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Coronavirus Highlights: India witnessed its biggest jump in the number of coronavirus cases with 9,851 testing positive, taking the total number of cases to 2,26,770, the Health Ministry said. 273 COVID-19-related deaths were also  reported during the period, the biggest so far. The highly contagious virus has killed 6,348 Indians since first case was reported in Kerala in January. The recovery rate among the patients was reported at 48.27 per cent.

With India witnessing a spurt in the number of cases, the government today announced that it will not announce new schemes for a year. Spending will only be allowed in the Prime Minister's Garib Kalyan Package and the announcements made under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan Package recently. No other scheme would be approved this financial year, said the ministry.

India stood seventh among the nations worst hit by the COVID-19 pandemic after the US, Brazil, Russia, the UK, Spain and Italy. In terms of fatalities, India is ranked 12th at present, while it is placed at eighth place in terms of recoveries. However, India figures among the top-five countries in terms of active cases.

On Thursday, the Union Health Ministry released standard operating procedures for reopening offices, hotels, shopping malls, restaurants and religious places. Some of them have already re-opened in parts of the country and few others are scheduled to re-start from Monday.

Here are Updates on Coronavirus Outbreak:

Coronavirus News: Karnataka Reports Biggest Spike With 515 COVID-19 New Cases
Karnataka registered its highest single-day spike of more than 500 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of infections in the state to 4,835, the health department said on Friday.
The previous biggest single-day spurt was recorded on June 2 with 388 cases.

Of the 515 fresh cases reported, 482 are returnees from other states, mostly (about 471) from neighboring Maharashtra. Udupi district saw a major spike with over 200 cases today and the total tally of the district breaching seven hundred cases mark, to stand at 768.

As of June 5 evening, cumulatively 4,835 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, which includes 57 deaths and 1,688 discharges, the department said in its bulletin.

It said, out of 3,088 active cases, 3,075 patients are in isolation at designated hospitals and are stable, while 13 are in ICU.
Coronavirus News: Rahul Gandhi Roasts Centre For "Failed Lockdown" With 5-Graph Tweet
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday took on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government at the centre for its response to the coronavirus crisis, blaming it for a "failed lockdown" as he compared India's nationwide shutdown to those in other countries.

The central government had imposed the lockdown, dubbed the world's biggest, in late March and has extended it several times before announcing a staggered exit starting next Monday. The Health Ministry's data, however, has shown a dramatic rise in the number COVID-19 cases and deaths in recent days.

Coronavieus Update: India Crosses 2.35 Lakh Coronavirus Cases, Overtakes Italy For 6th Spot


The number of coronavirus cases in India rose to 2.35 lakh on Friday, taking the country to the sixth spot worldwide above Italy, while the number of deaths crossed 6,600, data from state governments and America's Johns Hopkins University showed. In terms of cases, India had crossed China - where the virus emerged late last year - for the ninth spot just a week ago.

The number of states with four-digit or bigger tallies has doubled since May 1 when the centre allowed the movement of migrant workers in special trains from big urban clusters to their villages. Some of these states have seen their tallies rising more than 10-fold.
Coronavirus news: Central team visits hospitals, quarantine centres in Assam to take stock of COVID-19 situation
A three-member central team, which is on a week-long visit to Assam, on Friday held discussions with the chief secretary over the COVID-19 situation in the state.

The team, which arrived on Thursday, visited the Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital (MMCH) and quarantine centre at Sarusajai sports complex in the city, reported news agency PTI.

It had a detailed discussion with senior officials for an understanding of the COVID-19 situation in the state, an official release said.

"The team arrived on June 4 and at first visited the screening and sampling centre at Kiranshree Grand Hotel, followed by the microbiology lab at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).

"It will subsequently visit various districts of the state to assess the COVID preparedness... the team will brief the state and will give their necessary feedback," the release said.

