COVID-19: Workers to be Allowed Conditional Movement Within States
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Labourers, who are stranded in different parts of the country due to the ongoing lockdown, will be allowed to go to their respective places of work within a state with certain conditions, the Union Home Ministry said on Sunday, 19 April.
Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, however, made it clear that there will be no inter-state movement of workers during the lockdown, which has been extended till May 3.
Meanwhile, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, in an address said that there won’t be any relaxations in the lockdown in the national capital for at least a week and that a review meet will be held on 27 April to assess the situation.
The total number of positive cases in India on Sunday, 19 April, stood at 15,712 with the number of deaths standing at at least 507. These include 12,974 active cases, 2,230 patients cured/discharged and one migrated person.
- Supply of non-essential goods by e-commerce companies will remain prohibited during the lockdown: MHA
- Haridwar and Nanital districts declared ‘Red Zones’ due to the high number of COVID-19 infections
- At least 140 new cases in Ahmedabad take the district’s tally to over 1,000
- Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry, says the mortality rate in India stands at 3.3 percent; with the highest in the 60+ age group
328 New Cases Recorded in Maharashtra
328 new cases recorded in Maharashtra; the total number of cases stand at 3,648.
Trump Warns China of Consequences if Found Responsible for COVID 19
US President Donald Trump has warned China of consequences if it was "knowingly responsible" for the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Trump, who as expressed his disappointment over handling of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) by China, alleged non-transparency and initial non-cooperation with the US on this issue.
"If they were knowingly responsible, yeah, then there should be consequences," he told reporters at a White House news conference on Saturday. "You're talking about, you know, potentially lives like nobody's seen since 1917."
Recovered COVID-19 Patient Tests Positive Again in Himachal
A man, who had recovered from the novel coronavirus, was again found suffering from the infection in Himachal Pradesh, officials told PTI. The man, a Tablighi Jamaat member, tested positive for the infection on Saturday within a week of his two reports coming out negative, they said.
Cases in India Cross 15,000, Death Toll Crosses 500
The total number of positive cases in India on Sunday stood at 15,712 with the number of deaths standing at at least 507.
Mumbai Lawyer Dies of Heart Attack after Hospitals Refuse Admission
Amid lockdown, a woman from neighbouring Navi Mumbai found herself completly helpless when two hospitals refused to admit her husband, a lawyer, who had suffered a heart attack.
After running from one hospital to another in an ambulance, when Jaideep Jaywant (56) was finally admitted to a medical facility, it was too late, his wife Deepali, who is also a lawyer, told PTI.
The victim, resident of Sector 17 in Vashi area of Navi Mumbai, had a massive heart attack on 14 April. He collapsed after having lunch.
"I could feel his pulse. There was still life in him.I immediately called an ambulance and rushed him to a nearby hospital," his wife said.
China Declares Wuhan Low-Risk Area
China has classified coronavirus epicentre Wuhan as a low-risk area, days after it revised the city's death toll by 50 percent, even as 16 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the country, health officials said on Sunday.
According to the risk criteria defined in a guideline issued by China's State Council, cities, counties and districts with no newly confirmed cases in the last 14 days are categorised as low-risk areas.
Japan Passes 10,000 Domestic Cases of COVID-19
Japanese health ministry said Sunday that 568 new cases of the coronavirus were reported the day before, bringing a domestic total to 10,361.
A combined total including 712 others from a cruise ship quarantined near Tokyo earlier this year came to 11,073, with 174 deaths.
Chidambaram Asks Govt to Act, Distribute Free Food to the Poor
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday urged the government to transfer cash and distribute free foodgrains to the poor, saying only a heartless government will not do anything.
He said more and more people have run out of cash and are standing in queues for free cooked food.
"There is overwhelming evidence that more and more people have run out of cash and are forced to stand in lines to collect free cooked food. Only a heartless government will stand by and do nothing," he said.
"Why cannot government save them from hunger and protect their dignity by transferring cash to every poor family," he asked.
45 New Cases in Agra
At least 45 new positive cases of COVID-19 reported in Agra, taking the total number of positive cases to 241, Agra DM Prabhu N Singh told ANI.
43 New Cases in Lucknow
Out of the 851 samples tested on Saturday for COVID19, results of 43 were found to be positive, ANI reported quoting King George's Medical University, Lucknow.
Cases in Rajasthan Rise to 1,395
With 44 new COVID-19 positive cases and one death reported in the state, the total number of cases in Rajasthan rose to 1,395.
2 Doctors, 6 Nurses Test Positive in Delhi Hospital
Two doctors and six nurses of Delhi's Lady Hardinge hospital have tested positive for COVID-19 and have been placed in quarantine. Their contact tracing is underway.
