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. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in its May 4 update said that 43,437 have been tested positive and the death toll stands at 1,398.
The lockdown, imposed first on March 24 was to end on May 3. However, it was extended by another two weeks by the MHA. In an interview to PTI, NITI Aayog Member, V.K. Paul said extending India’s lockdown was part of a plan to curb infection transmission. “...Real goal of lockdown was to suppress the chain of transmission of the virus. So, we will lose that, if we abruptly end it,” Dr. Paul 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:
349 new cases in Delhi with no deaths reported
349 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Delhi on Monday, taking the total number of cases to 4,898, according to the Delhi government.
Of the 4,898 cases, 1,431 people have recovered and there are 3,403 active cases.
A total of 64 people have died till now, but no death was reported on Monday.
35 deaths in Maharashtra as 771 new cases emerge
771 new cases were reported from Maharashtra on Monday with as many as 510 reported from Mumbai. The State's tally of positive cases soared to 14,541.
As many as 35 deaths were reported as the total death toll rose to 583.
A total 350 persons were discharged today taking the total number of discharged till date to 2,465.
With the fresh surge in cases, Mumbai's tally has climbed to 9,310 with 361 deaths.
13, including two children, test positive in Tripura as total cases rise to 29
13 people, mostly BSF personnel of 138 battalion, stationed at Ambassa in Dhalai district tested tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday. They include two children. With this, infection cases in Tripura rose to 29.
Rahul Gandhi in conversation with Abhijit Banerjee tomorrow
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's interaction with Nobel Laureate Prof. Abhijit Banerjee, discussing the critical issues of COVID-19 and its economic impact, will be shown at 9 A.M. on Tuesday, the party tweeted on Monday. Earlier, Mr. Gandhi had an interaction with former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan on coronavirus and its impact on the economy.
9 deaths in Madhya Pradesh, 105 new cases
Madhya Pradesh recorded 105 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, taking the tally to 2,942. Nine persons died today while undergoing treatment at hospitals. The State-wide death toll has climbed to 165.
Five deaths were reported in Ujjain, two in Burhanpur, and one each in Indore and Raisen. Meanwhile, 58 persons were discharged from hospitals on the day after being cured. So far, 856 patients have recovered from the illness in the State, according to the Directorate of Health Services.
6 deaths in Rajasthan, 175 new cases
Six deaths - 4 in Jaipur and 2 in Jodhpur - were reported in Rajasthan today, taking the toll of COVID-19 related deaths to 77. A total of 175 COVID-19 positive cases were detected in 15 districts of the State today.
The tally of positive cases in Rajasthan is now 3,061. Of them, 1,438 have recovered and 972 have been discharged from hospitals. As of now, the State has 1,546 active cases, said the Medical & Health Department.
Six officers and six constables posted with the JJ Marg police station in south Mumbai tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday.
Six officers and 48 constables have been quarantined following the development, DCP (Zone I) Sangramsinh Nishandar said.
- Gautam Mengele
7 deaths in UP
Uttar Pradesh recorded seven new COVID-19 deaths, taking the total to 50, said the State health department.
The total cases also climb to 2766, while active cases stand at 1914. The new deaths were reported in Kanpur, Kanpur Dehat, Ghaziabad, Meerut and Mathura.
With 32 new cases, the figure in Agra rises to 628, while Lucknow did not report a single positive case over the last 24 hours. Kanpur is in second place with 266 total cases, while Lucknow has 226.
29 deaths, 376 new cases in Gujarat
On Monday, Gujarat added 376 new cases of Covid -19 and 29 deaths, bringing the numbers to 5804 positive cases and 319 deaths. Today, 153 patients were discharged after recovery. Total number of recovered patients in the State is now 1195.
Ahmedabad added 259 cases and 26 deaths, bringing its cumulative numbers to 4076 cases and 234 fatalities.
- Mahesh Langa
UP records seven new COVID-19 deaths taking the total to 50, said the state health department.
Bihar reported two more COVID-19 positive cases, taking the total number in Bihar to 528. Both are male, from Kaimur district.
