The Morning Filter: PM to meet vaccine manufacturers

The Hindu Newsletter - The big news stories to follow today [logo] The Morning Filter Tuesday | 20 April, 2021 [The Hindu logo] Welcome to the Morning Filter newsletter, your guide from The Hindu on the major news stories and events to follow today. [[Arrow]Open in browser]( [[Mail icon]More newsletters]( Here are the latest updates and the big news stories to follow today [A vial of Covishield vaccine, developed by Oxford-Astrazeneca Plc. and manufactured by Serum Institute of India Ltd, at a hospital in Chennai. File photo]( 1. Night curfew, Sunday lockdown in Tamil Nadu from April 20 In a bid to curtail the spread of COVID-19, the Tamil Nadu government has announced [restrictions from April 20](including a night curfew between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. and a complete lockdown on Sundays. 2. PM to meet COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers on Tuesday Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called a meeting with vaccine manufacturers on Tuesday, sources said. During the meeting, scheduled to be held through video conference at 6 pm on Tuesday, the Department of Biotechnology will make a presentation and also coordinate with all the participants, sources added. 3. Delhi under six-day “total curfew” starting tonight: Kejriwal [Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal] The Capital would be placed under a [six-day “total curfew”](till early next Monday morning, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced in New Delhi. The announcement came after Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Anil Baijal and Mr. Kejriwal met to discuss the COVID-19 situation in the city where both agreed that the city’s health system had “reached its limit.” 4. West Bengal Assembly polls | BJP decides to stop large rallies, restricts crowds to 500 The [BJP on Monday decided to stop holding large rallies](, gatherings and meetings for the West Bengal Assembly elections, capping attendance at 500 due to the rising COVID-19 cases. 5. COVID-19: HC directs Centre, AAP govt to disclose number of beds available in hospitals The Delhi High Court Monday directed the Centre and AAP government to file affidavits by Tuesday disclosing hospital-wise availability of beds for COVID-19 patients. The High court asked the Central government to look into the aspect of shortage of oxygen supply in Delhi hospitals on an urgent basis. 6. COVID-19: Punjab extends night curfew by 1 hr; bars, cinemas, gyms shut from Tuesday [Amritsar: Tourists walk near the statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh at the Heritage Street near the Golden Temple, in Amritsar on March 18, 2021. ] The Punjab government on Monday [announced stricter curbs](, including extension of night curfew by an hour and closure of bars, cinema halls, gyms, spas, coaching centres and sports complexes in the state till April 30. The fresh restrictions will come into effect from Tuesday, officials said, adding that curfew timings will now be from 8 pm to 5 am, instead of the earlier 9 pm to 5 am. 7. Summer vacation in Bengal schools to start from April 20 in view of rising COVID-19 cases: Minister The West Bengal government on Monday said summer vacation in schools will begin from as early as Tuesday in view of rising [COVID-19 cases]( in the state. The summer break usually starts from the first week of May. "Classes for 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th standard had resumed from mid-February (in state-aided and state-run schools). 8. Karnataka Governor to preside over all-party meet to discuss COVID situation [Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala]( will preside over a virtual meeting with floor leaders of both houses of Legislature on April 20, to discuss the COVID- 19 situation, amid a spike in cases. According to an official meeting notice from the Chief Minister's office, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, will be attending the virtual meeting, scheduled at 4.30 PM on Tuesday. 9. Night curfew imposed in Kerala from Tuesday The Kerala government on Monday decided to impose [night curfew from 9 pm to 6 am from April 20]( in view of the sharp increase in COVID-19 cases in the State. The decision in this regard was taken at a high level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Dr V P Joy, this evening. 10. U.K. PM Boris Johnson calls off trip, expresses sympathy for India’s COVID-19 crisis [ Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson. File ] British Prime Minister [Boris Johnson on Monday cancelled his visit to India](, due on April 25-26, “in view of the prevailing COVID situation”, both governments announced. The decision was taken after weeks of discussions over how to proceed with the visit despite the pandemic, and last week officials had said he would cut short the duration and limit his travel to Delhi. 11. IPL 2021 | MI, DC look to outsmart each other in battle of equals A battle royale is in the offing as heavyweights Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals cross swords, looking to outsmart each other in the IPL in Chennai on Tuesday. Up against a resurgent side, defending champions MI will need to address their middle-order woes if they are to go for a third consecutive win. 12. Coronavirus | [Latest numbers]( and developments The number of positive [coronavirus]( cases in India recorded in the last 24 hours stands at 2,56,828, taking the tally in the country to 1,53,14,714, at the time of publishing this newsletter. The death toll from the disease stands at 1,80,550. [underlineimg] Morning Filter will return tomorrow. Follow up on the day’s biggest stories and get concise analysis by The Hindu with the Evening Wrap newsletter. Today's Top Picks [[ A photo by Rohit S. Rao of the Amateur Astronomers Association of the Lunar Occultation of Mars as observed in Mangaluru. ] Lunar Occultation of Mars observed in Mangaluru]( [[A total of 48,088 beneficaries got vaccinated against COVID in the city in 24 hours.] Samaritans lend a helping hand amid unprecedented infections]( [[A YouTube screen grab from the music video ‘Angane Venam.'] Singer Arya Dhayal’s new song video ‘Angane Venam’ is a catchy call against gender discrimination]( [[Coimbatore-based choreographer B. Madhan (centre) along with his students performing in the music video for M.S. Dhoni.] Coimbatore choreographer makes music video for Dhoni]( Copyright @ 2021, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. 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