5 years ago
New Delhi:
Government today issued new guidelines, day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the lockdown across the country will be extended till May 3 to fight the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Some relaxations may be allowed after April 20 in places where there are no hotspots, PM said.
PM Modi said implementation of the lockdown will be strictly ensured in its second phase and detailed guidelines will be brought out on Wednesday to ensure that outbreak does not spread to new areas.
Agricultural and related activities will resume fully to generate jobs for daily wagers and others. Industries operating in rural areas will be allowed with strict social distancing norms.
India has 11,439 COVID-19 cases and there have been 377 deaths, according to the latest Health Ministry data.
Here are the Highlights on Coronavirus Pandemic:
COVID-19 news: Nearly 2,600 US coronavirus deaths in 24 hours
The United States recorded nearly 2,600 additional deaths from the new coronavirus in 24 hours, a new record and the heaviest daily toll of any country, Johns Hopkins University said.
COVID-19 news: Air India carried around 170 tonnes of medical items in last 10 days from Shanghai, Hong Kong
Air India has carried around 170 tonnes of COVID-19 related medical items in the last 10 days from Shanghai and Hong Kong, the national carrier said on Wednesday.
Coronavirus update: Over 56,000 people under surveillance in J&K
The Jammu and Kashmir administration said over 56,000 people who came in contact with COVID-19 suspected cases were put under surveillance, PTI reported.
Till date around 56,595 people have been put under surveillance, including 7,784 people in home quarantine, 270 in hospital quarantine, 260 in hospital isolation and 30,228 under home surveillance, an official bulletin said.
Coronavirus news: Bengal government allows reopening of all jute mills with 15% workforce
The West Bengal government on Wednesday said all jute mills can reopen in the state but with only 15 per cent of the workforce and in strict adherence to social distancing norms.
Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani had written to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday, urging her to give necessary directions to operationalise 18 jute mills, identified by the Centre, to deal with the shortage of bags for packaging foodgrains, PTI reported.
Coronavirus update: Two arrested for posting "objectionable" content on social media in Chatra
Two persons were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly posting objectionable posts in the social media in Chatra district, the police said.
Acting on the Chatra police IT cell tip-off, Itkhori police station in-charge Sachin Kumar Das said that Sandip Kumar Dangi and Subhas Kumar Patel were arrested and sent in judicial remand by a local court for posting objectionable content in social media, PTI reported.
Odisha sets "zero transmission" target against COVID-19
Setting a "Zero Transmission" target against COVID-19, Odisha government on Wednesday claimed that the state has already reported lowest rate so far as detection of positive cases are concerned in the country.
National Health Mission Director Shalini Pandit said, "The challenge before us is to achieve zero transmission of the corona disease. The state has reported just 1.08 per cent positive case against the national average of around 5 per cent."
SAIL sets up COVID-19 testing lab at Rourkela steel plant's hospital
The Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has set up a COVID-19 testing lab at Rourkela Steel Plant's Ispat General Hospital (IGH) which has been made ready for sample testing.
Talking about the lab, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Steel Dharmendra Pradhan said, "The new testing facility by SAIL at Rourkela will strengthen Odisha's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Our collective ''ispati irada'' (steely resolve) will see us through these challenging times."
Delhi government engages CallDoc app to provide free online medical consultation: Satyendar Jain
Delhi government has collaborated with CallDoc app to provide round-the-clock free online medical consultation to the people of Delhi.
"Delhi govt is glad to collaborate with CallDoc app to bring 24x7 online medical consultations for free to the people of Delhi. This will save the trouble of physical travel for regular OPD visits, especially for senior citizens. Download the CallDoc app: http://onelink.to/unkk7m," tweeted Delhi Health Minister Minister Satyendar Jain.
Accord top priority to farmers, agriculture during lockdown: Vice President
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu asked the Centre and the State governments to accord top priority to farmers and agriculture during the lockdown and advised them to facilitate the smooth conduct of farming activities and transportation of agri-produce during this period.
During an interaction with Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, the Vice President appreciated various measures taken by the Agriculture Ministry to protect the farm sector.
