Coronavirus Live Updates: Lockdown Extended For 2 More Weeks, Centre Announces Guidelines

COVID-19 India Updates: At least 35,365 people have tested positive for coronavirus and 1,152 have died due to the virus so far.

Coronavirus Live Updates: Lockdown Extended For 2 More Weeks, Centre Announces Guidelines

Coronavirus Live India: India has reported 1,147 COVID-19 deaths so far. (File)

New Delhi:

The nationwide coronavirus lockdown will be extended by two more weeks after May 3, the government said today, noting significant gains from the six-week shutdown in India's fight to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Extending the lockdown for the second time, the home ministry announced new guidelines based on the demarcation of the country into red zones with "significant risk of spread of the infection"; green zones with either zero cases or no confirmed cases in the past 21 days; and those in between as orange.

While there will be considerable relaxations in the districts in the green and orange zones, some bans will apply across the country, regardless of the grading.

Travel by air, rail, metro and inter-state movement by road will remain banned except if permitted by MHA.

Schools, colleges and other educational and training institutes; hospitality services including hotels and restaurants; cinema halls, malls, shopping centres, gyms and sports complexes will also stay shut.

Movement of people by air, rail and road will be allowed for select purposes and for purposes as permitted by the home ministry. No activity except most essential will be allowed in containment zones. The biggest and most economically-important cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Ahmedabad, all marked red zones, will stay under strict lockdown.

The government has also made use of Aarogya Setu application for all employees, both public and private. It will be the responsibility of the respective chiefs of organisations to ensure 100 per cent coverage of this application among the employees. Most commercial and private offices can open with upto 33 per cent staff, with the rest working from home. The local authority in containment zones shall ensure full coverage of the app among the residents.

India witnessed its biggest jump in coronavirus-linked deaths today, with 77 deaths in the last 24 hours, government data showed. At least 35,365 people have tested positive for coronavirus and 1,152 have died due to the virus.

Here are the Coronavirus Outbreak Live Updates:

May 01, 2020 23:51 (IST)
Special trains are being planned for nominated people identified & registered by state governments. No one under any circumstances should come to railway stations looking for trains. Tickets will not be issued to any individual, no requests will be entertained: Central Railway
May 01, 2020 23:25 (IST)
24 New Cases, One Death In Karnataka, Total COVID-19 Cases At 589
Twenty-four new cases and one COVID-19 death were reported in Karnataka on Friday, the health department said, even as the Bengaluru corporation made wearing of face masks in public and work spaces compulsory in the city besides banning spitting, urinating and littering in
public areas.

Cumulatively 589 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state andit includes 23 deaths and 251 discharges,a department bulletin said.

A 69-year-old man from Davangere who was undergoing treatment for coronavirus infection has died, taking the death count in the state to 23, health department officials said, news agency PTI reported.
May 01, 2020 23:00 (IST)
May 01, 2020 22:48 (IST)
No New COVID-19 Case In Himachal Pradesh In Last 8 Days
Himachal Pradesh has not reported any fresh COVID-19 case in the past eight days, a senior state government official said on Friday. So far, 41 coronavirus cases have been reported and the number of active cases in the state is five now, Additional Chief Secretary (Health) RD Dhiman said.

Two people have died of COVID-19 in the state. The fatalities include a 70-year-old Delhi resident who had stayed at a guest house of a factory in Solan's Baddi and died at the PGIMER, Chandigarh, on April 2, news agency PTI reported.
May 01, 2020 22:38 (IST)
Ensure Virus Doesn't Spread To Municipalities-Villages: Gujarat Chief Minister
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Friday said municipalities in semi-urban areas as well as villages must be on guard to ensure novel coronavirus infection does not break out in these parts.

Gujarat has 4,721 COVID-19 cases as on Friday evening, with the vast majority, or 89 per cent, being in urban centres like Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara.

He held video conference meets with office bearers of 162 municipalities and village heads and asked them to take all efforts to ensure areas under them are "coronavirus free".

"You must ensure your municipalities remain free of coronavirus. You need to regularly sanitize all the areas in your municipalities. Those municipalities which border cities having a high number of cases must be very alert. It must be ensured that people from red zones do not enter your areas and spread the infection," he told them, news agency PTI reported.
May 01, 2020 22:26 (IST)
May 01, 2020 22:07 (IST)
Clash Breaks Out Between Police And Locals While Sealing Containment Zone In Gujarat
A clash broke out between police and locals at Panchmahal in Godhra on Thursday night when the police were barricading the containment zone as a measure to curtail the coronavirus.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Leena Patil said, "The barricading of the containment area was being done by the civic authorities and the police. Some locals protested and pelted stones at them."

