COVID-19 Cases India Updates: In India, over 13,000 people have been infected and 437 have died.
Coronavirus India Live Updates: The highly infectious novel coronavirus has killed forty three people in the country in 24 hours, taking the total to 480, government data suggests. The virus has infected 14,792 people in the country since the first case was reported in Kerala in January.
The coronavirus pandemic is "a huge challenge but also an opportunity", Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said today. In a tweet this morning, he called for "innovative solutions" by using the country's "huge pool" of experts. "The #Covid19 pandemic is a huge challenge but it is also an opportunity. We need to mobilise our huge pool of scientists, engineers & data experts to work on innovative solutions needed during the crisis (sic)," the 49-year-old Congress MP wrote.
India is testing a multi-purpose vaccine that has proved effective against leprosy and boosts immunity in hosts to see if it can help tackle the coronavirus, the chief of country's largest public-funded research institution told NDTV on Friday.
The World Health Organisation has said a specific vaccine for the novel coronavirus that has triggered the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic could take at least 12 months or longer.
Several countries including the US and China are working on vaccines to counter the virus that has affected over 21 lakh people across the world and killed nearly 1.5 lakh. In India, over 13,000 people have been infected and 437 have died.
The doubling rate of COVID-19 cases in India has dropped to 6.2 days over the past week, as compared to three days before the lockdown was imposed last month by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government said on Friday.
Meanwhile, 15 to 20 sailors of the Indian Navy have been tested positive for coronavirus. The sailors have been quarantined at a naval hospital in Mumbai. This is the first set of coronavirus or COVID-19 cases being reported in the navy.
Here are the Live Updates on Coronavirus Pandemic:
Maharashtra: Doctors, District Administration Set Up ICU Within Fortnight At Civic Hospital In BhayandarThe district administration with the help of doctors have set up a 20 bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) within a fortnight at Pandit Bhimsen Joshi hospital in Mira Bhayandar to treat coronavirus patients.
"There was no special hospital for COVID-19 in Mira Bhayandar so it was decided by the district administration and doctors to set up a facility for coronavirus patients in the hospital. We have set up 20 bed ICUs within 13-14 days," said Dr Ajay Sankhe, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi hospital.
"We have 18 ventilators, 20 bed ICU, 36 doctors, 62 nurses and non-clinical staff. The set up for COVID-19 suspects and patients is fully ready and it meets all international standards," he said, news agency ANI reported.
Karnataka Orders 3 Lakh Protective Kits For Healthcare WorkersThe Karnataka government on Saturday ordered 2 lakh Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits from DHB Global and 1 lakh from other major pharmaceuticals, for the healthcare warriors treating coronavirus patients.
According to the State Health Department, these PPEs have 10 components as per global standards like a face mask to prevent healthcare professional from any liquid sprays, goggles for additional safety, N95 masks for protection of nasal and mouth areas, surgical masks, nitrile gloves, coverall suit, shoe cover, waste disposable bag, plastic apron, and protective gear.
Each of the products should have the relevant certificate from the Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) or equivalent certification, news agency ANI reported.
Indian Youth Congress Launches Social Media Campaign , Requests Centre To Waive Off GST On Medical Equipment, MedicinesThe Indian Youth Congress (IYC) on Saturday urged the Centre to exempt all necessary medicines and medical equipment from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) until country wins over the coronavirus pandemic.
In a statement, the IYC said that they launched a social media campaign #GSTFreeCorona on Saturday requesting the Centre to exempt all kind of important medical equipment and medicines, including ventilators, face masks, hand sanitizers, paracetamol tablets and other lifesaving drugs and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), from the GST, news agency ANI reported.
Rajasthan Issues Fresh Lockdown Guidelines To Start Industries From April 20The Rajasthan government has issued new guidelines for the COVID-19 lockdown to allow industries and enterprises to operate from April 20.
These instructions have been issued in the order of the Union Home Ministry directions issued on April 15.
According to these guidelines, such industries/enterprises can be started which are located in rural areas (which are located outside the limits of municipalities and municipal corporations) or industrial areas established in municipalities/municipal areas, export based industries or Special Economic Zones (SEZs) where movement is controlled and adequate arrangements are made to accommodate workers in their factory premises or nearby areas, news agency PTI reported.
Delhi High Court Decides To Double Number Of Benches To Hear Urgent Matter During LockdownThe Delhi High Court has decided to double the number of benches to hear urgent matters during the lockdown period.
It has decided to increase the number of benches from one division to two division bench and two single benches to four single benches. At present, the strength of division bench is one and single benches is two due to suspension of work in view of COVID-19.
The Bar Council of Delhi had recently also urged Delhi High Court to resume the functioning of some courts in the national capital in a limited manner after the central government issued guidelines for the extended lockdown.
The Delhi HC also decided to hear through video conferencing not only ''very urgent matters '' but all kinds of ''urgent matters''. The court will continue hearing ''urgent matters'' during the lockdown period, news agency ANI reported.
Jharkhand: 1 More Tests Positive For COVID-19 In DhanbadOne more person tested positive for coronavirus in Dhanbad on Saturday.
