A man wearing a mask in North 24 Pargana district, Barasat. The West Bengal government has made wearing of masks mandatory in public places. (Express photo by Shashi Ghosh)
Delhi recorded 356 new cases of coronavirus on Monday, a highest single-day rise in the national capital so far. With four more deaths, the toll mounted to 28. The number of cases in Maharashtra crossed 2,000 mark on Monday. With 352 new cases, state’s tally now stood at 2,334, of which 1,549 cases were reported from Mumbai alone. With nine new deaths, the toll in Mumbai hit 100.
Click to read PM Narendra Modi address to the nation live updates
In its daily briefing, the Union Health Ministry said no new cases of the novel coronavirus were detected in 25 districts from 15 states of the country in the last 14 days. Health Secretary Luv Aggarwal said 905 new positive cases and 51 deaths due to the coronavirus were recorded in the last 24 hours in the country. The overall cases in country rose to 9,352 cases with 324 deaths. The ministry also said that over two lakh tests for COVID-19 have been conducted so far and they have enough stock to conduct tests for six weeks.
Amid the pandemic, OPEC and allies led by Russia agreed to curb global oil supply by 20% for fuel and driven down oil prices, straining budgets of oil producers. Globally, nearly 1.85 million people are infected, while the death toll is over 1.14 lakh. China, the epicenter of the virus, reported the highest number of new daily coronavirus cases in nearly six weeks, driven by a rise in infected travellers arriving from overseas and underscoring challenges Beijing faces in preventing a second wave of COVID-19. The United States, with the world’s third-largest population, has recorded more fatalities from COVID-19 than any other country, nearly 22,000 as of Sunday evening.
Patients at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata were shifted from one ward to another in a separate building and released after two fresh cases of Covid-19 were identified in the hospital. (Express photo/Partha Paul)
It is possible for a pregnant woman who is positive for COVID-19 to pass on the virus to her child, the ICMR has said, laying down norms both for the care of the mother and the child in such instances. The guidelines also call for the use of personal protective equipment for hospital staff, especially at the time of delivery. Click here to read ICMR's guidelines.
At least two states with a high number of cases are recommending hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) as a preventive measure against coronavirus to its police personnel. While the Mumbai Police started last week, Rajasthan announced on Saturday that the anti-malarial drug, whose efficacy against COVID-19 is contested, would be given to policemen deployed in hot zones.
The Aarogya Setu app launched by the Centre earlier this month, which has clocked over 1.5 crore downloads within two weeks of going live, might soon be made into an e-pass for movement of citizens. Government officials pointed out that a functionality for the app has been suggested wherein it can approve people, who are clear of any threat of contracting or spreading COVID-19 disease, for movement. “There have been suggestions to build in this functionality in the Aarogya Setu App; the idea is good and technical feasibility of the same is being worked out,” a spokesperson for Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology said, adding that a final call will be taken by an empowered group constituted for logistics.
According to data provided by the Health Ministry, the number of cases in Maharashtra has risen to 2,334 with 160 deaths. New Delhi has 1,510 cases and 28 deaths. Tamil Nadu has 1,173 cases and 11 deaths. These are the three worst-hit states in the country. Other states where cases are high include Rajasthan (873), Madhya Pradesh (604) and Telangana (562), Uttar Pradesh (558) and Gujarat (539).
The number of coronavirus cases in India has crossed the 10,000 mark to 10,363, including 8,988 active cases, 1,035 discharged and 339 deaths. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation in an hour to spell out India's strategy for the pandemic. Stay tuned
In case you missed it, here's our report on what goes on every day at police checkposts in cities and town across India, where the state and the public meet everyday in a never-ending cycle of requests and negotiations.
While its “Bhilwara model” is being replicated elsewhere in the country, the Rajasthan government is facing a major challenge in Jaipur, where the number of COVID-19 cases has more than doubled in the last few days — from 168 on April 9 to 370 on Monday. Jaipur now accounts for about 42 per cent of the total 897 cases in the state. State Health Minister Raghu Sharma said the dense population in Ramganj was a major challenge in implementing the “Bhilwara model”. He also pointed to lack of public participation in following the administration’s orders.