Coronavirus news: With 47 new COVID-19 cases in Bihar, tally surges to 4,598
With 47 new COVID-19 positive cases reported in Bihar on Friday, the tally of people infected with the virus in the state has climbed to 4,598, the state health department said.

"Bihar detects 47 more COVID-19 positive cases, taking the total number of cases to 4598," said Bihar Health Department.

With nearly 10,000 new cases in the last 24 hours, India's COVID-19 count on Friday hit a new high -- 2,26,770, getting closer to Italy's latest tally of over 2.34 lakh. As per the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), India registered 9,851 more corona cases and 273 deaths in the past 24 hours, surging the total to 2,26,770, which includes 1,10,960 active cases.
Coronavirus news: Kerala reports highest spike of 111 new COVID-19 cases
The COVID-19 positive cases in Kerala touched three-digits for the first time as the state reported its highest number of 111 new cases of the virus in a single day on Friday.

With this, the total number of cases in the state increased to 1,697, out of which 973 are active cases.

Addressing a press meet, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that looking at the numbers since June 1, the situation is getting serious, reported news agency PTI.

"Out of the new cases reported today, 50 are returnees from overseas and 48 have come back from other states. 10 have got infected through primary contact and three are health workers. At the same time, 22 patients under treatment have tested negative today," he said.
COVID-19: Pune count touches 8,965
The number of COVID-19 cases in Pune district increased by 248 to reach 8,965, while the deaths rose by 10 to touch 401, an official said on Friday.

Of the 248 new cases, Pune city accounts for 184, while 53 cases were in Pimpri Chinchwad and the rest in the district's rural and cantonment areas, he added, reported news agency PTI.
Coronavirus news: 143 fresh COVID-19 cases in Telangana
Telangana saw a spike in COVID-19 infections on Friday, with 143 fresh cases being reported taking the tally in the state to 3,290 while eight deaths took the fatalities to 113.

All the fresh cases were reported from different parts of Telangana and no migrants/deportees/foreign returnees were found positive for the virus on Friday, a state government bulletin said.

Out of the 143 fresh cases, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) area accounted for 116, while the remaining infections were reported from different districts.

The GHMC has been the focal point of COVID-19 in the state.

According to the bulletin, 1,627 people have been discharged so far from hospitals after recovery, while 1,550 people were under treatment.
Coronavirus news: Rs 500 to Rs 3,000 fine for violating lockdown norms in Chandigarh
The Chandigarh Administration on Friday issued an order stating that fines would be imposed if anyone is found violating instructions or guidelines regarding the prevention and control of COVID-19.

As per the order issued by the Department of Health of UT Chandigarh Administration, for violating home quarantine instructions, people will be fined Rs 2,000, and for violating social distancing norms by shop owners or commercial space owners, the fine will be Rs 500, reported news agency ANI.

According to the order, for violating the social distancing norms by buses, cars and auto-rickshaw/two-wheelers, there will be Rs 3,000, Rs 2,000 and Rs 500 respectively.
Coronavirus news: 10 fresh COVID-19 cases in Himachal Pradesh, tally at 394
Ten more people, who had recently returned from Delhi-NCR, tested positive for coronavirus in Himachal Pradesh on Friday, taking the total number of infections in the state to 394, officials said.

Kangra district reported three cases, followed by Hamirpur (two) and Shimla, Kullu, Bilaspur, Una and Chamba (one each), Special Secretary (Health) Nipun Jindal said.

Also, 10 patients -- seven in Hamirpur, two in Kangra and one in Mandi-- recovered from the disease, reported news agency PTI.

In Hamirpur, two women, aged 28 and 38 years, tested positive for the disease, Deputy Commissioner Harikesh Meena said.

The 28-year-old was institutionally quarantined at Mehre since her arrival in a train from Delhi on May 19 whereas the other woman was home quarantined after her return from Ghaziabad on May 27, he added.

In Kangra, a 34-year-old man and his 31-year-old wife from Minjgram in Nurpur tehsil tested positive, he said, adding that their two-year-old son had earlier tested positive and was admitted to a dedicated COVID care centre (DCCC).


