Government has extended lockdown till May 3 to stop the spread of coronavirus. But still India is witnessing rise in Covid-19 cases. Central and state governments are leaving no stone unturned to suppress the coronavirus. Follow Chinimandi to get all live updates on Coronavirus across the world.
Follow Live Updates:
COVID-19 cases in India hit 20,471, death toll climbs to 652
The number of COVID-19 cases in India reached 20,471on Wednesday, with Maharashtra continuing to be the worst-hit state. Out of the total number of cases, 15,859 are active cases, 3,959 cured or discharged and 652 deaths. Maharashtra has reported the highest number of cases across the country, with the count at 5,221, followed by Delhi (2,156) and Gujarat (2,272). Maharashtra reported 251 deaths, the highest fatality rate than any other state. Fresh cases were reported today from Kerala, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Kashmir among other states and UTs. The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved Rs 15,000 crore for ‘India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package’. The funds sanctioned will be utilised in three phases.
While Rs 7,774 crore has been provisioned for immediate COVID-19 emergency response, the rest would be used for medium-term support (1-4 years) to be provided under mission mode approach. Briefing mediapersons about the package here on Wednesday, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said the key objectives of the package include mounting emergency response to slow and limit COVID-19 in India through the development of diagnostics and COV1D-dedicated treatment facilities, centralised procurement of essential medical equipment and drugs required for treatment of infected patients, strengthen and build resilient national and state health systems to support prevention and preparedness for future disease outbreaks. Javadekar said that no decision has been taken so far regarding the resumption of flight operations. “No decision has been taken yet on the resumption of flight operations. An announcement will be made on time as to when it will resume,” Javadekar told reporters.
Here’s a quick read on the COVID-19 related updates:
1. Two Chinese manufactures of rapid antibody test, Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech Co. Ltd and Zhuhai Livzon Diagnostics Inc are now the subject of investigations by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) as the rapid testing antibody kits of these two companies delivered results with wide variations and low accuracy.
2. Rajasthan Health Minister Raghu Sharma said that 735 doctors have recently been recruited and posted to hospitals in the state.
3. The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has settled 10.02 lakh claims, including 6.06 lakh COVID-19 cases, under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) in 15 working days.
4. Secretary of Overseas Indian Affairs in the Ministry of External Affairs, Vikas Swarup, interacted with envoys of nearly 30 Central European countries on Wednesday and shared thoughts on fighting COVID-19.
5. Taking cognisance of the need for essential services like plumbing during COVID 19 crisis, the Indian Plumbing Skills Council (IPSC) aligned to Skill India programme, under the aegis of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), has prepared a database of over 900 plumbers who are ready to provide their services during the lockdown period across the country.
6. Braving all odds, workers of the Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) are conducting door to door surveys in the Red Zones of Nagpur putting their lives at risk.
7. Aviation Minister Hardeep Puri on Wednesday said that Air India has lifted about 300 tonnes of essential medical cargo so far this month through China-India aerobridge. It is planned that Air India along with SpiceJet and Blue Dart will airlift another 220 tonnes of this critical cargo in the next three days.
8. Ministry of Railways has offered to supply 2.6 lakh meals daily from various railway kitchens wherever the district administration is willing and able to pick up cooked meals and distribute among the needy. This has been communicated to district authorities all over the country.
9. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Wednesday said that the state’s COVID-19 doubling rate stands at 26.6 days and Uttarakhand ranks third in preventing coronavirus infection.
10. The Central government has brought an ordinance to end violence against health workers, making it a cognizable, non-bailable offence with imprisonment up to seven years for those found guilty.
14:23 IST:7 more COVID-9 cases in Karnataka, count rises to 425
With seven more people tested positive for COVID-19, the total number of cases now stands at 425 as of date in Karnataka, informed state health department on Wednesday. Out of the total COVID-19 cases, 17 people have died and 129 have been discharged. These seven new cases came to light in the last 24 hours.
13:41 IST:56 more COVID-19 cases reported in Andhra, state tally reaches 813
As many as 56 more people have been tested positive for the coronavirus in the last 24 hours in Andhra Pradesh, taking the state tally to 813, informed state health department on Wednesday. Notably, the total samples which were collected for coronavirus test in the last 24 hours was 5,757.