"One person tested positive for COVID-19 positive case in Dhanbad, taking the corona tally in Dhanbad to 2," said Amit Kumar, Dhanbad Deputy Commissioner.
As per the Union Health Ministry, 33 people tested positive for the virus in the state, including two deaths, news agency ANI reported.
580 People Arrested For Violating Lockdown And Not Wearing Masks In ManipurManipur Police has arrested 580 people on Saturday for violating the lockdown norms and not wearing masks in public places in the state, a senior police officer said.
The police also seized 347 vehicles for violating the existing lockdown norms, a statement issued by ADGP (L/O) L Kailun said.
The DGP LM Khaute told people not to spread false information about COVID-19 in social media.
He said strong action would be taken if anyone spread false information about COVID-19.
Mr Khaute, in a video message urged all to co-operate with the ongoing lockdown and said, the department is working 24/7 for the service of the people.
The state has so far had two cases of COVID-19, of which one has recovered and has been discharged from hospital, news agency PTI reported.
Bihar Government Surveys Over 12 Lakh Houses To Combat COVID-19Over 12 lakh houses have been surveyed till Saturday under the Bihar government's door-to-door campaign, which was launched for gathering information and spreading awareness on COVID-19, as per the state government officials.
The Bihar Health Department on Saturday submitted door-to-door campaign data to the state government. It says that so far 12,23,000 houses have been surveyed under the campaign and fever and cough problems were detected in 711 people, and the cases are now under investigation.
As fever and cough are symptoms of coronavirus, all 711 people will be tested for the virus, however, they cannot be called corona positive yet, said the health department.
In Bihar, 85 people have tested positive for COVID-19, of which 2 have succumbed to the infection, as per the Union Health Ministry's latest bulletin, news agency ANI reported.
Amid COVID-19 Pandemic, Another Noida Chief Medical Officer RemovedChief Medical Officer A P Chaturvedi of Gautam Buddh Nagar was shunted out on Saturday and DK Ohri, the principal of Agra's Regional Family Planning Training Centre appointed as additional CMO of the district, an official order stated.
Mr Ohri has been directed to take the charge with immediate effect, according to the order issued by the Health Department of Uttar Pradesh on Saturday night.
The charge as the ACMO of Gautam Buddh Nagar will be additional to Mr Ohri's current work as the principal of the RFPTC in Agra, the order stated.
The development comes barely a fortnight since CMO Anurag Bhargava was shunted out and replaced by A P Chaturvedi as the chief doctor in Gautam Buddh Nagar, a coronavirus hotspot, news agency PTI reported.
Chandigarh District Declared Containment ZoneChandigarh district was declared a containment zone here on Friday by the administration as the coronavirus cases in the Union Territory surged to 21, including 12 active cases.
"Since in Chandigarh corona outbreak is scattered and not confined to a specific pocket, area, village or cluster, entire district has been declared as containment zone" Chandigarh Adviser Manoj Parida tweeted.
As per the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the containment zone is an area where coronavirus cases are found. Thus, restrictions are imposed in such an area to contain further spread, news agency ANI reported.
Coronavirus Death Count In Europe Tops 1 Lakh: ReportThe coronavirus has killed more than 1,00,000 people in Europe, nearly two thirds of the overall global death toll, according to an AFP tally Saturday at 1800 GMT.
With a total 100,501 deaths out of 1,136,672 infections, Europe is the hardest-hit continent by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed 157,163 worldwide, news agency AFP reported.
Social Distancing Will Protect People From COVID-19: Nitish KumarBihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday said practising social distancing during lockdown will not only protect people from COVID-19 but will also help protect them from other diseases.
Mr Kumar was apprised of the latest COVID-19 situation in the state by officials at the meeting in Patna.
The chief minister asked the officials to ensure the treatment of other diseases apart from COVID-19 at hospitals so that general patients do not face any kind of difficulties in treatment.
"We have full commitment to tackle COVID-19. Practising social distancing apart from enforcing lockdown will protect us from COVID 19 infections, Mr Kumar said according to an official release, news agency PTI reported.
With 92 fresh cases, COVID-19 count in Madhya Pradesh climbs to 1,402, news agency PTI reported quoting officials.
Three More From Mizoram Test Positive For COVID-19 In MumbaiThree more persons of Mizoram tested positive for novel coronavirus in Mumbai on Saturday, Mizoram Health Minister Dr R Lalthangliana said.
So far, four people including two women from the state, who are currently staying at the Mizoram House in Mumbai, have tested positive for the deadly virus.
Dr Lalthangliana said samples of 20 people were collected by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation recently. All of them were staying in a dormitory with a 22-year-old woman who had tested positive for coronavirus on April 13.
Of the 20, three people - two cancer patients and an attendant - have tested positive for novel coronavirus on Saturday, he said adding that they have been shifted to the Seven Hills Hospital, a designated Covid-19 treatment centre in the western metropolis.
The health minister said he has urged his Maharashtra counterpart Rajesh Ankushrao Tope to arrange for their medical care, news agency PTI reported.
