Lockdown 4.0, which comes into effect on May 18 , will see shops and markets — except those in malls — opening, and autos, buses and cabs operating within the State guidelines. E-commerce companies will be allowed to deliver all goods, including those considered non-essential.
However, hotels, restaurants, cinema halls, malls, swimming pools, gyms will continue to remain shut till May 31. Here is a full list of what is allowed and what is not during Lockdown 4.0.
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:
Two more BSF men test positive in Tripura
Two more personnel of the 86th battalion of Border Security Force located at Ambassa in Dhalai district tested positive on Monday taking the total infections to 167 in Tripura.
Out of the 167 cases, 163 BSF men were infected, according to iChief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb. — Syed Sajjad Ali
41 new cases in Telangana
Telangana on Monday reported 41 new cases and an equal number of discharges. The total positive cases are 1592, a total of 1002 have been discharged, and the active cases stand at 556, according to the State bulletin.
Industries in M.P. outside containment zones can open: CM
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said for lockdown 4.0, COVID-19-hit areas had been divided into two zones - red and green.
Indore and Ujjain districts, and urban areas of Bhopal and Jabalpur, among others, will remain in the red zone. Mr. Chouhan said industries outside containment areas could now open. Buses under public transport will not ply for at least a week, after which a call will be taken.
- Sidharth Yadav
7 deaths, 304 new cases in Rajasthan
Rajasthan reported seven deaths today - 2 in Jaipur and one each in Kota, Jalore, Nagaur, Pali and Udaipur - to take the tally of fatalities in Rajasthan to 138.
The number of new COVID-19 positive cases detected in the State today was 304, taking the tally to 5,507. Among the patients, 3,218 have recovered and 2,803 have been discharged. As of now, Rajasthan has 2,151 active cases, according to the State Health Department.
- Mohammed Iqbal
4 more cases in H.P.
4 more COVID-19 cases were reported in Himachal Pradesh today. Total number of cases in the State is now at 90, including 41 active cases, 42 recovered, and 3 deaths: State Health Department
Telangana extends lockdown till May 31
The Telangana government on Monday announced extension of COVID-19 lockdown in the state till May 31 with fresh guidelines and relaxations, including conditional nod for public transport.
Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao made the announcement, a day after the Centre extended the national lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus till the month end.
He had earlier announced the lockdown would be in force in the state till May 29.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the state cabinet, Mr. Rao declared that barring containment zones, the rest of the state would be green zones and announced various relaxations and guidelines for the extended lockdown.
Public transport would be allowed with certain conditions, he said.
- PTI
106 new cases, 2 deaths in J&K
Jammu and Kashmir on Monday recorded 106 fresh COVID-19 cases, including 55 police personnel and five doctors, taking the total number of infected to 1,289, officials said.
The union territory has reported a total of 16 fatalities, including two on Monday.
Among the latest cases are five doctors and 55 police personnel from district police lines Anantnag, they said.
Four of these doctors had treated a COVID-19 positive woman who died of comorbidities on Sunday.
"106 new positive cases of coronavirus were detected in the union territory on Monday," the officials said. Of the fresh cases, 12 have been detected in Jammu division and 94 in the Kashmir Valley, they said.
While 609 patients have recovered, 664 people are undergoing treatment.
- PTI
Yashwant Sinha taken into police custody while on dharna over migrant workers' plight
Former Union minister Yashwant Sinha sat on a dharna at the Rajghat on Monday, demanding that the armed forces be deployed to help migrant workers reach their homes.
Mr. Sinha was joined by AAP leaders Sanjay Singh and Dilip Pandey who demanded proper arrangements for moving stranded migrant workers back to their States.
They were, however, picked up Delhi Police later in the evening and taken to a nearby police station.
"We have just been arrested by the Delhi Police," Mr. Sinha tweeted.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Sanjay Bhatia said protestors have been removed from the venue as of now.
Police sources said they are likely to be released.
- PTI
Maharashtra reports 51 deaths, 2033 new cases
Maharashtra recorded its second-highest single day surge till date on Monday with the State reporting 2,033 new Covid-19 cases as the cumulative tally crossed the 35,000 - mark to soar to 35,058. 51 new deaths were reported today, taking the total number of fatalities to 1249.
As many as 749 patients were discharged today, taking the total number of discharged till date to 8437.
