The total number of confirmed cases in the country are now at 67,152.
Coronavirus in India Live updates: India on Monday reported it’s biggest single-day spike of 4,213 infections, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 67,152. Of these, as many as 20,917 patients have been cured till now, taking the recovery rate to 31.15 per cent. The death toll stands at 2,206.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held a fresh round of meeting with chief ministers — his fifth meeting on the Covid-19 pandemic — to discuss the post-lockdown strategy and ways to ramp up economic activity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the road ahead should be focused on reducing the spread of Covid-19 and ensuring that all precautions were taken by people, including social distancing norms, by observing ‘do gaaj doori’.
Globally, there are over 4 million coronavirus cases, with deaths exceeding 281,000. According to Johns Hopkins data, the United States continues to be the worst-affected country with 79,180 fatalities and 4,077,594 cases, followed by United Kingdom (31,930) and Italy (36,560).
Migrants setting off on their journey home in a 'Shramik Special' train. (Express Photo)
Vegetable vendors, deemed ‘superspreaders’, being tested at Shahpur in Ahmedabad. (Express Photo: Javed Raja)
Globally, there are over 4 million coronavirus cases, with deaths exceeding 2,83,586. According to Johns Hopkins data, the United States continues to be the worst-affected country with 79,607 fatalities, followed by United Kingdom (32,140) and Italy (30,560).
Here are the top developments:
-Cases surge in Russia, tally now 3rd highest globally
-China's Wuhan reports first COVID cluster since lifting lockdown
-‘Absolute chaotic disaster’: Obama lashes out at Trump over COVID-19
-France emerges cautiously out of lockdown
-Wear face coverings, UK says, as confusion surrounds lockdown easing
-Coronavirus cases in Gulf Arab region surpass 1,00,000
While maintaining that there should be restrictions on inter-state travel, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan said each state should be allowed to make changes in the lockdown guidelines according to the conditions prevailing in their respective areas.
“Relaxations should be gradual. Domestic flight services could be resumed with special guidelines, except the containment zones. Medical tests could be conducted at the airports and those with symptoms should not be allowed to travel,” Vijayan said. He also reiterated the demand for raising borrowing limit, and to make more funds available at lower interest rates.
Barring containment zones, economic activities should be allowed to resume in the national capital, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said during Prime Minister Modi's meeting with state Chief Ministers.
Gujarat's Narmada district is back on the Covid-19 list after a gap of 17 days. A 37-year-old community health worker, who was appointed to screen incoming persons to the district at a checkpoint has been reported Covid-19 positive on Monday. However, the case has left administration perplexed, as none of the person screened at the checkpoint has tested positive.
A new study has found an association between low average levels of vitamin D and high numbers of Covid-19 cases and mortality rates across 20 European countries. Vitamin D is known to modulate the response of white blood cells, preventing them from releasing too many inflammatory cytokines (part of the body’s immune response to fight infections). And the SARS-CoV2 virus is known to cause an excess of pro-inflammatory cytokines, called a cytokine storm. Click here to read our explainer.
In a video conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Monday said that each state should be allowed to make changes in lockdown guidelines as per conditions prevailing in their respective areas.
Bookings for 15 special trains began Monday evening on The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website following a two hours delay. However, despite the delay, all AC-1 and AC-3 tickets for the Howrah-New Delhi train were sold within the first 10 minutes. More information here.
The Centre has asked states to ensure migrant labourers do not walk on the road or railway tracks to reach home. It has asked them to counsel such labourers and put them in shelters. The development comes in the backdrop of 16 migrant labourers being crushed to death by a train near Aurangabad last week, and many also meeting fatal accidents routinely on roads while attempting to walk back to their homes amid the coronavirus lockdown,
In another order, the Centre has asked states not to restrict the movement of doctors and healthcare workers as it could jeopardise Covid-19 fighting efforts. This follows after many cities such as Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon and Faridabad did not allow doctors to commute to Delhi recently. Read more here
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lashed out at the Centre for “playing politics” over the issue and opposed the resumption of passenger train services. “We have been cooperating with the Centre but why are you playing politics. This is not the time for politics. We are doing our best but why is the Centre attacking West Bengal,” Mamata Banerjee reportedly said in the meeting.
During the video conference held by PM Narendra Modi with states CMs, Tamil Nadu CM Palaniswami urged him to not allow train, air services till May 31.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held a fresh round of meeting with chief ministers — his fifth meeting on the Covid-19 pandemic — to discuss the post-lockdown strategy and ways to ramp up economic activity. The general sentiment in the government appears to be against rolling back the relaxations towards a gradual un-lockdown. The third phase of the lockdown will end on May 17. More info here.
The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website — the online ticket booking portal of Railways — went unresponsive as booking for 15 special trains began Monday afternoon. The bookings were supposed to start at 4 pm on IRCTC's website irctc.co.in. It will now start at 6 pm.
"Over 5 lakh migrant workers have been sent to their home states by 468 special trains. 101 special trains were run yesterday," Joint Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava told in a press briefing.
"Around 4,000 Indians have been brought back by 23 flights under the Vande Bharat Mission," Union Home Ministry Joint Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava said during a press briefing.
"As the country eases interstate travel to enable movement of stranded people to reach their homes, the entire nation have to work more in a coordinated way," Arunachal CM Pema Khandu in a tweet said in a tweet.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's fifth 5th video conference meeting with Chief Ministers is currently underway. Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman are also present.
This is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s fifth meeting with the state Chief Ministers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently holding his 5th meeting with state Chief Ministers via video-conference to discuss the way forward in the battle against Covid-19.
In Tripura, Gobinda Debnath spent Rs 30,000 out of his pocket to hire a car and two days on the road to reach his residence in Tripura’s Agartala. However, to the 37-year-old daily wager’s dismay, his family did not allow him to enter even after he tested negative for Covid-19 and spent a day at a quarantine centre.
“My wife, my child are telling me to go away. What can I say,” a dejected Gobinda told reporters outside his home.
Wuhan, the original epicentre of the new coronavirus outbreak in China, reported on Monday its first cluster of infections since a lockdown on the central Chinese city was lifted a month ago, stoking concerns of a wider resurgence of the disease. The new infections add a layer of caution to efforts to lower coronavirus-related restrictions across China as businesses restart and individuals go back to work. Wuhan reported five new confirmed cases, all of whom live in the same residential compound. More details here.