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COVID-19 HIGHLIGHTS | Mumbai's tally crosses 25,000-mark; 41 more die

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On Thursday, the government issued a new SOP for the resumption of domestic flight operations from May 25. Some of the key points of it are mandatory Aarogya Setu app for passengers except not children below 14 years of age, thermal screening zone for fliers before entering the airport terminal building, sanitisation of passengers' baggage before entry into terminals.

Meanwhile, the death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 3,435 and the number of cases to 1,12,359 in the country on Thursday, registering an increase of 132 deaths and 5,609 cases in the last 24 hours, according to the Union Health Ministry.

The number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 63,624, while 45,299 people have recovered and one patient has migrated, it said.

"Thus, around 40.32 per cent patients have recovered so far," a senior health ministry official said.

Ticket counters to open at select stations from May 22; Goyal says have to take India towards normalcy

In a significant move, the railways on Thursday allowed select reservation counters to open at stations from Friday, nearly two months after they were shut due to the coronavirus lockdown, with Railway Minister Piyush Goyal saying "we have to take India towards normalcy". (READ MORE)

Over 100 students stuck in hostels at Jamia Millia Islamia leave for Bihar in special buses

Over 100 students hailing from Bihar, who were stuck in hostels at Jamia Millia Islamia due to the lockdown in view of COVID-19, left for their hometown in five special buses arranged by the varsity on Thursday, officials said. (READ MORE)

Social distancing, special exam centres for Class 10 exams: Tamil Nadu government

The Tamil Nadu government will strictly enforce social distancing norms for the students appearing for Class 10 board exams, besides establishing special examination centres for the benefit of those in the containment zones. (READ MORE)

Second phase of Vande Bharat Mission to continue till June 13

The government on Thursday said its mega mission to evacuate stranded Indians from abroad will continue till June 13 and the extended phase will cover 47 countries. (READ MORE)

Mumbai's COVID-19 tally crosses 25,000-mark; 41 more die

Despite a 60-day-long lockdown, COVID-19 cases continued to rise unabated in Mumbai, where the tally crossed the 25,000-mark on Thursday with the addition of 1,382 new infections, while 41 more patients succumbed to the infection, the city civic body said. (READ MORE)

RT-PCR tests: What it is and how it is done? 

For the detection of Covid-19, Real-Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction Test, most commonly-known as RT-PCR test is being widely used. But this RT-PCR is not limited to detection of the SARS-CoV-2. According to microbiologists it revolutionized the way clinical microbiology laboratories diagnose many human microbial infection. (READ MORE)

How Kerala mastered the art of contact tracing to fight COVID-19, save lives

On January 22, a 23-year-old medical student from Thrissur boarded a flight to India from Wuhan where COVID-19 had begun to wreak havoc. (READ MORE)

A child dies allegedly due to snake bite at a quarantine centre in Bihar's Gaya

A child dies allegedly due to snake bite at a quarantine centre in Gaya. Abhishek Singh, DM Gaya says, "The child was taken to hospital immediately. Inquiry has been initiated. Action will be taken as per investigation report."

Migrants in large numbers queued up in Dharavi area

European health boss Andrea Ammon warns of coronavirus second wave

The head of a European health advisory body on infections on Thursday warned of a second wave of coronavirus cases, as countries across the continent ease tough lockdown measures. (READ MORE)

Kerala records one more COVID-19 death: Thrissur native who returned from Mumbai dies at Chavakkad

As per the sources, Khadeeja had gone to Mumbai, where her daughter stays around three months back and returned on May 18. (READ MORE)

At least 1,230 migrant workers test positive for coronavirus in UP, Barabanki becomes new hotspot

With over 20 lakh migrant workers returning to Uttar Pradesh in last few days, the state, specially its eastern part, on Thursday saw a quantum jump in the COVID-19 cases, with overall 1,230 people testing positive, including 95 in Barabanki, said officials. (READ MORE)

Migrant workers from Assam walk to Chennai from Vellore, spend night under flyover

Physically exhausted by their long walk from Vellore and in between hitching a ride, about 45 migrant workers from Assam reached the Assam Bhavan here on Tuesday hoping to obtain necessary travel documents to reach home but found it locked to their dismay. (READ MORE)

WATCH | All you need to know about flight travel in India, starting May 25

Birth dose vaccinations at health facilities to continue in all zones amid COVID-19: Government

Birth dose vaccinations at health facilities would continue irrespective of the categorisation of zones amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the government said on Thursday. (READ MORE)

ICMR comes up with fully indigenous diagnostic platform for COVID-19

The Indian Council of Medical research on Thursday said that it has validated a completely indigenous diagnostic platform for COVID-19 diagnosis. The apex medical research body in the country said the platform offers a reliable and affordable option to augment the SARS-CoV-2 testing capacity in India. (READ MORE)

Recovery rate improves to 40.32%, lockdown gainfully utilised: Ministry

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Thursday said the period of lockdown has been gainfully utilized to ramp up the health infrastructure in the country. In a press statement the Health Ministry said the recovery rate in the country improved up to 40.32%. (READ MORE)

Telangana government under all-round fire for fewer COVID tests

The Telangana High Courts latest order allowing private hospitals and laboratories to conduct Covid-19 tests has come as another blow to the state government already under all-round fire for its woeful record on testing. (READ MORE)

Lockdown utilized to ramp up health infra, says Centre

The Centre on Thursday reiterated that the lockdown period has been gainfully utilized to ramp up the health infrastructure in the country to tackle COVID-19 crisis. (READ MORE)

Violation of COVID-19 lockdown in various places; ensure its strict implementation: MHA to states

In a communication to all states and Union Territories, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla also said there should be strict compliance of the order issued for night curfew or prohibition of all non-essential activities between 7 pm and 7 am. (READ MORE)

Plea in Delhi HC to release foreigners from COVID-19 quarantine after participating in Markaaz event

