Coronavirus India Updates: Covid-19 Cases Cross 35,000 As India Extends Lockdown For Two More Weeks
Track latest news updates on the evolving coronavirus situation in India here.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in India rose past the 35,000-mark on Friday as the government said it will extend the nationwide lockdown beyond May 4 for two more weeks.
The home ministry has issued an order to extend the lockdown. However, it has also said that new guidelines will be issued to regulate some activities during this period based on the risk profile of each district.
India reported 1,755 new coronavirus cases over the last 24 hours, taking the total tally to 35,365, according to the health ministry’s 5 p.m. update. This includes 9,065 patients who've been discharged and 1,152 who’ve died.
Over the last 24 hours, India has seen 692 recoveries and 77 deaths.
India’s health ministry today said that lockdown will continue in India’s metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad even after the government relaxes restrictions from May 4.
Track latest news updates on the evolving coronavirus situation in India here:
Railways Extends Cancellation Of All Trains
The Indian railways has extended cancellation of all passenger train services till May 17.
- Movement of migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and other persons stranded at different places to be carried out by Shramik special trains
- Freight and parcel train operations to continue.
Source: Ministry of Railways
Liquor And Paan Shops To Be Allowed In Green Zones
Liquor stores and paan shops will be allowed to function in green zones while ensuring proper social distancing norms, ANI reported citing order by Ministry of Home Affairs.
Lockdown To Be Extended Beyond May 4
India’s nationwide lockdown will be extended for two more weeks after May 4.
There will be no movement between states allowed during this time, although authorities will partially relax measures in areas where no new coronavirus infections have been reported, the Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement on Friday.
Industrial establishments in urban areas, including special economic zones, will be allowed to operate, as well as manufacturing units for essential goods, including drugs, pharmaceuticals and medical devices and IT hardware production, the ministry said. Private offices and government departments can operate with 33 percent capacity.
Districts have been identified as red, orange or green zones based on the status of the Covid-19 outbreak there. Green zones are with no confirmed cases in the last 21 days. Red zones are the ones with the most active cases and a faster doubling rate. Orange zones are that fall under neither of the two categories.
Check if your district falls under a red, orange or a green zone in the document attached.
India Adds 1,755 New Cases
India added 1,755 new coronavirus cases over the last 24 hours, taking the total tally to 35,365.
- Active cases: 25,148
- Cured/discharged/migrated: 9,065
- Deaths: 1,152
Railway Announces 6 Trains For Stranded Workers, Students
The railways said it will run “Shramik Special” trains from Friday to move migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and other persons stranded at different places due to the nationwide lockdown that came into force from March 25.
It has already run the first such train with 1,200 passengers from Hyderabad to Jharkhand at 4:50 am on Friday.
The railways announced six trains -- Lingampally to Hatia, Nasik to Lucknow, Aluva to Bhubaneswar, Nasik to Bhopal, Jaipur to Patna and Kota to Hatia.
Health Ministry Provides Status Update On PPEs
The health ministry today said that six domestic manufacturers have been roped in for the procurement of masks.
India needs 2.72 crore N-95/99, the health ministry projected in its press briefing today. India has ordered 2.49 crore masks already.
Currently, domestic manufacturers are producing up to 2.3 lakh masks per day.
On Diagnostic Kits
The health ministry said that India needs 35 lakh RT-PCR kits.
It has already placed orders for 21.35 lakh kits, of which, 13.75 lakh have been recieved.
Maharashrea CM On Containing The Coronavirus Spread
The lockdown has been effective in breaking the chain of the coronavirus spread, said Maharashrea Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in an address today. Although there will be relaxations in some areas after May 3, he cautions that the government and the citizens need to take careful steps to "win this war against the virus".
Other key highlights of the address:
- We are checking oxygen levels among the slum dwellers through pulse oximeter
- More private doctors should come forward to fight the Coronavirus
- Request people who have symptoms to visit fever clinics
- We have not put any restrictions on agriculture, I am aware of the farmers' situation
- Have slowly started lifting restrictions, but will go back to earlier restrictions if there is crowding
- After May 3, there will be some relaxations based on the various zones (red, orange, green)
Special Train Ferries Stranded Migrants From Telangana To Jharkhand
Railways on Friday ran a special train to ferry 1,200 stranded migrants from Lingampally in Telangana to Hatia in Jharkhand, a first since the lockdown began.
"The 24 coach train started at 4.50 am today," RPF DG Arun Kumar told PTI. It's the only train to be deployed so far, he added.
130 Red Zones In India
India has classified 130 districts as red zones, where the spread of coronavirus infection is at a critical level. There are 284 orange zones and 319 green zones.
This classification is multi-factorial and takes into consideration incidence of cases, doubling rate, extent of testing and surveillance feedback. A district is considered Green Zone, if there are no confirmed cases so far, or if there has been no case reported in the last 21 days there.
Source: Health Ministry (As of May 1)
India Adds 1,993 New Cases
India added 1,993 new Covid-19 cases over the last 24 hours taking the total tally to 35,043.
- Active cases: 25,007
- Cured/discharged/migrated: 8,889
- Deaths: 1,147
Source: Health Ministry (As of May 1, 8:00 a.m.)
The 1,993 fresh cases reported in the last 24 hours is the highest ever spike reported in a single day, indicating a rising rate of infection. The recovery rate, however, came off from the peak to 564 in the past 24 hours.