Coronavirus - Delhi Government Dismisses COVID-19 Alarm: Close To 5,000 Beds Vacant
There is no shortage of beds for coronavirus patients in Delhi and nearly 5,000 are still available, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government said on Friday, refuting reports that the capital's hospitals are turning back people affected by the deadly disease." itemprop="description
Coronavirus news: BJP ''unnecessarily criticising'' government's efforts to combat COVID-19, says Rajasthan health minister
Rajasthan Health Minister Raghu Sharma on Friday accused opposition BJP leaders of "unnecessarily criticising" the state government''s efforts in combating COVID-19 to "polish their politics".

Mr Sharma advised BJP leaders to "look at the facts released by the government of India as the Union health ministry has many times appreciated the work done by Rajasthan for the prevention and treatment of coronavirus."

"Despite the fact that several senior leaders of BJP praise the efforts of the state government in combating the coronavirus pandemic, some of their leaders are unnecessarily criticising the state government just to polish their politics," he said.

The minister said Rajasthan is among the top 10 Indian states in handling the crisis, reported news agency PTI.

"BJP is divided and its leaders are doing petty politics," he said.


Coronavirus news: 13 fresh COVID-19 cases in Manipur; tally rises to 137
Thirteen more people tested positive for COVID-19 in Manipur on Friday, taking the number of cases in the state to 137, officials said.

All the new patients had recently returned from other parts of the country and were placed under institutional quarantine in several districts of the state, a statement issued by the COVID-19 Common Control Room said.

Five of the new patients are from Churachandpur, four from Kamjong, two from Imphal West and one each from Ukhrul and Jiribam districts, it said, reported news agency PTI.

They had returned from Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Deoband, the statement said.
Coronavirus news: WHO encourages masks where virus widespread, distancing tough

    
The World Health Organization on Friday updated guidance on wearing facemasks during the coronavirus pandemic, encouraging their use in crowded situations in places where the new coronavirus is widespread.

As the deadly virus continues to spread, the WHO changed its stance on who should wear a mask, when it should be worn and what it should be made of, reported news agency AFP.

"Governments should encourage the general public to wear masks where there is widespread transmission and physical distancing is difficult, such as on public transport, in shops or in other confined or crowded environments," said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

"In areas with community transmission, we advise that people aged 60 years or over, or those with underlying conditions, should wear a medical mask in situations where physical distancing is not possible," he added.

The WHO also issued new guidance on the composition of non-medical fabric masks, advising that they should consist of at least three layers of different material.
Coronavirus news: 1,330 fresh COVID-19 cases in Delhi take tally to over 26,000
Delhi recorded 1,330 fresh coronavirus cases on Friday taking the COVID-19 tally in the city beyond the 26,000-mark, and the death toll due to the disease jumped to 708, authorities said.

The highest spike in fresh cases -- 1,513-- was recorded on June 3.

In a bulletin issued on Friday, the Delhi health department said the death toll from coronavirus infection has risen to 708 and the total number of cases mounted to 26,334.

A total of 58 fatalities were reported on June 4, which took place between May 4 and June 3, the bulletin said, adding that 25 of these deaths took place on June 3.
COVID-19 cases touch 270, local hospital hit in Maharashtra's Amravati
The number of COVID-19 cases in Amravati in Maharashtra reached 270 on Friday after 11 cases were detected in the last 24 hours, including five linked to a local hospital, an official said.

The total number of people who have been infected with the novel coronavirus in Getlife Hospital is now eight, and Amravati Municipal Corporation Commissioner Prashant Rode saying the facility had not been sealed yet as there were people undergoing treatment there.

"We have asked the hospital not to admit new patients and to treat the existing ones as per COVID-19 protocol. All the staff at Getlife Hospital will be tested for coronavirus after five days of quarantine," Mr Rode told PTI.
Coronavirus cases: 27 new COVID-19 cases in UP's Gautam Buddh Nagar, tally 570
Twenty-seven more people were found positive for coronavirus in Gautam Buddh Nagar on Friday, pushing the total cases in the Uttar Pradesh district to 543, officials said.

