Two labour families of Birwani district in Madhya Pradesh planning to return to their hometown on Monday night were stopped by government officers on Pune-Satara road. (Express Photo By Pavan Khengre).
Coronavirus India Live Updates: As India extended the coronavirus lockdown till May 3, the death toll due to COVID-19 has risen to 353 while the number of confirmed cases across the country neared the 11,000 mark. The Union Health Ministry said a total of 1,211 new cases and 31 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours. As many as 1,189 persons have recovered from the virus. Maharashtra continued to be the worst-affected state.
The government also informed that more than 32 crore poor people have been provided financial support of Rs 29,352 crore as on April 13. In his address, Modi said a detailed document with guidelines on the same would be released on Wednesday. He said there will be strict enforcement of the lockdown for six days, till April 20, after which there could be relaxation in specific areas after assessing the situation. Shortly after the announcement, the Indian Railways and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said that railway and air services, respectively, would be suspended till May 3.
Meanwhile, an unprecedented situation erupted in Mumbai after a large number of migrant labourers came out on Bandra West bus depot demanding transportation arrangements to go to their native places. The crowd was later dispersed following the deployment of extra force to contain the situation.
On the global front, more than 1.9 million infections have been reported, with over 1,19,000 deaths, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally. The United States has the highest number of cases (581,679) and fatalities (over 23,000) from COVID-19.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): In its daily briefing Monday, the Union Health Ministry said no new cases of the novel coronavirus were detected in 14 districts of the country in the last 14 days. (Express Photo: Shashi Ghosh)
In Barasat's otherwise bustling wholesale market, with empty shops and small idols, the rituals are being done just for the sake of it. North 24 Pargana, Barasat, Express Photo Shashi Ghosh
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray Tuesday said his government will set up a committee to revive the state's economy after the coronavirus outbreak ends. "After COVID-19 outbreak ends, we will have an equally serious challenge which will be the revival of the economy in the state. Therefore, we have formed committees which will prepare the plans for its revival," he said.
Thackeray also said Maharashtra is doing the highest number of tests in the country. "Mumbai has tested over 22000 samples. 2334 positive cases reported till today morning. 230 people - around 10% people have recovered," he said.
Like many other parts of the world, Turkey has been issuing social distancing and lockdowns instructions along with hygiene advisories to ward off the novel coronavirus pandemic. However, there is one difference in how the Turkish people are tackling the outbreak.
Unlike most other countries, where soap and hand sanitisers have become highly sought-after hygiene products, in Turkey, another liquid solution is rapidly disappearing from shelves — cologne. Read more
Maharashtra Tourism Minister Aaditya Thackeray on Tuesday blamed the Centre for the protest by hundreds of migrant workers near Bandra railway station here and sought a road map to facilitate their journey back to their native places.
Hundreds of migrant workers who earn daily wages in Mumbai came out on road on Tuesday afternoon demanding transport arrangements to go back to their native places. The protest took place hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an extension of the coronavirus-enforced lockdown till May 3.
In a series of tweets, Thackeray said, "The current situation in Bandra, now dispersed or even the rioting in Surat is a result of the union government not being able to take a call on arranging a way back home migrant labour."
"They don't want food or shelter, they want to go back home," Thackeray said. (PTI)
Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced extension of the ongoing lockdown, Uttarakhand government on Tuesday said that electricity connections of consumers of all categories will not be disconnected till June 30 if they fail to pay the electricity bills and dues.
Also, those who will pay the bills on-line before the due date, they will get a discount of one per cent on the current bill amount. The maximum limit of this discount will be Rs one lakh for HT consumers and Rs 10,000 for LT connection consumers. The government has estimated that nearly 25 lakh consumers will be benefitted from it.
As relief measures for farmers who have private tubewells for irrigation, the state government said that a concession will be given in late payment surcharge on their electricity bills due till June 30. Nearly 20,000 farmers will be benefitted and this will cost Rs 3.64 crore to the state exchequer.
The government also announced to defer the recovery of fixed/demand charge from the consumers of industrial and commercial categories against the power consumption between March to May. Also, concession on late payment surcharge will be given in such cases. This decision will benefit nearly 2.7 lakh consumers and will cost Rs 8 crore to the state exchequer. Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said that such measures will give relief to electricity consumers who are facing hardships due to lockdown.
Number of active COVID-19 cases drops for first time in Jammu and Kashmir as 14 patients recover, Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary-Planning, Jammu and Kashmir said. On Tuesday, eight new cases were reported out of which six were from Kashmir while two were from Jammu. Total number of positive cases stands now at 278 in the Union Territory, Kansal said.
