Day 48 of coronavirus lockdown: Ground report from Indian cities

TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Updated: May 11, 2020, 15:21 IST

A migrant worker waits outside Delhi Railway station. (Credits: AFP)

NEW DELHI: India recorded over 4,000 new cases, a rise of 6.9% in a day on Sunday, taking total cases of coronavirus infection in the country to 67,152. The death toll in the country stood at 2,206. Meanwhile, the number of people who have recovered from the disease has risen to 20,917.

Here is a look at the latest updates on the outbreak of coronavirus from major Indian cities:

DELHI

The apartment owners’ association (AOA) of a Ghaziabad highrise has come up with a new rule for its residents who bring an outsider into the society -- a fine of Rs 11,000 and no power and water till the penalty is paid.

Facing criticism for allegedly under-reporting Covid-19 deaths, Delhi government on Sunday issued a standard operating procedure for designated hospitals to ensure that all casualties due to novel coronavirus are communicated to the government by 5pm every day.

Indian Railways to restart 15 passenger train routes with special trains from New Delhi.

KOLKATA

A South 24 Parganas based private firm GCC Biotech India claims it has developed indigenous 'real-time' Covid-19 test kit costing only Rs 500 for a single test.

The lockdown saw the sharpest rise in the prices of spices, with household expenditure making a steep climb.

An outfit of imams with thousands of members has urged the Bengal government to extend the lockdown till the end of May saying “Eid celebrations can wait”.

CHENNAI

Tea stalls, cloth stores, hardware stores & other standalone shops re-open in Chennai amid coronavirus lockdown.

Huge crowds witnessed at temporary vegetable market at Thiruvanmiyur in Chennai.

With no response for registrations in the state government portal (www.nonresidenttamil.org) last week, guest workers from Chennai are now walking back home. To avoid check posts, the migrants take interior roads of villages to cross district and state borders.

Temporary market at Chennai's Thirumazhisai starts functioning. Wholesale shops from Koyambedu allowed to function in the new premises.

HYDERABAD

A proposal to keep shops and business establishments open beyond their regular working hours post the lockdown is under active consideration. The proposal, being mulled by the labour department, may benefit both shopkeepers and consumers.

In an attempt to keep the Road Transport Authority (RTA) offices free of crowds and maintain social distancing, slots to book applications for various services have been reduced from 400 to 60 per day for all the services across Telangana.

Telangana has sought 50% subsidy from the Centre on yarn for the textile industry in the state and also urged the GST council to consider waiving the tax on handloom products for two years.

BENGALURU

Karnataka medical education minister Dr K Sudhakar holds video conferencing with Kerala health minister KK Shailaja.

38 trekked 38 km near border before entering Belagavi district.

10 new Covid-19 cases reported in Karnataka, tally reaches 858.

A team of researchers from HCG Bangalore Institute of Oncology Speciality Centre has got approval for conducting ‘First in Man’ clinical trial for cytokine therapy to treat Covid-19 infection.

MUMBAI

BMC commissioner Iqbal Chahal visits Mithi river to inspect pre-monsoon work.

UP migrants, stuck in Mumbai during coronavirus lockdown, get lift by truck.

MSRTC deploys buses on national highway to trace migrants who are walking back home and to transport them in buses to state border.

State officials said e-commerce companies including Zomato had approached the excise ministry to explore the possibility of tie-ups with retailers for door-delivery of liquor.

CHANDIGARH

Spent Rs 5 lakh on sending people to Gonda in train, claims UT.

As many as 110 Covid-19 cases in Bapu Dham Colony, Sector 26, have been reported from 29 houses, according to official data that goes on to point out that 84 of the total patients are from 12 houses in a neighbourhood, implying that the virus is confined to a limited portion in the colony that houses 60,000 people.

Government schools in the city are being prepared to be used as quarantine centres.

AHMEDABAD

Urgent need to lift lockdown; else financial system may collapse: IIM-Ahmedabad professor.

A PIL has challenged the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s (AMC) May 6 notification prohibiting sale of items other than milk and medicines in city areas.

Ahmedabad collector K K Nirala has asked migrant workers to have patience and maintain restraint, as everybody who has registered will be sent back home.

LUCKNOW

A woman migrant worker -- helped by her husband and a male relative -- gave birth to a girl while travelling on Shramik Special train from Anand to Lucknow on Sunday morning.

Five more contacts of the Lalbagh vegetable vendor tested positive for novel coronavirus infection on Sunday, taking the number of his acquaintances diagnosed with Covid-19 so far to 15.

Alarmed over the Covid-19 situation in high burden districts of Agra, Meerut and Kanpur, the state government has asked senior officers to camp and review the prevention and management protocols.