Punjab has become the first state to extend the lockdown beyond May 3. The State has announced some relaxation in the non-red zones as well. In Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami said industries would be allowed to operate in the non-red zones.
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:
Medical personnel test positive in Gurugram
A para-medical staff from Medanta Hospital in Gurugram tests positive on Wednesday taking total cases of staff from hospital to five. Hospital's COVID-19 centre status may be reviewed,ays CMO, Gurugram.
3 deaths in Rajasthan
Rajasthan on Wednesday reported 3 new deaths and 74 new cases of COVID-19 , taking the total number of cases to 2438 including 55 deaths. 814 patients have recovered from the disease till date, according to the State Health bulletin.
32 deaths in Maharashtra today
COVID-19 cases piled up in Maharashtra on Wednesday as the State reported a massive spike of 597 new cases to take the cumulative tally to 9,915. As many as 32 deaths were reported across the State, with the death toll rising to 432.
Of these 26 deaths were reported from Mumbai, three from Pune, and one each from Solapur, Panvel and Aurangabad. A total 205 persons were discharged today, taking the total number of discharged till date to 1593.
7 new cases in Telangana
Telangana reported 7 new cases today, and no deaths, taking the number of total cases to 1016. 409 have been discharged till date, taking the number of active cases to 582, according to the State health bulletin.
New guidelines to fight COVID-19 to come into effect from May 4: MHA
A Home Ministry spokesperson tweeted on Wednesday that new guidelines to fight COVID-19 will come into effect from May 4 "which shall give considerable relaxations to many districts."
"Details regarding this shall be communicated in the days to come," the tweet said.
An MHA spokesperson said the ministry held a comprehensive review meeting on the lockdown situation today. There've been tremendous gains and improvements in the situation due to lockdown till now.
To ensure that these gains are not squandered away, the lockdown guidelines should be strictly observed till 3rd May.
8 deaths in Madhya Pradesh
Eight persons died of COVID-19 in Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday, taking the death toll to 130. Ujjain, where the toll climbed to 23, reported most deaths at three.
Two deaths were reported in Khandwa, and one each in Khargone, Raisen and Bhopal.
Meanwhile, 79 new COVID-19 cases were reported today, taking the count to 2,560. Bhopal alone recorded 31 of these. 41 patients were discharged from hospitals after recovering from the illness. So far, 461 persons have been cured in the State, according to the State Directorate of Health Services.
5 deaths in U.P.
Five deaths were reported in Uttar Pradesh in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 39. The total number of positive cases also went up to 2134. Agra leads with 14 deaths and 430 cases, followed by Kanpur (207 cases) and Lucknow (205 cases). Moradabad is second in list of death toll, with six casualties.
- Omar Rashid
UGC releases guidelines on holding exams, starting classes in colleges and universities
A UGC advisory (on 2020-21 academic calendar) on Wednesday said that Universities and colleges can begin classes for 2nd and 3rd year students on August 1, and for 1st year students on September 1.
Examinations may be held online or offline as local conditions and resources permit. Final semester examinations for current academic year can be held in July; may be shortened from 3 hours to 2 hours duration. Intermediate semester students can be graded based on internal assessment of the present and previous semester, the advisory stated.
- Priscilla Jebaraj
16 deaths in Gujarat, 308 positive cases
Gujarat reported a sharp spike in COVID-19 cases, adding 308 positve cases and 16 deaths on Wednesday. So far, the State has a total of 4082 positive cases and 197 deaths. Today, 93 patients were discharged, totaling 527 recoveries so far.
Today, Ahmedabad recorded 234 cases and 9 deaths, taking the total numbers to 2777 & 137 respectively. So far, 263 have recovered in the city, including 22 today.
- Mahesh Langa
Delhi orders not to send COVID-19 samples for testing to National Institute of Biologicals
The Delhi government on Wednesday ordered all Deputy Commissioners not to send any sample for COVID-19 testing to the National Institute of Biologicals (NIB), Noida, till May 3, due to “considerable pendency” in testing by the NIB, according to an official order.
“It has been observed that there is considerable pendency for the testing reports in National Institute of Biologicals (NIB), Noida (UP) which is hindering the effective containment of the disease,” an order issued by Padmini Singla, Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Department of the Delhi government read.
2 deaths in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu reported two deaths on Wednesday, with 104 persons testing positive for COVID-19. Total tally of positive cases is 2162, and 82 have been discharged.
Number of COVID-19 hotspot districts decreases to 129 from 170 in a fortnight
The number of coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) hotspot districts in India as on Wednesday morning has come down to 129 from 170 a fortnight ago, but in the same period the number of infection-free districts or green zones too decreased from 325 to 307, according to official sources.