Mumbai's case tally has now crossed the 21,000 mark to reach 21,335 cases, while its death toll stood at 757. As many as 23 of the new deaths reported today were from Mumbai city, and eight each from Pune district and Navi Mumbai among other parts of the State.
- Shoumojit Banerjee
More relaxations will be offered in green and orange zones, says Uddhav Thackeray
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray says "Green zones are working normally. More relaxations will be offered here and in Orange. However relaxations in Red zones will not be possible".
Mr. Thackeray says "50,000 businesses have been opened till now. Around 5 lakh workers have begun working. permission has been given to 70,000 businesses."
The Chief Minister says "For industries: More than 40000 acre land reserved for new industries. No conditions to start new green industries. We want new industrialists in Maharashtra. We will give you land in rent basis, will provide basic infrastructure. Let's start new era of industries."
Mr. Thackeray says "Outside workers have gone to native states. I want to tell this to locals. Come out and take up jobs in industries in green zone. Let's be Atmanirbhar here. Let's take up the challenge wherever human resource is falling short."
The Chief Minister said "We need more volunteers to come forward to treat Covid-19 patients. 9,967 positive patients in Mumbai, out of which more than 5000 are cured."
He said "What if I lift lockdown? Have a look at what is happening abroad. I won't let that happen. Ready to take criticism. I have no problem with that."
"We are not lifting lockdown because if we do that now, we may have to face unending lockdown in future."
Mr. Thackeray said "Around 5 lakh workers have been sent from Maharashtra through train and buses. We have not taken any money from them. State govt is paying. Not a single rupee will be taken from them.
"I request people of Maharashtra too. Please don't travel to native district in this summer. We have to keep green zones as it is. If possible, have some patience."
2 deaths, 16 new cases in Punjab
Two more COVID-19 patients succumbed to the infection in Punjab, taking the death toll to 37, while 16 fresh cases brought the virus count to 1,980 in the State, officials said on Monday.
A 50-year-old coronavirus positive man died on Monday at Kapurthala civil hospital while a 35 year-old Hoshiarpur man succumbed to the infection on Sunday night, a health official said.
Among fresh cases reported on Monday, six were in Ludhiana; three in Hoshiarpur; two each in Jalandhar and Faridkot; and one each in Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur and Kapurthala, as per a medical bulletin.
Five of the new cases were foreign returnees, according to the state health department's bulletin.
As many as 181 patients were discharged from different hospitals, taking the total figure of cured people to 1,547, the bulletin said. There are 396 active COVID-19 cases in Punjab, it added.
- PTI
Taxis, autos allowed in Orange, Green Zones in Rajasthan
In the guidelines for lockdown 4.0, government and private offices with 50% staff are allowed to be opened in Rajasthan.
Taxis and autorickshaws will be allowed in the Orange and Green zone districts. Inter-city bus services within the State will be allowed on the routes permitted by the Home Department.
The guidelines are effective from today and will remain in force till May 31, 2020.
- Mohammad Iqbal
The slum of Dharavi in Mumbai reported a spike of 85 cases on Monday, breaching the 1300-mark. Total number of cases from the area are now 1327.
- Tanvi Deshpande
Gujarat government decides to re-open shops, State transport services, auto-rickshaws in non-containment zones, starting Tuesday.
- Mahesh Langa
35 deaths, 366 new cases in Gujarat
Gujarat on Monday reported 35 deaths and 366 COVID-19 cases, increasing its tally of deaths to 694 and positive cases to 11,746.
Today, 305 patients were discharged after recovery, increasing the total number of recoveries to 4808. Ahmedabad alone added 263 new infections and 31 deaths, bringing its cumulative numbers to: 8683 cases and 555 deaths.
- Mahesh Langa
3 deaths, 259 new cases in M.P.
The number of COVID-19 cases in Madhya Pradesh has climbed to 5,236, with 259 new cases and three deaths being registered on Monday. There are 2,549 active cases in the State.
Indore, Bhopal, Burhanpur and Ujjain recorded one death each on the day, taking the State-wide death toll to 252. As many as 32 patients were discharged from hospitals today. So far, 2,435 persons have recovered, says the State Directorate of Health Services.