A plea has been filed in the Delhi High Court seeking release of 916 foreign nationals, who participated in the religious congregation at Nizamuddin Markaz event and are held in institutional quarantine since March 30 despite being tested negative for COVID-19. (READ MORE)

Despite coronavirus, Telangana clocks over Rs 1.28 lakh crore IT exports in 2019-20

Continuing its impressive performance in the information technology sector, Telangana clocked over Rs 1.28 lakh crore IT exports during 2019-20, a growth of nearly 18 per cent over the previous year. (READ MORE)

Kerala says Sprinklr will have no role in COVID data analysis

In what appears to be a total turnaround, from the strong position Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had taken by handing over the Covid-19 data to a US-based PR and marketing firm -- Sprinklr, on Thursday, in an affidavit informed the Kerala High Court, that the company will have no more role in data analysis. (READ MORE)

No board exams till COVID-19 is contained: Students Federation of India approaches Madras HC

The Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to file its response by June 11 to a plea from the Students Federation of India (SFI) seeking to postpone the board exams for classes X and XII till COVID-19 is contained. (READ MORE)

Khelo India khelo time again as SAI releases SOPs for resumption of sports at its centres

The Sports Authority of India (SAI), via a video-conference on Thursday, released its Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the resumption of sporting activities across various centres, including those not under the body's ambit. It was unveiled by secretary SAI Rohit Bharadwaj, and Dean of FOSS at NIS Patiala Dr Sarla. (READ MORE)

Men's and women's hockey teams in self-isolation after cook's COVID-19 death

All members of the men's and women's hockey teams will be in self-isolation as a precautionary measure for at least this week after the COVID-19 related death of a cook inside the SAI premises in Bengaluru. (READ MORE)

Tamil Nadu minister, officials trek up rocky hill to hand over COVID-19 relief material

The minister KC Veeramani promised residents of Neknamalai falling under Vaniyambadi taluk in Tirupathur district that road connectivity would be provided soon after the COVID-19 crisis eases.

FULL REPORT HERE

Tamil Nadu, for the 2nd day in a row, reports over 750 cases

Sports Authority of India releases SOP for resuming sports events

Sports Authority of India (SAI) releases standard operating procedures for the resumption of sporting activities. The SOP includes assigning a COVID-19 task force at SAI venue to monitor & give assistance to all trainees and athletes.

Sports Authority of India releases SOP for resuming sports events

Sports Authority of India (SAI) releases standard operating procedures for the resumption of sporting activities. The SOP includes assigning a COVID-19 task force at SAI venue to monitor & give assistance to all trainees and athletes.

Airfares capped for three months: Here's all you need to know as flights resume from May 25

 A day after announcing the resumption of domestic passenger flights, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri addressed the media and detailed the guidelines to be followed by airports, airlines and passengers.

FULL REPORT HERE

Kerala reports 24 new cases of COVID-19

Odisha COVID-19 toll rises to seven with one more death, cases surge to 1103

The toll in Odisha rose to seven after the death of a 85-year-old man of Ganjam district who had returned from Surat. He had hypertension with other comorbidities. The new cases have been recorded from Nayagarh (11), Cuttack (9), Jajpur (5), Ganjam (4) and Mayurbhanj (3) besides two each in Jagatsinghpur, Sambalpur and Angul and one each in Puri and Malkangiri. 

36 minors among 116 new COVID-19 cases in Karnataka, 74 had arrived from Maharashtra

Of the 116 COVID-19 cases reported in Karnataka on Thursday afternoon, 74 were travellers from Maharashtra, while 36 were minors. This takes the tally in the state to 1578. The highest number of cases was from Udupi, with 27 new patients. Of the 27, 23 had a travel history to Maharashtra, three to Telangana and one had come from Kerala for medical treatment at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal. 16 of the 27 are children.

43-year-old traffic police constable dies of COVID-19 in Pune

A 43-year-old police constable, who had tested positive for COVID-19, succumbed to the deadly infection at a hospital in Maharashtra's Pune city on Thursday, a senior police official said. The constable was attached to the traffic branch of Pune police and was undergoing treatment at Bharti Hospital since May 10, PTI reported. 

Bihar govt confirms that 50-year-old Delhi returnee died of COVID-19, toll in state now 10 

Newly appointed principal health secretary Uday Singh Kumawat tweeted that the man who died belonged to a village in Khagaria district. The department is in the process of tracking the man's contacts. Meanwhile, 37 persons including a woman operator of Begusarai jail tested positive on Thursday. According to official figures, the total count of COVID-19 cases in the state has reached 1782. So far, 571 patients have recovered and been discharged. 

Railway Minister hits out at Mamata

Some states did not cooperate with us to run special trains for sending back migrant workers to their homes. I think there are around 40 lakh people who want to return to West Bengal but only 27 special trains have entered the state so far: Railway Minister Piyush Goyal.

WATCH | Bus services on 436 routes resume in Andhra

Latest Karnataka coronavirus tally

Railway Minister's latest statement on the train bookings. Here is what he said

  • 149025 tickets have been booked for 290510 passengers for the 73 passenger trains to be operationalised from first June.

  • In the last two and a half hours, over four lakh tickets have been booked for second class passenger trains which start from June 1. So many people want to go home. Also, there are so many people who want to return to work in cities which is a very good sign.

  • We are going to announce the resumption of more trains in the upcoming days. We have also permitted the operation of shops at railway stations. However, only takeaways will be allowed.

    • Railway bookings to resume from Friday

    Aviation Ministry issues guidelines for airlines, airports, passengers and other stakeholders

    1. Domestic flights across the country will resume in a calibrated manner from May 25 after a two-month long ban. 

    2. Only passengers with confirmed web check-in can enter airport, no physical check-in at airport counters.

    3. Boarding for flight will commence 60 minutes before departure and boarding gate will be closed 20 minutes before departure.