The number of active cases jumped to 209, even as five patients got discharged after recovery from COVID-19, they said.

Three deaths have occurred in the district since Thursday which are suspect COVID-19 cases but their confirmation reports for the disease were awaited till Friday night, District Surveillance Officer Sunil Dohare said.

Gautam Buddh Nagar, adjoining Delhi, in western Uttar Pradesh has so far recorded eights deaths due to the novel coronavirus, while it has second-highest number of positive cases after Agra, according to a state government data, reported news agency PTI.


Coronavirus - Rahul Gandhi Roasts Centre For Failed Lockdown With 5-Graph Tweet
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday took on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government at the centre for its response to the coronavirus crisis, blaming it for a "failed lockdown" as he compared India's nationwide shutdown to those in other countries." itemprop="description
COVID-19: Delhi government to run campaign to promote medicinal plants
Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Friday said the Delhi government will run a special campaign to promote medicinal and herbal plants in the next one year in view of the coronavirus threat.

On World Environment Day, Chief Minister Arvind Kejrwal asked everyone to come together to build a city filled with clean air and pure water.

Elaborating about the campaign, Mr Rai said these medicinal and herbal plants will be given free of cost at the forest department''s nurseries in the city, reported news agency PTI.

The plants include curry leaves, gooseberry, neem, bahera, jamun, guava, arjun, sahjan, wood apple and lemon, the minister said on World Environment Day.
Coronavirus: Haryana's COVID-19 tally reaches 3,597 with 316 fresh cases; Gurgaon reports 153 cases
Haryana on Friday reported 316 fresh COVID-19 cases, 153 of them from the worst-hit Gurgaon district, taking the total tally in the state to 3,597.

Gurgaon, which has so far reported four of the 24 COVID-19 deaths in the state, now has a cumulative total of 1,563 instances of the infection, according to the state health department''s bulletin.

Haryana reported its highest single-day spike in novel coronavirus cases at 327 on Thursday, the day before 302 cases had been reported. The state had registered 296 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, reported news agency PTI.

Among the fresh cases on Friday, 59 were reported from Faridabad district, 22 from Charkhi Dadri, 14 from Palwal, 12 from Kurukshetra, 11 from Rewari, nine from Hisar, seven from Karnal, six from Ambala, four each from Rohtak and Narnaul, three each from Nuh and Fatehabad, two each from Jind, Jhajjar and Sirsa and one each from Kaithal, Panipat and Panchkula, as per the bulletin.
Coronavirus news: Over 5.6 lakh people in quarantine, says Maharashtra minister
A total of 5,60,303 persons are in quarantine currently in Maharashtra for possible exposure to novel coronavirus, said state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Friday.

A release quoted the minister as saying that the state had so far reported 80,229 positive cases, and 2,849 people have died of the infection.

As per the statement, police issued 4,53,477 passes for essential services since the lockdown was imposed in March.

Mr Deshmukh said 1,22,772 offences were registered and 23,827 people were arrested between March 22 to June 4, and fines to the tune of Rs 6.42 crore were recovered.


Coronavirus news: Gujarat reports 510 new coronavirus cases, 35 death
510 new coronavirus patients were detected in Gujarat since previous evening, the highest increase in a single day, while 35 patients died, the state health department said on Friday.

The total number of positive cases in the state has gone up to 19,119, while death toll due to coronavirus rose to 1,190, it said.

344 persons also recovered during the day, taking the total of those discharged from hospitals to 13,011, reported news agency PTI.


Coronavirus news: Punjab expands COVID-19 testing capacity
Punjab government has launched a scheme to expand testing capacity for early detection of coronavirus, said Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu on Friday.

