Coronavirus Outbreak Updates: Bihar records 228 new COVID-19 cases today, taking total to 2,394; 11 deaths reported till date

00:05 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

Alliance Air to recommence flights from 25 May

 

Air India's regional arm 'Alliance Air' on Saturday said it will recommence its flight services from 25 May onwards and operate 57 daily services to different destinations across its network, reports PTI. The airline has tried to connect maximum regional touch-points across the country in its schedule to provide convenient options to the travellers of flying back to their roots as soon as possible, Alliance Air said in a release. 

23:52 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Bihar Latest Updates

Case count in Bihar reaches 2,394

 

As many as 228 people tested positive for COVID-19 in Bihar on Saturday, taking the total number of cases in the state to 2,394, PTI quotes the health department as saying.Sasaram, the headquarters of Rohtas district, reported the maximum number of fresh cases at 33, including five females— two of them aged five and eight. The number of cases in Vaishali almost doubled to 48 as the district reported 25 fresh cases— all of them males in the age group of 20-45. Most cases have been reported from Raghopur block. Significant numbers of cases were also reported from Madhepura, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Khagaria, Katihar, Begusarai, Aurangabad, Banka and Begusarai districts. 

 

Bihar has recorded 11 COVID-19 deaths.  Altogether, 653 people have been discharged from hospitals after recovering from the respiratory disease. The state has witnessed a surge in the number of coronavirus cases since 3 May, when it breached the 500-mark and migrant workers began to pour in on special trains and via other modes of transport.

23:43 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Haryana Latest Updates

Two more cops test positive in Gurugram

Two more policemen have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Gurugram on Saturday, reports India Today.

23:38 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Updates

Pune district's COVID-19 tally touches 5,436

Pune district's COVID-19 tally reached 5,436 on Saturday after 269 people tested positive for novel coronavirus, while the death toll touched 264 as seven people succumbed to the infection, reports PTI quoting an official. Pune city accounted for 202 of the 269 new cases, followed by Pimpri Chinchwad with 46 and cantonment and rural areas with 21, he added. "Pune city has 4,673 COVID-19 cases, Pimpri Chinchwad​ 299 and rural areas 464," he said.

 

23:35 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Goa Latest Updates

Goa now has 39 active cases

One person tested positive for COVID-19 in Goa today, taking the total number of positive cases in the state to 55 including 39 active cases, reports ANI quoting the state health department.

 

23:26 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Jharkhand Latest Updates

Jharkhand reports 17 new cases

 

Jharkhand on Saturday reported 17 new novel coronavirus cases, taking the total count of infections to 340. The state has witnessed three fatalities since the
outbreak began on March 31.  The new infected people are from Koderma (11) and Ranchi (2), RIMS Director Dr D K Singh said. A health official in Simdega said that four new cases were detected in the district. The government bulletin has not yet been available for more information.

 

PTI

23:01 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Assam Latest Updates

Assam reports 17 more cases

📌Alert ~ 17 more #COVID19+ confirmed.

4 from Chirang; 4 from Tinsukia; 1 from Goalpara; 8 test + at SMCH - Cachar (3), Hailakandi (3) & Tripura (2)

↗️Total cases 346
↗️Recovered 57
↗️Active cases 282
↗️Deaths 04
↗️Migrated 03

Update 10.55 pm / May 23#AssamCovidCount pic.twitter.com/QJjQ8KqvGH

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) May 23, 2020

22:59 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Madhya Pradesh Latest Updates

Madhya Pradesh reports 201 new cases, nine deaths 

Madhya Pradesh reported 201 new COVID-19 cases, including 83 in worst-hit Indore, and nine deaths, taking the total case count to 6,371 and fatalities to 281, PTI quotes state health officials as saying. Two deaths each were reported from Indore, Bhopal and Burhanpur while one person each succumbed to the infection in Khandwa, Dhar and Sagar, they said. So far, 3,267 persons have recovered, leaving MP with 2,823 active cases.

22:47 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

Govt asks 11 municipal areas that have accounted for 70%case load to step up monitoring

Eleven municipal areas in seven states and Union Territories that have accounted for 70 percent of India's coronavirus case load were asked by the government on Saturday to step up monitoring in old cities, urban slums and other high density pockets like camps and clusters for migrant workers for management of COVID-19 cases.These 11 municipal areas are from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan and account for 70 percent of active case load,  PTI quotes the Union health ministry as saying.