10,729 people arrested, 33,984 vehicles seized for lockdown violation in Maharashtra
As many as 10,729 people have been arrested, 33,984 vehicles seized and 52,626 cases registered in Maharashtra for allegedly violating the lockdown, police said on Saturday.
According to the police, all these cases were registered under Section 188 (disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
3 new COVID-19 cases in Gautam Buddh NagarThree more people -- one in Noida and two in Greater Noida -- tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday, taking the tally in Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar district to 95, officials said.
The district administration has ordered temporary sealing of the areas linked to the new patients, including Noida's posh sector 15A, where Gautam Buddh Nagar MP Mahesh Sharma also resides.
The administration has strictly restricted the movement of people into or out of sector 15A till May 3, except for emergency cases, the officials said.
Meanwhile, two other patients, who were undergoing treatment for the disease, were discharged after being cured, they said.
"Three new cases have been detected on Saturday. A 70-year-old woman from sector 15A in Noida and a 39-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman from Acchar village in Greater Noida have tested positive for the coronavirus," District Surveillance Officer Sunil Dohare said.
Coronavirus - Outsiders entering Chandigarh to be quarantined for 14 days: OfficialsAnybody entering the Union Territory of Chandigarh will be quarantined for 14 days as part of efforts to check the spread of coronavirus, a senior official said here on Saturday.
The move comes days after the UT was declared a coronavirus hotspot. Chandigarh is the common capital of Punjab and Haryana.
UT Chandigarh Adviser Manoj Parida said as per the guidelines of the Ministry of Home, a detailed containment plan was under preparation.
"As per the government of India's directions, outsiders entering the city will be quarantined for 14 days either in homes or in government facilities to prevent spread of infection from outside," Parida said in an official release here.
This will, however, not apply to people coming from the periphery areas on government duty or for providing essential services, he said.
Two new cases of coronavirus were reported in Chandigarh on Saturday, taking the total count to 23 in the city.
Overall cure percentage for COVID-19 at 13.85% in country: Health Ministry
With 1,992 persons being cured and discharged, the cure percentage for COVID-19 in the country stands at 13.85, according to the Union Health Ministry on Saturday.
"The overall cure percentage in the country is 13.85 per cent, taking into account the number of cured people which stands at 1,992. 991 new positive cases have been registered in the past 24 hours, taking the total number to 14,378," Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said at a press conference .
Speaking about the mortality rate due to the disease, the Joint Secretary said, "Mortality rate in our country is around 3.3 per cent. An age-wise analysis will tell you that 14.4 percent of deaths has been reported in the age group of 0-45 years. Between 45-60 years it is 10.3 percent, between 60-75 years it is 33.1 percent and for 75 years, and above it is 42.2 percent."
"If an analysis is done on the basis of co-morbid conditions, then you will find that 83 per cent of cases had co-morbidity," he added.
Lockdown violation: 34 arrested in Noida34 people were arrested and 237 vehicle owners penalised across Noida and Greater Noida on Saturday for allegedly defying restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 lockdown, police said.
Gautam Buddh Nagar is among the districts in Uttar Pradesh where coronavirus hotspots (areas that have recorded multiple COVID-19 positive cases) have been completely sealed off, while restrictions under CrPC section 144 are also in place.
"Eleven FIRs were registered on Saturday for lockdown violations and 34 people arrested. A total of 776 vehicles were checked across 200 barrier points in the district and challans issued to 237 of them, while 10 others was impounded," the police said in a statement.
The FIRs were registered under IPC section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) over violation of prohibitory orders put in place under CrPC Section 144, which bars teh assembly of four or more persons, they said.
Postal employees to get Rs 10 lakh compensation if they die of COVID-19
The Central government has decided to provide a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to all postal employees, including Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS), who die due to COVID-19 after being infected on duty.
"In view of circumstances prevailing due to the spread of COVID-19, the competent authorities have approved to extend the existing scheme as currently available under the guidelines for payment of compensation of Rs 10 lakhs to all postal employees including Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) who die due to the disease while brought on duty," the Ministry of Communication said in an order issued on Friday.
It said that the guidelines will come into effect immediately and continue for the entire period until the COVID-19 crisis is over.
The order said that the department of posts comes under essential services and added that the postal employees, including Gramin Das Sevaks, are engaged in various essential services like delivery of mails, ease of money withdrawal etc.
Coronavirus - Keep taking proper precautions, together we will certainly defeat COVID-19: PM ModiPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urged the citizens to keep taking proper precautions and said that together we will certainly defeat the coronavirus pandemic.
"There is no need to panic. Please keep taking the proper precautions. Together, we can certainly defeat the COVID-19 pandemic," PM Modi said in a tweet.
The Prime Minister was responding to a tweet by Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan.
"To ensure the availability of food grains across the country, the Food Corporation of India had on April 17 loaded 1.99 LMT of food grains through 71 rail racks and unloaded 1.80 LMP food grains from 64 racks. So far, states have taken 29.90 LMT food grains for free distribution among the people," Mr Paswan had tweeted.
