Coronavirus India lockdown Day 34 updates | 27 more deaths in Maharashtra, Gujarat reports 11 deaths

The Prime Minister-Chief Ministers video conference included a discussion of the exit strategy from the 40-day lockdown.

April 27, 2020 09:58 am | Updated 11:02 pm IST

Salem Corporation personnel feeding stray dogs during the complete lockdown to combat the spread of COVID-19 in Salem in Tamil Nadu on Monday, 27 April 2020.

Salem Corporation personnel feeding stray dogs during the complete lockdown to combat the spread of COVID-19 in Salem in Tamil Nadu on Monday, 27 April 2020.

A week before the scheduled end date of the lockdown, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to at least six Chief Ministers for the fourth time since the COVID-19 outbreak on the exit strategy from the lockdown, among other things. Meanwhile, China’s Wuhan city — the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak — discharged the last COVID-19 patient from hospital.

The Hindu has brought out a multi-language e-book on essential COVID-19 information, in addition to covering the developments related to the coronavirus pandemic as it unfolded. Here is a collection of our daily cartoons on COVID-19 .

Here are answers from experts on your queries about the virus, a list of State Helpline numbers , a State-wise tracker for COVID-19 cases, deaths and testing, and a map of confirmed cases in India.

Here are the latest updates

11.00 p.m. | New Delhi

190 new COVID-19 cases in Delhi

190 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Delhi on Monday, taking the total number of cases to 3,108, according to the Delhi government.

Of the 3,108 cases, 877 people have recovered and there are 2,177 active cases. A total of 54 people have died so far, but there was no death reported on Monday.

10.10 p.m. | Rajasthan

COVID-19 total rises to 2,262 in Rajasthan

Rajasthan records 77 cases in 11 districts and 9 deaths today, taking the numbers to 2,262 cases and 50 deaths due to COVID-19. Among the dead, 6 were from Jaipur. The highest number of 25 COVID-19 positive cases were detected in Jaipur, followed by 11 in Jodhpur and 10 in Jhalawar. A total of 744 patients have recovered so far and 584 of them have been discharged from hospitals, according to the State Medical & Health Department.

10.00 p.m. | Punjab

8 new cases in Punjab, death toll at 19

Punjab reported 8 new positive cases on Monday and one death. The total positive cases stands at 330 and actie cases at 213. The death toll has increased to 19, according to the State health bulletin.

8.50 p.m. | Maharashtra

27 deaths in Maharashtra

Maharashtra reported yet another massive spike of 522 new cases as the State's cumulative tally surged to 8,590 Covid-19 positive cases on Monday. As many as 27 deaths were reported from across the State, of which 15 were reported from Mumbai city, while as many as six from Amravati city.

Four more deaths were reported from Pune district, while one each from the Aurangabad and Jalgaon districts. As many as 94 persons were discharged today, taking the total discharged in the State till date to 1,282.

- Shoumojit Banerjee

8.45 p.m. | Uttar Pradesh

U.P. identifies 406 hotspots

UP has so far identified 406 hotspots in 57 districts, covering 5.8 lakh homes and 34.4 lakh people, said the State police.

Twenty police officials have tested positive in UP so far, in Moradabad, Varanasi, Kanpur, Bijnor and Agra.

- Omar Rashid

8.40 p.m. | Telangana

Only 2 new cases in Telangana

Telangana reported only two COVID-19 positive cases on Monday, while 16 patients have been discharged. Active cases  stands at 646, and 21 districts have been declared COVID-19-free.

- Health department

8.10 p.m. | Jammu and Kashmir

23 new cases in Jammu and Kashmir

Twenty-three more people tested positive for COVID-19 in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, taking the total in the Union territory to 546, officials said.

Of the fresh cases, one is in Jammu and the rest in Kashmir, they added.

Of the total number of cases reported so far, 488 are from Kashmir and 58 from Jammu. Seven people have died and 164 patients have recovered. The number of active cases stands at 375.

- PTI

7.50 p.m. | Gujarat

11 deaths reported in Gujarat

Gujarat recorded 247 new cases and 11 deaths on Monday, taking the numbers to 3548 positive cases and 162 deaths in total.

