Coronavirus India Live Updates: INS Jalashwa, the Indian Navy's amphibious warship, has reached Maldives to bring back Indian citizens who have been stranded in the island nation. The warship was sent to Maldives capital Male by the Indian Navy as part of the first phase under operation "Samudra Setu" ( Sea Bridge). Apart from the three Navy ships, the Indian government has sent 64 repatriation flights for a week from May 7 as part of the massive evacuation plan to bring around 15,000 Indian nationals from 12 countries. The coronavirus cases in India crossed the 50,000-mark as the country registered 3561 new cases in 24 hours, taking the total to 52, 952 cases, including 1,783 deaths, according to the latest figures from the Union Health Ministry.
Delhi -- among the worst-hit states -- has confirmed over 5,000 coronavirus positive cases, Health Minister Satyendar Jain confirmed. "In Delhi, the situation is under control. There are 5,532 numbers of patients, who are getting treatment for the deadly coronavirus pandemic. Around 15 patients are on a ventilator," Mr Jain said while speaking to reporters. He said the doubling rate of coronavirus cases in the city is currently at 11 days.
The number of novel coronavirus cases in Delhi mounted to 5,980 on Thursday as it reported the highest single-day jump for the second consecutive day with 448 more people testing positive, the government said. One more person died of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, taking the total fatalities to 66.
Two weeks after Tripura was declared of the novel coronavirus, the Northeartern state witnessed a major spike in infections on Wedneaday after 62 people tested positive for the virus. All the cases have been linked to a battalion of the Border Security Force prompting the state government to ask the for an inquiry into the matter.
The Tamil Nadu government has prepared a list of of stranded people from Bihar and West Bengal and said they will be sent home by a special train in a day or two.
"We have gathered the particulars of all those hailing from Bihar and West Bengal including patients at CMC Vellore and migrant guests. They will be sent by a special train today or tomorrow," Mangat Ram Sharma, the nodal officer appointed by Tamil Nadu government to oversee the movement of persons stranded due to the lockdown to and from the States and Union Territories told PTI.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases in India Highlights:
Kerala govt has set up a quarantine centre in Guruvayur of Thrissur dist for people being brought from different countries. The 181 passengers who were brought to Cochin from Abu Dhabi on an Air India Express flight have been taken to quarantine centres in their respective dists. pic.twitter.com/xRh57FPifA
- ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2020
Thirteen states and Union Territories, including Kerala, Odisha and Jammu and Kashmir, have not reported any new case of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Thursday.
Informing reporters that 3,561 new coronavirus cases have been reported and 1,084 patients have recovered in 24 hours since Wednesday morning, he asserted that "in comparison with other countries, India is in a better state as the fatality rate is 3.3 per cent and recovery rate is 28.83 per cent." Read Here.
MP: Women e-rickshaw drivers in Indore have been permitted by admn to resume their movement, in order to help health care workers commute amid #CoronaLockdown. Rekha Uike, a driver, says "Admn helped us get permission & pass. We'll not only serve people but also earn some money." pic.twitter.com/tDXLXh7Ken
- ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2020
21 e-rickshaws are being operated by women drivers right now. If they demand for hand sanitiser, masks, hand gloves we'll provide them. Good option for health care workers who don't have a vehicle of their own and have to go for survey: Dr Amit Malakar, Nodal Officer #Indore pic.twitter.com/S8QQZNwCfH
- ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2020
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has expanded the list of private laboratories performing real-time RT-PCR test for coronavirus in the national capital from eight to thirteen labs, said Delhi's Directorate of Health Services on Thursday.
Earlier on May 3, the ICMR officials had told ANI that it has crossed over one million RT-PCR tests on Saturday evening, marking a big milestone.
The ICMR has always emphasised that the confirmatory test for diagnosis of COVID-19 is the RT-PCR test of the throat and/or nasal swab, which detects virus at an early stage.
Recently, Dr GS Toteja, Additional Director General of ICMR, had said that to contain coronavirus infection, RT-PCR tests must be continued vigorously as the principal diagnostic test.
Maharashtra on Thursday reported 1,216 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total number to 17,974 in the state, a health official said, reported PTI. This is the second largest single-day figure of positive cases, the official said. The state also reported 43 deaths, of which 24 were in Mumbai, taking the state's death count to 694, he said. 3,301 have recovered from the infection in the state which now has 13,979 active cases. 2,02,105 have been tested so far.
