India on Tuesday reported 5,680 new cases, taking the tally to 1,06,425, according to data from the State Health Departments. The number of active cases stood at 60,885, while 42,224 people have recovered. With 158 deaths on Tuesday, the toll rose to 3,316.
India on Tuesday reported 4,970 new cases and 134 deaths in the past 24 hours, taking the total number to 1,01,139 and 3,163 deaths. The country currently has 58,802 active cases, according to figures released by the Ministry.
Lockdown 4.0, which came into effect yesterday, saw shops and markets — except those in malls — opening, and autos, buses and cabs operating within the State guidelines. Here is a full list of what is allowed and what is not during Lockdown 4.0.
Globally, as of May 18, there have been 46,28,903 confirmed cases, including 3,12,009 deaths, reported to WHO.
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:
Four more test positive in Tripura
Four people who have returned to Tripura from Chennai in a special train, tested positive to coronavirus.NOw, the State's total infected cases stands at 171.
Five deaths - 2 in Jaipur and one each in Kota, Nagaur and Sikar - take the COVID-19 related death toll in Rajasthan to 143. A total of 338 new COVID-19 positive cases were detected in the State today, taking the tally to 5,845. Of the total number of patients, 3,337 have recovered and 2,928 have been discharged. As of now, the State has 2,365 active cases: Medical & Health Department.
42 new cases, 4 deaths reported in Telangana
Telangana, on Tuesday, reported 42 new cases taking the total number of cases to 1634. Nine people were discharged today and four people died today taking the death toll at 38. Active cases stood at 585.
323 new positive cases have been reported in Uttar Pradesh; taking the total number of psoitive cases to 4926. Death toll stand at 135: State Health Department
Railways to run 200 non-AC trains daily from June 1, says Piyush Goyal
Union Railway Minister on Tuesday said that the Indian Railways is planning to run 200 non-AC timetabled trains daily from June 1.
Mr. Goyal said bookings for non-AC second class trains will be available online and everyone can avail these services.
Karnataka limps back to normalcy; buses, autorickshaws resume services
Fifty six days after the lockdown was clamped in Karnataka, the state started limping back to normalcy, with autorickshaws, cabs and buses plying on the roads, adhering to the new norms issued by the government after easing of restrictions.
After remaining in confinement for nearly two months, drivers of taxis, buses and autorickshaws poured on to the roads with their vehicles, but with caution.
The Karnataka government had on Monday announced easing of restrictions, allowing buses, autos and cabs to operate in the state with strict guidelines that drivers have to compulsorily wear masks and use hand sanitisers.
It also specified the number of passengers to travel in these vehicles.
2,100 new coronavirus cases in Maharashtra, 1,202 discharged: Tope
Maharashtra reported a third consecutive surge of more than 2,000 Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, with a total 2,127 cases taking the cumulative tally to 37,136.
While this was the second-highest single-day surge till date , it was offset by the highest single-day recoveries in the State, with 1202 patients being discharged to take the total number of discharged till date to 9,639. However, the state also posted its highest single-day fatalities, with 76 new deaths taking the total number of fatalities to 1325.
Mumbai's case tally has now crossed the 22,000 mark to reach 22,746 cases, while it's death toll has risen to 800. As many as 43 of the new deaths reported today were from Mumbai city, 15 from Thane and six from Pune district among other parts of the state.
Six more die of COVID-19 in Bengal; 136 fresh cases reported
Six more people died of COVID-19 in West Bengal in the last 24 hours, raising the death toll in the state to 178, the state health department said.
The number of active cases rose to 1,637, with 136 fresh cases reported during the period, the department said in its bulletin on Tuesday.
Of the six, four are from the city and one each from South 24 Parganas and Hooghly district.
Earlier, the government had attributed the death of 72 coronavirus-afflicted patients to comorbidities, and said COVID-19 in those cases was “incidental“.
At least 68 people were discharged from different hospitals in the state during the last 24 hours, the department stated, adding that 1,074 have recovered from the disease so far.
A total of 8,712 samples were examined for COVID-19 since Monday evening. The number of samples tested in the state so far climbed to 1,02,282.
West Bengal has so far reported at total of 2,961 COVID-19 cases.
Twentyeight more positive cases have been reported in Jammu & Kashmir; 22 from Kashmir division and 6 from Jammu division. Total positive cases in the union terrority stand at 1317 including 653 active cases: Govt of Jammu and Kashmir
MP reports 229 new cases
Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday recorded 229 new COVID-19 cases, taking the count to 5,465. The number of active cases stands at 2,577. Whereas six persons died of the illness on the day, taking the State-wide death toll to 258. Two persons died in Indore, while one death was recorded in Jabalpur, Khandwa, Dewas and Jhabua each. As for recoveries, 196 patients were discharged from hospitals on the day after being cured. So far, 2,630 persons have recovered from the illness, says the State Directorate of Health Services .