-- Sidharth Yadav
31 more cases in Bihar
Bihar on Monday reported 31 more COVID-19 positive cases, taking the total number of positive cases to 1423. All are male from Madhubani, Bhojpur, Kaimur, Saran, Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Sheohar, Supaul and Katihar districts. So far, 494 have recovered in the State.
- Amarnath Tewary
Bus services in Haryana
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal on Monday has said that Inter-district and Inter-State buses will resume from Tuesday in all of Haryana, designated as Orange Zone during Lockdown 4.0, except the containment zones.
2 more deaths in J&K
A 75-year-old man and a 65-year-old woman died due to coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, taking the toll to 15 in the union territory, officials said.
The man, a resident of Kokernag area of Anantnag district, was undergoing treatment at SMHS hospital for other ailments. He was shifted to Chest Disease Hospital here after testing positive for the disease.
The woman from Kulgam died due to cardiac arrest soon after she was admitted to a hospital here for COVID-19 treatment.
- PTI
3 deaths, 536 new cases in T.N.
In Tamil Nadu, 536 persons tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday and there were three deaths. Totally, 234 discharged today, the total discharged is 4406, said Health Minister C. Vijayabhaskar.
India to participate in WHO meet to seek origin of virus
India is expected to join over 60 countries at a two-day crucial conference of the World Health Organisation in Geneva in pushing for an “impartial, independent and comprehensive” evaluation of the global response mechanism to the COVID-19 crisis as well as to find out the “zoonotic source” of the deadly infection .
The two-day 73rd session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) of the WHO beginning on Monday is taking place in the backdrop of growing calls including by U.S. President Donald Trump to investigate how the virus originated in China’s Wuhan city. China and the U.S. were locked in a spat over the issue.
The WHO is also expected to delve into pooling in additional resources to deal with the pandemic that has killed over 3,10,000 people and infected nearly 4.7 million besides wrecking the global economy.
5 new cases in H.P.
Five more people tested positive for coronavirus in Himachal Pradesh on Monday, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases to 86 in the State, an official said.
All the five cases were reported from the State's Hamirpur district. All the five people had returned from red zones of Mumbai and Delhi recently.
- PTI
Kejriwal announces lockdown rules for Delhi
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday addressed the new lockdown guidelines for Delhi, a day after the Union Home Ministry announced its guidelines for the 4th phase of the lockdown.
"The coronavirus will not disappear over the next month or two. As I have said earlier, we have to learn to live with, coexist with, the coronavirus," Mr. Kejiwal said.
"The lockdown cannot last indefinitely; we have to now think about and proceed with, restarting our economic activity.
"The metro will not be operational, schools, shopping malls, swimming pools, bars, auditoriums, cinemas will remain shut. Barbers, spas and saloon will be shut.
"Political, religious, social gatherings will not be allowed.
"Citizens above 65, pregnant women, children below ten will not be allowed. Stadiums will be open but spectators will not be allowed.
"Auto-rickshaws, e-rickshaw, rickshaws are allowed but with only one passenger, cabs with two passengers. But it will be the responsibility of the drivers to ensure sanitisation after each trip.
"Buses will be allowed, but only 20 passengers each; each to be thermally screened before boarding the bus.
"Two passengers on four wheelers/cars and one person on two wheelers allowed.
"All government and private offices can be open but I would request that private offices operate with half the staff.
"Shops will open at markets but on odd and even basis.
"Only 50 guests allowed per wedding and 20 individuals at funerals, social distancing will need to be maintained. Wearing masks is mandatory and social distancing is also mandatory in Delhi.
"As per the Centre’s guidelines the movement of essentials service providers, especially medical staff will be permitted; goods carriers will also be permitted.
"No activity will be allowed in containment zones in Delhi.
"Construction activities to be allowed."
- Jatin Anand
Sensex crashes 1,069 points; bank, auto stocks among worst hit
Benchmark Sensex crashed 1,069 points on May 18 tracking massive selloffs in banking and auto stocks as government’s fiscal stimulus package failed to revive confidence in domestic investors.
The 30-share BSE index ended 1,068.75 points or 3.44% lower at 30,028.98, while the broader NSE Nifty plunged 313.60 points or 3.43% to 8,823.25.
IndusInd Bank was the top laggard in the Sensex pack, cracking around 10%, followed by HDFC, Maruti Suzuki, Axis Bank and UltraTech Cement.