In a measure to control the situation, the authorities resorted to the use of tear gas. "We used tear gas as a measure to control the situation. At the moment, the situation is under control," added Mr Patil, news agency ANI reported.
May 01, 2020 21:51 (IST)
82 more persons have tested positive for COVID 19 in Rajasthan taking the total number of cases to 2666; 62 deaths due to the virus recorded in state till date: Rajasthan Health department
May 01, 2020 21:28 (IST)
223 new COVID-19 cases, 2 deaths reported in Delhi today; the total number of positive cases is now 3,738: Delhi Health Department
May 01, 2020 21:11 (IST)
The total number of COVID-19 positive cases in Madhya Pradesh is now 2,715, death count at 145: Madhya Pradesh Health Department
May 01, 2020 20:52 (IST)
1,008 new coronavirus cases detected in Maharashtra on Friday, highest in single day, taking tally to 11,506. Death count rises to 485 with 26 deaths: state health department, news agency PTI reported.
May 01, 2020 20:50 (IST)
54-year-old man from East Champaran district dies due to COVID-19, death count reaches 3 in Bihar, news agency PTI reported quoting official
May 01, 2020 20:45 (IST)
May 01, 2020 20:39 (IST)
With 267 new patients, number of coronavirus cases in Ahmedabad rises to 3,293, death count at 165 with 16 deaths, news agency PTI reported quoting health official
May 01, 2020 20:27 (IST)
16 more COVID-19 positive cases reported in Bihar taking the total number of cases to 466 in the state: Bihar Principal Secretary (Health) Sanjay Kumar
May 01, 2020 20:23 (IST)
With 326 new patients, number of coronavirus cases in Gujarat rises to 4,721, death count reaches 236, news agency PTI reported quoting health official. 
May 01, 2020 20:22 (IST)
Special Efforts Being Taken To Ensure COVID-19 Is Contained In Red Zone Districts: Rajasthan Minister
Rajasthan Health Minister Raghu Sharma on Friday said special efforts were being taken to make sure coronavirus is contained in eight red zone districts in the state.

Eight districts of Rajasthan have been kept in red zone, 19 in orange zone and six in green zone by the central government, he said.

"A special action plan is being worked out for the eight districts which have been put in the red zone by the Centre," Sharma said.

"Coronavirus infection rate in the state had once reached 75 per cent but due to planned efforts of the Rajasthan government, it has now come down to 4.84 per cent," the health minister said.

Sharma said strict legal action will be taken if any private hospital in the state does not provide necessary medical facilities to the patients in OPD, IPD or emergency.

"It has come to our notice that private hospitals are not following the rules. Hospitals are recovering money from patients covered under the Ayushman Bharat Mahatma Gandhi Rajasthan Health Insurance scheme and the National Food Security scheme. This will certainly not be tolerated," he added, news agency PTI reported.
May 01, 2020 20:12 (IST)
May 01, 2020 19:51 (IST)
May 01, 2020 19:45 (IST)
Coronavirus - In Lockdown's Third Act, What's Allowed, What Isn't
India will remain under lockdown till May 18, the government announced today, tacking on a second extension to the full lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi originally on March 25.
May 01, 2020 19:34 (IST)
Movement of individuals in all zones, for all non-essential activities, shall remain strictly prohibited between 7 pm to 7 am: Ministry of Home Affairs
May 01, 2020 19:28 (IST)
What Centre's New Lockdown Guidelines Say: 10 Points
The centre on Friday extended the nationwide coronavirus lockdown - which was scheduled to end on May 4 - by two weeks. In a press statement, the Ministry of Home Affairs said the lockdown led to "significant gains in the COVID-19 situation in the country". It issued a fresh set of guidelines to regulate the lockdown, and said it has permitted considerable relaxations in the districts falling in the low-risk Green and Orange zones.
May 01, 2020 19:27 (IST)
Delhi government appoints 10 nodal officers to coordinate with different states for movement of stranded persons, following Home Ministry order, news agency ANI reported.
May 01, 2020 19:21 (IST)
Coronavirus: Full List Of Red, Orange, Green Districts In India
The number of coronavirus or COVID-19 hotspots, or "red zones", across India witnessed a drop of around 23 per cent in 15 days, from 170 on April 15 to 130 on April 30. All four major metropolitans - Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai - have been classified as red zones.

However, in the same period, the number of "green zones", or districts reporting no new case linked to Coronavirus, dropped from 356 to 319, while the number of "orange zones" increased - from 207 to 284, as per a letter from the Union Health Ministry to the chief secretaries of all states and union territories, following a video conference yesterday.
May 01, 2020 19:00 (IST)
83 percent of COVID-19 patients in Maharashtra are asymptomatic, 20 percent of patients cured, mortality rate has come down to 3.5 per cent: Health Minister Rajesh Tope
May 01, 2020 18:46 (IST)
2 More Weeks Of Lockdown Starting May 4
The nationwide coronavirus lockdown will be extended by two weeks after May 4, the government has said.

The home ministry has also issued new guidelines to regulate different activities in this period, based on the risk profiling of the districts of the country into red (hotspot), green and orange zones.
May 01, 2020 18:28 (IST)
May 01, 2020 18:24 (IST)
Navy helicopters to shower flower petals on hospitals treating COVID-19 patients: Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat
May 01, 2020 18:23 (IST)
The Army on its part will conduct mountain band displays along some of the COVID hospitals in almost every district of our country. The armed forces will also lay wreathe at the police memorial on May 3 in support of our police forces: Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat

Image
May 01, 2020 18:04 (IST)
There has been a spike of 1,755 new COVID-19 positive cases and 77 deaths in the last 24 hours.
May 01, 2020 17:59 (IST)
Total number of COVID-19 positive cases in India rises to 35,365 including 9,064 cured/discharged and 1,152 deaths: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
May 01, 2020 17:44 (IST)
Coronavirus India Lockdown: COVID-19-Infected Woman Dies In Uttarakhand, First Such Case In State
A COVID-19 positive woman died at AIIMS in Rishikesh on Friday, the first death of an infected person in Uttarakhand.