As many as 81 patients were discharged, taking the numbers of discharged patients to 394.

Ahmedabad added 197 cases and 5 deaths. Total cases in Ahmedabad now are 2378 and 109 deaths. Totally 212 patients have recovered and discharged, including 72 on Monday.

- Mahesh Langa

7.30 p.m.

Returning migrants a threat to rural areas: MHA

Days before State governments led by  Uttar Pradesh arranged buses to bring back migrants , the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) informed the Supreme Court that “so far rural India has largely remained safe from this disease” and if  migrants returning on foot  are permitted to conclude their journey “there is a serious and imminent potential of the disease penetrating in rural India also.”

In a status report filed in the Supreme Court on April 12, Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla said in case of movement of large group of persons travelling together, “the epidemic, which has already taken the form of a pandemic would manifest itself in its still most severe form making it unmanageable to contain.”

 

7.00 p.m. | Bihar

 

Bihar reported 19 more COVID-19 positive cases (16 male, 3 female), taking the total number to 345. 16 of thise were from Rohtas in Sasaram district, one from Nawada, Darbhanga and Purnea each.

6.45 p.m. | New Delhi

HRD ministry to discuss strategy with State education ministers on Tuesday

Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ has called a meeting with State education ministers to discuss issues related to COVID-19 and mid-day meal programme, officials said on Monday, The meeting will be held at 2.00 pm on Tuesday through video conferencing.

“The HRD minister will interact with state education ministers through video call tomorrow to discuss issues like handling of COVID-19, mid-day meal programme and Samagra Shiksha programme,” a senior Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry official said.

 

6.45 p.m. | New Delhi

No resumption of CBSE exams till government lifts lockdown completely: HRD Ministry

Pending CBSE board exams will only be held when the situation is back to normal and the government decides to completely lift the lockdown, HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank told students and parents during a Twitter interaction today.

JEE, NEET and other competitive exams will also be held when the situation is normal, he said.

The HRD Minister will hold video conference meeting with all State education ministers on April 28 to discuss problems arising due to COVID-19 and the lockdown.

- Priscilla Jebaraj

Tamil Nadu

CM reiterates plea to PM to release funds, seeks more PCR kits

Finding work during the lockdown has been difficult for many. A woman in Puducherry on Monday April 27, 2020 decorates a clay pot for a wedding to be held at home in a couple of days.

Finding work during the lockdown has been difficult for many. A woman in Puducherry on Monday April 27, 2020 decorates a clay pot for a wedding to be held at home in a couple of days.

 

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Monday reiterated several of his requests made earlier to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including release of funds and providing more PCR kits. The State is planning to increase the number of testing for  COVID-19  to 10,000 a day.

Mr. Palaniswami also requested Mr. Modi to announce a relief package to ease the immediate burden on the power sector, which would help distressed discoms.

 

6.15 p.m. | Tamil Nadu

52 new cases in T.N., no deaths

Tamil Nadu reported no deaths on Monday, but 52 tested positive, taking the total number of positive cases to 1937. As many as 81 patients were discharged, according to the State heath department.

6.00 p.m. | Karnataka

9 new cases in Karnataka

Karnataka reported 9 new positive cases on Monday, taking the total cases to 512. The death toll is 19 and 193 people have been discharged.

- health bulletin

West Bengal

Centre making conflicting statements on lockdown: Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday alleged that the Centre was making contradictory statements on enforcement of the lockdown, and wanted greater clarity on the recent Union Home Ministry order on reopening shops.

Claiming that many States were not allowed to speak during prime minister  Narendra Modi’s video conference with chief ministers  owing to the rotation system, Ms. Banerjee said given a chance she would have raised several questions, including the need to send central teams to Bengal.

 

5.55 pm | Maharashtra

State govt. statement on newspapers general, sweeping, says Bombay High Court

The Aurangabad Bench of Bombay High Court on Monday said the Maharashtra government should not make general and sweeping statements, that distribution of newspapers increases the chance of COVID-19 infection spreading, without referring to opinion of health experts.

