India registered more than 10,000 cases for the fifth day in a row and is the fourth worst-hit nation by the COVID-19 pandemic currently.
Here is a list of State Helpline numbers . You can track coronavirus cases, deaths and testing rates at the national and State levels here .
Here are the latest updates:
Odisha govt launches door-to-door COVID-19 survey
With over 5.5 lakh people returning to Odisha so far, the State government on June 16 launched a 45-day intensive surveillance to detect coronavirus symptoms among the population.
ASHA and anganwadi workers have started visiting villages across the state and slums in urban pockets to find out and take note of people having COVID-19 symptoms.
They will cover 53,845 villages and all slums in 103 urban pockets in the State between June 16 and July 31, National Health Mission’s Odisha director Shalini Pandit said.
The survey is being done after the ICMR instructed COVID-19 tests for all symptomatic persons and for all close to those infected with coronavirus. — PTI
74 more COVID-19 positive cases were reported in Bihar taking the total number of cases to 6,810 in the State. — Amarnath Tewary
Delhi revises death toll to 1,837
1,859 new Covid-19 cases were reported in the national capital on June 16 taking the total number of cases to 44,688. 93 people died in the past 24 hours and the total death toll was revised to 1,837. 520 patients recovered taking the total number recovered to 16,500.
Death count of 93 is the highest number registered in a 24 hour period. - Jaideep
134 fresh cases reported in Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh on June 16 recorded 134 new COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 11,069. The number of active cases stands at 2,441.
As many as 11 patients died of the illness on the day. Four patients died in Indore, two in Raisen, while Bhopal, Ujjain, Ratlam, Barwani and Katni reported one death each. The State-wide death toll climbed to 476.
As for recoveries, 249 patients were discharged from hospitals on the day. So far, 8,152 persons have been cured of the illness, says the State Directorate of Health Services. — Sidharth Yadav
2701 new cases, 81 deaths in Maharashtra today
Maharashtra reported 81 deaths and 2,701 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday. However, with the State Health Department adding 1,328 backlog fatalities, Maharashtra's total death toll has now surged to 5,537.
The State's total case tally has risen to 1,13,445 of whom 50,044 are active ones. As many as 1,802 patients were discharged today, taking the total number of recoveries till date to 57,851.
With 935 new cases, Mumbai's total case tally has reached 60,228. The city's death toll has risen to 3167. As many as 55 of the new deaths reported today were from Mumbai city and 10 from Pune district among other parts of the State. - Shoumojit Banerjee
104 new cases and 1 death in Punjab
Punjab recorded 104 fresh COVID-19 cases on June 16 and reported one more death, taking the tally to 72, according to an official statement.
The number of positive cases has reached 3,371. The patient who died was from Ludhiana district. The major chunk of new cases, 31 and 22 were reported from Jalandhar and Ludhiana districts respectively. The Health department said the active cases are 838 and 2,461 patients have recovered so far. - Vikas Vasudeva
Dexamethasone reduces deaths from COVID-19, say researchers in England
Researchers in England say they have the first evidence that a drug can improve COVID-19 survival: A steroid called dexamethasone reduced deaths by up to one third in severely ill hospitalised patients.
Results were announced on Tuesday and researchers said they would publish them soon. The study is a large, strict test that randomly assigned 2,104 patients to get the drug and compared them with 4,321 patients getting only usual care.
The drug was given either orally or through an IV. It reduced deaths by 35% in patients who needed treatment with breathing machines and by 20% in those only needing supplemental oxygen. It did not appear to help less ill patients.
W.B adds 415 cases, 10 deaths
West Bengal on Tuesday added another 415 new cases, 10 deaths and 534 discharges. The total case are now 11,909, the death toll stands at 495 and 6028 have been discharged, according to the State health bulletin.
