“While the second wave lashed again in April, the first quarter this fiscal will be sharply better on-year, with occupancy of 75 per cent, almost double on-year. This will be largely on account of a surge in Covid-19 treatments more than offsetting the deferral of elective surgeries and outpatient footfalls,” Crisil Ratings Senior Director Manish Gupta said.

As the second wave recedes in the second quarter, Crisil expects pent-up demand for non-Covid treatments to rebound and support occupancy, he added.

“You will have to give very good reasons to hold Class 12 board examinations. If there is any fatality, we will hold the state responsible,” the bench told counsel for Andhra Pradesh.

“As of now among the samples sequenced (45000+) in India, Delta plus variant — AY.1 –has been observed sporadically in Maharashtra, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh, with around 40 cases identified so far and no significant increase in prevalence,” the ministry said in its statement.

These three states have been advised to strengthen surveillance and take appropriate public health measures.
 AstraZeneca Plc’s COVID-19 vaccine is effective against Delta and Kappa variants, which were first identified in India, the company said on Tuesday, citing a study.

The study by the Oxford University investigated the ability of monoclonal antibodies in blood from recovered people and from those vaccinated to neutralize the Delta and Kappa variants, the statement said.