"We have launched a scheme under which people can contact private labs for collecting the sample at home for which they will charge Rs 1,000," said Mr Sidhu while speaking to ANI.

"These labs will do sampling, while testing will be done for free in our labs," said the Health Minister, adding the government laboratories have a capacity of conducting 9,000 tests per day.


Coronavirus news: Centre ''failed'' to support states amid COVID-19 crisis, says Amarinder Singh
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today slammed the Centre accusing it of failing to provide any help to states during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

Mr Singh said it was the duty of the Centre to come forward in fighting the battle against coronavirus and help states revive their battered economies, reported news agency PTI.

"The government of India has failed to provide any help to the small states in fighting the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and the prolonged lockdown," Mr Singh said.

Economic revival would require support from the central government, the chief minister said, adding that Punjab was on top of the COVID-19 situation.

Last month, the Punjab government had sought a fiscal stimulus of Rs 51,102 crore from Centre to help the state tide over the financial crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic and the prolonged lockdown.
COVID-19: Jammu and Kashmir records 182 fresh cases
Jammu and Kashmir has recorded 182 fresh COVID-19 cases today, taking the total tally to 3,324, news agency PTI quoted officials as saying.
COVID-19: In Maharashtra's Nashik, cases reach 1,435
The samples of 10 people who died earlier in Nashik in Maharashtra tested positive for novel coronavirus on Friday, taking the death toll in the district from the infection to 89, an official said.

Among the ten, eight are from hotspot Malegaon, which now accounts for 63 COVID-19 deaths so far, reported news agency PTI.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Nashik district reached 1,435 after 20 people tested positive for the virus on Friday, he said.


Coronavirus news: 324 new COVID-19 cases in Ahmedabad, tally rises to 13,678
The number of coronavirus positive patients in Ahmedabad district of Gujarat reached 13,678 after 324 more cases were reported in the last 24 hours, the state health department said on Friday.

With the death of 30 patients during the same period, the count of victims in the district rose to 968, the department said in a release, reported news agency ANI.

As many as 251 patients were discharged from different hospitals after recovery in the last 24 hours, it added.


COVID-19: Number of active cases in Goa at 130
The number of active COVID-19 cases in Goa has reached 130 as on Friday, and widespread testing for the infection was underway in Mangor Hill, the state's first containment area, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said.

The Mangor Hill area in Vasco has seen a sizable number of cases, but it is local spread and not community transmission, Mr Sawant added.

"The total number of active COVID-19 cases in Goa as on Friday is 130. We are testing people in Mangor Hill," he said.


Coronavirus news: Karnataka logs highest single-day spike of over 500 new COVID-19 cases
Karnataka registered its highest single-day spike of more than 500 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of infections in the state to 4,835, the health department said on Friday.

The previous biggest single-day spurt was recorded on June 2 with 388 cases, reported news agency PTI.

Of the 515 fresh cases reported, 482 are returnees from other states, mostly (about 471) from neighboring Maharashtra.

Udupi district saw a major spike with over 200 cases today and the total tally of the district breaching seven hundred cases mark, to stand at 768.


Coronavirus news: Kerala's daily COVID-19 infection tally at 111
For the first time, Kerala's COVID-19 daily figures touched three digits with the state recording 111 cases, prompting chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan to term the situation grim.

The surge in positive cases has pushed the infection count to 1,699 while 1.77 lakh people are under observation.

On May 8,Kerala had declared that it had flattened the coronavirus curve after reporting a solitary case and just 16 people under treatment.

However, with more people coming to the state from abroad and other states, the cases have seen a sudden spike.

Expressing concern at the increasing graph of the virus infections, Mr Vijayan said it had nearly doubled since June 1 when 57 positive cases were detected in the state after which there has been a steady climb -- with 86 cases on June 2, 82 on June 3 and 94 on June 4.


Coronavirus news: UP conducting 12,000 COVID-19 tests daily, says Yogi Adityanath
Uttar Pradesh is conducting 12,000 coronavirus tests every day which will be scaled up to 20,000 tests daily by the end of this month, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said.