Chhattisgarh government releases relief package for labourers stranded in other states
The state government has provided much-needed relief to labourers from Chhattisgarh stranded in other states due to the national lockdown.
The government claims to provide food, lodging and other medical facilities to around 64,416 labourers. Further, over Rs 19 lakhs have been deposited into the account of 6,556 workers.
According to the government, workers from 28 districts of Chhattisgarh have been reported to be trapped in 20 other states and four union territories.
Centre is concerned about safety of Indians abroad, taking all measures: Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan
The Centre is concerned about the safety of Indians abroad and is taking all measures in this regard in coordination with respective governments, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said on Wednesday.
"Like some political leaders the government of India is also concerned about the safety of the Indian population abroad. They have been provided with quarantine, medical, accommodation, food, water and other facilities in coordination with the respective governments," he told news agency PTI.
NHRC asks Centre to issue advisory to states to implement lockdown in sensible manner
The NHRC has asked the Centre to issue suitable advisory to all states and union territories that the lockdown guidelines be implemented by public servants and police force in a sensible manner, an official said on Wednesday.
The nationwide lockdown was imposed by the Centre from March 25, and it has been extended till May 3.
These directions have come after the commission took cognisance of a communication from one of its special monitors and human rights activist Maja Daruwala, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said.
PM Modi's call for lives as well as livelihoods at root of lockdown guidelines: Nadda
The BJP on Wednesday welcomed the Home Ministry's fresh lockdown-related guidelines, which have listed the details of activities allowed in certain areas from April 20, saying they are aimed at ensuring people's health security while also helping farmers and small traders.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mantra of "Jaan bhi aur jahaan bhi" (lives as well as livelihoods) is at the root of this," BJP president J P Nadda said in tweets.
Third sample of lone Arunachal COVID-19 positive patient tests negative: Doctor
The swab sample of the lone COVID-19 positive patient in Arunachal Pradesh tested negative in the third test which was conducted at RMRC at Dibrugarh in Assam, a senior district health officer said on Wednesday.
The man from Medo village in Lohit district, who had attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation at Nizamuddin in Delhi had tested positive for COVID-19 on April 1 and 7 test but his third test on Tuesday was negative, District Medical Officer (DMO) Dr S Chai Pul informed.
Encouragement to rural activity focus of relaxation from April 20: Home Ministry
Encouragement to the rural economy is the focus of relaxations given under the consolidated revised guidelines issued by the Home Ministry for the extended lockdown period to contain the spread of coronavirus, a senior official said.
The relaxations to some activities given in the guidelines announced on Wednesday will come into force from April 20 and are only for areas which are not declared COVID-19 hotspots, Additional Secretary in the Home Ministry Govind Mohan said.
Addressing a press conference, he also made it clear that no movement of migrant labourers is possible till the lockdown continues as no public transport is permitted to operate during the period.
Punjab Government, Ola Develop Mobile App For E-Passes To Farmers
The Punjab government has developed a mobile application with cab aggregator Ola to issue e-passes to over 17 lakh farmers, in a bid to prevent overcrowding at state grain markets during the procurement of wheat.
The procurement of wheat in the state mandis started on Wednesday amid the lockdown imposed to check the coronavirus spread.
According to an official release, the application will help in the online management and regulation of all tractor-trailers and vehicular movement in the mandis.
Mamata Banerjee says her government will provide relief to workers, families from West Bengal stranded outside the state
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday announced that her government will provide financial aid and relief to migrant workers and families from the state stranded outside due to the nationwide lockdown.
Seventeen more people have tested positive for coronavirus in the state in the past 24 hours and five patients discharged after recovery.
The total number of people who tested positive for COVID-19 in Bengal has risen to 163. The Union health ministry, however, put the tally at 213 on its website.
Residential society, housing sector in Noida removed from COVID-19 hotspot list, 7 added
A residential society and a housing sector in Noida were on Wednesday removed from the list of coronavirus hotspots in Gautam Buddh Nagar, while seven more places were added to the list, officials said.
With the latest changes, Gautam Buddh Nagar now has 27 hotspots, as defined by the district administration, which are completely sealed and any movement into or out of them except for emergencies is barred, the officials said.