-- Sidharth Yadav
Gujarat death toll rises to 719
New 395 Covid-19 cases and 25 deaths reported from Gujarat, increasing the state’s total numbers to 12141 cases and 719 deaths.
Ahmedabad adds 262 new cases and 21 deaths, taking its cumulative numbers to 8945 cases and 576 deaths.
Total 239 patients were discharged from the hospitals after recovery, bringing the total recovery number to 5043. However, as many as 49 patients are on ventilator support.
Tamil Nadu total stands at 12448
On Tuesday, 688 persons test positive for COVID-19 in Tamil Nadu which takes the total to 12448. With three more deaths reported, the death toll stooc at 84. About 489 persons were discharged on Tuesday taking the total number of discharged to 4895.
Punjab confirmed cases cross 2000
Twentytwo new positive cases have been reported in Punjab on Tuesday. Total number of positive cases rise to 2002 cases including 322 active cases, 1,642 cured and 38 deaths, says State Health Department
With the spike of 36 cases in Haryana today, total number of positive cases in the state rise to 964 cases including 627 discharges and 14 deaths, says State Health Department
6 new positive cases confirmed. Out of the 3 from Guwahati, 2 are related to a cancer patient who lost his life at GMCH (wife & daughter). 2 patients are from Karimganj & one from Sarusajai quarantine centre. Total patient count 141, says Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma
AIIMS to set up screening area for COVID-19 suspects before starting OPD services
A screening area will be set up at the AIIMS here to identify and segregate patients having symptoms of influenza-like illness and COVID-19 before they are referred to the out-patient department as the hospital gears up to resume OPD services in a phased manner, officials said.
According to AIIMS chief spokesperson Dr Aarti Vij, the premier hospital is in the process of modifying its OPDs in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Preparations are on in full-swing for setting up a screening OPD to identify and segregate patients having influenza-like-illness and COVID-19 suspects before they are sent to the main OPD, she said.
DGCA directs pilots to maintain social distancing
DGCA allows Approved Training Organization to function for simulator utilisation only, for pilots. Non-Scheduled Operator Permit (NSOP) operators are allowed to conduct non-revenue local training flights. DGCA directs that social distancing/disinfecting to be strictly followed.
Mortician tests COVID-19 positive in Howrah
A mortician working at a crematorium in Shibpur area of Howrah city has tested positive for novel coronavirus infection, a state health department official said on Tuesday.
The burning ghat is one of the facilities where bodies of patients who died of COVID-19 are being cremated, he said.
The man, employed by the Howrah Municipal Corporation, has been hospitalised while seven people who work with him and three death sub-registrars of the Shibpur burning ghat were sent for home quarantine.
“One mortician working in Shibpur burning ghat has tested positive for COVID-19. We have advised 10 people who work there to go for home quarantine,” the official said.
53 more COVID-19 positive cases in Bihar take the total number in the state to 1495. All the cases are from Jehanabad, Begusarai, Aurangabad, Arwal, Buxar and Nawada districts.
12 fresh COVID-19 cases in Kerala, total rises to 642
Kerala on Tuesday recorded 12 more COVID-19 cases, all returnees from overseas and other states, taking the total active patients to 142 as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the rise was expected but asserted community transmission has not happened so far.
For the third consecutive day, none was discharged while the total cases rose to 642 and 72,000 people were under observation with 495 of them in various hospitals. As many as 119 were admitted on Tuesday, he said.
Giving the break-up, Vijayan said while Kannur accounted for five new cases, Malappuram three and Pathnamthitta, Alappuzha, Thrissur and Palakkad districts one case each.
The total number of positive cases in Karnataka rose to 1,395. With 40 deaths and 543 discharges reported till Tuesday, the active cases stood at 812.
India records 0.2 COVID-19 deaths per lakh population as against global figure of 4.1: Health ministry
New Delhi, May 19 (PTI) India has so far about 0.2 COVID-19 deaths per lakh population as against the global figure of 4.1, the Union health ministry said as the number of fatalities due to coronavirus infection in the country rose to 3,163 on Tuesday and the total cases reached 1,01,139.
Also, a record number of 1,08,233 samples were tested for COVID-19 on Monday in the country. So far a total of 24,25,742 samples have been tested, the ministry said.
Referring to data from WHO situation report-119, the ministry said 3,11,847 COVID-19 mortalities have been reported till Tuesday worldwide which is about 4.1 deaths per lakh population.
