COVID-19: India has recorded the biggest single-day jump of 5,611 new coronavirus cases
Fewer than eight people per lakh of population in India have been infected by the novel coronavirus, the Union Health Ministry said this evening, pointing out that this was significantly better than the global average of 62 people per lakh. The government also said India's per lakh mortality rate was only 0.24, compared to the global average of 4.2.
Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal said 42,298 people have recovered from the illness so far and that the recovery rate (recoveries as a percentage of total cases) had improved steadily through the four phases of lockdown - from 7.1 per cent in March (when it was imposed) - to 39.62 per cent today.
Domestic passenger flights will resume from Monday "in a calibrated manner", the government said today. Flights were stopped in late-March, when the country went into lockdown to slow the spread of coronavirus.
Passenger train service will expand from the existing 15 trains to more than 200 starting next month. The service will involve non-air conditioned trains, which had not been allowed so far. The 15 trains that have been running since May 12, are air-conditioned trains and the passengers are required to maintain rules of social distancing and use masks and sanitisers.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases Live Updates:
Coronavirus News: Migrants Travelling Home On Buses From Delhi-Ghazipur Border Complain Of Steep Ticket Prices
Buses carrying migrants left for various states from the Delhi-Ghazipur border on Wednesday night, reported ANI. A passenger, Ramdev Sharma said, "I am going to Jharkhand and have paid Rs 4,000 as bus charge." The driver of a bus, Santosh said, "I think more people have boarded the bus than permitted according to norms of social distancing. I have not yet received instructions on how many people can board the bus. When I get it, I will accordingly ask some of them to get down."
Coronavirus News: Coronavirus Themed Robots Sanitise Chennai Containment Zones
Coronavirus themed robots were deployed in a containment zone in Chennai on Wednesday to sanitise the area, reported ANI. Gowtham, the designer of the robots said, "It can store around 30 litres of disinfectant. This is a prototype, we are building better ones."
Coronavirus News: Test Media Persons For Coronavirus: BJP MLA Writes To Telangana Chief Minister
BJP MLA T Raja Singh on Wednesday requested the Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao to test all media persons, who are frontline warriors, for COVID-19, reported ANI. "We all know that many of the media persons have been affected by coronavirus while performing their duties in many states of the country. Many states are testing the media persons as they are roaming in their respective locations to report news-reports to the people of the country. Hence, to protect media persons in Telangana state, I request you to test our frontline warriors," the MLA said in a letter to the chief minister.
Coronavirus News: Telangana Reports 27 Fresh COVID Cases Taking Total To 1,661
27, including 12 migrants, tested positive for coronavirus in Telangana on Wednesday, taking the total number of cases in the state to 1,661, reported ANI. 89 migrants have tested positive till Wednesday in Telangana, the state Health Department said.
Coronavirus News: Nearly 2,300 Vehicles Penalised, Over 100 Seized For Violating Lockdown, Says Noida Police
Nearly 2,300 vehicles, including auto-rickshaws, were penalised and 115 impounded across Noida and Greater Noida for allegedly defying lockdown curbs on Wednesday, police said, reported PTI. The Gautam Buddh Nagar police stepped up vigilance on road traffic violations as new guidelines which permit some ease in movement kicked in during the fourth phase of the coronavirus-induced lockdown.
Haryana planning to impose fine on those not wearing masks: Home minister
The Haryana government is planning to impose fine on those not wearing masks and violating social distancing norms, state Home Minister Anil Vij said today.
Wearing of masks has been made mandatory for people in the state when they are outside their homes.
The Haryana government is contemplating imposing a fine on those who are found without a mask and violating social distancing norms, the minister said.
Liquor shops open in Jharkhand amid lockdown
Liquor shops opened across Jharkhand today amid tight security following latest lockdown relaxations issued by the state government.
A rush of people was witnessed at the vends in the state capital, but there was no report of any untoward incident, sub-divisional officer Lokesh Mishra said. The Ranchi district administration had drawn circles in front of the wine shops to ensure that purchasers maintain social distancing while standing in the queue, he said.
Bookings for trains running from June to open tomorrow, says Railways
Railways releases list of 200 trains to be run from June 1, says bookings will begin from tomorrow at 10am.
The Railways said second seating (2S) fare will be charged for general coaches being reserved. These will be fully reserved trains having both AC, non-AC classes, it said. General coaches will also have reserved seats.
These special services will be in addition to the existing Shramik special trains being run since May 1 and special AC trains (30 trains) being run since May 12.
Other regular passenger services including all mail/express, passenger and suburban services will remain cancelled until further advice, the Railways said.
Over 1,000 migrants test positive for coronavirus in UP
The Uttar Pradesh government today said a total of 1,041 inter-state migrants have tested positive for coronavirus so far.
