iiankitsingh

[iiankitsingh]

Sahoo said he pleaded the landlord to not increase the rent in the lockdown crisis, but he did not pay heed. “I am a poor driver working for a government employee. I cannot afford to pay Rs 5,500 house rent. from residential - Real Estate News | Latest Realty & Real Estate Industry Information and Updates: ET Realty : ETRealty.com https://bit.ly/2YToxwE

[iiankitsingh]

The CAC, in a video conference held on April 29, also decided to allow further extension to special cases based on the merits by the respective state RERA authorities. from residential - Real Estate News | Latest Realty & Real Estate Industry Information and Updates: ET Realty : ETRealty.com https://bit.ly/2Lp5IcJ

[iiankitsingh]

It also said that payment of lease rent for the first quarter is deferred up to July 31 for all SEZ units and the deferment would not invite any interest. from commercial - Real Estate News | Latest Realty & Real Estate Industry Information and Updates: ET Realty : ETRealty.com https://bit.ly/2zxdZZq

[iiankitsingh]

Even if corporates decide to operate with 33% workforce initially after the lockdown, there will be a huge number of people coming in and out of these complexes every day. from commercial - Real Estate News | Latest Realty & Real Estate Industry Information and Updates: ET Realty : ETRealty.com https://bit.ly/2WoZVKS

[iiankitsingh]

10:16 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

MHA issues revised guidelines for home isolation

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued revised guidelines for home isolation of very mild/pre-symptomatic COVID-19 cases.

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has issued revised guidelines for home isolation of very mild/pre-symptomatic #COVID19 cases pic.twitter.com/hTPcGRBqxd

— ANI (@ANI) May 11, 2020

10:13 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Rajasthan Latest Update

Rajasthan reports 84 new cases, takes total to 3,898

84 new cases of COVID-19 has been reported in Rajasthan on Monday, taking the total number of cases and deaths to 3,898 and 108, respectively. The number of active cases stands at 1537, according to Rajasthan Health Department, reports ANI.

84 new cases of #COVID19 have been reported in Rajasthan today, taking the total number of cases & deaths to 3898 & 108, respectively. Number of active cases stands at 1537: Rajasthan Health Department pic.twitter.com/tCqm3vxuml

— ANI (@ANI) May 11, 2020

10:06 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Japan Latest Update

Japan may end state of emergency this week for regions with stable cases

The Japanese government will consider lifting the state of emergency on many of the 34 prefectures that are not among the hardest-hit by the coronavirus epidemic before the nationwide deadline of 31 May, Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said.

Tokyo, Osaka and 11 other prefectures are not among the regions that could see an earlier easing of restrictions.

10:01 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

Fresh COVID-19 case in UP's Shamli district's takes case count to 23

One more person tested positive for COVID-19 in Uttar Pradesh's Shamli on Monday, pushing the district's tally to 23, a senior officer said.

Shamli had become coronavirus-free and was declared an orange zone a week ago after all 18 patients in the district recovered. Later, fresh cases were reported in the district.

A trader who used to go to Delhi everyday to buy vegetables tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, Shamli District Magistrate Jasjit Kaur said.

09:45 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in US Latest Update

New York to require virus testing for nursing home staffers

New York nursing homes must start twice-weekly coronavirus testing for all staffers and will no longer be sent COVID-19 patients leaving hospitals, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Sunday after facing criticism over the handling of nursing facility outbreaks.

New York City is responding to complaints about racial disparities in enforcement of social distancing by ramping up a corps of city workers to try to keep people in line without involving police.

09:39 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Update

Letting migrants walk home on humanitarian ground despite lockdown, says home Minister Anil Deskhmukh

With thousands of migrant workers desperate to return home even by marching on foot, the Maharashtra government has decided not to be harsh with them and let them go on humanitarian ground despite violation of lockdown norms, state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh has said.

Talking to PTI, Deshmukh said had the train services commenced earlier, as the state government was demanding, the sufferings of labourers would have been much less.

"It is true that migrant labourers who are walking back to their home towns hundreds of kilometres away are in a way violating lockdown norms, but we are letting them go on humanitarian ground, Deshmukh said.

09:32 (IST)

Markets open on positive note, Sensex above 32,000, Nifty reclaims 9,350-mark

Markets on Monday stared on a positive note for the Indian indices with the Nifty above the 9,300 level.

At 9.16 am IST, the Sensex was up 406.96 points or 1.29 percent at 32,049.66. The Nifty was up 113.85 points or 1.23 percent at 9,365.35. About 653 shares had advanced, 137 declined and 40 were unchanged.

Click here to follow LIVE Updates on stock markets

09:26 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Odisha Latest Update

Odisha reports 14 new cases, takes total to 391

Fourteen new coronavirus positive cases were reported in Odisha, taking the total number of cases in the state to 391 including 306 active cases, 68 cured/discharged cases and 3 deaths, according to the Odisha Health Department, reports ANI.

09:19 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Update

Maharashtra continues to remain worst affected state

With 22,171 confirmed novel coronavirus cases, Maharashtra remains the worst-affected state in the country, followed by Gujarat (8,194) and Tamil Nadu (7,204)

09:13 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

India's COVID-19 case count now stands at 67,152 with 2,206 deaths

Total confirmed COVID-19 cases in India have risen to 67,152, according to the latest update from the Union Health Ministry. The toll in India has risen to 2,206 with 44,029 active cases. 

 As many as 20,917 COVID-19 patients have been cured and discharged so far, the bulletin said. 

09:10 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in China Latest Update

Shanghai Disneyland reopens; China reports 17 cases

The Shanghai Disneyland, China's most prominent theme park, reopened on Monday with anti-virus controls even as the country reported 17 new confirmed coronavirus cases, including seven imported infections, authorities said on Monday.

The Shanghai Disneyland theme park in the eastern metropolis reopened to visitors with controlled capacity on Monday, as China began opening up entertainment centres after a declining trend was noticed in the coronavirus cases, official media reported.

Meanwhile, China continued to report coronavirus cases, including asymptomatic ones. According to China's National Health Commission, 17 new confirmed coronavirus cases, including seven imported ones, were reported on Sunday.

09:07 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

No COVID-19 case reported in 10 states, UTs in last 24 hours: Harsh Vardhan

No COVID-19 cases were reported in 10 states and Union Territories in the 24 hours and the recovery rate has increased to over 30 percent, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Sunday, asserting that India was moving fast on the path of success in the fight against the pandemic.

According to data from the Union Health Ministry, 1,511 COVID-19 patients recovered in the last 24 hours — the highest number of recoveries recorded in one day.

08:53 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Jharkhand Latest Update

3 test positive in Giridh district, taking Jharkhand's tally to 160

Three more people have tested positive of coronavirus, said Nitin Madan Kulkarni, Jharkhand Health Secretary. "Three more from Giridih have tested COVID-19 positive late night. All had returned from Surat recently," Kulkarni told ANI.

With this, the total positive cases in the state have mounted to 160.

08:41 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

Narendra Modi praises innovators fighting coronavirus

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised all those at the forefront of research and innovation on ways to defeat coronavirus pandemic. 

Today, technology is helping many in the efforts to make the world free from COVID-19. I salute all those at the forefront of research and innovation on ways to defeat Coronavirus. May we keep harnessing technology in order to create a healthier and better planet.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 11, 2020

08:38 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in US Latest Update

Mike Pence not in quarantine, to be at White House even after aide tests positive

Vice President Mike Pence is not in quarantine and plans to be at the White House on Monday, a spokesman said on Sunday, despite media reports that Pence was self-isolating after a staffer tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

“Vice President Pence will continue to follow the advice of the White House Medical Unit and is not in quarantine,” spokesman Devin O’Malley said in a statement.

“Additionally, Vice President Pence has tested negative every single day and plans to be at the White House tomorrow,” the statement added.

08:31 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

Special train with 1200 people departs from Gujarat for Uttarakhand

A special train carrying 1200 passengers departed from Surat for Kathgodam in Uttarakhand at 4 am on Monday, informed chief minister's office (CMO) Uttarakhand. The train is expected to reach Kathgodam by tomorrow. Special trains are being run as the Ministry of Home Affairs allows people stranded in other regions to reach their native states.

A special train carrying 1200 passengers departed from Surat (Gujarat) for Kathgodam in Uttarakhand at 4 am: Uttarakhand Chief Minister's Office pic.twitter.com/QaGYva7KUD

— ANI (@ANI) May 11, 2020

08:25 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

Nirmala Sitharaman to meet public sector banks chiefs today; to review credit flow

 Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will hold a review meeting with CEOs of public sector banks (PSBs) on Monday to discuss various issues, including credit offtake, as part of efforts to prop up the economy hit by the COVID-19 crisis.

The meeting, to be held via video-conferencing, will also take stock of interest rate transmission to borrowers by banks and progress on moratorium on loan repayments, sources told PTI.

08:18 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Haryana Latest Update

Haryana Roadways buses with 267 migrant labourers head towards UP from Ambala

Seven buses of Haryana Roadways carrying 267 migrant labourers from Ambala departed for Uttar Pradesh yesterday, amid #CoronavirusLockdown. pic.twitter.com/A5i3m2Rn2f

— ANI (@ANI) May 10, 2020

08:11 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Bihar Latest Update

Sushil Modi writes to Nirmala Sitharaman, seeks grants for Bihar

In view of declining state revenue amid the coronavirus outbreak, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kuamr Modi has written to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, requesting her to release Rs 7,434 crore grants, recommended by the 15th Finance Commission, within this quarter of the current fiscal.

He requested her to release Rs 5, 018 crore for Panchayati raj institutions and Rs 2,416 crore for urban local bodies for the financial year 2020-21, as per the recommendation of the Finance Commission.

If the amount is released in the first quarter of the fiscal, it will be helpful for the government to implement the piped drinking water project and drainage scheme, the state finance minister said in his letter.​

08:04 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak Latest Update

Global COVID-19 number of deaths exceeds 2,80,000

The number of deaths globally from COVID-19 has surpassed 280,000, according to the database compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

There are currently 280,507 fatalities worldwide. The United States, the United Kingdom, and Italy have the highest numbers of deaths among countries, 78,932, 31,930, and 30,560, respectively.

The total number of cases is currently over 4,067,112, while the number of recoveries is at 1,392,359. 

07:57 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

National Security Guard staff member tests positive for coronavirus

One of the members of the National Security Guard (NSG) has tested positive of coronavirus, reports ANI.

"We've one COVID-19 positive case. The individual is a non-combatant support staff in our Composite Hospital. He is stable with mild symptoms," said AK Singh, Director General of NSG.

Singh further said that the report of their member getting infected with coronavirus hasn't impacted the preparedness and availability of any of their combat formations.

07:48 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

First AI flight with 225 stranded Indians from US lands in Mumbai

First Air India special flight, which took off from San Francisco with 225 Indians on board, landed in Mumbai on Monday. The passengers departed from San Francisco International Airport on Saturday (local time) under the Government of India's Vande Bharat mission on Sunday.

Air India is operating in San Francisco sector after 50 days as India had imposed restrictions due to COVID-19 spread.

Amidst the coronavirus pandemic, India is conducting 'Vande Bharat' Mission — its biggest ever repatriation exercise since independence — to bring back stranded Indians from abroad, including from the US, the UAE, and the UK.

First AI spl flight from US brings in 225 Indians from San Francisco to Mumbai. Thank @airindiain @MoCA_GoI and Maharashtra Govt for support and coordination. Great work by CG Sanjay Panda and Team @CGISFO.@SandhuTaranjitS #VandeBharatMission

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 11, 2020

07:41 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Delhi Latest Update

Saket court employee tests positive for COVID-19

A Saket district court employee has tested positive for coronavirus infection, District Judge Neena Bansal Krishna said on Sunday.

According to a circular issued by the district judge, the wife of a junior judicial assistant of the court informed telephonically that her husband was found infected with coronavirus on Saturday evening.

The court staff had last visited the office on May 4 due to some official work and come in contact with a court's stenographer, the circular said.

Therefore the stenographer has been asked to remain in self-quarantine for 14 days from 4 May to 17 May and take necessary precautions, it said.

07:36 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in West Bengal Latest Update

14 more die of COVID-19 in Bengal, toll crosses 100-mark

The toll from COVID-19 climbed to 113 in West Bengal on Sunday with 14 more people succumbing to the infection in the last 24 hours, a state government bulletin said.

The state also reported 153 fresh COVID-19 cases, the highest in a day so far. Of the 14 deaths, Kolkata alone accounted for 10 while two each were from North 24 Parganas and Howrah districts. There have been 72 deaths due to comorbidities where COVID-19 was incidental, the bulletin said.

07:31 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

Railways to gradually restart passenger train operations from 12 May; online ticket booking will begin at 4 pm today

The Indian Railways will gradually restart passenger train operations from 12 May, initially with 15 pairs of trains, the national transporter said Sunday.

These trains will be run as special trains from New Delhi station connecting Dibrugarh, Agartala, Howrah, Patna, Bilaspur, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar, Secunderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Madgaon, Mumbai Central, Ahmedabad and Jammu Tawi.