- Amarnath Tewary
Gurugram in NCR recorded 11 new COVID-19 positive cases, the highest in a single day, on Monday. Nine out of eleven are from Khandsa Mandi. It takes the total number of positive cases to 84.
- Ashok Berwal
The slum of Dharavi in Mumbai reported 42 new cases on Monday, bringing the tally to 632 so far. This includes a month-old baby from Matunga labour camp.
- Tanvi Deshpande
Prohibitory orders banning assembly of four or more people under section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) have been extended in Mumbai until May 17.
Mumbai has been declared as the red zone due to high number of coronavirus cases.
5 new cases in Chandigarh
The number of positive coronavirus cases reached 102 in Chandigarh on Monday, with five more people testing positive for the disease in the Union Territory, officials said here.
A 13-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy are among the five fresh cases, a medical bulletin said.
All of them are family contacts of a COVID-positive patient and are residents of the Bapu Dham colony, which has been declared a containment zone and is the worst-affected area of the city, it said.
Twenty-one coronavirus patients have been discharged from hospitals here after they were fully cured of the disease, the bulletin stated.
A total of 1,678 samples have been tested so far and of these, reports of 30 samples are awaited, it said, adding that 80 cases are active in the city.
- PTI
No new positive cases in Kerala for second consecutive day
For the second consecutive day, no new COVID-19 cases were reported in Kerala while 34 people are under currently treatment after 61 were discharged, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Monday.
He said so far 499 people have been infected with the coronavirus, which has claimed three lives, including that of a four-month baby girl from Malappuram.
At least 21,724 are under observation, including 372 in various hospitals, Mr. Vijayan told reporters.
Over 33,000 odd samples have been tested,and 32,315 are negative.
- PTI
Bihar detected one more COVID-19 positive case, of a 25 year old male from Samastipur district, taking the total number to 526 in the State.
- Amarnath Tewary
Delhi High Court has directed the AAP government to ensure COVID-19 samples are processed and results declared in 24-48 hours.
- PTI
Government allows return of Indian nationals from abroad in phased manner from May 7
The Government of India will be facilitating the return of Indian nationals stranded abroad on compelling grounds in a phased manner from May 7.
Return will be facilitated by air and ship. A full SOP has been prepared for screening /quarantine to be undertaken by State governments, coordinated by MEA/MOCA.
- Vijaita Singh
12 including a CISF personnel test positive in U.P.'s Gautam Buddh Nagar
Twelve people including a CISF personnel tested positive for coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh’s Gautam Buddh Nagar on Monday, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases in the district to 179, according to officials.
A 20-year-old woman was discharged from hospital after her recovery, taking the number of those cured in the district to 102, the officials said.
“A total of 82 reports have been received in the last 24 hours. Twelve of them were positive and the rest were negative for COVID-19. The cumulative positive cases of coronavirus in Gautam Buddh Nagar are now 179,” District Surveillance Officer Sunil Dohare said.
One woman was admitted at the Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) in Greater Noida and she was discharged on Monday, the officer said.
“So far, 102 of the 179 patients have been cured and discharged, leaving 77 active cases in the district,” he said.
The recovery rate of patients is 56.98%, according to the official statistics.
(PTI)
Six more COVID-19 cases – four in Jajpur district and two in Bhadrak district – were detected on Monday taking Odisha’s total to 169, the State government said. One case was reported from Sundargarh district earlier in the day.
(Prafulla Das)
Kejriwal says he is dismayed by large gatherings after lockdown relaxations
The government alone cannot defeat the coronavirus on its own; it needs the support of the people just like the last five years when dengue was defeated, said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
"For us to defeat the coronavirus there are three thumb rules you must promise yourselves you will follow: wearing masks, social distancing and washing hands.
"Today we allowed activities in Delhi which were allowed by the Centre; but I am dismayed at a few scenes I saw today. There was a lot of rush outside some shops; this is troubling. What was the need to come out in such large numbers? What was the need to create a stampede-like situation? This is not good," the Chief Minister said.
