The novel coronavirus pandemic has spread across 187 countries and territories. Today is the forty-third 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 49,391. The death toll from the outbreak in India is at 1,694. Maharashtra, Gujarat and Delhi have reported the highest number of cases.
Globally, there have been over 36.7 lakh confirmed cases of COVID-19. At least 2.57 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:
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Coronavirus in Gujarat LIVE Updates |
Eleven inmates and three staffers at Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad have tested positive for coronavirus in last one week.
Coronavirus in Pune LIVE Updates |
99 more COVID-19cases and7 deaths reported in Pune in the last 24 hours. Total number of cases in the district is at 2300, including 665 discharged and27 deaths.
Coronavirus in Telangana LIVE Updates | State Health Dept:
11 more COVID-19cases reported in Telangana today. Total number of cases in the state is now at 1,107, including 648 discharged/cured, 430 active cases, and 29 deaths.
Coronavirus in Rajasthan LIVE Updates | State Health Dept:
159 more COVID-19cases and4 deaths reported in Rajasthan today. Total number of cases in the state is now at 3,317, including 1,485 active cases and93 deaths.
Coronavirus in Tripura LIVE Updates | CM Biplab Kumar Deb:
22 persons from 138th-Bn BSF Ambassa found COVID-19positive today, including 18 male, 1 Female, 3 children. Total COVID19 positive cases in Tripura stands at 64 (2 already discharged, so active cases: 62).
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LIVE Updates | State Health Minister Rajesh Tope:
Union Health Minister has approved Maharashtra Govt's proposal to use ICUs of Defence andRailways hospitals in Mumbai for treatment of COVID-19positive patients But, he has also instructed that these ICU beds must be used as last available option.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | A look at all the COVID-19 'cures' suggested so far
The global scientific and medical research community is still struggling to find a cure for COVID-19 that has already killed thousands of people across the world.
Earlier this week, a laboratory run by the IsraeliDefenceservice claimed they have isolated an antibody that could effectively treat COVID-19. It has, however not been tested outside of apetridish and even human trials are months away.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates |
CRPF has constitutedspecial cell to fight COVID-19 pandemic and ensure protection to its troops as coronavirus infection cases among various paramilitary forces rise to about 400.
Coronavirus in Mumbai LIVE Updates | BMC:
769 fresh cases reported from the city today. 25 virus-related deaths have also been reported. The total number of cases in the city now stand at 10,527. The total number of deaths in the city stand at 412.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates |
Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways:Soon government will try to resume bus transport based on some guidelines. There is a need to resume air, railways, andbus transport as people are stranded. I think it needs to be done.
Coronavirus in Gujarat LIVE Updates | State Health Dept:
380 new COVID-19positive cases reported in Gujarat in the last 24 hours. Total number of cases in the state is now at 6,625, including 1,500 cured/discharged and396 deaths.
Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu LIVE Updates | State Health Dept:
771 new COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in Tamil Nadu today; taking the total number of positive cases to 4,829. Two deaths have been reported today; death toll is at 35.
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LIVE Updates | State Health Dept:
1,233 cases reported from the state today. 34 deaths have also been reported. State tally now at 16,758.
Coronavirus in Mumbai LIVE Updates | Money Heist, Harry Potter, Gully Boy, Godfather: Mumbai Police’s coronavirus meme game going strong
In yet another humorous approach to spreading awareness on novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, pandemic and ensuring people do not violate lockdown orders, the official Instagram handle of Mumbai Police shared a meme on May 6, this time usingthe Godfather reference.
“I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse” – this is one of the most iconic dialogues of the Godfather trilogy. It was borrowed by Mumbai Police to stress on the importance of wearing face masks to prevent contracting or spreading the deadly novel coronavirus disease.
Read more about how Mumbai Police is spreading awareness and adding humor while doing it here.
Coronavirus in Germany LIVE Updates |
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has givengo-ahead for Bundesliga football league to resume from mid-May, news agency AFP has reported.
Coronavirus in Dharavi LIVE Updates | BMC:
1 death and 68 new COVID-19positive cases reported in Dharavi today. Total positive cases in the area stand at 733 which includes 21 deaths.
Coronavirus in Punjab LIVE Updates | Punjab Home Department:
Shops will remain open from 7 am to 3 pm in the state. District authorities shall ensure that there is no overcrowding and social distancing is maintained as already advised.