While confirming that the woman had tested positive for coronavirus, the state health department maintained that it was not the cause of death. So far, 57 coronavirus cases have been detected in the hill state.

The 56-year-old woman from Nainital was admitted at AIIMS on April 22 after suffering a brain stroke and tested positive for COVID-19 on April 28, said Madhur Uniyal, nodal officer for coronavirus cases at the facility.

"The woman died of ventricular tachycardia secondary to ACS (acute coronary syndrome). In simple terms, it means sudden reduced blood flow to the heart," a state health department bulletin later said, news agency PTI reported.
May 01, 2020 17:40 (IST)
Postal Department Ferries 6 Tonnes Of Medicine In Uttar Pradesh During Lockdown
The Department of Posts has transported over six tonnes of medicines from one place to another in Uttar Pradesh during the coronavirus-triggered lockdown, a senior official said here on Friday.

"Big companies like Cipla and Torent had problems in distribution of medicines. They contacted us after which we ran intra-circle vehicles and connected with big cities and then other places," UP's Chief Post Master General,Kaushlendra Kumar Sinha told PTI-Bhasha.

"We booked over six tonnes of medicines through speed post and transported them. We also booked around 12,000 parcels and delivered them," he added.

"During the lockdown, many persons needed medicines and we never stopped delivering them. We get a number of queries. We have helpline numbers and website. We never stopped delivering medicines," said Mr Sinha.

He said the department also delivered more than four lakh articles during the lockdown.

"We tried our best to ensure that the postal department becomes a corona warrior and deliver things to people," he added, news agency PTI reported.
May 01, 2020 17:26 (IST)
Jammu and Kashmir reports 25 new COVID-19 cases, total rises to 639, news agency PTI reported quoting officials.
May 01, 2020 17:11 (IST)
May 01, 2020 17:09 (IST)
Uttar Pradesh Reports 70 New COVID-19 Cases, Total Rises To 2,281
Uttar Pradesh reported 70 fresh coronavirus cases on Friday, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases in the state to 2,281, a senior official said.

So far, 2,281 cases have been reported in the state from 63 districts, Principal Secretary, Medical Health, Amit Mohan Prasad said.

Fourty-one deaths have so far been reported while the number of active cases is 1,685, he said.

As many as 555 patients have been treated and discharged, he added. Mr Prasad said pool testing has started in the state which was the first one in the country to do so, news agency PTI reported.
May 01, 2020 16:49 (IST)
More than 4 lakh oxygen cylinders are available; orders for more than 1 lakh oxygen cylinders have been placed. Industrial oxygen also being converted into medical oxygen: PD Vaghela, Chairman, Empowered Group-3
May 01, 2020 16:45 (IST)
Of total 2.49 crore N-95/N-99 masks ordered, 1.49 crore masks ordered from domestic manufacturers: Centre, news agency PTI reported.
May 01, 2020 16:33 (IST)
We have ordered 2.22 crore Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to meet projected demand of 2.01 crore PPE, says Centre, news agency PTI reported.
May 01, 2020 16:31 (IST)
About 19,398 ventilators available in India, orders placed for 60,884 more of which 59,884 will be made by domestic manufacturers: Centre, news agency PTI reported.
May 01, 2020 16:27 (IST)
May 01, 2020 16:26 (IST)
Allowing migrant workers to walk for miles without food, water, safety is worrisome, wrong practice: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel to news agency PTI.
May 01, 2020 16:17 (IST)
May 01, 2020 16:15 (IST)
Chhattisgarh will not open its borders till COVID-19 situation normalises; states should be given right to decide which district to open: Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel to news agency PTI.
May 01, 2020 16:06 (IST)
12 more jawans of CRPF of the same battalion which has recorded maximum COVID-19 cases, tested positive today. The total number of COVID-19 cases in the battalion crosses 60: Central Reserve Police Force
May 01, 2020 16:06 (IST)
Coronavirus India Lockdown: Goa Declared Green Zone; Fight Against COVID-19 Far From Over, Says Pramod Sawant
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that the war against COVID-19 "is far from over", here on Friday, soon after the central government formally declared both districts of Goa as Covid-free green zones.

"With the efforts of our CoronaWarriors and support of the people of Goa, our state has now been classified as a green zone by the Government of India. The war against COVID19 is far from over," Mr Sawant wrote on the microblogging site--Twitter.

He added that the fight must continue by adopting a modified lifestyle giving priority to "safe health norms".

"We must continue our fight against this virus by adopting a modified lifestyle which gives priority to safe health norms such as sanitization, wearing of face covers, social distancing and staying at home during the lockdown period," he stressed.

According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Goa has a total of seven positive coronavirus cases. All seven patients have recovered.

A district will be considered under Green Zone, if there are no confirmed cases so far or there is no reported case since last 21 days in the district, said the Union Health Secretary, Preeti Sudan on Friday, news agency ANI reported.
May 01, 2020 16:02 (IST)
Coronavirus India Lockdown: Special Kerala-Odisha Train To Run For Migrant Workers
The first special train from Kerala carrying 1,200 migrant workers to Bhubaneswar in Odisha will leave from the Aluva railway station near here on Friday evening, state Minister VS Sunil Kumar said.