A total of 43,625 samples for testing from migrants have been collected till now, it said.
Micro-identification, isolation, treatment prevented spread of COVID-19: Centre
Health Minister Harsh Vardhan today said the country's policy of micro-identification, mass isolation and quick treatment helped prevent large scale deaths and spread of COVID-19.
He said 1.35 billion Indians honoured the decision of nationwide lockdown that helped keep the mortality rate down and contained the spread of COVID-19 so far.
Addressing the Non-Aligned Movement Health Ministers' meeting through video conference, Mr Vardhan stressed that human welfare must be the basis of all economic growth.
Delhi to define its own COVID-19 Red Zones
The entire national capital may not remain under Red zone as the Delhi government has launched an exercise to define its own "Red, Orange and Green zones" -- marking of areas based on COVID-19 case load, officials said.
Earlier this week, the Centre gave power to states and union territories to define their own zones, but said it should be done after taking into consideration parameters shared by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Indians stranded in Sri Lanka to sail back home on June 1
The Indian mission in Sri Lanka has made arrangements to repatriate its nationals stranded in the island nation due to the travel restrictions triggered by the COVID-19 outbreak.
The voyage will be part of "Operation Samudra Setu" under which Indian Naval ships are bringing back stranded citizens from abroad.
"Continuing the ongoing efforts for repatriation of Indian nationals stranded in Sri Lanka an Indian Naval Ship INS Jalashwa will make a voyage to Tuticorin from Colombo Port on June 1, 2020," said an Indian High Commission release.
Donald Trump blames Chinese "incompetence" for "mass worldwide killing"
US President Donald Trump again lashed out at China over the coronavirus pandemic, blaming Beijing for "mass Worldwide killing."
The tweet, which also referred to an unidentified "wacko in China," is the latest heated rhetoric from the White House, where Trump is making attacks on Beijing a centerpiece of his November reelection bid.
We have to live with coronavirus and also fight it: Gujarat CM
As Gujarat battles a rising number of coronavirus cases, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has sought people's participation in fighting the viral infection and announced launching of a week-long online campaign for the same.
Mr Rupani said the campaign, to be run between May 21 and May 27, is aimed at making people aware about three basic rules to fight coronavirus - children and elderly citizens should remain indoors, not venturing out without mask and always maintaining social distancing.
Measures in stimulus package aimed at greater multiplier effect: Finance Minister
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that the Central government's measures in the special economic package to deal with the impact of coronavirus crisis were aimed at "greater multiplier effect" and it should be through banks for meeting the fixed cost expenditure and for working capital.
Ms Sitharaman told news agency ANI in an interview today that the Central government has given some cash transfer in the PM Garib Kalyan scheme announced after the first coronavirus induced lockdown.
"It was important to give stimulus for businesses to start off. In the PM Garib Kalyan scheme -- introduced after lockdown, we gave some cash transfer. With that done, we weren't closing the option," Ms Sitharaman said when asked if the government considered more immediate measure while deciding economic package.
BJP exploiting migrant workers' eagerness to reach home: Akhilesh Yadav
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged that the BJP is exploiting the eagerness of migrant labourers to reach home to serve its "political self-interest".
"The tales of migrant labourers struggling to reach home are saddening. They are getting killed in accidents daily. But the unconcerned BJP has no care for human values. It is exploiting their eagerness to reach home for its political self-interest," he said in a statement.
COVID-19 death count in Delhi rises to 176: Report
The coronavirus death count in Delhi has climbed to 176, while 534 fresh cases of COVID-19 infection reported today, the highest single-day spike, took the total in the city over the 11,000-mark, authorities said.
The previous highest spike in fresh cases -- 500 -- was recorded on May 19.
Officials, however, added the cumulative death figures refers to fatalities where primary cause of death was found to be COVID-19, as per the report of the Death Audit Committee on the basis of case sheets received from various hospitals.
Coronavirus Lockdown: Domestic flights to resume from May 25 "in calibrated manner"
Number of active coronavirus cases in India stands at 61,149: Health Ministry
It is satisfactory to note that 42,298 people have recovered and the number of active cases are 61,149, says Health ministry joint secretary Lav Agarwal.
India's population is almost equivalent to the people in 15 countries, but the cases reported in these countries are 34 times higher., he adds.
About 4.2 people per lakh population across the world have died due to COVID-19, he says. "In India, it is 0.2 deaths per lakh population."
No more than 20 passengers on board a bus amid lockdown: Delhi government
The Delhi government has directed the drivers of public transport buses not to drive if the number of passengers is above 20 and call the police if the extra people do not deboard.