48 new cases in Odisha, Bhubaneswar declared COVID-19 free
Forty-eight more people, including 47 migrant workers who recently returned from various States, tested positive for novel coronavirus in Odisha, taking the number of cases in the State to 876 on Monday, a Health Department official said.
Kandhamal district reported cases of the coronavirus disease for the first time, taking the number of affected districts in the state to 23, the official said.
There are 652 active cases so far and the total number of infections has risen 876, out of which 220 people have recovered and four died.
Odisha capital Bhubaneswar on Monday become coronavirus free with the recovery of all the 48 COVID-19 patients in the city, an official said.
Bhubaneswar, which reported the State's first COVID-19 case on March 15 and Odisha's first corona fatality on April 6 was declared as free from the highly infectious disease, the official said.
The last batch of three patients were among the states total 57 cases declared as COVID-19 cured patients on Monday.
Of the 50 cases reported from the city, 48 have recovered and two persons died .
Bhubaneswar and Jagatsinghpur district now have no active cases of COVID-19, a health department statement said.
- PTI
10 new cases in Goa
The number of active COVID-19 cases in Goa rose to 36 after 10 more people tested positive for the disease on Monday, officials said.
The new patients included nine who reached Goa in a train from Mumbai on Sunday, and another woman who travelled to the coastal State in her car and was quarantined at Vasco, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said.
Samples of all the 10 people came out positive in TrueNat (rapid) tests, he said.
Nearly 456 passengers who arrived here in the Mumbai-Goa train were tested since Sunday at a lab set up at Hospicio Hospital in Margao town of South Goa district, according to a health department bulletin.
- PTI
Karnataka reports biggest ever spike with 99 new cases
Karnataka reported 99 new COVID-19 cases on Monday. This is the largest number of cases reported in a single day.
With this the total number of cases in the State stand at 1246. Totally 530 have been discharged and there are 678 active cases in the State.
- Tanu Kulkarni
47 new cases in Uttar Pradesh
With 47 more people being confirmed positive for coronavirus, the number of cases of the disease rose to 4,511 in Uttar Pradesh on Monday, officials said.
"A total of 4,511 cases have been reported so far in the State from 75 districts, of which 1,763 are active while 2,636 people have been discharged from hospitals after recovery. Till now, 112 deaths have been reported so far in the state," Principal Secretary, Health, Amit Mohan Prasad said.
- PTI
Bihar reports 9th death
Bihar on Monday reported its ninth death due to COVID-19, that of a 75 year old woman patient at Nalanda Medical College and Hospital in Patna. She was from Vaishali district and was also suffering from advanced stage of lung cancer. Her sample tested positive for COVID-19 on May 14.
Meanwhile, 29 more COVID-19 positive cases were reported in Bihar, taking the total number to 1392. All are from Gopalgunj, Arwal and Katihar districs.
- Amarnath Tewary
One fresh case in Uttarakhand
A 60-year-old woman tested positive for COVID-19 in Uttarakhand, taking the total number of coronavirus cases in the State to 93.
The woman had returned recently from Mumbai to Dehradun, a health department bulletin said this afternoon.
She was under home quarantine when her sample was sent to AIIMS, Rishikesh for testing.
The latest case takes the state's tally to 93 out of which 52 have recovered and one person has died, leaving the number of active cases in the State at 40, the bulletin said.
- PTI
Third death in Assam
A 71-year-old coronavirus-infected man died in Assam on Monday, raising the death toll to three, while two more people tested positive, bringing the virus count to 102 in the State, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
The elderly man was also suffering from neck cancer and had recently gone to Mumbai for treatment, the minister said.
He said the patient passed away at 11.05 am at Guwahati Medical College Hospital (GMCH). "Doctors did their best... Heartfelt condolences," Mr. Sarma said in a tweet.
The wife and son of the deceased man have been shifted out from their quarantine facility in a hotel and admitted to the Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital, the minister said.
Two men, both aged 20 and from Nagaon and Titabor tested positive for COVID-19, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 102 in Assam, Mr. Sarma said.
Earlier, a Tablighi Jamaat returnee from Hailakandi and a 16-year-old girl had died in the state due to the infection.
- PTI
U.P. accepts Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's offer of 1,000 buses to transport migrants
The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday accepted Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's offer of 1,000 buses to transport stranded migrant workers to their homes in the State.