The migrant workers from Odisha accommodated in camps in Ernakulam District since the COVID-19 lockdown will be brought to the station in state-run corporation buses as per the protocol announced by the government, he said.

Official sources said the train was scheduled for 6 pm departure, news agency PTI reported.
May 01, 2020 15:55 (IST)
Our Government Will Contact You And Bring You Back: Jharkhand Chief Minister To Migrants
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Friday assured the migrants from the state, stranded in other parts of the country, that his government will bring them back.

"I assure all students, migrant workers and other people stranded in other states amid COVID-19 lockdown that our administration will soon contact you and help you in coming back to the state. Don't panic," Mr Hemant Soren said.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday allowed movement of the stranded people, including migrant labourers, workers, students, tourists, and provided the procedure for the same.

India is under a nation-wide lockdown which was imposed on March 25 and later extended on April 14 to May 3 to stem the spread of coronavirus, news agency ANI reported.
May 01, 2020 15:49 (IST)
In the last 48 hours, 5 jawans of ITBP have tested COVID-19 positive in Delhi. 2 of them were performing law and order duty in Delhi with police: Indo-Tibetan Border Police
May 01, 2020 15:39 (IST)
Coronavirus India Lockdown: Mumbai Civic Body Asks Staff Above Age Of 55 To Work From Home
The civic body in Mumbai has asked its staff above the age of 55 years to work from home or abstain from field duties, while those with comorbidities have been given leave for two weeks in view of the coronavirus outbreak, officials said on Friday.

This includes emergency staff like doctors, nurses and paramedics, a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation official said.

"Emergency staff above the age of 55 with cormorbidities like hypertension, diabetes, heart and kidney ailments among others have been asked to stay at home for two weeks," said a BMC spokesperson.

However, attendance is absolutely compulsory for all other staff employed in office and on field assignments, officials added, news agency PTI reported.
May 01, 2020 15:28 (IST)
Coronavirus India Lockdown: Karnataka Chief Minister Appeals To Migrant Workers In The State To Stay Back
Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on the occasion of International Labour Day has appealed to migrant workers in the state to stay back and co-operate with it in resuming economic activities once the Central government issues further directions.

"It is my sincere request to all the migrant workers to stay back in the state and co-operate with us to resume the economic activities once we receive directions from Union Government," Mr Yediyurappa said in a release issued by the CMO.

"COVID-19 situation in India is much better than other countries because of people's cooperation. We intend to resume economic activities soon. The government has already held a meeting with representatives of associations of commerce and industry in this regard. The government has also appealed to the employers to protect the interest of their workers and pay salaries," he added.

The ongoing nationwide lockdown, imposed to contain the coronavirus spread, is scheduled to end on May 3, news agency ANI reported.
May 01, 2020 15:23 (IST)
May 01, 2020 15:22 (IST)
COVID-19 India Lockdown: BMC Raises Retirement Age For Civic Health Officers
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has increased by one year the retirement age health officers working in all the civic-run hospitals as a temporary measure in view of the coronavirus pandemic.

Their retirement age will now be 59 instead of 58, it said.

It also increased by one year the retirement age of professors in the BMC-run medical colleges temporarily.

"The retirement age of the health officers and senior health officers of all the BMC-run hospitals has been temporarily increased by a year from the existing retirement age of 58 years," the civic body said.

However, the decision of continuing in service is voluntary, it said.

It said the decision is not applicable for those health officers, who are set to retire in the next three months.

The BMC said that since a large number of posts of professors in civic medical colleges are lying vacant, it has decided to increase the retirement age of professors there temporarily by one year to 64 years, from the existing retirement age of 63 years, news agency PTI reported.
May 01, 2020 14:42 (IST)
Coronavirus India lockdown: Andaman and Nicobar Islands to arrange special ships for stranded people

Andaman and Nicobar Islands administration decides to arrange special ships between Port Blair and Chennai to ferry stranded migrant workers, students, pilgrims, tourists, reports news agency PTI quoting officials

May 01, 2020 14:28 (IST)
Coronavirus India: Should COVID-19 Aarogya Setu App Be Mandatory? Talks On, No Decision Yet, Say Sources
Aarogya Setu, the contact-tracing app the government has been pushing in its fight against coronavirus, may be made mandatory for all citizens amid concerns expressed by experts about privacy and surveillance. In discussions to renew its push for more and more users, the government is debating whether it can make the app a must."
May 01, 2020 14:07 (IST)
Coronavirus India Lockdown news: Full List Of Red, Orange, Green Districts In India

As the second phase of lockdown nears its end, the number of coronavirus or COVID-19 hotspots, or "red zones", across India witnessed a drop of around 23 per cent in 15 days, from 170 on April 15 to 130 on April 30. All four major metropolitans - Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai - have been classified as red zones.

