Coronavirus India Updates: Covid-19 Cases In India Near 30,000; Death Toll At 937

The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in India inched closer to the 30,000-mark as India mulls extending a lockdown—which is slated to end Sunday—for a second time.

India added over 1,594 new cases of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours, taking the total tally to 29,974, according to the health ministry’s 5 p.m. update on Tuesday. This includes 937 deaths and 7,027 patients who recovered.

Over the last 24 hours, the government has recorded 51 deaths and 665 recoveries.

In their meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, some chief ministers sought an extension in the nationwide lockdown to contain the coronavirus pandemic, while gradually resuming economic activity.

Global Update:

Global confirmed cases passed the 3 million mark. Italy reported the fewest new infections in seven weeks, while U.K. deaths dropped to the lowest since March. States including Texas, Florida and Ohio took steps toward easing restrictions, and New Zealand emerged from almost five weeks of strict nationwide lockdown. The World Health Organization’s director general warned the pandemic is far from over.

Track latest news updates on the evolving coronavirus situation in India here:

There are now nine states with more than 1,000 Covid-19 cases in India.

• Maharashtra: 8,590 cases
• Gujarat: 3,548 cases
• Delhi: 3,108 cases
• Madhya Prajesh: 2,368 cases
• Rajasthan: 2,262 cases
• Uttar Pradesh: 2,043 cases
• Tamil Nadu: 1,937 cases
• Andhra Pradesh: 1,259 cases
• Telangana: 1,004 cases

India added 1,594 new cases in the last 24 hours taking the total tally to 29,974.

• Active cases: 22,010
• Cured/discharged/migrated: 7,027
• Deaths: 937

Source: Health Ministry (As of April 28, 5 p.m.)

India’s health ministry today clarified that plasma therapy is just one of the many experimental treatments being attempted across the world for Covid-19.

The ICMR has already stated that currently there are no approved therapies for Covid-19, including plasma therapy, joint health secretary Lav Agarwal said in a press briefing. “So far, there is no evidence to support it as treatment.”

ICMR has launched a national study to understand the efficacy of this therapy, Agarwal said. It is important to clarify that since ICMR has not concluded its study, and there are no robust scientific proofs available, this therapy should only be used to research and trial purposes, he said.

The Manipur government has approved the promotion of class 11 students of state schools to the next class, a senior Education department official said on Tuesday.

Commissioner Education (School) T Ranjit Singh in a notification on Monday said class 11 examination for the academic year (2019-20) be done away in view of outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic and students be promoted to class 12 based on term test performance, the official said.

The notification said "action taken report" by the schools should be intimated to the state government.

The Class 11 examination conducted by the Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur was cancelled in mid-February after leak of question papers in five subjects.

The COHSEM had then announced that the examination in the five subjects would be held on a later date.

Source: PTI

The Manipur Police detained 1,658 people for violating the curfew and the lockdown norms over the past two days and collected fines amounting to Rs 1.99 lakh, officials said on Tuesday.

In all, 889 violators were detained with 731 vehicles on Sunday. Police also detained 769 curfew violators with 762 vehicles on Monday, said L Kailun, the Additional Director General of Police in-charge of law and order.

The curfew violators were produced before the concerned magistrates. A total fine of 91,200 was imposed on Sunday and Rs 1,07,800 on Monday.

Police said strict action will be taken against those who continue to violate the restrictions.

A state-wide curfew was declared in Manipur on March 24 after a woman had tested positive for the coronavirus infection. The nationwide lockdown was imposed the next day.

Source: PTI

Mumbai Police have asked their personnel who are above 55 years of age and having some pre- existing ailment to go on leave, in a bid to protect them from the coronavirus infection.

The move comes after Covid-19 claimed lives of three Mumbai Police personnel in the last three days.

During an analysis, it came to light that the three deceased and the other police personnel currently undergoing treatment for coronavirus disease were above the age of 50, a senior Mumbai Police official said on Tuesday.

"In view of this, we have decided to protect our policemen and officers - who are above 55 years of age and having some pre-existing ailment - and asked them to take leave," he said.

"Because of their age, these police personnel are at a higher risk. Therefore, we are allowing them to take leave during these days," the official said.

So far, at least 107 police personnel, including 20 officers, have tested positive for coronavirus across Maharashtra and most of them are from the Mumbai Police force.

On Monday, a 57-year-old head constable of the Mumbai Police died of Covid-19.

Besides, a 52-year-old head constable succumbed to the disease on Sunday, while a 57-year-old constable died on Saturday.

Source: PTI

The progression of Covid-19 cases in India, though slower than many other countries, has happened fairly quickly over the last few weeks. Here's what the timeline looks like.

• 0-5000 cases ——70 days
• 5000-10,000 cases —— 6 days
• 10,000-20,000 cases ——7 days
• 20,000-29,543 cases ——6 days

Three states - Delhi, Gujarat and Maharashtra - now have more than 3,000 cases each with the last one reporting more than 8,500 cases.

Total people infected by the Covid-19 virus rose to 29,435 on Tuesday morning 8 a.m. according to the data made available by the Health Ministry. That includes:

• Active cases: 21632
• Cured/discharged/migrated: 6869
• Deaths: 934

Over the last 24 hours, the government has recorded 1,543 new cases, 62 deaths and 684 recoveries.