Justice P.B. Varale was hearing a petition taken up suo moto (on its own) on the state government prohibiting door- to-door delivery of newspapers in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The government later amended its order by which the blanket ban on door-to-door delivery of newspapers was lifted and the same was restricted only to Mumbai, Pune and in containment zones in other districts.

--PTI

5.50 pm | Himachal Pradesh

Himachal CM favours lockdown extension beyond May 3

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Monday said lockdown should continue beyond May 3 to curb the spread of coronavirus, an official spokesperson said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier held a video conference with chief ministers to discuss the situation arising due to COVID-19 in the country, which is under a 40-day lockdown since March 25 to contain the pandemic.

Supporting the lockdown extension, Mr. Thakur said the restrictions on movement of people should continue as COVID-19 cases are still emerging.

The lockdown should be extended after May 3 to check the spread of novel coronavirus, he said.

--PTI

5.45 pm | Gujarat

Gujarat govt. to try Ayurvedic drugs on select COVID-19 patients

The Gujarat government will administer Ayurvedic medicines to 75 asymptomatic COVID-19 patients in hotspot Ahmedabad to see the “time duration of their recovery” as a part of a AYUSH treatment study, a state Health department official said on Monday.

Principal Secretary (Health) Jayanti Ravi said the state AYUSH department had distributed an Ayurvedic medicine free-of-cost to over 1.26 crore people in Gujarat with an aim to boost their immunity.

--PTI

5.40 pm | Uttar Pradesh

COVID-19 death toll climbs to 31 in U.P.; total cases 1,955

With one more COVID-19 death reported on Monday, the death toll due to the viral disease rose to 31 in Uttar Pradesh, a senior state government official said.

A total of 82 fresh COVID-19 cases were reported in Uttar Pradesh, taking the number of such cases in the state to 1,955, he added.

Briefing reporters here, Principal Secretary, Medical and Health, Amit Mohan Prasad said, “Thirty-one COVID-19 deaths have been reported from the state, while till now, 335 patients have been discharged.”

“To strengthen the infection control protocol, district-level committees will be formed under the respective additional chief medical officers. These committees will have representatives from the district hospital, women’s hospital, Indian Medical Association, WHO, UNICEF and Pollution Control Board,” he added.

--PTI

5.35 pm | Puducherry

Puducherry Minister calls for rice distribution to Above Poverty Line families through ration shop employees

Social Welfare Minister M. Kandasamy on Monday requested Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi to ensure distribution of free rice to Above Poverty Line (excluding government servants and income tax payees) card holders through ration shop employees.

 

5.30 pm | Karnataka

A total of 9 cases have been detected in Karnataka on Monday. The State tally is now at 512.

--Afshan Yasmeen

5.20 pm | India

ICMR tells States to stop using Rapid Antibody Blood Tests procured from 2 Chinese companies

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), has on Monday, noted that States are advised to stop using rapid antibody test kits procured from Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech and Zhuhai Livzon Diagnostics after the Council found wide variation in their sensitivity, despite early promise of good performance for surveillance purposes. "Several States have procured rapid antibody test kits and on their demand, ICMR has also provided these kits with clear instructions that they are to be used only for surveillance purpose. Later some States raised issues regarding their performance during the testing exercise that they have undertaken,’’ said the release issued by ICMR.

 

5.15 pm | Maharashtra

A third policeman from Mumbai, who was posted as a Head Constable with the Mumbai Traffic Police, succumbed to COVID 19 on Monday.

This is the third fatality in the ranks of the Mumbai Police force in the last three days.

--Gautam Mengle

5.10 pm | Ladakh

Ladakh gets its first COVID-19 testing lab

A COVID-19 laboratory has been set up in the Union Territory of Ladakh to ensure timely and cost-effective sample testing, officials said on Monday.

Earlier, the samples had to be sent to Delhi by flights leading to delays and heavy expenditure, they said.

The COVID-19 testing laboratory, first such facility in the Union Territory, was set up with the help of Pernod Ricard India foundation, the officials said.