 

Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan who held a high-level meeting through video conferencing with principal health secretaries and municipal commissioners along with other officials from the 11 municipal areas urged them to focus on prevention through active screening of high risk and vulnerable population along with effective and sturdy clinical management of the admitted cases to reduce fatality rate. 

22:38 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Punjab Latest Updates

All those entering Punjab to undergo 14 days mandatory home quarantine

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday said all those coming to the state, whether on domestic flights or trains or buses, will have to compulsorily undergo home quarantine for 14 days. He ruled out any complacency despite Punjab posting the highest recovery rate of 90 percent in the country.

 

“Screening of those entering the state would be done at all state and district border entry points, as well as railway stations and airports, and those found symptomatic would be sent into institutional quarantine, while others would have to undergo mandatory two-week home quarantine,” the chief minister said in his live Facebook programme `#AskCaptain'.  Rapid testing teams would check on the home-quarantined persons while those found symptomatic would have to undergo thorough testing in hospitals, Singh said in an official statement also. He made it clear that his government would not rely on any certificate of testing from any part of the country or the world. 

 

22:33 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Chhattisgarh Latest Updates

44 more test positive in Chhattisgarh

 

44 more persons tested positive for the viral infection in Chhattisgarh, taking the number of active cases in the state to 216, of which 64 patients have been cured and discharged. There are 152 active cases in the state now, ANI quotes the state health department as saying.

22:15 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Haryana Latest Updates

Maruti Suzuki employee tests positive in Manesar

Employee at Maruti Suzuki's Manesar plant has tested positive for COVID-19, PTI quotes a company spokesperson as saying.The company is also looking at "a possibility of a second case" of infection at the facility but has ruled out any impact on the business part due to the situation. The country's largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) had re-opened the Manesar facility earlier this month after around 50 days of closure due to coronavirus-led lockdown.

PTI

22:13 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Jammu and Kashmir Latest Updates

80 more test positive in Jammu and Kashmir

 

80 new coronavirus cases were found in Jammu and Kashmir. Total number of positive cases in the Union Territory (UT) is now 1,569, including 774 active cases, 774 recoveries and 21 deaths, ANI quotes the UT administration as saying.

22:05 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Uttar Pradesh Latest Updates

Case count in Uttar Pradesh goes up to 6,017

According to the evening update released by the Uttar Pradesh health department, the state reported 288 cases and three COVID-19 fatalities, taking the cumulative total to 6,017 and toll to 155. 3,406 patients have been discharged after being cured.

21:55 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in West Bengal Latest Updates

Confirmed cases in West Bengal rise to 3,459

 

The number of confirmed cases in West Bengal rose to 3,459 after 127 new cases and four deaths were reported in West Bengal today; 60 persons were discharged, according to a bulletin released by the state health department.

127 new #COVID19 confirmed cases reported in West Bengal today; 60 discharged & 4 died today. The total number of positive cases in the state rises to 3459, including 1341 discharged and 201 deaths: Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of West Bengal pic.twitter.com/0eyo0li1cW

— ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2020

21:55 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in West Bengal Latest Updates

Confirmed cases in West Bengal rise to 3,459

 

The number of confirmed cases in West Bengal rose to 3,459 after 127 new cases and four deaths were reported in West Bengal today; 60 persons were discharged, according to a bulletin released by the state health department.

127 new #COVID19 confirmed cases reported in West Bengal today; 60 discharged & 4 died today. The total number of positive cases in the state rises to 3459, including 1341 discharged and 201 deaths: Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of West Bengal pic.twitter.com/0eyo0li1cW

— ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2020

21:50 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Sikkim Latest Updates

Sikkim reports first positive case as Delhi returnee tests positive

Sikkim reported its first COVID-19 case on Saturday as a 25-year-old student who recently returned from Delhi tested positive for the disease, PTI quotes a senior official as saying. The sample of the student was sent to the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri for testing.The report came back positive, Health Department Director General-cum-Secretary Pempa Tshering Bhutia told reporters.

The student, who hails from Rabangla in South Sikkim district, is undergoing treatment at the Sir Thutob Namgyal Memorial (STNM) Hospital, he said. The student was in Delhi to prepare for competitive examinations.