Mumbai death toll likely to be inflated by 867
Following reconciliation of data, the Maharashtra Government is likely to add 867 new deaths to its Mumbai Covid toll. Of over 1,300 cases scrutinised during the exercise announced by State Chief Secretary Ajoy Mehta, 867 have been found to be Covid deaths which were never added to the overall official tally of Mumbai.
- Mumbai Bureau
Gujarat reports 524 new cases, 28 deaths
Gujarat recorded 524 new cases of COVID-19 and 28 deaths on Tuesday, increasing its toll to 1534 deaths and 24628 positive cases. With 418 discharges, the total patients discharged so far are 17090. There are now 6004 active cases.
- Mahesh Langa
The Ministry of Home Affairs has said on Tuesday that following Home Minister Amit Shah's directions, all Central/State/private hospitals in Delhi performed the last rites of COVID-19 deceased with consent/presence of their families/relatives.
The last rites of 36 deceased whose kin are not in Delhi will be performed tomorrow.
Nagaland wary of health workers’ cease-work amid COVID-19 crisis
Private sector health workers have for the time being bailed the Nagaland government out of a crisis following a ‘cease-work’ protest by some 1,800 National Health Mission (NHM) doctors and other staff over regularisation of their service.
The protests across the State amid the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic began on June 14.
By June 16 afternoon, Nagaland recorded a total of 179 positive cases with 87 of them active and 92 having recovered.
Of 269 prison inmates who tested positive in Maharashtra, 115 recovered, Bombay HC informed
As of June 13, 17, 695 screenings and 1681 swab tests were conducted in 10 Central Prisons in Maharashtra and in the Additional Director General, Prisons (ADGP) office of which 269 tested positive, 115 recovered and four died, the Bombay High Court was informed on Monday.
Sunil Ramanand, ADGP and Inspector General of Prisons filed a compliance report on number of COVID-19 cases in prisons.
- Sonam Saigal
U.S. hands over 1st shipment of 100 ventilators to India in COVID-19 assistance
The US on Tuesday handed over to India 100 ventilators, valued at about $1.2 million, as part of President Donald Trump’s offer of assistance to New Delhi in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster handed over the first shipment of 100 ventilators to Indian Red Cross Society Secretary General RK Jain at an event at the IRCS national headquarters here.
The U.S. government, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), donated the first shipment of 100 brand-new, state-of-the-art ventilators to India to assist its fight against COVID-19, the American Embassy said in a statement.
- PTI
T.N. reports 1515 new cases, 49 deaths
Tamil Nadu reported 1515 new cases and 49 deaths on Tuesday, said the State health bulletin. 1438 people were discharged today. Total cases - 48019, death toll - 528, total discharged - 26782.
Bengali ghatam player helps raise funds for lockdown-hit classical musicians
Somnath Roy, 49, is possibly the only Bengali to play the ghatam, an instrument synonymous with the Carnatic tradition. But then, his life has been about making unusual choices.
Mr. Roy was a full-fledged sportsperson until the age of 19 — first as a gymnast and then as a coach for West Bengal’s sub-junior kho-kho team — when he discovered his love for classical music.
Today, as an established cine musician who designs rhythm for movies, he is helping raise funds for classical musicians who have been without an income due to the prolonged coronavirus-enforced lockdown .
— Bishwanath Ghosh
Work closely with states to mitigate COVID impact on economy, Punjab CM urges Narendra Modi
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday requested the Centre to work closely with states to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the economy while stressing that the lockdown to limit the spread of the infection can’t continue indefinitely.
In a video conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Punjab CM suggested to set up a group, including chief ministers, to discuss and formulate a coordinated Centre-state response to the impact of COVID on the economy and governments across the country.
— PTI
Pearl City, a pandemic hotspot
Awareness campaigns conducted through various media platforms to check the spread of COVID-19 in the district appear to have fallen on deaf ears as protective measures are increasingly being given the brush-off, officials rue.
