The novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, pandemic has spread across 185 countries and territories. Today is the thirty-sixth day of India’s nationwide lockdown, which has been extended till May 3. During his interaction with chief ministers on April 27, PM Modi reportedly hinted that restrictions may continue in hotspots.
Confirmed COVID-19 cases in India stand at 31,787. The death toll from the outbreak in India is at 1,008. Maharashtra, Gujarat and Delhi have reported the highest number of cases.
Globally, there have been over 31.1 lakh confirmed cases of COVID-19. At least 2.16 lakh people have died so far. The United States, Spain, Italy, France, Germany and the UK are the most-affected countries. Catch the latest updates here:
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Coronavirus in Tripura LIVE Updates |
An ambulance driver from Tamil Nadu who came to Tripura along with five passengers has tested positive for COVID-19today.
Coronavirus in Rajasthan LIVE Updates | State Health Department:
74 new cases of COVID-19and3 new deaths have been reported in Rajasthan today, taking the total number of cases to 2,438 including 55 deaths. 814 patients have recovered from the disease till date.
Coronavirus in Telangana LIVE Updates | State Health Department:
No deaths reported in the last 24 hours in Telangana. 7 new COVID-19positive cases reported in the state today, taking the total number of active cases to 582.
Coronavirus in Bihar LIVE Updates |
11 more persons have tested positive for COVID-19; taking the total number of positive cases to 403.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | Ministry of Home Affairs:
MHA held a comprehensive review meeting on the lockdownsituation today. There havebeen tremendous gains and improvement in the situation due to lockdown till now. To ensure that these gains are not squandered away, lockdown guidelines should be strictly observed till May 3.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | Ministry of Home Affairs:
New guidelines to fight COVID-19will come into effect from 4th May, which shall give considerable relaxations to many districts. Details regarding this shall be communicated in the days to come.
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LIVE Updates |
The state has reported 597 cases today and 32 deaths. With this, the total number of cases in Maharashtra go up to 9,915, including 432 deaths.
Coronavirus in Uttarakhand LIVE Updates | State Health Department:
The total number of positive COVID-19cases in the state is now 55.
Coronavirus in Gujarat LIVE Updates |
With 308 new coronavirus patients detected, number of cases in Gujarat rises to 4,082, while death toll rises by 16 to 197, health officials have said.
Coronavirus in Haryana LIVE Updates |
Number of active cases of COVID-19rises to 83 in Haryana. 225 patients have been cured/discharged while three others succumbed to the infection so far.
Coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh LIVE Updates | State Health Department:
Till date, 2,560 cases of COVID-19have been reported in Madhya Pradesh and 130 people have lost their lives. Indore has recorded 1,476 cases and65 deaths, while in Bhopal there are 483 cases and14 deaths.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates |
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan says of the total active COVID-19cases in India, only 0.33 percent patients are on ventilators, 1.5 percent are on oxygen support and 2.34 percent are in ICU, reports news agency PTI.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | India's domestic air passenger traffic fell by 11.8% in March: IATA
Indian domestic air passenger traffic fell by 11.8 percent in March as compared to the corresponding month last year, indicating the impact of COVID-19 on the country's aviation sector, stated global airlines body IATA on Wednesday.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA), however, said global passenger traffic dived 52.9 percent compared to the same period a year ago.
Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu LIVE Updates |
Tamil Nadu has recorded 104 fresh cases today, out of which 94 have been recorded from Chennai. Two deaths have also been reported today in the state.
Coronavirus in Chandigarh LIVE Updates |
Health Department:12 new COVID-19positive cases have been reported in Chandigarh today; taking the total positive cases to 68.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Gilead's remdesivir meets main goal of trial in COVID-19 patients
Gilead Sciences Inc GILD.O hassaid that its experimental antiviral drug, remdesivir, had met the main goal of a trial testing it in COVID-19 patients, news agency Reuters has reported.
The trial was being conducted by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and more details on the data would be provided at an upcoming briefing by the NIAID, Gilead said.
Coronavirus in J&K LIVE Updates |
16 new COVID-19positive cases have been reported in Jammu and Kashmir in last 24 hours. Total positive cases in the Union Territory stand at 581 which includes 381 active cases and8 deaths.
Coronavirus in Punjab LIVE Updates | State Health Department:
Total 33 persons tested positive for COVID-19in the state today; of which 8 cases have been reported in SAS Nagar and 11 in Ludhiana.