10-Month-Old Baby Tests COVID-19 Positive in Delhi
A 10-month-old baby who was brought by his father to the emergency ward of Lady Hardinge hospital for respiratory ailments tests positive for COVID-19. The father has also tested positive. The mother’s test report is awaited.
Australia Calls for Independent Probe into Global Virus Response
Australia on Sunday called for an independent investigation into the global response to the coronavirus pandemic, including the World Health Organization's handling of the crisis.
Foreign Minister Marise Payne said the country would "insist" on a review that would probe, in part, China's early response to the outbreak in Wuhan, the city where COVID-19 emerged late last year.
Trains, Flights Unlikely To Resume After 3 May: Report
Rail and air travel are unlikely to resume after 3 May and a final decision will be taken after Union Health Ministry's inputs are received on the matter, sources told NDTV.
Haridwar and Nainital Declared 'Red Zones'
Haridwar and Nanital districts have been declared 'Red Zone' after the total number of Coronavirus positive cases in the state reaches 42.
According to Yugal Kishor Pant, Additional Secretary (Health), 80 percent of the cases in the State are from Dehradun, Haridwar and Nainital districts.
Ahmedabad's First COVID-19 Patient Discharged
Niomi Shah, first COVID-19 positive case of Ahmedabad was discharged from the hospital on Saturday after complete recovery.
“I was hospitalised on 17 March, now finally getting discharged after testing negative twice. It has been a long journey.” he said.
Cop Dies of COVID-19 in Indore
A 41-year-old police inspector and a 70-year-old woman succumbed to coronavirus in Indore city, taking the death toll in the Madhya Pradesh district to 49.
This is the first case of a police officer dying of COVID-19 in the state.
"The police officer died at a private hospital late Saturday night. He was struggling with the disease since hospitalisation about 20 days back," Superintendent of Police Maheshchandra Jain told PTI.
Amid COVID-19 Pandemic, Second Noida CMO Removed Within Fortnight
The Uttar Pradesh government has removed a second chief medical officer in Gautam Buddh Nagar, a hotspot of coronavirus, within a fortnight, the health department said.
AP Chaturvedi was shunted out late on Saturday and D K Ohri, the principal of Agra's Regional Family Planning Training Centre, was appointed the additional CMO, the department said in an order.
Five More Die of COVID-19 in Gujarat, State Toll Rises to 58
Five more coronavirus patients, including three women, died in Gujarat, taking the toll in the state to 58, a health official said on Sunday.
Out of the five deaths, four were reported from Ahmedabad, and one from Surat, state principal secretary (health) Jayanti Ravi told PTI.
Four out of these five victims suffered from co-morbid conditions like diabetes, kidney failure, and hypertension, she said.
44 New Cases in Andhra Pradesh
At least 44 new COVID-19 positive cases reported in the Andhra Prdesh in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of positive cases in the state to 647, Arja Srikanth, Nodal Officer, COVID-19, was reported by ANI as saying.
No Supply of Non-Essential Goods by E-Commerce Companies
Supply of non-essential goods by e-commerce companies to remain prohibited during lockdown, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) notified.
Delhi Won't Have Any Relaxations: Kejriwal
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, in an address said that there won’t be any relaxations in the lockdown in the national capital for at least a week and that a review meet will be held on 27 April to assess the situation.
“We have decided to keep people of Delhi safe, the lockdown will remain, there will be no relaxation. Will review again after a week,” he said.
Gujarat COVID-19 Tally at 1,604, Over 1000 in Ahmedabad
With 228 new COVID-19 cases in Gujarat, the state tally goes up to 1,604. At least 140 new COVID-19 cases in Ahmedabad take district’s tally over 1,000.
44 New COVID-19 Cases in Thane District, Tally at 364
The number of coronavirus cases in Maharashtra's Thane district rose to 364 after 44 more people tested positive for the disease.
One more person died of the viral infection, taking the toll in the district to 12.
So far, 130 COVID-19 cases have been reported from areas under Thane Municipal Corporation, 73 from Kalyan- Dombivali, 69 from Mira-Bhayander, 60 from Navi Mumbai, 14 from Badlapur township, 10 from Thane rural, four from Ambernath township, three from Bhiwandi-Nizampur municipal limits and one from Ulhasnagar.
COVID-19: NDMC to Slap Rs 1,000 Fine for Spitting, Urinating in Public Places
Those found spitting or urinating in public in the areas under the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) will have to pay Rs 1,000 fine, the civic body said, aiming to contain the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.
The order comes in compliance with a three-day old directive issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which made spitting in public spaces a punishable offence.