In an order signed by Awanish Awasthi, additional chief secretary home department, the UP government communicated to Ms. Vadra's personal secretary that her proposal had been accepted. Mr. Awasthi sought the names and other details of the drivers for the 1,000 buses.
The government's decision came two days after Ms. Vadra had written to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath requesting him to allow the Congress to run 5,00 buses each from the Ghazipur border in Ghaziabad and Noida border to transport migrant workers to their native places." All costs will be borne by the All India Congress Committee," Ms. Vadra had written.
- Omar Rashid
No night curfew, but don't venture out after 7 p.m.: Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said on Monday that the State has extended the lockdown till May 31. While there is no official night curfew in West Bengal, people are requested not to venture out after 7 pm, she added.
- PTI
Krishi Bhawan employee tests positive
A part of Krishi Bhawan building in Central Delhi has been sealed after an official in the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has been tested positive for COVID-19.
The officers have been asked to work from home for the next two days. The office will reopen on May 21.
All those who had come in direct contact with the COVID-19 patient have been advised to get themselves home quarantined and to also get themselves tested after five days. They will be allowed to attend office only after being tested negative for COVID-19.
Krishi Bhawan also houses several other ministries including agriculture, food and consumer affairs, rural development and panchayati raj. - PTI
Kerala to allow bus services within district
The Kerala Government has decided to allow services of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and stage carriers of the private bus operators on shorter routes within the districts subject to following the social distancing norms and SOPs.
However, the government has decided not to take the risk of resuming inter-state and inter-district bus services in view of rising number of COVID-19 cases.
Autorickshaws and taxies, which are off the road since the lockdown began on March 25, have been given the nod to ply in the State following the SOP and social distancing norms.
Transport Minister A. K. Saseendran said on Monday that only 50% of the commuters will be allowed in the buses. Passengers will have to wear masks during travel and bus operations will not be allowed in the notified infection zones.
SAT to remain closed till May 31
The Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) has said it will remain closed till May 31 in view of the nationwide lockdown announced by the government to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Besides, the office of the tribunal will function from June 1 from 11 am to 4:30 pm.
Also, the matters fixed for hearing on May 18 to May 22 will now stand adjourned till June 23, 24, 26, 30 and July 1, respectively.
The matters fixed for hearing on May 26 to May 29 will now stand adjourned till July 2, 6, 7 and 8, respectively. - PTI
Man succumbs to COVID-19 in Srinagar
Kashmir witnessed one more COVID-19 death on Monday — a 75-year-old man. This brings the fatality in the Union Territory to 14.
Meanwhile, five doctors who treated a 29-year-old woman have tested positive for coronavirus in Srinagar. The woman succumbed to the infection on Sunday. - Peerzada Ashiq
Karnataka to restart bus services from Tuesday
Karnataka relaxed many lockdown norms by allowing government-run transport corporations and private bus operators to operate buses by fixing the passengers’ strength to 30 in a bus from Tuesday. Wearing masks has been made mandatory for all passengers.
Trains too would run within the State, but Metro will remain shut.
Buses and private vehicles would remain off the roads on Sundays. All business establishments and roadside shops too would remain closed on Sundays.
CBSE pending Class X and XII examinations in July
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced dates for the pending Class XII examinations, which had to be postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic.
The Board also announced dates for the pending Class X examinations in the north eastern Delhi region, where tests could not be conducted due to riots.
The examinations will be held between July 1 to 15, 2020.
Kerala postpones SSLC, higher secondary exams to June
With the Union government extending the lockdown till May 31, the Kerala government on Monday decided to postpone the SSLC, higher secondary and vocational higher secondary examinations to June.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting presided over by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
The dates will be announced later.
Bus-turned-ambulance
Thane Municipal Corporation converted Thane Municipal Transport (TMT) buses into ambulance considering the increasing number of Covid-19 patients.
Many fresh cases in Karnataka have travel history to Maharashtra
Karnataka has reported 84 new COVID-19 positive cases in Karnataka. This the highest number of cases reported in the state in a single day. With this the total number of cases in the state stand at 1231.
Of the total 84 cases reported in the state majority are from Bengaluru Urban - 18.