21:38 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Rajasthan Latest Updates

Confirmed cases in Rajasthan climb to 6,742

 

A total of 248  new COVID-19 cases and seven deaths reported in Rajasthan today. The total number of positive cases in the state stands at 6,742, including 160 deaths, 3,786 recoveries and 2,796 active cases, according to the state health department. 

21:29 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Telangana Latest Updates

Telangana reports 52 new cases

Telangana on Saturday recorded 52 new cases - 33 in Hydearbad and 19 migrants.  Total number of cases mounts to 1,813 of which 696 are active cases. The COVID-19 toll rose to 49.

21:21 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Updates

Mumbai's Dharavi reports 33 new cases

 

33 new coronavirus cases were reported in Mumbai's Dharavi on Saturday, reports India Today.

 

21:13 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Mumbai Latest Updates

Mumbai reports 40 deaths, over 1,500 new cases

Mumbai;s COVID-19 toll reaches 949 as 40 deaths were recorded today. The total number of infections found went up to 28,634 as 1,566 more tested positive. According to the 6 pm update issued by the BMC, 396 patients were discharged today following their recovery.

1566 new #COVID19 cases & 40 deaths reported today, taking the total number of positive cases in Mumbai to 28,634: Municipal Corporation Greater Mumbai#Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/ilVZmo5ifU

— ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2020

21:03 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

Eminent pulmonologist Dr JN Pande dies after testing positive for COVID-19

Dr Jitendra Nath Pande, an eminent pulmonologist and former head of the Department of Medicine at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi, who had tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week, died at his residence on Saturday. He was 79. Dr Pande and his wife tested positive for the infection on Tuesday with mild symptoms and they decided to remain in home isolation, said AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria. But his wife was shifted to the AIIMS hospital on Saturday.

"We were following him up regularly and he said he was improving. Yesterday, he had his dinner and went off to sleep and then passed away in sleep possibly because of an acute cardiac event," Dr Guleria said. Dr Pande had co-morbid conditions.

 

PTI 

20:45 (IST)

16 new coronavirus cases in Punjab; total rises to 2045

Punjab reported sixteen new coronavirus cases on Saturday, taking the total number of COVID-19 infections in the state to 2,045. Of the new cases, four were detected in Amritsar, three each in Patiala and Jalandhar and one each in Ludhiana, Bathinda, Kapurthala, Pathankot, Gurdaspur and Muktsar.

20:43 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Gujarat Latest Updates

Coronavirus cases cross 10,000-mark in Ahmedabad, 24 deaths

Coronavirus cases in Ahmedabad crossed the 10,000-mark and rose to 10,001 after 277 new patients were reported on Saturday, the state health department said. 24 COVID-19 patients died in Ahmedabad hospitals during the day, taking the death toll so far in the district to 669.

20:34 (IST)

Spain to reopen for tourism in July 

Spain will reopen its borders to tourists in July and its top soccer division will kick off again in June, the Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said today, as one of the world's strictest lockdowns starts to ease.

20:30 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

2,608 new coronavirus cases, 60 deaths in Maharashtra

Maharashtra reported 2,608 new coronavirus patients and 60 deaths on Saturday, the health department said. The total number of cases in the state rose to 47,190 and the death toll reached 1,577, it said.  Out of these, Mumbai alone has 28,817 cases with 949 people succumbing to the disease.

20:21 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

Chhattisgarh join list of states requesting mandatory quarantine for fliers reaching state

Chhattisgarh has joined Goa, Karnataka and Jammu and Kashmir among other states in demanding that fliers reaching state after resumption of domestic travel should quarantine themselves for 14 days.  An Indian Express report says that Kerala, Andhra Pradesh,Telangana and Assam have also made similar rules. Goa has also insisted on a mandatory anti-body test for those entering the state. 

#NewsAlert – With domestic air services set to resume from May 25, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel called for a mandatory 14-day institutional quarantine for passengers upon arrival. | @ManojSharmaBpl with details. pic.twitter.com/Cz5LZ2yYS7

— CNNNews18 (@CNNnews18) May 23, 2020

20:13 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

Maharashtra won't allow air travel before 31 May

Maharashtra government has said that there is no decision to let flight operations start from Monday in the state, adding that there is no change in policy as of now and the lockdown remains the same till 31 May. The Uddhav Thackeray-led government has said that the Centre "arbitrarily" made the decision to allow domestic flight operations and there was no consultation with the state, media reports said.