Bhondsi Jail Warden Tests Positive
Jail warden of Bhondsi Jail tests positive for COVID-19 after returning from his home in Bhiwani. He was tested positive before he joined duty and no one at the Jail came in contact with him, ANI reported Chief Medical Officer Gurugram, Haryana, as saying.
Health Minister Visits Delhi's Rajiv Gandhi Hospital
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Harsh Vardhan visited Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital in Delhi. It is one of the dedicated COVID-19 centres in the national capital.
GoAir Employees to Go on Leave Without Pay till 3 May
Majority of 5,500-odd employees of GoAir will now be on "leave without pay" (LWP) till 3 May as its entire fleet remains grounded in the wake of the extended lockdown, the airline has said.
In March, the Wadia Group-owned airline asked its employees to go on LWP on a rotational basis besides cutting their salaries.
“The lockdown has been further extended till May 3, and with this extension, our fleet continues to be completely grounded. Hence, we are constrained to request you to proceed on 'leave without pay' till May 3,” GoAir said in a communication to its employees on Saturday.
Govt to Decide on Resuming Train, Airline Services, Any Discussion Futile: Javadekar
Union minister Prakash Javadekar made it clear on Sunday that the central government has so far not taken any decision on starting train or airline services, asserting that any discussion on the issue is futile.javascript:void(0)
Asked if the government is looking at any timeline to start passenger transport services like trains or airlines, he told PTI, "It has to start one day but which is that one day you don't know at this moment. Discussion about it is futile because we are examining the situation every day and drawing new lessons."
Industries in Green, Orange Zones to be Allowed to Resume in Maharashtra
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said industries in green zones and orange coronavirus zones will get permission to resume operations in a restricted manner.
In a video message, he also said that industries which are ready to provide accommodation to their workers during the lockdown will be given food grain supply and permission for raw material from the state.
“The state government is allowing the industries from green and orange zones to start production and processing activities in a restricted manner. The industries will have to arrange the accommodation for their workers. They would not travel long distance for work,” he said.
The green zones are those which have not reported any coronavirus case, while orange zones are the ones where only a few cases have been reported.
One-and-a-Half-Month-Old Baby Dies of COVID-19 in Delhi Hospital
A one-and-a-half-month-old baby has died of coronavirus infection at a hospital in Delhi, officials said on Sunday, in perhaps the first fatality of an infant due to COVID-19 in the national capital.
The baby died at Kalawati Saran Children's Hospital attached to the Centre-run Lady Hardinge Medical College.
"The baby was brought to the hospital a few days ago. He tested positive for COVID-19. The child was admitted to SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Illness) ward and died yesterday," a doctor at the hospital said on the condition of anonymity.
Manipur has No COVID-19 Positive Case as of Sunday, says CM
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Sunday said the state no longer has any COVID 19- positive case, as the second patient, who was undergoing treatment at a hospital, tested negative for the disease.
Toll Collection to Resume in Lucknow
Collection of toll will resume in Lucknow from 20 April.
“As per directions of NHAI/Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, we are resuming toll collection with effect from 20 April. All concerned DMs have been informed,” A Basit Regional Officer, National Highways Authority of India, UP West Lucknow told ANI.
UPSC, SSC Exams to be Scheduled After 3 May: Jitendra Singh
Union Min Dr Jitendra Singh said that the UPSC and SSC exams will be scheduled after 3 May.
“UPSC and SSC examinations that were put on hold due to lockdown, will definitely take place. We will take a call after 3 May 3 and reschedule dates in a manner that it gives sufficient time to all the aspirants to reach to their designated examination centers,” he said.
Priyanka Gandhi Urges UP Govt to Evolve Plan to Bring Back Migrant Workers
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday called upon the Uttar Pradesh government to evolve a plan to help migrant workers from the state reach their home.
In a video appeal, she urged the state government to set up a helpline and control room to reach out to all those migrant workers from UP who are stranded at various places.
"These workers are our own. It is the responsibility of all of us to help them. We cannot leave them like this. We have to find a way out," she said.
Beedi Workers to Resume Work on Monday in Two Karnataka Districts
Beedi workers in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts of Karnataka will resume work on Monday as the government has ordered relaxation to the industry during the lockdown period.
Taking note of the problems faced by workers, the government has allowed the beedi industry to function from Monday.
Delhi Government Begins Using Rapid Antibody Test Kits in Hotspots
Soon after procuring rapid antibody test kits, the Delhi government on Sunday began testing people for coronavirus in various containment zones spread across the city, officials said.
Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Saturday said the AAP government has acquired 42,000 such kits.
Two Men Arrested for Trying to Attack Policemen Enforcing Lockdown
Two men were arrested for allegedly trying to attack policemen who were enforcing a lockdown announced in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic In Banda, police said on Sunday.