    4. Only one check-in bag will be allowed; airlines will not provide meal services in flights.

    5. Airlines to adhere to lower and upper limit of fares prescribed by government during COVID-19 pandemic period.

    6. Passengers reporting time at airport has been revised to at least two hours before scheduled time of departure.

    7. A self-declaration/ Aarogya Setu, App status (for compatible device) would also be obtained that the passenger is free of COVID-19 symptoms. Passengers with "Red" status tn Aarogya Setu App would not be permitted to tavel.

    8. Passenger should travel in an authorised taxi/personal vehicle following the norms specified by Ministry of Home Affairs.

    9. Those passengers who are from containment zones will not be allowed to travel.

    Public buses back on Andhra's Tirupati

    Passengers with confirmed web check-in will be allowed to enter the airport

    News from Kerala

    Chhattisgarh latest coronavirus numbers

  • Total positive: 116.

  • Cured/discharged: 59.

  • Active Cases: 57.

  • No Deaths.

    • Over one lakh samples tested for COVID-19 in last 24 hours, says ICMR

    As per ICMR's bulletin, a total of 26,15,920 samples of coronavirus have been tested as of May 21. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

    Latest Jharkhand numbers

    Total number of cases in Jharkhand now at 290, including 158 active cases and 129 recovered/discharged: State Health Department.

    Public buses resume in Chandigarh

    Latest Andhra numbers

    Small screen shooting allowed in Tamil Nadu

    Long queue outside Jammu liquor shops

    Update from UP's Hamirpur

    Five new cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in Hamirpur, according to District Collector Harikesh Meena. With this, the number of cases has reached 126 in Himachal Pradesh out of which 69 cases are active.

    South Western Railway to run 16 special trains, tickets to be booked online. Check out details here

    This is the first time since March 22 that any train will be run between Mumbai and Karnataka as it never figured in the 100-plus Shramik Specials run from Karnataka to the other cities that figure in the list. A pair of inter-city trains between Bengaluru and Hubballi as well as Shivamogga Town will be also run. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

    All you need to know about the new SOP for domestic terminals of airports

  • AAI issues SOP for airports for recommencement of domestic flights, says Aarogya Setu app not mandatory for children below 14 years of age.

  • Passengers must compulsorily walk through thermal screening zone on city side before entering airport terminal building. Airport operators must make appropriate arrangement for sanitisation of passengers' baggage before entry into terminal building.

  • All food and beverage (F&B) and retail outlets to be opened with COVID-19 precautions. Take-away to be encouraged to prevent crowding. Promote digital payments, self-ordering booths at F&B and retails outlets.

  • Passenger seating arrangement shall be done in such a manner so as to maintain social distancing among passengers using chairs by blocking those seats that are not to be used, with proper markers/tapes.

    • Vande Bharat: Flights from Dammam, Muscat arrive, Malaysia AI Express cancelled due to 'Amphan'

    According to Air India officials, the Kuala Lumpur flight scheduled for Wednesday morning was cancelled. An Air India Express repatriation light from Muscat to Manglauru via Bengaluru with 179 passengers and two infants reached Kempegowda International Airport at 6.29 pm. 115 alighted here while the remaining flyers alighted at Mangalore where it reached at 8.01 pm, said an official spokesperson. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

    More on the latest SOP for domestic fliers

    All food and beverage (F&B) and retail outlets to be opened with #COVID19 precautions. Take-away to be encouraged to prevent crowding. Promote digital payments, self-ordering booths at F&B and retails outlets: Airports Authority of India (AAI) SOP to its Airports

    List of containment and non-containment zones in Vijayawada

    More on the new SOP for domestic flights

    Passenger seating arrangement shall be done in such a manner so as to maintain social distancing among passengers using chairs by blocking those seats that are not to be used, with proper markers/tapes: Airports Authority of India (AAI) SOP to its Airports.

    New SOP for domestic fliers

    One more tests positive in Assam

    News from Madurai

    502 people who came out of their homes without wearing masks in Madurai yesterday, were fined a total of Rs 59,800: Madurai District Administration

    Testing (Molecular based) Update from government

    Total number of sample tested is 26,15,920; number of samples tested in 24 hours is 1,03,532: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

    Hyderabad woman alleges COVID-19 positive husband 'missing' from hospital, authorities dismiss claim

    The authorities have dismissed the fact and said that the man in question passed away on May 1 and was cremated by Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation with the family's knowledge. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

    Bus carrying migrant workers intercepted in Delhi

    83 new cases, three new deaths in Rajasthan

    26 more tested positive in Lucknow

    Out of the 827 samples tested yesterday for COVID-19, results of 26 are positive: King George's Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow.

    News from Tihar Jail

    A Deputy Superintendent posted in Central Jail number 11, Mandoli was on leave since 11th May as he had some fever. Later he got his COVID-19 test done which has come positive. Contact tracing exercise is on: Tihar offical.

    Update from Uttarakhand

    Spike of 5,609 COVID-19 cases & 132 deaths in the last 24 hours

    Spike of 5,609 COVID-19 cases & 132 deaths in the last 24 hours. Total number of cases in the country now at 112359, including 63624 active cases and 3435 deaths: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

    Update from Sydney

    WATCH | People wait in a long queue to buy tickets as APSRTC resumes its intrastate services

    Public transport resumes in Andhra

    Corona warriors from Kerala depart for UAE

    Morning walkers at Delhi's Lodhi Garden

    Scenes of destruction from Kolkata

    Madhya Pradesh limps back to normalcy

    News from Manipur

    Shops reopen in J&K

    Shops reopen in Surat

    News from Madhya Pradesh

    95 new cases in UP's Barabanki district

    Tea gardens resume activities in Assam

    Scenes outside the Ghazipur market

    Migrant workers face hardship at the Delhi-Ghazipur Border

    Latest visuals from Delhi's Okhla Market

    No trains from Tamil Nadu even as all India operations set to resume from June 1

    Delhi man hatches 'corona warrior' plan in vain to eliminate wife's 'lover'