Booking for reservation in these trains will start at 4 pm on 11 May and will be available only on the IRCTC website (https://bit.ly/2yIseuB). Ticket booking counters at railway stations will remain closed and no counter tickets (including platform tickets) will be issued, it said.

07:26 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

India has reported total of 62,939 cases, says health ministry

India has reported a total of 62,939 COVID-19 cases till Sunday, with Maharashtra alone reporting 20,228 of these infections, a report by the Union health ministry has stated.

However, the report said that India's mortality rate is 3.35 percent, as compared to the global average of 6.9 percent.

The number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 41,472, while 19,357 people have recovered and one patient has migrated, the ministry said. The recovery rate stands at about 30.75 percent.

07:26 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

India has reported total of 62,939 cases, says health ministry

India has reported a total of 62,939 COVID-19 cases till Sunday, with Maharashtra alone reporting 20,228 of these infections, a report by the Union health ministry has stated.

However, the report said that India's mortality rate is 3.35 percent, as compared to the global average of 6.9 percent.

The number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 41,472, while 19,357 people have recovered and one patient has migrated, the ministry said. The recovery rate stands at about 30.75 percent.

Coronavirus Outbreak LATEST Updates: The total confirmed COVID-19 cases in India have risen to 67,152, according to the latest update from the Union Health Ministry. The toll in India has risen to 2,206 with 44,029 active cases.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will hold a review meeting with CEOs of public sector banks (PSBs) on Monday to discuss various issues, including credit offtake, as part of efforts to prop up the economy hit by the COVID-19 crisis.

A Saket district court employee has tested positive for coronavirus infection, District Judge Neena Bansal Krishna said on Sunday. Meanwhile, the number of deaths globally from COVID-19 has surpassed 280,000, according to the database compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

First Air India special flight, which took off from San Francisco with 225 Indians on board, landed in Mumbai on Monday. The passengers departed from San Francisco International Airport on Saturday (local time) under the Government of India's Vande Bharat mission on Sunday.

India has reported a total of 62,939 COVID-19 cases till Sunday, with Maharashtra alone reporting 20,228 of these infections, a report by the Union health ministry has stated.

However, the report said that India's mortality rate is 3.35 percent, as compared to the global average of 6.9 percent.

The number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 41,472, while 19,357 people have recovered and one patient has migrated, the ministry said. The recovery rate stands at about 30.75 percent.

Meanwhile, in what can be seen as a step towards easing the nationwide lockdown, an official release said that the Railways plans to gradually restart passenger trains from 12 May.

State-wise cases and deaths

A total 128 deaths were reported in the country since Saturday morning — 48 in Maharashtra, 23 in Gujarat, 15 in Madhya Pradesh, 11 in West Bengal, eight in Uttar Pradesh, five each in Rajasthan and Delhi, four in Tamil Nadu, three in Andhra Pradesh, two in Punjab and one each in Telangana, Haryana, Chandigarh and Assam.

Of the 2,109 fatalities, Maharashtra tops the tally with 779 deaths. Gujarat comes second with 472 deaths, followed by Madhya Pradesh at 215, West Bengal at 171, Rajasthan at 106, Uttar Pradesh at 74, Delhi at 73, and Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu at 44.

The death toll is 31 in Punjab, 30 each in Karnataka and Telangana. Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana each have registered nine COVID-19 deaths, Bihar five and Kerala four.

Jharkhand has recorded three COVID-19 fatalities. Odisha, Chandigarh, Assam and Himachal Pradesh have reported two deaths each.

Meghalaya and Uttarakhand have reported one fatality each.

According to the health ministry data updated in the morning, the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country are from Maharashtra at 20,228,followed by Gujarat at 7,796, Delhi at 6,542, Tamil Nadu at 6,535, Rajasthan at 3,708, Madhya Pradesh at 3,614 and Uttar Pradesh at 3,373.

The number of coronavirus cases has gone up to 1,930 in Andhra Pradesh, 1,786 in West Bengal and 1,762 in Punjab.

They have risen to 1,163 in Telangana, 836 in Jammu and Kashmir, 794 in Karnataka, 675 in Haryana and 591 in Bihar.

Kerala has reported 505 coronavirus cases so far, while Odisha has 294 cases. A total of 169 people have been infected with the virus in Chandigarh and 156 in Jharkhand.

Tripura has reported 134 cases, Uttarakhand has 67 cases, Assam 63 and Chhattisgarh 59. Himachal Pradesh has 50 and Ladakh has registered 42 cases so far.

Thirty-three COVID-19 cases have been reported from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Meghalaya has registered 13 cases, Puducherry has nine, while Goa has seven COVID-19 cases. Manipur has two cases. Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Dadar and Nagar Haveli have reported a case each.

West Bengal reports highest mortality rate, says Union health ministry

According to the health ministry, the highest mortality rate was recorded in West Bengal at 9.57 percent, where 1,786 cases and 171 deaths have been reported. On 5 May, the Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) sent to the state had said that the mortality rate in West Bengal was 12.8 percent. This figure stood lower in Maharashtra, where the mortality rate was 3.85 percent, higher than the national average. Of the 128 new COVID-19 deaths in India, 48 were recorded in India's financial capital.

With 7,796 infections, Gujarat reported a mortality rate of 6.05 percent. The figure in Delhi, which has the third highest number of cases in the country, stood at 1.12 percent.

India carried out 86,000 tests for COVID-19 on Saturday and India''s testing capacity now stands at 95,000 samples per day, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan told reporters after inspecting a COVID-19 care centre in the Mandoli area in the national capital.

India had started from one laboratory and now there are 472 laboratories testing for COVID-19, he said.

There are 4362 corona care centres across the country where 3,46,856 patients with mild or very mild symptoms can be kept, he said.

"We are moving fast on path of success in the fight against COVID-19. The doubling rate for the last three days is 12 (days). The recovery rate has crossed 30 per cent. Out of around 60,000 COVID-19 patients, about 20,000 have recovered and gone home," Vardhan said.

"Our mortality rate is still at 3.3 percent.... In the last 24 hours, there has been no case in 10 states and Union territories. There are four states or Union territories where there has not been a single case till now," Vardhan said.

Three migrant workers die near Maharashtra-MP border

Three migrant workers who were on their way to Uttar Pradesh from Maharashtra, mostly walking, died in Barwani district of Madhya Pradesh on Saturday, officials said.

The trio were among thousands of migrant workers who have set out on foot for their home states from Maharashtra in the last few weeks amid lockdown on account for coronavirus.

While autopsy reports were yet to be available, doctors said the possible cause of deaths was fatigue and dehydration in peak summer heat.

The deceased, who were traveling separately, were identified as Lalluram (55), resident of village Chhudiya in Prayagraj district, Prem Bahadur (50), resident of Siddharth Nagar and Anees Ahmed (42) of Hardas Girja village of Fatehpur.

Railways to partially resume passenger train operations from 12 May

The Indian Railways will resume passenger train operations from 12 May nearly after two months when services were stopped due to the coronavirus-induced nationwide lockdown.

Initially, the Railways will run 15 pairs of trains and the booking for reservation for these trains will start at 4 pm on 11 May. An official press release on Sunday said: "Indian Railways plans to gradually restart passenger train operations from 12 May, initially with 15 pairs of trains (30 return journeys)."

"These trains will be run as special trains from New Delhi station connecting Dibrugarh, Agartala, Howrah, Patna, Bilaspur, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar, Secunderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Madgaon, Mumbai Central, Ahmedabad, and Jammu Tawi," added the release.

"Thereafter, Indian Railways shall start more special services on new routes, based on the available coaches after reserving 20,000 coaches for COVID-19 care centres and an adequate number of coaches being reserved to enable operation of up to 300 trains every day as 'Shramik Special' for stranded migrants," said the release.

Only online bookings are allowed and ticket booking counters at the railway stations shall remain closed.

As per the release, the booking for reservation for these trains will start at 4 pm on 11th May and will be available only on the IRCTC website (https://bit.ly/2yIseuB). Ticket booking counters at the railway stations shall remain closed and no counter tickets including platform tickets shall be issued.

Only the passengers with valid confirmed tickets will be allowed to enter the railway stations.

"Only passengers with valid confirmed tickets will be allowed to enter the railway stations. It will be mandatory for the passengers to wear face cover and undergo screening at departure and only asymptomatic passengers will be allowed to board the train. Further details including train schedule will be issued separately in due course," added the press release issued by the PIB.

With inputs from agencies

from Firstpost India Latest News https://bit.ly/3dCHyYD via IFTTT

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https://bit.ly/35OhSoW

The Wikipedia article of the day for May 11, 2020 is Sega Saturn. The Sega Saturn is a 32-bit home video game console developed by Sega. Released in 1994 in Japan, and 1995 in North America and Europe, the Saturn is the successor to the Sega Genesis, and Sega's fourth game console. It has dual-CPU architecture and eight processors, and was designed around a CPU developed by electronics company Hitachi. Its games are in CD-ROM format. The system was initially successful in Japan, but failed to sell large numbers in the United States after a surprise launch four months before its scheduled release, and an aggressive price war against Sony's PlayStation. Following the release of the Nintendo 64 in late 1996, the Saturn rapidly lost market share in the U.S., and was discontinued in 1998 in the country. The console is considered a commercial failure, selling just over 9 million units worldwide, blamed in part due to Sega's failure to release a Sonic the Hedgehog video game, known in development as Sonic X-treme, for the system.

[iiankitsingh]

India has reported a total of 62,939 COVID-19 cases till Sunday, with Maharashtra alone reporting 20,228 of these infections, a report by the Union health ministry has stated.

However, the report said that India's mortality rate is 3.35 percent, as compared to the global average of 6.9 percent.

The number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 41,472, while 19,357 people have recovered and one patient has migrated, the ministry said. The recovery rate stands at about 30.75 per cent.

Meanwhile, in what can be seen as a step towards easing the nationwide lockdown, an official release said that the Railways plans to gradually restart passenger trains from 12 May.

State-wise cases and deaths

A total 128 deaths were reported in the country since Saturday morning — 48 in Maharashtra, 23 in Gujarat, 15 in Madhya Pradesh, 11 in West Bengal, eight in Uttar Pradesh, five each in Rajasthan and Delhi, four in Tamil Nadu, three in Andhra Pradesh, two in Punjab and one each in Telangana, Haryana, Chandigarh and Assam.

Representational image. AP

Of the 2,109 fatalities, Maharashtra tops the tally with 779 deaths. Gujarat comes second with 472 deaths, followed by Madhya Pradesh at 215, West Bengal at 171, Rajasthan at 106, Uttar Pradesh at 74, Delhi at 73, and Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu at 44.

The death toll is 31 in Punjab, 30 each in Karnataka and Telangana. Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana each have registered nine COVID-19 deaths, Bihar five and Kerala four.

Jharkhand has recorded three COVID-19 fatalities. Odisha, Chandigarh, Assam and Himachal Pradesh have reported two deaths each.

Meghalaya and Uttarakhand have reported one fatality each.

According to the health ministry data updated in the morning, the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country are from Maharashtra at 20,228,followed by Gujarat at 7,796, Delhi at 6,542, Tamil Nadu at 6,535, Rajasthan at 3,708, Madhya Pradesh at 3,614 and Uttar Pradesh at 3,373.

The number of coronavirus cases has gone up to 1,930 in Andhra Pradesh, 1,786 in West Bengal and 1,762 in Punjab.

They have risen to 1,163 in Telangana, 836 in Jammu and Kashmir, 794 in Karnataka, 675 in Haryana and 591 in Bihar.

Kerala has reported 505 coronavirus cases so far, while Odisha has 294 cases. A total of 169 people have been infected with the virus in Chandigarh and 156 in Jharkhand.

Tripura has reported 134 cases, Uttarakhand has 67 cases, Assam 63 and Chhattisgarh 59. Himachal Pradesh has 50 and Ladakh has registered 42 cases so far.

Thirty-three COVID-19 cases have been reported from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Meghalaya has registered 13 cases, Puducherry has nine, while Goa has seven COVID-19 cases. Manipur has two cases. Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Dadar and Nagar Haveli have reported a case each.

West Bengal reports highest mortality rate, says Union health ministry

According to the health ministry, the highest mortality rate was recorded in West Bengal at 9.57 percent, where 1,786 cases and 171 deaths have been reported. On 5 May, the Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) sent to the state had said that the mortality rate in West Bengal was 12.8 percent. This figure stood lower in Maharashtra, where the mortality rate was 3.85 percent, higher than the national average. Of the 128 new COVID-19 deaths in India, 48 were recorded in India's financial capital.

With 7,796 infections, Gujarat reported a mortality rate of 6.05 percent. The figure in Delhi, which has the third highest number of cases in the country, stood at 1.12 percent.

India carried out 86,000 tests for COVID-19 on Saturday and India''s testing capacity now stands at 95,000 samples per day, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan told reporters after inspecting a COVID-19 care centre in the Mandoli area in the national capital.

India had started from one laboratory and now there are 472 laboratories testing for COVID-19, he said.

There are 4362 corona care centres across the country where 3,46,856 patients with mild or very mild symptoms can be kept, he said.