While the health department and local bodies diligently spray disinfectants in public places and buildings, people coming out of their homes are ignoring norms such as physical distancing and wearing face masks, a civic official said.
— Special Correspondent
Kanipakam temple closed after guard tests positive
The temple of Lord Varasidhi Vinayaka Swami at Kanipakam, near Chittoor, was closed on Monday morning after a home guard on duty tested positive for COVID-19.
The temple authorities said the temple would be reopened on June 17 after disinfecting the premises.
— Staff Reporter
Senior advocate Rajiv Nayar’s law clerk succumbs to COVID-19
The law clerk of a senior lawyer Rajiv Nayar, who practices in the Supreme Court and Delhi High Court, passed away on Tuesday morning due to COVID-19.
Nayar confirmed the passing away of his clerk, Vinod Kumar, who had been with him for the past 10 years.
— PTI
IISc develops online self-assessment tool for workplaces
With COVID-19 related restrictions easing and many workplaces slowly resuming work, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), in collaboration with the Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), has developed a ‘Workplace Readiness Indicator’, an online self-assessment advisory tool that helps organisations establish pandemic-specific policies and practices.
“The indicator is an advisory tool that can enable organisations to understand their current level of preparedness and key risk areas. It will also help them plan and establish pandemic-specific policies, procedures, and necessary management practices,” said a release.
— Staff Reporter
42 Maharashtra Police personnel died of COVID-19 so far: Minister
At least 3,661 police personnel have tested positive for coronavirus in Maharashtra so far and of them, 42 have died of the deadly infection, state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said on Tuesday.
Till now, 2,248 police personnel have been discharged from hospitals after recovering from the infection, he said.
— PTI
507 fresh COVID-19 cases, 18 deaths in UP; infection tally at 14,598
Uttar Pradesh reported 507 fresh COVID-19 cases and 18 deaths due to the disease on Tuesday, officials said. The death toll in the state stands at 435 as the infection tally mounted to 14,598.
Principal Secretary, Health, Amit Mohan Prasad said 8,904 people have recovered from the disease and the state has 5,259 active coronavirus cases.
— PTI
Free COVID-19 treatment PIL: Bombay HC fines social worker Rs 5 lakh
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday imposed cost of Rs 5 lakh on a social worker who had filed a public interest litigation seeking that the Maharashtra government provide free treatment to all COVID-19 patients.
Petitioner Sagar Jondhale had also sought that the court set aside the decision taken by the state government to impose a cap on bed charges in private hospitals and nursing homes.
— PTI
"Signs of green shoots in economy": Narendra Modi tells CMs
In the virtual meeting with Chief Ministers and Lt. governors of 21 states and union territories, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says there are signs of green shoots in the economy.
He stated that power consumption has started to go up. and fertilliser sales this May has been twice that of last year and Kharif sowing is 12-13% up from last year
'Digital payments are showing an uptick from the lockdown and toll collections have also gone up on highways', said Mr. Modi.
"In June, exports have bounced back to pre-covid levels. In most of the states where horticulture, agriculture, and MSME share is high, the Aatmanirbhar Abhiyan has led to many decisions responsible for boosting these sectors. Efforts are being made to make banks lend to MSME", the Prime Minister asserted.
"If we ensure that, MSMEs can get on their feet quickly. Trade and industry value chain also has to be smoothened. Agri reforms will benefit farmers, where farmers will have alternative markets to sell their produce," he stressed
He added: "Storage capacity is also being enhanced once farmer incomes rise, demand will also rise. North east will be seeing many opportunities for their horticulture products/"
"The cluster formation for marketing of products will be beneficial. we need to identify products and area specific skills to produce these products to maximise it. I am anxious to know your suggestions and experiences with regard to Corona fight and to revive economy, expressed Mr. Modi.
— Nistula Hebbar
"We cannot afford even a small slip up in fight against COVID-19": Narendra Modi to CMs
Prime Minister chaired a virtual meeting with chief ministers and Lt governors of 21 states and union territories.