Coronavirus in Mumbai LIVE Updates |
14 new cases have been recorded in Mumbai's Dharavi area, taking the total number of cases in the region to 344, including 18 deaths, BMC has said.
Coronavirus in Odisha LIVE Updates | Bhubaneswar using spray drones to sanitise market areas
InOdisha’scapitalBhubaneshwar, the municipal corporation has started using spray drones tosanitisemarket areas from April 29 to contain coronavirus.
TheBhubaneswarMunicipal Corporation (BMC) has partnered withBhubaneswarSmart City (BSCL) to execute the disinfection of markets using drones.
Coronavirus in West Bengal LIVE Updates | CM Mamata Banerjee:
We have taken certain decisions that will be implemented from Monday if everything is alright. There will be relaxations in green zone andorange zone where standalone shops of essential items will remain open. There will be no relaxation for containment areas.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates |
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has allowed themovement of migrant workers, tourists, students etc. stranded at various places.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | Union Health Ministry:
With 1,813 new cases and71 deaths reported in the last 24 hours, the total number of COVID-19positive cases in India rises to 31,787 (including 22,982 active cases, 1,008 deaths, 7,797 cured/discharged and 1 migrated).
Coronavirus in Karnataka LIVE Updates | State Health Department:
11 new COVID-19positive cases have been reported from 28th April 5 pm to 29th April 5 pm. Total number of COVID-19cases rise to 534 in the state, it includes 20 deaths and215 discharges plus 1 death due to non – Covid cause.
Coronavirus in Kerala LIVE Updates |
Pinarayi Vijayan:10 new COVID-19cases have been reported in Kerala today. This includes 3 health workers anda journalist. Total active cases in the state stand at 495 which includes 123 active cases.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Health Minister:
Since the last 3 days, the doubling rate is 11.3 days in the country. Although the global mortality rate is around 7 percent, India is having a mortality rate of around 3 percentandaround 86 percentof fatality of persons with co-morbidity.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Dr Ram Vishwakarma, coordinator of trial program for use of Sepsivac in COVID-19 treatment:
Clinical trial has begun at PGIMER Chandigarh to position immunomodulator Sepsivac as a drug. We're doing another trial on asymptomatic COVID-19patients. It'll be given to them as vaccine. COVID-19 can linger in a patient for one month so the third trial is on patients who have been cured/released for quarantine. It will be given to them as vaccine so that they don't redevelop infection. So Sepsivac has vaccine as well as therapeutic role.
Coronavirus in West Bengal LIVE Updates | Rajiva Sinha, West Bengal Chief Secretary:
33 new cases have been reported in West Bengal; total active cases in the state stand at 550.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar:
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) has benefited farmers immensely even during this COVID-19as Department of Agriculture has transferred Rs. 17,986 crore to farmers since March 24.
Coronavirus in Ahmedabad LIVE Updates |
Two prisoners of Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad test positive for coronavirus, officials have said according to news agency PTI.
Coronavirus in Germany LIVE Updates |
Germany is extending an existing warning against foreign travel until June 14 as curbs remain in place in many countries to stem the coronavirus pandemic, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas says.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | Uncertainty over Kailash Mansarovar Yatra
Uncertainty prevails over the timely start of ‘Mansarovar Yatra' through the Lipulekh pass this year, with preparations for the annual pilgrimage yet to begin.
The pilgrimage begins by the second week of June every year and the preparations for the yatra usually begin two months in advance, but the COVID-19 induced lockdown has delayed the process.
The officials of Kumaun Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN), the nodal agency for the yatra, have serious doubts.
Coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh LIVE Updates | Principal Secretary (Health) Amit Mohan Prasad:
There are 2,115 positive cases in the state right now. Out of these, 477 have been discharged after making complete recovery. 36 people have died due to COVID-19. There are 1,602 active cases in the state.
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LIVE updates | Maharashtra’s first experiment of plasma therapy successful: State Health Minister
The first experimental to use plasma therapy for treating a COVID-19 patient has been successful in Maharashtra, Health Minister Rajesh Tope has said today.