13:28 IST: Imran Khan undergoes covid-19 test after he met charity head who tested positive for infection
Pakistan prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday was tested for Covid-19 after Edhi Foundation Chairman Faisal Edhi, who met the premier a few days ago, was diagnosed positive for the virus. A team of doctors from the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital collected samples from the premier and the result is expected on Wednesday (today), Express Tribune reported. “As a responsible prime minister and a responsible citizen I am happy to announce that the prime minister has agreed to get tested [for coronavirus] on my advice,” Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital CEO, Dr Faisal Sultan, who is also the Khan’s personal physician, told reporters.
13:24 IST: 2,156 coronavirus cases in Delhi, says Health Minister Satyendar Jain
Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Wednesday that there are a total 2,156 coronavirus cases in the national capital including 611 who have recovered from the disease.
“As of today, there are a total of 2156 positive cases in Delhi, 75 of these were found yesterday. A total of 611 people – 28 percent of these patients have recovered. 27 patients are in ICU and 5 on the ventilator,” Jain told ANI. The health minister said that several reports are coming about journalists testing positive for the infection.
12:48 IST: 553 more COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra, state tally reaches 5,229
The total number of COVID-19 positive cases in Maharashtra stands at 5,229 till 10 am today after 553 fresh cases reported in the last 24 hours, according to the data of state’s Public Health Department. The total number of deaths in the state, due to COVID-19, has climbed to 251 after 19 more deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours.
11:56 IST: 5 more COVID-19 deaths reported from Gujarat
Death of five more COVID-19 patients has been reported from Gujarat on Wednesday, taking the toll in the state to 95, state Health Department said.
“94 more COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in Gujarat, taking the state tally to 2272 positive cases, including 144 cured patients and 95 deaths,” the Health Department said.
11:02 IST: Six inmates at Indore Central Jail test positive for COVID-19
Six prisoners at Indore Central Jail have tested positive for COVID-19, said Lakshman Singh Bhadauria, Deputy Superintendent, Central Jail. “So far six prisoners have tested positive for COVID-19,” said Bhadauria. Among the new coronavirus cases are an accused in a stone-pelting incident on police officials in Chandan Nagar and his son. “Later, another prisoner staying with him in the barrack also tested positive for COVID-19,” he added. Till now six prisoners have tested positive for COVID-19 who have been admitted to MRTB Hospital. At the same time, 250 prisoners are being sent to a temporary jail due to the risk of infection.
10:34 IST: Delhi govt constitutes audit committee to review COVID-19 deaths
In view of COVID-19 outbreak, the Delhi government has constituted a death audit committee comprising of three doctors. The committee has been mandated to audit each death of COVID-19 affected patient in government and private hospitals in the national capital before releasing data. “The government has constituted a death audit committee of following doctors – Dr Ashok Kumar – Ex. DGHS Chairperson, Dr Vikas Dogra – Member of RGSSH, Dr RN Das – Member of MS-Nursing Homes,” the Delhi government said in a release. “The responsibility of the Committee would be to audit daily each and every death in which the COVID-19 test is positive in government and private hospitals of Delhi before releasing data,” it added.
10:01 IST: 21 persons, including a three-year-old child, from Moradabad test COVID-19 positive
As many as 21 persons from Moradabad, including 2 women and a three-year-old child, tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday night. The tests were conducted at the Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences in Lucknow after the swab samples of the patients were referred by CMO, Moradabad. A total of 1,294 COVID-19 positive cases have been reported from the state of Uttar Pradesh, as per the data released by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. 140 have been cured and discharged, while 20 persons have succumbed to coronavirus.
09:24 IST: Delhi-Ghaziabad border sealed to contain COVID-19
The Ghaziabad-Delhi border has been sealed and the police have tightened the vigil so as to prohibit the traffic movement to contain the spread of coronavirus in view of the rising number of COVID-19 cases. Only those rendering essential services and people holding valid pass will be allowed to travel across the border. Basically, health workers and people in essential services having valid passes issued by state authorities will be allowed to travel across the border.
