective home secretaries and collectors can exercise delegated powers of the central government to grant citizenship to immigrants belonging to six minority communities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
With the addition of 832 deaths on Saturday, Maharashtra-’s toll for May crossed the 25,000 mark, which is higher than the toll of most states for the entire pandemic. It reported 443 deaths on Saturday and added 389 “old” deaths, taking its cumulative toll to 94,030.