NDRF launches 24/7 helpline to provide assistance to people during lockdown
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) on Wednesday said it has launched a round-the-clock helpline, over phone and social media, to provide assistance to the needy during the ongoing lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
The helpline, 9711077372, can be contacted by phone or through WhatsApp, it said.
The federal force can also be reached for help by tagging its Twitter handle @NDRFHQ and email: ndrf-helpline@gov.in.
6 IAS officers tasked to tackle COVID-19 outbreak in Bhubaneswar
Odisha government has given the additional charge to six senior IAS officers to tackle COVID-19 outbreak in the capital city, as the total coronavirus cases increased to 46 on Wednesday.
The officers will oversee the containment activities in the city and will work with other authorities for contact tracing of positive COVID-19 patients, household surveillance and for supplying essential commodities in the containment zones.
12 more COVID-19 cases in Rajasthan, total tally in the state reaches 1046
Twelve more COVID-19 cases have been reported from Rajasthan, taking the total number of coronavirus cases in the state to 1,046, the state Health Department informed on Wednesday.
With 1,076 new COVID-19 cases reported in the last 24 hours, India's tally of coronavirus cases has risen to 11,439, said the Ministry on Wednesday.
Railways to produce 1,30,000 medical protective coveralls to fight COVID-19
The Railways has decided to produce over 30,000 Personal Protective Equipment coveralls in April and also plans to manufacture 1,00,000 of the same in May 2020 for medical and health-care personnel who get directly exposed to the COVID-19 disease when working amongst infected patients.
"The Railways has been able to procure and distribute to its workshops and other units sufficient raw material for manufacturing more than 30,000 PPE coveralls in April. The Railways has set the target of manufacturing another 1,00,000 PPE coveralls in May and sourcing of appropriate raw material has been started," said the Ministry of Railways in a statement.
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan holds high-level meeting with WHO officials
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Wednesday held a high-level meeting through video conferencing with World Health Organization (WHO) officials on measures to combat COVID-19.
India's tally of coronavirus cases increased to 11,439 on Wednesday, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
On April 10, Mr Vardhan had said that the Ministry of Science and Technology with WHO is striving to develop the vaccine to treat COVID-19 patients.
Bengal government makes wearing masks compulsory for patients, relatives when visiting hospitals
In its bid to combat the spread of coronavirus cases, the West Bengal health department has made wearing masks mandatory for patients and their relatives while visiting hospitals.
Those found without masks will not be allowed entry, said the memorandum on the "Standard operating protocols for preventing mixing of suspected COVID-19 patients with others" issued by the department on Tuesday night.
New Lockdown Guidelines: Only Essential Services Allowed In ''Hotspot'' Zones
No unchecked movement of people except for those maintaining essential services and providing medical care will be permitted from the COVID-19 ''hotspot'' zones, according to the new lockdown guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday.
The ministry emphasized that even the activities allowed under the new guidelines will not be permitted in the ''hotspot'' zones, or the areas/clusters with high occurrence of COVID-19 cases.
Provided Protective Kits To Sanitation Workers, WHO Guidelines Followed: Centre To Supreme Court
The Centre told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that sanitation workers in the country have been provided with requisite protective kits and the authorities are following the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) on the coronavirus pandemic.
The Centre said this before a bench of Justices N V Ramana, S K Kaul and B R Gavai which was hearing, through video-conferencing, a plea seeking directions to the authorities concerned to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to sanitation workers who are carrying out their work amid coronavirus or COVID-19.
Coronavirus Updates: Truck Drivers, Handymen Screened In Manipur
Amid coronavirus-induced countrywide lockdown, the Manipur government is conducting regular screening of drivers and handymen of goods trucks, which are transporting essential commodities.
After reaching Imphal through the National Highways, all trucks are made to park at Inter State Bus Terminal (ISBT) located at Khuman Lampak and drivers and hanymen are subjected to mandatory medical screening by a team of healthcare professionals.
Coronavirus Updates: UP Police Donates Rs 20 Crore To Chief Minister''s Relief Fund To Fight
Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) HC Awasthy handed over a cheque of Rs 20 crore to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for the Chief Minister's Relief Fund to fight the COVID-19 pandemic on Wednesday, the state police said in a statement.