Chief ministers of Punjab, Kerala, Goa, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, and those of the northeastern states among others are talking part in the meet. Lt. Governors of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep Islands too participated.
In his opening remarks, the Prime Minister made it clear that the agenda of the meeting was to review Unlock 1.0. "The big lesson from Unlock 1 has been that if we continue in a disciplined manner we can continue with Unlock," he said also warning that "we cannot afford even a small slip up in maintaining discipline of fighting Corona."
— Nistula Hebbar
Taj Man Singh directed to isolate rooms, place them under Sri Ganga Ram Hospital
The Delhi government on Tuesday ordered the Taj Man Singh Hotel to isolate all its rooms and place them at the disposal of the Sri Ganga Ram Hospital.
The order issued by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate Chanakyapuri, Piyush Rohankar states that the government had decided to requisition rooms in various hotels of Delhi and link them to the nearest hospital to accommodate more COVID-19 patients.
It has been issued under provisions of The Epidemic Diseases, COVID-19 Regulations 2020, the Disaster Management Act 2005, and “in overall imminent public interest” it states.
— Delhi Bureau
Locals protest return of migrant workers to West Bengal factory
Protests erupted in a village in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district on Tuesday after migrant workers from other states returned to work in a nearby biscuit factory amid the COVID-19 outbreak, police said.
Villagers gheraoed the factory in Ambari Falakata area under Binnaguri gram panchayat and prevented even local workers from entering the facility after a bus carrying 50 migrant labourers from other states arrived at the establishment earlier in the day, an officer said.
— PTI
Gujarat govt. cuts health expenditure, State suffering now: Ahmed Patel
With Gujarat reporting an average 400 new coronavirus cases every day since the last one month,senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel on Tuesday accused the BJP government in the state of “drastically reducing” its healthcare expenditure over years.
In a tweet, Patel, a Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat, cited data claiming that Gujarat is among the bottom states in terms of immunisation coverage.
3.75 lakh migrants have returned to Chhattisgarh: State Government
Nearly 3.75 lakh migrant workers and others from Chhattisgarh, who were stranded in various parts of the country due to the lockdown, have returned to their home state so far, a government official said on Tuesday.
Of these, 1,06,928 migrant workers returned by 78 Shramik Special trains, the others returned by various other modes of transport and some even walked back home, he said.
— PTI
Jindal plant in Ballari emerges as COVID-19 cluster
With 134 people getting infected from a single source, the Jindal steel plant at Toranagal in Ballari district, the largest steel plant in India, has emerged as a cluster of COVID-19.
A similar cluster was formed at Nanjangud in Mysuru district earlier in the pharma company Jubilant Life Sciences, where 74 people, including employees and their contacts, were infected.
— Kumar Buradikatti
80 people working in Uttar Pradesh CM helpline centre test positive for COVID-19
At least 80 people working for the Uttar Pradesh chief minister’s helpline service here have tested positive for COVID-19, a senior official said on Tuesday.
“The first case (among those working at the helpline) was detected around 4-5 days back,” the official told PTI .
The helpline service ‘1076’ has been outsourced to a company.
— PTI
Delhi HC seeks Centre, State govt's reply on plea for CBI probe into Rs 3,200 cr workers’ fund
The Delhi High Court Tuesday asked the Centre and the AAP government to respond to a PIL seeking CBI probe into alleged misappropriation in the Rs 3,200 crore Cess fund meant for migrant and construction workers in the national capital.
A bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rajnish Bhatnagar issued notices to the Centre, the Delhi government and Delhi Building and Other Construction Workers (DBOCW) Welfare Board and directed them to respond to the petition by NGO -- PT Deendayal Upadhyay Smriti Sansthan.
— PTI
COVID-19 positive cases in Puducherry, tally rises to 216
Puducherry reported 14 fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours taking the aggregate in the union territory to 216, while the toll remained four.