"The first time when a coronavirus case was reported in Uttar Pradesh, we did not have any testing facility and no isolation ward had been created. However, today we have 32 testing labs and every day we are conducting 12,000 tests," Yogi Adityanath said during an interaction with a Hindi daily.

"We want to scale up the testing capacity to 15,000 tests per day from June 15 which will go to 20,000 tests every day by the end of June," he added.

He said that the state has over one lakh beds for COVID-19 treatment.


Coronavirus news: Tamil Nadu virus cases tally crosses 28,000 mark
Tamil Nadu continued to witness a surge in COVID-19 infections with 1,438 cases and 12 deaths reported on Friday, taking the count to 28,694 and fatalities to 232.

Of the fresh positive cases,Chennai alone accounted for 1,116 with the state capital's aggregate touching a whopping 19,826, reported news agency.

Continuing with the trend of a new high everyday, Tamil Nadu on the sixth straight day today reported 1,000 plus cases and the newly infected include six people from Qatar, five from Dubai and one from Sri Lanka, a health department bulletin said.


COVID-19: BJP Yuva Morcha distributes soaps in UP
BJP Yuva Morcha is distributing Gamchas and soaps among people as part of a campaign to raise awareness in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Under the campaign, BJP workers at Karelia village of Aligarh are creating awareness among the villagers about the importance of washing their hands with soap and maintaining social distance, reported news agency ANI.

BJP Yuva Morcha district president Mukesh Singh Lodhi said, "To fight COVID-19, we have started a campaign to create awareness about COVID-19 by distributing Gamchas and soaps."
Coronavirus news: SOPs aim to instil proper COVID-19 behaviour for resuming social, economic activities, says Centre
The aim of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for religious places, shopping malls, restaurants, hotel and offices is to instil appropriate behaviour among people to contain COVID-19 transmission chain while allowing resumption of social and economic activities, the Union health ministry said on Friday.

Accelerating efforts to restart long-stalled business activities to contain the economic cost of the pandemic, the Health Ministry on Friday released SOPs for reopening offices, hotels, shopping malls, restaurants and religious places. Some of them have already re-opened in parts of the country and a few others are scheduled to re-start in the next phase of unlocking from next Monday.

Nevertheless, coronavirus cases and death toll in India continued to mount. A record jump of 9,851 cases and 273 fatalities in 24 hours took the country''s COVID-19 tally on Friday to 2,26,770 and death toll to 6,348.

"The new guidelines aim to instil COVID-19 appropriate behaviour to contain the chain of transmission while allowing social and economic activity to resume," the health ministry said.

According to the SOPs, restaurants, hotels, places of worship and offices in COVID-19 containment zones will remain closed and only those outside these areas will be allowed to open.


Coronavirus news: Uttarakhand's COVID-19 tally rises to 1,199
Uttarakhand's COVID-19 tally rose to 1,199 on Friday, with 46 more people testing positive for coronavirus.

The fresh cases were reported from Almora (5), Chamoli (2), Champawat (2) Dehradun (15), Haridwar (1), Pauri (1), Rudraprayag (14) and Tehri (6), a state health department bulletin said.

Most of the new patients have a travel history to Mumbai, Delhi and Gurgaon, it said.

A total of 309 people have recovered so far, while eleven have died, reported news agency PTI.


Coronavirus news: 1,163 migrant labourers in UP symptomatic for COVID-19, says state's Principal Secretary (Health)
Uttar Pradesh Principal Secretary (Health), Amit Mohan Prasad on Friday informed that as many as 1,163 migrant labourers who have returned to the state are symptomatic for COVID-19.

At a press conference on the COVID-19 situation in the state, Prasad said, "We are tracking migrant labourers returning to the state with the help of ASHA workers. 12,80,833 migrant labourers have been tracked till now, out of which 1,163 are symptomatic, like they have fever, cough or breathlessness. Their samples have been collected for testing."