However, in the same period, the number of "green zones", or districts reporting no new case linked to Coronavirus, dropped from 356 to 319, while the number of "orange zones" increased - from 207 to 284, as per a letter from the Union Health Ministry to the chief secretaries of all states and union territories, following a video conference yesterday. (Read full list here)
May 01, 2020 13:36 (IST)
May 01, 2020 13:15 (IST)
Number Of COVID-19 Red Zones Down In 2 Weeks, But So Are Virus-Free Green Zones While COVID-19 Orange Zones Increase
The number of coronavirus "red zones", across India have fallen by 23 per cent in 15 days, the government has said, from 170 on April 15 to 130 on April 30"
May 01, 2020 12:10 (IST)
Coronavirus news: AIIMS Bhopal begins clinical trial of Mycobacterium on COVID-19 patients

All India Institute of Medical Sciences Bhopal has begun the clinical trial of the drug Mycobacterium (Mw) on a COVID-19 patient on Thursday.

"(For the) first time globally, the first dose of the trial drug Mycobacterium (Mw) was administered to a COVID-19 patient today (Thursday) under the supervision of a clinical trial team of doctors under the leadership of Dr Sarman Singh, Director, AIIMS, Bhopal," said a release from the hospital.

Dr Sarman Singh, the Director hospital, said, "the hospital was the first to receive the medicine and first to start the clinical trial by administering the drug to a patient."

"The patients are distributed in three groups and in the initial phase the drug is administered to the critical patients in ICU," he added.
May 01, 2020 11:45 (IST)
Coronavirus cases: BMC directs its employees to ensure 100 per cent attendance

In an order, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has directed all its employees to ensure 100 per cent attendance in offices and on-field. The cici body, however, has given relaxation to people over 55 years of age and people with medical conditions. 

"All staff over the age of 55 years are advised to either work from home or work in office and not go on field. People in medical department, including doctors, nursing staff and paramedics over the age of 55 years with co-morbidities are advised to stay home for 2 weeks," the order states.
May 01, 2020 11:17 (IST)
Coronavirus India Lockdown news: 1st "one-off special" train to move migrants journeys from Telangana to Jharkhand

The Indian Railways has deployed its first train transport migrants who have been stranded by the lockdown. The train with 24 coaches is carrying 1200 migrants from Lingampally in Telangana to Hatia in Jharkhand started at 4:50 am today. This comes a day after the centre permitted migrant labourers, students and other people who do not have symptoms of coronavirus infection to return home, nearly five weeks after a nationwide lockdown was imposed to break the chain of transmission of the virus.

Following the centre's order several states, including Punjab, Bihar, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and some southern states, asked for trains to return the migrants, citing distance and the logistics of bus travel. In its order the centre had said people should go by road and states should make transportation arrangements. (Read full story here)
May 01, 2020 11:06 (IST)
May 01, 2020 10:38 (IST)
Maruti Suzuki Records Zero Monthly Sales For First Time Ever In April Due To Coronavirus Lockdown
Maruti Suzuki India on Friday reported zero monthly domestic sales for the first time ever in April, as the country remained under lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus."
May 01, 2020 10:20 (IST)
Coronavirus cases: COVID-19 cases in India cross 35,000, biggest jump in 24 hours

India recorded the largest single-day jump of 1,993 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours taking the total to 35,043 cases, including 1,147 deaths, the Union Health Ministry said this morning, adding that 73 deaths linked to the highly infectious illness were reported from different parts of the country since yesterday.

The country's recovery rate - the share of people who have been discharged from hospital after treatment - stood at 25.36 per cent this morning; a total of 8,889 patients have recovered so far. (Read full story here)
May 01, 2020 09:53 (IST)
May 01, 2020 09:36 (IST)
PM's message for Russian counterpart who tested positive for Coronavirus

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today wished fast recovery from COVID-19 to his Russian counterpart Mikhail Mishustin, who was found infected with the highly infectious coronavirus on Thursday.

In a televised meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Mr Mishustin said he has to "observe self-isolation" to protect his colleagues, suggesting a temporary acting Prime Minister for Russia.

"My best wishes to Russian PM Mishustin for early recovery and good health. We stand with our close friend Russia in efforts to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic. @GovernmentRF," PM Modi tweeted this morning. (Read full story here)
May 01, 2020 08:53 (IST)
JUST IN: 1,993 coronavirus cases in India in 24 hours, biggest jump, total cases cross 35,000-mark; 1,147 deaths
May 01, 2020 08:52 (IST)


Medical workers in Chennai shift a suspected COVID-19 patient to a quarantine facility. (PTI)
May 01, 2020 08:30 (IST)
May 01, 2020 08:22 (IST)
Coronavirus - Couldn't See His Face For Last Time: Daughter Of Delhi COVID-19 Victim
17-year-old Rita expected her father to be back soon from Delhi's Safdarjung hospital where he was admitted on April 16 for high sugar levels and fever, but he died the next day and it was later found that he was coronavirus positive."
May 01, 2020 08:11 (IST)
Coronavirus India Lockdown: "Drinking alcohol will remove virus": Rajasthan MLA calls for opening of liquor shops

A Congress MLA in Rajasthan has written a letter to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot for opening liquor shops in the state.

"When #coronavirus can be removed by washing hands with alcohol, then drinking alcohol will surely remove virus from the throat", states Congress MLA Bharat Singh Kundanpur in his letter.