During this time, the number of non-hotspot districts, also known as orange zones, increased from 207 to 297, they said.
ITI Cuttack develops low-cost robots to combat COVID-19
Joining the fight against coronavirus ( COVID-19 ), the government-run Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in Cuttack has developed two low-cost robots, which can save health workers from the infectious virus and reduce the need for personal protective equipment.
The cost of each robot is expected to be around ₹2.5 lakh, ITI-Cuttack principal Hrushikesh Mohanty said.
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the institute had constituted an innovation team that developed the robots in its laboratory, in association with SAK Robotics Lab, a start-up, Mr. Mohanty told the PTI .
3 more cases in Odisha's Balasore district
Odisha reported three more #COVID-19 cases, all Kolkata returnees, detected in Balasore district, taking Odisha’s total to 125 on Wednesday, the State government said. Four cases were detected from other districts earlier in the day.
The slum of Dharavi in Mumbai reported 14 new cases today bringing the tally to 344 cases, including 18 deaths.
- Tanvi Deshpande
Television journalist, nine others test positive in Kerala
A television journalist and three healthcare workers were among the ten people who tested positive for COVID-19 in Kerala on Wednesday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.
The journalist from Kasaragod became the first from the media to test positive for coronavirus in the State.
Of the new cases, six were reported from Kollam, two each from Thiruvananthapuram andKasaragod.
Ten people tested negative on Wednesday, the Chief Minister added.
- PTI
Home Ministry allows inter-State movement of stranded tourists, pilgrims
The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued guidelines on Wednesday, allowing inter-State movement of stranded tourists, pilgrims, students, migrant workers and others.
The MHA says State governments should make arrangements and buses will be used, and after reaching their destination, such persons to stay in home quarantine, unless assessment by local authorities requires institutional quarantine.
- Vijaita Singh
One death in Karnataka
Karnataka reported one death on Wednesday and 11 new positive cases, taking the death toll due to COVID-19 to 21 and the total positive to 534. Totally 216 have been discharged, active cases are at 297 and the death occured at Tumkuru.
- Afshan Yasmeen
Agriculture likely to see normal growth rate of at least 3% this year: NITI Aayog
India's agriculture sector likely to see normal growth rate of at least 3% this year, despite the COVID-19 crisis, says Niti Aayog member Ramesh Chand, providing a macro look at the sector.
Despite the shutdown of large parts of the industrial and services sectors, agricultural growth will ensure that the Indian economy does not shrink this year, he said.
He cites normal monsoon prediction, higher water reserves, reports of higher fertiliser and seed sales for next season, and reports of farmers getting higher prices for major commodities at mandis this season as reasons for his projection of normal growth for the agri sector.
- Priscilla Jebaraj
Five more COVID-19 positive cases reported from West Champaran district in Bihar, all male, take the total number in Bihar to 383.
- Amarnath Tewary
Two prisoners of Sabarmati jail test positive for coronavirus
Two prisoners of the Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad have tested positive for coronavirus, an official said on Wednesday.
Both of them recently arrived at the jail and as a precaution, they were kept at the prison’s isolation ward, which is away from the main campus where nearly 2,400 prisoners are lodged, Sabarmati jail’s deputy superintendent of police D V Rana said. - PTI
Next few days extremely challenging: Naveen Patnaik
The COVID-19 situation in Odisha is “well under control”, but the next few days will be “extremely challenging” as a large number of people are likely to return from states that have been hit hard by the pandemic, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said in a video message.
“A large number of Odia brothers and sisters will return from states like the worst-hit Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Rajasthan and neighbouring West Bengal,” the chief minister said.
Their arrival will lead to detection of more COVID-19 cases, but the situation can be kept under control with cooperation from people, he said.
29 fresh COVID-19 cases in Rajasthan, total stands at 2,393
Rajasthan recorded 29 fresh coronavirus cases on Wednesday, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases to 2,393 in the state, an official said.
The state has so far witnessed 52 deaths due to the virus, with Jaipur accounting for 27 deaths.
Donate plasma and shed ‘villain’ tag: Tablighi Jamaat
Tablighi Jamaat members, who got cured of COVID-19, have been asked by their organisation to donate their plasma for treatment of other coronavirus-infected patients, a move that the outfit thinks will help it shed its villain tag.
“Maulana Saad, in an open letter on April 21 to all Jamaatis who have recovered from the coronavirus (infection), has appealed them to donate their plasma to help others. The message has reached all the members,” Maulana Anees Ahmad Nadvi, the manager of Tablighi Jamaat’s Lucknow branch, told PTI PTI on Wednesday.