The Central and state government are distributing food to the public during the lockdown, which was recently extended till May 3, to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Global coronavirus deaths pass 1,50,000 as Trump endorses lockdown protestsCoronavirus deaths have surged past 150,000 worldwide with nearly a quarter of them in the United States, where President Donald Trump lent his support to protesters rallying against lockdown orders.
Evidence is mounting that social distancing successfully slowed the pandemic after more than half of humanity -- 4.5 billion people -- were confined to their homes.
Governments around the world are now grappling with when and how to ease lockdowns that have crippled the global economy, even as the COVID-19 death toll climbs further in hard-hit countries.
Demonstrators in three US states staged public rallies this week to demand an end to the restrictions, with the largest protest in Michigan attracting 3,000 people -- some of whom were armed.
Trump has largely left decisions on easing lockdowns to state officials even as he laid out guidelines for a staged reopening of the national economy.
Coronavirus: 2 more recover from COVID-19 in Assam, total 11 curedTwo more COVID-19 patients were discharged from a hospital on Saturday, taking the total
number of persons cured of the disease to 11 in Assam, out of 34 people who have tested positive for novel coronavirus in the state so far, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
The two persons were released from Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital here after results of "their four successive tests came as negative," he said.
They will spend the next 14 days under home quarantine as a precautionary measure, the minister.
Apart from the two, Golaghat Civil Hospital had discharged four, Goalpara Civil Hospital three and Sonapur District Hospital two.
Currently, 22 patients from Assam and another person from Nagaland are undergoing treatment in the state.
One person died of the disease in Assam.
Coronavirus: UP announces Rs 1,000 aid per head for destitute people amid lockdown
The Uttar Pradesh government has announced that Rs 1,000 each will be given to destitute people financial aid, including to those who were left out in both urban and rural areas amid lockdown, said an official on Saturday.
"The Chief Minister has announced that Rs 1000 each will be given to destitute people. Those who were left out in urban and rural areas will also be identified and given Rs 1000. So far the state government has given Rs 236.98 crore to 23,70,000 labourers as maintenance allowance," said Awanish K Awasthi, Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department.
Highlighting the coronavirus cases, Awasthi said several districts in the state have become virus-free.
"Several districts are becoming corona free- Pilibhit, Maharajganj, Hathras. Now Shahjahanpur is also on the verge of becoming coron- free. Bareilly and Prayagraj have also become corona free," he added.
Last week, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had said that the state government had decided to extend help to those people whose livelihood has been affected due to coornavirus lockdown. In this context, in the first phase, more than 11 lakh construction workers in the state have been provided Rs 1,000 each in their accounts.
Coronavirus: Nepal seals 14 mosques, quarantines 33 IndiansAuthorities in Nepal's Sunsari District on Saturday sealed 14 mosques and quarantined 33 Indians and seven Pakistanis taking refuge there, amid a surge in the coronavirus cases in the country, according to a media report.
The mosques were sealed in Itahari Municipality in eastern Nepal.
Thirty three Indian nationals and seven Pakistanis taking refuge in these mosques have been quarantined, according to Avenues Television, a private news channel.
The move came a day after 12 Indians were tested positive for COVID-19, nearly doubling the number of infected persons in the country.
The Indian nationals tested positive have been staying at a local mosque in Udayupur district of Eastern Nepal. They have been admitted to Special Corona Hospital in Biratnagar of Eastern Nepal for treatment. Sixteen Nepalese nationals who were staying in the same mosque were also quarantined.
COVID-19 Update: NDMC engineer tests positive for COVID-19An engineer of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday, officials here said.
The engineer was tasked with building maintenance and was also working during the lockdown period, they said.
"One NDMC engineer has been tested positive for COVID-19. Contact-tracing is being done as per protocol and necessary action would be taken. Entire Palika Kendra is being disinfected," a senior NDMC official said.
Coronavirus - Madhya Pradesh manufacturing 10,000 PPE kits daily: OfficialMadhya Pradesh has started manufacturing 10,000 personal protective equipment (PPE) kits daily for frontline warriors battling coronavirus, the state''s Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Mohammed Suleman said on Saturday.
He said the treatment for COVID-19 is free in the state.
"PPE kit is a very important thing. We ensured development of the PPE kit locally. We are making 10,000 PPE kits daily in a factory at Pithampur near Indore and providing them to our people. So far we have distributed one lakh PPE kits," he said while interacting with a group of Delhi-based journalists during a video-conference.
Mr Suleman said the state government has over 9.5 lakh of hydroxychloroquine tablets and adequate stock of N-95 masks.
Twenty-five dedicated COVID 19 hospitals have been set up in Madhya Pradesh, besides 66 dedicated health centres and more than 400 COVID care centres, he said.
"We are utilising 28 per cent of the total capacity of isolation beds. We have sufficient spare capacity to treat people in case of any emergency. In the case of ICU beds, we are using 17 per cent of the overall capacity," Mr Suleman said.
The official said the state government has received 30,000 rapid diagnostic kits from the central government and they will be made available in Indore and other cities.
