The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in India crossed 40,000 on Sunday, making it one among 16 countries that have crossed that figure. With 83 more deaths since Saturday, a single-day high, the death toll nationwide has gone up to 1,306.
India currently has 28,070 active cases and 10,886 patients have recovered, according to the latest numbers available on the Health Ministry website. Maharashtra, Gujarat and Delhi led with the maximum number of cases.
Data from State Health Departments put the nationwide death toll at 1,389. The number of positive cases overall stood at 42,496, with 29, 318 active ones. Mumbai reported 441 new cases and 21 deaths, taking the total number of cases to 8,613 and fatalities to 343, an BMC official said.
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:
Uddhav asks Centre not to charge migrants for train tickets
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has requested the Central government not to charge railway fares from migrant labourers returning home.
Maharashtra has been sending off migrant labourers through special trains running from Nasik and Bhiwandi.
Mr. Thackeray has told the Centre that these migrant labourers are from extremely poor background and have lost money due to the novel coronavirus-induced lockdown.
"It is very difficult for them to have money to buy train ticket. There are cases where some organisations are paying for the tickets. These labourers will have some sigh of relief if their ticket is waived off," the Chief Minister has conveyed to the Central government, officials said.
- Alok Deshpande
20 fresh COVID-19 cases reported in Ladakh, total tally rises to 42
Twenty people have been tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Ladakh over the past two days, taking the total tally of cases reported in the Union Territory to 42, officials said on Sunday.
Among the new cases, 18 have been reported from Leh, 16 of which are from Chuchot Yokma area which has already been declared a containment zone. One case is from Zangsti area of Leh city detected through Aarogya Setu app, District Magistrate Leh Sachin Kumar Vaishya said.
Two other COVID-19 cases were reported from Kargil district on Saturday and Sunday.
They include a 52-year-old woman, a resident of Kaksar village, who had gone on pilgrimage to Iran. She was evacuated from Iran and kept in quarantine for over a month in Rajasthan before being airlifted to her hometown last week.
Twelve more BSF personnel from 138 battalion stationed at Ambassa in Dhalai district tested Covid-19 positive. Total positive cases in Tripura 16. Active cases 14. Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb appealed to people not to panic and maintain precautions.
Delhi reports 427 cases; total at 4549
According to Delhi State Health bulletin, 427 more cases were reported on Sunday. With this, the total confirmed cases stood at 4549.
No deaths were reported on Sunday. Total number of cases recovered on Sunday were 106 taking the total to 1362. Active cases, as on Sunday, stood at 3123.
Three deaths - 2 in Jaipur and one in Pratapgarh - reported in Rajasthan today, taking the toll of COVID-19 related deaths to 71. A total of 114 COVID-19 positive cases detected in nine districts of the State on Sunday. The tally of positive cases in Rajasthan is now 2,886. Of them, 1,356 have recovered and 923 have been discharged from hospitals. As of now, the State has 1,459 active cases, says Medical & Health Department.
More cases, more deaths in Maharashtra
678 cases and 27 deaths in Maharashtra on Sunday, total tally now 12974 cases. 548 deaths in all, 21 deaths reported from Mumbai today
With 66 new COVID-19 cases, Haryana records highest single-day spike
Haryana on Sunday registered its highest single-day increase in coronavirus cases with 66 new infections, taking the COVID-19 tally to 442, officials said.
Majority of the new cases are from NCR districts — Faridabad, Gurgaon, Sonipat and Jhajjar.
Eighteen fresh cases were reported from Sonipat, 12 from Faridabad, nine from Gurgaon, 11 from Panipat, two each from Jhajjar and Palwal, four from Fatehabad, two from Yamunanagar and six from Jind, according to the state health department’s daily bulletin.
Three doctors from Sonipat, four scribes from Panipat and four pilgrims from Fatehabad who returned from Hazur Sahib Gurdwara in Nanded, Maharashtra are among those infected with the virus, officials said.
This was the highest single day spike in cases, with previous being close to 30 last month.
According to the bulletin, 245 patients have been discharged from hospitals.
The number of fatalities due to COVID-19 stands at five.
Chandigarh reports first COVID-19 death
Chandigarh on Sunday reported its first coronavirus death even as a minor boy was found infected with the disease, taking the infection count to 95 in the union territory.
According to a medical bulletin, a 82-year-old woman, who was a resident of Sector 18 in the city and undergoing treatment at a hospital in Haryana’s Panchkula, died on Sunday morning.
Meanwhile, a 13-year-old boy from the city’s worst-hit Bapu Dham colony tested positive for the infection.
Since April 25, the number of coronavirus cases in Chandigarh has gone up over three times.