--PTI

5.05 pm

U.P. police serves notice on Bollywood singer Kanika Kapoor

A notice was served on Bollywood singer Kanika Kapoor on Monday regarding an FIR registered against her for negligence and committing acts likely to spread a disease dangerous to life, police said. She has been asked to report at Sarojini Nagar Police Station on April 30 and record her statement, they said.

 

5.00 pm | India

Most CMs want lockdown to continue: Puducherry CM Narayanasamy after interaction with PM

A majority of the chief ministers who interacted with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday wanted the lockdown to continue after May 3 and asked him to adopt a cautious approach while opening it, Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy said.

The Chief Ministers were unanimous in telling the prime minister that the way the coronavirus is spreading, a “cautious approach” is needed while lifting the lockdown, which they said should continue, but economic activity should also start slowly, Mr. Narayanasamy, who participated in the meeting through video-conferencing, said.

--PTI

4.55 pm | UK

Boris Johnson back at work, says tide being turned on COVID-19

British  Prime Minister Boris Johnson  returned to work on April 27 and declared that the tide is being turned on the  coronavirus pandemic in the country , as he urged the public to contain their impatience against  the lockdown .

“We are beginning to turn the tide. There are real signs we are passing through the peak,” said Mr. Johnson in an upbeat address to the nation on the steps of 10 Downing Street.

 

4.50 pm | Tamil Nadu

T.N. COVID-19 isolation wards to get robots

Patients undergoing treatment for  COVID-19 infection  at the Government hospitals will soon get their  medicine and food served by robots  designed and developed by the Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology and Research Academy, a deemed-to-be University, and Propeller Technologies, one of the incubatees of the Technology Business Incubator established by SASTRA.

 

4.45 pm | Bihar

Five more COVID-19 positive cases in Bihar have taken the State tally to 326. All five, four males and one female, are from Patna.

--Amarnath Tewary

4.30 pm | Odisha

Two more COVID-19 cases, a health worker in Koraput district and a West Bengal returnee in Balasore district, were detected on Monday taking Odisha’s total to 110, State government said.

--Prafulla Das

4.20 pm | India

Doubling rate of cases in Pune higher than national average: MHA

MHA spokesperson Punya Salila Srivastava during the daily COVID-19 press conference said more than two crore workers have got jobs and about 60% food processing units have become operational.

2825 units in SEZ and about 350 export units have also become functional, she said.

"Over 2,000 main mandis (80%) have become functional. Over 80,000 farmers and 70,000 businessmen registered on Krishi Rath App, which is facilitating business transactions.

The teams constituted under the National Disaster Management Act have visited various places. In Pune, IMCT conducted surveys in four containment zones, shelter camps of migrant workers and other places. Pune team found that the doubling rate is 7, which is above the national average.

It suggested that high-risk people should be identified quickly and the contact tracing should also be done quickly.

It also suggested that non-Covid-19 hospitals should also be identified for treatment of people suffering from other ailments, Ms. Salila added. In 85 districts of 25 states and UTs, no cases were reported in the past 14 days.

Chairman for Empowered Group-5 on Supply Chain and Logistics of Essential Items: "From March 30, there was improvement in supply chain networks, 46% to 76% and increasing rapidly.

"Railways has done tremendous jobs: 67% to about 80% of rakes movement.

"Traffic at Ports is at 70% to 87% to 90%- almost gone to normal.

"79% mandis are operational now.

"The Empowered Group-5 is working on easing policy, collaborating with line departments/MHA, troubleshooting bottlenecks, tracking key indicators and disseminating best practices of supply warriors.

"109 time tabled parcel trains over 58 routes started by Railway.

"400 rakes moving day and night carrying good grains and other essentials.

"2.5 lakh meal served by IRCTC everyday across all four railway zones.

"392 lifeline Udaan flights carrying 700+ MT of essential cargo opreated till date, 100+ MT of medicines, medical equipment, and 1 lakh food packets delivered by India Post, payment of DBT worth 730 crores made to 34 lakh persons by India Post.

"The IAF launched 18-hour operation to airlift 6.2 tonnes of essential medicines and hospital consumables with its C-130 transport aircraft and delivered it to the Maldives.