Coronavirus in West Bengal LIVE Updates |
Ministry of Home Affairs SecretaryAjay Bhalla has written to West Bengal Chief SecretaryRajiv Sinha saying,"Response to COVID19 in West Bengal is characterized by very low rate of testing in proportion to population and very high rate of mortality of 13.2 percent, (which is)by far highest of any state.This is reflection of poor surveillance, detection and testing in the state. There is also need to increase random testing in crowded clusters".
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates |
Export of alcohol based sanitizers has been prohibited by Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce andIndustry.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | Need to open aviation sector in calibrated manner: Hardeep Singh Puri
In an exclusive interview to CNN-News 18, Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the aviation sector in India will be opened in a "gradual and calibrated manner".
Throwing light on the evacuation process of Indian citizens stranded abroad, Puri said: "We are open to the idea of involving private carriers if the situation arises.
Coronavirus in Ahmedabad LIVE Updates | Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation Commissioner:
All shops except those providing milk and medicines in Ahmedabad to remain closed from 12 am on 7th May to 6 am on 15th May.
Coronavirus in Gautam Buddha Nagar LIVE Updates | District Surveillance Officer:
No new COVID-19positive case reported in Gautam Buddha Nagar today; total cases in the district are 192 so far including 83 active cases.
Coronavirus in Haryana LIVE Updates | CM Manohar Lal Khattar:
Total COVID-19cases in the state are 555, it includes 289 active cases, 260 recovered, and 6 deaths.
Coronavirus in Karnataka LIVE Updates |
20 more COVID-19cases reported in the last 24 hours in Karnataka. Total number of cases in the state is at 693, including 354 discharged and29 deaths.
Coronavirus in Kerala LIVE Updates |
Kerala reports zero fresh COVID-19 cases today and seven recoveries. Active cases in the state now stand at 30.
Coronavirus in Nepal LIVE Updates | Nepal Health Ministry:
17 new COVID-19positive cases reported in Nepal today; the highest spike in number of cases in a day in the country. Total number of positive cases stands at 99.
Coronavirus in West Bengal LIVE Updates |
112 COVID-19positive cases reported today, taking the total cases in the state to 1,456. 4 deaths also reported in the last 24 hours, total deaths due to coronavirus in the state now at 72.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri to News18:
We will have to open the aviation sector in gradual and caliberated manner. Navigatingthe way forward will dependon how the situation evolves. We can only plan for flights between two green zones.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri to News18:
We are open to the idea of involving private carriers if the situation arises. We are not going to go on with the evacuation plan until and unless the respective states are ready with their quarantine plan.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | 1 billion people with disabilities hit hard by COVID-19: UN chief
The United Nations chiefon Wednesday said 1 billion people in the world living with disabilities are among the hardest hit by coronavirus and called for them to have equal access to prevention and treatment.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the pandemic is revealing the extent to which people are marginalized and is intensifying the inequalities that people with disabilities already face, such as poverty and higher rates of violence, neglect and abuse.
Coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh LIVE Updates | State Principal Secretary (Health) Amit Mohan Prasad:
Number of COVID-19cases has reached 1,831 in Uttar Pradesh out of which 1,080 patients have recovered while 58 others succumbed to the infection. There is no active case in six districts of the state.
Report for duty or license will be revoked: Maharashtra government tells Mumbai-based private doctors
As Mumbai stares at a public health crisis due to the rising number of reported COVID-19 cases, the city's private medical practitioners have been directed to report to work immediately or face action. They are required to rejoin work and mandatorily serve COVID-19 patients for at least 15 days.
Coronavirus in UK LIVE updates | UK has drawn up three-stage plan for easing lockdown: Report
The United Kingdom has drawn up a three-stage plan to ease the lockdown, The Times newspaper has reported.
The first phase will involve small shops reopening alongside outdoor workplaces and the second will involve large shopping centres reopening, with more people encouraged to go into work, the report suggests. Pubs, restaurants, hotels and leisure centres will be among the last to open.
Mega evacuation plan: How those travelling to India would be screened
(Image: News18 Creative)
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | COVID-19 has infected 548 doctors, nurses, paramedics across India so far
The novel coronavirus has infected around 548 doctors, nurses and paramedics across the country so far, according to data maintained by the Centre, official sources told PTI.
The figure does not include field workers, ward boys, sanitation workers, security guards, lab attendants, peons, laundry and kitchen staff, among others. The number includes doctors, nurses and paramedics from Centre-run and state government-run facilities across states and Union Territories.
Read the full opinion piece here: Why India desperately needs a pandemic law
“The reason we need to create a pandemic law and action protocol even after this current attack has been brought under control is the viruses have started mutating. We will probably have to live with a threat of a random virus periodically causing havoc from now on. And that is why the lessons of the current pandemic should not be allowed to go waste,” Prosenjit Datta, former editor of Business Today and Businessworld magazines, writes for Moneycontrol.