Ahmedabad reports 275 new COVID-19 cases, taking total to 4,991, health officials said, reported PTI. 321 have died so far in the city.
Madhya Pradesh reported 114 fresh coronavirus cases on Thursday, taking the total to 3,252 in the state, officials said, reported PTI. The death count rose to 193 with 8 new fatalities, they said.
Telangana reported 15 fresh cases of coronavirus on Thursday, taking the number of positive cases in the state to 1,122, reported PTI. No death occurred on Thursday, a COVID-19 bulletin issued by the state government said. As many as 45 people have been cured/discharged from hospitals today. The number of people cured/discharged till date stood at 693. The number of active cases as on date was 400, the bulletin said. Out of the 15 fresh cases, 12 are from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation area, while the other three are migrants, it added.
The UK government on Thursday announced five additional flights to bring home British travellers stranded in India due to the coronavirus lockdown, with four flights scheduled between Amritsar and London and one from Ahmedabad to London next week, reported PTI. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said that once these flights are completed, over 16,500 travellers will have been brought back from India on 64 special flights chartered as part of the government's 75-million pound repatriation programme during the coronavirus pandemic lockdown.
Over 51,000 stranded migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh have reached the state in 43 special "Shramik" Special trains since the service was launched amid the nationwide COVID lockdown, officials said on Thusrday, reported PTI. 43 trains carried migrants to the state and arrived at Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Jaunpur, Gorakhpur, Pratapgarh, Rae Bareli, Kannauj, Banda, Azamgarh, Barabanki, Sitapur and Unnao. There were 51,371 workers and labourers on these 43 trains, Additional Chief Secretary Awanish Awasthi said. By midnight, 13 more trains will bring another 15,500 migrant workers, he said. As many as 43 more trains with about 53,000 migrants will arrive Friday onward, he said. So far, Uttar Pradesh has made arrangements for 99 trains to bring migrants stranded in different states, Mr Awasthi said. These trains have brought back migrant workers from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Punjab, Telangana and Karnataka, he said
As many as 26 employees of Cadila Pharmaceuticals have tested positive for coronavirus in Gujarat's Ahmedabad district, an official said on Thursday, reported PTI. At least 26 employees of the company's manufacturing unit at Dholka in the district tested positive for the virus on Wednesday, district development officer Arun Mahesh Babu said. Following the development, 95 employees of that unit, who may have come in contact with the infected personnel, have been put under home quarantine, he said.
With 388 new patients, coronavirus cases in Gujarat reaches 7,013. Death count rises to 425 with 29 new fatalities, state health official said, reported PTI.
Jammu and Kashmir reported 18 fresh coronavirus cases on Thursday, nine of them from three tertiary care hospitals in Srinagar, ringing alarm bells in the union territory. "18 fresh positive cases have been detected in the last 24 hours. Total positives in the union territory now at 793," officials said. They said while Jammu now has a total of 68 cases, 725 were positive in total in the Kashmir valley, reported PTI.
Seven more COVID patients died in Bengal today taking the state's death count to 79. 92 fresh cases were reported in the last 24 hours, the state's health bulletin stated. Total active cases in the state stand at 1,101.
Asymptomatic COVID-19 patients in Maharashtra's Aurangabad district will be shifted from the dedicated COVID-19 hospital to civic-run facilities, an official said on Thursday, reported PTI. The COVID-19 hospital in Aurangabad has only 140 beds and at present 148 patients are recuperating there, a senior official from the hospital said. Hospital authorities are trying to make arrangements in keeping with the norms of social distancing, he said. When contacted, health officer of the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation Dr Neeta Padalkar said, "We have decided to shift asymptomatic patients to our facilities, which have a capacity of 300 beds." As many as 150 patients are being treated at the civic-run facilities, she said. So far, Aurangabad has reported 378 coronavirus cases, of which 29 patients have recovered, while 12 have died due to the infection, she added.
Arunachal Pradesh has spent Rs 9.49 crore on COVID-19 management so far, an official said on Thursday. The amount was spent from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMFR) on capacity building, procurement of essential equipment, providing relief to stranded persons and logistics, Secretary to the chief minister, Ameya Abhyankar said. Chief Minister Pema Khandu had on Wednesday said Rs 19.89 crore was donated to the CMRF till date. "My gratitude to all those generous persons who have contributed to the Chief Minister''s Relief Fund towards our battle against #COVID 19. So far we have received a sum of Rs 19,89,08,644," Mr Khandu had tweeted. Only one COVID-19 case has been reported in the state so far.
