The novel coronavirus pandemic has spread across 187 countries and territories. Today is the forty-fourth day of India’s nationwide lockdown, which has been extended till May 17. Restrictions have been eased, especially in non-hotspot areas.
Confirmed COVID-19 cases in India stand at 52,952. The death toll from the outbreak in India is at 1,783. Maharashtra, Gujarat and Delhi have reported the highest number of cases. A massive exercise to evacuate Indians stranded abroad begins today.
Globally, there have been over 37.5 lakh confirmed cases of COVID-19. At least 2.63 lakh people have died so far. The United States, Spain, Italy, UK, France and Germany are the most-affected countries. Catch the latest updates here:
Coronavirus in Delhi LIVE updates:
Highest single-day spike of 448 new COVID-19 cases in Delhi takes tally to 5,980; death toll rises to 66.
Coronavirus in Delhi LIVE updates:
Four areas have been removed from the list of COVID-19 containment zones in Delhi. The number of containment zones in the national capital is now at 83.
Coronavirus in Mumbai LIVE updates:
692 cases reported today and 25 deaths. Mumbai total now at 11,219 and deaths at 437
Coronavirus LIVE updates:
A member of the military serving as one of President Trump’s valets has tested positive for the coronavirus. The White House says Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have since tested negative for the virus and “remain in good health.” (AP)
Coronavirus in Mumbai LIVE updates | BMC:
Have reserved 3,343 rooms in 88 hotels in Mumbai to quarantine Indian nationals who would be brought back from other countries.
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates:
Air India's first flight for Singapore under Vande Bharat Mission will depart from Delhi tonight to bring back stranded Indians. The flight will return to India tomorrow morning.
The return of the cubicle? Companies rethink office life post lockdown
Can creative sparks fly through plexiglass? Is the water cooler chat a thing of the past?
Company bosses preparing to reopen offices shuttered due to the coronavirus pandemic are contemplating radical changes to the workplace to keep staff safe.
Hand sanitisers and thermal scanners are just the start. Some firms are considering remodelling their offices to minimise the risk of a second wave of infections. Long rows of desks may be out, work stations sheathed with glass sneeze guards may be in.
As he prepares to return thousands of staff to offices across Italy, Davide Sala, Pirelli's HR boss, is applying practices already adopted in the tyre company's operations in China.
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Coronavirus in Uttarakhand LIVE updates:
Price of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) has been increased by Rs 20-200 per bottle. Price of overseas liquor increased by Rs 475 per bottle andprice of Indian liquor increased by Rs 20 per bottle.
The state cabinet has also decided to increase the price of petrol by Rs 2 andthe price of diesel by Rs 1.
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LIVE Updates | State Health Minister Rajesh Tope:
A video from Sion Hospital has gone viral on social media where a body can be seen with a patient. There is no point in doing politics over it. As per protocol, if a patient dies the body has to be covered in black to avoid spread of disease.Within 30 minute relatives of the deceased should take away the body but sometime they hesitate. Then it has to go to mortuary. Following all the procedure takes time. Now we have instructed that body should be disposed off in less than 30 minutes.
Coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh LIVE Updates | State Health Dept:
114 more persons have tested positive for coronavirusin Madhya Pradesh taking the total number of cases in the state to 3,252. Death toll stands at 193.
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LIVE Updates | State Health Minister Rajesh Tope:
1,362 COVID-19 cases reported in Maharashtra today, the total number of cases in the state is now at 18,120.
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LIVE updates:
72 inmates and 7 staff members have tested positive for COVID-19 in Mumbai's Arthur Road prison.
All positive inmates will be shifted to GT Hospital and St George Hospital in guarded vehicles tomorrow morning while staff members will be shifted separately, Maharashtra Jail Authorities told news agency ANI.
Coronavirus LIVE updates:
London's Notting Hill Carnival cancelled over COVID-19, organisers told AFP
Coronavirus in Odisha LIVE updates:
MHA in a letter issues clarification to Odisha Govt over proposed construction of chariots for conduct of Ratha Yatra, stating,"Ratha construction activities in Ratha-khala, which is situated on both sides of Grand Road in front of Temple Office & Sri Nahar, be immediately permitted".
Coronavirus in Mumbai LIVE updates:
50 new coronavirus patients found in Mumbai's Dharavi, tally of cases in area reaches 783
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates:
Around 1200 migrant workers reach New Delhi Railway Station by buses to board a 'Shramik Special' train for Chhatarpur in Madhya Pradesh.
Coronavirus in Delhi LIVE updates:
Delhi Government has launched an e-token systemfor the sale of liquor in the national capital. This decision has been taken in view of crowding at liquor shops so that social distancing can be maintained. A web link has been issued for the same.
