As the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak continues to spread like wildfire in India, the central and state governments are respectively amping up all of their efforts to check potential contamination. A nationwide lockdown is in place, which was further extended on Friday (May 1) by the Ministry of Home Affairs for two weeks beyond May 3. This is the second extension to the lockdown first announced on March 24 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had declared an extension of the initial nationwide lockdown till May 3 to battle the novel coronavirus.
The MHA on Friday 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. The guidelines have permitted considerable relaxations in the districts falling in the green and orange zones.
The total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection in India crossed the 35,000-mark on Friday, while the death toll topped the 1,152-mark as well.
In India, the state of Maharashtra has emerged as the epicenter of coronavirus spread where cases have neared the 10,000-mark with at least 432 deaths. Mumbai, the financial capital of the country, has become the hotbed of the coronavirus spread in the state. Notably, one of the real challenges in Mumbai is controlling the disease contamination in Asia's biggest slum -- Dharavi, which is an extremely densely-populated region.
Meanwhile, the classification of districts into red, green and orange zones will be shared by MoHFW with the States and Union Territories (UTs) on a weekly basis, or earlier, as required. While States and UTs can include additional districts as red and orange zones, they may not lower the classification of a district included by MoHFW in the list of red or orange zones.
The new guidelines also prescribe certain measures for well being and safety of persons. Hence, movement of individuals, for all non-essential activities, shall remain strictly prohibited between 7 pm to 7 am, the MHA said. Local authorities shall issue orders under appropriate provisions of law, such as prohibitory orders [curfew] under Section 144 of CrPC, for this purpose, and ensure strict compliance, the ministry said.
9:35 IST Saturday, 2 May 2020
12 new positive cases of #COVID19 and 3 deaths have been reported today in Rajasthan taking the total number of cases to 2678 and 65 deaths. 1116 people have recovered while 714 have been discharged till date: Rajasthan Health Department
12 new positive cases of #COVID19 and 3 deaths have been reported today in Rajasthan taking the total number of cases to 2678 and 65 deaths. 1116 people have recovered while 714 have been discharged till date: Rajasthan Health Department pic.twitter.com/jh6y127kIU
— ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2020
9:30 IST Saturday, 2 May 2020
Test results of 68 more jawans have shown them COVID-19 positive. All jawans are attached to a battalion having camped in East Delhi. Total positive cases in this battalion have reached 122 and overall figure of COVID-19 cases in CRPF is 127, including 1 recovered and 1 death: CRPF
9:29 IST Saturday, 2 May 2020
2 new positive cases of #COVID19 have been reported today, from samples taken at Flu Corners. They will be taken to isolation facilities. Their contact tracing will be done & each contact will be tested. Total cases rise to 94: Girish Dayalan, Deputy Commissioner Mohali #Punjab
9:13 IST Saturday, 2 May 2020
Pune: 74 buses from Maharashtra brought back stranded students from Kota, Rajasthan, last night. All students underwent health screening at Swar Gate bus stand and were advised home quarantine.
Pune: 74 buses from Maharashtra brought back stranded students from Kota, Rajasthan, last night. All students underwent health screening at Swar Gate bus stand and were advised home quarantine#Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/DbNGnLnIAg
— ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2020
8:58 IST Saturday, 2 May 2020
2,293 new cases, 71 deaths in the last 24 hours; this is the highest number of cases reported in one day: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
8:55 IST Saturday, 2 May 2020
Total number of #COVID19 positive cases in India rises to 37336 including 26167 active cases, 9950 cured/discharged/migrated and 1218 deaths: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Total number of #COVID19 positive cases in India rises to 37336 including 26167 active cases, 9950 cured/discharged/migrated and 1218 deaths: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare pic.twitter.com/GrJQZy6qMb
— ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2020
8:22 IST Saturday, 2 May 2020
A 68-year-old patient who had tested positive for COVID19 passes away in Pune. The cause of death is acute respiratory failure due to ARDS with Myocarditis with COVID19 infection. Total death toll in Pune district is now 100: Pune Health officials, Maharashtra
7:59 IST Saturday, 2 May 2020
MP: 347 migrant labourers belonging to 28 Dists arrived at Misrod railway stn (near Bhopal) from Nashik, today. SDM Bhopal says,"All passengers declared fit after the health screening. They're now proceeding to their respective districts where they'll again undergo health screening".
7:42 IST Saturday, 2 May 2020
Madhya Pradesh: A'Shramik Special train' carrying migrant labourers arrived at Misrod railway station (near Bhopal) from Nashik, Maharashtra today. All passengers will be screened by health officials before departure to their respective districts in the state.
Madhya Pradesh: A'Shramik Special train' carrying migrant labourers arrived at Misrod railway station (near Bhopal) from Nashik, Maharashtra today. All passengers will be screened by health officials before departure to their respective districts in the state. #COVID19Lockdown pic.twitter.com/xJcY8RtqhO
— ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2020
6:49 IST Saturday, 2 May 2020
Haryana: Police personnel check vehicles at Delhi-Gurugram border, amid #CoronaLockdown. Individual inter-state and inter-district movement have been curtailed in Gurugram, including media persons, police and doctors, in a bid to contain coronavirus cases.
Haryana: Police personnel check vehicles at Delhi-Gurugram border, amid #CoronaLockdown. Individual inter-state and inter-district movement have been curtailed in Gurugram, including media persons, police and doctors, in a bid to contain coronavirus cases. pic.twitter.com/niYhKc1Ahx
— ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2020
6:18 IST Saturday, 2 May 2020
#COVID19 deaths in the United States of America (USA) climbed by 1,883 in the past 24 hours, as per Johns Hopkins University tally: AFP news agency
3:32 IST Saturday, 2 May 2020
United States of America (USA) approves Gilead's remdesivir drug for coronavirus patients, says President Donald Trump: AFP news agency
12:52 IST Saturday, 2 May 2020
Till now, 5 trains have commenced their journeys carrying migrant workers, students & other people on the request of the respective state governments. The trains are - Lingampally to Hatia, Aluva to Bhubaneswar, Nashik to Bhopal, Jaipur to Patna,& Kota to Hatia: Railways official