"We are moving fast on path of success in the fight against COVID-19. The doubling rate for the last three days is 12 (days). The recovery rate has crossed 30 per cent. Out of around 60,000 COVID-19 patients, about 20,000 have recovered and gone home," Vardhan said.

"Our mortality rate is still at 3.3 percent.... In the last 24 hours, there has been no case in 10 states and Union territories. There are four states or Union territories where there has not been a single case till now," Vardhan said.

Three migrant workers die near Maharashtra-MP border

Three migrant workers who were on their way to Uttar Pradesh from Maharashtra, mostly walking, died in Barwani district of Madhya Pradesh on Saturday, officials said.

The trio were among thousands of migrant workers who have set out on foot for their home states from Maharashtra in the last few weeks amid lockdown on account for coronavirus.

While autopsy reports were yet to be available, doctors said the possible cause of deaths was fatigue and dehydration in peak summer heat.

The deceased, who were traveling separately, were identified as Lalluram (55), resident of village Chhudiya in Prayagraj district, Prem Bahadur (50), resident of Siddharth Nagar and Anees Ahmed (42) of Hardas Girja village of Fatehpur.

Railways to partially resume passenger train operations from 12 May

The Indian Railways will resume passenger train operations from 12 May nearly after two months when services were stopped due to the coronavirus-induced nationwide lockdown.

Initially, the Railways will run 15 pairs of trains and the booking for reservation for these trains will start at 4 pm on 11 May. An official press release on Sunday said: "Indian Railways plans to gradually restart passenger train operations from 12 May, initially with 15 pairs of trains (30 return journeys)."

"These trains will be run as special trains from New Delhi station connecting Dibrugarh, Agartala, Howrah, Patna, Bilaspur, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar, Secunderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Madgaon, Mumbai Central, Ahmedabad, and Jammu Tawi," added the release.

"Thereafter, Indian Railways shall start more special services on new routes, based on the available coaches after reserving 20,000 coaches for COVID-19 care centres and an adequate number of coaches being reserved to enable operation of up to 300 trains every day as 'Shramik Special' for stranded migrants," said the release.

Only online bookings are allowed and ticket booking counters at the railway stations shall remain closed.

As per the release, the booking for reservation for these trains will start at 4 pm on 11th May and will be available only on the IRCTC website (https://bit.ly/2yIseuB). Ticket booking counters at the railway stations shall remain closed and no counter tickets including platform tickets shall be issued.

Only the passengers with valid confirmed tickets will be allowed to enter the railway stations.

"Only passengers with valid confirmed tickets will be allowed to enter the railway stations. It will be mandatory for the passengers to wear face cover and undergo screening at departure and only asymptomatic passengers will be allowed to board the train. Further details including train schedule will be issued separately in due course," added the press release issued by the PIB.

With inputs from agencies

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New Delhi: Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has appealed to all states to permit the operation of migrant special trains so that the stranded can reach home in the next three to four days.

The appeal comes a day after Home Minister Amit Shah wrote to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to allow such trains to run.

"As per the directions of Hon'ble PM @NarendraModi ji, Railways is fully geared up to run 300 Shramik Special trains everyday at short notice since the last six days.

File photo of Piyush Goyal. PIB

"I appeal to all the states to give permission to evacuate and bring back their stranded migrants so that we can get all of them back to their homes in the next 3-4 days itself," Goyal tweeted on Sunday.

On Saturday, the West Bengal government claimed it had given clearance to eight trains to be run carrying its migrant home. Four of these trains, it said, were to depart on Saturday, which did not.

Senior railway officials say the national transporter has a capacity to run around 300 trains per day ferrying around 20 lakh migrants in a maximum of five days.

However, they said, clearances from states are not forthcoming, especially from states like West Bengal and Rajasthan, which till now have accepted the least number of such trains despite being a significant source of migrant population.

Follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak here

As on May 10, a total of 366 Shramik Special trains have been operationalised across the country, of which 287 had reached their destinations and 79 trains are in transit.

These 287 trains were terminated in various states like Andhra Pradesh (1 train), Bihar (87), Himachal Pradesh (1), Jharkhand (16), Madhya Pradesh (24), Maharashtra (3), Odisha (20), Rajasthan (4), Telangana (2), Uttar Pradesh (127), West Bengal (2).

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Raipur: Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, who has been admitted to Shree Narayana Hospital in Raipur, has slipped into a coma and his condition is stated to be critical.

Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Ajit Jogi. Image Courtesy: Firstpost/Debobrat Ghose

According to a medical bulletin issued by Shree Narayana Hospital on Sunday, the condition of the former Chief Minister, who is in a coma, is critical.

He is being treated by a team of 8 doctors. He is currently suffering from hypoxia. It will be ascertained in the next 48 hours how his body is responding to medicines, the hospital bulletin added.

The first chief minister of the state was admitted to the hospital after he suffered a cardiac arrest at home on Saturday.

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According to the report submitted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on 10 May (Sunday), India has reported 62,939 COVID-19 cases as of Sunday, with Maharashtra alone reporting 20,228 of these infections. For the third consecutive day, India reported an increase in number of cases by more than 3,000 as the toll has reached 2,109, a report by Maharashtra's Public Health Department stated.

The number of cases in India started rising in the week between 21 and 28 March. A week later, a rise in cases was witnessed in Maharashtra. The highest daily rise in the number of cases all over India, however, was reported on 6 May, with 3,900 new infections.

As compared to global mortality rate, which is 6.9 percent, India's toll to confirmed cases percentage currently stands at 3.35 percent.

The highest mortality rate was recorded in West Bengal at 9.57 percent, where 1,786 cases and 171 deaths have been reported. On 5 May, the Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) sent to the state had said that the mortality rate in West Bengal was 12.8 percent. This figure stood lower in Maharashtra, where the mortality rate was 3.85 percent, higher than the national average. Of the 128 new COVID-19 deaths in India, 48 were recorded in India's financial capital.

With 7,796 infections, Gujarat reported a mortality rate of 6.05 percent. The figure in Delhi, which has the third highest number of cases in the country, stood at 1.12 percent.

Tamil Nadu, however, reported a 0.67 mortality rate, despite having the fourth highest number of cases at 6,535. Kerala, which has received praise for flattening the curve has witnessed four deaths among the 505 confirmed cases so far, bringing the mortality rate to 0.79 percent. Bihar and Odisha, with 591 and 294 confirmed cases respectively, too have reported figures under 1 percent.

Report of coronavirus cases... by Srishti Kapoor on Scribd

In Maharashtra, Mumbai is the worst-affected city, with 12,864 cases and 489 deaths. Pune, Thane and Navi Mumbai have, so far, registered 1,975, 800 and 780 cases, respectively. While COVID-19 has been observed to have a higher impact on the elderly and those with co-morbidities, the highest number of COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra has been reported in the age group of 21-30 years. According to the report, at least 4,197 in the age group have contracted the virus.

Of the total infections in Maharashtra, 62 percent of males contracted it while 38 percent among them were females. Additionally, co-morbidities were present in 72 percent of the cases. Of the 2,25,524 samples tested, 92 percent gave a positive result. Of the 12,823 patients undergoing treatment, 2 percent are critical and 79 percent are asymptomatic.

India, however, continues to handle the outbreak better than some countries, reporting 56,342 cases in the outbreak’s 15th week. At that time, USA reported 9,83,457, cases, France 1,28,121 cases and China 84,341 cases. India trails behind South Korea, credited for battling the coronavirus pandemic effectively, have reported 13,385 cases in the 15th week.

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Narsinghpur: At least five migrant labourers were killed and 13 others injured when a truck in which they were travelling overturned in Madhya Pradesh's Narsinghpur district, a police official said on Sunday.

The accident took place near Patha village on Saturday night when nearly 20 migrant labourers were going in the truck to Jhansi and Etah in Uttar Pradesh from Hyderabad, Additional Superintendent of Police Rajesh Tiwari said.

Five labourers were killed and 13 others were injured after the mangoes-laden vehicle overturned, he said. The injured persons were admitted to the district hospital for treatment, he added.

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New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday demanded audit of PM CARES Fund and said the account of money received and spent be made public.

On 28 March, the Centre set up the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund with the primary objective to deal with any kind of emergency situation like the one currently posed by the COVID-19 outbreak and provide relief to those affected.

"The PM-CARES fund has received huge contributions from PSUs and major public utilities like the Railways. It''s important that prime minister ensures the fund is audited and that the record of money received and spent is available to the public," Rahul said on Twitter.

The Congress has questioned the government over setting up of a separate PM CARES Fund by the prime minister for fighting coronavirus, demanding that the same be merged with the PM National Relief Fund.

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08:29 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

IMAGES: Indians stranded in Uzbekistan prepare to leave for New Delhi

Indians stranded in Uzbekistan due to COVID-19 outbreak, leaving for New Delhi under Vande Bharat Mission special mission prepare for take off. Thermal checks being performed by the Indian Embassy officials in Tashkent, Santosh Jha, Ambassador of India to Uzbekistan told ANI.

Indians stranded in Uzbekistan due to #COVID19 leaving for New Delhi under #VandeBharatMission. Thermal checks being performed by the Indian Embassy officials in Tashkent: Santosh Jha, Ambassador of India to Uzbekistan pic.twitter.com/3RnrWA0KD0

— ANI (@ANI) May 10, 2020

08:21 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in US Latest Update

US approves new coronavirus antigen test with fast results

US regulators have approved a new type of coronavirus test that administration officials have promoted as a key to opening up the country, reports The Associated Press.

The Food and Drug Administration on Saturday announced emergency authorization for antigen tests developed by Quidel Corporation of San Diego. The test can rapidly detect fragments of virus proteins in samples collected from swabs swiped inside the nasal cavity, the FDA said in a statement.

The antigen test is the third type of test to be authorized by the FDA.

08:15 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Update

Mumbai Police pays tribute to cop who died of COVID-19 on Twitter

The Mumbai Police on Sunday paid tribute to assistant sub-inspector (ASI) attached to Vinoba Bhave Nagar police station who died of the coronavirus disease COVID-19 on Friday.

The samples of an assistant sub-inspector attached to Vinoba Bhave Nagar police station in Mumbai who died on Friday have tested positive for novel coronavirus, PTI quotes officials as saying.

He died in the early hours of Friday after being admitted in a civic hospital on Wednesday with COVID-19-like​symptoms, an official said.

Mumbai Police regrets to inform about the unfortunate demise of ASI Sunil Dattatray Kalgutkar from Vinoba Bhave Nagar Police Station. ASI Kalgutkar had been battling Coronavirus. We pray for his soul to rest in peace. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Kalgutkar family.

— Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) May 9, 2020

08:10 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Assam Latest Update

Not testing samples of 16-yr-old girl who died of COVID-19 was 'a mistake', says Himanta Biswa Sarma

Doctors at the government-run ESIC Hospital here committed a "mistake" by not testing samples of a 16-year-old girl, who later died of Covid-19, Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Saturday.

The girl breathed her last on Thursday at the B Barooah Cancer Institute. Her samples, which were taken after her death, tested positive for coronavirus infection/

"The girl first went to ESIC Hospital with all symptoms like fever and pain in legs. It was a mistake by doctors that her samples were not sent for testing... It is a matter of concern," Sarma told reporters.

08:05 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Delhi Latest Update

Delhi school teacher involved in distributing ration tests positive for COVID-19

A teacher of a civic body-run school, who was involved in distributing ration during the lockdown, has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, officials said on Saturday. The teacher was posted at a primary school in Wazirabad under the North Delhi Municipal Corporation.

The teacher had last come to school on April 28 and started showing COVID-19 symptoms from 2 May. His test report came on Friday, an official of North Delhi Municipal Corporation said.

"We traced his six primary contacts and they have been sent into quarantine. Since they are completely asymptomatic, no test has been done yet," he said, adding the school building has been sanitised.

07:57 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Pakistan Latest Update

Pakistan eases nationwide lockdown even as COVID-19 cases rise

Pakistan on Saturday began easing the month-long lockdown despite a steady rise in the number of coronavirus cases which has now crossed the 28,000-mark with 618 deaths.

Doctors have warned against easing restrictions. The Representative of Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has demanded that the government observe World Health Organisation protocols and implement strict lockdown.

"We think the number will definitely spike. According to our information, there are five hospitals in Karachi that have a total of 63 beds reserved for coronavirus patients. If this is the condition in a city like Karachi, then you can imagine what it is like in other cities of Pakistan," said Dr Ikram Tunio of the PMA in a press conference in Karachi.

07:47 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

First batch of 326 Indians stranded in UK arrives in Mumbai

The first batch of 326 Indian nationals stranded in the UK due to the coronavirus-linked global travel restrictions arrived here from London early on Sunday morning.

The special evacuation flight AI 130, a Boeing 777 plane which departed from London on Saturday, landed at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) at around 1.30 AM with 326 Indians, according to a source.

The airport authorities, in a statement on Saturday, said that the arriving passengers with symptoms will be moved to isolation centres.