On the coronavirus situation in Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, "In past few days, COVID-19 cases rose significantly. On 9 April, 51 cases were reported, 183 on 10th, 166 on 11th, 356 on 13th. In last 2 months, many foreigners came to Delhi from affected nations. 1 more incident took place here - of Markaz. This too caused additional burden."
Migrant workers from nearby settlements in Mumbai's Badnra gathered today demanding ration. The police later brought the situation under control.
Joint commissioner of police (law and order) Vinay Kumar Choubey sadi, " Those protesting reside near the Bandra station. When food was being distributed one group said they did not want food but wanted to go home. Since a huge crowd had gathered we called extra force and the crowd was dispersed. They went back to their residences near the railway station."
DRM of WR, GVL Satyakumar said, "The crowd was confined towards the local railway station and not the terminus, they were on the roads, in the local area and not on the station premises. All entries are locked to the station except one which is manned by RPF. The security on all stations will be strengthened."
Only 31 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Tamil Nadu today, lowest in April. State Health Secretary says decline in fresh cases may have started as a result of containment measures being taken across the state. Meanwhile, total cases in the state now sit at 1204.
Air carrier IndiGo has said it will resume flight operations from May 4 in phased manner. This announcement comes on a day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the extension of nationwide lockdown till May 3 in order to flatten the curve of the coronavirus. All passenger trains and flights will remain suspended till May 3.
Actor-turned-politician #Rajinikanth's message to Tamils living abroad: "Stay safe wherever you are, follow the norms prescribed by the respective governments; this shall too pass."
On a day Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended the nationwide lockdown till May 3, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said mass testing for coronavirus was key to fighting its spread but the country was currently “nowhere in the game”. Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India is in a much better position than many other nations in COVID-19 fight, Rahul Gandhi said India was currently in the company of countries like Laos, Niger and Honduras due to low level of testing for COVID-19. Read more here
A total of 1211 new cases and 31 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry said in its briefing on Tuesday. While the death toll has risen to 339, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country neared 10400. As many as 1035 persons have recovered from the virus.
Guidelines brought out in high density areas to control COVID-19. Total cases are now 10,363 cases, in which 1,211 cases and 31 deaths were recorded yesterday: Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health
India has conducted over 2.31 lakh Covid-19 tests, ICMR's Dr R R Gangakhedka said. Of these, 18,664 tests were conducted yesterday in ICMR labs while 2,991 were done in private labs. The order of 33 lakh RTPCR kits and 37 lakh rapid kits are expected any time, he said.
At least 11 more people tested positive for coronavirus in Maharashtra's Palghar district on Tuesday, taking the tally to 53 in the region.
A health bulletin issued by the district administration stated that 11 new cases of coronavirus were reported in Palghar and the toll stood at five.
According to the report, of the 11 new cases, 10 were reported from the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) limits, while one person tested positive in Dahanu taluka.(PTI)
Poila Boishak' or Nobo Borsho (Bengali New Year) marks the beginning of the new financial year for the Bengali business community. However, owing to the coronavirus pandemic, there is a sense of forlorn in most big markets around the city, little to do with any celebrations. (Express photo by Shashi Ghosh)
In Barasat's otherwise bustling wholesale market, idol shops remained empty. However, the rituals are being done just for the sake of it. (Express Photo Shashi Ghosh)
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has urged the Centre to reconsider its directives asking industry and shops/commercial establishments to continue paying full wages to their workers during the COVID-19 lockdown period, as it may push them to bankruptcy.
He has urged the Government of India to look for innovative solutions to protect the interests of the workers, in these difficult times, without causing irreparable damage to the industry/commercial establishments etc.
The Chief Minister has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking reconsideration of the order of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, issued under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. The relevant part of the order reads: “that all the employers, be it in the Industry or in the shops and commercial estabishments, shall make payment of wages to their workers, at their work place, on the due date, without any deduction, for the period their establishment are under closure during the lockdown."
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan on Monday provided 25,000 PPE kits to the frontline medical staff in Maharashtra fighting to contain the novel coronavirus pandemic in the state. Rajesh Tope, Minister of Public Health and Family Welfare of Maharashtra, said the Fan actor’s contribution will help the healthcare workers immensely.
“Many thanks Mr Shah Rukh Khan for your kind contribution of 25,000 PPE kits. This will go a long way in supporting our fight against COVID19 & protecting our frontline medical care team @iamsrk @MeerFoundation @CMOMaharashtra,” Tope tweeted. Read more to know how the actor replied to the Health Minister.
Russia on Tuesday reported 2,774 new cases of the coronavirus, a record daily rise, bringing its overall nationwide tally to 21,102, the country’s coronavirus response centre said.
It said 170 people in Russia diagnosed with the virus have now died, an overnight rise of 22. (Reuters)
Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer statue was has put on a doctor's robe in honor of healthcare workers around the world fighting the coronavirus.