(ANI)
May 01, 2020 07:40 (IST)
May 01, 2020 07:11 (IST)
Coronavirus Scarecrows Urges Delhi Residents To Stay Home Amid Lockdown
The Delhi Police has come up with an important and innovative method to spread awareness of COVID-19 among the citizens by installing coronavirus lookalike "scarecrows" with a message displayed on them reading--"stay home" at several places in Chandni Mahal area, amid the coronavirus lockdown.
May 01, 2020 07:01 (IST)
Delhi to screen residents of containment zones thrice within 14 days
Screening of all residents living in containment zones will be carried out at least three times within 14 days of the issuance of the notification of the containment zone and COVID-19 tests to be done as per the protocol, said Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Delhi Government.

The Delhi Government has directed that the first screening of all residents within the containment zone, if not completed, should be concluded within three days of issue of this order.

The order issued by Delhi Government on Thursday read that every person living in the containment zones should be made aware of "Aarogya Setu" application, developed by Ministry of AYUSH, GoI.

Database of senior citizens (above 60 years of age) and the persons having co-morbid conditions/underlying medical conditions may be properly maintained for close monitoring and surveillance of such persons.

After de-containment of Vardhaman Apartments in Mayur Vihar Phase I Extention and E block, East of Kailash, the total count of containment zones in Delhi now stands at 98.


May 01, 2020 06:17 (IST)
Coronavirus - 16,962 people held in Maharashtra for lockdown violations
Enforcing prohibitory orders strictly, the Maharashtra police have registered over 85,500 offences against lockdown violators across the state and arrested 16,962 people so far, an official said on Thursday.

While combating COVID-19 and enforcing lockdown since late March, police have registered offences under section 188 of IPC against 85,586 persons, who violated prohibitory orders, he said.

Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code is related to disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant.

Also, 16,962 people were arrested for violation of lockdown-related norms, he said.

During the period, at least 161 police personnel, 21 of them officers, have tested coronavirus positive, he said.
May 01, 2020 05:57 (IST)
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury requests PM Modi to arrange trains to ferry stranded migrants
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Thursday requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to facilitate the return of migrant labourers stranded across different States, by trains while ensuring all safety protocols.

In the letter, Chowdhury wrote that the persons from his state of West Bengal are very much concentrated specifically in the southern states Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, Western states like Gujarat, Maharashtra and other stranded, in Karnataka more than 80,000 people have been stranded as per a conservative estimate, let alone other states.

"In view of the magnitude of this supposed mass movement in so far as stranded persons are concerned, I think movements of trains will certainly be the best option which I have spelt out in my earlier communications to you. So, again I am pleading to facilitate the journey of those stranded persons by trains while taking all safety protocols," the letter further read.
May 01, 2020 05:44 (IST)
COVID-19 pandemic: Jammu and Kashmir administration announces Rs 350-crore relief package
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has announced a Rs 350-crore package to mitigate hardships of people, particularly labourers and the destitute, during the coronavirus-triggered lockdown.

The administrative council, in its latest meeting under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor G C Murmu, has approved the relief package for various categories of people, Principal Secretary of Planning, Development and Monitoring and Information Rohit Kansal said.

"We are conscious of the fact that the lockdown has led to hardships to a number of people. The UT administration under the directions of the LG has been implementing a number of welfare measures for labourers, workers, the destitute, etc.," he said.

He gave a detailed breakup of relief being provided under different categories.
May 01, 2020 05:25 (IST)
Coronavirus: 48 hotels, lodges in Karnataka's Kalaburagi to be converted into quarantine facilities
In Karnataka, Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner, Sharat B has directed the district's Health and Social Welfare Department to take over 48 hotels and lodges to convert them into quarantine facilities for primary contacts of COVID-19 patients.

This measure has been taken due to rising COVID-19 positive cases in the district.

Some of the hotels and lodges that have been taken over are Kaling Delux Lodge (16 rooms), City Park (20 rooms), Central Park (20 rooms), Mallige Lodge (14 rooms) among others.

As many as 30 new COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Karnataka from April 29, 5:00 pm to April 30, 5:00 pm, taking the total number of cases to 565, informed the State Health Department on Thursday.
May 01, 2020 05:14 (IST)
Punjab Chief Minister urges PM Modi for special trains to facilitate return of migrants to their home states
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to advise Railway Ministry to arrange special trains to move stranded migrants to their respective destinations.

"Estimates indicate that nearly one million workers will need transport to go back to their states. The only feasible option in the circumstances was to arrange special trains, which the Railways may run from point to point, keeping in view the number of persons to be transported to a given destination," Punjab CM wrote in the letter.

Noting that since many other states might also be facing a similar situation, the Chief Minister sought the Prime Minister''s intervention in the matter, urging him to advise the Ministry of Railways to make special arrangements to ensure that these migrant workers reachtheir destination safely.
May 01, 2020 04:54 (IST)
Coronavirus News: Five test positive for COVID-19 in Assam
Five more people, including two women, tested positive for COVID-19 in Assam on Thursday, taking the total number of such cases in the state to 42, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

Of the five fresh cases, one was reported from Karimganj and four were from Bongaigaon district, he said.

"The person from Karimganj is a secondary contact of a Nizamuddin Markaz attendee and was in institutional quarantine," Mr Sarma said.