First experiment of plasma therapy successful in Maharashtra: Tope
The first experiment to use plasma therapy for treating a COVID-19 patient has been successful in Maharashtra, Health Minister Rajesh Tope
“The first plasma therapy has been successful in Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital. We are carrying out a second experiment on another patient in BYL Nair hospital, also in Mumbai. We are hopeful that it will be successful as well,” he told reporters.
Punjab to extend lockdown for two more weeks
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday said curfew would continue in the State for another two weeks, after May 3 amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
Limited lifting of the lockdown restrictions will start from tomorrow, April 30, in the non-red zones.
Relaxation in curfew will be given for four hours during the day between 7am till 11am. - Vikas Vasudeva
CRPF personnel laid to rest
A man seen offering prayer in front of the mortal remains of CRPF Sub-inspector, who died due to COVID-19.
A man seen offering prayer in front of the mortal remains of CRPF Sub-inspector, who died due to COVID-19.
A 55-year-old Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, who succumbed to COVID-19, was laid to rest in New Delhi on Wednesday.
This is the first death due to the pandemic among the about 10 lakh personnel strong Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) or the paramilitary forces that function under the Union Home Ministry for upkeep of internal security and border guarding.
The sub-inspector (SI) rank official was admitted to the Safdarjung hospital a few days back after being detected positive for the virus.
CRPF personnel seen giving final salute to the slain soldier.
Four policemen test positive for COVID-19 in UP’s Firozabad
Four policemen including a Senior Sub Inspector posted at Ramgarh police station here tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday.
On April 14, Ramgarh police had taken a youth into custody for flouting the lockdown and he later tested positive for the coronavirus disease, chief medical officer Dr SK Dikshit said.
The samples of 27 police personnel of the Ramgarh police station were later sent for testing and in the report received Wednesday, four of them have been tested positive, he said.
4 persons recover from COVID-19 in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Four persons, including the 39-year-old police radio operator from the Bambooflat area, recovered from COVID-19 in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, officials said on Wednesday.
The police radio operator and his three family members have been shifted from the GB Pant Hospital to a government guest house where a quarantine facility has been set up.
With the recoveries, the number of active cases in the Union Territory dropped to 18.
12 COVID-19 cases have been reported from Buxar district taking the total number of cases in Bihar to 378. - Amarnath Tewary
Infection control practices not duly followed in high case load districts
Central teams, which were tasked to check preparedness of districts with a high load of coronavirus cases, found that infection prevention control practices were not properly followed in several hospitals raising concerns over safety of healthcare workers, official sources said.
“They have observed that infection prevention control practices were not being followed properly during sample collection and treatment of confirmed cases raising concerns over the possibility of healthcare workers getting infected and leading to further transmission,” the sources said.
They have recommended that such infection prevention control guidelines should be strictly followed in hospital settings. - PTI
All Central govt. officials to use Aarogya Setu app
All the Central government officials, including the outsourced workforce, have been directed to immediately download the Aarogya Setu App on their mobile phones.
In case the app shows a message that the official has a ‘moderate’ or ‘high risk’, calculated on the basis of Bluetooth proximity (recent contact with an infected person), he or she should stay away from office and go in for self-isolation for 14 days till the status becomes ‘safe’ or ‘low risk’, the order says.
Kerala Government moves ordinance for a salary cut
Kerala cabinet on Wednesday promulgated an ordinance to override the High Court stay on deferment of the payment of salary of government employees for six days every month from April to August.
The decision to deduct the salary of employees, ostensibly to help the State tide over the crippling financial crunch precipitated by the COVID-19 lockdown , had sparked off a stormy political debate in the State.
3 out of 529 journalists tested for COVID-19 turn out to be positive: Delhi CM
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said three out of 529 media persons, who gave their swab samples recently, have tested positive for COVID-19. He wished a speedy recovery to those found to be infected with novel coronavirus.
“Am so happy to share only 3 out of 529 media persons tested have been detected positive. My best wishes to all of you. Your work is very important esp during a pandemic. Those who have been detected positive, I am praying for your speedy recovery,” Kejriwal tweeted.
50% salary deferred for CM, Ministers, bureaucrats in Meghalaya
The Meghalaya government has decided to defer the payment of a part of the salaries of Cabinet Ministers, bureaucrats, and its 80,000 employees as the hill State battles the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a notification.
Half of the salaries of Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, his cabinet colleagues and all ranks of IAS, IPS and IFS will get deferred, Chief Secretary M.S. Rao said in the notification issued on Tuesday.