20:08 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

GoAir withholds opening ticketing portals, says it awaits clarity from states

 

"GoAir is ready and prepared to resume safe operations after the two-month #lockdown. We await clarity on the readiness of the respective states & their airports with regard to acceptance of flights, or the conditions applicable to passengers entering the respective states. Without clarity on these conditions GoAir doesn't wish to inconvenience its passengers by putting on sale flights immediately post 25 May. On receiving clarity, we will open our site for bookings post May 25 up to May 31 as & when & where appropriate," a statement from the airlines said.

19:28 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Haryana Latest Updates

Haryana allows marriage ceremonies with 50 people; shops to open between 9 am to 6 pm

 

"According to Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) released by Haryana government, shops will open between 9 am and 6 pm. Marriage ceremonies can be organised in banquet halls with up to 50 people in attendance, after obtaining permission from deputy commissioners," says Haryana Minister Anil Vij.

19:26 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

Air India unions threaten may not extend support to 'normal operations' and FDTL norms

Air India pilot unions IPG and ICPA on Saturday threatened they might not be able to extend support to the airline's "normal operations" and in the matter of flight duty and time limitations (FDTL), alleging that financial and other issues of employees remain unresolved. The two unions, which represent the pilots operating Boeing and Airbus aircraft of the airline, in a joint letter to the personnel department, also sought to know the outcome of the various cost-cutting measures which the carrier initiated in March to deal with its precarious finances in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. 

19:02 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

23,000 Indians repatriated through Vande Bharat mission 

 

Between 7 May and 21 May, around 23,000 Indians have been repatriated through flights operated by Air India and its subsidiary Air India Express under this mission. Passengers have to pay money to book a seat on any repatriation flight being operated under the Vande Bharat Mission. The minister said if some passengers do not have smartphones, it is not as if they will not be allowed to travel for they do not have Aarogya Setu app.

18:59 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Uttar Pradesh Latest Updates

Nearly 21 lakh people have returned to UP, over 13.54 lakh of them in special trains: Govt

The Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday said over 13.54 lakh migrant labourers have returned to the state in 1,018 special trains since the services began earlier this month and monitoring teams are ensuring they strictly follow home quarantine. Additional Chief Secretary (Home and Information) Awanish Awasthi said overall nearly 21 lakh people have arrived in the state in trains, buses and other means.

18:54 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

UP's Gautam Buddh Nagar reports 17 new COVID-19 cases in; total now 323

Seventeen more people, including three teenagers, tested positive for coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar on Saturday, pushing the total number of cases in the district to 323, officials said. Also, seven people were discharged from hospitals after being cured, even as the number of active cases rose to 97, they said.

 

18:48 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

Railways to operate 2,600 Shramik Special trains in next 10 days to ferry 36 lakh home

The Railways has drawn up a schedule to operate 2,600 Shramik Special trains over the next 10 days across the country to ferry around 36 lakh migrant workers, stranded due to the COVID-19 lockdown, to their home states, Chairman, Railway Board V K Yadav said on Saturday. He said that the railways has run 2,600 Shramik Special trains in the last 23 days carrying around 36 lakh stranded migrants.  

18:41 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Jammu and Kashmir Latest Updates

Flyers to undergo COVID-19 test, quarantine upon entering Jammu and Kashmir

With domestic flights scheduled to resume from next week, the Jammu and Kashmir administration on Saturday said all inbound passengers would have to undergo a compulsory COVID-19 test and administrative quarantine till the time their report is out. The decision was conveyed by the department of disaster management, relief and reconstruction (state executive committee), extending the already set protocols for passengers returning passengers to the Union Territory.  

18:30 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Odisha Latest Updates

Odisha govt allows home delivery of liquor

The Odisha government has allowed home delivery of liquor from Sunday. However, it would cost a bit higher than the maximum retail price, as the state government has introduced a ‘special COVID-19 fee on sale of liquor. However, no excise licensees have been allowed to sell liquor on their premises.