In a first in the state, other new patients -- three from Bongaigaon town and one from Chaprakat -- were found to have no contact history. Their samples were sent for COVID-19 examination as they had fever.

Of the total cases reported in the state so far, 29 have recovered and one person has succumbed to the disease.

"Active hospital cases now stand at 12," Mr Sarma said.

Bongaigaon has emerged as the new ''red zone'' in the state with five cases in a week, including that of a 16-year- old girl who tested positive for the disease on Tuesday, Himanta Sarma told reporters.
May 01, 2020 04:38 (IST)
Coronavirus situation in Madhya Pradesh improving: Shivraj Chouhan
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday claimed there was a "significant" decline in the number of coronavirus cases in the state.

So far, Madhya Pradesh has recorded 2,625 COVID-19 cases, including 137 deaths.

Only 2.4 per cent (out of total samples tested) have tested virus positive in the test reports of Thursday, he said.

Of it, 1.9 per cent were detected positive in Bhopal while 2.2 per cent in Indore, he said.

Besides, 4.4 per cent (of the total samples) tested positive in Jabalpur, he said.

This is a good indication. We will be able to defeat the virus soon, Mr Chouhan said.

The Chief Minister made the remarks while reviewing the work in progress to stem the pandemic spread with senior officials via video conferencing in Mantralaya (secretariat), an official statement said.

He said the situation in worst-hit Indore, too is drastically improving.

May 01, 2020 04:24 (IST)
Two medical teams deployed at Delhi's Azadpur Mandi to conduct COVID-19 check-up
Two medical teams have been deployed at Delhi's Azadpur Mandi with immediate effect for medical check-up of any person with COVID-19 symptoms after coronavirus positive cases were detected at the wholesale market.

Earlier on Thursday, four more traders associated with Azadpur Sabzi Mandi were tested positive for COVID-19, an official said.

"They did not commute to and fro from the vegetable market. A total of 15 positive cases in the vegetable market have been reported so far," an Azadpur Mandi official stated.

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain had earlier said that the Azadpur Mandi was being disinfected and other preventive measures were being taken.
May 01, 2020 04:08 (IST)
Coronavirus News: Centre satisfied with Telangana State's COVID-19 battle
The Ministry of Home Affairs of Thursday expressed satisfaction over the measures taken by Telangana to combat COVID-19, stating that the Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) during their visit to Hyderabad observed that the State has an adequate number of testing kits along with other essential equipment.

Punya Salila Srivastava, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) while addressing media at Delhi regarding the Central Team visit to Hyderabad said, "The IMCT, which visited Hyderabad, has found that the Telangana State has the adequate number of testing kits, PPE and other essential equipment."

The team visited Gandhi Hospital, the State''s nodal centre for COVID-19. Required protocols for discharge and treatment are being followed, she added.

May 01, 2020 03:56 (IST)
Donald Trump Says Evidence Ties Coronavirus To Wuhan Lab, Threatens Tariffs Against China
US President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened new tariffs against Beijing as he claimed to have seen evidence linking the coronavirus to a lab in China's ground-zero city of Wuhan.
May 01, 2020 03:36 (IST)
Kangra, Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh become coronavirus free as five more patients recover
Five more COVID-19 patients recovered in Himachal Pradesh on Thursday, taking the total number of those cured in the state to 30, officials said.

One patient from Jawali subdivision in Kangra district, one from Sihunta tehsil in Chamba district and one from Una district have recovered from the disease on Thursday, Additional Chief Secretary (Health) R D Dhiman said.

Hamirpur Deputy Commissioner Harikesh Meena said two patients from Hamirpur district also recovered as they tested negative on late Thursday night.

With this, Kangra and Hamirpur districts have become coronavirus free.

Hamirpur District Magistrate Harikesh Meena on Thursday evening issued an order de-notifying all such areas that had been declared as containment zones following detection of two novel coronavirus positive cases on April 17.

The first two cases in the state surfaced in Kangra district on March 20. A total of five cases were reported from Kangra district. Four of them recovered whereas a 69-year-old man who had travelled from USA died of coronavirus on March 23.

May 01, 2020 03:15 (IST)
Coronavirus: Singapore reports 528 new COVID-19 cases
Singapore on Thursday announced 528 new coronavirus cases, taking the total number of infections in the country to 16,169, with a majority of them being foreigners.

Six coronavirus cases were Singapore citizens and permanent residents (foreigners).

Foreign workers living in dormitories continue to form the bulk of the cases, said the Health Ministry.

A 58-year-old woman also died on Thursday from complications due to COVID-19 infection, bringing the total number of such deaths in the country to 15, said the ministry.

She was confirmed to have the virus on March 26.

In the new infection cases, 31 are foreign workers who were living outside dormitories.

Twelve new clusters were declared, including one linked to the Institute of Mental Health.

Singapore Parliament will hear issues related to the COVID-19 outbreak on Monday.

May 01, 2020 02:55 (IST)
Coronavirus - No Hospital Can Deny Treatment To COVID-19 Patients: Bengal Government
The West Bengal government on Thursday said no approval is required by any hospital for testing an individual for COVID-19 as per the protocol of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)."
May 01, 2020 02:48 (IST)
105 new cases of coronavirus found in Pune; 6 dead
A total of 105 new cases of coronavirus were reported in the last 24 hours in Pune, taking the overall number to 1 00 in the district on Thursday, a health official said.