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | AYUSH Ministry Secy Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha:
Govt will conduct randomised controlled clinical trial to assess efficacy of ayurvedic drug ashwagandha as preventive intervention among healthcare professionals, high-risk COVID-19 population in comparison with hydroxychloroquine. (PTI)
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates:
A Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) head constable posted at Mumbai airport, who had tested positive for COVID-19, passed away today.
Coronavirus in Karnataka LIVE updates | State excide department:
Liquor worth Rs 165 crore was sold today in Karnataka.
Coronavirus in Gujarat LIVE updates | Cadila Pharmaceuticals:
Manufacturing plant of Cadila Pharmaceuticals at Dholka in Ahmedabad, Gujarat has been closed following 26 of its employees testing positive for COVID-19. Deep sanitization of the plant andits surroundings is being undertaken.
Coronavirus LIVE updates:
177 Indians, including 4 infants have boarded their flight from Abu Dhabi for Kochi, Kerala.
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal:
JEE Advanced Exam will be conducted on August 23
Coronavirus LIVE updates:
Roughly 33.5 million people have now filed for jobless aid in the seven weeks since the coronavirus began forcing millions of companies to close their doors and slash their workforces. (AP)
Coronavirus LIVE updates | BREAKING:
Nearly 3.2 million U.S. workers seek jobless aid, raising total layoffs since virus struck to 33 million. (AP)
Coronavirus in Karnataka LIVE updates:
12 more COVID-19 cases reported in Karnataka in the last 24 hours. Total number of cases in the state is at 705, including 366 discharged and30 deaths
Coronavirus in Kerala LIVE updates | Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan:
No new case of COVID-19 has been reported in Kerala today. The number of active cases stands at 25.
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LIVE updates | Aaditya Thackeray:
To all the university students from Maharashtra worried and tweeting/ texting me on their exams/ academic year, I’d suggest not to worry. Minister Uday Samantji has been consulting all VCs and will be declaring a road map for all such students across Maharashtra in max 2 days.
Exodus of migrant workers to impact industry, farm sectors in Punjab
The exodus of migrant labourers from Punjab to their native states will adversely impact the state's industrial and farm sectors, fear industry representatives and farmers. Their apprehensions emerged after more than 8 lakh migrant workers got themselves registered for going back to their home states.
The Centre is running 'Shramik' trains to ferry migrants to their respective home states as they were stranded in other states because of the lockdown.
It is inexplicable that the governments did not foresee the current exodus, triggered by the desperation of the workforce,Onkar Singh Pahwa, the president of All India Cycle Manufacturers Associationsaid, asserting that the availability of minimum workforce is a prerequisite for the resumption of industry.
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Coronavirus in Delhi LIVE updates:
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla andRajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu met earlier today. They directed secretary generals of both houses to explore the possibility of holding meetings of parliamentary committees via video conferencing.
Coronavirus in Assam LIVE updates | Himanta Biswa Sarma:
The first COVID-19 patient from Assam who is also a cancer patient was discharged from Silchar Medical College and Hospital day before yesterday.Today, the Assam govt has issued a notification that any person returning from a red zone district in any state will be put in institutional quarantine even if he is asymptomatic. (ANI)
Coronavirus in Punjab LIVE updates:
Punjab Government declares summer vacation in all government colleges and universities from May 15 to June 15.
Coronavirus in Noida LIVE updates:
10 people tested positive for COVID-19 in Gautam Buddha Nagar today. Total number of cases in the district is now at 202, including 93 active cases.
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | 2 BSF personnel die of COVID-19; 41 new cases reported
Two Border Security Force personnel have succumbed to the COVID-19 infection while the force has reported 41 new cases, PTI has reported citing a senior official.
Total infections or active cases in the 2.5 lakh personnel-strong force now stand at 193 now. Two jawans have recovered.
Coronavirus in Karnataka LIVE updates |
The Karnataka government has reportedly revised its earlier decision of not operating trains for migrant labourers. Reports suggest that the state government will from dispatch trains starting tomorrow to some states. More details are awaited.
Coronavirus LIVE updates | Ministry of Defence:
INS Jalashwa sailed to Maldives for evacuating stranded Indian nationals. It reached Male earlier today. The ship will start for Kochi tomorrow with evacuee Indians. INS Magar has also sailed to Maldives and is on the way to Male. INS Airawat and INS Shardul are likely to proceed to Gulf region for evacuation.