"COVID treatment is free in Madhya Pradesh. Nobody would be charged a single penny. The Government of Madhya Pradesh will bear all the expenses and provide free of cost treatment to all," Mr Suleman said.
After 50 more people tested positive for coronavirus in Indore on Friday night, the number of COVID-19 cases in the state has climbed to 1,360, health officials said.
All states, Union Territories activated emergency response centres: Centre on lockdownAll states and Union territories have activated ''emergency operation centres' across districts to address issues faced by people due to the ongoing lockdown, a senior official said on Saturday.
During a daily briefing, Punya Salila Srivastava, a joint secretary in the Union home ministry, said a control room set up in the MHA is providing round-the-clock assistance to people and helplines 1930 and 1944 are resolving their grievances.
She said the availability of essential goods and services in the country was satisfactory.
Single emergency response number 112 is operational in all states and UTs, she said. The 112 mobile app tracks location and provides highly prompt services. This has been extensively used by pregnant women, elderly and specially-abled during the lockdown, the joint secretary said.
"We hope that with the help of all these services, we will be able to resolve your issues during the lockdown period," she said.
Arvind Kejriwal on Delhi coronavirus cases - Main pointers: - Pray to god that the number of cases reduce in the coming days. There are now 71 containment zones in Delhi.
- In Jahangirpuri, 26 people of the same family tested positive. They lived next to each other and despite containment measures, they continued visiting each other. We are worried for you.
- Coronavirus doesn't distinguish between rich, poor and castes.
- If healthcare workers are treating coronavirus patients, contracts the disease and dies, we will give them Rs 1 crore.
- Police, civil volunteers, teachers and principals are distributing foods - they are also eligible now for this amount.
- Auto driver called and thanked me for Rs 5000 in his account. Don't thank me, it is your money. We have started disbursing the money since yesterday.
- 60 sanitisation machines are being used in Delhi. Do reach out to us for sanitisation.
- All 71 lakh card holders (7.5 kg per person) have received rations.
- 3.5 lakh with ration cards have received rations of the 31 lakh who applied.
COVID-19: Delivery of newspapers, magazines prohibited in MaharashtraThe Maharashtra government on Saturday said door-to-door delivery of newspapers and magazines was prohibited as part of measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the state.
The state government issued consolidated guidelines to control the spread of the pandemic and gave details about the services which will be partially resumed from April 20.
Although the print media has been exempted from the lockdown from April 20 onwards, door-to-door delivery of newspapers and magazines will be prohibited, given the extent of the spread, the government stated.
COVID-19: 2 suspected coronavirus patients die in isolation wards in MaharashtraTwo people, admitted in civil hospital in Maharashtra for suspected coronavirus infection, have died, a senior official said on Saturday.
Both the men, aged 70 years and 50 years, were reportedly suffering from ailments like diabetes and cancer.
"We have collected throat swabs of the victims and awaiting results to determine the exact cause behind their death," said Dr Pramod Khandate, Civil Surgeon, Bhandara civil hospital.
The duo were admitted in the isolation ward for COVID-19 patients in the new building of the hospital on April 16 for symptoms like cough and cold, he said, adding that there are 19 people in the isolation ward.
COVID-19: British Airways special flight evacuates 260 people from Amritsar today
A British Airways special flight carrying 260 passengers departed from Amritsar on Saturday afternoon for London.
"Amritsar - London special flight of British Airways departure at 2:30 PM. 260 passengers on board," Punjab Special Chief Secretary, Disaster Management, KBS Sidhu said on Twitter.
The British High Commission said on Friday that 17 more charted flights will be started to take people who have been stranded in India due to the COVID-19 lockdown back home.
The Commission also said that the flights from Ahmedabad to London will fly on April 20, 22, 24, and 26. The flights from Amritsar will operate on April 21, 23, 25 and 27.
Flights from Bengaluru via Ahmedabad to London will fly on April 23. The flights would also be operating from Delhi to London on April 21, 23, 25 and 27. Flights from Goa to London will operate on April 20, 22 and 24 and flight from Mumbai to London will operate on April 26.
Jan Thompson, Acting High Commissioner to India, said in the official release: "There will be 17 more charter flights next week to take British travellers back to the UK - on top of the 21 flights announced previously."
"We are working around the clock to arrange additional flights from locations where we know large numbers are still stranded and are extremely grateful for the support we are receiving from the Government of India and local authorities," he said.
As per the official release, the people who are most vulnerable will be prioritised for seats on these flights, which will bring the total number of chartered flights run by the UK government from India to 38.
Coronavirus Update: Police track down COVID-19 suspect from Haryana after he escaped hospital quarantine
The Delhi Police on Saturday caught a COVID-19 suspect from Haryana after he ran away from the national capital's Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital.
The police had apprehended the man and his accomplice on April 10 after 65 cartons of Haryana-made liquor were found in their possession. They were carrying the alcohol in milk cartons, the police said.
One of the two men, during his questioning, told cops that he had attended his aunt's funeral who had died of COVID-19.
He was then tested at Lady Hardinge Medical College and the result came out negative for the infection.
The police then sent him to LNJP Hospital to be quarantined for 14 days, from where he escaped.