18:28 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Tamil Nadu Latest Updates

Tamil Nadu reports 710 new cases, 5 deaths

Tamil Nadu has reported 710 new COVID-19 cases and five deaths in 24 hours. The total number of positive cases in the state now stands at 15,512, of which 7,915 are active cases. Death toll now stands at 103. 

18:23 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Gujarat Latest Updates

Gujarat COVID-19 patient erroneously discharged

In an embarrassing mix-up in Gujarat's Ahmedabad, a coronavirus positive man was discharged from hospital on the basis of a negative report that actually belonged to another person with the same name, officials said on Saturday. The authorities at civic-run Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Hospital admitted the mistake and issued an apology on Saturday, adding the human error was rectified soon with the wrongly discharged person being brought back and admitted in the facility within hours. 

 

17:51 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

COVID-19 toll in Rajasthan rises to 156, cases stand at 6,657

Three deaths and 163 new coronavirus cases were reported in Rajasthan on Saturday taking the total number of fatalities due to COVID-19 to 156 and positive cases to 6,657. Two deaths were reported from Jaipur and one from Kota, the official said.

17:43 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

Goa seeks permission for antibody testing for flyers

 

Considering the resumption of domestic flight services on Monday, Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Saturday said he has requested the Civil Aviation Ministry to permit coronavirus antibody testing for passengers upon their arrival. At least 15 flights are scheduled to arrive at the Goa International Airport at Dabolim in South Goa on Monday.

17:24 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Updates

1,671 COVID-19 cases reported in Maharashtra police; toll at 18

At least 18 police personnel, including an officer, have died of COVID-19 in Maharashtra so far, an official said on Saturday. The Maharashtra police, which is ensuring a strict enforcement of the lockdown in the state, has been severely hit by the pandemic. As many as 1,671 personnel, including 174 officers and 1,497 other staffers, have contracted the deadly infection so far, the official said, adding that the Mumbai police had accounted for the highest number of infections and casualties in the department.

17:19 (IST)

AIIMS' senior pulmonologist passes away due to COVID-19

Professor J N Pande, former HOD and Doyen of Medicine at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) dies of COVID-19.

Deeply saddened to hear that today @covid19 claimed it's most illustrious victim Dr. J.N Pande Director & Prof of Pulmonology @aiims_newdelhi
A stalwart of the medical world his work in pulmonology will continue to ensure better health for many

My Condolences to his family🙏 pic.twitter.com/ByE83ikItS

— Dr. Sangita Reddy (@drsangitareddy) May 23, 2020

17:06 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Updates

COVID-19: Maharashtra CM, NCP chief meet to discuss situation

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and NCP president Sharad Pawar on Saturday held a review meeting on the COVID-19 situation in the state. This was the third meeting on the issue between the two leaders in the last eight days. The NCP tweeted that its Maharashtra unit chief and the state water resources minister Jayant Patil, Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut and chief secretary Ajoy Mehta too were present.

17:03 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Haryana Latest Updates

22 of 76 Haryana natives deported from US test corona-positive

Twenty-two of 76 Haryana natives deported back from the US have tested positive for coronavirus infection, state Health Minister Anil Vij said on Saturday. Seventy-six Haryana people were part of a group of over 160 Indians who had arrived at Amritsar in Punjab by a special chartered flight earlier this week. “Twenty two of these 76 have been found having COVID-19,” Vij told reporters.

16:55 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

50% of COVID-19 care coaches refurbished for use in shramik trains, says railway ministry

We had converted 5,000 coaches into COVID care centres, with 80,000 beds. Since some of these were not being used right now, we used 50 percent of these coaches for Shramik special trains. If needed, they will be used again for COVID care: 

16:45 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

Over 21,000 respond to Maha CM's appeal for 'COVID Yoddhas'

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday wrote to the 21,752 "COVID Yoddhas" who responded to his call to render service to combat the novel coronavirus outbreak, telling them their move had given him strength. He said the work they would do in the fight against the outbreak would be service towards God and country. 

"You have joined the fight as a soldier along with each and every citizen of the state. With you joining the fight, I get strength," Thackeray said in the letter. 

16:25 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

COVID-19 vaccine development at early stage in India; breakthrough unlikely within a year: Experts

As Indian firms scramble to develop a vaccine for coronavirus, experts feel that research in the country is still at a nascent stage and any concrete breakthrough is not likely within a year. The Indian government and private firms have stepped up efforts to develop a vaccine to halt the spread of COVID-19 which has claimed over 3,700 lives with more than 1,25,000 cases in the country. 