"On Saturday, two policemen were on duty at Rahunia Khutla locality. Some persons tried to attack them to violate the lockdown," Station House Officer, Kotwali police station, Dinesh Singh said.
9 Test Positive in Nagpur, Count Touches 72
The number of COVID-19 patients in Nagpur in Maharashtra reached 72 with nine more people testing positive for coronavirus on Sunday.
All the nine are close contacts of earlier patients.
Committee to Be Formed for Enabling Job Opportunities to Returning Labourers: Yogi
The Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday decided to constitute a committee to look into generating employment opportunities for the state's labourers who are arriving back from other parts of the country in the wake of the coronavirus lockdown.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued directives to constitute the committee while reviewing the lockdown situation with authorities at his official residence here, a statement issued by the government said.
Haven't Received Any Govt Notice on Bookings From 4 May: Vistara, AirAsia
A day after Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri advised airlines to open bookings only after the government takes a decision on resuming passenger flight services, Vistara and AirAsia India said on Sunday they have not received any notice from the aviation ministry on this matter.
All Indian airlines, including Vistara and AirAsia India, are currently taking bookings on select flights from 4 May.
“We shall await the ministry's notice in this regard. We have suspended operations and sales until 3 May, following the last circular,” Vistara spokesperson said.
Bihar Minister's Aide Booked for Violating Lockdown Norms
A close aide of Bihar's education minister Krishnandan Prasad Verma was on Sunday booked for hosting a feast here, in violation of the lockdown norms, a police officer said.
Pintu Yadav along with seven others, including Jehanabad Sub-Divisional Police Officer Prabhat Bhushan Srivastava, has been named in an FIR lodged with Makhdumpur police station, SHO Dhananjay Kumar said.
Stranded Labourers to be Allowed to Move Within State With Conditions
Labourers, who are stranded in different parts of the country due to the ongoing lockdown, will be allowed to go to their respective places of work within a state with certain conditions, the Union Home Ministry said.
Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, however, made it clear that there will be no inter-state movement of workers during the lockdown, which has been extended till 3 May.
Deputy Secys, Others to Join Offices from Monday
All deputy secretary level officers and above will join office from Monday, nearly a month after working from home due to the lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus, a senior official told PTI.
Joint secretaries, additional secretaries, special secretaries and secretaries had joined central government departments on 13 April. In its revised guidelines related to the ongoing lockdown, the Home Ministry had on Wednesday said that "all the ministries and departments and offices under their control are to function with 100 per cent attendance of deputy secretary and levels above that".
Spain Sees Sharp Drop in Daily Virus Death Toll
Spain registered Sunday a sharp drop in the daily death toll from coronavirus, with the number falling to 410 from 565.
The total fatalities in Spain, the third hardest-hit country in the world after the US and Italy, have reached 20,453, the health ministry said. Infections rose to 195,344, with 4,218 new cases in the past 24 hours.
Plea in SC Seeks Action Against Landlords Pressuring for Rent During Lockdown
A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking action against the "arbitrary and unlawful action" of landlords demanding rent from students and labourers during the lockdown despite a government order to the contrary.
6 New COVID-19 Cases in Karnataka; Total Reached 390
The total number of COVID-19 cases in Karnataka reached 390 with 6 new cases coming to light on Sunday, 19 April. This includes 16 deaths & 111 discharges.
Court Sends 10 Accused in Badra Gathering to Police Custody Till 21 April
A Badra court has sent ten accused in the mass gathering at Bandra station to further Police custody till 21st April, reported ANI.
On 14 April around 1500 migrant workers gathered near the Bandra station in Mumbai flouting lockdown rules.
552 New COVID-19 Cases in Maharashtra, 12 Deaths Reported
552 new COVID-19 cases and 12 deaths were reported in Maharashtra on Sunday, 19 April. The total number of positive cases in the state now stands at 4200.
120 People From UP, Including 93 Students, Brought Back From Kota
As many as 120 people from Uttar Pradesh, including 93 students, were brought back here from Rajasthan's Kota on Sunday, 19, reported PTI quoting officials.
"Students preparing for engineering and medical entrance examinations in Kota, their family members and some policemen arrived here on Sunday. They got stranded in the Rajasthan town following the nationwide lockdown imposed in view of the coronavirus outbreak," Chief Medical Officer Dr Rajiv Kumar Gupta said.
MP Police Announces Reward of Rs 10,000 For Information on COVID-19 Patient Who Fled Hospital
Madhya Pradesh Police has announced a reward of Rs 10,000 on information related to the whereabouts of coronavirus patient who fled a hospital in Jabalpur.