Three more new COVID-19 cases detected in Odisha – one each in Jharsuguda, Deogarh and Kendujhar districts – on Wednesday taking the State’s total to 122, according to the government. - Prafulla Das
Bareilly records first coronavirus death
A 35-year-old man suffering from coronavirus died at a hospital here, the first death due to the virus in the district, officials said on Wednesday.
The man was also suffering from cardiac problems, asthma and diabetes, Chief Medical Officer, Vineet Kumar Shukla, said.
The district has reported eight positive cases of the virus so far. While six people have recovered, one is undergoing treatment and one died on Tuesday night.
Fresh cases in Karnataka
Nine new cases have been detected in Karnataka on Wednesday morning taking the total number of cases to 532.
While eight of the new cases are from Kalaburgi, one is from Belagavi.
Two of the cases are aged 12 years and all are contacts of previous positive patients. - Afshan Yasmeen
Infant among 73 new COVID-19 cases in AP
An 11-month-old baby was among the 73 people who tested positive for coronavirus in Andhra Pradesh in the last 24 hours ending 9 am on Wednesday.
The state’s Covid-19 tally now crossed the 1300 mark and touched 1,332, the latest government bulletin said.
Scribe arrested in Andamans over corona tweet
A well-known journalist was arrested in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands over a tweet where he questioned the rationale of the authorities allegedly asking people to be home-quarantined after they had spoken to COVID-19 patients by phone, police said on Wednesday.
The charges under which Zubair Ahmed has been booked include one about circulating “rumour“.
Zubair Ahmed, the editor of ‘Light of Andaman, a popular weekly newspaper which is now published online, was summoned to the Bambooflat police station in South Andaman district on April 27 for questioning over his tweet and then arrested, police said on Tuesday. - PTI
70 buses leave from Maharashtra to bring back students stuck in Kota
At least 70 state transport buses left from Maharashtra on Wednesday morning to bring back students stranded at Kota in Rajasthan due to the coronavirus-enforced lockdown, an official said.
The vehicles left from Maharashtra’s Dhule district around 10.30 am and will reach Rajasthan by Wednesday night, he said.
“The buses will leave from Kota on Thursday morning,” the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) official said, adding that only 20 students will be allowed in each bus and the vehicles will halt at two to three places for food breaks.
Nineteen new COVID-19 positive cases detected in Rajasthan today, taking the State's tally to 2,383. Eleven of the new cases were found in Ajmer, 5 in Jaipur, and one each in Banswara, Jodhpur and Udaipur: Medical & Health Department.
(Mohammed Iqbal)
The death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 1,007 and the number of cases climbed to 31,332 in the country on Wednesday, according to the Union Health Ministry.
The number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 22,629, while 7,695 people have recovered, and one patient has migrated, the ministry said. The total number of cases include 111 foreign nationals.
(PTI)
A 77-year-old-man of Bhubaneswar, close relative of a COVID-19 patient, tests positive taking Odisha’s total to 119, State government said on Wednesday. The city reports a new case after a gap of two weeks taking its total to 47.
(Prafulla Das)
Failure to stop coronavirus at source led to 184 countries ‘going through hell,’ says Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump doubled down on China for failing to tame the coronavirus at its very origin, saying it has led to 184 countries “going through hell”, as several American lawmakers demanded steps to reduce dependence on Beijing for manufacturing and minerals.
Trump has been publicly blaming China for the global spread of the “invisible enemy” and launched an investigation against it.
U.S. coronavirus death toll surpasses American deaths from the Vietnam War
The total number of U.S. deaths from COVID-19 have reached 58,351, passing the 58,220 which the National Archives records as U.S. losses from combat and other causes, including accidents, in the years-long Southeast Asian war.
Also Tuesday the United States recorded its one millionth case of new coronavirus, about one-third of the entire world's case load, according to Johns Hopkins data.
Death toll crosses 5,000 in Brazil
Brazil, the South American country worst-hit by the coronavirus pandemic, has registered more than 5,000 deaths from COVID-19 , the health ministry announced on Tuesday.
A record of 474 deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours, with the number of infections rising to 71,886, the ministry said.
Global death toll crosses 2,10,000
The new coronavirus has killed at least 214,451 people since the outbreak first emerged in China in December, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP at 1900 GMT on Tuesday.
More than 3,068,330 cases were registered in 193 countries and territories. Of these cases, at least 840,300 are now considered recovered.
Maharashtra COVID-19 tally breaches 9,000 mark
With 729 new COVID-19 cases recorded on Tuesday, the third-highest single-day surge yet, Maharashtra’s tally has touched 9,318.
The State also reported its highest single-day death toll of 31, pushing the total to 400. A record 811 cases were reported on April 25 and the second-highest tally was 778 recorded on April 23.
