Coronavirus India Updates: Total Cases Near 1.52 Lakh, Death Toll At 4,337

The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in India nears the 1.52-lakh mark even as there are just five days left in the fourth phase of the nation-wide lockdown.

Total number of cases now stand at 1,51,767, including 64,426 who have recovered and 4,337 deaths. The number of active cases is now at 83,004.

India added more than 6,000 fresh cases of infection for the fifth straight day. Authorities reported 6,387 new cases, 3,935 recoveries and 170 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the Health Ministry’s update at 8 a.m. on May 27.

Global Update

Global coronavirus deaths topped 350,000, with U.S. fatalities approaching the 100,000 level. Confirmed cases in America, however, rose at the slowest pace since March, and President Donald Trump unveiled plans to sharply increase testing.

South Korea reported the biggest increase in cases since early April, with most of them linked to a distribution center. Brazil infections continue to soar as police opened an investigation into Rio de Janeiro’s handling of the crisis, while Mexico saw a record jump in cases and fatalities.

Total confirmed cases across the globe crossed 5.5 million.

More liquidity is needed to boost economic activity following the coronavirus pandemic and states should come forward with Rs 20 lakh crore, while another Rs 10 lakh crore can be harnessed from public-private investment to fight the Covid-19 disruptions, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Wednesday.

Gadkari said the economy is facing serious problems, businesses are being closed and unemployment is growing. All sections of the society, whether migrants, media, business persons or employees, are facing problems, but ultimately "we will win the economic war" and the "corona war", he said.

"More liquidity needs to be pumped in the market to boost the coronavirus-hit economy and states should come forward with Rs 20 lakh crore, while another Rs 10 lakh crore can be harnessed from public-private investment," Road Transport, Highways and MSME Minister Gadkari told PTI.

He further noted that "these funds together with the Rs 20 lakh crore package already announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi would result in Rs 50 lakh crore liquidity in the market to battle the adverse impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic on the economy".

He further noted that work on national highways has been started on war-footing and the government plans to build highways worth Rs 15 lakh crore in the next two years. He said work has been resumed on almost 80% of the projects.

Source: PTI

Government allows contributions to the PM CARES Fund to be counted as part of Corporate Social Responsibility mandated under the Companies Act 2013.

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has amended Schedule VII of the Companies Act to allow contributions by companies to the PM CARES Fund under CSR. The notification comes into effect on March 28.

Source: MCA Notification

Travellers commuting to and from the Mumbai airport can now do so without an e-pass, Mumbai Police announced on its Twitter handle. But they must carry their boarding passes.

The Delhi Police will file 15 fresh charge sheets against 294 foreigners for attending a religious congregation at Nizamuddin Markaz in violation of visa conditions and indulging in missionary activities amidst the Covid-19 outbreak in the country, officials said on Wednesday.

The charge sheets will be filed in Saket court against the 294 foreigners belonging to 14 countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and several African nations, police said.

Earlier on Tuesday, the city police had filed 20 charge sheets against 82 foreigners.

A large congregation organised by the Tablighi Jamaat in the Nizamuddin area of the national capital in March had emerged as a major hotspot of coronavirus in the country. Some of the participants, who were later tested positive for coronavirus, had travelled to their home states across the length and breadth of the country.

More than 25,500 Tablighi members and their contacts have been quarantined in the country after the Centre and the state governments conducted a "mega operation" to identify them.

Source: PTI

With Mizoram facing shortage of quarantine facilities, many churches in the Christian majority state have offered their halls to the state government to be used for quarantine purpose.

Chairperson of the task group of quarantine facilities Esther Lal Ruatkimi said Mizoram is facing shortage of quarantine facilities as more than 10,000 stranded people in different parts of the country will return to the state.

She said that the government and churches have so far set up more than 500 quarantine facilities to accommodate 14,358 people but the state government requires quarantine facility for at least 20,000 people.

At least 168 churches from various denominations have offered their halls to be used as quarantine facilities, Ruatkimi said.

Meanwhile, an official of the task group on quarantine facilities said at least 2,518 people are currently placed under quarantine across the state.Of these, 1,940 people are quarantined at government designated facilities, 414 at church halls, 163 placed under home quarantine and seven others are lodged at hotel on their own expense, he said.

Source: PTI

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said his government plans to open temples, mosques and churches in the state after the fourth phase of the lockdown ends on May 31, ANI reported.

India recorded 6,387 new cases of coronavirus infection taking the total number of confirmed cases to 1,51,767. The country reported 3,935 recoveries and 170 deaths the same 24 hour period.

• Active cases: 83,004
• Cured/discharged/migrated: 6,4426
• Deaths: 4,337

Source: Health Ministry (As of May 27, 8 a.m.)