Nineteen coronavirus patients have been discharged from hospitals after treatment.
1265 migrant workers arrived in Kanpur on a special Sabarmati Express. After medical screening they were dispatched to their native districts in 42 buses, said Kanpur DM. 1200 such migrants also arrived in Agra, while two trains are expected to reach Gorakhpur later on Sunday.
-- Omar Rashid
Tripura doctor develops PPE face shield costing only ₹40
Agartala, May 3 (PTI) A doctor from Tripura has developed a PPE face shield costing only ₹40, to protect frontline medical personnel from contracting COVID-19 while treating patients.
A face shield is a protective gear with a transparent visor attached to a headband. It protects the wearer from coming in contact with respiratory droplets through which, according to the World Health Organisation, the novel coronavirus spreads.
Dr Arkadipta Choudhury, an assistant professor at the Tripura Medical College (TMC), said that he developed the face shield, ‘Stopdrop’, using readily available inexpensive materials.
With the coronavirus outbreak affecting delivery of products, Dr Choudhury made the face shield using compressed polyester, inexpensive straps and visors.
The medical institution he is employed in, procured 300 pieces of ‘Stopdrop’ after rigorously testing the product and placed an order for 2,000 more units at the rate of ₹40 per piece.
“The manufacturing cost of a face shield used in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is only ₹20-25, but is sold in the range of ₹250 to ₹499 in pharmacies and online retail platforms,” the 31-year-old medical practitioner told PTI.
Mumbai reports 441 new COVID-19 cases and 21 deaths; Total cases now 8,613 and fatalities 343, says Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation official.
Punjab gets ICMR nod for plasma therapy on COVID-19 patients
The Punjab government on Sunday said it has received the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) approval to undertake clinical trials for plasma therapy on COVID-19 patients.
The trial is expected to commence shortly, Additional Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan said.
The hospitals which have partnered to undertake the clinical trial of convalescent plasma therapy are the government medical college in Amritsar and Patiala, Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital in Faridkot, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research at Amritsar, the Christian Medical College and Hospital, the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital and Satguru Partap Singh Hospital in Ludhiana.
The therapy involves infusing patients suffering from COVID-19 with plasma from recovered patients.
UP total cases climb to 2645, with 139 fresh cases including 46 in Agra and 29 in Kanpur. Total active cases are now 1848. Number of districts declared "corona free" further drops to five. Total 64 districts reported positive cases so far.
Punjab’s COVID-19 tally crosses 1000-mark, 55 pc are Nanded pilgrims
Punjab saw the steepest rise in the number of coronavirus cases on Sunday with 331 more persons, mostly pilgrims returning from Nanded, testing positive for the disease, officials said.
With the fresh detections, the number of COVID-19 cases in the state now stands at 1,102.
At least 609 of the 4,000 pilgrims who have returned from Hazur Sahib gurdwara in Maharashtra’s Nanded in recent days have tested positive for coronavirus, a heath official said.
The pilgrims account for 55 per cent of the total coronavirus cases in the state, he said.
Of the fresh cases, 75 were reported in Amritsar, followed by 62 in SBS Nagar, 46 in Hoshiarpur, 43 in Muktsar, 33 in Bathinda, 24 in Gurdaspur, nine in Rupnagar, three in Mansa, four each in Sangrur, Jalandhar and Fatehgarh Sahib, two each in Mohali, Barnala and Ferozepur and one each in Patiala and Ludhiana, according to a health bulletin.
Meanwhile, a 40-year-old, who was undergoing treatment at the Faridkot hospital, died on Sunday. His test report confirming him to be coronavirus positive came after his death. This is the first COVID-19 related death in the district.
The number of COVID-19 related deaths in the state now stands at 21.
Dharavi breached its Saturday record of highest single-day increase in cases on Sunday with 94 new cases. Total cases now stand at 590. Besides, the area also reported two deaths, totalling 20 deaths so far. -- Tanvi Deshpande
Gujarat records 374 cases, 28 deaths bringing the numbers to 5428 infections and 290 deaths. On Sunday, 146 patients were discharged after recovery, taking the recovery number to 1042.
Ahmedabad adds 274 cases and 23 deaths, its highest single day rise of infections and fatality. Total numbers are: 3817 cases and 208 deaths while recovery stand at 533. -- Mahesh Langa
Rate of growth of new COVID-19 cases steadying for a while: Vardhan
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Sunday said the rate of growth of new COVID-19 cases has been steadying for a while and the recovery rate improving, adding that India is on the path of success and will win the war against the pandemic. He said around 10,000 COVID-19 patients have recovered so far.