56 out of the 84 cases reported positive in Karnataka on Monday have a travel history to Maharashtra. - Tanu Kulkarni
52 fresh cases detected in Andhra Pradesh
A day after witnessing just 25 cases — one of the lowest daily tallies — the State has detected 52 fresh COVID-19 cases during the past 24 hours as of Monday, taking the overall tally to 2,432, including 150 migrant cases.
Meanwhile, cases related to the Koyambedu wholesale market hotspot continue to come up in various districts. Of the 52 cases, 19 are of persons who visited the market and their contacts. Twelve such cases were detected in Chittoor and seven in Nellore. - Tharun Boda
Two deaths in Rajasthan
Two deaths — one each in Kota and Nagaur — have taken the tally of fatalities in Rajasthan to 133 today.
The number of new COVID-19 positive cases detected in the State on Monday was 140, taking the tally to 5,342.
Among the patients, 3,068 have recovered and 2,666 have been discharged. As of now, Rajasthan has 2,141 active cases, according to the Medical & Health Department. - Mohammed Iqbal
Clashes erupt between police and migrant workers in Ahmedabad. Police used tear gas to disperse mob of migrant workers who were demanding that they be sent back to their hometowns. - Mahesh Langa
52 fresh cases detected in Andhra Pradesh
A day after witnessing just 25 cases — one of the lowest daily tallies — the State has detected 52 fresh COVID-19 cases during the past 24 hours as of Monday, taking the overall tally to 2,432, including 150 migrant cases.
The number of recoveries continues to increase with more patients getting discharged in various districts. As many as 96 patients, including two of the migrant cases, have recovered.
So far, 1,552 patients have recovered, taking the recovery rate in the State to 63.8%, while 34.1% of the positive patients are currently undergoing treatment. No new deaths were reported.
Restrictions under Sec 144 extended in Chhattisgarh for 3 more months
The Chhattisgarh government has extended restrictions imposed in all districts of the State under CrPC Section 144 for next three months in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus, an official said on Monday.
The state Home department issued a notification to this effect late Sunday evening, a public relations department official said.
Coronavirus infections in Pakistan touches 42,000 mark with 903 deaths
Pakistan on Monday reported 1,974 fresh cases of coronavirus, taking the total infections in the country to over 42,000 with 903 deaths, the health ministry said.
Planning Minister Asad Umar said that a capacity of 30,000 tests per day would be sufficient for Pakistan to control the spread of the deadly virus.
Uber makes masks now mandatory for both driver and riders
Uber on Monday announced a series of new safety features across their various product offerings in view of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
The key policy that the company announced for India would be the requirement to wear masks or face covers for both driver and riders and also rolled out a set of new features in their app to ensure the same. The features were launched on Monday and will be rolled out across the country in the coming week.
Pune district reports more than 60 cases over 12-hour span; death toll exceeds 200
More than 60 new COVID-19 cases were reported from Pune district over a 12-hour span as its total tally — including deaths and recoveries — climbed to 4,083 cases with 206 fatalities thus far, authorities said on Monday.
Aurangabad district, emerging as a major virus hotbed in Maharashtra’s Marathwada region, too witnessed a spurt of 59 new cases as the district’s total case tally surged to 1,021, according to officials. Aurangabad has reported 31 deaths till now.
Oppo suspends Noida factory operations, to screen 3,000 employees for coronavirus
Chinese handset maker Oppo on Sunday suspended operations at its Noida factory till the time it completes coronavirus screening of all 3,000 employees at the plant.
The company had resumed the operations on Friday after it got permission from the Uttar Pradesh government for it with around 30% of employees. The company has send sample of all employees who have to join work for coronavirus testing.
Tasmac liquor outlets to function till 7 p.m.
The Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac) has extended the operating hours of liquor outlets by two hours. Shops would now be open till 7 p.m., said a government source.
All Tasmac shops were closed post-COVID-19 lockdown and re-opened on May 7 with certain restrictions. The cash cow of the State government sells on an average liquor worth ₹85 crore to ₹90 crore per day.
COVID-19 cases in Delhi cross 10,000 mark
Two hundred and ninety nine new COVID-19 cases were reported in Delhi in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 10,054, according to a health bulletin released by the Delhi government on Monday.
Also, 12 more deaths have been reported, taking the total number of deaths to 160. But all of the deaths did not take place in the past 24 hours.