    Suspecting that his wife was having an extra-martial affair, a man hired two women, who posed as health workers and poisoned a Home Guard and his entire family on the pretext of giving medicine to prevent coronavirus infection in north Delhi's Alipur area, officials said on Wednesday. (READ MORE)

    15 most-impacted nations have seen 83 times more deaths than India: Health Ministry on COVID-19

    The 15 most-impacted countries due to COVID-19, with a cumulative population almost equal to that of India, have seen 83 times more deaths and 34 times more infections, the Union health ministry said on Wednesday as the nationwide cases registered a record single-day spike of 5,611. (READ MORE)

    24 new cases in Kerala, tally 666; 'serious situation', says CM Pinarayi Vijayan

    In continuing uptrend in COVID-19 cases since people started returning to the state, Kerala on Wednesday saw 24 people testing positive, taking the active cases to 161, prompting Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to sound an alarm that it was inching towards a more serious situation. (READ MORE)

    Kerala man elopes with wife of friend who gave him shelter during lockdown period

    The deadly coronavirus, which has claimed thousands of lives the world over, seems to be wreaking havoc on marital relationships too going by an incident in Kerala's Ernakulam district where a man has allegedly scooted with the wife of his childhood friend who gave him shelter during the lockdown period. (READ MORE)

    CISF cancels all transfers till March next year

    All due transfers in the 1.62 lakh personnel-strong Central Industrial Security Force have been cancelled till March next year in view of the COVID-19 outbreak, an order issued by the paramilitary force said on Wednesday. (READ MORE)

    Call on lifting home delivery ban on newspapers soon: Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray

    Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday said the ban on door-to-door delivery of newspapers was a temporary step and a decision regarding revoking it will be taken after evaluating the prevailing coronavirus situation. (READ MORE)

    Industry needs to reset relations with workers, says FM Nirmala Sitharaman amid COVID-19 crisis

    Industry needs to reset its relations with workers and also consider a professional way to engage unskilled workers, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Wednesday in view of the COVID-19 crisis. (READ MORE)

    Micro-identification, mass isolation, quick treatment helped India in COVID-19 fight: Harsh Vardhan

    Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Wednesday said the country's policy of micro-identification, mass isolation and quick treatment helped prevent large scale deaths and spread of COVID-19. (READ MORE)

    List of the 200 trains which will be operated from 1st June

    Indian Railways to start operation of 200 passenger train services from June 1

    The Railways on Wednesday issued a list of 100 pairs of trains that it will operate from June 1, putting in operation popular trains such as Durontos, Sampark Krantis, Jan Shatabdis and Poorva Express. (READ MORE)

    Official working with the Medical Education Section of Health Services tested positive for COVID-19

    UPSC Civil Services Prelims date announcement likely on June 5

    The date for this year's civil services preliminary examination is likely to be decided on June 5, the Union Public Service Commission has said. (READ MORE)

    WATCH | Domestic passenger flights to resume in calibrated manner from May 25

    Centre refuses to fund trial for assessing HCQ role in preventing COVID-19

    The Centre has refused to fund a cruicial randomised control trial (RCT) to assess the effectiveness of anti-malarial drug hydroxyxhloroquine for preventing COVID-19 among healthcare workers.

    (CLICK HERE FOR FULL REPORT)

    Maharashtra: Labourer dies of hunger, dehydration while walking home

    A 40-year-old farm labourer died of hunger and dehydration while walking from Pune to his village in Maharashtra's Parbhani district, over 360 km away, the police said on Wednesday. (READ MORE)

    29 new COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in Haryana today

    Not many need ICU, says Centre as India records highest overnight spike in COVID-19

    As India recorded 5,611 Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, the highest overnight spike so far, the Centre underlined that the country is doing fairly well as only a little over 6 per cent of active cases need oxygen support, ICU care or ventilator support. (READ MORE)

    Rs 350 crore sanctioned for safety of COVID-19 frontline workers, TN govt tells HC

    The Tamil Nadu government informed the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court that Rs 350.29 crore has been allocated so far for providing disinfectants, food, shelter and personal protective equipment (PPE) to frontline workers involved in COVID-19 preventive measures. (READ MORE)

    WATCH | Over 26% of Bihar migrants returning from Delhi test positive for coronavirus

    After drawing flak for omitting data from COVID-19 bulletin, Karnataka health dept backtracks

     On Wednesday morning, the Karnataka Health Department did away with all these details and stuck to the summary of new cases, tally of cases, recoveries and deaths so far. Both the medical education minister and health minister denied any knowledge of the change.

    Haryana takes back decision to ply inter-state buses, public transport within state only

    The decision came after Home minister Anil Vij met Chief Minister M L Khattar and told him that it will be difficult to keep a check as there is high possibility of COVID-19 infection spreading once people freely travel from one state to the other.

    FULL REPORT HERE

    WATCH | Flight with 143 NRTs lands in Andhra's Vijayawada

    ICMR on HCQ use

    Will review evidence to take call on Hydroxychloroquine's efficacy: ICMR on if HCQ is being dropped from COVID-19 treatment plan 

    67 more cases reported in Karnataka

    67 new COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in Karnataka from 5pm yesterday to 5 pm today; taking the total number of positive cases to 1462. There are 864 active cases: Kerala Health Department  

    Important to give stimulus for businesses: FM

    "It was important to give stimulus for businesses to start off. In PM Garib Kalyan scheme - introduced after lockdown, we gave some cash transfer. With that done, we weren't closing the option. For cash transfer we thought it was far more effective because the way in which we've planned it, we thought there'll be greater multiplier effect&therefore it should be through banks, businesses, through money given for working capital," Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tells ANI.