As it looks increasingly certain the lockdown will be extended by another fortnight, a number of states including Maharashtra, Gujarat and Delhi are bracing to deal with thousands of anxious and restless migrants, stranded in shelter homes and makeshift homes without much money and ration. More than anyone else, the migrants are eagerly waiting for the Prime Minister’s address this morning, police officers in Maharashtra and Gujarat told The Indian Express. Many feel abandoned by their employers, and want to return to their native places, and be with their families.
With hours to go for the Prime Minister’s address and the last day of the coronavirus lockdown, the Railways has not received the green signal to resume services from the day after. Over the last week, a number of states asked the Centre to extend the lockdown till the month-end to contain COVID-19. Given the situation, sources said, the national transporter has readied paperwork to cancel all trains scheduled from April 15.
As the 21 day nationwide lockdown officialy ends Tuesday, states across the country are planning to enter into the next phase by focusing on reviving selective economic areas and industries.
Maharashtra may allow industries to restart in many areas, except in the Mumbai metro region and Pune.
Haryana, officials will ask traders and industrialists to “be prepared for a graded exit, at least in certain areas”.
Odisha will reopen economic activities linked to agriculture and fisheries.Odisha Special Relief Commissioner P K Jena said the “second phase of the lockdown, from April 15-30, will see some changes in the nature of restrictions”.
In the search for a treatment for COVID-19 disease, researchers have been targeting specific behaviours of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV2) that causes the disease.While the virus itself is still being studied, the hunt for a treatment is based on what is known so far about the way it infects humans.
Some studies are looking at the structure of the virus, while others are investigating its behaviour as a potential target for future drugs.Read more here.
With the lockdown hurting revenue collection and the fight against COVID-19 costing dearly, states have asked the Centre to take immediate measures in this regard. A key demand the states are making is an increase in borrowing capacity. States like Kerala want special bonds so that they can borrow outside normal borrowing and that this is done by RBI directly and not through banks. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must permit states to issue “pandemic relief bonds” which RBI may be requested to buy at a rate below 5 per cent
The total coronavirus positive cases in Punjab reached 180 Monday with ten people testing positive in the state including two from Jalandhar. The other cases reported in the state include six from Pathankot and one each from Mohali and Ludhiana. Meanwhile, in Nawanshahr, 13 persons have been cured out of 18 admitted at the Civil Hospital. Jalandhar now has 24 cases, including 4 cured patients and two deaths.
Read more here
To rule out chances of any COVID-19 infection because of harvesting machines and their drivers coming from other states, Haryana agriculture officials are mulling screening and medical check-ups at nakas.“The idea is simple — that no infected person or machine from another state enters Haryana. If anybody is found unwell, medical examination and treatment will be ensured,” Rajesh Sihag, deputy director, Haryana agriculture and farmers’ welfare department told The Indian Express.
After Noida and Greater Noida issued an order saying no educational institution can force parents of any student to pay fee, parents in Delhi are hoping for similar relief. Fees for this academic quarter in most institutions are due on Wednesday. With businesses hit by the lockdown and salary cuts in many workplaces, parents have pointed to suspension of day-to-day functioning in private schools to seek relief.
Gautam Buddh Nagar saw a sudden rise in coronavirus cases on Monday, with 16 people testing positive. According to officials, while nine cases were linked to a fire safety firm that has been the main source of cases in the district, two were people with links to the Nizamuddin Markaz gathering of the Tablighi Jamaat. These are the first set of cases linked to the Jamaat in the district. The number of total cases in the district went up to 80, the second-highest in Uttar Pradesh, followed by Agra at 138.
Under the scanner over delay in procurement of testing kits for COVID-19, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), in a major shift in policy, Monday issued a tender asking Central PSUs to engage as procurement agency for essential supplies related to coronavirus testing.
The crucial decision comes in the backdrop of the delay in implementing the rapid antibody tests in high-density clusters (containment zones). The ICMR had ordered 5 lakh kits, of which 2.5 lakh were to be delivered this past week — however, the testing kits are yet to arrive.
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In view of the “extraordinary” situation of a nationwide lockdown due to COVID-19, the Delhi University (DU) is debating holding online examinations. A meeting of Deans of various departments was Monday called by the administration, in which it was allegedly discussed that “oral submissions” of answers could be taken from students.