Asymptomatic passengers residing in Mumbai will be moved to quarantine facilities like hotels, while those from outside of the city will be transported by the state to their respective district headquarters, it said

Maharashtra: A special flight carrying Indian nationals from London, arrived at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai tonight. #VandeBharatMission pic.twitter.com/2VhXl72Y4r

— ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2020

07:41 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

CRPF reports 62 new cases on Saturday

As many as 62 more personnel of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have been infected with coronavirus on Saturday.

"With 62 new COVID-19 cases, the total number of coronavirus cases reported from CRPF is 234, of which 231 are active cases," according to an official statement issued by the CRPF.

Meanwhile, 35 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Border Security Force (BSF) on Saturday, taking the total count of cases in the force over 250. 

07:35 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

Air India flight with 163 Indians from Kuwait lands at Hyderabad airport

An Air India flight with 163 Indians landed at the Hyderabad international airport from Kuwait on Saturday night as part of the government's Vande Bharat Mission to bring home Indian nationals stranded abroad, airport sources said. The AI flight 988 landed at the airport shortly after 10 pm, the sources said.

To facilitate the arriving passengers and aircraft crew, the Hyderabad International Airport has kept the international arrivals and the stretch right from the aerobridge to the arrivals ramp fully sanitized and fumigated, the sources said.

07:33 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Odisha Latest Update

Odisha registers 58 new cases, taking total to 352

Odisha on Sunday reported 58 more COVID-19 cases. The total number of cases in the state is now at 352, including 281 active cases, 68 cured/recovered & 3 deaths, according to the latest date by the state health department, reports ANI

07:31 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

First Air India repatriation flight takes off from US with 224 Indians

Around 224 Indians stranded in the US due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown boarded the first repatriation flight from San Francisco to Mumbai and Hyderabad on Saturday.

In the first phase of the US-India segment of the 'Operation Vande Bharat- A homecoming', flights have been planned from San Francisco, Chicago, New York, and Washington DC to New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Chennai and Bengaluru.

As many as 1,961 Indians are likely to be repatriated through seven flights from the four cities in the first phase, officials said.

07:20 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

Total COVID-19 cases in India now at 59,662 with nearly 2,000 deaths

The nationwide tally of confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 59,662 on Saturday and the death toll rose to 1,981 with the country registering an increase of 95 deaths and 3,320 cases in 24 hours till Saturday morning, the Union Health Ministry said even as fresh infections among central armed police forces, and the repatriated Indians raised new concerns among experts.

The number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 39,834, while 17,846 people have recovered and one patient has migrated, the Union Health Ministry said.

Coronavirus Outbreak LATEST Updates: The first batch of 326 Indian nationals stranded in the UK due to the coronavirus-linked global travel restrictions arrived here from London early on Sunday morning. The special evacuation flight AI 130, a Boeing 777 plane which departed from London on Saturday, landed at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) at around 1.30 AM with 326 Indians, according to PTI source.

The nationwide tally of confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 59,662 on Saturday and the death toll rose to 1,981 with the country registering an increase of 95 deaths and 3,320 cases in 24 hours till Saturday morning, the Union Health Ministry said even as fresh infections among central armed police forces, and the repatriated Indians raised new concerns among experts.

The number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 39,834, while 17,846 people have recovered and one patient has migrated, the Union Health Ministry said.

Saturday also saw Maharashtra crossing the 20,000 mark, as per official figures released by the state health department, with the state now accounting for one-third of the total confirmed cases in the country, while large numbers of cases continued to get detected in Gujarat, Delhi and Tamil Nadu.

Meanwhile, the Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said the testing capacity for COVID-19 has been ramped up to around 95,000 tests per day and a total of over 15 lakh tests have been conducted so far across hundreds of government and private labs.

However, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the two new cases in his state -- two foreign returnees who had reached Kerala on 7 May in two separate flights under a massive ongoing evacuation plan of the Central Government --  is a warning for all states to be on an alert to strengthen their "mitigation efforts and preventive measures."

Many more similar flights from abroad are reaching Kerala and several other states over the next few days under what is being called the 'Vande Bharat' mission.

Besides the arrival of a large number of Indians stranded abroad, experts have also warned that the numbers may rise further in the coming days due to the ongoing movement of lakhs of migrant workers being facilitated by trains and buses to help them reach their native places.

On Saturday, the situation remained worrying in India's major hotspots like Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Ahmedabad and Chennai, among others. While Mumbai cases reached 12,864 cases, with the metropolis now accounting for more than of Maharashtra's total infections, the adjoining Thane district crossed the 2000-mark.

In Chennai, the number of cases linked to the Koyambedu market cluster reached 1,867 with the market for vegetables, flowers and fruits eclipsing the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi (in which about 1,500 people from Tamil Nadu had taken part in March) for the dispersion of the virus.

  Besides, reports of fresh infections in the Central Armed Police Forces, which is responsible for providing security along the border as well as securing key industries and establishments, presenting a fresh challenge for the Central Government.

Goa, on the other hand, which is classified as a green zone with no coronavirus positive case as of now, hinted that it may allow holding of music classes and reopening of some state-run libraries in a phased manner on the condition of maintaining strict social distancing norms.

Cases from states: Maharashtra crosses 20,000 mark

On Saturday, Maharashtra reported 1,165 new coronavirus patients, taking the tally of COVID-19 cases in the state to 20,228. The state also reported death of 48 patients, taking the death toll to 779, said a health department official.

Among those died of COVID-19 on Saturday was a 51-year-old police constable from Maharashtra's Nashik district, an official said.

This is the sixth death of a police personnel due to COVID-19 in the state, the official added.

Meanwhile, in Gujarat, the number of coronavirus cases in Gujarat climbed to 7,797 on Saturday with 394 new cases coming to light, while death toll rose to 472 with 23 more deaths, a senior health official said.

Of the total new cases, 280 were reported from hotspot Ahmedabad, along with 20 more deaths on Saturday, taking the total case count to 5,540 in the district and fatalities to 363, a health department official said.

In Gujarat, the number of patients who died in 24 hours since Friday evening — 23 — was the lowest in the last seven days, Principal Secretary (Health) Jayanti Ravi said.

Four COVID-19 deaths were reported in Tamil Nadu on Saturday with the state recording 526 more positive cases, including a five day old baby, taking the total number to 6,535, the health department said.

The deceased were all women, with three hailing from Chennai and one from Ramanathapuram. With this, the death toll has gone up to 44, a health department bulletin said.

Of the total of 526 positive cases, Chennai continued to lead the numbers with 279, followed by Villupuram 67 and Chengalpattu at 40.

In the National Capital Delhi also, 224 new COVID-19 cases were recorded to take its tally to 6,542.

In Delhi, there was also confusion over the death toll as the data from the four hospitals showed more fatalities than the number reported by the Delhi government. Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain said there is no reason to hide anything and not a single case will go unaccounted for, but gave no explanation for the discrepancy.

There has been a mismatch in the numbers of West Bengal also for several days with the state government's figures being lower than that of the Union Health Ministry.

On the outskirts of the National Capital, Noida reported its second COVID-19 death while its total cases rose to 216. The overall figure for Uttar Pradesh also rose.

Rajasthan recorded 76 more cases, while 36 new cases were detected in Karnataka too.

In Bihar, five Bihar Military Police (BMP) personnel tested positive, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases in the state to 579. In Assam, a dental college student's test came positive.

Central forces report 116 new cases

The growing number of infections in five Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) - CRPF, BSF, ITBP, CISF and SSB -  under the command of the Union home ministry, has emerged as another challenge for the Central Government.

On Saturday, at least 116 fresh coronavirus infections were reported by the uniformed organisation, taking the total number of positive personnel to over 650, officials said.

Of the new cases, CRPF accounts for 62, BSF 35, CISF  13 and ITBP reported 6 fresh cases. As of now, the total active cases in these forces stands at 231 in CRPF, 256 in BSF, 48 in CISF and 100 in the ITBP.

Five personnel of these forces have succumbed to the disease, a senior paramilitary officer said.

After home minister Shah's review, the AIIMS in Jhajjar has been designated as a special coronavirus facility for the CAPF personnel apart from their 200-bedded referral hospital in Greater Noida.

Health ministry revises policy for discharge

The Union Health Ministry has also revised its policy for discharge of COVID-19 patients under which only those developing severe illness or having compromised immunity will have to test negative through RT-PCR test before being discharged by a hospital.

Moderate cases of COVID-19 and pre-symptomatic, mild and very mild cases need not undergo tests before being discharged after resolution of their symptoms.

According to the rules till now, a patient was considered fit to be discharged if he or she tested negative on day 14 and then again in a span of 24 hours.

Political tussle over migrant trains continue

The bodies of sixteen migrant labourers who were mown down by a goods train in Maharashtra's Aurangabad district were brought to Jabalpur by two bogies attached to a special train.

From Jabalpur, the coaches were further sent to Shahdol and Umaria, said a police officer.

Karnataka, which has been at the centre of a controversy over the state government disallowing migrants to leave the state, clarified on Saturday that migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and other persons can hire and use buses provided by state-run road transport corporations on payment basis for travel to other states with relevant permissions.

However, the political tussle over special trains for stranded migrant lbourers continued on Saturday with Union home minister Amit Shah, in a letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that the state was not allowing trains with migrant workers reach the state and termed it as an "injustice" towards these workers.

The state government, however, dismissed the charge by saying 6,000 stranded workers have already been brought back, and the state has given green signal to 10 trains carrying more such workers.

This claim was rejected by Indian Railways with officials too saying that there was no proposal on record so far with the national transporter to run any more 'shramik' trains to the state. According to reports, so far only two trains ferrying migrants have reached West Bengal.

The railways, however, on Saturday night said it had received "clearance" from West Bengal for running eight special trains to the state to ferry people stranded outside due to the ongoing lockdown.

On Saturday, a war of words also erupted between the JD(U) and the AAP over train fares of 1,200 Bihar-bound migrant workers, with the Arvind Kejriwal dispensation saying that it bore the cost of ferrying the migrants, a claim rejected by the JD(U) which said the party was speaking half-truth on the issue.

The ruling Janata Dal (United) in Bihar said the AAP-led Delhi government has sought reimbursement of the payment and accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of resorting to "cheap politics to gain popularity".

Meanwhile, NCP chief Sharad Pawaron Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak to the chief ministers of states, who are not allowing migrants to return home.

"I humbly request our @PMOIndia Shri Narendra Modi ji to intervene in this matter by talking to the CMs of the respective states who are not allowing these people to come back home," Pawar said in a series of tweets without mentioning any specific state.

362 people from West Asia arrive in Kochi

As for Indians stranded abroad, two Air India Express flights carrying 362 people from Oman and Kuwait arrived at the international airport in Kochi on Saturday night.

There were a total of 362 people, including eight infants in the flights which landed here from the two Gulf nations, a Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) spokesman said.

Official sources said all the passengers would be subjected to COVID-19 rapid test at the airport before being transferred to their respective destinations by special taxis and KSRTC buses.

They will go into quarantine after completing formalities at the airport.

Another Air India Express flight from Doha, carrying 177 passengers and six infants, is expected to arrive here early hours on Sunday, sources said.

Another special Air India flight carrying 177 Indians has left Kula Lumpur for Trichy, Tamil Nadu, ANI said.

According to sources, three other Air India flights - from Singapore (with 243 passengers), from London with (329 passengers) and from Manila (241 passengers) are expected to reach Mumbai on Sunday.

Globally, nearly 40 lakh people have tested positive for the deadly virus since its emergence in China last December, while approximately 2.75 lakh people have lost their lives. However, nearly 13 lakh people have recovered too, including nearly 2 lakh in the US and over 1.4 lakh in Germany.

Germany and South Korea are among those countries that have been seen as having successfully avoided large number of deaths by their extensive testing and contact tracing measures. But, worries mounted on Saturday about fresh outbreaks in both the countries following various lockdown relaxations, thus raising the risks associated with reopening of economies.

With inputs from agencies

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23:54 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

Three migrant workers returning to Uttar Pradesh die in Madhya Pradesh

  Three migrant workers who were on their way to Utttar Pradesh from Maharashtra, mostly walking, died in Barwani district of Madhya Pradesh on Saturday, officials said. The trio were among thousands of migrant workers who have set out on foot for their home states from Maharashtra in the last few weeks amid lockdown on account for coronavirus.While autopsy reports were yet to be available, doctors said the possible cause of deaths was fatigue and

dehydration in peak summer heat.

23:49 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak Latest Updates

Railway ministry tweet incorrect, claims West Bengal home secretary

West Bengal Home Secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay on Saturday termed as misleading and incorrect a Railway ministry tweet which claimed that the West Bengal govt had approved eight special Shramik trains from various states after Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday alleged that the state was not allowing such trains. "All 8 trains were approved, communicated to states concerned on Friday," PTI quotes him as saying.

23:43 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak Latest Updates

Iran-linked hackers recently targeted staff at drugmaker Gilead, claims report

Hackers linked to Iran have targeted staff at US drugmaker Gilead Sciences Inc in recent weeks, according to publicly-available web archives reviewed by Reuters and three cybersecurity researchers, as the company races to deploy a treatment for the COVID-19 virus. In one case, a fake email login page designed to steal passwords was sent in April to a top Gilead executive involved in legal and corporate affairs, according to an archived version on a website used to scan for malicious web addresses. News agency Reuters said it was not able to determine whether the attack was successful.