With death of six more COVID-19 patients during the same period, the toll has now reached 92 in the district, he said.

"In Pune municipal limits, a total of 92 new cases of infection were reported in the last 24 hours, taking the city total to 1505.

"In PCMC (Pimpri-Chinchwad), three more COVID-19 cases were reported, raising the tally to 113," he said.

In the rural Pune and Pune Cantonment area, the number has gone up to 82 with 10 more cases," said the official from the district health department.
May 01, 2020 02:34 (IST)
Brace up for post-coronavirus world: Telangana Minister KTR tells officials
Telangana Minister KT Rama Rao on Thursday conducted a review meeting with senior officials of IT and Industries Departments in Hyderabad to discuss the emerging situation in the post-coronavirus world.

"Every one of us should brace up for a post-COVID-19 world," said Minister KTR in his opening remark.

He said that both IT and Industries Department officials should review the impact of COVID-19 on each sector and come up with strategies to mitigate the negative impact.

Minister instructed the IT Department to focus more on the mobile governance initiatives which facilitate effective service delivery in these testing times.

Minister asked his officials to leverage technology and conduct more video conferences and webinars going forward.

He further said that Telangana should also look out for opportunities that will emerge in a post coronavirus world.

IT and Industries Principal Secretary Jayesh Ranjan, Director Electronic Service Delivery GT Venkateshwar Rao, TSIIC MD Venkat Narsimha Reddy, and other senior officials attended the review meeting.
May 01, 2020 02:15 (IST)
7 students stranded in Delhi sent to J&K by bus, says police
Delhi Police on Thursday said that seven Kashmiri students who were stranded in the national capital''s Jia Sarai area have been sent to Jammu and Kashmir by a bus.

Earlier on Wednesday, giving a huge relief to people stuck in various states, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had allowed movement of such people - including migrant labours, workers, students, tourists and others - and also provided the procedure for the same.

MHA has included a sub-clause regarding the movement of people who are stranded due to lockdown announced last month due to coronavirus outbreak.

"Due to lockdown, migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and other persons are stranded at different places. They would be allowed to move as under," the MHA had said while asking States to designate nodal authorities to facilitate the process.
May 01, 2020 02:01 (IST)
Andhra likely to see more discharged cases of COVID-19 in next few days, say officials
Andhra Pradesh is likely to see more number of discharged cases in the next two to three days and there were no COVID-19 casualties in the State from the past three to four days, informed officials at a review meeting with Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday.

Briefing the COIVD-19 situation in the State, the officials told the Chief Minister that so far, 94,558 coronavirus tests have been conducted averaging to 1,771 tests per million population. The country''s COVID-19 positive rate and the mortality rate are 4 per cent and 3.26 per cent respectively, whereas, for the State, it is 1.48 per cent and 2.21 per cent respectively. Apart from this, more than, 68,000 rapid tests have been conducted.

May 01, 2020 01:38 (IST)
Delhi government issues guidelines for asymptomatic COVID-19 patients under home isolation
Use triple-layer masks, download ''Arogya Setu app'' on mobile phones and regularly inform the district health surveillance officer about health status are some of the guidelines issued by the Delhi government for asymptomatic coronavirus patients under home isolation.

The guidelines have instructions for the patients and their caregivers.

According to the guidelines, cases should have the requisite facility at their residence for self-isolation and also for quarantining the family contacts.

"A team comprising ASHA workers will do the assessment of the suitability/appropriateness of the requisite facility for home isolation of COVID-19 patients, under the supervision of in-charge of a nearby Public Health facility," the guidelines said.

Patients should download ''Arogya Setu'' app on their phones and regularly inform about their health status to the district health surveillance officer, the guidelines said.

The guidelines also listed out the safety protocols to be followed by the care givers and the patient which include daily reporting of health condition of the patient and care giver, hand hygiene and using triple layer mask and gloves by the patient and the care givers.
May 01, 2020 00:57 (IST)
Only Vehicles With Essentials To Be Allowed: Gurgaon Tweaks Border Rules
The Gurgaon administration has made its cross-border transit rules more stringent to arrest the growth in the number of coronavirus cases in Haryana. In an order dated April 29, the authorities said no cross-border travel, barring exemptions, will be allowed from May 1. Movement for any additional purposes will require permission from the district magistrate. (Read more here)


May 01, 2020 00:34 (IST)
Coronavirus Numbers Growing, Delhi Plans Stricter Measures In Hotspots
The number of coronavirus patients in the national capital crossing 3,500, the Delhi government today upped its surveillance measures in containment zones, declaring that instead of once, the screening of all people in these areas will be done thrice in 14 days. If screening in any containment zone has not been conducted yet, it will be done within the next three days, the government's order said."
May 01, 2020 00:33 (IST)
Northeast, South India Take Lead In Containing COVID-19 Spread: Data
The growth rate of coronavirus cases is down to nearly zero in the northeastern states and under 3 per cent per day in Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala and Haryana where cases are taking well over 20 days to double, data from the Union Health Ministry shows. (Read more here)
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