The result of his tests that were conducted at the LNJP Hospital is still awaited.
The police are tracing all those persons who may have come in contact with the man. A case has also been registered against him.
Coronavirus News: One more tests positive for COVID-19 in Himachal Pradesh, total cases climb to 40One more person tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday, taking the total number of coronavirus cases in Himachal Pradesh to 40, officials said.
The man was identified as a Tablighi Jamaat member who had recently returned from Nizamuddin in Delhi and is a resident of Amb subdivision in Una district, Una Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Kumar said.
The DC told PTI that the man had returned to his home in Jaman Kuali village in Rajpur Jaswan panchayat around March 8-9 after attending a congregation in Nizamuddin last month.
"We are surprised that he has been found positive over a month after returning from Nizamuddin Markaz. He may have come in contact with some other positive COVID-19 person. We are trying to find his primary contacts," he added.
Government should rescue small shop owners, provide level-playing field: Congress
The Congress on Saturday said that the Home Ministry should clarify if e-commerce companies have been allowed to trade non-essential items after April 20 and demanded that a level-playing field should be provided to small shop owners whose establishments are closed due to lockdown.
In a statement, Congress leader Ajay Maken said that as per the 6th Economic Census, retail trade is the most dominant economic activity outside the agriculture sector "factoring for 35.41 per cent of the total".
He said as far as employment generation is concerned, retail trade accounts for the one fifth of total employment in India and gives employment to around 2.72 crores of families.
"The traders have locked down their shops since last one month. Even before that, demonetisation, e-commerce competition and GST had broken their backbone" he said.
Maken said the retailers still will have to pay salaries, rent, fixed electricity charges, property taxes at commercial rates.
He said on top of this a Home Ministry order of April 15 has allowed e-commerce companies and their vehicles to ply after April 20.
"This order does not stop the e-commerce companies from trading non-essential items," he said.
He said the Home Ministry should clarify if e-commerce companies have been allowed to trade non-essential items. "And if they have been allowed then the government should take steps so that a level-playing field is provided for the locked down small shop owners," Mr Maken said.
Coronavirus Update: Main pointers from the health ministry presser- Health minister had a video conference yesterday and asked hospitals to treat non-COVID patients with equal care and importance.
- Of the total affected, 1992 cured (13.85% recovery percentage). There are 991 new cases; total cases is 14378.
- A total of 43 new deaths in the country and total number of deaths is 480.
- 22 new districts have reported no new cases in the last 14 days.
- Labour ministry has set up 20 grievance centres to help migrant workers.
- Patna, Nadia and Panipat are places which has reported new cases - they had not reported cases earlier.4291 people affected from Nizamuddin Markaz from 23 states (Tamil Nadu - 84%, Delhi - 63%, Telangana - 79%)
- In Kerala's Kasargod, cluster containment strategy has worked successfully. Not one death has been reported here of all the 160+ cases. 113 patients have been cured. There are some 55 active cases. 17373 primary and secondary contacts traced, quarantined there. We also monitored the destitute and migrants. Ran community kitchens. Made hospital beds available.
- Used drone technology to track and follow cases even at the zila level, says Lav Agarwal.
- Real Time PCR Test is the gold-standard of testing. Asked to use rapid diagnostic tests even in areas which isn't a hotspot.
- Asymptomatic people, asymptomatic healthcare workers, SARI patients should be tested with this.
- People with cough and cold in hotspots for less than 7 days should also be tested RT-PCR. If more than 7 days, then RDT.
- In cases of foreigners, expatriates and NRIs come into India, it was a challenge to trace contacts.
- ICMR: Some healthcare workers started taking ICMR and we are studying them for side-effects. Average age was 35 years. The most common effect was abdominal pain (10%) and nausea (6%), Hypoglycemia (1.3%). 22% of them had diabetes, blood pressure and respiratory problems.
- AIIMS is conducting 2 hydroxychloroquine studies. Health workers took hydroxychloroquine out of fear of contraction.
- ICMR: Studies of Remdesivir isn't of trial. 5500 patients are on trial by the company that makes Remdesivir. Their interim data analysis isn't out but the company says that maybe the drug has an impact.
- Kits have testing parameters - blood should not pass through or spill through them. The PPE we use have higher clearance standard, says Lav Agarwal.
- Home Ministry will give clarification on Rohingya issues. Will talk about the services that will be allowed from April 20 tomorrow.
- Nearly 40,000 quarantined from Nizamuddin Markaz, says Home Ministry.
- Mortality rate due to COVID-19 in India around 3.3 %: Health Ministry
Coronavirus News: Ten COVID-19 patients recover, discharged from Chennai hospital
Ten COVID-19 patients, who have completely recovered, were on Saturday discharged from Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital in Chennai.
"Today, ten COVID-19 patients who have completely recovered are being discharged. 13 were discharged earlier, out of which 5 are interested in plasma donation, 4 are not fit, while we are motivating the rest," Vasanthamani, Dean, Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital told ANI.
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,1,323 coronavirus cases have been registered in Tamil Nadu including 15 deaths.