Health Minister Malladi Krishna Rao told reporters on Tuesday thatthe total active cases now stood at 113 while 99 patients were treated and discharged so far.
— PTI
PIL in Bombay HC seeks probe in COVID-19 patient’s death in Jalgaon
A social activist and two others have moved the Bombay High Court over the plight of patients in Maharashtra’s Jalgaon district, and sought an inquiry into the death of an 82-year-old woman COVID-19 patient, who was found dead in the toilet of a civil hospital there.
In a PIL filed before the Aurangabad bench of HC last week, they also urged the court to ensure action against the civil hospital’s dean and administrative head for alleged negligence, that led to Malti Nehete’s death, whose body was found in the toilet.
No work, no wages, domestic helps left to fend for themselves
The COVID-19 pandemic has hit all sections of the society, but domestic helps, who are otherwise in high demand in urban areas, are among the worst affected with majority of them without wages for last two months.
The Sarvashramik Sanghatna, a union of domestic workers in Maharashtra, has said that if they are not allowed to resume work, the government should give them a monthly allowance and food supplies.
— PTI
Indore records 21 fresh COVID-19 cases; tally reaches 4,090
At least 21 new cases of coronavirus were detected in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore district in the last 24 hours, taking the COVID-19 count in the region to 4,090, a health official said on Tuesday.
Besides this, four persons, including an 82-year-old man, have died of the deadly infection in the city, the official said, without providing specific dates for these deaths.
— PTI
HRD working on SOPs for online classes; to address issues of increased screen time, digital divide
The HRD Ministry is working on Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for online classes which will ensure that students don’t have to spend hours before computers or on phones to attend virtual classes and can learn at their own pace, according to officials.
The COVID-19 pandemic has mandated a shift from classroom teaching to online learning as schools continue to be closed for over three months.
— PTI
Dead man’s swab tests positive
A 67-year-old Vanchiyoor native who was brought dead to the General Hospital here on Friday was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Monday. With this, the district has registered its fourth death due to the disease.
Suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, he was confirmed dead on June 12.
— PTI
BMC prohibits laboratories from sharing COVID-19 test reports with patients
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has now prohibited laboratories from sharing test reports directly with the patients. The report will have to be shared with the Corporation which will in turn notify the patient.
The civic body had come under fire for changing its testing protocol multiple times. After assuming charge, municipal commissioner I.S. Chahal had said that the civic body will come out with a comprehensive testing policy based on Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines and soon after, BMC came out with such a comprehensive testing policy.
— Tanvi Deshpandey
Maharashtra: Ex-dy mayor asks authorities to make new COVID-19 centre functional
Former deputy mayor Pramod Rathod of the BJP has written to divisional commissioner Sunil Kendrekar asking him to begin operations at the new COVID-19 facility in Chikalthana MIDC of Maharashtra’s Aurangabad district, an official said on Tuesday.
The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) has set up a 280-bed facility, which was handed over to the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation on June 12 during a virtual meeting held by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
— PTI
108 fresh COVID-19 cases in Odisha; count rises to 4,163
As many as 108 people, including 16 disaster response personnel, have tested positive for COVID-19 in Odisha, taking the state’s tally to 4,163, a health department official said on Tuesday.
Of the 108 new patients, 95 were housed in quarantine centres upon their return from different states while 13 others were found to be infected with the novel coronavirus during contact tracing. The fresh cases were reported in 15 districts of the state, he said.
— PTI
Telangana Guv holds discussion with experts on combating COVID-19
Formulation of a rational state testing policy based on local conditions, effective tracing of contacts, undertaking epidemiological spread based testing in hotspots were some of the suggestions made by experts in a video conference held here to discuss measures to combat COVID-19.
The video conference held by Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan on Monday with eminent personalities including CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology Director Rakesh Mishra, was to take their opinion on evolving a “discrete, proactive and concrete strategy in combating COVID-19,” a Raj Bhavan release said.