“The recovery rate of COVID-19 patients has steadily increased which shows that more and more of these patients are getting better and going back home,” he said.
“The rate of growth of new cases has also been steadying for a while,” Mr. Vardhan said.
According to the data received on Sunday, for the past three days, the doubling rate of the virus is 12.0, for seven days it is 11.7 and for 14 days it is 10.4, the Minister was quoted as saying in a statement.
TN reports 266 more cases, crosses 3000-mark
On Sunday, Tamil Nadu reported 266 more cases taking total confirmed cases to 3023.
Tamil Nadu also reported one death taking the death toll to 30. A 44-year-old-man from Coimbatore admitted to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital died at 2.15 pm on Sunday.
The total number of active cases in the State is 1,614.
Out of 266 cases, Chennai reported 203 cases taking the total to 1458. On Sunday, 38 patients were discharged. -- Sujatha
MHA issues guidelines to prisons
To stop the spread of COVID19 in prisons, MHA issues SOPs/guidelines for prisons and correctional homes. Asks police to collect information from persons being arrested on their travel history, cough, fever symptoms or recent contact with a positive case. Also asks prison officials to wear face shields, gloves at all times.
-- Vijaita Singh
Rajasthan gets ICMR nod to use plasma therapy on COVID-19 patients, says Gehlot
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has given its nod to Rajasthan’s appeal for using convalescent plasma therapy in treating COVID-19 patients, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said on Sunday.
He said the state government has made all preparations for using plasma therapy on coronavirus patients in critical condition as per the protocol set by the country’s apex health research body.
“This will be performed in a proper manner in Rajasthan,” the chief minister said.
Mr. Gehlot said that doctors from SMS Medical College are also conducting plasma therapy research which is being conducted round the globe.
35 new COVID-19 cases in J-K; infection tally reaches 701
The number of COVID-19 infections in Jammu and Kashmir crossed the 700 mark with 35 new cases being detected on Sunday, officials said.
“Thirty-five new positive cases have been reported from Jammu and Kashmir in 24 hours, which has taken total positive cases to 701,” one of the official said.
They said while 34 new cases were from the Kashmir Valley, one was from Jammu region.
Of the total number of cases reported so far in the Union Territory, 640 are from Kashmir and 61 from Jammu.
While 287 patients have recovered, eight persons including three women have died.
There are 406 active cases, they said.
No fresh coronavirus cases reported in Kerala, 4 more regions declared as hotspots
No new positive cases of COVID-19 were reported in Kerala on Sunday, even as the government declared four more regions in the state as hotspots, taking the total to 84.
The total of number of affected people in the State remains 499.
The State had on May 1 reported no fresh cases of the virus, even as one person tested positive for the disease on Saturday.
“One person from Kasaragod, who was under treatment in Kannur, was cured of coronavirus on Sunday and there are no fresh cases of COVID-19 in the state today,” Health Minister K K Shailaja said in a medical bulletin.
Delhi will follow Centre's guidelines on lockdown, says Kejriwal
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, on Sunday, said "As Delhi had been declared as a red zone by the central government, we will provide all the relaxations that the Centre is providing in red zones."
Mr. Kejriwal said "All government offices will open tomorrow. 100% attendance in all offices providing essential services. Others to work with 33% strength."
He further added that "Private offices to also open with 33% strength. Schools, colleges, coaching centres, hospitality and gyms etc to remain closed as per Central Govt orders."
He finally stated that people will not be allowed to venture out from 7 pm to 7 am.
Mr. Kejriwal said "Lockdown was a necessity as the country was not properly prepared. Now, people of Delhi are ready to deal with social distancing and other steps to prevent spread."
Delhi Chief Minister said "Entire Delhi is in a red zone. But we need to start economic activity or we will not get revenue and will not be able to pay salaries.
"We need to learn to live with Coronavirus. We are now prepared to deal with the crisis. We have told the central government to seal only containment zones and make the rest of Delhi a green zone."
Mr. Kejriwal said "We are in talks with the central government to do this. Yes, cases will rise but we are equipped to deal with the situation. We hope the Central government will listen to our plea and make Delhi a green zone and that the relaxations permitted will be extend to us."
Other guidelines issued by Mr. Kejriwal are
- Self employed people like plumbers, technicians and domestic help are allowed to work
- Malls and market complex will be shut but shops selling essential commodities and books and stationery will be allowed to open.
- Industrial Estate’s to open
- E-commerce activities only for essential commodities
- Construction activity allowed if workers are staying on site
- All agricultural activities are permitted and supply chain activities related to agriculture will function
-- Jaideep
It will not be fair to blame entire community for perceived mistakes of some members, says Ram Madhav
In an interview to PTI, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav said "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is enjoying support of all communities in fight against COVID-19."