A 70-year-old man died in Bihar's Rohtas district on Thursday, minutes before his test reports confirmed that he had contracted the coronavirus infection, a top official said, reported PTI. Principal Secretary, Health, Sanjay Kumar confirmed the death of the patient, which marks the fifth coronavirus casualty in the state. The man, a resident of Sasaram in Rohtas district, was admitted to Narayan Medical College and Hospital with acute breathing difficulty. His sample was brought to the state capital for testing. He died shortly before test reports confirmed that he was a COVID-19 positive, the official said. Officials in Rohtas said the man's travel history and infection trail were being ascertained.
Happy to share that #Odisha has launched #ePass for people who are stranded here & need to travel to other states. Log into https://t.co/sAHr5LiWpV & apply. After online approval, #ePass with passenger & vehicle details will be sent to applicant though SMS & Email.#OdishaCares pic.twitter.com/I3ebZt5OeT
- Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) May 6, 2020
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has joined hands with the India Post for the delivery of COVID kits from its 16 regional depots to 200 additional labs designated for coronavirus tests across the country, reported ANI. "While continuing to deliver money to the doorsteps through Aadhaar enabled payment system, the India Post has entered into a tie-up with ICMR on April 20 this year for the delivery of its COVID kits from its 16 regional depots to the 200 additional labs designated for COVID testing across the length and breadth of the country," said an official statement. As per the official statement, the ICMR has set a target of carrying out around one lakh tests across the country per day. "For this crucial work, India Post with its vast network of 1,56,000 post offices has once again turned into a COVID warrior." Once the kits are received at these 16 depots -- located in 14 postal circles / states -- these have to be distributed to different labs in the same or neighbouring states.
Two more COVID-19 patients, including a health personnel, were discharged from a government-run hospital at Raipur in Chhattisgarh on Thursday after they recovered from the infection, officials said, reported PTI. With this, the total number of discharged patients has reached 38 in the state, which now has 21 active cases, they said. "A 35-year-old nursing officer of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Raipur and a 25-year-old migrant labourer, both men, were discharged this afternoon after their two consecutive tests came out negative for the infection," a public relations officer of the AIIMS told PTI.
NGO "Serving Nations" based in Srinagar is providing rations to the needy in the Anantnag, Pulwama, Srinagar, Budgam and Bandipora districts during the coronavirus lockdown, reported ANI. "Through the door-to-door delivery, we provide ration to the needy and poor people in the union territory. We are distributing rations in five districts - Anantnag, Pulwama, Srinagar, Budgam and Bandipora. We have also started the sanitisation in these districts," one of the volunteers told ANI. He added: "We have helped close to 1,700 families that include around 300 non-locals as well. In these packets, we are providing 5kg wheat, 1-litre oil, 250 grams sugar, mirchi, turmeric and salt. We are providing essentials that will last 10 days." After 10 days, the ration is replenished. The NGO provides help through its 4 teams involved in verification, supply of ration and packaging of ration among other things.
The Ministry of Defence on Thursday informed that the Armed Forces have readied 6 quarantine facilities that can accommodate up to 2,100 Indians, who are being evacuated from several countries across the world in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, reported ANI. Amid coronavirus-triggerered restrictions across the globe, hundreds of Indians are stranded abroad. Evacuees from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain and Malaysia will be housed in the quarantine facilities maintained by the three services. The Army quarantine facilities are located at Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Bhopal while the Navy has set up facilities at Kochi and Visakhapatnam. Quarantine facility of the Air Force is located at Chennai, which can accommodate 350 people.
Ten more people have tested positive for coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddha Nagar adjoining Delhi, taking the total number of cases to 202 in the district on Thursday, reported ANI. "10 people tested positive in Gautam Buddha Nagar today. The total number of cases in the district is now at 202, including 93 active cases," said an official statement. According to data, 124 sample reports were collected today out of which 114 were found negative. A total of 3,854 samples have been collected so far. 2,998 cases of coronavirus have been recorded in Uttar Pradesh with 60 deaths while the total count of patients in the country has risen to 52,952 including 1,783 deaths so far, according to the Union Health Ministry website.
Mumbai Police has converted unoccupied apartments, originally constructed for housing police personnel in the city, into a temporary COVID-19 hospital for the police, reported ANI. The temporary hospital in Mumbai's Kalina area will have all the necessary facilities for the treatment of coronavirus patients. Mumbai Commissioner of Police Param Bir Singh visited the hospital today for an inspection. "This hospital was made with the help of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and some NGOs. Patients will be admitted to the hospital starting today evening. I am thankful to everyone for this," Mr Singh told ANI. Around 250 police personnel have tested positive for COVID-19 in Mumbai but no one's condition is critical, he said.