— PTI
Maha Vir Chakra awardee Lt. Gen Raj Mohan Vohra dies of COVID-19
Maha Vir Chakra awardee Lt Col (retd) Raj Mohan Vohra has died due to COVID-19, senior officials said on Tuesday.
The decorated officer breathed his last on June 14, they said.
“He was admitted to a private hospital for a stent procedure. He died on June 14 due to COVID-19 infection,” a senior official said.
— PTI
Satyendar Jain tests negative for COVID-19
Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain tests negative for COVID-19, a hospital official said. The hospital is undertaking other tests on Mr Jain, the official added.
— Nikhil M. Babu
Odisha's Khorda district administration imposes 16-hour shutdown barring Bhubaneswar city
After Ganjam, the Khorda district administration on Tuesday imposed 16-hour complete shutdown in most areas of the district excluding Bhubaneswar city following a sudden spurt in COVID-19 cases, a senior official said.
Khordha Collector Sitansu Rout said the restriction will remain in force for 16-hour between 2 pm and 6 am every day. He said all shops except medicine stores will remain closed during the time.
— PTI
Will request PM for more relaxations in Karnataka: B.S. Yediyurappa
Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Tuesday said he would request Prime Minister Narendra Modi for more relaxations, as he made it clear that COVID-19 lockdown measures were not required in the state anymore.
“The lockdown is not required for Karnataka, we will request for more relaxations,” Mr. Yediyurappa said in response to a question about video conferencing with the Prime Minister.
— PTI
Cop who died of cardiac arrest in Karnataka found to have COVID-19
An assistant sub-inspector of police who died of heart attack was found to be infected with coronavirus, while two of his colleagues at the police station here have also contracted the infection.
Bengaluru police commissioner Bhaskar Rao said, “It’s true that an ASI at VV Puram traffic police station died of COVID-19 and two others have tested positive in the police station.”
— PTI
COVID-19 recovery rate high in Tamil Nadu, says CM K. Palaniswami
The COVID-19 recovery rate was high while fatalities were low in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister K. Palaniswami said here on Tuesday.
In view of a slew of anti-COVID-19 initiatives being taken by the government, the recovery rate was high, he said adding adequate relief was also being provided to the poor people.
“The deaths due to COVID-19 is very low,” he added.
— PTI
Rajasthan reports 115 fresh COVID-19 cases
Rajasthan reported 115 fresh COVID-19 cases on Tuesday taking the tally to 13,096, while the death toll climbed to 302 with one new fatality, officials said.
One death was reported from Jodhpur, they said.
Among the fresh cases, 68 were reported from Bharatpur, 21 from Jaipur, eight from Jhunjhunu, six from Tonk, four each from Dausa and Sirohi, three from Jhalawar and one from Bhilwara, health department officials said.
— PTI
’Gujarat Model exposed’: Rahul Gandhi slams BJP govt over high COVID-19 mortality rate in state
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday attacked the BJP government in Gujarat over the state’s high COVID-19 mortality rate, saying it had “exposed” the “Gujarat model“.
Gandhi has also been attacking the Centre over its handling of the coronavirus crisis.
“Covid-19 mortality rate: Gujarat: 6.25 per cent, Maharashtra: 3.73 per cent, Rajasthan: 2.32 per cent, Punjab: 2.17 per cent, Puducherry: 1.98 per cent, Jharkhand: 0.5 per cent, Chhattisgarh: 0.35 per cent,” he tweeted comparing the COVID-19 mortality rate of Gujarat with that of states where the Congress is in power.
— PTI
Kerala Minister launches anti-COVID mats
Anti-COVID Health Plus Mats from the Kerala State Coir Corporation, Alappuzha, was launched by Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac on Monday.