Mr. Madhav said "Allegations of Islamophobia in India are propaganda; not based on ground realities."
The BJP general secretary said "It will not be fair to blame an entire community for perceived mistakes of some members."
On LoC tensions, Mr. Madhav said "It will be in Pakistan’s own interest to change its actions in post-COVID19 world; India knows how to handle such countries."
He said "Even at time of coronavirus pandemic, Pak has not relented on its anti-India and pro-terror campaigns."
Mr. Madhav said that there could be flight of capital from China to India in wake of coronavirus pandemic.
A total of 13 COVID 19 cases reported in Karnataka on Sunday. With this the total number of cases in the State stands at 614.
Of the 13 cases reported on Sunday, six are from Kalaburagi, four from Bengaluru Urban and three from Bagalkote. -- Tanu Kulkarni
Rajasthan reports 3 coronavirus deaths, 60 new positive cases
Rajasthan reported three more coronavirus deaths on Sunday, while 60 people tested positive for the virus, officials said.
Two deaths were reported in Jaipur and one in Pratapgarh, taking the total number of fatalities in the state to 71, including 40 alone in Jaipur.
Of the 60 fresh cases, 27 are from Jodhpur, 17 from Jaipur, five from Udaipur, three from Chittorgarh, two each in Ajmer, Bharatpur and Pratapgarh and one each from Kota and Dungarpur, according to a state government official.
With this, the total number of positive cases in the state has climbed to 2,832.
Swedish agency says EU studying remdesivir
The Swedish national drug and medicine supervision agency says the European Union is investigating on a rapid schedule whether the use of the drug remdesivir could be allowed for treating the coronavirus within the 27-nation bloc following a similar decision in the United States.
The Swedish Medical Products Agency’s infection department director, Charlotta Bergqvist, told Swedish broadcaster TV4 that the introduction of remdesivir with is now being studied with a high priority within the EU and a decision may be reached in a few days.
The US Food and Drug Administration recently authorized emergency use of remdesivir on people hospitalized with severe COVID-19. The drug was originally developed for treatment of Ebola and produced by the California-based Gilead Sciences Inc.
Clinical trials have showed the drug has helped to shorten the recovery time for people who were seriously ill.
EPFO employees contribute ₹2.5 crore to PM CARES
The staff of the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has contributed one day's salary, which amounts to ₹2.50 crore, to the PM CARES Fund for the government's efforts to counter the COVID-19 pandemic, EPFO said in a statement on Sunday.
"EPFO, as one of world's largest social security organisations, stands committed in the service of the nation in every possible way...Officers and staff of EPFO are also contributing by putting in extra efforts for providing relief by expeditiously processing EPF withdrawal claims including COVID claims under the Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Yojana package, etc," the EPFO said.
Since the scheme was rolled out on March 28, over 7.40 lakh claims under the special pandemic withdrawal scheme had been processed as on April 28, according to an EPFO statement.
-- Damini Nath
Five new COVID-19 cases in Odisha, total rises to 162
Five more persons, including two returnees each from Surat and Kolkata, tested positive for COVID-19 in Odisha on Sunday, taking the total number of such cases in the state to 162, officials said.
The five fresh cases were reported from Ganjam (two), Jharsuguda (one), Balasore (one) and Keonjhar (one) districts, the Information and Public Relations department said.
The latest COVID-19 case was reported from Hatadihi in Keonjhar district of a 30-year-old man, who had recently returned from Kolkata and was asymptomatic of the disease. He was kept in quarantine in view of his travel history, an official said, adding that the mineral-rich Keonjhar district now has two coronavirus patients.
MHA to use control room to resolve grievances of drivers/transporters
Amid complaints regarding obstruction in movement of goods vehicles across States, MHA to use its control room to resolve the grievances of drivers/transporters.
Control Room Number for the Lockdown of the MHA i.e. 1930 is being made available to lodge any complaint pertaining to the lockdown.
Non-essential commodity shops to remain open in red zones in Maharashtra
Maharashtra government allows all stand-alone shops including that of liquor to open in red zones like Mumbai, Pune. But no shop will be allowed to function in containment zone. Only 5 shops will be allowed per lane.
The State govt on Sunday said that non-essential commodity shops can also remain open in red zones. Private construction sites can be opened if labour ia available in-site.
-- Alok Deshpande
Fresh dates for JEE, NEET to be announced on May 5: HRD ministry
In a relief for engineering and medical aspirants, the HRD ministry on Sunday said fresh dates for competitive exams —JEE and NEET — will be announced on May 5.