The Dean of Sion Hospital in Mumbai where corpses wrapped in body bags were placed next to coronavirus patients said, "A committee has been formed to look into the incident and it has been asked to submit a report within 24 hours. Most of the times it happens that relatives are not available to collect the bodies and some times they don't claim so we have to inform the police about it. And legal formalities take time. But still such an incident should not happen in future and hospital will take precautions."
A video shot on a phone shows coronavirus patients in a Mumbai hospital ward lying next to corpses wrapped in body bags. The horrifying clip, which is circulating on social media, is from Sion Hospital, which is run by the city's municipal corporation and is one of the major hospitals handling COVID-19 patients in Mumbai.
In his Buddha Purnima message on Thursday, the Dalai Lama said the world must focus on what unites it as "one human family" and meet challenges through a global, coordinated effort, reported PTI.
The Tibetan spiritual leader urged everyone to promote inter-religious understanding, underlining that all religions promote happiness of all people.
"Also, in this time of serious crisis confronting the world, when we face threats to our health and we feel saddened for the family and friends we have lost, we must focus on what unites us as members of one human family," he said in an apparent reference to the pandemic.
"Accordingly, we need to reach out to each other with compassion, for it is only by coming together in a coordinated, global effort that we will meet the unprecedented challenges we face," he said.
Delhi Police constable - first cop in the capital to die after coronavirus infection - allegedly denied admission by one hospital, despite showing COVID-19 symptoms.
There has been a 40% increase in consumer expenditure on essential goods at kirana stores since the imposition of the countrywide lockdown, said a study by SnapBizz.
SnapBizz is a Bengaluru-based company which provides new-age solutions to convert the neighbourhood retail and grocery stores.
According to the report, there was a major spike in sales in Mid-March as an indication of panic buying that took place followed by a low spell till Easter weekend, post which, sales improved, reported ANI.
Delhi Police constable - first cop in the capital to die after coronavirus infection - allegedly denied admission by one hospital, despite showing COVID-19 symptoms"
130 pilgrims who were at a Gurudwara in Manmad area of Nashik have been sent back to Punjab in buses arranged by Maharashtra Government. All the pilgrims have been medically screened and will be quarantined for 14 days on their arrival in Punjab. pic.twitter.com/pffGGcaoic
- ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2020
#WATCH ...Clinical trials of Ayush medicines like Ashwagandha, Yashtimadhu, Guduchi Pippali, Ayush-64 on health workers and those working in high risk areas has begun from today: Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/dHKUMGCclX
- ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2020
#WATCH INS Jalashwa entering Male port for the first phase under Operation Samudra Setu to repatriate Indians from Maldives: High Commission of India in Maldives. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/qoNPB9pioZ
- ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2020
Madhya Pradesh:Flower farmers in Jabalpur say that their business has slumped amid lockdown. One of farmers,Nawal says,"We could not get labourers&items like pesticides,so plants have been damaged.I've suffered losses of Rs 4-4.5 lakhs. It'll take 3 months for plants to recover". pic.twitter.com/CovsQSi13f
- ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2020
Airfares and seats available on each repatriation flight operated by Air India from the UK. @RuchiGhanashyam @CGI_Bghm @IndiaInScotland pic.twitter.com/raN3uB1Wv3
- India in the UK (@HCI_London) May 7, 2020
Delhi government has launched a new Twitter handle @DelhiVsCorona which will ensure authentic information about the disease and serve as a one-stop solution for all the Covid-19 related queries and complaints.https://t.co/NhmMrhC5hH
- Dr Ajoy Kumar (@drajoykumar) May 7, 2020
Nearly a fifth of young children in the United States are not getting enough to eat since the coronavirus pandemic erupted, according to research out Wednesday highlighting the broader health impact of the crisis."
Advisory for Canadian Nationals/OCI card holders considering travel to India or in India during #COVID19: Consulate General of India, Toronto, Canada pic.twitter.com/BVzFz4GPUQ
- ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2020
The following is a brief roundup of the latest scientific studies on the novel coronavirus and efforts to find treatments and vaccines for COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus."
The following is a brief roundup of the latest scientific studies on the novel coronavirus and efforts to find treatments and vaccines for COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus."