 

PM CARES Fund Trust has decided to allocate Rs 100 crore for support to coronavirus vaccine development efforts.

15:54 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

 

India expands use of HCQ even as Lancet study finds it can harm COVID-19 patients

Even as medical journal The Lancet published a paper on Friday saying there were no confirmed benefits of anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) being given to Covid-19 patients, the Union health ministry issued an advisory expanding the pool of people to be given the medicine as a prophylactic to prevent them from contracting the infection. It will now be given to all asymptomatic healthcare workers involved in containment and treatment of Covid-19 and asymptomatic healthcare workers working in non-covid hospitals/non-covid areas of covid hospitals/blocks, apart from home contacts of confirmed COVID-19 patients.

The Lancet study analysed data from nearly 15,000 patients with Covid-19 receiving a combination of any of the four drug regimens and 81,000 controls. It found links between the use of chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine and increased rates of mortality and heart arrhythmias among hospital patients with Covid-19. 

However, a source in ICMR who did not wished to be named told Hindustan Times, “As a prophylactic drug, the medicine has shown results in India which is why it is advised for a larger group now. The Lancet paper that has come out will have implications for treatment regimen not prophylaxis.”

15:28 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

Bihar migrant workers onboard Shramik train hurl brickbats at Unnao railway station

Passengers of a Shramik Special train on way to Bihar's Darbhanga from Bengaluru, resorted to hurling brickbats in the railway station here on Saturday morning while protesting scarcity of food and water during the travel, an official said. Unnao District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar said the train had no stoppage at Unnao railway station. But since the route was not clear, the train had to stop at the staion, he said.

 

The passengers complained that there was no arrangement for food and water and during the the train travel. They also alleged that even the toilets had no water.

Coronavirus Outbreak Updates: As many as 228 people tested positive for COVID-19 in Bihar on Saturday, taking the total number of cases in the state to 2,394, PTI quotes the health department as saying.

 Eleven municipal areas in seven states and Union Territories that have accounted for 70 percent of India's coronavirus case load were asked by the government on Saturday to step up monitoring in old cities, urban slums and other high density pockets like camps and clusters for migrant workers for management of COVID-19 cases

An employee at Maruti Suzuki's Manesar plant tests positive for COVID-19, PTI quotes a company spokesperson as saying. The company is also looking at "a possibility of a second case" of infection at the facility.

A total of 248  new COVID-19 cases and seven deaths reported in Rajasthan today. The total number of positive cases in the state stands at 6,742, including 160 deaths, 3,786 recoveries and 2,796 active cases, according to the state health department.

Coronavirus cases in Ahmedabad crossed the 10,000-mark and rose to 10,001 after 277 new patients were reported on Saturday, the state health department said.

Maharashtra government has said that there is no decision to let flight operations start from Monday in the state, adding that there is no change in policy as of now and the lockdown remains the same till May 31.

"If you have taken a test and your test report is negative, following you don't have any symptoms, so I believe there should be no need for quarantine. The Arogya Setu app is like a passport, if your status on the app is green. Why should anyone want any quarantine," asks Puri.

With domestic flights scheduled to resume from next week, the Jammu and Kashmir and Goa administrations on Saturday said all inbound passengers would have to undergo a compulsory COVID-19 test and administrative quarantine till the time their report is out. 

Even as medical journal The Lancet published a paper on Friday saying there were no confirmed benefits of anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) being given to Covid-19 patients, the Union health ministry issued an advisory expanding the pool of people to be given the medicine as a prophylactic to prevent them from contracting the infection

The Delhi International airport authority has said that all flights, for the time being, will fly from Terminal T3. The flight services are to resume partially from 25 May.

Social media was abuzz with reports that a train which was supposed to leave Vasai Road and Reach Gorakhpur, had surprisingly reached Rourkela station in Odisha. The surprise change in route was attributed to 'driver losing the route'

India has tested over 1.15 lakh samples for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, Indian Council of Medical Research stated on Saturday.

As of Saturday till 9 am, the total number of samples tested for the novel coronavirus across the country stands at 28,34,798. The number of samples tested in the past 24 hours is 1,15,364, the ICMR said.