DU Executive Council member Rajesh Jha, who claimed he was privy to the details of the meeting, called the proposal a “complete mockery of higher education.”
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As soon as the prime minister’s office made the announcement about the address that is expected to spell out the future course of action, here's how people on Twitter reacted.
In the global effort to tackle the novel coronavirus pandemic, many countries have now employed supercomputers to help expedite research into the virus. Scientists are using supercomputers for several challenging tasks, such as understanding how the virus spreads in a community, how it infects the human body, as well as for possibly finding a cure and vaccine. Supercomputers have also been used during past outbreaks, including the 2015 Zika epidemic and the 2014-16 Ebola epidemic. So how can supercomputers help in the fight and where are these supercomputers being used? We Explain here.
New York's coronavirus death toll topped 10,000 only about a month after the state recorded its first fatality. The state tallied 671 new deaths on Sunday. It was the first time in a week the daily toll dipped below 700.
South Africa has recorded 99 new coronavirus cases, taking the total in the country to 2,272, news agency Reuters reported. The country has also recorded a further two deaths from the virus, increasing the death toll to 27.
Delhi recorded 356 new cases of coronavirus on Monday, a highest single-day rise in the national capital so far. With four more deaths, the toll mounted to 28.
Summer has set in over the long rows of yellow-brown tobacco stalks in fields on both sides of the Borsad-Tarapur highway that leads to Dharmaj, a small town in Petlad taluka of Anand district. The town’s spotless roads are deserted on the scorching Tuesday morning, except for a few provision stores and a dairy that continue catering to people. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s health was one of the top discussions in town last week, when Anand district had also reported its first COVID 19 case. About 1,600 families from Dharmaj live in the United Kingdom. Subsequently, an idea of disallowing outsiders into the town gained prominence, but with a bank having pensioners as account holders from adjoining villages, the town is unable to take drastic decisions. Read Express report by Aditi Raja here
Total number of positive coronavirus cases in Jammu and Kashmir is now 270, of which 250 are active.
The number of cases in Maharashtra crossed 2,000 mark on Monday. With 352 new cases, state's tally now stood at 2,334, of which 1,549 cases were reported from Mumbai alone. With nine new deaths, the toll in Mumbai hit 100.
Amid the ongoing nationwide coronavirus lockdown, which has resulted in the suspension of domestic and international flights, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor took a subtle dig at IndiGo airlines for banning comedian Kunal Kamra. Tharoor’s tweet has triggered mixed reactions online. Click to read the whole story.
No new cases reported from 25 districts in 15 states: This Express video brings to you today's top COVID-19 Updates
Every year, on the eve of the Malayalam new year of Vishu, families flock to buy new clothes and accessories. The markets teem with people haggling over vellari (golden melon) and konna (the beautiful yellow flower), the two ubiquitous elements of the ritualistic arrangement of the festival. But on Monday, with Vishu just a day away, there’s little hint in Kerala that a festival is around the corner. The streets are empty. The konna flower from the golden shower tree is hardly to be seen. Shelves of supermarkets and retail shops are fast emptying out with people buying whatever they could to prepare a modest feast. The three-week national lockdown, put in place to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic, has brought life to a standstill, drowning out any hint of Vishu-related fervour in the state. Click to read the full story here
Despite lockdown, women assembled in large numbers outside bank to withdraw money from Jan Dhan accounts in Ahmedabad. Poila Boishakh (Bengali New Year) market in West Bengal this year remained deserted due to the restrictions. On Day 20 of nationwide lockdown, The Indian Express brings to you visuals from all over the country.
Six more coronavirus-positive cases have been reported in Nagpur on Monday, taking the cumulative total to 47. Three of them and seven out of Sunday's 17 COVID-19 positive patients were stated to be from Jabalpur taking the tally of travellers from Jabalpur contracting the disease to ten. All of them were also said to be linked to the Tablighi meet held in Delhi last month.
Staggered timings, coupons, odd-even rule, these are among the measures enforced by the Delhi government to tackle overcrowding and ensure social distancing at the city’s seven wholesale mandis selling vegetables, fruits and food grains. Delhi Development Minister Gopal Rai made the announcements on Monday after a meeting with the officials of the mandis. Meanwhile, Congress was targeted Karnataka minister for posting pool photos during lockdown. On the other hand, Jalandhar police helped rescue 250 truck drivers from Punjab who were stranded in the Kutch region of Gujarat after taking up the matter with their counterparts in the state. Click here for updates from lockdown Day 20
With nine new deaths recorded Monday, Mumbai's death toll in coronavirus hit 100. A total of 150 new cases were also recorded taking the total count to 1,549.