Among the countries with high COVID-19 casualties, the US with 87,180 fatalities has 26.6 deaths per lakh population. The UK has reported 34,636 deaths and has approximately 52.1 deaths per lakh population, it said.
142 fresh COVID-19 cases in UP; total count 4,748
With 142 people testing positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, the number of such cases rose to 4,748 in Uttar Pradesh, officials said.
“A total of 4,748 cases have been reported so far in the state from 75 districts, of which 1,847 are active (in 72 districts) while 2,783 people have been discharged from hospitals after recovery. Till now, 118 deaths due to the disease have been reported in the state,” Principal Secretary, Medical and Health, Amit Mohan Prasad told reporters.
He said as many as 6,870 COVID-19 tests were conducted across Uttar Pradesh on Monday, adding that the state is also ramping up its pool-testing facility.
Dharavi in Mumbai reports 26 new COVID-19 cases, taking overall count to 1,353: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.
Maharashtra's lockdown 4.0 guidelines for non-red zones
In non-red zones, no permission is required from government to undertake any permitted activity.
In non-red zones, sports complexes and stadium and other public open spaces will be permitted to remain open for individual exercise, however spectators and group activities will not be allowed.
Agricultural activities are permitted in non-red zones.
Intra-district buses will be allowed, so does two-wheelers and four-wheelers, including cabs and autorickshaws. Social distancing must be followed.
Maharashtra's lockdown 4.0 guidelines
Maharashtra issues guidelines for the phase 4 of lockdown to be effective from May 22. Instead of three categories, the state will have Red and Non-Red zones.
All Municipal Corporations within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), Municipal corporations of Pune, Solapur, Aurangabad, Malegaon, Nasik, Dhule, Jalgaon, Akola and Amravati are classified as red zones. The remaining area of the state is non-red zone.
Night curfew will be implemented in the state from 7 PM to 7 AM to prohibit movement of individuals.
Restrictions will continue in containment areas within the red zones.
Shops selling essential goods can remain open in red zones. E-commerce, both essential and non-essential goods, are permitted. Shops/malls/establishments/industries will now be permitted to remain open from 9 AM to 5 PM for maintenance purpose only. No commercial or production activity is allowed.
All industrial units permitted to operate. Employees must use Arogya Setu app. Construction activity, pre-monsoon works are also permitted.
Home delivery from restaurants and kitchens are allowed in the red zone.
Nearly two months after the Narendra Modi government announced a nation-wide lockdown on March 25, Opposition leaders including Congress president Sonia Gandhi will via video conferencing on Friday (May 22) to discuss the government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic. - Sandeep Phukan
Mother-daughter duo test positive in Manipur
The number of COVID-19 positive cases in Manipur rose to nine with a mother and daughter with travel history to Delhi testing positive for the virus.
Both of them have been lodged in a quarantine centre at Mantri Pukhri near Imphal. - Iboyaima Laithangbam
Six Uttarakhand districts in orange zone
The Uttarakhand government has classified six of its 13 districts as orange zone and the rest in green besides deciding to implement the odd-even traffic formula for private vehicles in seven of its major cities.
Dehradun, Uttarkashi, Pauri Garhwal, Almora, Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar are in orange zone, while Haridwar, Tehri Garhwal, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Pithoragarh, Bageshwar and Champawat are in the green zone.
All shops will remain open from 7 am to 4 pm in the orange and green zones barring malls, shopping complexes, cinema halls and restaurants, he said.
However, restaurants can operate their home delivery services. Barber shops, salons, spas and parlours will also be open but educational institutions will remain closed.
19 more test positive for COVID-19 in Bihar
Nineteen more people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Bihar, raising the total number of such cases in the state to 1,442. The number of active cases in the state stands at 916.
Of the 19, three each are from Gaya, Nawada and Supaul, two each from Kaimur, Sheikhpura and Madhepura, and one each from Buxar, Samastipur, Jehanabad and Patna, Sanjay Kumar, the principal secretary of the health department, said.
500 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Delhi in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 10,554, according to a health bulletin released by the Delhi government on Tuesday.
This is the biggest single-day jump in the number of cases in the city so far.
Also, six more deaths have been reported, taking the total number of deaths to 166.
Of the 10,554 cases, 4,750 people have recovered and there are 5,638 active cases. - Nikhil M. Babu
Haryana govt. seeks nod from neighbouring States to ply buses
After it decided to resume inter- and intra-State transport bus service during ongoing lockdown , the Haryana government has written letters to the neighbouring States and Union Territory, seeking their consent to ply buses.