He added that some relaxations were allowed so that the State could gradually come out of the lockdown. "But if it comes to what happened today, we will seal any area necessary. I will seal any area for the greater good of the city and its people. It is not just the responsibility of the people going to such shops but also the shopkeepers. Promise me that you will not do this from tomorrow. How long do you want restrictions to be in place? Don’t do this; pledge to defeat the coronavirus like you defeated dengue," he said.
One death in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu reported 527 new COVID-19 positive cases on Monday. The State also reported one death, that of a 65 year old man from Chennai, at the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital. The total number of cases is 3,550. Thirty persons were discharged today and the total discharged is 1,409.
- Serena Josephine
COVID-19 cases in Indore rise to 1,611, death toll reaches 77
The number of COVID-19 cases in Madhya Pradesh’s worst hit Indore district rose to 1,611 after 43 more people tested positive for the disease in the last 24 hours , a senior health official said on Monday.
Besides, the death toll here rose to 77 after one more patient succumbed to the disease, Indore’s Chief Medical and Health Officer Praveen Jadia said.
The 82-year-old victim, who died at a hospital here on Sunday, was also suffering from diabetes and had breathing problems since long, he said.
An analysis of the data showed that the COVID-19 death rate in the district was 4.78% as on Monday morning.
The death rate has shown a decline in the last 25 days.
So far, 362 patients have been discharged from hospitals after recovery.
(PTI)
97 new COVID-19 cases detected in UP; total rises to 2,742
The number of COVID-19 cases in Uttar Pradesh has increased to 2,742 with 97 people testing positive for the infection, officials said on Monday.
There are 1,939 active cases in the state now, an official said.
Uttar Pradesh has reported a total of 2,742 COVID-19 cases till now, he said, adding that of them 758 have recovered while 43 died.
Coronavirus cases have so far been reported in 64 of the 75 districts in the State.
The highest 14 deaths have been reported from Agra, followed by seven in Moradabad; six in Meerut; four in Kanpur; two in Firozabad and one each in Varanasi, Aligarh, Mathura, Shrawasti, Ghaziabad, Amroha, Bareilly, Basti, Bulandshahar and Lucknow.
(PTI)
Two more COVID-19 positive cases from Begusarai district in Bihar takes the total number in the State to 525. The patients are aged 20 and 30.
(Amarnath Tewary)
57-year-old Pune police ASI dies of coronavirus
The novel coronavirus pandemic claimed its first victim from Pune police force after an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) succumbed to the infection while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Pune city.
“The patient, in his mid-50s, was on ventilator for more than 10 days and had comorbidities like hypertension and obesity,” said a senior official from the city’s Bharati hospital.
Joint Commissioner of Police, Ravindra Shisve, said that the ASI, who had tested positive in the last week of April, died today afternoon.
He further said that thus far, at least 12 personnel from the Pune district police force tested positive for COVID-19.
(Shoumojit Banerjee)
'Empowered Group-6 mobilised 92K NGOs to extend help to States'
Chairperson of the Empowered Group-6 and CEO of Niti Aayog Amitabh Kant said that the group deals with NGOs, civil society organisations, development partners and industries. The group mobilised 92,000 registered NGOs and civil society organisation for the first time in all sectors.
"We helped them coordinate with State administrations for extending assistance as per need. State governments appointed nodal officers to coordinate with the NGOs. An order was issued to facilitate supply of food grains by Food Corporation of India at Rs.21/22 per kg to the NGOs to ensure that no one remains hungry," he said.
In the 112 most backward districts (aspirational districts), where we worked with the respective DMs, only 610 cases have been reported. These districts comprise 22% of the total population of India.
"We are also implementing a campaign to safeguard the elderly citizens, efforts are being to raise funds. Skill building programmes were conducted in coordination with international organisations such as UN bodies, WHO, FAO, Asian Development Bank and World Bank. Red Cross Society deployed about 40,000 volunteers to assist the local administrations in various ways," Mr. Kant added.