The Minister handed over a mat to M. Kumararaja, Secretary of Coir Board, at a brief function organised here. The Minister said that the coir industry would be able to overcome the current adverse market conditions through innovative products like the anti-COVID mats, which will be made available to all homes in the State at a reduced price.
— Special Correspondent
Rajasthan offers testing facility to other States
Having registered a phenomenal increase in its COVID-19 testing capacity to 15,000 per day, Rajasthan has offered to provide the test facility to the neighbouring States. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said here that the State government could conduct up to 5,000 tests per day for six neighbouring States.
Mr. Gehlot said his government’s highest priority was to save lives and it was willing to support Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Gujarat with the testing facility. “Rajasthan is committed to providing all possible help to the neighbouring States during the present crisis,” he said.
— Special Correspondent
Schools in Maharashtra's rural areas can open doors in areas with no cases
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday sanctioned the start of academic year 2020-21 for schools amid the lockdown. While schools in areas with COVID-19 cases will have to use online and digital platforms for lessons, those in rural areas with no cases in the last one month can open for students while following safety guidelines.
Lessons for Class IX, X and XII will start from July, for Class VI to VIII from August, and for Class III to V from September. The decision to start lessons for Class I and II will be taken by school management committees. The date for Class XI courses will be declared after Class X results are announced.
— Alok Deshpande
Using 2 luxurious hotels as COVID facility ‘advisable and feasible’: Expert panel tells Delhi HC
The Delhi High Court was informed by an expert committee of doctors that it was “advisable and infrastructurally feasible” to use two luxurious hotels — Hotel Surya and Hotel Crowne Plaza — as extended COVID-19 facilities.
The two-member committee of AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria and V.K. Paul, Member of the Niti Aayog, submitted its report before Justice Navin Chawla who conducted the hearing through video conferencing.
— PTI
’India, U.S. need concerted efforts to advance business, people-to-people linkages post COVID-19’
In the post-COVID world, India and the US should take concerted and focused efforts to advance the remarkable business and people-to-people linkages between the two countries, according to New Delhi’s top envoy in Washington.
Speaking on the occasion of the release of the report Indian Roots, American Soil by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here on Monday, India’s Ambassador to the U.S., Taranjit Singh Sandhu noted that the coronavirus pandemic has given both countries new opportunities to step up bilateral cooperation.
— PTI
Kanha National Park reopens for tourists
The Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh, which was shut since March-end due to COVID-19 outbreak, has reopened for tourists after a gap of over two- and-a-half months, officials said.
On the first day of its reopening on Monday, 76 tourists visited the park in 19 vehicles, they said.
— PTI
Watch | India may have undercounted COVID-19 cases
A serological survey by the Indian Council of Medical Research or ICMR from 69 districts across 21 States in India found that an estimated 7,00,000 people could have been infected by SARS-CoV-2 in these districts even in early May.
Results from the survey suggest that the actual COVID-19 case count by early May could have been at least 20 times more than what was detected in India at that time.
Uttar Pradesh’s Shamli reports first COVID-19 death
A woman died of COVID-19 in Uttar Pradesh’s Shamli, becoming the district’s first fatality due to the disease, officials said on Tuesday.
The woman, a resident of Thana Bhawan area, died on Monday, they said.
Meanwhile, the total number of COVID-19 cases in Shamli rose to 49 as one more person tested positive for the contagious respiratory disease, according to the officials.
— PTI
Class 10, 12 students can skip pending board exams, to be marked as per pre-boards results: CICSE
The class 10 and 12 students of CICSE board can choose not to appear for pending board exams and be marked as per their performance in pre-board exams or internal assessment, according to top officials.
The board had also submitted the proposal before the Bombay High Court on Monday in response to a petition filed by a parent seeking directions to the authorities to cancel exams in view of the spike in COVID-19 cases.
— PTI
Cashew nut growers in Tripura facing hard times in the absence of buyers
Around 5,000 cashew nut growers in Tripura are facing hard times as there are no buyers for their farm produce due to lockdown and COVID-19 pandemic.