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | BSF:
After following all protocols, the Border Security Force headquarters in New Delhi has been made functional today.
Coronavirus News LIVE updates | Confirmed cases in ASEAN countries
> Brunei: 139 cases (including recoveries and deaths)
> Cambodia: 122 cases
> Indonesia: 12,071 cases
> Laos: 19 cases
> Malaysia: 6,383 cases
> Myanmar: 161 cases
> Philippines: 10,004 cases
> Singapore: 20,198 cases
> Thailand: 2,989 cases
> Vietnam: 271 cases
(Source: News reports and Johns Hopkins University CSSE, as of 2.40 pm IST on May 6)
Coronavirus in West Bengal LIVE updates | Bengal govt readies its e-retail platform to start home delivery of liquor
The West Bengal State Beverages Corporation is launching its e-retail website to register buyers and sellers of liquor for online booking and home delivery.
While the platform is not fully operational right now, sellers and buyers outside of containment zones will be able to register soon.
Coronavirus LIVE updates | Remdesivir pricing
Beximco Pharmaceuticals, one of Bangladesh's largest drugmakers, will this month start making experimental antiviral drug remdesivir, which has shown promise in fighting the novel coronavirus.
In a first cost indication, the company plans to price each vial between $59 and $71, Beximco's Chief Operating Officer Rabbur Reza told Reuters, adding that a patient might need anywhere from five to 11 vials.
Also read: Gilead in talks to expand global supply of COVID-19 drug remdesivir
Coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh LIVE updates | 13 Tablighi Jamaat members arrested for defying lockdown in UP
Thirteen Tablighi Jamaat members, including two Sri Lankan nationals, were arrested in Uttar Pradesh for allegedly staying in a mosque in violation of the lockdown orders, police said.
While the two Sri Lankan nationals have been sent to jail, the other 11 Jamaat members were released on bail, they said.
The district authorities have launched a drive to trace all members of the Tablighi Jamaat who have been in "hiding" since the lockdown was imposed on March 25. (Input from PTI)
Coronavirus pandemic impact | India reports 40% increase in mental health issues in April
The outbreak of the novel coronavirus pandemic has made work-from-home and social distancing the new normal. The effect of this has been disparaging for thousands of working professionals, with several of them suffering from mental health issues because of it.
Coronavirus LIVE updates | Llama nanobodies
A llama called Winter could prove useful in the hunt for a virus treatment, say US and Belgian scientists who have identified a tiny particle that appears to block the coronavirus.
The llama in Belgium is central to the studies of the scientists, from the country's VIB-UGent center for medical biotechnology and the University of Texas at Austin, who published their research in the journal Cell. The team aims to begin animal tests, with a view to allowing trials with humans to begin by the end of the year, Reuters has reported.
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates |
A special train carrying migrant workershas has left from Sabarmati Railway Station in Ahmedabad, Gujarat for Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. (Input from ANI)
Which countries do Indians migrate to? Overseas Indians in Gulf countries
(Image: News18 Creative)
Coronavirus in Pakistan LIVE updates | Pakistanis testing positive on repatriation
Many Pakistani citizens being repatriated from the UAE are testing positive for the virus on arriving home, officials have said.
The UAE government has however rejected the claim, saying everyone was tested before departure, with those found infected not being allowed to travel. About 12 percent were testing positive on most flights, but on a couple, the proportion rose to between 40 percent and 50 percent, Reuters has reported.
Sonia Gandhi questions Centre’s lockdown strategy, asks ‘what after May 17?’
Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi today questioned the Centre over the criteria it adopted to judge how long the nationwide lockdown will continue.
Addressing a meeting of chief ministers of states where the Congress is in power, she asked "what after May 17?"
"After May 17th, What? And After May 17th, How? What criteria is GoI (Government of India) using to judge how long the lockdown is to continue...," Congress chief Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala quoted Gandhi as saying in the meeting.
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates | Confirmed cases in SAARC countries
> India: 49,391 confirmed cases (includes recoveries and deaths)
> Afghanistan: 3,224 cases
> Bangladesh: 10,929 cases
> Bhutan: 7 cases
> Maldives: 573 cases
> Nepal: 82 cases
> Pakistan: 22,823 cases
> Sri Lanka: 771 cases
(Source: News reports and Johns Hopkins University CSSE, as of 1.00 pm IST on May 6)