Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Union Cabinet meeting on Monday. (Twitter/PIB)
Coronavirus India News Live Updates: As the nation entered the ‘Unlock 1‘ phase following a two-month strict coronavirus lockdown, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the Union Cabinet on Monday. This was the first meeting of the Cabinet after the ruling NDA government completed the first year of its second term in office.
Meanwhile, amid the surge in cases, Delhi has sealed its borders for a week, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced today. Only those people providing essential services will be allowed to cross, the CM said. While Delhi-Gurgaon border was opened by Haryana yesterday, Uttar Pradesh’s Noida, which also shares a border with Delhi, had closed the borders
Earlier today, addressing the health workers at Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences in Karnataka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today hailed the contribution of medical workers. “The virus may be an invisible enemy. But our warriors, medical workers are invincible. In the battle of Invisible vs Invincible, our medical workers are sure to win,” PM Modi said during a video conference. He also said that the world is looking at them with gratitude, hope and seeks both ‘care’ and ‘cure’.
With over 1.90 lakh cases, India climbed to the 7th spot from the 9th on 10 countries worst-hit by Covid-19. The death toll stands at 5394. Curbs will be relaxed in states today as Centre’s ‘Unlockdown’ strategy goes into effect from today. The lockdown is now limited only to containment zones for a month till June 30 and states are free to resume normal life outside containment zones.
Private doctor's clinic in Dharavi, which is one of the hotspots of the COVID-19 pandemic in Mumbai (Express photo by Prashant Nadkar)
Delhi is not the only state which has been less than transparent in reporting COVID-19 numbers.
"Cabinet has approved modalities and road map for implementing two packages for MSMEs-- Rs 20,000 crore package for distressed MSMEs and Rs 50,000 crore equity infusion through Fund of Funds," Union Minister Nitin Gadkari was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
In order to provide relief to farmers, the minimum support prices (MSP) for 14 Kharif crops will be increased by 50- 83 per cent, Union Minister Narendra Tomar said, adding that farmers will get more time to repay their loans.
"Cabinet today has approved Rs 20,000 crore subordinate debt for stressed MSMEs, this will benefit 2 lakh stressed MSMEs," Javadekar said.
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar Monday said that several key steps have been taken by the government to boost MSMEs. "Rs 20,000 crores will be infused into the sector," he said.
Prakash Javadekar says:
*Several decision taken for the welfare of farmers
*Definition of MSME widened
*Kisan credit card scheme for farmers
*Loan scheme for street vendors
Union Ministers Prakash Javadekar, Nitin Gadkari and Narendra Tomar address the media in Delhi on Union Cabinet's decisions
Visuals from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Union Cabinet meeting today. Details awaited.
(Source: Twitter/PIB)
Hours after the Home Ministry announced fresh guidelines pertaining to the countrywide lockdown to contain the coronavirus pandemic, India’s aviation regulator DGCA said the suspension of scheduled international commercial passenger flights will continue till midnight on June 30. “It is once again reiterated that foreign airlines shall be suitably informed about the opening of their operations to or from India in due course,” the circular issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said. More details here.
Following are the guidelines issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). These will come into effect from June 3.
Airlines will allot seats in a way that middle seats in flights are vacant as much as possible, DGCA said, news agency PTI reported. Passengers who do get middle seats on a flight should be provided a "wrap-around gown" in addition to face shields.
Coronavirus hit the Andhra Pradesh Secretariat on Monday with two government staff testing positive, even as 105 fresh cases were added in the state, taking the overall count to 3,674. In the state Secretariat, Blocks 3 and 4 were completely shut on Monday as two employees working in different departments tested positive on return from Hyderabad. AP Secretariat Association president K Venkatarami Reddy said the two blocks were being fully fumigated and other employees who moved closely with the two patients have been requested to go in for self-quarantine. In the three other blocks in the Secretariat, limited staff attended duties on Monday as coronavirus cases were detected on the campus. (PTI)
As the COVID-19 lockdown 5.0 came into effect on Monday, the Andhra Pradesh government has decided not to unlock its borders yet for inter-state movement of vehicles and people. State Director General of Police D G Sawang said in a release that restrictions on inter-state movement of people would remain in force "till a further decision is taken." Those seeking to come to AP from other states in private vehicles should obtain an e-pass through the government's 'Spandana' web portal and undergo medical tests. "Those seeking to come from less coronavirus-affected states will be sent to home quarantine and those from highly-affected states will be sent to institutional quarantine for seven days.
A decision on the timing might not entirely be India’s call, given that this depends mostly on the destination country’s assessment of India being safe and consequent permissions that need to be issued to Indian carriers to fly to their airports. And that’s where India could be at the far end of the pecking order as the Covid-19 cases in India continue to be on an upswing, even as they’ve peaked or are coming down in other geographies. Also, since the post-COVID resumption pattern could hinge entirely on the power of discretion with countries and their aviation regulators. How would the opening up of international routes happen? We explain
Emirates President Tim Clark said on Monday it could take the airline four years to rebuild its network that has been decimated by the coronavirus pandemic. "I think probably by the year 2022/23, 2023/24 we will see things coming back to some degree of normality and Emirates will be operating its network as it was and hopefully as successfully as it was," he said in a webcast interview. The Dubai-based airline was flying to 157 destinations in 83 countries before it grounded passenger flights in March and has since operated limited services
A five-month old Brazilian baby who tested positive for COVID-19 has recovered after spending over a month connected to a ventilator in an induced state of coma, CNN reported. His recovery is being hailed as nothing less than a “miracle” by his parents who said that he may have been exposed to the virus during a visit to a relative’s home. Dom, was diagnosed with the virus at the Pro-Cardiaco hospital in Rio de Janeiro and was treated for 54 days before he could be discharged.
Russia on Monday reported 9,035 new cases of the novel coronavirus, taking the nationwide tally of infections to 414,878. The country's coronavirus response centre said 162 people had died in the past 24 hours, bringing the overall death toll from the virus to 4,855.
Wajid Khan of Bollywood music composer duo Sajid-Wajid, credited with albums like Dabangg and Wanted, passed away in Mumbai on Sunday due to complications arising from a renal ailment and COVID-19. He was 42. Wajid’s final rites were held on Monday morning in Mumbai. Wajid Khan was admitted to Surana Hospital and Research Centre in Chembur after he developed an infection. A treating doctor said Wajid had a long history of infection and had also undergone a kidney transplant. And since the operation, he was immunocompromised. His colleagues mourned his demise.
Over half a dozen senior bureaucrats in Jammu and Kashmir government have gone into home quarantine after a principal secretary-level senior IAS officer in the UT government tested positive. Those in home quarantine included three principal secretaries, one commissioner-secretary, a senior commissioner and two secretary-level officers who were reported to have come in contact with the IAS officer who tested positive on Saturday, sources said. Sources said the infected IAS officer had chaired meetings at Srinagar airport, civil secretariat, and also in Divisional Commissioner’s office in Srinagar.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Monday said he had tested positive for the novel coronavirus, speaking during a Facebook live video. "I didn’t have any symptoms, I decided to take a test as I was planning to visit the frontline", said Pashinyan, adding that his whole family was infected. Armenia, with a population of 3 million, had registered 9,402 confirmed cases of the coronavirus as of Monday and 139 deaths.
"We are sealing Delhi borders for one week, only essential services will be allowed," Delhi CM Kejriwal announced, seeking suggestions on opening of borders with Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Delhiites can send suggestions on the opening of borders to WhatsApp number 8800007722, delhicm.suggestions@gmail.com by Friday 5 pm