The amount was collected by cutting a day's salary of the employees of the police department, following an appeal made by the state police chief, the statement said.
Coronavirus India: Houseboats In Kerala's Alappuzha Likely To Be Turned Into COVID-19 Isolation Wards
Houseboats in Kerala's Alappuzha districts may be turned into COVID-19 isolation wards if the need arises, said District Collector M Anjana.
Coronavirus News: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani Isolates Self After MLA He Met Tests Coronavirus Positive
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has decided to run the state administration without meeting anyone for next one week after a Congress MLA whom he met on Tuesday tested positive for coronavirus.
Mr Rupani's health is fine and he will run the state administration through technological facilities like video conference, video-calling and tele-calling, Chief Minister's office said.
COVID-19: Mumbai Cops Punish Lockdown Violators By Posting Their Pics Online
Kolhapur Police in Maharashtra have come up with a new idea of publicly shaming lockdown violators by posting their pictures on social media.
The drive was launched on Tuesday and over 40 offenders were punished as part of it, a police official said.
Japan Firm Offers Spouses Furnished Apartments To Avoid "Coronavirus Divorce"
Worried about a "coronavirus divorce"? An enterprising Japanese short-term rental firm is marketing its empty apartments as a way for stressed couples to get some time apart during the virus lockdown.
Coronavirus News: 14-Year-Old Dies Of COVID-19 In Gujarat, Number Of State Deaths Reach 30
Two more persons died of coronavirus in Gujarat, taking the number of deaths in the state to 30, the state health department said on Wednesday.
Coronavirus Updates: SOPs To Follow During Lockdown 2.0 For Employees And Employers
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in its lockdown guidelines issued on Wednesday has given detailed standard operating procedures (SOP) for social distancing for offices, workplaces, factories and establishments.
The ministry has said that all areas in the premises including the following shall be disinfected completely using user-friendly disinfectant mediums at the entrance gate of building, office, cafeteria and canteens, meeting room, conference halls, open areas available, verandah, entrance gate of site, bunkers, porta cabins, building, equipment and lifts, washroom, toilet, sink water points etc, walls/ all other surfaces.
Coronavirus Updates: Home Ministry's COVID-19 Social Distancing Checklist For Offices, Factories
The Home Ministry released a two-page document today outlining social distancing guidelines in public spaces and at offices, factories and manufacturing establishments.
Coronavirus News: Hyderabad Cyclist Rides 20-30 Km To Spread Awareness About COVID-19
To create awareness on COVID-19, a 47-year-old man in Hyderabad has been cycling for the past fortnight, covering 20-30 kilometres daily while visiting various parts of the city and sensitising people about the importance of social distancing and wearing face masks.
"I have been cycling for more than 15 days in Hyderabad city, creating awareness about social distancing and wearing masks in order to help people to prevent themselves from coronavirus," the cyclist, Dinesh Gupta, said.
"We should be careful for this whole year and take preventive measures. Mask is nothing new to this culture because people earlier used to wear masks to prevent themselves from getting infected," he added.
Australian Sneaks Out Of COVID-19 Quarantine To Visit Girlfriend, Jailed For A Month
An Australian who repeatedly snuck out of coronavirus quarantine, reportedly to visit his girlfriend, was jailed for a month Tuesday -- the first person imprisoned under the country's lockdown laws.
COVID-19: Bank Branches And ATMs To Remain Functional During Lockdown 2.0
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday issued revised guidelines as to which sectors and industries will continue to function during the lockdown imposed to contain COVID-19.
"To mitigate hardship to the public, select additional activities have been allowed which will come into effect from 20th April. 2020. These limited exemptions will be operationalized by states/UTs / district administrations based on strict compliance to the existing guidelines," the MHA directive noted.
COVID-19: Bank Branches And ATMs To Remain Functional During Lockdown 2.0
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday issued revised guidelines as to which sectors and industries will continue to function during the lockdown imposed to contain COVID-19.
"To mitigate hardship to the public, select additional activities have been allowed which will come into effect from 20th April. 2020. These limited exemptions will be operationalized by states/UTs / district administrations based on strict compliance to the existing guidelines," the MHA directive noted.