"In coordination with industrial bodies and private sector, we worked in the areas of hygiene, research work and funding. With NASSCOM, we worked on start-ups and tech-driven innovation. We worked with various IITs, IISc and other institutes to leverage their technology to find ventilator rsolutions, respiratory air aid and other areas.
"Tele-medicine feature has been added to Aarogya Setu app. Several NGOs and private sector bodies have donated PPEs and testing kits."
1,074 patients recovered in the last 24 hours: Health Ministry
As many as 11,706 people have been cured so far, including 1,074 in the past 24 hours. This is the highest number of cured patients till date. Overall recovery rate is 27.52%. In the past 24 hours, 2553 new confirmed cases have emerged, taking the total to 42533, said the Health Ministry. Total active cases under supervision is 29,453.
On the increasing number of cases, a Health Ministry spokesperson said that the doubling rate has now gone up to 12 days, due to the measures such as lockdown.
"The curve of confirmed cases is relatively flat right now, if we keep implementing the measures properly, we may not witness the peak," he said
Discussion is under way on evacuation of citizens stranded abroad, the spokesperson added.
MHA issues fresh guidelines for people movement in green and orange zones
The Ministry of Home Affairs control room has addressed about 12,000 grievances till May 3, said a Ministry spokesperson.
If cargo transport vehicles face any problem during inter-State travel, they can call 1930 for help. If they face any problem on any Highway, they can call up NHAI helpline 1033.
Keeping in view the growing number of COVID-19 cases in police and security forces, in consultation with BPR&D and Health Ministry, MHA has issued guidelines/SOP to States, UTs and CAPFs for preventive measures.
Given that lockdown has been extended by two more weeks, the ban will continue on inter-State travel by air, rail and road, except for transportation of allowed articles. Educational institutions, gatherings of all kinds, non-essential travel of people between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. will not be allowed.
People with ailments, pregnant women and children below 10 not allowed to step out. Those going out for medical reasons, however, have been allowed. They can also go out for essential works.
In the containment zones coming under Red and Orange Zones, no human activity allowed apart from emergency operations. Outside containment zones, in Red Zones, cycle rickshaws, auto rickshaws and cab aggregators, barber shops, malls, etc, not allowed to operate. Neighbourhood shops and those located in colonies allowed to open.
Inter and intra-district plying of buses are also not allowed in orange zones.
Taxis are allowed with driver and a maximum of two passengers, same for four wheelers, one plus one for two wheelers (Orange zone).
In green zones, buses can ply with a maximum of 50% passengers. Bus depots can also operate with maximum 50% of capacity.
Six more COVID-19 positive cases were reported in Bihar taking the total number of cases in the State to 523. Five of them were from Madhubani district and one from West Champaran.
(Amarnath Tewary)
Civil services preliminary exams deferred
The Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination scheduled to be held on May 31 stands deferred, said a press release from the government. The Union Public Service Commission held a special meeting on Monday to review the situation after the second phase of the nation-wide lockdown due to COVID-19. Taking notice of the extension of restrictions, the Commission decided that it will not be possible to resume examinations and interviews now.
13 SSB personnel test positive for COVID-19
As many as 13 personnel of border guarding force Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) have tested positive for coronavirus till now, officials said on Monday.
They said while nine infected officials belong to the 25th battalion of the force based in Ghitorni area of the national capital, the rest are from other locations.
All the personnel have been put in hospital isolation facilities, they said.
The about 80,000 personnel strong SSB is primarily tasked to guard the 1,751 km long India-Nepal and 699 km of the India-Bhutan borders apart from rendering a variety of roles in the internal security domain of the country.
It is one of the paramilitary force or Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) under the Union Home Ministry.
(PTI)
West Bengal has highest COVID-19 mortality rate at 12.8%: Central team
West Bengal has the highest mortality rate in the country at 12.8%, the Interministerial Central Team leader and Additional Secretary Apurva Chandra said in a letter to Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, The Central teal concluded its West Bengal visit after a two-week stay.