Coronavirus News: Walmart, Flipkart provide Rs 46 crore of support to India's COVID-19 fight
Walmart Inc and Flipkart said on Saturday they will spend Rs 38.3 crore to bring in-kind donations into India to help with the front-line response efforts to combat coronavirus.
The companies will focus on providing personal protective equipment like N95 masks and medical gowns for distribution by non-government organisations (NGOs) to public healthcare workers.
In addition, the Walmart Foundation is donating Rs 7.7 crore to Goonj and Srijan, the NGOs supporting vulnerable communities through the crisis.
The funds will be used to support the procurement of essential relief materials like food, medicine and hygiene items among farmers, rural communities and micro-businesses.
"Our customers and associates in India have been deeply impacted by COVID-19 and our hearts continue to be with them," said Kathleen McLaughlin, Executive Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer for Walmart and President of the Walmart Foundation.
"In times like these, we all need to come together to support our communities and the efforts of healthcare workers, NGOs and government organisations. We are grateful to all those providing relief in India and we want to help."
CEO of Flipkart Group Kalyan Krishnamurthy said that while keeping supply lines open to ensure that Indian consumers have access to essential daily necessities, Walmart and Flipkart are also taking important steps to help protect public health and the safety of customers and associates as the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve.
"These efforts include enhanced hygiene practices across the supply chain and delivery network, insurance and health benefits for workers, contactless deliveries where possible and supporting cashless payments," he said in a statement.
Coronavirus Update: 4 new COVID-19 cases in Haryana, state count at 227
With four new cases of COVID-19, the total number of cases in Haryana mounted to 227, including 14 Italian nationals, said the state health department on Saturday.
"Out of the 227 positive cases of coronavirus, 137 are active patients, while 88 have recovered/migrated and two deaths have been reported till now," the department said.
With 57 confirmed COVID-19 cases, the maximum number of cases has been reported from Nuh district.
The health department further said that COVID-19 test results of 1,535 samples are awaited.
Coronavirus News: Government's relief packages ''peanuts''; should have been 9% of GDP: Veerappa MoilySenior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily on Saturday said the government's economic relief was like "peanuts" when compared with the economic devastation in the country and asserted that it should have offered packages amounting to at least 9 per cent of the GDP to help the people amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr Moily's attack on the government came a day after RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das announced a string of relief measures for the stressed banking and financial sector.
"The RBI governor's second package announced is no doubt a welcome move. In the first package both the government and the RBI provided a package which was less than 1% of GDP. In the second package, the financial package is just about 0.7% of GDP," the former Union minister said in a statement.
"The conditions in India are harsher than any other country. The government should understand the gravity of the present situation and the multiple dimensions of the present crisis," he said.
He claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the government have "underestimated" the damage caused to the economy and also the suffering of the people.
"There is a big loss of jobs to the extent of 35 to 40 million. There is a direct loss of Rs 15 lakh crore due to the present lockdown. According to Nomura, it is estimated to be 7.7% of GDP," he said.
The collection of GST is down by 40 per cent and the state governments which took the mantle of handling the present crisis including the issue of migrant labourers are left to fend for themselves, he claimed.
"The government should have ensured at least a package of 9% of GDP which works to Rs 17.5 lakh crore. What the government and RBI has done is only peanuts which will not allow the economy to stabilise forget about taking-off," Mr Moily said.
Coronavirus: Uttarakhand government advises colleges, varsities in state to start online classesAll government and private education institutions in Uttarakhand have been asked to start regular online classes from April 21 to ensure the students' studies are not affected.
A government order dated April 17 (Friday) said the closure of schools and educational institutions to stop the spread of COVID-19 is badly affecting the studies of college students.
Therefore, all government and private colleges, state-based universities and their constituent colleges should start conducting regular online classes according to a timetable from April 21, the order said.
The online classes can be conducted using Skype, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, etc and the sessions should also be recorded, it stated.
The timetable can be shared with the students through SMS or WhatsApp messages by the principals and professors concerned.
Notes and other materials can be shared with the students by uploading them on WhatsApp, e-mail, the website of the institution, YouTube, etc.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases in India Live Updates: 2 more cases in Meghalaya, state count reaches 10: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma
Meghalaya reported two more positive COVID-19 cases, taking the state count to 10, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said on Saturday.
"Two more positive cases detected taking the total to 10 active cases in the state. Both cases are from the house of the first patient one is family and other a helper in the house," Mr Sangma tweeted.
The state on Wednesday reported its first death due to COVID-19.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases in India Live Updates: Police constable, wife test positive for COVID-19 in Pune
A 42-year-old police constable and his wife tested positive for COVID-19 in Pune on Friday, news agency ANI reported quoting an official.
The constable along with his wife have been shifted to an isolation ward at a hospital in Pimpri-Chinchwad area and are in stable condition, according to Ravindra Shisve, Joint Commissioner of Pune Police.
Authorities are involved in tracing the contacts of the duo.
