A week before the scheduled end date of the lockdown, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to at least six Chief Ministers for the fourth time since the COVID-19 outbreak on the exit strategy from the lockdown, among other things. Meanwhile, China’s Wuhan city — the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak — discharged the last COVID-19 patient from hospital.
The Hindu has brought out a multi-language e-book on essential COVID-19 information, in addition to covering the developments related to the coronavirus pandemic as it unfolded. Here is a collection of our daily cartoons on COVID-19.
Here are answers from experts on your queries about the virus, a list of State Helpline numbers, a State-wise tracker for COVID-19 cases, deaths and testing, and a map of confirmed cases in India.
Here are the latest updates:
5.10 pm | Ladakh
Ladakh gets its first COVID-19 testing lab
A COVID-19 laboratory has been set up in the Union Territory of Ladakh to ensure timely and cost-effective sample testing, officials said on Monday.
Earlier, the samples had to be sent to Delhi by flights leading to delays and heavy expenditure, they said.
The COVID-19 testing laboratory, first such facility in the Union Territory, was set up with the help of Pernod Ricard India foundation, the officials said.
–PTI
5.05 pm
U.P. police serves notice on Bollywood singer Kanika Kapoor
A notice was served on Bollywood singer Kanika Kapoor on Monday regarding an FIR registered against her for negligence and committing acts likely to spread a disease dangerous to life, police said. She has been asked to report at Sarojini Nagar Police Station on April 30 and record her statement, they said.
5.00 pm | India
Most CMs want lockdown to continue: Puducherry CM Narayanasamy after interaction with PM
A majority of the chief ministers who interacted with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday wanted the lockdown to continue after May 3 and asked him to adopt a cautious approach while opening it, Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy said.
The Chief Ministers were unanimous in telling the prime minister that the way the coronavirus is spreading, a “cautious approach” is needed while lifting the lockdown, which they said should continue, but economic activity should also start slowly, Mr. Narayanasamy, who participated in the meeting through video-conferencing, said.
–PTI
4.55 pm | UK
Boris Johnson back at work, says tide being turned on COVID-19
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson returned to work on April 27 and declared that the tide is being turned on the coronavirus pandemic in the country, as he urged the public to contain their impatience against the lockdown.
“We are beginning to turn the tide. There are real signs we are passing through the peak,” said Mr. Johnson in an upbeat address to the nation on the steps of 10 Downing Street.
4.50 pm | Tamil Nadu
T.N. COVID-19 isolation wards to get robots
Patients undergoing treatment for COVID-19 infection at the Government hospitals will soon get their medicine and food served by robots designed and developed by the Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology and Research Academy, a deemed-to-be University, and Propeller Technologies, one of the incubatees of the Technology Business Incubator established by SASTRA.
4.45 pm | Bihar
Five more COVID-19 positive cases in Bihar have taken the State tally to 326. All five, four males and one female, are from Patna.
–Amarnath Tewary
4.30 pm | Odisha
Two more COVID-19 cases, a health worker in Koraput district and a West Bengal returnee in Balasore district, were detected on Monday taking Odisha’s total to 110, State government said.
–Prafulla Das
4.20 pm | India
Doubling rate of cases in Pune higher than national average: MHA
MHA spokesperson Punya Salila Srivastava during the daily COVID-19 press conference said more than two crore workers have got jobs and about 60% food processing units have become operational.
2825 units in SEZ and about 350 export units have also become functional, she said.
“Over 2,000 main mandis (80%) have become functional. Over 80,000 farmers and 70,000 businessmen registered on Krishi Rath App, which is facilitating business transactions.
The teams constituted under the National Disaster Management Act have visited various places. In Pune, IMCT conducted surveys in four containment zones, shelter camps of migrant workers and other places. Pune team found that the doubling rate is 7, which is above the national average.
It suggested that high-risk people should be identified quickly and the contact tracing should also be done quickly.
It also suggested that non-Covid-19 hospitals should also be identified for treatment of people suffering from other ailments, Ms. Salila added. In 85 districts of 25 states and UTs, no cases were reported in the past 14 days.
Chairman for Empowered Group-5 on Supply Chain and Logistics of Essential Items: “From March 30, there was improvement in supply chain networks, 46% to 76% and increasing rapidly.
“Railways has done tremendous jobs: 67% to about 80% of rakes movement.
“Traffic at Ports is at 70% to 87% to 90%- almost gone to normal.
“79% mandis are operational now.
“The Empowered Group-5 is working on easing policy, collaborating with line departments/MHA, troubleshooting bottlenecks, tracking key indicators and disseminating best practices of supply warriors.
“109 time tabled parcel trains over 58 routes started by Railway.
“400 rakes moving day and night carrying good grains and other essentials.
“2.5 lakh meal served by IRCTC everyday across all four railway zones.
“392 lifeline Udaan flights carrying 700+ MT of essential cargo opreated till date, 100+ MT of medicines, medical equipment, and 1 lakh food packets delivered by India Post, payment of DBT worth 730 crores made to 34 lakh persons by India Post.
“The IAF launched 18-hour operation to airlift 6.2 tonnes of essential medicines and hospital consumables with its C-130 transport aircraft and delivered it to the Maldives.
“They are also operating in remote areas like Ladakh.
“Tomato, onion and potato prices have been largely stable during lockdown, due to smooth supply chain.
“84.3 lakh MT grains allocated per month, for a total of 70 crore beneficiaries.
“Cooked meals served to 1.5 crore people daily by government, NGOs and the private sector (data till April 25).
“Supply of milk and LPG cylinders is up to pre-lockdown levels, very little disruption, have been able to match the target.
“E-Connect Portal is helping connect agricultural produce to traders and cold storage units/food processors,” the spokesperson said.
On a query about procurement of Rapid Diagnostic Kits allegedly at exorbitant rates, the Health Ministry spokesperson said it was done through proper tendering process, about which ICMR has released a detailed press release.
–Devesh Pandey
4.00 pm | Uttar Pradesh
U.P. to transport around 10,000 students stranded in Prayagraj to other districts, States
The Uttar Pradesh government will transport around 10,000 students stranded in Prayagraj to other districts in the State in a phase-wise manner, and if needed even to other States, said Awanish Awasthi, additional Chief Secretary, Home Department.
Around 300 buses will be utilised to transport them. Prayagraj is a major hub of coaching centres and students from across U.P., especially Purvanchal, come there for coac