He furher informed that in the last 24 hours, 502 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Uttar Pradesh.


Coronavirus news: UP records biggest single-day jump of 496 COVID-19 cases
Uttar Pradesh recorded its biggest single-day jump of 496 COVID-19 cases on Friday, taking the state's tally to 9,733, while 12 more people succumbed to the disease, a senior official said.

With the fresh deaths, the toll in the state has risen to 257, said Principal Secretary, Health, Amit Mohan Prasad.

There are 3,828 active cases in the state, while 5,648 people have recovered and been discharged from hospitals, he said.

Mr Prasad said a helpline was launched on Thursday through which ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist), anganwadi and ANM (auxiliary nurse midwife) workers and private pharmacists can inform authorities about suspected coronavirus cases.


Coronavirus news: Indians stranded abroad thank government for making arrangements for repatriation.
The stranded Indian nationals, who departed from the iconic Italian city of Florence on Thursday in a special Air India flight bound for Delhi on late Thursday, appreciated and thanked the Indian government as well as the Embassy of India in Italy for making necessary arrangements for their repatriation.

"I would like to thank the Indian government for making necessary arrangements for the repatriation back home," said Karan Singh, a student in Florence.

"I appreciate the efforts of the Indian Embassy to get us all together and get a flight to Delhi," said Nirmal Singh, who also boarded the second Air India repatriation flight to Delhi from Florence under the second phase of Vande Bharat Mission.


Coronavirus news: 5,355 COVID-19 patients recovered in last 24 hours, says Centre
During the last 24 hours, a total of 5,355 COVID-19 patients have been cured, said the Union Ministry of Health and Family Affairs on Friday.

"A total of 5,355 coronavirus patients have been cured in the last 24 hours. So far, a total of 1,09,462 patients have been cured. The recovery rate is 48.27 per cent among COVID-19 patients," said the Ministry in an official statement.

At present, there are 1,10,960 active cases and all are under medical supervision, read the statement.


Coronavirus: Supreme Court asks if private hospitals ready to charge COVID-19 patients at Ayushman Bharat rate
The Supreme Court Friday asked private hospitals whether they are ready to provide treatment to COVID-19 infected patients at the charges prescribed under the government's Ayushman Bharat Scheme.

The ''Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana'' is aimed at providing health cover to poor and vulnerable persons in the country.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde observed that the apex court is not asking all the private hospitals to treat certain number of COVID-19 patients for free, reported news agency PTI.

The bench, also comprising Justices A S Bopanna and Hrishikesh Roy, said it is asking only those private hospitals, which have been given land at concessional rates by the government, to treat certain number of coronavirus infected patients for free.

"I just want to know if hospitals are ready to charge at Ayushman rates," the CJI observed during the hearing which was conducted through video-conferencing.


Coronavirus news: Odisha reports eighth COVID-19 death, total cases cross 2,500
A 63-year-old man succumbed to COVID-19 in Khurda district on Friday, taking Odisha's number of deaths due to the virus to eight, a health department official said.

The man, who was undergoing treatment at a COVID-19 hospital in Bhubaneswar, was also suffering from diabetes, the official said.

"Regret to inform that a 63-year-old male patient of Khurda district who had tested positive for COVID, passed away while under treatment in hospital," a statement issued by the health department said, reported news agency PTI.

He is the fourth COVID-19 patient from Khurda district to die. Three other casualties were reported from Ganjam and one from Cuttack, the official said.

The state also reported 130 fresh cases of COVID-19, taking the total to 2,608.



Coronavirus news: Police officer suspended after cops found violating social distancing norms in UP
A video has surfaced showing policemen in Ambedkar Nagar district allegedly violating social distancing norms by following an inspector in a cavalcade of vehicles as part of his farewell procession, prompting the superintendent of police to suspend the cop and order the registration of an FIR.