Of the 10,054 cases, 4,485 people have recovered. There are 5,409 active cases in Delhi.
USAID to fund 200 ventilators for India to help tackle COVID-19
India will take delivery of 200 ventilators donated by the United States within the next month, government sources said in New Delhi on Monday.
According to the sources, the ventilators, which would be paid for by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), will arrive in May and June in two instalments, and a final schedule of delivery will be notified next week.
Bihar reports eighth death, 21 more BMP jawans test positive
Bihar reported the eighth death due to the COVID-19 pandemic and 21 personnel of the 14th battalion of the Bihar Military Police (BMP) were found infected with the disease, taking the total number of positive cases in the State to 1,326 on May 18.
As many as 475 people have also recovered from the disease.
48 new cases in Odisha
Odisha detected 48 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, taking the State’s total to 876, according to the State government.
With this, the State has 652 active cases. As many as 220 people have recovered and four have died due to the infection.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui travels home for Eid, placed under 14-day quarantine
Hindi actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui and his family members were placed under home quarantine after they reached Budhana town here from Mumbai, police said on Monday.
Siddiqui, along with his family members, reached his hometown on Saturday after getting necessary permission for travel from the authorities in Maharashtra, Superintendent of Police (Rural) Nepal Singh said.
He said the actor and the family members were tested for COVID-19 but their reports came negative. However, they have been placed under mandatory 14-day home quarantine, Mr. Singh said.
- PTI
WHO to kick off international meet amid US-China tensions
The World Health Organization will on Monday kick off its first ever virtual assembly, but fears abound that U.S.-China tensions could derail the strong action needed to address the COVID-19 crisis.
The World Health Assembly, which has been trimmed from the usual three weeks to just two days, Monday and Tuesday, is expected to focus almost solely on COVID-19. A number of heads of state, government chiefs, health ministers and other dignitaries are expected to attend the meeting, which is due to kick off around noon on Monday.
- PTI
India registers single-largest spike of 5,200 new cases in 24 hours
India has registered its single largest spike in 24 hours with 5,242 new COVID-19 positive cases, according to an update from the Union Health Ministry on Monday.
The death toll in the past 24 hours is 157.
With this, the total number of cases in the country is now 96,169, according to Union Ministry data. Of this, 56,316 are active cases. As many as 3,029 people have succumbed to the infection while 36,823 people have been cured.
India's fatality rate had fallen to 3.1% and the recovery rate has improved to 37.5%, according for the Health Ministry.
Delhi's detailed lockdown plan to be announced today, says Kejriwal
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said the Centre’s guidelines for the fourth phase of the lockdown are largely in line with the proposal sent by the Delhi government. The proposal, he said, was based on suggestions of lakhs of Delhiites.
He added that the government will prepare the detailed plan for Delhi based on the Centre’s guidelines and announce them on May 18.
U.S. records 820 new coronavirus deaths in 24 hours
The United States on Sunday recorded 820 new coronavirus fatalities in the previous 24 hours, but the country's total death count neared 90,000, a Johns Hopkins University tracker reported.
The latest toll, marked at 00:30 GMT on Monday, was the lowest since 776 daily deaths were recorded on May 10, but the count ranged as high as 1,894 in subsequent days.
According to the real-time tracker by Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins, the United States has 14,86,376 cases of novel coronavirus. That figure and the death toll are by far the world's highest.
- AFP
36 new cases in Bihar
Bihar registered 36 new COVID-19 positive cases, taking the total number of cases in the State to 1,320.
Of the new patients, 34 are men and two are women. They hail from Khagaria, Kishanganj, Supaul, Madhepura, Banka, Munger, Purnea and Patna districts.
The death toll in the State remains eight. As many as 472 people have recovered from the infection so far.
Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu report spike in cases
Maharashtra registered its highest single-day increase of 2,347 COVID-19 cases to take its overall tally to 33,053 and 1,198 deaths. With 34 new deaths, Gujarat’s toll increased to 659. Tamil Nadu registered 639 more cases, and its death toll rose by four to take the tally to 79.
Reports from the State Health Departments put the nationwide tally at 95,622 cases and the death toll at 3,021. With an increase of 5,034 cases on May 17, infections are now doubling every 13.8 days if data of past seven days are considered. This is among the fastest in the list of countries with the highest number of infections.