The exams were postponed due to nationwide lockdown announced to contain the COVID-19 spread.
“The fresh dates will be announced by HRD Minsiter Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ on May 5. This will put an end to uncertainty for the aspirants. The minister will also interact with students online the same day,” a senior ministry official said.
While Joint Entrance Exam-Mains (JEE-MAINS) is conducted for admission to engineering colleges across the country, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is conducted for medical colleges.
Two new COVID-19 deaths in Indore, toll reaches 76
Two more people succumbed to coronavirus in Indore, taking the COVID-19 death toll in the Madhya Pradesh’s worst hit district to 76, an official said on Sunday.
The latest victims included a 55-year-old woman and a 59-year-old man, who died in different hospitals here in the last three days, Indore’s Chief Medical and Health Officer Praveen Jadia said.
The woman had diabetes and thyroid problems, while the man was diabetic and also had high blood pressure, he said.
Indore reported 23 new coronavirus patients in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of such cases in the district to 1,568 cases, the official said.
92 new COVID-19 cases detected in UP; total count 2,579
The number of coronavirus cases in Uttar Pradesh rose to 2,579 with 92 more people testing positive for the infection on Sunday, officials said.
The virus has claimed 43 lives in the state so far.
“The state has reported a total number of 2,579 coronavirus cases till now, of which 698 have recovered while 43 died. There are 1,838 active cases now,” an official release issued here said.
Coronavirus cases have so far been reported from 64 of the 75 districts in the state. Six among these 64 districts have no active case at present.
Of the total cases in the state so far, 1,138 are linked to the Tablighi Jamaat.
Six doctors tested positive in North Delhi
Six doctors, three each at Hindu Rao Hospital and at Kasturba Hospital, run by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation have been found Covid-19 positive.
At Hindu Rao Hospital, husbands of two nurses and one patient refered by the OPD have also tested positive.
All were in quarantine, a senior North DMC official said. -- Sid Ravi
58 fresh cases reported in AP; Tally goes up to 1583
The State has reported 58 fresh COVID-19 positive cases after 6,534 samples were tested during the past 24 hours taking the tally to 1, 583. While no deaths were reported, 47 persons have recovered from the disease and were discharged.
So far, 488 patients which is 31% of the total positive cases have recovered and 33 patients (2%) died.
Most of the fresh cases were reported on Sunday were from red zone districts Kurnool, Guntur and Krishna. Kurnool alone reported 30 fresh cases while Guntur and Krishna reported 11 and eight fresh case respectively.
Anantapur reported seven fresh cases and Chittoor and Nellore reported two fresh cases each.
So far Kurnool reported 466 cases and Guntur and Krishna reported 319 and 266 cases. They are followed by Nellore (91), Kadapa (83), Chittoor (81), Anantapur (78), Prakasam (61), West Godavari (59), East Godavari (45), Visakhapatnam (29) and Srikakulam (5). -- Tharun Boda
Lakhs of litres of beer may go down the drain
As the coronavirus-forced lockdown stretches out, the 250-odd microbreweries across the country are staring at a loss of around eight lakh litres of fresh beer, according to industry experts.
Not only this, around 1.2 million cases of Indian-Made Foreign Liquor worth Rs 700 crore are “stuck“in northern states, except Delhi, as with the start of the new financial year, the sellers need the nod of respective state governments to clear the stock which could not be used due to the lockdown restrictions.
Ishan Grover, who is a brewery consultant, said that unlike bottled beer, fresh beer or craft beer has a short life. Several brewers in Gurgaon have started draining beer as the plants need electricity to maintain a specific temperature for keeping the beer fresh, he said.
10 Ahmedabad wards so far declared containment zones
One more ward of Ahmedabad city was declared as a COVID-19 containment zone on Sunday, taking the total number of such wards here to 10, a senior civic official said.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation is taking steps to ensure lockdown rules are strictly followed in these affected areas to contain the spread of coronavirus, he said.
The Maninagar ward in south Ahmedabad is the latest to be added in the list of containment zones, the official said.
The COVID-19 figures in Ahmedabad till Saturday are as follows: Total cases-3,543, deaths-184, active cases-2,815, discharged-525, total samples tested-30,166 (at the rate of 5,000 samples per million), the official said.
Pune reports more than 60 new cases in 12-hour span
The district reported another spike of 68 new Covid-19 cases over a 12-hour span, taking the district’s cumulative tally of active positive cases to 1464, said health officials on Sunday.
“As many as 62 new cases were reported between 9 p.m. Saturday and midnight, while a further six have been reported till today morning,” said District Health Officer (DHO) Bhagwan Pawar.
