Coronavirus Updates: Covid-19 Cases Surge Past 37\,000 Mark Even As India Extends Lockdown Till May 17

Coronavirus Updates: Covid-19 Cases Surge Past 37,000 Mark Even As India Extends Lockdown Till May 17
Medics wearing protective suits collect swab samples for the Covid-19 test in Chennai, in wake of the coronavirus pandemic, on May 1, 2020. (Source: PTI)

Coronavirus Updates: Covid-19 Cases Surge Past 37,000 Mark Even As India Extends Lockdown Till May 17

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India Reports Over 2,000 New Coronavirus Cases In Last 24 Hours

The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in India rose past the 37,000-mark on Saturday even as the government said it will extend the nationwide lockdown beyond May 4 for two more weeks.

The home ministry has issued an order to extend the lockdown. However, there will be considerable relaxations in districts where there are no active cases.

India reported 2,293 new coronavirus cases over the last 24 hours, taking the total tally to 37,336, according to the health ministry’s 8 a.m. update. This includes 9,951 patients who've been discharged and 1,218 who’ve died.

Over the last 24 hours, India has seen 1,062 recoveries and 24 deaths.

Stay updated with all the latest coronavirus updates from across the globe here.

Gilead's Antiviral Drug Gets Emergency-Use Authorisation

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Gilead Sciences Inc.’s experimental antiviral drug, remdesivir, for emergency use as it’s shown signs of helping hospitalised patients recover more quickly from Covid-19.

It’s the first medication backed by early clinical data to be made available to fight the disease.

India Covid-19 Death Toll Crosses 1,200

India added 2,293 new Covid-19 cases over the last 24 hours taking the total tally to 37,336.

  • Active cases: 26,167
  • Cured/discharged/migrated: 9,951
  • Deaths: 1,218

Source: Health Ministry (As of May 2, 8:00 a.m.)

Nationwide Lockdown Extended Till May 17

Districts have been identified as red, orange or green zones based on the status of the Covid-19 outbreak there. Green zones are with no confirmed cases in the last 21 days. Red zones are the ones with the most active cases and a faster doubling rate. Orange zones fall under neither of the two categories.

The classification will enable the resumption of some economic activities in areas that are relatively less affected by the incidence of Covid-19. It will also ensure that caution is exercised in these areas so that they remain coronavirus-free, the home ministry said.

However, irrespective of the zones, there are some activities that will continue to remain prohibited across the country. This includes:

  • Travel by air, rail, metro and inter-state movement by road
  • Running of schools, colleges, and other educational and training/coaching institutions
  • Hospitality services, including hotels and restaurants
  • Places of large public gatherings, such as cinema halls, malls, gymnasiums, sports complexes etc
  • Social, political, cultural and other kinds of gatherings
  • Religious places/places of worship for public.

The movement of individuals, too, will remain strictly prohibited between 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

All movement of goods will be permitted. No states or union territories shall prohibit the movement of cargo, the home ministry said.

Read what activities are allowed in Red, Orange and Green zones here.