"They are also operating in remote areas like Ladakh.

"Tomato, onion and potato prices have been largely stable during lockdown, due to smooth supply chain.

"84.3 lakh MT grains allocated per month, for a total of 70 crore beneficiaries.

"Cooked meals served to 1.5 crore people daily by government, NGOs and the private sector (data till April 25).

"Supply of milk and LPG cylinders is up to pre-lockdown levels, very little disruption, have been able to match the target.

"E-Connect Portal is helping connect agricultural produce to traders and cold storage units/food processors," the spokesperson said.

On a query about procurement of Rapid Diagnostic Kits allegedly at exorbitant rates, the Health Ministry spokesperson said it was done through proper tendering process, about which ICMR has released a detailed press release.

--Devesh Pandey

4.00 pm | Uttar Pradesh

U.P. to transport around 10,000 students stranded in Prayagraj to other districts, States

The Uttar Pradesh government will transport around 10,000 students stranded in Prayagraj to other districts in the State in a phase-wise manner, and if needed even to other States, said Awanish Awasthi, additional Chief Secretary, Home Department.

Around 300 buses will be utilised to transport them. Prayagraj is a major hub of coaching centres and students from across U.P., especially Purvanchal, come there for coaching.

--Omar Rashid

3.50 pm | Bihar

Fourteen more COVID-19 positive cases in Bihar have taken the State tally to 321. The positive cases have been reported from Bhojpur, Aurangabad , Saran and Patna districts.

--Amarnath Tewary

3.40 pm | Kerala

No third stage spread or community transmission in Kerala so far: K.K. Shylaja

There has been no third stage spread or community transmission of COVID-19 infection so far in Kerala,but there is need to exercise vigil, Health minister K.K. Shylaja said.

There is no third stage spread as of now because all those who have been infected with the virus lately have some or the other kind of contact with the affected, the minister told reporters.

“We have not identified the exact contact in certain cases, but there are certain suspected points,” she said.

“Community spread is the infection of the virus in a community as whole. We have been conducting random testing. We got a nurse infected with the virus in a random testing conducted at hospitals.

There is sentinel surveillance, random testing and all this is being done to check the community spread and it has been found that as of now there is no community spread,” she said.

--PTI

3.30 pm | Chhattisgarh

All cops on lockdown duty to be tested, says Chhattisgarh DGP

All police personnel on duty during the lockdown for the coronavirus outbreak in Chhattisgarh will be tested in a phased manner as per directions of the state Director General of Police DM Awasthi, a senior official said on Monday.

In a letter to senior superintendents of police (SSPs) and SPs, Awasthi said police have been in the frontline enforcing the lockdown and, therefore, it was appropriate that they be tested as a precautionary measure after consulting the respective district health officer, the official informed.

--PTI

3.25 pm | Tamil Nadu

Two more postgraduate students of Madras Medical College test positive for COVID-19

Two more post-graduates of Madras Medical College (MMC) / Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) have tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Their source of infection was traced to an outsourced sanitary worker who worked in the PG men’s hostel and tested positive for COVID-19.

 

3.20 pm | Puducherry

One cured of COVID-19 discharged, total cases now 3: Minister

The number of COVID-19 cases under treatment in the Indira Gandhi Government Medical college hospital here has fallen to three from four with the discharge of one after recovery, a territorial Minister said on Monday.

The Health Minister Malladi Krishna Rao told reporters that the Union Territory had 8 patients who were being treated in the hospital.

--PTI

3.10 pm | Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu erects brick walls on inter-State border with A.P. at Chittoor

The Vellore district administration in Tamil Nadu (TN) has erected brick walls on three highways connected to Chittoor district, as part of steps to tackle the COVID-19 spread. The walls with cement bricks came up all of a sudden on the Palamaner-Gudiyattam road, Chittoor-Tiruttani and Chittoor-Vellore roads.

At a couple of places, the cement bricks were placed on one another, while near Palamaner, the officials deployed construction workers to cement the wall. Work began on Sunday evening and is still going on as of Monday afternoon.