JustIn| Coronavirus Updates: Chennai pedestrians without masks will be fined Rs. 100, says Chennai Corporation. Vehicles of violators would be impounded and licence will be suspended for 6 months.
Coronavirus: 6 Indian-Americans In Key Panel To Advise Donald Trump On US Economic Revival
US President Donald Trump has named six Indian-American corporate leaders, including Sundar Pichai from Google and Satya Nadella from Microsoft, to his Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups formed to revive the US economy ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic.
Coronavirus News: Extension Of Non-Immigrant Visa Holders In US On Case-By-Case Basis, Says US Immigration Agency
The extension of non-immigrant visa holders in the US, including those from India, facing difficulties as a direct result of the COVID-19 national emergency might be provided special consideration or expedited processing on a case-by-case basis, the country''s citizenship and immigration agency has said.
In the Indian context, non-immigrant visas prominently includes B-1 and B-2 visas for business or travel purposes, F-1 visas for students, J-1 visas for exchange visitors mainly research scholars and physicians, H-1B for IT professionals and L1 for intra company transferees in managerial or executive position.
Coronavirus Updates: Senior Congress Leader Digvijaya Singh Sets Up Kitchens To Provide Food To Needy
Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh and his wife Amrita have set up a series of kitchens in Bhopal to help daily wagers and poor elderly people get food during the lockdown.
The kitchens are distributing 5,000 to 7,000 food packets daily, the Congress leader's wife said.
These facilities, termed as "Diggi-Amrita Rasoi" by Congressmen, are functioning in Jatkhedi Bagh Mugalia, Village Bagli (Ward-85), Adampur Chhavni, Piplani, 50 Quarters slum area, Anand Nagar, Saint Hirdaram Nagar, Bairgarh areas of the Madhya Pradesh capital city.
Coronavirus Lockdown Guidelines Out: See Complete List Here
The government has issued fresh guidelines for enforcing the coronavirus lockdown, with the Union Home Ministry barring all kinds of public transport and prohibiting opening of public places during this period.
UK Will Recover ''Quickly And Strongly'' After COVID-19 Crisis: Rishi Sunak
The economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis would be "significant, but temporary", UK''s Indian-origin finance minister Rishi Sunak has said, exuding confidence that Britain''s economy will bounce back "quickly and strongly" once the coronavirus pandemic is brought under control.
The UK Chancellor on Tuesday led the daily Downing Street briefing soon after the Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR), Britain independent spending watchdog, released its forecast that the crisis-hit economy would shrink by a record 35 per cent as a result of the lockdown.
COVID-19: Shah Rukh Khan To Be Part Of Global Event Honouring Frontline Healthcare Workers
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan will join artistes from around the world for a virtual event to support healthcare workers who are battling it out against the coronavirus pandemic.
The actor took to Twitter on Tuesday to announce his participation in the 'One World: Together At Home'', a virtual concert organised by the World Health Organization (WHO) and international advocacy organisation Global Citizen.
WATCH | Centre's revised guidelines for #CoronavirusLockdown. Here is a detailed report on what is allowed and what is not pic.twitter.com/6y9nob3ty9
- NDTV (@ndtv) April 15, 2020
Rahul Gandhi Asks Government To Bring Back Indian Workers Stuck In Middle East
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday urged the government to organise flights to bring back Indian workers stuck in the Middle East and desperate to return.
He said the workers are in deep distress there due to shutting of businesses in the Middle East due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over 19 lakh #coronavirus cases worldwide, US has the highest number of cases pic.twitter.com/ZZfNOzMKdc
- NDTV (@ndtv) April 15, 2020
Coronavirus Updates: Here are some of the important points from the newly issued guidelines by the centre on the lockdown:
- Agricultural and related activities will resume fully to generate jobs for daily wagers and others. Industries operating in rural areas will be allowed with strict social distancing norms.
- The inter-state transport of goods, essential and non-essential, will be allowed. Highway ''dhabas'', truck repair shops and call centres for government activities can reopen from April 20. So can manufacturing units of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment.