23:40 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak In Maharashtra Latest Updates

160 new cases, five fatalities recorded in Pune

 Pune district reported 160 new coronavirus cases since Friday night, taking the tally of cases to 2,732, PTI quotes health officials as saying. The death toll reached 148 with five COVID-19 patients succumbing to the infection, an official said.

23:27 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak In Maharashtra Latest Updates

Mumbai Police registers fourth COVID-19 death

  The samples of an assistant sub inspector attached to Vinoba Bhave Nagar police station in Mumbai who died on Friday have tested positive for novel

coronavirus, PTI quotes officials as saying. He died in the early hours of Friday after being admitted in a civic hospital on Wednesday with COVID-19-like​symptoms, an official said. "He was also a diabetic. His samples returned positive on Friday evening. This is the fourth COVID-19 death in Mumbai police. Some 350 personnel in the metropolis' force have tested positive for the virus so far," he added.

23:22 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak In Gujarat Latest Updates

Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner Vijay Nehra says he tested negative 

  Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner Vijay Nehra  on Saturday took to Twitter to announce that he had tested negative for the coronavirus. Nehra was placed under quarantine on 5 May after he came into contact with a COVID-19 patient and CEO of Gujarat Maritime Board Mukesh Kumar had taken over the charge.

  I have tested NEGATIVE for COVID-19 Will rejoin the #FightAgainstCOVID19 ASAP Thank you everyone for your wishes and prayers🙏🙏#AmdavadFightsCorona

— Vijay Nehra (@vnehra) May 9, 2020

23:18 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak In Bihar Latest Updates

Cop beats up doctor for refusing to conduct medical exam of four accused

  An Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police (ASI) thrashed a doctor of a primary health centre for allegedly refusing to conduct medical examination of four accused of a rape case who were without face masks and also tied with a single rope against the social distancing norms in Bihar's Darbhanga district on Saturday, reports PTI. The incident took place in the Jalle Primary Health Centre this morning. Doctors and other staff of the Jaale PHC went on strike to protest against the incident.

23:05 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak In India Latest Updates

Air Indian Express flight from Kuwait lands in Kochi

Kerala: An Air India Express flight brings back 177 passengers and 4 infants to Kochi from Kuwait#VandeBharatMission pic.twitter.com/0sFauBZ0Ir

— ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2020

22:58 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak In India Latest Updates

Rahul Gandhi demands audit of PM-CARES fund

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday demanded audit of PM CARES Fund and said the account of money received and spent be made public. The Centre had set up the Prime Minister''s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund  on 28 March, with the primary objective to deal with any kind of emergency situation like the one currently posed by the COVID-19 outbreak and provide relief to those affected. The Congress has questioned the government over setting up of a separate PM CARES Fund by the prime minister for fighting coronavirus, demanding that the same be merged with the PM National Relief Fund.

The #PmCares fund has received huge contributions from PSUs & major public utilities like the Railways. It’s important that PM ensures the fund is audited & that the record of money received and spent is available to the public.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 9, 2020

22:54 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak In Tripura Latest Updates

17 more BSF personnel test positive in Tripura

Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Saturday said that 17 more personnel from the Border Security Force's 86th Battalion have tested positive in Ambassa. Tripura now has 132 active cases and none of them are among civilians.

ALERT ! 17 persons found #COVID19 POSITIVE in Tripura today from 86th-Bn #BSF, Ambassa. No Civilian found POSITIVE among them. ✔️Total #COVID19 active cases in Tripura now stands: 132 ✔️ Transferred out: 02 ✔️Recovered: 02 Updated at : 10:00 pm, 9th May.#TripuraCovid19Count

— Biplab Kumar Deb (@BjpBiplab) May 9, 2020

22:48 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak In Assam Latest Updates

Three, including ambulance driver, test positive in Assam

Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that three more persons, including an ambulance driver have tested positive for the coronavirus infection in Jorhat, taking the total number of cases in the state to 62. The driver has been sent back to Maharashtra, he said while the other two patients have been admitted to the JMCH. 34 persons have been discharged and the number of active cases in the state stands at 27, said the minister.

Alert ~ 3 people, incl an Ambulance Driver from Mumbai who drove the 2, test #COVID19 + in Jorhat. Driver sent back to Mumbai. 2 are at JMCH since their arrival in Jorhat. ↗️#COVID19 patients in Assam 62 ↗️Active cases 27 ↗️Discharged 34 Update10.20 pm/May 9#AssamCovidCount

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) May 9, 2020

22:42 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak In Italy Latest Updates

Italy records a fall in both new cases and deaths

Deaths from the COVID-19 epidemic in Italy climbed by 194 on Saturday, against 243 the day before, Reuters quotes the Civil Protection Agency as saying, while the daily tally of new cases fell to 1,083 from 1,327 on Friday. The  toll since the outbreak came to light on 21 February now stands at 30,395 the agency said, the third highest in the world after those of the United States and Britain. The number of confirmed cases amounts to 218,268 the third highest global tally behind those of the United States and Spain.

22:37 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak In Delhi Latest Updates

Delhi govt orders release of Tablighi members from quarantine centres

  The Delhi government has directed district administrations to release 2,446 Tablighi members from quarantine centres and ensure that they don't stay at any place except their residence, reports PTI. In a letter to deputy commissioners (administration), Delhi Disaster Management Authority's Special CEO KS Meena said all the 567 foreign Markaz attendees will be handed over to the Delhi Police. The move comes days after Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain ordered the release of Tablighi members who have completed their quarantine period at facilities in the National Capital. The district magistrates will explore the possibility of sending the Tablighi members, who belong to other states, in buses to their native places following social-distancing norms and other protocols, Meena said.

22:26 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak In Telangana Latest Updates

Telangana reports 31 new infections, count rises to 1,163

Telangana on Saturday recorded 31 new cases — 30 from Hyderabad and a migrant worker who tested positive —taking the state total to 1,163. According to a bulletin issued by the state government, 751 persons have been cured and discharged till date, including 24 who were discharged today and the number of active cases is now 382. Till date, 30 persons have died after contracting the viral infection.

Media bulletin on status of positive cases of #COVID19 in Telangana (Dated: 09.05.2020)#TelanganaFightsCorona #StayHome #StaySafe pic.twitter.com/oCPzaQtpok

— Eatala Rajender (@Eatala_Rajender) May 9, 2020

22:19 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak In Maharashtra Latest Updates

Thane now has 2,006 confirmed cases

The number of COVID-19 cases crossed the 2000-mark in Thane district as 184 people tested positive for coronavirus on Saturday, PTI quotes a health official as saying. As on Saturday, the total number of COVID-19 cases in Thane district is 2,006, and the number of deaths so far is 52, he said.

22:15 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak In Rajasthan Latest Updates

Rajasthan reports 129 new cases, three fatalities

Confirmed cases in Rajasthan climbed to 3,708, including 106 fatalities as the state registered 129 fresh infections and three deaths on Satuday, said the state health department. 1,895 persons have been cured and discharged till date and the number of active cases stands at 1,440. Of the 129 new cases, 51 were reported in Jaipur and 24 in Udaipur.

  129 fresh cases of #COVID19 & three deaths have been reported in Rajasthan today, taking total number of cases & deaths to 3708 & 106, respectively. Number of active cases stands at 1440: Rajasthan Health Department pic.twitter.com/u9yIS2Y7sm

— ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2020

22:04 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak Latest Updates

Flight carrying Indian nationals stranded in UK to reach Mumbai on Sunday morning

  The first batch of Indian nationals stranded in the UK after suspension of commercial air passenger services amid the COVID-19 outbreak are set to arrive at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai early morning on Sunday, reports PTI. The Air India flight, a Boeing 777 aircraft, departed for Mumbai from London at around 11 am on Saturday, an airline source told the news agency.  The flight is expected to arrive at the airport at around 1.15 am on Sunday, he said. 

  The Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), which manages and operates the Mumbai airport has put together standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure safety of passengers arriving on repatriation flights, starting from Sunday, according to airport officials. 

22:00 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Kerala Latest Updates

First patient to receive plasma therapy in Uttar Pradesh dies of heart attack

The first patient to receive plasma therapy as an experimental treatment for coronavirus infection in Uttar Pradesh died following a heart attack on Saturday, reports PTI. The patient, a 58-year-old doctor, was admitted at the King George's Medical University (KGMU) in Lucknow and was on ventilator support since the last 14 days. Since he had high blood pressure and diabetes, he was under the continuous observation of doctors in the isolation ward, KGMU Vice Chancellor MLB Bhatt said. The doctor from Orai in Uttar Pradesh was administered plasma therapy at the state-run KGMU on 26 April. He was administered the plasma donated by a doctor from Canada who was the first COVID-19 patient admitted at the hospital and later recovered.

  “The patient was in a stable condition. His lungs had improved, but he later developed urinary tract infection. Two reports of his samples came out as negative (for COVID-19) today,” the vice chancellor said. “He, however, suffered a heart attack around 5 pm. Despite all efforts, he could not be saved,” he said.  

  21:53 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Kerala Latest Updates

Kerala to observe complete shut down on Sundays till further orders

The Kerala government on Saturday issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) for implementing a complete shutdown in the state on Sundays with a view to containing the contagion and to protect the environment. The list of activities allowed on Sunday includes sales of essential items, movement of vehicles bearing goods, supply of newspapers and medicines among others. Social gatherings apart from marriages and funerals will be barred.

Kerala Government has issued Standard Operating Protocol to observe complete shut down across the State on Sundays until further notice. pic.twitter.com/C9iRmTTGVw

— ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2020

21:43 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Gujarat Latest Updates

Ahmedbad reports 280 new cases, 20 fatalities

  A total of 280 new COVID-19 cases were reported from hotspot Ahmedabad along with 20 more deaths on Saturday, taking the total case count to 5,540 in the district and fatalities to 363, PTI quotes a health department official as saying. Principal Secretary (Health) Jayanti Ravi said that the number of the discharged patients from various hospitals in Ahmedabad after recovery mounted by 106 to 1,107 in the last 24 hours.

21:39 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

ICMR teams up with Bharat Biotech to develop COVID-19 vaccine

  The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has partnered with Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) to develop a fully indigenous vaccine for COVID-19, the apex health research body said on Saturday. The vaccine will be developed using the virus strain isolated at the ICMR's National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, a statement said. The strain has been successfully transferred from NIV to BBIL, it added.

  "Work on vaccine development has been initiated between the two partners. The ICMR-NIV will provide continuous support to BBIL for vaccine development. ICMR and BBIL will seek fast-track approvals to expedite vaccine development, subsequent animal studies and clinical evaluation of the candidate vaccine," the health research body said in the statement.

PTI

21:36 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Himachal Pradesh Latest Updates

Himachal Pradesh now has 10 active cases

  A man in Kangra district has tested positive for #COVID19, taking total number of active cases to 10 in Himachal Pradesh, ANI quotes State Additional Chief Secretary (Health) RD Dhiman as saying.

21:30 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

35 more BSF personnel test positive

  35 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Border Security Force (BSF) on Saturday, reports ANI. The total number of COVID-19 cases in the force crosses 250.

  21:22 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

Health ministry to send additional teams to 10 states

The Union health ministry has decided to deploy Central teams to 10 states that have a high case load and are recording a high spurt of cases, in addition to the twenty teams deployed to districts with a high number of cases. These teams will assist the state health departments of respective states to facilitate management of the coronavirus outbreak, the ministry said in a press release. The teams will consist of a senior official from the ministry, a joint secretary level nodal officer and a public health expert and support the state health department in implementing containment measures in the affected areas.  The teams will be sent to Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

21:13 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Madhya Pradesh Latest Updates

Madhya Pradesh COVID-19 count crosses 3,000

  Number of those infected by the novel coronavirus reaches 3,457 in Madhya Pradesh, with 116 new cases being reported today, ANI quotes the state health department as saying. As many as 1,780 cases and 87 have been reported from Indore. Out of the total cases, 1,480 patients have recovered while 211 others have succumbed to the infection. There are 625 containment areas in the state.

Number of #COVID19 cases reaches 3457 in Madhya Pradesh, with 116 new cases being reported today. Out of the total cases, 1480 patients have recovered while 211 others succumbed to the infection. There are 625 containment areas in the state: Madhya Pradesh Health Department pic.twitter.com/3awdE6JrRU

— ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2020

21:01 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

West Bengal approves eight special trains, none from Maharashtra yet, says Rail ministry

In a series of tweets, the ministry of railways said that the West Bengal government today approved eight special trains to bring back migrant labourers stranded in various states, however, no trains have been approved from Maharashtra, it said. "After request of Hon’ble HM, today afternoon WB has approved two trains from Punjab, two from Tamil Nadu, three from Karnataka and one from Telangana, which are being arranged," it said. 