Spoke to PM Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali. We discussed the COVID-19 situation. India stands in solidarity with our friends in Ethiopia as well as other countries in Africa, and will be a reliable partner to provide essential medical supplies and other assistance to handle the crisis.
- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 6, 2020
Delhi saw then biggest single day spike in coronavirus cases today -- 428 -- as the national figure crossed 50,000 today. The national capital, which crossed the 5,000 mark yesterday, now stands at 5,532. Over the last 24 hours, 74 persons have recovered, taking the total to 1,542. Another person has died, pushing the number of fatalities to 65."
The number of COVID-19 cases in Mumbai crossed the 10,000-mark to 10,527 today with 769 more people testing positive for coronavirus and 25 others died to the viral infection, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said.
The overall death count now stands at 412, a release said.
A total of 159 patients were discharged from various hospitals after recovery, taking their number to 2,287, it said.
"443 new suspected coronavirus cases have been admitted in various hospitals," the release said, news agency PTI reported.
Ahmedabad reported 291 new coronavirus cases, taking the total to 4,735, while with the death of 25 more COVID-19 patients, the count rose to 298 today, a health department official said.
Ahmedabad also reported discharge of 74 COVID-19 patients, taking the number of such people to 778, the official said.
With the new cases, the tally in Ahmedabad, worst hit by COVID-19 in Gujarat, shot up to 4,735, while the death count inched towards the 300-mark, the official said.
Amid the mounting cases, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) on Wednesday took several decisions with an effort to contain the coronavirus spread, including ordering that no shops, other than those selling milk and medicines, will remain open in the city over the next one week, news agency PTI reported.
Gujarat: A special train carrying migrant workers leaves from Sabarmati Railway Station in Ahmedabad for Gorakhpur (in Uttar Pradesh). pic.twitter.com/uk33HWIXOI
- ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2020
#WATCH More than a kilometre long queue seen outside a liquor shop in Kalyan Puri area today in Delhi. #CoronavirusLockdown pic.twitter.com/RuIgsXSD2V
- ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2020
Telangana: People wait in queues outside liquor stores in Warangal Urban district. #CoronavirusLockdown pic.twitter.com/N7U6Vn4gaO
- ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2020
Howrah Municipal Corporation workers covered Jogmaya Bastee (Baintra) in Howrah for #COVID19 testing, collected 124 samples in 3 hours and shifted 31 persons to institutional quarantine: Department of Health & Family Welfare, West Bengal pic.twitter.com/V6GRAEVAV7
- ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2020
#WATCH Maharashtra: A 'shramik special train' carrying around 1200 people, mainly migrant workers, left from Kalyan yesterday for Darbhanga in Bihar. #CoronavirusLockdown pic.twitter.com/lrVxs6F4su
- ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2020
Maharashtra: Scores of migrant workers were seen in long queues outside private medical clinics today in Dombivli city of Thane, to get medical certificates in order to obtain transit passes to return to their native places amid #COVID19 lockdown. pic.twitter.com/MtgZx9PIMb
- ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2020
There is no security breach in coronavirus tracking app Aarogya Setu, the government said today in response to claims by a French "white hat", or ethical hacker, who said on Tuesday that the "privacy of 90 million Indians is at stake". In a detailed statement released this morning the government said there was "no data or security breach" and that "no personal information of any user has been proven to be at risk by this ethical hacker".
Jammu & Kashmir: Industrial units in Kathua open today amid #CoronavirusLockdown, following the revised guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs. pic.twitter.com/fnKAsCGrFu
- ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2020
Haryana: People seen standing outside a liquor shop at Sohna Adda Chowk in Gurugram, after state govt decided to open retail liquor vends from today, except in the areas demarcated as 'Containment Zones'. Retail liquor vends are allowed to open from 7 am to 7 pm. pic.twitter.com/HybDERhKDq
- ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2020
Delhi: People queue up outside a liquor shop near Delhi-Kapashera border amid #CoronavirusLockdown. pic.twitter.com/e2ZpWZDHc4
- ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2020
Punjab: A Shramik special train, carrying around 1200 people, left from Jalandhar last night for Uttar Pradesh, last night amid #CoronavirusLockdown. pic.twitter.com/d94vacB7GD
- ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2020
US President Donald Trump conceded Tuesday that more Americans will die in reopening the US economy but underlined his insistence on a dwindling coronavirus threat by refusing to wear a mask, even as he toured a mask-making factory."