It is not possible to increase the number of beds frequently in order to tackle the rush of Covid-19 patients, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said today.

India will try its best to supply Covid-19 vaccines to Bangladesh, Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami said today.

US drugmaker Pfizer on Wednesday (April 21) confirmed that suspect doses of its coronavirus vaccine that were seized in Mexico and Poland were indeed fake, with doses going for as much as US$1,000 (S$1,328) a shot, according to US media.

India reported the world's highest single-day spike in coronavirus cases with 3,14,835 infections and 2,104 fatalities in the last 24 hours, according to figures released by Indian Health Ministry this morning.

Bangladesh has taken up the issue of speeding up delivery of about five lakh doses of Covid-19 vaccines with India through diplomatic channels to ensure momentum of the vaccination drive in that country, diplomatic sources in India said today.

The US Embassy in Bangladesh will remain closed for routine US citizen services as the government extended a stricter lockdown for a week beginning tomorrow to limit the spread of the Covid-19 virus.

Ninety-five people have died from Covid-19 in 24 hours (till 8am today), according to a press release issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

The Serum Institute of India said on Wednesday it would sell the AstraZeneca (AZN.L) vaccine to the country's state governments at 400 rupees ($5.30) per dose and to private hospitals at 600 rupees ($7.95).

South Korea's foreign minister said on Wednesday he hopes the United States will help Seoul address its COVID-19 vaccine shortage as a return in favour of test kits and masks it sent to Washington earlier in the pandemic.

Problems that have delayed AstraZeneca supplies to the COVAX vaccine-sharing facility have been resolved, UNICEF told Reuters on Tuesday, saying it should receive 65 million doses by end-May from manufacturers outside India.

The European Union’s drug regulatory agency said Tuesday that it found a “possible link” between Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 vaccine and extremely rare blood clots and that a warning should be added to the label. But experts at the agency reiterated that the vaccine’s benefits outweigh the risks.

Even as India battles an alarming increase in daily Covid-19 cases, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tonight cautioned states against imposing of lockdowns, contending that both health and economy should be taken care of.

India's Congress Party leader Rahul Gandhi today said that he has tested positive for Covid-19 and has "mild symptoms".

Ninety-one people have died from Covid-19 in 24 hours (till 8am today), according to a press release issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Russia has proposed to manufacture its ‘Sputnik V’ Covid-19 vaccine in Bangladesh in collaboration with the local pharmaceuticals under a co-production arrangement while Bangladesh is searching other sources apart from India to get vaccines.

American pharma giant Johnson & Johnson has applied to India's drug regulator for permission to conduct a phase-3 human trial of its single-dose Covid-19 vaccine in the country and imports, sources said.

A study has found that people who contracted coronavirus after getting vaccinated are at lower health risk.

The US State Department said on Monday it will boost its "Do Not Travel" guidance to about 80 percent of countries worldwide, citing "unprecedented risk to travelers" from the Covid-19 pandemic.

India is set to accept the Serum Institute of India’s (SII) request for a 30 billion rupee ($400 million) grant to boost its capacity to make the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, a government source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

One hundred and twelve people have died from Covid-19 in 24 hours (till 8am today), according to a press release issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).