Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Maharashtra Revises Rules for Lockdown 4.0, Allows Shops & Public Transport in Orange & Green Zones

Dharavi Case Count | Dharavi slum sprawl in Mumbai recorded 26 new COVID-19 cases, taking the overall tally to 1,353, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said. As no new COVID-19 death has been reported in the last 24 hours, the number of fatalities stood at 56 so far, an official said.

67 SRPF Jawans Recover in Aurangabad | At least 67 jawans of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF), who had tested positive for COVID-19 in Maharashtra's Aurangabad district, recovered from the deadly infection on Tuesday, an official said.

Consent of States No Longer Needed for Shramik Trains | In a fresh set of standard operating procedures for shramik trains for migrant labourers, the clause for consent of states has been done away with. In its fresh SOP for movement of stranded labourers, the Ministry of Home Affairs said the “movement of shramik trains shall be permitted by Ministry of Railways in consultation with Ministry of Home Affairs”. Read Arunima's report here

Bihar Case Count | Three more COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in Bihar; taking the total number of cases to 1495: Bihar Principal Health Secretary Sanjay Kumar

US Govt Set to Donate 200 Ventilators to India | The US government is planning to "donate" 200 ventilators to India with the first tranche of 50 expected to arrive soon as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, an American official said. Donald Trump had announced last week that the US will donate ventilators to India to treat the COVID-19 patients and help it fight the "invisible enemy".

Several Markets Open in Delhi after 2 Months | After being closed for nearly two months, several markets in Delhi opened following the "odd-even" formula while sanitising and trying to establish social distancing protocols. Markets like Connaught Place and Khan Market bore a deserted look in the first half of the day, but traders in markets like Tilak Nagar, Karol Bagh and Sarojini Nagar were seen cleaning their shops.

Around 56,000 Migrants Have Left Thane: Official | Nearly 55,960 migrant labourers have so far been sent to their native places from Maharashtra's Thane district amid the coronavirus-induced lockdown, Collector Rajesh Narvekar said. Of these, as many as 21,475 have been sent in 17 trains and 34,485 have been ferried in 1,553 buses to their native places in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Jharkhand, he said.

Uttarakhand Case Count | Eight new positive cases of COVID-19 were reported in Uttarakhand today. Total number of positive cases rises to 104 including 52 recovered, one death and 51 active cases: State Health Department

E-commerce Allowed in Maharashtra's Red Zones | E-commerce activity for essential as well as non-essential items and materials is permitted in red zones. All industrial units and construction sites are permitted to operate in the red zones.

Intra-district Buses with 50% Capacity Allowed in Maharashtra | Sport complexes, stadia and other public open spaces to remain open for individual exercises in non-red zones; spectators and groups activities will not be allowed. Intra-district bus services with maximum 50% capacity will be allowed to operate, and bus will be allowed in non-red zones.

Hundreds of Migrants Gather at Bandra Terminus in Mumbai | Hundreds of migrant labourers gathered on an approach road to Bandra Terminus here before the departure of a Shramik Special train, leading to chaos in the area for some time. The crowd was later dispersed by police, a Western Railway official said.

UP Sends Bodies of Auraiya Victims With Migrants in Trucks | Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has expressed shock and concern over the visuals of injured migrant labourers travelling in an open truck with tarpaulin-wrapped dead bodies of Auraiya accident victims in Uttar Pradesh. The photos of the trucks went viral on social media, leading to outrage, after which the the bodies were loaded onto ambulances near Prayagraj.

9-month Pregnant Nurse Relapses in Kerala | In the first case of relapse of Covid-19 infection in Kerala, a nine-month pregnant nurse, who returned from Kuwait recently after recovering from the disease, has tested positive once again here.

Around 400 Migrants Protest in Mangaluru | Around 400 migrant workers protested in front of Milagres College in Mangaluru today, demanding they be sent back to their native places. They later dispersed after Police Commissioner Dr P S Harsha visited the spot and assured help.

Guidelines for Dental Clinics | The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issues guidelines for dental clinics functioning in Lockdown 4.0.

Special Train Derails in Mangaluru | A 'Shramik' special train from Tirur (Kerala) to Jaipur (Rajasthan) route derailed at Padil, Mangaluru today. While no injuries were reported, the train resumed its journey after the derailed engine was replaced. However, track restoration work underway, reports ANI.