- "To provide an impetus to the rural economy, industries operating in rural areas, including food processing industries; construction of roads, irrigation projects, buildings and industrial projects in rural areas; works under MNREGA, with priority to irrigation and water conservation works; and operation of rural Common Service Centres have all been allowed. These activities will create job opportunities for rural labor, including the migrant labor force," the guidelines say.
- Manufacturing and other industrial establishments with access control will be allowed in SEZs, EoUs, industrial estates and industrial townships after implementation of SOP for social distancing. Manufacture of IT hardware and of essential goods and packaging can resume.
- Coal, mineral and oil production will be allowed.
- The Reserve Bank of India, banks, ATMs, capital and debt markets as notified by SEBI and insurance companies will also remain functional, to provide liquidity and credit support to the industrial sectors.
- The supply of milk, milk products, poultry and livestock farming and tea, coffee and rubber plantations will resume.
- The government said the digital economy is critical to the services sector and national growth, so e-commerce, IT and IT-enabled services, data and call centres for government activities, and online teaching and distance learning are all permitted activities.
Coronavirus Updates: Cyber Volunteers To Help Gujarat Police Check Rumours On COVID-19
Gujarat Police have started recruiting cyber volunteers in Ahmedabad and Surat to help in curbing the spread of hate content and rumours over coronavirus and lockdown on social media.
Over 5,000 people, including nearly 800 experts in IT, computer and forensic science, have responded in less than two weeks to applications sought by the Gujarat Police for recruiting them as "cyber volunteers, warriors and gurus", Additional Director General of Police, CID Crime, Shamsher Singh told PTI.
Extension Of H-1B, Students Visas On Case-By-Case Basis: US
The extension of non-immigrant visa holders, who are facing challenges as a direct result of the COVID-19 national emergency, might be provided special consideration or expedited processing on a case-by-case basis, the US said on Tuesday.
In the Indian context, non-immigrant visas prominently include B-1 and B-2 visas for business or travel purposes, F-1 visas for students, J-1 visas for exchange visitors mainly research scholars and physicians, H-1B for IT professionals and L1 for intra company transferees in managerial or executive position.
COVID-19: UN Warns Of Another Dangerous Epidemic - Misinformation On Coronavirus
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres warned that "misinfo-demic" about COVID-19 on various social media platforms such as WhatsApp is proliferating falsehoods and announced a new UN initiative to flood the internet with facts and science to counter the "poison" of misinformation that is putting more lives at risk.
Lockdown Guidelines: Agriculture, Select Activities Allowed From April 20
Activities like agriculture, IT, e-commerce and inter-state transport will be allowed after April 20 to "mitigate hardships to public", the government said today in new guidelines issued a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended the coronavirus lockdown till May 3.
JustIn| Coronavirus lockdown guidelines: Select activities including all agriculture allowed from April 20 "to mitigate hardship to public"
South Koreans Head To Polls Despite Global Pandemic
Temperature checks on voters, separate booths for those with fevers, special polling stations for the quarantined: South Koreans headed to the polls Wednesday with a big turnout expected despite the coronavirus threat.
Doctor Dies Of Coronavirus In Meghalaya, First Case In State
A 69-year-old doctor in Meghalaya has died after testing positive for coronavirus. He was the first COVID-19 patient in the state.
No Plan To Run Any Special Train Till May 3, Says Ministry Of Railways
Refuting reports in some sections of media that the Indian Railways was planning to run special trains to help move labourers stranded in different parts of the country to their native places, the Ministry of Railways clarified that it had no such plans till May 3.
Pandemic Causing Deep Recession, And It Could Get Worse: IMF
The coronavirus pandemic is pushing the global economy into its deepest recession in a century, cutting world output by three percent this year, and the crisis could get worse, the International Monetary Fund said Tuesday.
JustIn| 377 coronavirus deaths in India, 38 in 24 hours, over 11,400 cases so far
Fewer Meetings, More Sick Days: Workplaces After Lockdown Lifts
Around the world countries are hitting their coronavirus peaks and starting to grapple with questions about when and how to reopen their economies.
Around the world countries are hitting their coronavirus peaks and starting to grapple with questions about when and how to reopen their economies.