Coronavirus LIVE updates | Ministry of Defence:
The evacuees will undergo mandatory quarantine as per the standard operating procedures in the following quarantine facilities, run by the Army, Navy and Air Force after which further necessary action will be taken for their onward journey as per the approved SOPs.
Coronavirus LIVE updates | Ministry of Defence:
The Armed Forces have kept in readiness six quarantine facilities that can accommodate up to 2,100 Indians being evacuated from several countries in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Coronavirus LIVE updates | Ministry of Defence:
Indian Armed Forces have dispatched Naval ships with medical teams and aid supplies to several countries in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). In return journey, the ships will bring back Indian national evacuees from this region.
Coronavirus impact |
India has stepped up its game to attract investments from companies looking for newer avenues and those considering shifting from China amid the coronavirus pandemic.
A list of close to 1,000 global companies has been prepared by Invest India for investment pitches, CNBC-TV18 reported.
Coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh LIVE updates | Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan:
To boost job opportunities and development in the state, process of registration or license for companies, shops, contractors and beedi manufacturers will be completed in just 1 day as compared to 30 days which used to take place earlier.
Shops used to remain open from 8 am to 10 pm earlier. We have made amendments in the Establishment Act due to which shops and establishments can stay open from 6 am to 12 am now. Due to COVID-19, workers in factories can now work up to 12 hours instead of 8 hours. (ANI)
Arvind Kejriwal announces Rs 1 crore ex gratia for constable who died of COVID-19
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal condoled the death of a Delhi Police constable due to coronavirus and said his family will be provided with an ex gratia of Rs one crore.
"Amit Ji did not care for his life and kept serving us Delhi people. He got infected with corona and passed away. I pay homage to his sacrifice on behalf of all Delhi people. An ex gratia of Rs one crore will be given to his family," Kejriwal said in a tweet.
The 31-year-old constable had reported that he was feeling uncomfortable, he was immediately taken to the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital where he was declared brought dead, said a senior Delhi police officer.
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Maharashtra Congress bears travel expenses of 4,627 migrant workers
Congress president Sonia Gandhi announced that the party's Maharashtraunit had borne the travel cost of 4,627 migrant labourers, who wished to go to their home states from different parts of Maharashtra in the last two days.
The party bought tickets for 2,019 migrant workers travelling by trains from Nagpur to Muzaffarpur in Bihar and Wardha to Patna, it was stated.
Apart from this, the Congress also ensured health check-ups for migrant workers, helped them fill travel forms and provided water, food, sanitisers and masks for the journey, the statement from the party read.
Coronavirus News LIVE updates | Confirmed cases in SAARC countries
> India: 52,952 confirmed cases (includes recoveries and deaths)
> Afghanistan: 3,392 cases
> Bangladesh: 11,719 cases
> Bhutan: 7 cases
> Maldives: 617 cases
> Nepal: 99 cases
> Pakistan: 23,693 cases
> Sri Lanka: 797 cases
(Source: News reports and Johns Hopkins University CSSE, as of 2.25 pm IST on May 7)
COVID-19 cases in India to peak in June-July, no declining trend despite lockdown: AIIMS director
Dr Randeep Guleria, the director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), has said that even after spending more than 40 days in strict lockdown India has not seen a declining trend in new novel coronavirus cases.
In an interview where he spoke about the need to continue imposing lockdown and other aggressive measures in red zones, hotspots, and adjacent areas, Dr Guleria pointed out how most other countries -- such as Italy and China -- that took such strict social distancing measures started seeing the benefits of it after a month.
Coronavirus in Andhra Pradesh LIVE updates |
56 new positive COVID-19 cases and two deaths have been reported in Andhra Pradesh in the last 24 hours, taking the total confirmed cases in the state to 1,833.
Total 780 patients have been discharged till date. COVID-19 death toll in Andhra Pradesh stands at 38.
Coronavirus in China LIVE updates | China reports two new cases, both imported
China reported two new COVID-19 cases for yesterday (May 6), unchanged from the same number of increases the day before, data from the national health authority showed today.
Both were so-called imported cases involving travellers from overseas, the National Health Commission said in a statement. The two cases from the day before were also imported.
The commission also reported six new asymptomatic cases for yesterday, versus 20 from May 5. China's total number of coronavirus cases now stands at 82,885, while the death toll remained unchanged at 4,633, the national health authority said. (Input from Reuters)
Read the full opinion piece here: Karnataka shows the way how to tackle the migrant crisis
“The mass movement of migrant workers needs to be avoided — because even if they go to their home states now, in a few weeks or months they are expected to return to the host cities/towns for employment. If governments can persuade migrant workers to remain where they are it’s a win-win situation for all,” political analyst Rajeev Sharma writes for Moneycontrol.