    Health Ministry brief on Coronavirus crisi in India

  • It is satisfactory to note that 42,298 people have recovered and the number of active cases are 61,149, says Lav Agarwal, Union Health ministry joint secretary.

  • If the total population of the world is taken into account then 62 people per lakh population have been affected due to COVID19. In India, 7.9 people per lakh population of this country got affected due to COVID.

  • 4.2 people per lakh population across the world have died due to COVID19. In India it is 0.2 deaths per lakh population.

  • When the first lockdown started, then recovery rate was around 7.1%, the recovery rate during 2nd lockdown was 11.42%, it then rose to 26.59%. Today the recovery rate is 39.62%

    • No time for politics: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

    We'll have to understand our responsibilities. They (migrant labourers walking to return to their native states) aren't just Indians but India's spinal cord. The country runs on their blood&sweat. It's everyone's responsibility. It's not the time for politics. At 4 PM it will be 24 hrs since the buses were made available. If you want to use it, do it. Give us permission. If you want to use BJP party flags and stickers on buses then do it. If you want to say that you made those buses available, do it. But let the buses run: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra 

    Bihar principal health secretary shunted out amid growing COVID-19 cases

    Sanjay Kumar, a 1990 batch IAS officer, has been replaced by Uday Singh Kumawat, an IAS officer of 1993 batch. He was serving as the secretary of the state tourism department and was well known for his good performance. Kumawat has been given additional charges of Bihar Public Administration and the rural development organisation of Patna till further order.

    Bihar principal health secretary shunted out amid growing COVID-19 cases

    Sanjay Kumar, a 1990 batch IAS officer, has been replaced by Uday Singh Kumawat, an IAS officer of 1993 batch. He was serving as the secretary of the state tourism department and was well known for his good performance. Kumawat has been given additional charges of Bihar Public Administration and the rural development organisation of Patna till further order.

    Lockdown relief of Rs 2000 for TN handloom weavers who are not members of welfare board

    The government will combine the list of handloom and handloom silk weaving workers across the state and the list of weavers who are availing the free power supply of 200 units and prepare the list of weavers who have been left out of the relief assistance earlier.

    FULL REPORT HERE

    Sharad Pawar's suggestions on tackling COVID-19 in Maharashtra

    NCP supremo Sharad Pawar on Wednesday took to Twitter and offered suggestions on how to tackle coronavirus in Maharashtra. From forming a study group to ensure no disruption in educational institutions to strategise on need to reopen industries, Pawar gave over 10 proposals to the Maharashtra government.

    68 more COVID-19 cases in Andhra, ten have links to Chennai's Koyambedu market

    With the new patients, the total number of cases in AP stands at 2560. Of these, 153 are people from other states including Odisha, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, West Bengal, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.  

    Ola to layoff 1,400 staff as revenues decline by 95%

    CEO Bhavish Aggarwal said this will be a one-time exercise and will be complete by the end of this week for the India Mobility business, and by the end of next week for Ola foods and Ola Financial Services. 

    Buses to hit roads in Andhra from Thursday, masks & Arogya Setu app mandatory for commuters

    The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) will resume its intra-state operations with 1683 buses on 436 routes from Thursday with adequate safety measures. Buses will start plying across the state from 7 am onwards. Sanitisers will be made available at all bus stations for passengers before entering a bus. The seats have also been modified to ensure there is no physical contact between passengers.

    Kerala all set to launch app to reduce crowding at liquor shops, sale likely from Saturday

    The app titled 'Bev Q' will be made available in the play and app stores once the state government gives its approval. Liquor sales are likely to begin in the state by Saturday. The load test and enhancing of security features have almost been completed.

    Bus services resume in Kerala after 56-day gap, few takers for inter-district travel

    KSRTC planned to operate 1850 inter-district services in the state but one-third of them had to be held back due to low patronage. Only a few satellite towns attracted passengers. However, crowding in some buses was a cause for concern as the crew could not ensure social distancing mandated by lockdown guidelines. The new increased bus fare with a minimum charge of Rs 12 came into force from Wednesday.

    FULL REPORT HERE

    500 constables attack DCP in Kolkata for not santising barrack after advent of COVID-19 cases

    The demonstrators also alleged that adequate masks were not supplied to them despite which they have been doing duty in containment zones. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

    Paradip wagon maintenance shed roof blown away

    Latest Karnataka tally

    63 more COVID-19 cases reported in Karnataka between yesterday 5 pm and 12 pm today. Total number of cases in the state is now at 1458, including 864 active cases & 41 deaths (One due to 'non-COVID' cause): State Health Department.

    Pending board exams to be held in schools where students enrolled, result by July-end: HRD

    The Ministry is also planning to declare the board exam results by July-end and evaluation process has already begun for exams which were conducted before the lockdown was announced. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

    COVID-19: Mumbai's street food business in jeopardy due to lockdown

    Till some time back, street food was a thriving business in Mumbai, but since the coronavirus outbreak, many vendors have returned to their native places while others are staring at an uncertain future. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

    Migrant workers face woes in online registration of ‘Shramik Special’ trains

    Ram (name changed), 19, knocked on many doors before he decided to walk from Gandhinagar in Gujarat to Balrampur in Uttar Pradesh. On Tuesday, he was walking in a group of 10 people. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

    Positive cases in Maharashtra police near 1400

    Vande Bharat Mission: Two airports in Andhra receive 459 stranded Indians

    The international airport in Visakhapatnam received two flights, one from Manila (Philippines) and the other from Abu Dhabi with 166 and 148 passengers respectively on Tuesday night, airport authorities said. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

    40-year-old COVID-19 positive woman dies in J&K; toll rises to 18

  • A 40-year-old woman from Anantnag district who had tested positive for coronavirus has died at a hospital here, taking the COVID-19 related death toll in Jammu and Kashmir to 18, officials said on Wednesday.

  • The woman passed away around 11 pm on Tuesday night at the SKIMS hospital here, the officials said.