The State Transport Department has written letters to the governments of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi and Chandigarh seeking their consent to provide travel facilities to the people.
57 cases, two deaths reported in AP
Two COVID-19 related deaths were reported in Andhra Pradesh taking the toll to 52 even as 57 more tested positive, pushing the total number of infections in the state to 2,489
Of the fresh cases in the past 24 hours ending 9 AM on Tuesday, six were linked to the Koyambedu market in Chennai, the bulletin said.
Kurnool and Chittoor districts reported one death each.
Public transport resumes in Delhi after nearly 2 months
Public transport resumed in Delhi on Tuesday with buses, auto-rickshaws and taxis plying on the road, albeit with a limited number of passengers, after a gap of nearly two months.
The Delhi Transport Corporation and Cluster buses resumed services with social-distancing norms and safety measures in place like use of sanitisers and masks to check the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
Assam COVID-19 count
Biggest single-day jump in number of COVID-19 positive cases reported in Assam with 20 fresh cases confirmed on Tuesday, taking total count to 135, of whom 41 have recovered, 4 died and one each migrated to Bihar and West Bengal. - Rahul Karmakar
Ply more shramik special trains for migrants: MHA to States
MHA asks States to allow plying of more trains to ferry migrant workers, says more clarity needed about departure of trains or buses.
Lack of clarity about running of trains, buses coupled with rumours is causing unrest amongst migrant workers, reads the Ministry's communique to States.
The Home Ministry has urged the States to operate more special trains for migrant workers by pro-active coordination with Ministry of Railways.
Fresh cases reported in Rajasthan
As many as 122 new COVID-19 positive cases were detected in Rajasthan on Tuesday, taking the State's tally to 5,629.
With one death reported from Nagaur, the COVID-19 related death toll increased to 139. As of now, the State has 2,271 active cases, according to Medical & Health Department. - Mohammad Iqbal
102 new COVID-19 cases were detected in Odisha on Tuesday taking the State’s total to 978.
Total number of active cases now stands at 696, while 277 have recovered and five have died. - Prafulla Das
Public transport back in Karnataka
Passengers being screened before boarding a bus at Kempegowda bus station in Bengaluru on Tuesday.
Buses, autorickshaws and cabs returned to roads in Karnataka on Tuesday, after a gap of nearly two months, with some conditions in place.
All non-AC buses, operated by government and private players resumed operations in all parts of the State, except in COVID-19 containment zones. Only 30 persons will be allowed to travel in a bus to ensure social distancing.
Manipur tightens restrictions after five new cases
The Manipur government has tightened restrictions after at least five persons contracted COVID-19. A notification in this regard was issued by Chief Secretary J. Suresh Babu late on Monday.
Earlier, a Manipuri woman who had gone to Mumbai along with her ailing husband, a cancer patient, had died. A trader from Bengaluru who dealt in foreign goods and used to stay at Manipur’s border town Moreh for a few days died shortly after returning home. Two persons had recovered from the disease.
WHO a puppet of China, says Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump once again on Monday attacked the World Health Organisation (WHO), saying the UN health body was a ‘puppet’ of China.
Trump claimed that more people would have died from coronavirus in the country had he not imposed a ban on travel from China, which was ‘opposed’ by the health agency.
Mexico begins reopening despite coronavirus onslaught fears
Mexico issued guidelines on Monday for restarting operations in the automotive, mining and construction sectors, pushing ahead with reopening the economy despite a growing national toll from the COVID-19 pandemic and concerns about unsafe work sites.
With Mexico's coronavirus death toll having surged past 5,300, and with 51,633 known cases, officials are wrestling with how to restart key industries without triggering a greater spread of the highly contagious respiratory virus.
Buses, cabs to run with limited passengers in 4th phase: Kejriwal
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday announced certain relaxations in transportation in the city in the fourth phase of lockdown till May 31.
Buses will be allowed to run with not more than 20 passengers, while autorickshaws and e-rickshaws will ply with one passenger each. Taxis will be allowed to ferry only two passengers. Gramin, phat-phat and eco-friendly sevas will also be allowed with only two passengers. Maxi cabs will be allowed with five passengers and RTVs will be allowed to ferry 11. However, metro services will remain suspended during the period.
Trump says he is taking hydroxychloroquine despite FDA warning
U.S. President Donald Trump, in a surprise announcement, said on Monday he is taking hydroxychloroquine as a preventive medicine against the coronavirus despite medical warnings about the use of the malaria drug.
“I'm taking hydroxychloroquine,” Mr. Trump told reporters. “I've been taking it for the last week and a half. A pill every day.”