Till date, Pune district has reported a total 1980 Covid-19 cases, which includes 1464 active cases, a total 103 deaths and 413 persons discharged.
While the details of the new cases are awaited, the bulk of them were reported from Pune city, said authorities.
As per figures given by the Pune Zilla Parishad Health Department till Saturday evening, 1396 active cases were recorded which included 1321 cases in Pune city, 59 in Pimpri-Chinchwad, and 16 in Pune rural areas.
Of these 1396 cases, 1,117 are presently undergoing treatment in Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) – run hospitals, 155 in Sassoon and BJ Medical College Hospitals, 49 in civil hospitals, 16 in rural hospitals and 59 in PCMC-run hospitals.
71 of these cases are said to be in a critical condition. -- Shoumojit Banerjee
Around 32,500 Amethi people stuck outside UP, will bring them back soon: Smriti Irani
Union minister and Amethi MP Smriti Irani on Sunday said she has received information about around 32,500 people from her constituency stranded in other states due to the coronavirus lockdown and assured that they will be brought back soon.
In an around 15-minute video conference with mediapersons, she also hoped that the normalcy will return soon.
"I had got a record of around 32,500 people from Amethi stranded outside," she said, adding that they will return to their homes very soon after the completion of all formalities by the authorities.
She asked mediapersons to give suggestions in public interest and appealed to people to maintain social distancing to keep Amethi free from the coronavirus pandemic.
BSF, ITBP shelve annual battalion changeover along Pakistan, Bangladesh, China borders
The annual rotation of BSF and ITBP soldiers along the Pakistan, Bangladesh and China borders has been shelved till March next year because of the coronavirus outbreak, the top commander of the two forces said.
Surjeet Singh Deswal, the Director General of the two forces, said that only battalions deployed in “extremely hard areas” of these three important Indian frontiers will be rotated after an assessment of the outbreak situation post July.
“We have postponed the annual routine rotation of all battalions in BSF and ITBP to next year till March 31,” he said.
- PTI
Three more COVID-19 positive cases, two male and a female, have been reported from Buxar and Kaimur districts, taking the total number to 485 in the State of Bihar.
- Amarnath Tewary
In view of the brother of a Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) colleague testing positive, nearly 50 SMC corporators, officers and employees have been instructed to stay in isolation and home quarantine, according to SMC Mayor Junaid Azim Mattu.
- Peerzada Ashiq
Lockdown extended to consolidate gains of first and second phase of restrictions: NITI Aayog member
The continuous rise in the number of people testing positive for coronavirus is expected to stabilise anytime soon, NITI Aayog member V.K. Paul said.
He also said the rationale behind the government’s decision to extend the lockdown by two more weeks after May 3 is to consolidate the gains of the first and second phase of restrictions.
In an interview to PTI, Paul said sudden spurt in number of coronavirus cases is still amenable to containment strategy.
Curbs remain in place on sale of tobacco products in Rajasthan
The sale of paan, gutka and tobacco products will remain prohibited during the extended lockdown period in Rajasthan, while shops selling liquor will ensure social distancing, according to new guidelines issued by the State government.
While the Union Home Ministry, in its latest guidelines has allowed sale of paan and tobacco after ensuring minimum six-feet social distancing, the Rajasthan government in its guidelines released on the night of May 2 has decided to keep the curbs on these products in place.
The sale of paan, gutka, tobacco etc. is prohibited across the state. Shops selling liquor will ensure social distancing and not more than 5 people should be present at one time in a shop, the Rajasthan government said.
Under the new State guidelines, curbs will continue on all air and train travel, inter-State movement of individuals except as permitted by MHA; school, colleges, educational, training and coaching institutes; cinema halls, shopping malls, gymnasium, sports complexes, pools, parks, bars, assembly hall, auditorium and similar places; and social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious, functions and gatherings.
- PTI
'Volunteers should get tested every 10 days'
All volunteers, who have been assisting residents during the COVID-19 pandemic, should get themselves tested for the disease every 10 days, said J. Radhakrishnan, Chennai Corporation special nodal officer for COVID-19.
Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of an inspection held in north Chennai on Sunday, Mr. Radhakrishnan said one volunteer in a containment zone in V.R. Pillai Street had infected 52 persons. “Volunteers play a key role in helping residents in containment zones. We invite all of them for testing. We will also make arrangements for testing delivery boys and other workers who help residents during the pandemic,” said Mr. Radhakrishnan.
Spike in COVID-19 cases in Villupuram
Villupuram district in Tamil Nadu reported a spike in COVID-19 cases with 25 more persons including two children testing positive. With this, the total number of patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the district has reached 78.