  • They said the woman was admitted to SKIMS on April 6 as a case of necrotising pancreatitis and her test came out as positive on May 12, adding that the total number of fatalities due to COVID-19 in the Union territory was 18.

    • Three of family among six Mumbai returnees test COVID-19 positive in Himachal, tally climbs to 99

    While five persons, including three women, tested COVID-19 positive in Kangra district, a man confirmed positive for the disease in Kullu district, officials said on Wednesday. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

    WATCH | Ruckus at Delhi-Gurugram border

    Machines used for testing drug-resistant TB can be now used for confirming COVID-19 cases

    As part of its efforts to ramp up the testing capacity, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) had approved the use of TrueNat system for conducting coronavirus tests on April 10, while recommending it only as a screening test. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

    Update from Thailand

    Heavy traffic in Delhi-UP border

    96 positive cases in CISF

    Update from Delhi

    More than one crore samples tested in last 24 hours in India

    1,08,121 samples tested for COVID-19 in the last 24 hours in India. Total number of samples tested till 9 am today is at 25,12,388: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

    Madhya Pradesh forest tour guides face lockdown blues

    News from Kerala

    68 new cases in Andhra in last 24 hours

    Delhi Transport Minister's latest statement

    Don't conduct exams from first to ninth standards: Tamil Nadu government to private schools

    Update from Jharkhand

    Number of COVID-19 cases has climbed to 248 in Jharkhand out of which 118 cases are active: State Health Department.

    Update from Tihar Jail

    An official of Rohini jail has tested positive for COVID-19. The personnel who live nearby him in staff quarters will also be asked to do self-quarantine at home for 14 days: Tihar jail official.

    Public transport resumes in Delhi

    Latest Rajasthan coronavirus numbers

    Update from Coimbatore

    Buses resume in Punjab too

    Bus services resume in Kerala

    Flight from London reaches Vijayawada

    India registers highest ever spike in coronavirus cases

    Highest ever spike of 5,611 COVID-19 cases and 140 deaths in the last 24 hours. Total number of cases in the country now at 106750, including 61149 active cases and 3303 deaths: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

    Traffic in Delhi's Kalindi Kunj area

    Latest Bihar numbers

  • Total cases till now:1573.

  • Deaths-9.

  • Recovered-534.

  • Active cases as of now:1,030.

    • Liquor shops reopen in Ranchi

    Flight from USA arrives in Punjab

    News from Ladakh

    Latest visuals from the Goa Airport

    Corona warrior returns to duty after recovering from the virus

    Diamond industries' status in Gujarat amid lockdown

    Corona warrior hits out at Central Government

    Central Government has issued a guideline according to which, those who are working wearing personal protective equipment are not at risk and do not need to stay at quarantine centres. We were working to help the country fight against COVID-19,thinking it's our duty but what are we getting in return? We didn't complain about low-quality PPEs or less masks but now government wants us to go home and expose our families to risk: Neelam Panwar,nurse at Gandhi Medical College

    Jharkhand government's latest order on lokdown relaxations

    Movement of individuals shall remain strictly prohibited in Jharkhand between 7 pm to 7 am, except for essential activities. Local authorities shall issue orders under appropriate provisions of law to ensure strict compliance: Jharkhand Government

    Small scale industries in Pune faces lockdown heat

    Mumbai doctors'stipend cut by 10%

    Latest visuals from the Ghazipur Market

    Indian Cofee House in Shimla resumes take-away services

    Lockdown relaxation: Offices in educational institutions, malls allowed to open in Rajasthan

    According to an official statement, the offices will have to ensure social distancing is followed properly.

    Karnataka government releases SOP for salons and parlours

    According to the SOP, people with cold, cough, fever should not be allowed and those who do not wear masks shouldn't be allowed. Further, the staff as well should wear a mask, apron and headcover. (READ MORE)

    Salons are back to action in Hyderabad

    Health Minister KK Shailaja: The woman who helped Kerala combat coronavirus

    Well before the world realised the threat of COVID-19, it had caught the attention of Kerala's Health Minister KK Shailaja who happened to read the reports emerging from China since the beginning of this year. (READ MORE)

    Gujarat COVID-19 cases up by 395 to 12,141; death toll at 719

    A total of 239 patients were discharged from hospitals, taking the total number of the recovered patients to 5,043.

    Uncertainty in reopening of liquor shops in the Puducherry today

    Confusion prevails in Puducherry on the reopening of liquor shops in the Union Territory, as the excise department is yet to issue a notification in this regard, despite Chief Minister V Narayanasamy announcing that liquor shops would reopen on Wednesday after levy of Corona tax. (READ MORE)

    Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan set to be WHO Executive Board chairman: Officials

    Vardhan would succeed Dr Hiroki Nakatani of Japan, currently the Chairman of the 34-member WHO Executive Board. (FULL REPORT HERE)

    People flouting social distancing norms in Bengaluru

    Six more die of COVID-19 in Bengal; 136 fresh cases reported; total tally rises to 2,961

    The number of active cases rose to 1,637, with 136 fresh cases reported during the period, the department said in its bulletin on Tuesday. (READ MORE)

    India COVID-19 tally crosses 1,00,000

    Jharkhand government ropes in Swiggy, Zomato for home delivery of liquor

    In order to avoid unwanted crowding at liquor shops, Jharkhand government has roped in food start-ups like Swiggy and Zomato to deliver liquor at people’s doorsteps in some of the big cities like Ranchi, Jamshedpur and Bokaro. (READ MORE)

    Traffic back on track in Bengaluru

    Railways to start 200 non-AC train services from June 1, online bookings soon: Piyush Goyal

    The announcement came a week after the national transporter started running the 15 pairs of special air conditioned trains. (FULL REPORT HERE)

    Uttarakhand government to provide free ration and essentials to returning migrants