"There was a discrepancy of 187 cases in the medical bulletins and reports sent to Government of India on April 30. State needs to be transparent and not downplay the spread of virus," Apurva Chandra said in the letter.
BSF jawan in West Bengal IMCT contracts COVID-19; over 50 troops quarantined
A BSF jawan deployed in the entourage of the Centre’s inter-ministerial central team (IMCT) to West Bengal has tested positive for COVID-19, following which over 50 personnel of the force were quarantined, officials said on Monday.
They said the infected personnel is working as a driver (constable rank) and was attached with the IMCT that was touring Kolkata and other places to review and suggest measures to the state government for containment of coronavirus .
The jawan tested positive on Sunday. He has now been admitted to an isolation facility of the state government, the officials said.
Over 50 personnel who were in touch with the infected BSF jawan have been quarantined and about 20 have been tested till now and their reports are awaited, they said.
(PTI)
A head constable of BSF working at BSF headquarters in Delhi tested COVID-19 positive on May 3. He was working on the second floor of the HQ. He attended office on May 2 (Friday). All persons who came in contact with him have been identified and quarantined. They will also be tested for COVID-19. Offices on the first and second floors of the HQ have been closed as a precaution: BSF official
(Vijaita Singh)
31 new cases in Pune district take tally to 2,082
At least 31 new COVID-19 cases were reported from Pune district on Monday, taking the district’s total tally of cases — including deaths and recoveries — to 2,082, health officials said.
“As many as 18 new cases were reported between 9 p.m. on Sunday and midnight, while a further 13 have been reported till today morning,” District Health Officer (DHO) Bhagwan Pawar said.
The district’s death toll stands at 111, with 107 of these from Pune city and the rural areas and four from Pimpri-Chinchwad.
COVID-19 positive cases in Rajasthan cross 3,000-mark with the detection of 123 cases today. The tally is now 3,009. The highest number, 73, was reported in Jodhpur, followed by 19 in Chittorgarh, 12 in Jaipur and 11 in Pali. Four deaths - all in Jaipur - was reported today, taking the COVID-19 toll in the State to 75: Medical & Health Department.
(Mohammed Iqbal)
Andhra Pradesh reported 67 new COVID-19 positive cases in the last 24 hours. The State has a total of 1,650 positive cases and 33 deaths so far.
107 people who returned from Koyambedu market test positive in Cuddalore
Cuddalore district, on Monday, witnessed a spike in cases, with the number of positive patients crossing the 100 mark in a single day.
The district’s total count has reached 160, following the detection of 107 new cases. Of this the results of as many as 100 patients came back positive on Monday while seven others tested positive on Sunday night.
According to official sources, all the 107 new cases had returned from the Koyambedu wholesale market in Chennai. A majority of them were working as vendors and daily wage labourers in the market and had returned to the district over the last few days after Koyambedu emerged as a COVID-19 hot spot in the State. Of the total 160 cases, as many as 129 are from Koyambedu, sources said.
Kalaburgi man dies of COVID-19
Another death has been reported in the State taking the total death toll to 26. A 56-year-old man from Kalaburgi, known case of SARI, who was admitted on April 29, succumbed to the infection on Sunday.
“The patient was admitted with complaints of cough and fever. His chest x-ray showed bilateral patchy pneumonitis and he died at the designated COVID hospital Kalaburgi,” said the midday health bulletin.
Meanwhile, 28 new cases including 21 from Davangere have been reported on Monday taking the total number of cases to 642. This includes 26 deaths, 304 discharged persons.
Apart from 21 in Davangere, two cases each have been reported from Mandya and Kalaburgi and one each from Chikkaballapura, Haveri and Vijayapura.
(Afshan Yasmeen)
Nearly 4,800 Indians are COVID-19 positive but with mild conditions in Singapore: Envoy
Nearly 4,800 Indian nationals, most of whom are living in dormitories for foreign workers, have been tested positive with the novel coronavirus in Singapore till the end of April, the Indian High Commissioner here said on Monday.
