Coronavirus India Updates: With 47 casualties in 24 hours, India Tuesday registered the biggest spike in deaths as the toll reached 590. The confirmed cases rose to 18,601, of which 3251 are recovered patients and 14,759 are active cases.
Even as restrictions are eased and the Union government is looking at various options for “gradual” lifting of the lockdown post-May 3, sources say that the Centre is preparing for a second wave in late May or early June. There is a sense that area-specific lockdowns and relaxations will have to be the norm, depending on the rise and fall in cases, till September at least. While the government hopes that the second wave will not touch the March high of 3.4 days doubling time, it will still mean a rise in fresh cases.
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Here are the top developments of the day
Rashtrapati Bhavan staffer’s kin tests positive, 125 people in quarantine
A family member of a President’s Estate staffer tested positive for COVID-19 Tuesday, following which the authorities asked 125 people, who had come in contact with the patient, to be under home quarantine. According to a statement from the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the woman who tested positive, had been in touch with a COVID-19 patient who died on April 13.
Fresh cases were reported in Odisha, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and death in Karnataka.
PM Modi, President Kovind, Venkaiah Naidu thank civil servants
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday took to Twitter to convey his greetings on the Civil Services Day. He also appreciated their efforts in ensuring India successfully defeats COVID-19. “Today, on Civil Services Day I convey greetings to all Civil Servants and their families. I appreciate their efforts in ensuring India successfully defeats COVID-19. They are working round the clock, assisting those in need and ensuring everyone is healthy,” he tweeted.
Today, on Civil Services Day I convey greetings to all Civil Servants and their families.
I appreciate their efforts in ensuring India successfully defeats COVID-19. They are working round the clock, assisting those in need and ensuring everyone is healthy.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 21, 2020
President Kovind tweeted, “In the present times too, the steel frame of our country, the civil service, has shown its strength and resolve in handling COVID-19 situation, with sensitivity and professionalism. Confident that our civil services will continue to serve in the best traditions of public service.” The president greeted present and former civil servants and their families on the occasion. Vice-president Venkaiah Naidu also greeted the civil servants.
OPINION: How lockdown may rewire class-caste issues for Indian politics
53 scribes tested positive for novel coronavirus in Mumbai
Delhi govt will conduct COVID-19 test on mediapersons: Kejriwal
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said his government will conduct COVID-19 test on mediapersons in the national capital, after 53 scribes tested positive for novel coronavirus in Mumbai. During a special camp organised at the Azad Maidan in Mumbai on April 16 and 17 for COVID-19 testing of scribes, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had collected swab samples of 171 mediapersons, including electronic and print media journalists, photographers and cameramen.
Why disinfectant must not be sprayed on humans
It can be harmful. Besides, the act itself is pointless. This is because there is a specific time that the disinfectant takes to act on an area, and as per the disinfection protocol, any place that has been disinfected has to be kept shut overnight. The solution of sodium hypochlorite is unstable and quickly breaks down to release chlorine. Chlorine can have several harmful effects, the Health Ministry said.
Ghaziabad tightens restrictions at Delhi border after fresh Covid-19 cases
Traffic jam in Ghaziabad near Delhi border after district administration restricts movement. (Express photo by Praveen Khana)
A day after six fresh cases were reported in Ghaziabad, the district administration Tuesday restricted all movement at Delhi border, except for emergency and essential services. Passes of anyone not involved in essential service or medical emergency stand suspended, officials said. According to officials, the step is a precautionary measure as inter-district travel can further cause a spike in the daily number of cases.
Doubling rate in 18 states slower than national average
Coronavirus (COVID-19): On April 19, India had registered its highest single-day rise in the numbers, with 1577 cases. On April 20, 1,272 cases were discovered.
As many 18 states had a doubling rate much slower than the national average, with Kerala having the slowest doubling rate of 72.2 days. Maharashtra continued to drive up the numbers of Coronavirus patients in India, contributing more than a third of all new cases reported on Tuesday. A total of 1274 new cases were discovered across the country on Tuesday, of which 466 came from Maharashtra. Gujarat was the only other state that reported more than 100 cases on Tuesday. With 196 new positive patients, Gujarat now has a total of 1939 cases, the third highest in the country. Delhi continues to occupy the second place, its 78 new cases on Tuesday, putting its aggregate to 2081.
Important stories from The Indian Express
Data source: Government of Kerala
People line up for medical check-up in Pune
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General Post Office (GPO) employees cleans GPO area on Monday in Kolkata
Outside Parliament House on Monday
In Chandigarh, slum-dwellers line up ther plates ahead of the distribution of food by the Administration on Sunday. (Express photo by Kamleshwar Singh)