Delhi Transport minister Kailash Gahlot said: "The Delhi government is very serious about maintaining social distancing in buses and the drivers, conductors and marshals have been strictly instructed not to have more than 20 passengers in a bus."
Centre gives exemptions from lockdown to conduct board exams of classes 10, 12
The Home Ministry has granted exemptions from the lockdown to conduct board examinations for classes 10 and 12, Home Minister Amit Shah said today.
The home ministry has already written to all state governments informing them about the exemptions given for holding the examinations across the country with certain conditions.
Indian national fined for breaching Singapore quarantine order
A 35-year-old Indian national was fined 3,500 Singaporean dollar for breaching self-quarantine orders and leaving his place of isolation amid the coronavirus outbreak in the country, authorities said today.
Vardireddy Nageswara Reddy was supposed to be isolated from February 16 to 25 but he allegedly breached the order and came out on February 24.
Reddy was fined 3,500 dollars today after pleading guilty to one count of breaching his home quarantine order.
Coronavirus news: 4 more test positive for COVID-19 in Tripura, total cases 173
Four more persons tested positive for COVID-19 in Tripura, taking the total number of cases in the state to 173, Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb said.
Coronavirus news: Missing COVID-19 patients cause for concern for Mumbai Civic Body
Even as Mumbai's COVID-19 count witnesses a significant rise with each passing day, missing coronavirus patients are proving to be a major cause for concern for the city's civic body, which has adopted all possible means to trace them.
Indian Navy announced phase three of operation 'Samudra Setu' today.
Food shops open for online delivery in Ludhiana amid COVID-19 lockdown
Food shops open for online delivery in Ludhiana amid coronavirus lockdown.
Coronavirus news: 6-year-old dies after speeding truck runs her over
A six-year-old girl died in western Uttar Pradesh's Mainpuri district on Tuesday morning after she was hit by a speeding truck, as she and her parents waited for a bus arranged by the state government by the side of a road, hoping to get home to their village in Sitapur district.
Read Here COVID-19 news: Dalai Lama Trust donates 200 PPEs to Himachal Pradesh's Kangra Police
The Dalai Lama Trust has donated 200 personal protection equipment (PPE) kits, 200 hand sanitisers (500 ml), 5,000 face masks and 300 gloves to Himachal Pradesh's Kangra Police to help them in the fight against coronavirus, a senior official said.
Coronavirus news: Ola to lay off 1,400 staff
Taxi aggregator Ola said on Wednesday that it will lay off 1,400 of its staff. In a note to the company's employees, CEO Bhavish Aggarwal said the coronavirus pandemic hit Ola's revenues. The layoffs at Bengaluru-based Ola Cabs come as the country remains in the fourth phase of a nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, which has pushed the economy into a standstill and forced many businesses to trim operations.
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Coronavirus update: Odisha COVID-19 death toll rises to 6
Odisha recorded another coronavirus death on Wednesday, taking the virus death toll in the state to six, officials said. The state also reported 74 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of cases to 1052, they said. A 70-year-old man from Khurda district succumbed to the infectious disease during treatment at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, the officials said.
Coronavirus news: 63 COVID-19 cases reported in Karnataka
Sixty three new COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Karnataka, taking the total number of infections in the state to 1,458, the health department said on Wednesday.
Coronavirus: Traffic jams in Delhi, Mumbai amid lockdown 4
Massive traffic jams were reported from parts of Delhi, Mumbai and Noida on Wednesday morning, with thousands of buses, cars and two-wheelers, returning to the roads days after the government eased coronavirus lockdown guidelines this week.
Read Here COVID-19 cases: Coronavirus cases in Indore rise to 2,715
The number of COVID-19 cases in Madhya Pradesh's Indore district rose to 2,715 after 78 more people tested positive for the disease in the last 24 hours, an official said on Wednesday.
COVID-19 news: 'Shramik special' trains now need no permit from receiving states
'Shramik special' trains now need no permit from receiving states. This will cut short the communication time between the states and decisions can be taken faster, says RD Bajpai, Railways Executive Director
63 more COVID-19 cases reported in Karnataka between yesterday 5 pm and 12 pm today. Total number of cases in the state is now at 1458, including 864 active cases & 41 deaths: State Health Department
Coronavirus latest: Biggest one-day spike in COVID-19 cases in India, 5,611 In 24 Hours
India has recorded the biggest single-day jump of 5,611 new coronavirus cases, with the total cases hitting 1,06,750, including 3,303 deaths, Union Health Ministry figures this morning show. 140 deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours. The spike comes a day after the country's coronavirus cases crossed the one lakh mark. The country's recovery rate - number of patients who have successfully fought the illness - stood at 39.62 per cent this morning. 42,298 people have recovered, the Health Ministry said.
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