Official sources said that a majority of the positive cases had returned from the Koyambedu wholesale market in Chennai to Villupuram.
Russia reports more than 10,000 new cases
Russia reported more than 10,000 new cases of coronavirus infections on Sunday, the first time the country’s daily tally reached five figures.
More than half of the 10,633 new cases reported were in Moscow, where concern is rising about whether the capital’s medical facilities will be overwhelmed.
Russia has recorded more than 134,000 coronavirus infections overall and 1,420 deaths.
- PTI
High Court sources said Delhi High Court registry official tests positive for COVID-19, admitted to LNJP Hospital. According to the sources, the official had not attended the court after the announcement of the nationwide lockdown on March 25.
- PTI
All 87 brought to Imphal from Guwahati test negative
All 87 people, mostly students, brought from Guwahati in four luxury buses by the Manipur government tested negative for COVID-19. They had been taking shelter in the Manipur House in Guwahati from the beginning of the nation-wide lockdown.
Over 1,50,000 Indians in UAE register to return home
Over 150,000 Indians in the UAE, who wish to return home amid the coronavirus lockdown, have applied through the online registration process to the Indian missions here, according to media reports.
The Indian missions in the country last week opened online registration for expatriates stuck in the country due to the lockdown.
As of 6 p.m. on Saturday (May 2), we received more than 1,50,000 registrations, Consul General of India in Dubai Vipul told the Gulf News .
- PTI
Migrant workers who came back from Gujarat skip quarantine in Odisha
Migrant workers who came back from Gujarat’s Surat skipped quarantine in Kodala block in Odisha’s Ganjam district on Sunday morning.
In a first of its kind incident in Odisha, a large number of migrant workers left the quarantine centres at the Janata High School of Beguniapada and the Odisha Adarsh Vidyalaya at Ragapur in Kodala block.
Odisha to change bus routes after accidents
The Odisha government decided the change of bus routes taken to transport stranded migrant workers from Gujarat’s Surat, after two buses ferrying them met with accidents on a hilly road in the State, leading to two deaths and several injuries.
The State government also ordered a probe into the accidents, which occurred on a stretch of the Kalinga Ghat Road along the border of Ganjam and Kandhamal districts in quick succession on the night of May 2 and the morning of May 3, Transport Minister Padmanabha Behera said.
- PTI
WB audit committee to deal only with 'peculiar' cases of deaths
The audit committee constituted by the West Bengal government to ascertain if a death was due to COVID-19 or a pre-existing ailment will henceforth study only select coronavirus cases and submit its report to the government, a senior member of the panel said.
The committee, after having given its set of recommendations for certifying COVID-19-related death cases, will deal with “peculiar” coronavirus cases, he said.
The panel had recently examined 105 deaths in the State, following which it attributed 33 cases to the disease and the rest to co-morbidities.
Pakistan's COVID-19 tally crosses 19,000
Pakistan’s coronavirus tally crossed 19,000 after 989 new patients were diagnosed with it in the last 24 hours.
The Ministry of National Health Services said 23 patients died in this period, taking the total toll to 440. So far, 4,817 people have recovered from the virus, the Ministry said.
Out of the total 19,103 COVID-19 patients in the country, Punjab has reported 7,106 cases, Sindh 7,102, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 2,907, Balochistan 1,172, Islamabad 393, Gilgit-Baltistan 356 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir 67 cases.
CRPF headquarters shut for sanitisation
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) headquarters at CGO complex in South Delhi was shut for sanitisation after a driver attached to one of the offices tested COVID-19 positive.
Five special trains to take migrants from Kerala to Bihar
The Railways will operate five Shramik Special trains from Kerala to various railway stations in Bihar on May 3 to facilitate the return of migrants stranded due to the COVID-19 induced lockdown to their homes.
From Ernakualm North, the trains will head to Barauni and Muzaffarpur. The train from Thrissur will head to Darbhanga. From Kozhikode, a train will reach Katihar while a train from Kannur will reach Saharsa.
Pune district reports more than 60 new cases in 12-hour span
Pune reported another spike of 68 new COVID-19 cases over a 12-hour span, taking the district’s cumulative tally of active positive cases to 1464, said health officials on May 3.
“As many as 62 new cases were reported between 9 p.m. Saturday and midnight, while a further six have been reported till today morning,” said District Health Officer (DHO) Bhagwan Pawar.
Karnataka govt. announces free transportation for migrant workers after facing flak for high fares
After facing flak for charging exorbitant fares to transport stranded migrants , the State Government on Sunday morning announced that they will ferry migrants to their respective districts without any fare for three days starting from Sunday.