Yogi Adityanath Shows Up Nitish Kumar With Students Bussed HomeYogi Adityanath has for the second time defied his boss and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the lockdown and sent a public message that he is his own man. Yesterday, the UP government which he leads sent a fleet of buses to Kota in Rajasthan to bring back more then 7,000 students stranded there."
On Camera, Madhya Pradesh Sanitation Worker Attacked, Clothes Ripped
A group of sanitation workers were
attacked with axe in Madhya Pradesh's Dewas district on Friday when they went to a neighbourhood to clean the streets. The shocking attack comes weeks after similar incidents in the state in which healthcare workers and civic officials were attacked locals when they went to screen residents for coronavirus.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases in India Live Updates: Over 1,300 cases, 69 virus-related deaths in Madhya Pradesh
The total number of COVID-19 positive patients in the state has risen to 1,355, news agency ANI reported quoting state health department. Sixty nine people have died in the state due to the virus, it added.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases in India Live Updates: Rajasthan becomes first state to start Rapid Testing for COVID-19
Rajasthan has started Rapid Testing for COVID-19, tweeted Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, adding that its is first state in the country to do so.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases in India Live Updates: Kerala Man Dies Days After Recovering From COVID-19
An 85-year-old coronavirus patient, who was successfuly cured and was under treatment for kidney and heart-related ailments, died early this morning at a hospital in Malappuram.
The patient was declared cured of the viral infection after his last three samples taken on April 7, 10 and 13 came out negative, Malappuram District Collector Jafar Malik told PTI.
KV Nandakumar, Superintendent of the Government Manjeri Medical College hospital, where he was admitted said, "The man was in ICU and was undergoing treatment for coronary artery
disease kidney ailment and diabetes."
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases in India Live Updates: Rajasthan reports 41 new coronavirus cases, state count reaches 1,270
At least 41 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Rajasthan, taking the total number of positive cases in the state to 1,270, news agency ANi reported quoting the state Health Department.
The Health Department also reported two new deaths in Jaipur, taking the death toll up to 19.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases in India Live Updates: 31 new cases reported in Andhra Pradesh in 24 hours
31 new COVID19 positive cases reported in Andhra Pradesh in last 24 hours, taking the total number of positive cases in the state to 603, news agency ANI reported quoting Arja Srikanth, Nodal Officer, COVID-19, Andhra Pradesh.
So far 42 people have been successfully treated for COVID-19 while 15 others have died due to the virus .
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases in India Live Updates: Siblings in Hyderabad develop face shields from their savings, provide it free of cost to frontline warriers
Two siblings based in Hyderabad are using up their savings to make face shields for the frontline warriors battling coronavirus, reports news agency ANI.
"These protective face shields will add a layer of protection on the face and eyes. In usual surgical masks and N95 masks, the protection is just for nose and mouth, but eyes are exposed and wearing goggles is a constructive way to protect themselves. These face shields will help them to protect their overall face for a longer time without much discomfort." said Purva Rathi, an architect, told ANI.
"All the materials that have been used making these shields are simple stationary materials that we use in our field. We are trying to keep it as economic as possible and relatively easy to produce," she said.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases in India Live Updates: Student hostels in Karnataka to be temporarily converted into quarantine centres
Student hostels at Gulbarga University and Central University of Karnataka to be temporarily converted into quarantine centres, reports news agency ANI.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases in India Live Updates: Congress leader turns his office into control room to assist migrant labourers
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has turned his Delhi office into a mini control room to help migrant labourers stuck in West Bengal and other states during the lockdown.
Along with his staff and wife Atashi, he attends to the distress calls of migrant workers from across the nation and particularly from the West Bengal. He tries to reach out to the authorities and party leaders for helping these workers.
His wife and staff members are supporting him in managing the calls and preparing data of such stranded people.
Coronavirus cases: 14,378 coronavirus cases in India, 480 deaths
The highly infectious novel coronavirus has killed forty three people in the country in 24 hours, taking the total to 480, government data suggests. The virus has infected 14,378 people in the country since the first case was reported in Kerala in January.
Coronavirus Doubling Rate Slows To 6.2 Days From 3 Days Before Lockdown
The doubling rate of COVID-19 cases in India has dropped to 6.2 days over the past week, as compared to three days before the lockdown was imposed last month by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government said on Friday. The decline is the result of increased testing, including that of patients suffering from SARI (severe acute respiratory illness) and ILI (influenza-like illness), the government added.
"Before the lockdown, doubling rate of COVID19 cases was about three days, but according to data in the past seven days, the doubling rate of cases now stands at 6.2 days," Lav Aggarwal, a senior Health Ministry official, told reporters during a daily briefing.
The World Health Organisation has said a specific vaccine for the novel coronavirus that has triggered the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic could take at least 12 months or longer.
Several countries including the US and China are working on vaccines to counter the virus that has affected over 21 lakh people across the world and killed nearly 1.5 lakh. In India, over 13,000 people have been infected and 437 have died.
India is testing a multi-purpose vaccine that has proved effective against leprosy and boosts immunity in hosts to see if it can help tackle the coronavirus, the chief of country's largest public-funded research institution told NDTV on Friday.