A man selling mask at Barasat Express Photo Shashi Ghosh
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Tracker India LIVE Updates: Advising against stigmatising COVID-19 patients and health workers, the Health Ministry Friday said that the fight against the virus is fight of the society as a whole. Stating that those who have recovered from the disease are not infectious, Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said the stigma keeps people with symptoms away from treatment for longer time.
With 1,396 new coronavirus cases reported in the last 24 hours, India’s tally stands at 28,380 and toll at 886, he said. Out of the total, 21,132 are active, while 6,362 patients have recovered. Sixteen districts, which earlier had COVID-19 cases, have not reported any fresh case in the last 28 days, Agarwal added.
Following Monday’s meeting of Chief Ministers with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sources have told The Indian Express that the lockdown will be extended in the hotspots, while restrictions will be eased in districts not affected by the infection. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wanted the lockdown to be extended by one more month. According to sources, Patnaik who led the chorus for extension of lockdown said it has to be extended on May 3 to June 3. Sources said at least two states backed him.
The official death toll from the virus topped 205,000 worldwide, with over 2.9 million reported infections
Vadodara ABVP workers took to art to urge residents to stay home to contain the spread of Covid-19. (Express photo/Bhupendra Rana)
Another Mumbai Police personnel has died of COVID-19. The deceased, Head Constable Shivaji Narayan Sonawane (56), was posted in the traffic department. So far, a total of 107 police personnel in Maharashtra have tested positive, of whom 7 seven have recovered.
Indian Air Force (IAF) has stepped up its efforts to meet the requirements of government of India during the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic. IAF has been airlifting essential supplies of medicine and ration along with medical personnel in the country, to equip state governments and supporting agencies to combat the contagion effectively.
On Apr 25, IAF's transport aircraft landed at Lengpui Airport in Mizoram with 22 tonnes of medical supplies meant for combating Covid-19. The supplies were airlifted for the governments of Mizoram and Meghalaya. Till date, IAF has transported approximately 600 tonnes of medical equipment and support material. A 15-member team of Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) Rapid Response had been sent to Kuwait on April 11. The team was airlifted back from Kuwait in a C-130 aircraft of IAF on Apr 25. During the return, a six-year old girl suffering from cancer, requiring immediate emergency surgery was also evacuated along with her father.
Local volunteers from Borivili distribute food packets to the needy near Borivili National Park in the western suburbs of Mumbai during lockdown. Everyday, this group distributes over 500 packets in the morning and 350 at night. (Express Photo: Amit Chakravarty)
Eleven COVID-19 patients in Karnataka have recovered from the infection in the last 24 hours taking total discharges to 193. Total cases now 512.
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has once again drawn the Centre’s attention to the critical needs of the state in the light of the unprecedented crisis and lockdown, while also urging the Union Home Minister to allow opening of small shops, businesses and industries in all areas except the containment zones, with full compliance of COVID prevention measures.
In a letter sent to Home Minister Amit Shah, in response to the Centre’s request for a written submission of issues faced by the state, the Chief Minister has highlighted the pending issues that need the urgent attention of the Government of India, for reference and follow up.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday told Prime Minister Narendra Modi the state is strictly adhering to the lockdown guidelines issued by the Centre, and it will not be possible to bring back students from places like Kota until the directions are suitably amended. Participating in a video conference along with chief ministers of other states, the CM spoke about many states having arranged for return of students from the Rajasthan town, and also made an veiled reference to the pressure from opposition parties in the state that his government has been facing on the issue.
Despite the lockdown, the supply chain has made good progress, Parameswaran Iyer, Convener of Empowered group 5. Some of the pointers from his briefing:
Two districts have fresh cases, which earlier did not have any fresh case in last 28 days:
Further, a total of 85 districts from (25 States/UT) have not reported any new cases since the last 14 days
16 districts which earlier had cases have not reported any fresh cases in the last 28 days.
Three new districts which got added to this list from include (24th April):
Advising against the discrimination against the health workers, Lav Agarwal said, the fight against COVID-19 is not the fight of government, doctors or patients alone. It is a fight of the society as a whole.
Here are some pointers from the government presser on coronavirus situation in India
Here are some pointers from the government presser on coronavirus situation in India
Health Ministry presser on COVID-19 underway.
Jhajjar recorded its first cases of COVID-19 Monday, with two people testing positive – a pharmacist and a vegetable vendor. Faridabad has also recorded one new case, with the CEO of a Delhi company testing positive. Total cases in Faridabad now 46.
Supreme Court on Monday asked government to respond in one week whether the matter of inter-state transport of migrant labours was being examined. The apex court said this while hearing a plea by advocate Prashant Bhushan where he asked the court th allow inter-state movement of the migrants, remarking that the state government seemed to have closed its eyes on the matter.
Haryana Minister Anil Vij appealed to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to provide accomodation to people from who work in Delhi, "Many who work in Delhi and stay in Haryana, are coronavirus-carriers. I appeal to Delhi CM that stay arrangements of people who work in Delhi should be made in Delhi itself. They shouldn't be issued passes to travel to Haryana as this is increasing COVID-19 cases here," Vij said.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen patnaik wanted the lockdown to be extended by one more month. According to sources, Patnaik who led the chorus for extension of lockdown said it has to be extended on May 3 to June 3. Sources said at least two states backed him.
Ten persons were arrested for attacking cops on duty in the red zone area of Nagarwada of Vadodara. Seven are still on the run. All were booked under charges of rioting and relevant sections of the Disaster Management Act.
Along with increasing the number of tests, the central and state governments should also start providing food to the migrants, said BSP supremo Mayawati on Monday. "Otherwise how will these people suffering from hunger increase their immunity and avoid the deadly corona disease? What day will the government warehouse run?" she said.
She added that it would be better if the governments make proper arrangements for the millions of people suffering from the lockdown to send them to their home states safely and also provide some financial help for them to live, as soon as possible.
The Arunachal Pradesh government has asked all petrol depots and gas agencies to refuse service to all tose who visit their outlets without masks, PTI reported on Monday. District Food and Civil Supplies Officer (DFCSO) Amit Bengia, in a notice, said the government's move was aimed at ensuring safety of people in the state capital, amid the spike in COVID-19 cases across the country.