Coronavirus India Updates: Covid-19 Cases In India At 31,787; Death Toll Crosses 1,000

The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in India moved closer to the 32,000-mark as the country nears the scheduled end of a 40-day on Sunday. More than 1,000 people have died because of the virus in the country.

India added 1,813 new cases of Covid-19 over the last 24 hours, taking the total tally to 31,787, according to the health ministry’s 5 p.m. update. This includes 1,008 deaths and 7,797 patients who recovered.

Over the 24 hours, there have been 71 deaths and 770 recoveries.

The Indian government has also asked states to facilitate sending stranded workers back to their home states amid the lockdown with certain conditions. The home ministry has also said new guidelines related to the lockdown will be put in place from May 4, including relaxations in some district.

Global Update:

Coronavirus cases in the U.S. passed the 1 million mark and deaths topped 58,000, double the toll in Italy. France plans to begin reopening shops on May 11, while Spain is preparing for a “new normal” as Europe’s hardest-hit nation removes restrictions over the next eight weeks. The trend of overall cases is improving in Singapore.

Globally, total cases topped 3.1 million while deaths passed 2,16,000, as per John Hopkins data.

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

The Ministry of Home Affairs today reviewed new lockdown guidelines which will come into effect from May 4 and will allow for "considerable relaxations" to many districts.

The Indian government has ordered states and union territories to facilitate the inter-state movement of stranded people including migrant labourers in the country.

The order was issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs today.

“It has also been impressed upon that on arrival at their destination, such person(s) would be assessed by the local health authorities, and kept in home quarantine, unless the assessment requires keeping the person in institutional quarantine,” the ministry said. “They would be kept under watch with periodic health check-ups.”

India has added 1,813 new cases of coronavirus in the last 24 hours, taking the total tally to 31,787.

• Active cases: 22,982
• Cured/discharged/migrated: 7,797
• Deaths: 1,008

Source: Health Ministry (As of April 29, 5 p.m.)

In the wake of rising coronavirus cases, authorities in Faridabad on Thursday ordered restrictions over movement of government employees and regular people from other districts or states.

According to an order issued by Faridabad's Deputy Commissioner Yash Pal, those government employees and regular people who commute daily from other districts or states, their movement has been stopped with effect from 12 pm on April 29.

"Doctors, paramedics, bank employees and police are allowed to enter the district only till 12 p.m. of April 29 with their valid identity cards after which no relaxation for movement will be given," the order said.

Those working in neighbouring places like Delhi that includes doctors, paramedics, bank employees and police personnel will have to make arrangements to stay at their workplace, it said, adding the directions will remain applicable till May 3.

However, ambulances, vehicles transporting essential supplies and those involved in banking and gas services will be allowed to enter the district.

The movement passes issued by the Centre under special circumstances will be recognised and such pass holders will be allowed to enter Faridabad, which abuts Delhi.

Faridabad district has reported 46 coronavirus cases and is closely behind other worst-hit districts Gurgaon (51) and Nuh (57).

Earlier, Haryana's Home Minister Anil Vij had said that the state's borders with Delhi were “sealed” with essential services allowed but stricter restrictions imposed on those coming in from the national capital.

Vij had said that many of the coronavirus cases in NCR districts, including Sonipat, Gurgaon and Faridabad, have been found to have contracted infection from the national capital.

He said that daily movement of the employees working in Delhi to their residences in Haryana increases the risk of spreading Covid-19.

Source: PTI

With the coronavirus pandemic taking a toll on jobs, recruitment software product firm Talentrackr Technologies has launched a platform to connect those who have been laid off with prospective employers.

The Pune-based firm which has been in the market from past 12 years in the HR industry is impressing upon all employers to give preference to people who got laid off due to the Covid-19 pandemic and consider them over other candidates who applied for lateral job change.

The company that has corporate clients such Sony Software, Lodha Group, Growel, Talent Anywhere, Parisons and Rucha Engineering, connected with a network of over 20,000 HR personnel, said within a day of its platform going live it has already received over 150 applications from across sectors spanning from IT, manufacturing, automobile, retail to telecom.