 

3.00 pm | Tamil Nadu

No encashment of earned leave for a year for Tamil Nadu government employees

The Tamil Nadu government has suspended the encashment of earned leave for a year “initially” in view of the financial position, as the State is fighting COVID-19. Chief Secretary K. Shanmugam issued a government order to this effect on Monday.

“In view of the fiscal stress arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, the periodical surrender of earned leave for encashment for 15 days every year/30 days every two years, as provided under Rule 7A of the Tamil Nadu Leave Rules, 1933 is suspended initially for a period of one year to all the government employees and teachers,” the order said.

 

2.50 pm | Bihar

Seventeen more COVID-19 positive cases in Bihar have taken the State tally to 307.

Nine of the cases are from Munger, five from Madhubani and three from Lakhisarai districts.

--Amarnath Tewary

2.40 pm | Rajasthan, Assam

391 students from Rajasthan reach Assam after 2,000 km bus trip, kept in quarantine

Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said 391 students arrived in Guwahati on April 27 after travelling more than 2,000 km by bus from Kota, the coaching hub in Rajasthan.

The Minister and his deputy Pijush Hazarika received the students at the COVID-19 quarantine facility set up within the Sarusajai sports complex on the outskirts of the city after they arrived at 3 a.m.

“After a long journey from Kota, 391 children are back with smiles and cheers. To ensure that they and their families remain safe, we are putting them into 14 days of quarantine,” Mr. Sarma tweeted.

 

2.20 pm | India

Danger of COVID-19 is far from over, PM Modi tells CMs

We have to give importance to the economy as well as continue the fight against COVID-19, PM Narendra Modi told Chief Ministers in a video conference today.

The lockdown has yielded positive results and the country has managed to save thousands of lives in the past 1.5 months, he said. "The impact of COVID-19 will remain visible in coming months; masks and face covers will be part of life."

"Our aim must be rapid response, need to follow mantra of do gaz doori ," he said, PIB reported.

Efforts of States should be directed towards converting COVID-19 red zones into orange and then to green zones, he told the Chief Ministers. "The danger of COVID-19 is far from over and hence constant vigilance is of paramount importance."

"We have to be brave and bring reforms that touch lives of common people," he added.

Chief Ministers, during the interaction, spoke on addressing economic challenges, ways to further boost health infrastructure, a statement said.

--PTI

2.00 pm | Uttar Pradesh

Journalist tests COVID-19 positive in UP’s Unnao

A woman journalist has tested positive for coronavirus, in the second case of COVID-19 in the district, a senior official said.

The woman’s test report was received on Sunday night from a lab in Kanpur where her sample had been sent for testing, district in-charge of communicable diseases Dr. R. S Mishra said on Monday.

The patient has been taken to Kanpur to be kept in isolation, he said.

--PTI

1.40 pm | Uttar Pradesh

Priyanka Gandhi raises issue of faulty kits supplied to U.P. medical colleges

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday raised the issue of “faulty” PPEs supplied to medical colleges in Uttar Pradesh and asked the Yogi Adityanath government if those behind the “scam” will be punished.

She also accused the UP government of being concerned about who leaked the information rather than go behind the scam.

The Congress leader highlighted a letter by the Director General medical education in the state stating that faulty personal protective equipment (PPEs) were supplied and the same had got leaked in public domain.

She also shared a letter by the UP government later seeking to inquire who was behind the leak.

--PTI

1.30 pm | India

Some earning profits in sale of COVID-19 test kits to govt, PM must intervene: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday alleged that some people were indulging in profiteering while supplying rapid test kits for COVID-19 to the government and demanded that the Prime Minister take strict immediate action against them.

The Congress cited media reports about rapid test kits for COVID-19 being sold at around 150% profits to the government and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fix responsibility for the same.

“When the entire country is fighting against the COVID-19 disaster, some people are still profiteering. One detests and feels ashamed of such a corrupt mindset. We demand from the prime minister strict action against these profiteers. The country will never pardon them,” he said in a tweet in Hindi.