Tamil Nadu's total tally stood at 1,173 while its capital Chennai crossed 200-mark on Monday. Seventeen districts have been marked red (high alert zone). Here is a state-wise break up of total cases in the state.
BMC staff busy preparing quarantine facility for COVID-19 patients in Transit Camp Municipal School, Dharavi, after the number of cases in Asia’s largest slum Dharavi spiked.
Antiviral drug Remdesivir may affect the reproduction of SARS-CoV-2 too, Dr R R Gangakhedkar, head of the division of epidemiology at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), said on Monday. So, what is Remdesivir?
Remdesivir, developed by Gilead Sciences Inc, was previously tested in humans with Ebola virus disease and has also shown promise against MERS and SARS. According to Dr Soumya Swaminathan, chief scientist at World Health Organization, the most promising trial to look for the best treatment against COVID-19, is the one on remdesivir under the aegis of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH).Trials have begun on adult patients with COVID-19 hospitalised at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. “The first trial participant is an American who was repatriated after being quarantined on the Diamond Princess cruise ship that docked in Yokohama, Japan and volunteered to participate in the study,” the NIH said. Remdesivir, developed by Gilead Sciences Inc, was previously tested in humans with Ebola virus disease and has also shown promise against MERS and SARS. Click here to read about other drugs and theri combinations that are being tried to find a treatment for COVID-19
Hours after Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Monday submitted an affidavit in the Supreme Court, urging it to dismiss the petition on which it ordered free testing for COVID-19 in private laboratories, the apex court stated that the benefit of free testing in private labs is only for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and for those covered by Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) scheme. The Supreme Court also asked the central government to inform within a week, about any other EWS are also eligible for free tests. Read more
In Punjab, 176 people have tested positive so far. Of them, 139 are still being treated while 25 have been cured.
A total 905 new cases and 51 deaths were reported in last 24 hours taking India's case count to 9,352 cases and toll to 324 deaths
Twenty one new cases of COVID-19 were reported in J&K on Monday. Of them, 17 from Kashmir Division and 4 from Jammu Division. Total number of positive cases now stand at 245.
Antiviral drug Remdesivir, which was used against Ebola virus, may affect the reproduction of SARS-CoV-2 too, Dr R R Gangakhedkar, head of the division of epidemiology at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), said on Monday. Remdesivir, developed by Gilead Sciences Inc, has also shown promise against MERS and SARS. Saying that an observational study showed two out of three patients who needed ventilator had benefited from this drug, Dr Gangakhedkar said this is one arm of SOLIDARITY trial — the one launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) last month. Click here to read the full story
In Tamil Nadu, existing restrictions to continue till April 30. Rice cardholders to be provided with sugar, dal and other essentials at free of cost for the month of May. Rs 1,000 to be given as compensation for all registered workers in the unorganised sector.
Mumbai police personnel are seen inside a full-body sanitising mobile van turned into mobile sanitisation chamber in Mumbai to disinfect cops near Dharavi junction on Monday. (Express photo by Prashant Nadkar)
Plea against alleged demonisation of Muslim community over Tablighi Jamaat issue: SC says can’t gag media. Asks petitioner Jamaat-Ulema-I-Hind to make Press Council a party. To hear plea later.
The Supreme Court Monday dismissed a plea challenging the creation of PM CARES fund, calling it as 'mischievous'.
First consignment of test kits likely to reach from China on April 15, the Health Ministry said.
Dr R R Gangakhedkar of the ICMR said Remdesivir, which was used against Ebola, may affect reproduction of the COVID-19 virus. The Health Ministry also said that over two lakh tests have been conducted for COVID-19 so far and they have enough stock to conduct tests for 6 weeks.