"While discussing with employers/clients we noticed a trend of layoffs/job cuts due to various reasons associated with the current situation. This platform is exclusively built for people who have lost their jobs," Talentrackr Technologies Co-founder and CEO Charan Pal Singh told PTI.

Source: PTI

The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday said the four-day total shutdown in Chennai, Madurai and Coimbatore Corporation limits ending by today will not be extended.

It also announced a relaxation in the business hours of shops selling essential items including vegetables for April 30, saying they can function from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m..

Amidst rising Covid-19 cases in the state, Chief Minister K Palaniswami had on April 24 announced a complete shutdown from Sunday (April 26) in Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai for four days, disallowing grocery shops as well and fully curtailing movement of the public.

The shutdown in the corporation limits of Chennai, Madurai and Coimbatore, scheduled to end by Wednesday night, will revert to the pre-April 26 conditions, an official release here said.

On Wednesday, the government announced extending the business hours of shops selling essential items for Thursday, saying it will be applicable only for tomorrow.

"On April 30, to enable people buy essential items like vegetables, fruits and grocery, shops selling these will be allowed to remain open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m," the release said.

However, business hours will be curtailed from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. from the next day, May 1, in adherence to the lockdown conditions announced earlier.

The government urged the people to strictly follow social distancing while buying the essential items, besides asking them to remain patient and calm during shopping.

"People are directed to wear masks," while visiting the shops, it said cautioning them against the contagion.

Incidentally, people had given a go-by to all social distancing norms on Saturday, a day before the total lockdown kicked-in in the said cities and resorted to panic buying by swarming markets in Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai to purchase essential commodities.

Source: PTI

MG Motor India on Wednesday said it has joined hands with Vadodara-based MAX Ventilator, a part of AB Industries, to increase ventilator production.

This collaboration with Max Ventilator, which is among the top 25 ventilator brands in the world and caters primarily to private hospitals, is focussed on assisting the overall production of ventilators by addressing specific areas of the supply chain, IT system and manufacturing processes, MG Motor India said in a statement.

The production capacity would be increased five times to 300 ventilators per month in Phase I, which should be completed within next eight weeks, it said.

"In Phase II, the production capacity can be enhanced up to 1,000 ventilators per month, depending upon the demand, especially from the government hospitals to help meet the shortage of the life-saving medical devices in the country," the company added.

Commenting on the partnership, MG Motor India President & Managing Director Rajeev Chaba said, "we understand that ventilators are the most critical requirement at this time, and we would do our best to enhance ventilator production.

"The collaboration comes as a result of aligned core values of both organisations and is designed to work towards the common goal of serving the communities around where our operations are based." AB Industries – MAX Ventilator Managing Director Ashok Patel said in such times of need, it is an admirable thing for all those capable to come forward and help in some way.

"As a manufacturing company of respiratory ventilators, this collaboration with MG Motor will help us to scale-up the production with our teams working together hand in hand. Collaborations like these will guarantee that we meet the requirements to treat the rising Covid-19 cases in India," he added.

MG Motor India had earlier stated that it was in talks with three medical device makers to produce ventilators at its Halol facility to help meet demand during the coronavirus pandemic.

Apart from developing ventilators in-house, the company had also announced a Rs 10 lakh support through grant to youngsters and young engineers who could design a low-cost ventilator.

Moreover, the company had pledged donation of Rs 2 crore to government hospitals and health institutions in Gurugram and Halol (Gujarat), where the carmaker's facilities are located, to fight coronavirus pandemic.

Source: PTI

Nine states in India have reported cases over 1,000. Out of these, four are over 2,000, two over 3,000 and Maharashtra over 9,000.

These nine states account for more than 87 percent of India’s total cases.

The Health Ministry reported 1,897 new infections in the last 24 hours taking the total tally of confirmed cases in the country as of 8 a.m. today, to 31,332.

• Active cases: 22629
• Cured/discharged/migrated: 7696
• Deaths: 1007

Over the 24 hours, the government has recorded 73 deaths and 827 recoveries.

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