"The first plasma therapy has been successful in Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital. We are carrying out a second experiment on another patient in BYL Nair hospital, also in Mumbai. We are hopeful that it will be successful as well," he told reporters. (Input from PTI)
Coronavirus in Punjab LIVE updates | Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh:
Lockdown will be lifted from 7.00 am to 11.00 am every day. During this time, people can come out of their houses and shops will be opening. We have also decided to extend the curfew in the state by two more weeks. (Input from ANI)
Read: Businesses in a bind as general insurers set stringent conditions to cover COVID-19 losses
The coronavirus outbreak has brought new challenges for business owners. A new set of conditions laid by both insurance companies and reinsurer General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re) excludes from their coverage, events like a business interruption or advance loss of profit due to COVID-19.
Tests conducted vs positive detection rate in India
(Image: News18 Creative)
Check out the full list of containment zones in Mumbai
As known cases of COVID-19 continue to rise in Mumbai — India’s financial hub and Maharashtra’s capital city — the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has identified localities with a huge number of cases.
Coronavirus in Indore LIVE updates | COVID-19 cases rise despite curfew; death rate declines
A large number of new COVID-19 cases are coming to the fore in Madhya Pradesh's worst-hit Indore despite the curfew being in place in urban areas of the district for more than a month now.
Though the steady rise in cases has raised questions over enforcement of preventive measures as well as the very nature of the viral spread, a government data also suggested a drop in the COVID-19 mortality rate in the district over the last 20 days.
With 94 new confirmed cases in the last 24 hours, the number of COVID-19 patients in Indore district has risen to 1,466. (Input from PTI)
Read | Nearly 1 lakh calls in 24 hours: Migrant workers reach out to UP helplines in Maharashtra
Soon after the Uttar Pradesh government started sending buses to bring back stranded migrant workers to their hometowns from other parts of the country, the state government’s Maharashtra help lines received nearly one lakh calls seeking evacuation.
Most affected districts in India
(Image: News18 Creative)
Coronavirus in China LIVE updates | City of Beijing may ease quarantine rules as early as tomorrow
China’s capital Beijing plans to ease quarantine rules for some domestic travellersfrom low-risk areas of the country as early as tomorrow (April 30), Reuters has reported. This comes at a time when the city is preparing for a major political gathering.
People arriving from elsewhere in China will no longer be required to be quarantined for two weeks unless they come from high-risk areas such as Heilongjiang in the north and some parts of Guangdong in the southeast, Reuters has reported citing sources. (Input from Reuters)
Coronavirus in Kerala LIVE updates | Kerala govt to issue ordinance for cutting salary of its staff for COVID-19 battle
The Kerala government is to issue an ordinance empowering it to deduct salaries of its employees to mobilise funds to fight COVID-19 in the state.
The move comes a day after the High Court had stayed an order of the Left government for salary cut of its employees, observing that it lacked legal backing.
The G.O had said the state government employees' salary for six days every month would be deducted for the next five months as part of raising funds for fighting the COVID-19 pandemic in the state. (Input from PTI)
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates |
The Centre has mandated all government employees to download the Aarogya Setu app on their mobile phones "immediately".
The staff has been advised to leave for office only when the app shows 'safe' or 'low risk' status.
Coronavirus in Odisha LIVE updates | Health Department:
Three new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Odisha, taking the total number of cases in the state to 122. All three tested positive after returning from West Bengal and are asymptomatic.
Read the full opinion piece here:
“We have been able to prevent the virus spread to grow exponentially in India. However, states are at different stages in terms of reduction in the prevalence. In this light, rather than ‘one size fit all’ policy, decision needs to be taken at regional levels. The government’s decision to identify hotspot districts and containment zones, and take decisions accordingly is a step in right direction,” Aakanksha Arora, Mahima and Aasheerwad Dwivedi write for Moneycontrol.
What the positive case-to-test ratio tells us about the pandemic
Aakanksha Arora is Deputy Director in Ministry of Finance, Mahima is Consultant in Ministry of Finance, and Aasheerwad Dwivedi is Assistant Professor, Shri Ram College of Commerce, New Delhi.
Coronavirus in Nagaland LIVE updates | HC directs Nagaland govt to set up two testing labs within ten days
The Kohima bench of the Gauhati High Court has directed the Nagaland government to set up at least two COVID-9 testing laboratories within the next ten days.
The direction was given by the court on a PIL filed by Kikrukhonuo, a resident of Kohima.
Nagaland does not have any COVID-19 testing lab and the samples are sent to Assam and Manipur for testing. (Input from PTI)