Karnataka: A 'shramik special' train on Tirur (Kerala) to Jaipur (Rajasthan) route derailed at Padil, Mangaluru at around 2 am today. No injuries reported. Train resumed its journey after the derailed engine was replaced, track restoration work underway. pic.twitter.com/BVPZYwraqi

— ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2020

The jeweller in Belgaum district of Karnataka sold more than 100 silver masks for weddings within one week of its launch. Each silver mask costs up to Rs 3,500.

Shops and Public Transport Allowed in Orange & Green Zones: Maha Govt | Public transport is now allowed in green and orange zones in Maharashtra, according to revised lockdown rules issued by the state government today. While taxis, cabs, auto and e-rickshaw services remain prohibited in red zones, three-wheeler and four-wheeler vehicles with a maximum capacity of two passengers along with the driver will be allowed. Intra-district bus transport to run on 50 per cent capacity

Maharashtra's New Covid-19 Red Zones | Revised lockdown guidelines issued by the Maharashtra government today show redraw of red, green and orange zones. The following places have been designated as red zones: Mumbai, Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Pune city, Solapur city, Aurangabad city, Malegaon, Dhule, Nasik city, Jalgaon, Akola and Amravati.

Shops, Malls to be Opened Only for Maintenance Purposes: Maha Govt | Shops, malls, establishments, industries are allowed to be open in red zones, but only for upkeep, maintenance from 9 am to 5 pm, according to new lockdown relaxation rules. Commercial activities in these zones remain prohibited. 

Maharashtra Govt Allows Non-essential Deliveries from Today | Maharashtra government in its new lockdown guidelines have allowed e-commerce firms to deliver non-essential items from today. Opening of stadiums, sports complexes, public spaces in non-red zones has been allowed. However, the events should have no spectators. 

Twenty-six migrant labourers lost their lives and more than 30 were injured in Auraiya when two trucks collided on the highway on Saturday.

Uddhav Thackeray Holds Meeting on Covid-19 Response | Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray holding meeting with cabinet colleagues at dadar, to discuss strategy for dealing with Covid holds a meeting with cabinet members at Mumbai's Dadar, to discuss Covid-19 strategy. (Image: News18)

All public places including educational institutions, gym, cinema halls, auditoriums, bars, shopping malls, markets and others would remain closed. Moreover, religious places will also remain strictly…

Watch Crowd Gathered to Board Special Train to Bihar at Bandra Station | Huge crowd of migrant workers gathered outside the Bandra railway station in Mumbai earlier today to board a 'Shramik ' Special' train to Bihar. Only people who had registered themselves (about 1000) were allowed to board, rest were later dispersed by police.

#WATCH Maharashtra: Huge crowd of migrant workers gathered outside the Bandra railway station in Mumbai earlier today to board a "Shramik special' train to Bihar. Only people who had registered themselves(about 1000) were allowed to board, rest were later dispersed by police. pic.twitter.com/XgxOQmSzEb

— ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2020

Singapore Reports 451 New Coronavirus Cases | Singapore continues to report a high level of coronavirus infection among foreign workers, confirming 451 new cases today, taking the total to 28,794. Of the new cases, only one is Singaporean citizen or a permanent resident while all others are work permit holders residing in foreign worker dormitories, reports PTI.

UK Government Accused of Virus Testing Failures | An influential group of British lawmakers is accusing the government of failing to conduct enough tests for the new coronavirus, saying the lapse helped COVID-19 cut a deadly swath through the country's nursing homes. The House of Commons' Science and Technology Committee says that 'testing capacity has been inadequate for most of the pandemic so far,' reports the Associated Press. 

Fresh Chance for Students to Apply for JEE-MAINS | Students whose plans to study abroad have been affected due to COVID-19 will get a fresh chance to apply for JEE-Mains, the entrance exam for engineering colleges, the HRD Minister announced today. "In view of representations received from various Indian students who were scheduled to join colleges abroad but are now keen to pursue their studies in India due to changed circumstances arising out of COVID-19, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has decided to give an opportunity," HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said.

The figures speak for themselves: only 15 per cent of rural households have internet access, while there are only 69.3 million DTH subscribers in the country.

Six U'khand Districts in Orange Zone, Seven in Green | The Uttarakhand government has classified six of its 13 districts as orange zone and the rest in green besides deciding to implement the odd-even traffic formula for private vehicles in seven of its major cities. As per the guidelines issued by the state government late on Monday night, Dehradun, Uttarkashi, Pauri Garhwal, Almora, Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar are in orange zone, while Haridwar, Tehri Garhwal, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Pithoragarh, Bageshwar and Champawat are in the green zone.