Rajasthan reported a total number of 6,542 confirmed cases on Friday after 48 more individuals tested positive till 9 am. The figure includes 2,695 active cases, reported the state health department.

The COVID-19 toll in the state climbed to 155 after two more individuals succumbed due to the infectious disease.

India registers highest number of 6,654 COVID-19 infections in the past 24 hours, taking total confirmed cases to 1,25,101 on Saturday. After 137 individuals succumbed to the viral infection in the past 24 hours, the COVID-19 toll now stood at 3,720.

Of the total confirmed, there are 69,597 positive cases across the nation, according to the latest data released by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

An officer posted in the General Administration section of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) office in Delhi has tested COVID-19 positive.

Ashu Garg, Registrar General, NGT, confirmed on Friday about the officer testing positive for the novel coronavirus. The official had last attended office on 19 May and is presently hospitalized, he said.

As a precautionary measure, the NGT has directed all staff members, litigants, lawyers or members of the public from entering the NGT premises, which will remain sealed for deep sanitisation from 23 May.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar said that all the migrant workers who have returned to the state will be provided employment, All India Radio News reported on Saturday.

Labourers returning from Delhi back to Bihar have topped the list of migrants who tested COVID-19 positive.

According to media reports, around 7 lakh migrant workers have entered the state since the end of April. The figure includes people using any mode of transportation, including Shramik Special trains.

As of Friday, 1982 individuals have tested positive for the infectious disease in the state.

Fourteen new areas were added to the list of containment zones in Delhi on Friday taking the total number of such zones to 92 in the National Capital. Till date, 34 areas have been 'de-contained' in Delhi.

As of Friday, 11,659 individuals have tested positive for COVID-19 in the National Capital. 5,567 persons have been cured while the toll is 194 in Delhi, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

India registered 6,008 new COVID-19 cases and 148 deaths across India in 24 hours while the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases rose to 1,18,447 and deaths from the novel coronavirus reached 3,583, as per data from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

As per Centre, 48,534 patients have recovered from the deadly virus.

However, a PTI tally of figures announced by different states and union territories, as of 9.20 pm, put the nationwide tally much higher at 1,22,656, and the death toll at 3,634 and recoveries at more than 51,000.

Globally, nearly 52 lakh people have tested positive for the deadly virus ever since its emergence in China last December, while 3.3 lakh have lost their lives.

Meanwhile, the Centre on Friday asserted that the coronavirus cases count in India could have been as high as 30 lakh while up to 2.1 lakh more people could have died if the nationwide lockdown was not implemented.

The Centre's remarks came even as the Reserve Bank of India said that macroeconomic impact of the pandemic is turning out to be more severe than initially anticipated.

The central bank also said that beyond the destruction of economic and financial activity, livelihood and health are severely affected.

In another report, even as fears of COVID-19 spreading to the living from the dead continue, a Bombay High Court order is likely to put the discriminatory attitude towards the dead to rest with the court dismissing a bunch of petitions challenging an April circular of the Mumbai civic body designating 20 burial grounds and cemeteries in the metropolis for disposing of bodies of persons who died due to COVID-19.

A division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice SS Shinde observed the Mumbai civic corporation has power to designate any cemetery or burial ground for disposal of bodies of COVID-19 victims and noted there was no scientific study to show that the novel coronavirus spreads through cadavers.

Meanwhile, the Central government said that it will evacuate stranded Indians from abroad till 13 June and the extended phase will cover 47 countries. The second phase of the 'Vande Bharat Mission' was to end on 22 May.

However, Spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs Anurag Srivastava said the ongoing phase will last till 13 June and that India is looking at making Frankfurt a hub for the mission.

As of Thursday, a total of 23,475 Indian nationals were brought back home under the mission which began on 7 May.

Cases from states

Maharashtra, the worst-hit state, reported 2,940 new cases taking its tally to 44,852. Its toll also rose to 1,517 with 63 more fatalities. This was the sixth consecutive day when the state has reported more than 2,000 new coronavirus cases.

Delhi recorded 660 cases, taking its tally to 12,319, while its death toll has now risen to 208.

Gujarat reported 363 new cases, taking its tally to 13,273, while the death of 29 patients pushed the death toll in the state to 802.