    Uttarakhand government has decided to provide two months of free ration to returning migrants who are economically vulnerable. (ALSO READ)

    Karnataka SSLC time table announced

    Second language exam – either English or Kannada – will be held on June 25, while Elements of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering – 2, Engineering Graphics – 2, Elements of Electronics Engineering, Elements of Computer Science and Economics will be held on June 26. Mathematics and Sociology exams will be conducted in the morning and afternoon sessions respectively on June 27. (READ MORE)

    COVID-19: Eight most affected states account for 60 per cent of GDP

    The eight states, which include Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, among others also account for 58 per cent of the employment, domestic rating agency Crisil's research wing said in the report. (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    688 new cases in Tamil Nadu, state tally rises to 12,448

    DGCA allows Approved Training Organization to function for simulator utilisation only

    Sports federations can organise sport events in stadium ensuring SOPs are followed: Sports Minister Rijiju

    Jammu and Kashmir issues revised guidelines relaxing economic activities

    WATCH | Scientists in China believe new drug can stop pandemic 'without vaccine'

    Sonia Gandhi to chair opposition meet on migrants' plight, changes in labour laws on Friday

    Around 17 opposition parties have agreed to participate in the meeting which will be held via videoconferencing. (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    Tamil Nadu State Board exams for Class 10 pushed back to June 15

    The exams which were earlier scheduled for June 1 have been pushed back said that after discussing logistics with various stakeholders. Education minister Sengottaiyan said that many more red zones will change to green zones by mid-June easing mobility of students. (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    2,350 COVID-19 patients cured in last 24 hours, recovery rate is 38.73%: Health Ministry

    Maharashtra issues revised guidelines: Buses to ply with 50% capacity in non-red zones

    Centre issues new workplace guidelines: No need to shut entire office if few test COVID-19 positive

    Work can be resumed after disinfection as per laid down protocol if there are one or two cases of coronavirus reported. The disinfection procedure will be limited to areas visited by the patient in the past 48 hours. (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    No consent required from destination states to run Shramik Special trains: Railways

    The railways on Tuesday said the consent of the destination states is not required to operate Shramik Special trains, hours after the Home Ministry issued a standard operating procedure for the national transporter to run these trains to ferry migrants to their native places. (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    Health ministry issues guidelines for functioning of Dental clinics

    Bengaluru's Cubbon Park reopens for public

    Punjab govt extends property tax deadline to June 30

    Shramik special train from Kerala to Rajasthan derails, no injuries reported

    Schools to reopen in Andhra Pradesh from August 3

    WATCH | No silver bullet' for reopening economies': WHO chief Tedros Adhanom

    Students who have dropped study abroad plans due to COVID-19 to get fresh chance to apply for JEE-Mains: HRD Ministry

    In view of representations received from various Indian students who were scheduled to join colleges abroad but are now keen to pursue their studies in India due to changed circumstances arising, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has decided to give an opportunity. The application window for Joint Entrance Exam (JEE-Mains), which opened today, will have to be completed by May 24.

    Shops reopen in Hyderabad

    WATCH | Taxis, cabs will operate in Delhi with two passengers: Arvind Kejriwal

    Karnataka: 49 per cent of COVID-19 deaths were high-risk patients

    As of May 17, of the total active 596 cases in the State, 67 are high-risk ones. Gadag, Chitradurga and Dakshina Kannada have the highest percentage of high-risk cases in the State.
    (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    Centre issues more guidelines for Shramik Trains

    Delhi records 500 fresh cases in last 24 hours

    500 more COVID-19 cases reported in Delhi in the last 24 hours. Total cases rise to 10554, including 5638 active cases & 166 deaths: Delhi Health Department(Photo | Shekhar Yadav, EPS)

    Lockdown 4.0: Centre asks states to operate more special trains to transport migrant workers

    The Centre has asked the states and the union territories to operate more special trains in close coordination with the railways for transportation of migrant workers. (READ FULL REPORT HERE)(Photo | P Ravindra Babu, EPS)

    Karnataka: Three COVID-19 deaths reported today

    Air India special flight brings back 169 stranded nationals

    As many as 169 stranded nationals, including 119 female students, from Dhaka, Bangladesh, are expected to arrive in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday afternoon in a special repatriation flight of Air India. (Inputs from ANI)(File Photo)

    Air India special flight brings back 169 stranded nationals

    As many as 169 stranded nationals, including 119 female students, from Dhaka, Bangladesh, are expected to arrive in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday afternoon in a special repatriation flight of Air India. (Inputs from ANI)(File Photo)

    Yogi Adityanath accepts Priyanka Gandhi's offer to deploy 1,000 buses for migrants

    Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had slammed the Congress for not submitting the list of buses and playing 'petty politics' on the migrant workers' issue.
    (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    Researchers hoping to work on Covid genetic material run into ICMR rules

    Dozens of private research and testing facilities, raring to work on understanding genetic sequencing and mutation patterns, are complaining that they are not able to procure the relevant viral genetic material (RNA/c-DNA) for the purpose of research. Understanding the virus better could help develop testing kits, vaccines or even pharmaceutical anti-virals, say researchers.
    (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    IN PICS | You can sit only in specificaly marked bus seats from now in Andhra

    Ambulance driver taunts North-East girls as corona virus, arrested

    The Chennai police arrested a 27-year-old private ambulance driver on Monday, for allegedly taunting women from northeast India and calling them Coronavirus. (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    EDIT: The proposed media conference has been postponed.