Ambedkar Nagar Superintendent of Police Alok Priyadarshi said the police have taken cognisance of the video in which inspector is seen moving in a cavalcade of vehicles after his transfer.

"The inspector has been suspended and other cops with him have been sent to lines. A detailed probe is ordered in the matter," he said.
The SP said that a detailed probe has been ordered by the additional superintendent of police and an order has been issued to lodge an FIR against the inspector for not following social distancing under relevant sections of Indian Penal Code.
JUST IN: Supreme Court seeks response of centre, private hospitals on whether government scheme rates can apply to COVID-19 patients
Coronavirus news: Part of DRDO's Delhi headquarters closed for sanitisation after employee tests positive

A floor of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) headquarters in Delhi has been closed for a day for sanitisation after an employee tested positive for COVID-19, news agency ANI reported quoting sources.

All protocols are being followed to disinfect the building.
Coronavirus news: SSB Personnel Dies Of COVID-19; Ninth death in Central Armed Police Forces

A 55-year-old head constable rank official of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has died after he contracted COVID-19, the first death from the pandemic in the border guarding force, news agency PTI reported.

The official was posted in the 25th battalion of the force based in Delhi. He was also suffering from some kidney ailments, the report said.

This is the first death from the virus in the about 80,000 personnel strong force and the ninth death among the Central Armed Police Forces.
Delhi''s Kalkaji Temple to reopen on June 8

Authorities at Kalkaji Mandir are taking necessary precautionary measures against COVID-19 as religious places prepare to open on June 8 after relaxations in lockdown. The temple authorities also appealed to the authorities to avoid bringing any offerings, news agency ANI reported.

"Temple administration will follow the guidelines which have been issued by the government. We are installing sanitisation tunnels at the entry of the shrine. We appeal to the devotees to wear masks while entering the temple, and not bring any offerings to the temple as the Central government has directed," Surendra Avdhoot, head priest at the temple, told ANI.
Coronavirus India Lockdown news: Hotels, restaurants, tourism operations to resume in Andhra from June 8

Hotels, restaurants and tourism operations to restart from June 8 in Andhra Pradesh, said Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Youth Advancement was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

"All COVID-19 regulation norms will be taken care of in all hotels and restaurants," said Rao while interacting with hotel industry representatives in Vijayawada, along with Endowments Minister Vellam Palli Srinivasa Rao.

He further added that measures will be taken to open hotels and restaurants in towns with famous temples. As per the Unlock 1 guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), all the religious places and places of worship are allowed to re-open from June 8.
Coronavirus India Lockdown news: Sanitisation carried out at Punjab's Durgiana Temple
Punjab's Durgiana Temple being sanitised as religious places are set to open on June 8 after over 2 months of lockdown. (ANI)

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Coronavirus: Study Flagging Anti-Malarial Drug Hydroxychloroquine Risks In COVID-19 Treatment Withdrawn
Three of the four authors behind a large-scale study in The Lancet that raised safety fears over the use of common anti-malarial drugs to treat COVID-19 retracted their paper on Thursday, blaming a health care company that supplied the dataset."
Coronavirus news: Delhi government orders upgradation of beds at designated COVID hospitals


The Delhi government has ordered designated COVID Hospitals to upgrade beds at their facilities in the coming weeks.

According to the order issued by the Padmini Singla, Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) the beds in the hospitals have been put into five categories.

While the Level 0 beds are an ordinary hospital or observation beds, the Level 1 beds have to be equipped with normal Oxygen supply upto 5 Liters per minute, while the level 2 beds should have an oxygen supply at 10-15 litres per minute.
Corovirus News: Latest Number
- India's tally of coronavirus cases crossed 2.2 lakh on Thursday

- India observed a record spike of over 9,000 new cases and several states reporting their highest one-day surge.

- The health ministry said the number of active COVID-19 cases in the country stood at 1,06,737 till 8 am on Thursday.

- The country has now registered over 8,000 fresh cases for the fifth consecutive day, according to government data.

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