Even though the harvest season is on, the growers said they are not harvesting the cashew nuts as there are no buyers.
— PTI
Meghalaya govt. allows wedding ceremonies in religious places
The Meghalaya government has decided to allow wedding ceremonies in religious places after a request by leaders of different organisations, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said.
All religious places and places of worship in the state are closed due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown and will open only for conducting wedding ceremonies.
— PTI
Delhi Heath Minister Satyendar Jain admitted in hospital; coronavirus test results by evening
Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain was admitted to Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality (RGSS) in the wee hours of Tuesday after he started running a fever and complained of breathing difficulties. A source from within the Aam Aadmi Party said that the Minister had low oxygen levels and his samples have been collected for coronavirus test.
“Due to high grade fever and a sudden drop of my oxygen levels last night I have been admitted to RGSSH. Will keep everyone updated,” Mr. Jain tweeted.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, recently undertook COVID-19 test after he was suffering from ill-health. He tested negative for the pandemic.
- Jaideep Deo Bhanj
'India in 8th place in terms of COVID-19 deaths''
India is the fourth worst-hit nation by the pandemic after the U.S., Brazil and Russia.
According to the Johns Hopkins University, which has been compiling COVID-19 data from all over the world, India is in the eighth position in terms of death toll.
Of the 380 new deaths, Maharashtra accounted for the highest 178 fatalities followed by Delhi at 73, Tamil Nadu at 44, Gujarat 28, Haryana 12, West Bengal 10, Rajasthan 9 and Madhya Pradesh 6.
More than 70 per cent deaths have happened due to comorbidities, according to the Union Health Ministry.
Curbs on people from Delhi, T.N. in Karnataka
The Karnataka government has announced mandatory institutional quarantine of three days for those coming from Delhi and Tamil Nadu, followed by 11 days of home quarantine.
In an order issued late on Monday, Chief Secretary T.M. Vijay Bhaskar said that those coming from Maharashtra would continue to have institutional quarantine for seven days, followed by seven days of home quarantine. Those travelling from other States would have 14 days of home quarantine as earlier.
COVID-19 situation in Maharashtra a ‘tragedy of errors’: experts
Maharashtra’s COVID-19 crisis is the result of many factors — failure of collective action between the Centre and the State, lack of Mumbai-specific approach to fight against the virus, and a blanket implementation of lockdown without a plan to utilise the time effectively and prepare the health system. These are some of the observations of health experts and activists who have closely analysed the turn of events over the last 100 days, since Maharashtra recorded its first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus on March 9.
Odisha for door-to-door survey to detect corona cases
The Odisha government on Monday announced that a 45-day door-to-door survey would be undertaken from Tuesday to detect COVID-19 cases.
The ASHA and ANM workers would visit every home between June 16 and July 31 in both rural and urban areas to find out if any member of a family had symptoms of COVID-19, Odisha Mission Director of National Health Mission Shalini Pandit told presspersons.
Tripura sees increase in cases
With detection of 10 cases, the Covid-19 tally in Tripura soared to 1089 on Monday. All new patients have a travel history. Meanwhile, senior Tripura minister Ratan Lal Nath informed that 433 coronavirus patients have so far been cured in the state. The number included 118 persons who have recovered and discharged from a Covid-19 care centre on Monday.
Nath further informed that 273 Bengaluru returned Tripura residents who got stuck up at Guwahati due to disconnection of train service owing to rain triggered mudslides in hill route have started journey in nine buses. More buses were being arranged to bring back 278 more passengers from Guwahati.
Minister further informed that the 230 Indians will return from Bangladesh through Agartala ICP on June 18. A batch of 129 stranded people had returned on May 28 and eight of them were tested Covid-19 positive.
State’s health department sources said samples of 47, 678 people tested so far and 1089 of them were found to be coronavirus infected.
- Syed Sajjad Ali
