Coronavirus live updates: National recovery rate now 25.19%, health ministry says

30 new Covid-19 cases reported in Karnataka, taking the total number of cases to 565: State health department

TN registers 161 more cases taking total number of cases to 2,323

Chennai records 138 new cases. Number of people discharged today is 48, total discharged 1,258. Active cases in hospital stans at 1,035

Karnataka's Victoria & Surathkal quarantine facilities 'model': Central team

Pankaj Kumar Pandey, commissioner, Karnataka department of health and family welfare, said: “The team declared that the Victoria Hospital and Surathkal quarantine facilities were model practices to be followed. They also made suggestions on medium and long term measures like strengthening human resources at health institutions, training, and mass counseling.” Read full story

11 more die of Covid-19 in West Bengal, death toll reaches 33

Eleven more people died of Covid-19 in West Bengal, taking the death toll in the state to 33, Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha said on Thursday. In the last 24 hours, Sinha said, 37 fresh coronavirus cases have been reported in the state, and 15 people were discharged from hospitals following their recovery.Currently, West Bengal has 572 active cases. At least 139 people have recovered, he said.

IIT-Madras backed start-ups supply PPEs, face mask to healthcare workers

The start-ups have developed PPEs such as face shields and incubation boxes from 3D printers and stationery materials, the institute said in a release. Initial batches have been supplied in Chennai, while some were in the process of being scaled up towards mass production for use in hospitals and clinics across the country. The 3D printed face shields and incubation boxes were developed by Fabheads Automation, an IIT Madras incubated start-up, it said.

Total active cases drop to 25 in Mysuru with discharge of seven patients

In order to decongest hospitals, all asymptomatic positive patients without comorbidity should be shifted to appropriate Covid Care Centres immediately: Maharashtra govt

Hospitals should ensure that no admissions are granted to asymptomatic positive patients without comorbidity. Similar patients in private hospitals should be stamped and sent away for home quarantine after proper counselling according to the Government of India guidelines.

Latest figures from health ministry: 33,610 total cases; 24,162 active cases, 8,373 cured, 1,075 deaths

Current doubling rate stands at 11 days, case fatality 3.2 pc: Health ministry

Health ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal said the doubling rate of Covid 19 cases was found to be between 11-20 days in Delhi, UP, Jammu and Kashmir, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Punjab. Doubling rate between 20-40 days has been seen in Karnataka, Ladakh, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Kerala, he added. He also said that the current case fatality rate is 3.2 per cent for Covid-19 in the country, with 65 per cent of it males and 35 per cent females. Read full story

Lockdown can be lifted in Tamil Nadu only in a phased manner: National Institute of Epidemiology deputy director Prabhdeep Kaur

23 pilgrims who returned to Punjab from Sri Hazur Sahib in Maharashtra's Nanded have tested positive

They have been shifted to isolation ward at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital: Amritsar deputy commissioner Shivdular Singh Dhillon

PM Modi discusses strategies to promote investments, boost economy

It was discussed that a scheme should be developed to promote more plug and play infrastructure in the existing industrial lands/plots/estates in the country and provide necessary financing support. During the meeting, the PM directed that the action should be taken for a more proactive approach to handhold the investors, to look into their problems and help them in getting all the necessary Central and State clearances in a time bound manner. Read full story

3 more people die in Rajasthan, taking the death toll in the state to 58

Number of cases climbs to 2,556 with 118 fresh infections

Covid-19 patient escapes from isolation ward in Surat, found dead

A 50-year-old coronavirus patient, who allegedly ran away from the Covid ward of a civil hospital in Gujarat's Surat city two days back, was found dead on a bench outside the medical facility on Thursday morning, police said. The official further said the man "secretly" walked out of the ward on the night of April 28 and disappeared.

Ernakulam district administration has decided to remove Chullikkal area in Kochi from the list of Covid-9 hotspots

For testing and treatment protocol, we have to use RT-PCR test only: Lav Agrawal, joint secy, Health Ministry

West Bengal health department says no approval needed for testing suspects for Covid-19

UK lays on more flights to evacuate Covid-19 stranded Brits from India

The UK on Thursday announced seven further charter flights to bring over 2,000 stranded British travellers stranded in India due to the coronavirus pandemic lockdown back home to the UK. All the new flights are between Amritsar and London to cater to the thousands still stranded in Punjab, with a daily flight planned every day between May 5 and 11. Read full story