In its daily briefing, the Union Health Ministry said no new cases of the novel coronavirus were detected in 25 districts of the country in the last 14 days. These include Gondia in Maharashtra, Raj nand gaon, Durg, Bilaspur in Chattisgarh, Davangiri, Kodagu, Tumkuru, Udupi in Karnataka, South Goa in Goa, Wayanad, Kottayam in Kerala, West Imphal in Manipur, Rajouri in J&K, Aizwal West in Mizoram, Mahe in Puducherry, SBS Nagar in Punjab, Patna, Nalanda & Munger in Bihar, Pratapgarh in Rajasthan, Panipat, Rohtak, Sirsa in Haryana, Pauri Garhwal in Uttrakhand, Bhadradari Kothagudem in Telangana.
Health Secretary Luv Aggarwal said 796 new positive cases and 35 deaths due to the coronavirus were recorded in the last 24 hours in the country. The overall cases in country rose to 9,152 cases with 308 deaths.
Tamil Nadu on Monday announced that it would extend the lockdown till April 30 in order to contain the spread of coronavirus in the state. With this, Tamil Nadu became the seventh state after Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, West Bengal, Karnataka and Telangana to take such a step.
Till Sunday, April 12, 2,06,213 coronavirus tests were done, says ICMR.
Karnataka Chief Minister on Monday said the COVID-19 situation has thrown the state into a deep financial trouble and there is a need to to find ways to overcome the present crisis, as he announced certain measures aimed at resource mobalisation.
"The possible situation once the lockdown is released, was widely discussed in the meeting. Discussion was also held about the financial situation of the state government and how to mobilise resources. Many suggestions were given and it was decided to implement those suggestions," the Chief Minister said.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, he said, "...the COVID-19 situation has thrown our state into deep financial trouble and there is a need to to find ways to overcome present financial crisis." (PTI)
The Ministry of Home Affairs Monday extended till April 30 the regular visa, e-visa of foreigners stranded in India due to COVID-19, PTI reported.
ICMR affidavit urges Supreme Court to dismiss petition on which it had ordered free testing for COVID-19 for all in pvt labs. Says the test already made free for PMJAY beneficiaries even in pvt labs.
COVID-19 testing is "abysmally low" in Bihar, health infrastructure is in shambles and medical supplies procurement "very slow", RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav alleged on Monday and asked the Nitish Kumar-led government to persuade the Centre to provide a special financial package to fight the pandemic. In an interview to PTI, Yadav said the overall attitude of the state government on the pandemic so far has been to hope that "the fire will douse on its own".
"Testing has been abysmally low, medical infrastructure hasn't been scaled up, medical supplies are draining out and their procurement very slow," he alleged.
"You have seen how doctors and medical staff were making videos and getting them viral to get their demands fulfilled. Health infrastructure in Bihar is in shambles," the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader claimed.
Food and rations are not reaching the needy, poor and vulnerable, Yadav said, urging the state government to reassess the gravity of the crisis and proactively deal with it. (PTI)
Vegetables to be sold from 6 am to 11 am, fruits 2 pm to 6 pm in all wholesale markets in Delhi: Delhi's Development Minister Gopal Rai (PTI)
Karnataka launches exclusive WhatsApp helpdesk number to provide latest updates and fact-checks on the coronavirus-related developments from the state. The number is +918750971717.
Four new COVID-19 cases reported in Vadodara, taking the total cases in the area to 106.
Accusing him of “irresponsible behaviour”, Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar Monday sought the resignation of state Minister for Medical Education Sudhakar K after the latter posted a picture of him in a swimming pool with his children during the coronavirus lockdown. Sudhakar, a medical doctor by qualification and the Medical Education Minister in the Karnataka government, is in charge of all matters relating to COVID-19 in the state. He had posted a picture on social media on April 12 of him spending time with his children in a swimming pool but later deleted the post.
Amid requests from states to extend the nationwide lockdown, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation tomorrow at 10 am. At least six states–Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, West Bengal, Karnataka and Telangana — have already announced an extension.
Japan's government said on Monday it saw no reason at the moment to extend its state of emergency beyond Tokyo and a handful of other cities around the country. "So far we have not been informed of any expert evidence suggesting that the state of emergency should be extended to Hokkaido or other regions," chief government spokesman Yoshihide Suga told reporters at a briefing. The central government declared a state of emergency last week, giving legal authority to governors in Tokyo and six other potential virus hotspot prefectures to ask people to stay home and businesses to close, although there are no penalties for non-compliance