    Global update | China reports 23 fresh COVID-19 cases including one in Wuhan

    The city also has over 285 asymptomatic cases which prompted the local officials to go for mass testing of local population after the 76-day lockdown was lifted last month. 
    (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    Total COVID-19 cases in Assam touch 135

    Total COVID-19 cases in Assam touch 135

    Total COVID-19 cases in Assam touch 135

    Tamil Nadu: Class X public examination postponed

    Central paramilitary forces to be deployed in Mumbai from May 19

    entral paramilitary forces will be deployed in several areas of Mumbai on Tuesday to assist the local police in the on-going battle against coronavirus. (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    No buses for UP, Bihar, Uttarakhand from Delhi's Anand Vihar Bus Station

    We appeal to people not to gather at the bus station here: Delhi Police DCP East Jasmeet Singh (Photo | Parveen Negi, EPS)

    Desperate to avoid institutional quarantine, Bihar migrant workers break social distancing rules

    Desperation among them to reach homes has increased to such an extent that 99 migrant-labourers halted a Sharmik Special train at Ara on Sunday and attempted to escape. But the alert railway cops escorting the train caught and brought them back.
    (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    For Mumbaikars, a gentle lockdown reminder

    Aadhar card must to buy booze in Puducherry as cabinet nod to open liquor shops

    This is because the government would not earn any revenue from the sale of IMFL products in stock unless Corona fee is levied. The government has already collected the revenue in advance for the existing stocks with the wholesalers and retailers in the form of Excise duty and Additional Excise duty.
    (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    Mitigate the distress of migrant workers: MHA

    No COVID-19 test if patient is dead: Delhi government

    Apart from this, the new guideline also mentions three requirements to identify an individual as a COVID-19 fatality — the person tested positive before the death, the positive test was based on a sample taken when the person was alive and that the individual was admitted to a hospital with severe symptoms of the COVID-19 or doctors categorised that the person as a COVID-19 suspect.
    (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    DTC buses back in New Delhi, all offices to open

    With neither cure for COVID-19 nor an end to the pandemic expected anytime soon, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal went ahead to implement his ‘live with the coronavirus’ policy as his government permitted a host of activities in the national capital even as the lockdown was extended till May 31.
    (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    Global coronavirus update

    Ram Vilas Paswan's office in Krishi Bhawan sealed after official tests positive

    The NITI Aayog building in New Delhi was sealed on April 28 after an employee tested positive. On May 5, one of the floors of the Shastri Bhawan building was sealed after a law ministry official was found infected.
    (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    WATCH | Social distancing is the new norm in buses

    Non-resident Kannadigas irked as state bans entry of people from Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat

    However, this move has not gone well with several Kannadigas who are stuck in these states and were waiting to return home and also those whose offices have started to function and are expecting employees to be back home.
    (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    Odisha reports fifth death due to coronavirus

    Lockdown 4.0: States start opening up cautiously with strict guidelines

    The districts will remain in lockdown as usual but the government offices will open from 10am to 4am. No crowd will be allowed at religious places and stadiums will be allowed to conduct sports without audience. Schools and malls will remain closed.
    (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    Global update: Pakistan to partially resume train services from May 20 even as tally crosses 43,000

    Information Minister Shibli Faraz said that the government has decided to allow the railways to start its limited operations from May 20.
    (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    Chennai: Zone wise break up of COVID-19 cases

    COVID-19 lockdown: Politics on migrant workers

    Four posers were put out for Priyanka asking her if Congress was so moved by the sufferings of migrants and that they had 1000 buses, then why migrants were stuffed in trucks while being ferried from Rajasthan and Maharashtra to UP, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
    (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    Odisha COVID-19 tally nears 1,000

    Huge variation in COVID-19 death rates across states has governments, experts baffled

    West Bengal, with 2,677 confirmed COVID-19 cases -- at number eight in terms of case loads -- has a nearly 9 per cent death rate or three times the national average. 
    (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    Will permanently cut funding: Donald Trump warns WHO yet again

    Mortality rate low in TN because younger population primarily affected

    With the death toll now climbing steadily, the government has constituted a committee to develop guidelines on management of elderly people and those with co-morbid conditions. (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    Rajasthan reports one new COVID-19 death

    Three women migrants killed, 17 injured in mini-truck accident at Uttar Pradesh's Mahoba

    The mini-truck was carrying material from a crusher in Chhatarpur in Madhya Pradesh. Twenty-two migrant workers also got on to the mini -truck and when the vehicle overturned, the workers were buried under the crusher material.
    (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    Coronavirus lockdown day 56

    (Photo | Vincent Pulickal, EPS)

    Rational use of PPE kits: Delhi government order to hospitals irks healthcare workers

    The association urged the Minister for amendment in guidelines and arrangement of adequate testing for doctors on COVID-19 duty.
    (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    Rational use of PPE kits: Delhi government order to hospitals irks healthcare workers

    The association urged the Minister for amendment in guidelines and arrangement of adequate testing for doctors on COVID-19 duty.
    (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    WATCH | Migrants in Bengaluru wait to go home

    Four killed, 22 hurt as bus carrying migrants hits truck in Maharashtra's Yavatmal

    The accident took place at Kolwan village around 3:30 am when the bus was on way from Solapur to Nagpur railway station where the labourers were supposed to board a Shramik Special train to reach their native places in Jharkhand, Addl SP Noorul Hasan said.
    (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    India records over 4,900 cases in last 24 hours, tally exceeds 1 lakh

    Except CZs in Hyderabad, Telangana declared green zone

    The entire State, except the containment areas in Hyderabad, has been declared a green zone and all the activities would resume from May 19. (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    A look at the relaxed restrictions in Kerala during lockdown 4.0

    OPINION | As Kerala braces for the next wave...

    'We cannot accept the approach, espoused by some world leaders, that deaths are inevitable in any war, especially the Covid war that can be concluded only after the population achieves herd immunity or a vaccine is discovered....' writes TM Thomas Isaac.
    (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    Bus carrying migrants meets with an accident in Cuttack

    EDITORIAL | Grossly insufficient booster dose to revive the economy

    The series of announcements by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will not only need to pass the test in rather stern laboratory conditions. There will need to be more—much more. For, the extent of the gloom that surrounds us is not lost on anyone.
    (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

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