 

1.20 pm | Meghalaya

Meghalaya wants lockdown to continue beyond May 3: CM

Meghalaya wants the lockdown in the State to continue beyond May 3 to stem the spread of COVID-19, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said on Monday after a teleconference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Chief Minister, however, said some relaxations will be introduced in green zones and non-COVID-19 affected districts after the nationwide shutdown has been lifted.

“At the video conference called by Honble PM @narendramodi ji and Honble Home Minister @AmitShah ji. We have mooted to continue with the lockdown in #Meghalaya.

#CovidUpdates,” Mr. Sangma tweeted after the video conference.

1.15 pm | Tamil Nadu

Koyambedu market to be closed if more test positive for COVID-19, says Police Commissioner

City Police Commissioner A.K. Viswanathan said the Koyambedu fruits and vegetables market will have to be closed if four or more persons in the market test positive for COVID-19.

Agriculture Secretary Gagandeep Singh, Chennai Corporation Commissioner G. Prakash and Police Commissioner Mr. Viswanathan and other officials held a meeting with traders on Monday morning, to explore the possibility of shifting the market to Madhavaram and Kelambakkam.

 

1.10 pm | Meghalaya

Meghalaya govt. lifts restrictions on number of activities

The Meghalaya government on Monday relaxed a number of activities including sale of essential goods, courier services for essential goods, e- commerce operations in essential goods and Common Service Centres during the lockdown period.

The relaxtion will be allowed in the entire state except in the state capital and in Mylliem Block of East Khasi Hills District.

--PTI

12.50 pm | Karnataka

Eight new cases in Karnataka

Eight new cases have been detected on Monday morning taking the total number of positive cases in Karnataka to 511. This includes 19 deaths and 188 discharged persons.

According to the Health department's midday bulletin, patient-466 “died of non-Covid cause.”

The person from Bengaluru Urban,was admitted in Victoria hospital on April 24 with history of pneumonia,. He had a known case of Hypertension, HCV positive and chronic kidney disease on regular dialysis for the last four years.

The two Covid-19 positive cases reported in Mangaluru on Monday are primary contacts of patient-432.

Patient-432, the elderly lady undergoing treatment for paralysis attack at First Neuro Hospital in Mangaluru, died here on Thursday.

The two, 80-year-old mother and her 45-year old son, were residents of Kulashekar in Mangaluru City Corporation limits, said a bulletin from the district administration. They too were under treatment, it added.

12.30 pm | China

China’s Wuhan city discharges last COVID-19 patient from hospital

The last  COVID-19  patient in Wuhan has been discharged and the hospitals in the epicentre of the global coronavirus pandemic in the central Chinese city have no coronavirus cases for the first time after more than three months of arduous battle against the deadly virus that infected over 80,000 people on the mainland, health officials said.

China’s National Health Commission (NHC) announced on Monday that three new confirmed coronavirus cases, including two from the Chinese returning from abroad and one local transmission were reported on Sunday.

12.24 pm | Uttarakhand

Fresh COVID-19 case reported in Uttarakhand; cases rise to 51

One more person has tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Uttarakhand, taking the total number of cases in the State to 51, a health bulletin said.

The test of the man’s samples were conducted at the Doon Medical College and the report came on Sunday night, it said.

The man’s wife had tested positive for COVID-19 soon after delivering a child at the Doon Hospital here on Saturday, the bulletin said.

- PTI

12.20 pm | Maharashtra

Cases in Pune continue to soar as district reports 55 more over 12-hour span

At least 55 new COVID-19 cases were reported over a 12-hour span across Pune district, with the majority being from Pune city. This takes the district’s cumulative tally of active cases to 1,044, said health officials on Monday.

Meanwhile, the death of a 48-year-old woman in the city’s Sassoon General Hospital took the district's death toll to 78, said authorities.

12.15 pm | India

PM Modi interacts with CMs on COVID-19 situation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held a video conference with Chief Ministers to discuss the situation arising due to the  coronavirus  pandemic in the country, which has been under a lockdown since March 25 to contain the spread of the virus, amid indications that the interaction would also focus on a graded exit from the ongoing  lockdown .