California Governor Says Mass Gatherings Unlikely Through Summer
Mass gatherings of hundreds or thousands of people will likely be banned in California at least through summer, as the state plots reopening its economy and recovering from the coronavirus pandemic despite a spike in deaths, Governor Gavin Newsom said on Tuesday.
Incremental steps to loosen stay-at-home orders could begin after "a few weeks" of evidence that the rates of infection and hospitalization from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus, are decreasing, Newsom told a news conference in the state capital, Sacramento.
New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern, Ministers Take 20% Pay Cut For Six Months Due To Coronavirus Impact
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, ministers in her government and public service chief executives will take a 20% pay cut for the next six months amid the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
New Zealand's offices, schools and non-essential services have been closed for the last three weeks, and economic activity is at a standstill as the country undertakes one of the strictest lockdowns globally.
The government has forecast joblessness to surge because of the global and domestic slowdown."This is where we can take action and that is why we have," Ardern said in a news conference announcing the decision.
New York City Posts Sharp Spike In Coronavirus Deaths After Untested Victims Added
New York City, the hardest hit US city in the coronavirus pandemic, revised its official COVID-19 death toll sharply higher to more than 10,000 on Tuesday, to include victims presumed to have perished from the lung disease but never tested.
The new cumulative figure for "confirmed and probable COVID-19 deaths" released by the New York City Health Department marked a staggering increase of over 3,700 deaths formally attributed to the highly contagious illness since March 11.
The 60 percent spike in reported deaths underscored the enormous losses endured in the nation's most populous city, where the sounds of wailing sirens have echoed almost non-stop through largely empty streets for weeks.
The city's revised count, 10,367 in all, raised the number of coronavirus deaths nationwide to more than 28,300 - New York accounting for the biggest share of deaths.
UN Chief Says "Not The Time" To Reduce WHO Resources After Trump Announcement
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Tuesday it was "not the time" to reduce resources for the World Health Organization after President Donald Trump halted US funding over the body's handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Guterres said in a statement it was "not the time to reduce the resources for the operations of the World Health Organization or any other humanitarian organization in the fight against the virus." "Now is the time for unity and for the international community to work together in solidarity to stop this virus and its shattering consequences," he said.
Gujarat Congress MLA Tests COVID-19 Positive Hours After Meeting Chief Minister
A Gujarat legislator has tested positive for coronavirus hours after attending a meeting with Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and two other ministers, sources said. Congress MLA Imran Khedawala also attended a press conference, where other MLAs and health officials were present. Sources said the MLA from Jamalpur-Khadia was running a temperature for several days, and had given his samples for testing. But he was out and about before the results came in, sources said.
A Gujarat legislator has tested positive for coronavirus hours after attending a meeting with Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and two other ministers, sources said. Congress MLA Imran Khedawala also attended a press conference, where other MLAs and health officials were present. Sources said the MLA from Jamalpur-Khadia was running a temperature for several days, and had given his samples for testing. But he was out and about before the results came in, sources said.
Donald Trump Halts WHO Funding For "Mismanaging" Coronavirus Pandemic
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday cut off funding to the World Health Organization, accusing the UN body of mishandling the coronavirus crisis as governments grapple with how and when to get their struggling economies back to work.
The deadly pandemic has already killed more than 125,000 people and infected nearly two million worldwide since it first emerged in China late last year.
Lockdown Till May 3, Says PM; Review Of Restrictions On April 20
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today extended till May 3 the current lockdown to control the spread of coronavirus in India and said the restrictions could be reviewed for the least affected parts of the country on April 20.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today extended till May 3 the current lockdown to control the spread of coronavirus in India and said the restrictions could be reviewed for the least affected parts of the country on April 20.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended till May 3 the current lockdown to control the spread of coronavirus in India.
- PM said the restrictions could be reviewed for the least affected parts of the country on April 20.
- "After taking into account all suggestions, we have decided to extend the lockdown till May 3," PM Modi said.
- Some essential activities could be allowed after April 20 in parts of the country that showed some improvement in fighting the infection, he explained.
- The government will put out detailed guidelines today on the lockdown.
- India has 10,815 COVID-19 cases and there have been 353 deaths, according to the latest Health Ministry data.