The total number of coronavirus cases in Singapore are 18,205 with 18 deaths, according to the figures released by Singapore Health Ministry on Sunday.
“Almost all of the infection among Indian workers is mild and their conditions are improving," Jawed Ashraf, Indian High Commissioner to Singapore said.
Over 3,500 Indian nationals, including students, have also registered with the High Commission to return home or to seek assistance for accommodation and food due to their unexpectedly long stay here, he said.
Over 90% of the 4,800 Indians infected by the virus are workers, most of whom are living in dormitories for foreign workers, he said.
Driver of a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Head Quarters tested positive for COVID-19. The woman officer is self quarantined now.
( R. Sivaraman)
Madhya Pradesh on Sunday reported 49 new COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 2,837.
The State Directorate of Health Services said that 798 persons have been cured and 174 patients were discharged from hospitals. The death toll climbed to 156, with six deaths being reported on the day - three in Ujjain, two in Indore and one in Khandwa.
(Sidharth Yadav)
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) clarified on Saturday that liquor shops could open in all zones except containment areas. In urban areas, liquor shops that are not in market complexes and malls could open everywhere. However, many State governments, including Kerala have banned liquor sales.
Andhra Pradesh government allowed reopening of liquor shops in all zones except containment areas from Monday, subject to social distancing and other guidelines laid down by the Central government, besides reducing their number significantly.
This apart, the government has ordered that the prices of liquor be jacked up by 25% as a step towards implementing total prohibition. These decisions were taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Sunday.
Also read: Lakhs of litres of beer may go down the drain
Eight new cases in Ghaziabad, six more in G.B. Nagar
Eight people, including the husband of a Ghaziabad municipal councillor, were tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday. The councillor had tested positive on May 1, according to officials. Four persons were found positive in the Kaila Bhatta area of the city. “They had come in contact with a person who participated in a religious congregation in Delhi,” a health department official said.
Delhi is ready to deal with COVID-19, says Kejriwal
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said Delhi was ready to face the COVID-19 threat.
“We will have to learn to live with the virus,” said the Chief Minister, stressing that the nationwide lockdown had prepared the people, the government and the hospitals to deal with the crisis.
Announcing extension of the lockdown by two more weeks, Mr. Kejriwal said the Union government had declared Delhi a “red zone” and his government would permit all the relaxations that the Centre has allowed. He had requested the Centre to declare the 97 containment zones in Delhi as red zones and all other parts as green zones.
DHS report: China hid virus’ severity to hoard supplies
U.S. officials believe China covered up the extent of the coronavirus outbreak — and how contagious the disease is — to stock up on medical supplies needed to respond to it, intelligence documents show.
Chinese leaders intentionally concealed the severity of the pandemic from the world in early January, according to a four-page Department of Homeland Security intelligence report dated May 1 and obtained by The Associated Press.
Trump says coronavirus vaccine will be available by year’s end
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday he now believes as many as 100,000 Americans could die in the coronavirus pandemic, after the death toll passed his earlier estimates, but said he was confident a vaccine would be developed by the year's end.
Trump alternated during a two-hour virtual town hall broadcast by FOX News between forecasting a rapid recovery for the U.S. economy and casting blame for the pandemic's spread on China.
One more COVID-19 case was detected in Sundargarh district taking Odisha’s total to 163, the State government said on Monday morning.
The State has 102 active cases, while 60 have recovered and one has died so far.
New Zealand reports no new coronavirus cases for first time since mid-March
New Zealand on May 4 recorded no new cases of the coronavirus for the first time since March 16 and less than a week after the Pacific nation ended a strict lockdown that appears to have contained the outbreak.
Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield told a news conference the result was cause for celebration, noting the death toll remained at 20 with no additional virus-related fatalities.
Over 100 migrant workers return to Assam from Nagaland
More than 100 migrant workers from Assam who were stranded in Nagaland due to lockdown have returned to their home state on Sunday, officials said.
More than 100 people stranded in Dimapur district of Nagaland have crossed over to Karbi Anglong district of Assam on Sunday, they said.