"However, West Bengal has not approved any train from Maharashtra, while there is a requirement of 16 trains to the state and presently six requests are pending for which approval is still awaited from West Bengal," it said in another tweet. According to the ministry, railways has run 300 sepcial trains till date from various states, however, West Bengal had given approval for only two trains till Saturday morning.

20:47 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

CRPF reports 62 new cases

   The country's largest paramilitary force CRPF reported 62 fresh coronavirus infections on Saturday from a single Delhi-based unit, officials said. The total number of active cases in the 3.25 lakh-strong force now stands at 231, they said. Two personnel have recovered from coronavirus while one succumbed to the infection.

20:45 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Updates

Maharashtra sees spike in cases as total reaches 20,228

1165 new  cases, 48 deaths were reported in Maharashtra. The total number of positive cases in the state rises to 20,228, while the toll reaches 779. Over 12,800 cases have been reported from Mumbai, according to the state health department.

  1165 new COVID19 cases, 48 deaths reported in the state today. The total number of positive cases in the state rises to 20,228: #Maharashtra Health Department pic.twitter.com/AL4rlBxtKe

— ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2020

20:36 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Haryana Latest Updates

Confirmed cases in Haryana climb to 675

  Number of coronavirus infections reaches 675 in Haryana, including 290 recoveries and nine deaths. Number of active cases stands at 376. Doubling rate of cases in the state is 9 days, ANI quotes the Haryana Health Department as saying.

  Number of #COVID19 cases reaches 675 Haryana, including 290 recoveries & 9 deaths. Number of active cases stands at 376. Doubling rate of cases in the state is 9 days: Haryana Health Department pic.twitter.com/DidJDHLLbE

— ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2020

20:29 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

Cabinet secretary to hold video conference at 10 am on 10 May

Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba will hold a video conference about containing the spread of the novel coronavirus with all States/Union Teerritories  at 10am on Sunday, reports ANI. Chief Secretaries , Principal Secretaries (Health) from states along with  Niti Aayog members, secretaries of the health ministry, home ministry and information and broadcasting ministry and the secretary of the National Disaster Management Authority are expected to attend the virtual meeting

20:25 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Mizoram Latest Updates

Mizoram's lone COVID-19 patient discharged from hospital

  Mizoram became coronavirus-free with the discharge of the lone COVID-19 patient from a hospital on Saturday, PTI quotes officials as saying. It now shares a similar status with four other northeastern states -- Manipur, Sikkim, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.

  Mizoram Health Minister Dr R Lalthangliana said the state's lone COVID-19 patient, a pastor, was discharged from Zoram Medical College (ZMC) on Saturday afternoon after 45 days of intense treatment. He was discharged from the hospital after four consecutive tests turned negative, the minister said. The pastor, who is in his early 50s and working under the Baptist Church of Mizoram, returned to the state from Amsterdam on 16 March. He was pursuing higher study in theology in the Netherlands capital. He tested positive for novel coronavirus on 24 March and was admitted at ZMC along with his wife and two children. The pastor's wife and children were discharged from the medical college on 28 March after they tested negative for COVID-19.

  20:17 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Uttar Pradesh Latest Updates

UP doctor, who contracted coronavirus in line of duty, dies in KGMU hospital

Dr Sunil Agrawal, who got infected with coronavirus while on duty in Auraiya Hospital, passed away in Lucknow's KGMU hospital today. He was also the first patient to have recieved Plasma Therapy treatment in the state. His condition had improved after the therapy, and he even tested coronavirus negative, but later died after a heart attack. 

“The patient was in a stable condition. His lungs had improved, but he later developed urinary tract infection. Two reports of his samples came out as negative (for COVID-19) today,” KGMU vice chancellor said. “He, however, suffered a heart attack around 5 pm. Despite all efforts, he could not be saved,” he said.

20:14 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Gujarat Latest Updates

Cases in Gujarat surge to 7,797

 23 deaths and 394 new cases were reported in Gujarat in the past 24 hours, reported the Times of India. The total number of cases in the in the state reached 7,797 including 472 deaths. 2,091 persons have been cured and discharged till date.

  20:01 (IST)

Aarogya Setu app alerted govt about over 650 current and 300 emerging hotspots

Aarogya Setu app alerted the government about more than 650 hotspots across the country and over 300 emerging hotspots, said NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant. 

19:56 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Tamil Nadu Latest Updates

Tamil Nadu govt sets up high-level committee to assess COVID-19 impact

  The Tamil Nadu government has set up a high-level committee headed by ex-RBI governor C Rangarajan to assess COVID-19 impact and suggest the way forward to improve its fiscal position, reports PTI.

19:48 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Chhattisgarh Latest Updates

Five-year-old among five discharged in Chhattisgarh; active cases stand at 16

  Five people were discharged from  the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Raipur​ in Chhattisgarh on Saturday after recovering from the novel

coronavirus infection, PTI quotes health officials as saying. Those discharged include two women and a five-year-old boy, an official informed. So far 43 people have been discharged while the number of active cases in the state is 16, he added.

    Chhattisgarh COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases 59; New cases nil; Deaths nil; Discharged 43; Active cases 16; People tested so far 23,629.

19:44 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Karnataka Latest Updates

Asymptomatic international passengers to be kept in institutional quarantine for 14 days, says Karnataka health department

Correcting its guidelines for international passengers arriving in the state, the Karnataka health department on Saturday said that asymptomatic passengers would be kept in institutional quarantine for 14 days instead of seven days institutional quarantine and seven days home quarantine. It also said that all international passengers would be tested twice, first on arrival and  on the 14th day after arrival.

SOP for international passengers 1. 14 days mandatory quarantine under Government arranged facilities. 2. Swab testing on arrival and on 14th day@CMofKarnataka @BSYBJP @sriramulubjp @drashwathcn @mla_sudhakar @iaspankajpandey @BBMP_MAYOR @BBMPCOMM @KarnatakaVarthe pic.twitter.com/g7cNxb5hcZ

— K'taka Health Dept (@DHFWKA) May 9, 2020

19:24 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Tamil Nadu Latest Updates

Coronavirus cases in Tamil Nadu jump by 526 to 6,535

Tamil Nadu recorded 526 fresh cases in the last 24 hours and Chennai recorded 279 cases with four deaths, reports News18. The total number of coronavirus has  infections in the state has reached 6,535. Four deaths were also reported today, taking the toll in the state to 44.  Acoording to the report, as many as 1,867 cases are linked to the Koyembedu market cluster. 

  19:13 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Chandigarh Latest Updates

Confirmed cases in Chandigarh rise to 169

23 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Chandigarh on Saturday, of which 21 were from a colony in sector-26, ANI quotes the Chandigarh Health Department as saying. The total number of positive cases is now 169, including two deaths.

23 new COVID19 cases including 21 from Bapudham colony sector-26 reported today; the total number of positive cases is now 169: Chandigarh Health Department pic.twitter.com/9YTpc9E8xj

— ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2020

19:07 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Guajrat Latest Updates

Gujarat govt announces exemptions from labour laws to new units for 1,200 days

The Gujarat government on Saturday announced exemption from certain labour laws for 1,200 days to firms that want to set up new units in the state in order to "boost economic activities" post-lockdown, reports PTI.  "Companies in Gujarat, India and abroad willing to bring new projects and set up new units in the state will be freed from labour laws for 1,200 days, except those related to the minimum wages and industrial safety," said Ashwani Kumar, secretary to Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. Local MSME owners willing to set up new units will also get this exemption, he said.

19:02 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Punjab Latest Updates

Case count in Punjab rises to 1,762

  Number of coronavirus positive cases in Punjab climbed to 1,762 as 31 more people tested positive on Saturday. The total number of active cases stands at 1574 while 31 persons have died due to the disease, according to the Punjab Health Department

Number of #COVID19 cases reaches 1762 in Punjab, with 31 more people testing positive today. Number of active cases & fatalities due to the infection stands at 1574 & 31, respectively: Punjab Health Department pic.twitter.com/R1dMQmZuDz

— ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2020

18:44 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

Testing capacity scaled up to 95,000 per day, says Harsh Vardhan

  The testing capacity for COVID-19 has been scaled up to around 95,000 tests per day and a total of 15,25,631 tests have been conducted so far across 332 government and 121 private laboratories, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Saturday.  “The testing capacity has increased in the country and it is 95,000 tests per day with 332 government laboratories and 121 private laboratories. Cumulatively, 15,25,631 tests have been done so far for COVID-19," PTI quotes him as saying.

18:30 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Updates

BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal visits Dharavi

Newly-appointed BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal visited Mumbai's Dharavi area on Saturday to take stock of the situation as the number of cases rose to 833.

Mumbai: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal visited Dharavi area today and took stock of COVID19 situation and the preventive measures being taken.#Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/BhqcqzF7hr

— ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2020

18:27 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Odisha Latest Updates

Five special trains to bring back 5,000 stranded workers to Odisha

  Five special trains will start journey from three states on Saturday to bring back 5,000 stranded Odia people, a day after the Supreme Court allowed the return of migrants to Odisha, officials told PTI.The Supreme Court on Friday stayed an interim order of the Orissa High Court which had asked the state government to ensure that only those tested negative for COVID-19 were allowed to return to Odisha. Three trains will come from Gujarat and one each from Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, the officials said, adding that about 5,000 people will return to Odisha by these five trains.

  A senior East Coast Railways official said one of the five trains has already left from Surat for Odisha's Ganjam district. Two trains will leave from Ahmedabad in Gujarat for Khurda Road in Odisha, one train from Panvel station in Mumbai will start the journey to Odisha's Titlagarh in Bolangir district and another will leave from Chennai for Jagannathpur in Ganjam district, the official said.

18:20 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Delhi Latest Updates

224 new COVID-19 cases recorded in Delhi, total climbs to 6,542

The number of confirmed cases in Delhi climbed to 6,542 as 224 new infections were reported between 4 pm on Friday to midnight. According to data released by the Chief Minister's Office, no new deaths were recorded and the toll stands at 68. 2,020 people have recovered from the viral infection and there 4,454 active COVID-19 cases in the National Capital.

From Sunday, the state government will follow a midnight to midnight cycle and data will be released every morning. 

🏥Delhi Health Bulletin - 9th May 2020 🏥 Note: This health bulletin has data from 4 PM yesterday to 12 midnight. From tomorrow onwards, we will follow 12 midnight to 12 midnight cycle. The health bulletin will be released every morning. #DelhiFightsCorona pic.twitter.com/ssK7fQlVUY

— CMO Delhi (@CMODelhi) May 9, 2020

18:10 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Updates

Dharavi reports 25 new cases, one death

25 new cases, one death due to the viral infection were reported in Mumbai's Dharavi today, ANI quotes the BMC as saying.A total of 833 positive cases and 27 deaths have been reported from the largest slum in the world. 

18:05 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Updates

Policeman dies of coronavirus infection in Nashik

A 51-year-old police constable who had tested positive for coronavirus died in Maharashtra's Nashik district on Saturday afternoon, PTI quotes an official as saying. This is the sixth death of a police personnel due to COVID-19 in the state, he said.

  The constable, a resident of Nashik city, was deputed on security duty in Malegaon town in the district which has emerged as a coronavirus hotspot. He was admitted to the civil hospital in Nashik after showing symptoms of infection on 1 May, the police official said.

17:55 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Karnataka Latest Updates

Confirmed cases in Karnataka up by 41 to 794

  Karnataka on Saturday registered 41 fresh infections, pushing the total in the state to 794, including 30 deaths and 386 recoveries, according to the 5 pm bulletin issued by the state health department.

41 new cases of #COVID19 have been reported in Karnataka today, taking total number of cases to 794 including 30 deaths & 386 discharges. Number of active cases stands at 377: Karnataka Health Department pic.twitter.com/wVwINZz6EH

— ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2020

17:49 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Jammu and Kashmir Latest Updates

Case count in Jammu and Kashmir reaches 836

  13 more people tested positive for COVID-19 in Jammu and Kashmir, taking the total number of cases to 836, reports ANI.

13 new positive cases have been reported since yesterday. The total number of positive cases is now 836: Govt of UT of Jammu and Kashmir pic.twitter.com/S75hENZjPF

— ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2020

17:39 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Delhi Latest Updates

Six more ITBP personnel test positive in Delhi

  Six new positive cases were reported among the Indo-Tibetan Border Police in the last 24 hours, reports ANI. Till date, a total of 100 personnel (all in Delhi) have contracted the viral infection.

Coronavirus Outbreak Updates: The samples of an assistant sub inspector attached to Vinoba Bhave Nagar police station in Mumbai who died on Friday have tested positive for novel coronavirus.

Confirmed cases in Rajasthan climbed to 3,708, including 106 fatalities as the state registered 129 fresh infections and three deaths on Satuday, said the state health department.

The Union health ministry has decided to deploy Central teams to 10 states that have a high case load and are recording a high spurt of cases, in addition to the twenty teams deployed to districts with a high number of cases.

1,165 new  cases, 48 deaths were reported in Maharashtra. The total number of positive cases in the state rises to 20,228, while the toll reaches 779, according to the evening bulletin issued by the state health department.

In a series of tweets, the ministry of railways said that the West Bengal government today approved eight special trains to bring back migrant labourers stranded in various states, however, no trains have been approved from Maharashtra, it said.