Twin brother and sister, born six days ago in Gujarat's Mehsana district, tested positive too, becoming the state's youngest patients for the viral infection.

However, a 95-year-old woman, who had earlier tested COVID-19 positive in Indore, recovered from the infection, a fortnight after her 70-year-old son had died due to suspected coronavirus infection.

Tamil Nadu, another badly hit state, reported nearly 800 new cases and its tally of confirmed cases rose to 14,753 and the death toll reached 98.

New cases were detected across various other states and UT as well, including in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.

An official of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has also been found positive for the novel coronavirus, making it the first case in the federal contingency force. Officials said the Sub-Inspector rank official was on leave and had gone to a doctor for some other treatment after which his COVID-19 test was done.

A large number of new cases are being reported among people who have returned from other states in special trains for migrants and among those having come back to India in special flights being operated to bring back stranded Indians and expatriates from abroad.

Officials said Tamil Nadu government is not in favour of restarting domestic air services connecting cities in the state till this month-end and might take up the matter with the Centre.

Lockdown saved lakhs of lives, says Centre

Reeling off various studies, government officials also said up to 2.1 lakh more people could have died in India if the lockdown had not been implemented as "a timely, graded, proactive and preemptive public health measure" to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pravin Srivastava, Secretary, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation gave model-based estimates on COVID-19 cases and deaths which have been prevented due to the lockdown at a media briefing on the COVID-19 situation.

Citing a model by the Boston Consulting Group, he said the lockdown saved between 1.2-2.1 lakh lives, while the number of COVID-19 cases averted is between 36-70 lakh.

Srivastava further said the Public Health Foundation of India's model showed that nearly 78,000 lives have been saved due to the lockdown. He also cited another model by two independent economists suggesting that 23 lakh COVID-19 cases and 68,000 deaths have been averted due to the lockdown.

"We are fully confident that the lockdown, with full public cooperation, has reaped rich dividends," Srivastava added.

Recovery rate at about 41%, says health ministry

Addressing the press briefing, Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal said 48,534 COVID-19 patients, which is about 41 percent of the total cases, have recovered so far, while 3,234 have recovered in the last 24 hours.

He also said that the COVID-19 mortality rate has dropped from 3.13 per cent on May 19 to 3.02 per cent as focus was on containment measures and clinical management of cases.

An ICMR official said 27,55,714 tests for COVID-19 have been conducted till 1 pm Friday with 1,03,829 tests done in one day. Over 1 lakh tests for COVID-19 have been done each day for the last four days, the official said.

Paul said the number of COVID-19 cases would have risen exponentially had the lockdown not been implemented. He also said the outbreak in India has remained confined to limited areas with 80 per cent of active cases in just five states.

Besides, around 80 percent of COVID-19 deaths have been in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Delhi, Paul said.

Pune's government-run Sassoon General Hospital said that it will administer tocilizumab, a drug which has proven effective in treating the infection, on at least 25 COVID-19 patients who are in a semi-critical condition at the hospital.

"The new drug, an injection which costs around Rs 20,000, will be given to 25 patients in the first phase and depending on the results, the Pune Municipal Corporation will decide on its further use," municipal commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad said.

Delhi health care workers protest new rules

In the meantime, healthcare workers at several central and city government hospitals in Delhi sported black armbands to protest the government's decision to end the need for their quarantine after COVID-19 duty unless there has been any form of high-risk exposure.

Several hospitals in the last few days have asked their healthcare workers staying in hotels during the quarantine period to vacate rooms immediately failing which the charges paid for their overstay would be deducted from their salaries.

As per the Union health ministry guidelines issued on 15 May, healthcare workers serving in COVID-19 areas do not need to undergo quarantine unless there has been violation in the use of PPE or any other form of high-risk exposure or they have symptoms suggestive of coronavirus infection.

However, healthcare workers on the frontline have raised objections to the new guidelines.

New study hints at spike after 21 June

Meanwhile, a study by a team of researchers said India may witness COVID-19 cases peaking between June 21-28 with maximum daily positive cases to be around 7,000-7,500 in this period.

"A clear downward trend in the confirmed cases is likely to be observed each day from the second week of July," Nandadulal Bairagi, a senior professor of Jadavpur University who was involved in the project told PTI.

With inputs from PTI

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