 

12.10 pm | Madhya Pradesh

Three die of COVID-19 in Indore

Three persons have died of COVID-19 in Indore while undergoing treatment at hospitals, taking the death toll in the city to 60.

All three were men aged 55, 65 and 67. They suffered from diabetes and hypertension which hastened the deaths, according to a bulletin issued by the district administration late night on Sunday.

So far, 2,121 persons have tested positive for the illness in Madhya Pradesh. As many as 106 have died of it, and 318 have recovered from the disease.

 

12 pm | Andhra Pradesh

80 more COVID positive cases reported in AP

Andhra Pradesh reported 80 new COVID-19 positive cases in six districts during the past 24 hours out of 6,517 samples tested. This is the third time the State has reported 80 or more cases in the past five days. Around 30% of the total cases reported so far were detected during the same period.

The State COVID-19 tally has gone up to 1,177 now and the death toll remains at 31 with no new deaths reported in the past two days. Four patients have recovered, leaving 911 active cases.

11.40 am | Delhi

33 healthcare workers at Delhi's Max Hospital test positive

Thirty-three healthcare workers of Max Super Speciality Hospital in Patparganj of East Delhi, including two doctors, were tested positive for COVID-19 so far, said the hospital spokesperson on Monday.

On April 15, the hospital had announced that it will test all its workers for COVID-19 and the 33 cases were found during this process, according to the hospital.

 

11.20 am | Jammu and Kashmir

As 27 more test positive, COVID-19 cases top 500 in J&K

The novel coronavirus topped the 500 figure in J&K on Sunday as 27 more locals tested positive spiking the number to 523.

“Total cases now 523. But don’t let this number daunt you. This includes 137 recoveries too. We will keep doing aggressive testing and strict containment. And you have to support it,” J&K spokesperson Rohit Kansal said.

 

10.50 am | Germany

Germany testing 450 residents of apartment complex after two infected families break quarantine

Authorities are testing the 450 residents of an apartment complex in a German town because two families infected with the new coronavirus failed to follow quarantine rules.

Residents of the 117-apartment complex in Grevenbroich in western Germany were being tested Sunday.

 

10.20 am | Karnataka

Patient ends life in COVID-19 ward

Patient number 466, a 50-year-old auto-rickshaw driver from Bengaluru, who was being treated in the COVID-19 ICU ward on the sixth floor at the Emergency and Trauma Care Centre on Victoria Hospital premises ended his life on Monday morning.

Sources in the hospital said the patient, who had suffered renal failure and was on dialysis, was depressed after the death of Patient number 465 in the ICU ward on Sunday.

 

(Those in distress or those having suicidal tendencies can call Arogya Sahayavani on Ph. 104 for help.)

10 am | Bihar

 

In Bihar, 16 more COVID-19 positive cases have been detected, taking the total figure to 290. All cases have come from Jamalpur in Munger district.

More details awaited.

9 am | India

Over 27,300 positive cases in India: Health Ministry

The Union Health Ministry, in its daily update of the coronavirus cases in India, said that the country has registered 27,333 COVID-19 positive cases so far, of which 20,835 are active.

As many as 872 people have died of the infection. The country's recovery rate is 21.9%, as 6,184 people have recovered from the disease so far.

8.30 am | Odisha

Five new cases in Odisha

Five new COVID-19 cases were detected in Odisha’s Balasore district taking the State’s total to 108, the State government said on Monday.

While 72 patients are under treatment at different COVID-19 hospitals, 35 patients have recovered and one has died in the State till date.

The five new cases in include four females aged between 22 years and 55 years and a 27-year-old male. All had mild symptoms and were under home quarantine, the government said.

 

India

India puts its recovery rate at 21.9%

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan noted that 5,913 people have recovered from COVID-19 so far, placing India's recovery rate at 21.9%.

“The situation is improving in India as Hotspot Districts are moving towards becoming Non Hotspot Districts,” said the Minister. Dr. Vardhan said people should observe the lockdown in letter and spirit and treat it as an effective intervention to cut down the spread of COVID-19.

 

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