The country's largest paramilitary force CRPF reported 62 fresh coronavirus infections on Saturday from a single Delhi-based unit, officials said. The total number of active cases in the 3.25 lakh-strong force now stands at 231, they said. Two personnel have recovered from coronavirus while one succumbed to the infection.

23 deaths and 394 new cases were reported in Gujarat in the past 24 hours, according to reports. The total number of cases in the in the state reached 7,797 including 472 deaths.

Tamil Nadu recorded 526 fresh cases in the last 24 hours and Chennai recorded 279 cases with four deaths, reports News18. The total number of coronavirus has  infections in the state has reached 6,535.

 The testing capacity for COVID-19 has been scaled up to around 95,000 tests per day and a total of 15,25,631 tests have been conducted so far across 332 government and 121 private laboratories, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan.

The number of confirmed cases in Delhi climbed to 6,542 as 224 new infections were reported between 4 pm on Friday to midnight. According to data released by the Chief Minister's Office, no new deaths were recorded and the toll stands at 68

Karnataka on Saturday registered 41 fresh infections, pushing the total in the state to 794, including 30 deaths and 386 recoveries, according to the 5 pm bulletin issued by the state health department.

Two persons who were brought back to Kerala on an evacuation flight on 7 May have tested positive, taking the number of active cases in the state to 17, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

The Tamil Nadu govt announced major relaxations in lockdown guidelines in non-containment zones from Monday.  Essential shops can function from 6am to 7pm while standalone and neigbourhood shops to open from 10 am to 6 pm and from 10.30 am to 6 pm in Chennai.

"Number of active cases of COVID-19 stands at 1800 in Uttar  Pradesh and 1399 patients have recovered. Our average recovery rate stands at around 43 percent as against national average of 30 percent," ANI quotes Principal Secretary (Health) Amit Mohan Prasad as saying.

 In a slugfest over the transportation of stranded migrants to West Bengal, railway officials on Saturday said there were no proposal on record so far with the national transporter to run any more 'Shramik Special' trains to the state.

The Indian Railways reaction came minutes after the TMC said they have already planned to run eight trains to ferry migrants from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Telangana. The railway said they did not even have the proposal yet for the train, which the TMC claimed has been scheduled from Hyderabad to Malda on Saturday at 3 pm

As the Centre has started running special trains to send stranded migrant workers back to their states, close to 1.09 lakh migrant workers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have applied on a Haryana government web portal to come to the state, Indian Express reported.

According to the report, around 79.29 percent of migrant labourers have applied to come to Gurgaon, Faridabad, Panipat, Sonipat, Jhajjar, Yamunanagar and Rewari. Little over 50,000 of them want to come to Gurgaon district.

Officials believe the state's low coronavirus numbers is a factor for the workers seeking return. Till Friday, Haryana had 647 positive cases,

West Bengal is running 711 camps for the migrants in state, we are taking good care of them, said TMC leader Derek O'Brien, reacting sharply to the allegations made by the Centre over the failure of the West Bengal government to implement standard operating procedures in bringing back stranded migrants.

TMC leader Derek O'Brien on Saturday accused Amit Shah of being biased with the BJP-ruled states with regard to stopping the movement of migrant labourers.

"The Home Minister is writing so many letters to Bengal but nothing was done in Karnataka when the CM stopped the movement of migrant labourers. Later he had to revoke the decision. The Uttar Pradesh government has waived off all labour laws but, no letters were written to them," said O'Brien.

He further alleged that the Centre was responsible for the rail mishap in Maharashtra's Aurangabad.

In response to Amit Shah's letter to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee alleging that migrants were not permitted to enter the state on trains, TMC's Derek O'brien was quoted by News18 as saying, "Home Minister of India has finally woken up from a deep sleep. We were wondering if you have helped any migrants."

A letter by the Home Minister first reached Delhi before it reached the West Bengal Govt. You sent doctors to Gujarat but a IMCT to Bengal, why are you messing around?

India's current doubling rate of COVID-19 cases improved to 11 days as against 9.9 days in the last week, while the mortality rate has been recorded at 3.3 percent, said Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Saturday.

The Maharashtra Education Department said that no fee hike in schools can be imposed for academic year 2020-21. "Parents should not be forced to pay the remaining fee of academic year 2019-20 and the fee for 2020-21 in one go, they must be given monthly/quarterly payment options," said the state Education Department.

With the issue of migrant labourers being the latest flashpoint between Centre and West Bengal government, Home Minister Amit Shah took a potshot at chief minister Mamata Banerjee for not getting "expected support" help migrant workers reach home.

"West Bengal government is not allowing trains with migrants reaching the state. This is injustice with West Bengal migrant labourers. This will create further hardship for them," Shah said in his letter to Mamata.

He further pointed out that the Centre has facilitated the return of more than 200,000 migrant labourers to reach home and that workers from West Bengal are also eager to go back.

According to the health ministry's latest notice on discharge policy for COVID-19 patients, for mild and pre-symptomatic cases, patients can be discharged after after 10 days of symptom onset and no fever for three days.

For moderate cases, patients will be discharged only after resolution of clinical symptoms and ability to maintain oxygen saturation above 95 percent for three consecutive days without support.

For severe cases, patients will be discharged after they test negative by RT-PCR.

Rajasthan registered a total of 3,636 COVID-19 positive cases after 57 more individuals tested positive for the infectious disease on Saturday. According to the state health department, the toll remained at 103 with no new deaths recorded in the past 24 hours.

With 3,320 more people testing positive in the past 24 hours across the nation, the total number of confirmed cases climbed to 59,662 on Saturday. Of the total, there were 39,834 active cases.

The Karnataka government has permitted the sale of liquor in standalone clubs, boarding hotels and bars, where the existing stock of alcohol can be sold at MRP, reported News18.

The alcohol can be bought only as takeaways from 9 am to 7 pm from Saturday till 17 May.

Karnataka has been among the few states that has wanted to restart economic activities and have the revenue come in for the state.

The National Human Rights Commission on Friday issued notices to the Maharashtra Chief Secretary and the District Magistrate of Aurangabad over 16 migrant workers being mowed down by a goods train. The incident happened between Badnapur and Karmad stations in Nanded Division.

The NHRC has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports about mowing down of 16 migrant workers by the goods train in the early hours of Friday, it said in a statement.

The officers have been directed to submit a detailed report within four weeks. "It should also include details of the steps taken by the state and the district authorities to provide food, shelter and other basic amenities to the poor people, especially migrant labourers, who are facing extreme difficulties from every angle during the coronavirus-triggered lockdown," it said.

The nationwide tally of COVID-19 cases reached 56,342 on Friday  with more people testing positive for the deadly virus infection in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan among other states.

India registered an increase of 103 fatalities and 3,390 infections in the last 24 hours, on Friday while the number of those having recovered from the infection crossedg the 16,000 mark and the toll neared 1,900.

Meanwhile, the situation in Maharashtra's Mumbai and Pune remained worrisome with both cities reporting 748 and 111 cases, respectively. The massive spike in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region was reported along with the news that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation chief was replaced by the Maharashtra government on Friday.

BMC commissioner Pravin Pardeshi will swap offices with Iqbal S Chahal, currently additional chief secretary (urban development).

Delhi, Chennai and Ahmedabad emerged as other  major hotspots in the country, with the National Capital reporting 338 new cases, while the other two cities registered 399 and 269 cases, respectively.

Spike in cases continue despite extended lockdown

A large number of new cases were reported during the day from various cities in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, while Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha also reported rise in their tallies.

The number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 37,916. While 16,539 people have recovered, one patient has migrated, it said. "Thus, around 29.35 percent patients have recovered so far," a senior health ministry official said. The total cases include 111 foreign nationals.

The total of 103 deaths reported since Thursday morning include 43 in Maharashtra; 29 in Gujarat; eight in Madhya Pradesh; seven in West Bengal; five in Rajasthan; two each in Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh; and one each in Bihar, Delhi, Karnataka, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.

Of the 1,886 fatalities, Maharashtra tops the tally with 694 patients dying of COVID-19, Gujarat comes second with 425 deaths, followed by Madhya Pradesh at 193, West Bengal at 151, Rajasthan at 97, Delhi at 66, Uttar Pradesh at 62 and Andhra Pradesh at 38.

The death toll reached 37 in Tamil Nadu, 30 in Karnataka while Telangana has reported 29 fatalities. Punjab has registered 28 COVID-19 deaths, Jammu and Kashmir nine, Haryana seven, Bihar five and Kerala four.

Jharkhand has recorded three COVID-19 fatalities. Odisha and Himachal Pradesh have reported two deaths each. Meghalaya, Chandigarh, Assam and Uttarakhand have reported one fatality each, according to the ministry data.

According to the health ministry data updated in the morning, the highest number of confirmed cases in the country is from Maharashtra at 17,974 followed by Gujarat at 7,012, Delhi at 5,980, Tamil Nadu at 5,409, Rajasthan at 3,427, Madhya Pradesh at 3,252 and Uttar Pradesh at 3,071.

The number of COVID-19 cases has gone up to 1,847 in Andhra Pradesh and 1,644 in Punjab.

The tally has risen to 1,548 in West Bengal, 1,123 in Telangana, 793 in Jammu and Kashmir, 705 in Karnataka, 625 in Haryana and 550 in Bihar.

Kerala has reported 503 coronavirus cases so far, while Odisha has 219. A total of 135 people have been infected with the virus in Chandigarh and 132 in Jharkhand.

Tripura has reported 65 cases, Uttarakhand has 61, Chhattisgarh has 59, Assam has 54, Himachal Pradesh has 46 and Ladakh has 42.

Thirty-three COVID-19 cases have been reported from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Meghalaya has registered 12 cases, Puducherry has nine, while Goa has seven. Manipur has two cases. Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Dadar and Nagar Haveli have reported one case each.

"Our figures are being reconciled with the ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research)," the ministry said on its website.

State-wise distribution is subject to further verification and reconciliation, it said.

MHA says 'learn to live with virus'

During a press briefing on the COVID-19 situation, Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal said, "As we talk of relaxations to the lockdown and of migrant workers returning back to their respective homes, there is a big challenge in front of us that we also have to learn to live with the virus."

"And when we are talking about learning to live with the virus then it is very important that the guidelines that are there on saving oneself from the virus are adopted in the community as a behavioural change," he added.

It is a big challenge and the government needs the community support for it, Agarwal added.

The ministry also reeled off various datasets, including those showing a rising number of infection-free districts and an increasing recovery rate, to suggest the success of the government's strategy in the COVID-19 fight, even as it sought "a behavioural change" and everyone's support in this massive challenge.

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, however, admitted there has been no success yet in breaking the virus chain, and said his government may seek deployment of central forces, if needed, to allow police personnel to take rest in phases. The state tops the nationwide tally for confirmed cases as well as deaths.

Ugly side of migrant crisis

Sixteen migrant workers sleeping on rail tracks while returning to Madhya Pradesh were crushed to death by a goods train in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra. The migrant workers, rendered jobless due to the coronavirus-enforced lockdown and desperate to go to their native places, were walking along the rail tracks apparently to escape police attention.

Those killed and the four other migrant workers who survived were all male, officials said. A viral video clip from the scene of the tragedy shows the bodies of migrant workers lying on the tracks and nearby with their meagre personal belongings scattered around.

Aurangabad SP Mokshada Patil told PTI that three of the four survivors had tried in vain to wake up their colleagues who had slept on the track after an overnight walk from Jalna, around 40 kilometres from the accident spot. The workers were walking to Bhusawal from Jalna along rail tracks, while returning to their home state Madhya Pradesh, an official at the Karmad police station said.

Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh governments announced financial aid of Rs 10 lakh  to Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the deceased.

Separately in Karnataka, hundreds of migrant workers gathered on Mangaluru station in protest.  They told the local police that they were stuck in the city without jobs, money and adequate food and that they were even willing to walk to their home states if the special trains were not operated immediately.

Meanwhile, a plea has been filed in the Supreme Court on Friday seeking a direction to the Centre to ask all district magistrates in the country to identify stranded migrant workers and provide shelter and food to them before ensuring their free transportation to native places in view of the Aurangabad tragedy.

Economic costs of lockdown causes worry

With the pandemic and the ongoing lockdown hitting the economy badly, Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh urged the prime minister to spell out the way forward for the country's economic revival and an exit strategy from the third phase of the lockdown.

A nationwide lockdown has been in place since 25 March, which was first imposed for 21 days but got extended first for another 14 days till 3 May and then for further 14 days in the third phase, with considerable relaxations, till 17 May.

The economic cost of the COVID-19 fight and the ongoing nationwide lockdown also appeared rising manifold with Moody's Investors Service projecting India's economic growth at zero percent for the current fiscal. It also said that a high government debt, weak social and physical infrastructure, and a fragile financial sector face further pressures due to the coronavirus outbreak.

According to experts, industrial and other business establishments may also face a huge labour shortage once they resume operations after the lockdown, which has been in place since 25 March and is scheduled to continue till 17 May. Lakhs of migrant workers have either left for their native places or are in the process of doing so, including by trains and buses arranged by state governments.