The services will be available from Sunday till Tuesday from BMTC Bus Stand, Majestic.
Five new COVID 19 cases have been reported in Karnataka on Sunday. With this, the total number of cases in the State stand at 606. Of the five cases reported on Sunday, two are from Bagalkote and three are from Kalaburagi.
One more COVID-19 positive case (female aged 30 from Sadalpur) was reported from Katihar district, taking Bihar's tally to 482.
(Amarnath Tewary)
Two Surat returnees testing positive leaves Odisha worried
As Odisha is bracing to receive lakhs of people from other States, two recent Surat returnees testing positive for COVID-19 has left the State government worried.
Another positive case was reported from Jharsuguda district taking the State’s tally to 160 on Sunday. The 40-year woman is said to have contracted the disease from a previous positive case. Now, 16 out of the total 30 districts in Odisha have reported positive cases.
1,150 migrant workers reach Odisha’s Ganjam district from Kerala
After covering 1,836 km, the first special train with 24 coaches from Kerala carrying around 1,150 Odia migrant workers reached Jaganathpur station in Odisha’s Ganjam district on Sunday morning.
The migrant workers mostly worked at Perumbavoor and Aluva in Ernakulam district of Kerala and boarded the train from Aluva on Saturday evening. This is the second special train to transport the stranded migrant workers across the country following COVID-19 lockdown. The first such train had travelled from Telangana to Jharkhand.
Chaos as migrant labourers from Gujarat begin journey back to home
Chaos prevailed in many parts of Gujarat even as the initiative started for the safe passage of hundreds of thousands of non-Gujarati migrant labourers who have been stranded in various cities of the State ever since the lockdown to fight COVID-19 began.
Several incidents of clashes between migrants and police were reported from inter-State checkposts due to lack of proper arrangements on the part of the administration after the Ministry of Home Affairs’ guidelines for their movement came into force.
West Bengal records 15 COVID-19 deaths in past 48 hours
West Bengal has recorded 15 deaths due to COVID-19 in the past 48 hours, noted official bulletin of the State Health department released late on Saturday evening.
Two bulletins — one for May 1 and another for May 2 — was released by the Health Department. While seven persons had died between May 1 and May 2, eight deaths were recorded between April 30 and May 1. In the past two days, 127 new viral infections were recorded and 60 persons were discharged from the hospitals in the State.
Two persons tested positive for COVID-19 in Odisha’s Ganjam district taking the State’s tally to 159.
Active cases now stand at 102 while 56 have recovered and one death has been reported in the State
Over 800 UP migrant labourers reach Lucknow in a special train from Nashik
Over 800 labourers hailing from Uttar Pradesh arrived in Lucknow in a special train from Maharashtra’s Nashik on Sunday morning amid ongoing lockdown.
This is the first special train to arrive in Uttar Pradesh with stranded migrant workers.
U.S. coronavirus deaths climb by 1,435 in 24 hours
Coronavirus deaths in the United States climbed by 1,435 in the past 24 hours, a tally by Johns Hopkins University showed Saturday, bringing the total number of fatalities to more than 66,000.
U.K. could allow primary schools to reopen as soon as June 1: media
The United Kingdom could allow primary schools in England and Wales to reopen as soon as June 1 under plans being discussed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the Telegraph newspaper reported.
Mr. Johnson is expected to unveil the government's “roadmap” out of the coronavirus lockdown in an address to the nation next Sunday, the newspaper said.
France extends virus emergency until July 24
The French government said on Saturday it will extend a health emergency imposed to fight the COVID-19 by two months, allowing it to keep stringent anti-virus measures in place even after a partial lifting of the country’s lockdown.
As part of the planned measures anybody entering France, foreign or French, will have to remain confined for two weeks, Health Minister Olivier Veran told a news conference.
Mumbai records highest deaths in a day so far
Mumbai recorded 547 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, taking the tally to 8,359. The city also recorded the highest number of deaths (27) in a single day, pushing the death toll to 322. The financial capital is a hotspot contributing nearly 68% cases and 62% deaths to the State tally. The fatality rate in the city currently stands at 3.8%.
Spaniards race out for 1st open-air exercise since mid-March
Thousands of Spaniards woke early and laced up their sports shoes Saturday after a prohibition on outdoor exercise during the COVID-19 pandemic ended after seven weeks.
In the morning, people dressed in athletic wear poured into the streets at 6 a.m. to run, bike, and speed walk, with many taking extra care to loosen up atrophied muscles so a twisted ankle or pulled hamstring wouldn’t spoil the rush of the release.
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