There are also worries that the virus spread may grow further in newer areas following these movements, while a large number of Indians stranded abroad have also begun returning home in special flights.

Since its outbreak in China last December, more than 38.6 lakh people have been found to be infected with this virus, while over 2.7 lakh people have lost their lives. Nearly 13 lakh people have recovered so far, including about 2 lakh in the US.

Separately, a panel of experts, formed to suggest ways to revive Maharashtra's economy, hit by the COVID-19 crisis and the resultant lockdown, submitted its report to the government during the day.

Several states have been taking steps to shore up their resources, including by levying higher taxes on fuel and liquor. After Delhi, Andhra Pradesh and several others, Himachal Pradesh government has now decided to impose a 'corona cess' on liquor sales, while Puducherry chief minister V Narayanasamy also said the territorial administration was mulling imposition of special COVID-19 tax on liquor to wriggle out of the current fiscal crisis.

The Madras High Court, however, ordered closure of liquor shops in Tamil Nadu a day after they were reopened, but allowed sale of liquor through online and door delivery till the end of the lockdown.

The Supreme Court too asked states to consider non-direct contact or online sales and home delivery of liquor during the lockdown period to prevent the spread of coronavirus on account of crowding at the shops.

Liquor shops were allowed to be opened in the third phase of the lockdown, which began on 4 May, subject to compliance to social distancing and other guidelines issued by the government.

With inputs from PTI

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https://bit.ly/2Z0n5sL

The Wikipedia article of the day for May 10, 2020 is Banksia speciosa. Banksia speciosa, the showy banksia, is a large shrub or small tree in the family Proteaceae. First collected and described by Robert Brown in the early 19th century, the species occurs on the south coast of Western Australia between Hopetoun and the Great Australian Bight, growing on white or grey sand in shrubland. Reaching up to 8 m (26 ft) in height, it is a single-stemmed plant that has thin leaves with prominent triangular "teeth" along each margin, which are 20–45 cm (7.9–17.7 in) long and 2–4 cm (0.8–1.6 in) wide. The prominent cream-yellow flower spikes appear throughout the year, developing up to 20 follicles each that store seeds until opened by bushfire. Though widely occurring, the species is highly sensitive to dieback. The flowers attract nectar- and insect-feeding birds, particularly honeyeaters. In cultivation, B. speciosa grows well in a sunny location on well-drained soil in areas with dry summers.

[iiankitsingh]

Take a good look at the locker room. It’s where we live. There is the WhatsApp Uncle with his daily forward of sexist, offensive ‘jokes’ about wives under lockdown. There’s a filmmaker-wala uncle with his twitter meme from some years ago on what makes the Nano the safest car for women (because they can’t get gang-raped in it). A pregnant Safoora Zargar is arrested and sent to jail under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and Kapil Mishra, the Delhi BJP’s motor-mouth, comments: “Please don’t connect her pregnancy with my speech. It doesn’t work that way.”

If you are as outraged as I am over the leaked screenshots of #BoisLockerRoom — an Instagram handle where teenage boys (and a few girls) shared obscene messages and screenshots of underage girls — but found any of the other instances above "ok" or "just harmless fun yaar", then, yes, you live in the locker room.

It’s an old concept that went global when Donald Trump, then a presidential candidate, was caught on a hot mike bragging about his ability to grab women. Just locker room stuff he said and won the election.

Locker room ‘banter’ is a raging epidemic, except, unlike COVID-19, nobody really talks about it or seems interested in pushing for a cure.

Every once in a while, there is an eruption. We saw it in December 2019 when a bunch of 14-year-old boys at a ‘top-ranked IB school’ in Mumbai went on a WhatsApp rant. Transcripts of the chat ran into hundreds of pages and included ‘locker room banter’ about rape and gang-rape. Eight boys were reportedly suspended and the school was never named in the press.

A year earlier, in February 2018 there was another shocking incident involving two students at another ‘top’ school. The boy aged 12 threatened to have his teacher and her daughter raped. The other, 13, emailed two of his 'hot' teachers, “I feel like f****** you right now.” I spoke to the school authorities and was told that they were taking the incident ‘very seriously’. It was later reported that both, the teacher and her daughter, left the school.

And, of course, there’s the MMS scandal so infamous that it has its own Wikipedia page. That story was broken by my former colleague Anupam Thapa back in 2004, before the brave new era of social media gave your garden-variety misogynist the gift of anonymity. An online platform tried to sell the clip of a schoolgirl performing fellatio on her boyfriend leading to the usual outrage and even some arrests but in the end everyone got on with their lives, nobody kept track of what happened to the schoolgirl. Bollywood cashed in with a movie on the event.

The current outrage in India over #BoisLockerRoom tells you only one thing: the medium may change, but the abuse remains the same. Arrests have been made but nobody is counting on systemic change.

Two questions come to mind. The first is the role of peer pressure. Surely, at least one individual in this tribal group was uncomfortable but played along for fear of appearing ‘uncool’. Don’t forget, it took a brave whistle-blower to bring #BoisLockerRoom down, which leads to the second question: Just how many such groups are there, the ones that slip under the radar and carry on business as usual?

These aren’t boys saying they want some girl to be their girlfriend. These aren’t boys saying they want to have sex with someone. These are kids saying they want to rape someone, someone they know, perhaps study with. This is not a bunch of errant kids. This is a bunch of kids who need help.

Sure, it’s tempting to pick on the ones who get caught and point fingers at their upbringing, values, family backgrounds, schools. But are they the only ones? “We have to figure out a way to resist pointing at individuals who behave badly and shouting ‘monster’,” journalist Rega Jha pointed it out on Twitter. What is needed is the "less thrilling, more urgent, year-round work of dismantling structures that create and reward monstrous behavior."

Or what women’s groups have been arguing for decades: mindset change.

Toxic ideas of masculinity and what it means to be a ‘man’ come frothing from media, from mainstream cinema, from ads, from popular music, from parents, elder siblings, peers. We are all complicit. Social media only makes the messaging faster and more efficient.

Where is the counter-narrative? Who will provide it? Or should we just resign ourselves to more depravity and wait for the next incident before we begin our 24-hour-outrage-cycle again.

The custodians of our culture insist that sex education has no place in a civilization as great as ours. They need to get their heads out of the sand. Kids are having sex and fantasizing about sex. Let’s stop pretending.

What’s absent are ideas of consent and women’s autonomy. What’s missing is the conversation between parents and kids, schools and students. “Schools are just not willing to talk about this,” says Mini Saxena, lawyer and founder of The Consent Project that seeks to break the silence around consent.

In the workshops she has held, students have opened up about their experiences. In semi-urban areas, for instance, children speak about abuse at the hands of a parent or a neighbor. At Delhi university colleges, the anxieties tend to centre around online harassment, revenge porn and sexting, she says.

The kids are confused about consent and Saxena has to spell it out. She is not asking for it because of what she’s wearing. A smile is not an invitation to something else. Please ask. Please wait for a verbal yes. When they hear her, she says, they get the message.

If there is a problem with the term ‘sex education’, call it something else, consent education, or respect building. Delhi government schools won acclaim for their happiness curriculum, it’s time to come up with another innovative curriculum, this time on consent. A curriculum that begins in the first grade —  no, you may not grab your friend’s pencil and, yes, teacher, it’s a good idea to begin your class by asking: shall we learn something new today?

In 2007 a government survey found that 53 percent of children have experienced sexual abuse. We did nothing. That must end now.

We are in a crisis. And even as individuals we can play a role. Tell WhatsApp Uncle that his ‘joke’ about wives is not funny; leave family and school groups that continue to share them. Understand we cannot be selective in our outrage. When you invite a man accused of sexual harassment by multiple women to your conference or give him space in your edit pages, you are allowing misogyny to thrive.

There is no piecemeal solution. If you want to get out of the boys locker room, you will have to burn it down.

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There has been talk for some time now about easing labour laws, already seen in industry circles as being too rigid and acting as a drag on growth, specifically to facilitate those emerging from the lockdown. And it’s not just a question of emerging from it, there’s also the issue of surviving what looks like being a brutal and prolonged global economic downturn. It was reported on Friday that ordinances were being issued in some states.

There is obviously little room to doubt that it will take some time for the world to emerge from the hit it has taken. Economists have agreed on one thing: Until we know how long the pandemic will last and in what form, it is not possible to predict how long it will take for the global economy to start approaching something resembling business as usual. We don’t yet know whether there will be numerous waves, what will happen come winter and so on.

File image of migrant labourers waiting to board a special train in Gujarat. AP

These uncertainties are crucial to the question of relaxing labour regimes to help jumpstart the economy in this country, as elsewhere, notably in the US, where a practically unimaginable rise in unemployment is fuelling draconian solutions in some states.

In India, one of the key changes conceived has been to allow an increase of the working day from eight hours to 12 and the working week from 48 to 72 hours. It had been reported in the second week of April, still in the first phase of the national lockdown, that the Centre was pondering amending the Factories Act of 1948 to allow this.

Though the Centre is yet to follow up on this, a number of states have already issued notifications under provisions of the Factories Act itself increasing the working day for factory workers to 12 hours.

By 21 April, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh had done this in chronological order. While Punjab, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh had provided for overtime to be paid at double the rate of pay as prescribed in law, but Gujarat had expressly provided for extra payment at the normal rate. Haryana followed suit at the end of the month, stipulating overtime payments as per law.

The first four states had stipulated for the new regime a period of roughly three months, while Haryana specified a two-month ‘amnesty’. We will return to this point. On the face of it, these amendments to the Factories Act by ordinance suffer from some legal ‘infirmities’, even though a provision of the Act itself, Section 65(2), allows state governments to make exemptions in respect of daily and weekly hours and weekly holidays to help factories to deal with an ‘exceptional press of work’. Among the possible problems with the ordinances are a separate section of the Factories Act that prohibits the increase of the working week to over 60 hours, including overtime work, and the fact that the enabling section does not allow tinkering with the provision (Section 59) for the payment of double the ‘normal’ rate for overtime work (see here).

While trade unions have protested in a memoranda to the government, there have been no reports about these notifications having been challenged in any court or tribunal. But away from matters legal, there are questions of expediency, optimality and fairness. The eight-hour day was first won by workers in the wake of World War I, against the backdrop of desperate attempts to increase productivity. Several studies had found at that time that a reduction in the prevalent long hours of work (and better remuneration) actually increased productivity.

Ford was one of the first major companies to adopt the new hours, in 1918, increasing productivity and doubling profits in two years. After the war, a number of countries passed legislation limiting the working day and requiring workers to be provided with other benefits, including, better conditions of work. In India, the existing Factories Act was amended in 1948 to limit the working day and mandate workers’ safety.

The curtailment of the working day to eight hours is thus not just a matter of workers’ ‘rights’, it is also a matter of workers’ physical and mental health and, from a purely practical point of view, one of productivity, which drove labour reforms, as mentioned, in the first place. Forcing workers to put in shifts that are one and a half times the existing ones, is unlikely to promote efficiency. It had been said in defence of the move that this will help run factories with the involvement of smaller numbers of workers. Given restrictions on travel and the difficulty and inadvisability of putting up large numbers of workers in hastily arranged living quarters, this sounds reasonable, as long as these measures are for limited durations – for instance, three months.

But now several states are planning to introduce relaxations that are designed to last longer, for years. These are questionable. Uttar Pradesh has said it will pass an ordinance keeping in abeyance labour laws in respect of wages, hours and welfare provisions for three years, though it is yet to make clear what the shape of the exemptions will be. Madhya Pradesh has issued an ordinance amending two state laws to make for more flexible labour regimes. Many restrictions are being waived for 1,000 days for new ventures. Gujarat said on Friday that new industrial ventures would be exempt from some labour laws for 1,200 days, well over three years.

That there is a crisis is obvious. That industries, especially those in the medium, small and micro sectors, will need assistance in various forms to come out of the lockdown and tide over the period that will be unfavourable to business is also obvious. What is questionable is granting blanket immunities for long periods of times, citing current exigencies.

It would have made more sense to grant immunities for shorter periods and extend them as necessary. It could be, and has been, argued that rigidities in labour regimes needed to be removed anyway. That is a matter to be established, on merits, by public discussions involving those involved or interested. The current crisis should not be treated as an opportunity for circumventing legitimate debate.

Chambers of commerce have been reported as having suggested to Union Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar in a webinar on Friday that labour laws should be suspended for two to three years, except those pertaining to minimum wages, bonuses and other statutory dues, and the increase of the working hours to 12 a day to help industry meet the current crisis.

Neither sounds reasonable because, as argued, the latter is unlikely to be an efficient long-term solution, especially once lockdown restrictions are lifted and mobility ceases to be a problem, while the other prolongs exceptional remedies beyond demonstrated needs. At least, for the present.

Finally, there is the issue of calling upon the ‘people’ to make sacrifices. Care should be taken to ensure that the poor, who already shoulder a disproportionate proportion of the ‘social’ burden, should not be asked to make even more disproportionate sacrifices to overcome a crisis that affects them disproportionately in any case.

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