COVID-19: PM Narendra Modi welcomes announcement of CDS, says India applauds frontline warriors

Our Armed Forces have always kept the nation safe. Even in times of disasters, they are out there helping people. Now, our Forces are, in a unique way, saying a big thank you to our frontline COVID-19 warriors for their endeavour towards making India COVID-19 free. I welcome the announcements by the Chief of Defence Staff today. India has waged a strong fight against COVID-19 due to courageous frontline warriors who have cared and cured many. They are spectacular. India applauds them and their families: PM Narendra Modi

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Friday announced that the Delhi metro services will remain closed for the commuters till May 17 in light of the extension of coronavirus COVID-19 lockdown issued by the Centre. In order to prevent the spread of coronavirus, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced the extension of the nationwide lockdown by another two weeks.

Public Service Announcement

In light of the extension of lockdown issued by the government, Metro services will remain closed for commuters till 17th May. Our helpline services 155370 shall also not be available. You may reach us at helpline@dmrc.org.

— Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (@OfficialDMRC) May 1, 2020

Positive cases in Delhi rise to 3,738, with new 223 cases in the last 24 hours. Recovery numbers mount up to 1,167. Total of 73 recovered cases in the last 24 hours. Death toll rises to 61, with two new deaths recorded in the last 24 hours.

Total 113 coronavirus cases in  Jharkhand out of which 21 have recovered. The active cases in the state is 89 whereas three have died due to the infection. 

Ranchi: 83 (10 cured)
Bokaro: 10 (6 cured)
Hazaribagh: 3 (2 cured)
Dhanbad: 2 (2 cured)
Giridih: 1
Simdega: 2 (1 cured)
Kodrama: 1
Devghar: 2
Palamu: 3
Garhwa: 3
Godda: 1
Jamtara: 2

10 booked for offering prayer inside mosque in Karnataka's Kolar town.

MHA guidelines for lockdown 3:0: 

Sale of liquor, paan, tobacco to be allowed after ensuring minimum six-feet social distancing; not over 5 persons at one time at shop.
Consumption of liquor, paan, gutka, tobacco etc. Is not allowed in public places during lockdown.
Maximum of 2 persons, besides driver, in four wheelers, no pillion rider on two wheelers.
In COVID-19 red zones movement of individuals, vehicles allowed only for permitted activities during lockdown.
In COVID-19 red zones and outside containment areas plying of cycle-rickshaws, auto-rickshaws, taxis, opening of salons prohibited, says MHA.
OPDs, medical clinics shall be permitted to operate in red, orange and green zones with social distancing norms during lockdown.
In all COVID-19 zones, people above 65, those with comorbidities, pregnant women to stay at home, except for essential works.

AAP MLA from Karol Bagh Vishesh Ravi and his brother have tested positive for coronavairus. The AAP leade had undergone a test on Wednesday and his results came positive on May 1.

Liquor stores, paan shops to be allowed to function in Green zones while ensuring minimum six feet distance from each other and ensuring that not more 5 persons are present at one time at the shop: MHA on the extension of lockdown for two weeks from May 4.

54-year-old cancer-patient, hailing from Bihar's Motihari, dies due to coronavirus at Patna's NMCH. This is the third death in the state due to coronavirus.

Guidelines of MHA for lockdown 3.0: 

Travel by air, rail, metro & inter-state movement by road and schools, colleges to remain shut during the extended lockdown
Educational, training, coaching institutions and hospitality services including hotels and restaurants to remain close during the lockdown.
Places of large gatherings such as cinema halls, malls, gyms and places of political, cultural gatherings to remain shut.
Religious places and places of worship will remain shut during the lockdown.
Movement of people by air, rail and road will be allowed for select purposes, and for purposes as permitted by MHA during lockdown: Govt.
Movement of individuals for all non-essential activities shall remain strictly prohibited between 7 pm and 7 am during lockdown.
In all COVID-19 zones, people above 65, those with comorbidities, pregnant women to stay at home, except for essential works.
OPDs, medical clinics shall be permitted to operate in red, orange and green zones with social distancing norms during lockdown.

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and three service chiefs address press conference.

CDS Gen Rawat stated:

Our nation stood together and showed resilience in dealing with coronavirus pandemic. 
We are expressing our gratitude to all "corona warriors" who are working hard to keep us safe.
IAF to conduct flypast from Srinagar to Thiruvananthapuram, from Dibrugarh to Kutch on May 3.
Indian Air Force to carry out flypast across the country on May 3 to display gratitude to corona warriors.
Fixed-wing and fighter aircraft of IAF to participate in flypast on May 3 evening.
Navy helicopters to shower flower petals on hospitals treating COVID-19 patients.
Armed forces are solidly behind those fighting coronavirus pandemic.
Naval ships will conduct special drill and illuminate vessels to convey gratitude to corona warriors.
The army will conduct mountain band displays along with some COVID-19 hospitals in almost every district.
No operational task has been affected or will be affected due to COVID-19.
It is not proper to conclude that coronavirus is a result of biological warfare.

Breaking: The Ministry of Home Affairs extended the lockdown further for a period of two weeks with effect from May 4, 2020.

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and three service chiefs address press conference.

CDS Gen Rawat stated:

Our nation stood together and showed resilience in dealing with coronavirus pandemic. 
We are expressing our gratitude to all "corona warriors" who are working hard to keep us safe.
IAF to conduct flypast from Srinagar to Thiruvananthapuram, from Dibrugarh to Kutch on May 3.
Indian Air Force to carry out flypast across the country on May 3 to display gratitude to corona warriors.
Fixed-wing and fighter aircraft of IAF to participate in flypast on May 3 evening.

India records 35,365 COVID-19 cases, of which 25,148 are active cases whereas 9064 have  been cured or discharged. At least 1,152 have died in the country due to coronavirus.

Karnataka: Total 589 positive cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the state, including 22 deaths and 251 recovery. In the last 24 hours, 24 new cases emerged in the state.

Total number of COVID-19 positive cases in India rises to 35,365 including 9,064 cured or discharged and 1,152 deaths: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Ahead of the end of the extended lockdown, the Union Health Ministry has listed 130 districts in the country in red zone, 284 in orange zone and 319 in green zone on the basis of incidence of cases of Covid-19, doubling rate, extent of testing and surveillance feedback.

At least 17 patients test positive of coronavirus in Noida-Greater Noida.

Five Jawans of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) have tested positive for COVID-19 in Delhi in the last 48 hours.

Shramik Special to facilitate return of migrant workers, says Railway ministry

The following trains have been designated to ferry migrants:

1. Lingampally to Hatia
2. Aluva to Bhubaneswar
3. Nasik to Lucknow
4. Nasik to Bhopal
5. Jaipur to Patna
6. Kota to Hatia

These are the trains planned. Actual running time may vary as per the planning of the state government.
 

Seven new cases of coronavirus emerge from Mumbai's Kalyan Dombivali metropolitan area, taking the tally to 169 in the area. So far, 51 people have been cured of the infection in Kalyan Dombivali area.

Nine buses carrying 176 students who were stranded in Rajasthan's Kota reaches Nagpur in Maharashtra.

RIMS-Ranchi sealed for 3 days after lab technician test positive:

Microbiology Department of Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Ranchi sealed for 3 days after a lab technician tested coronavirus positive on April 30. RIMS will not conduct COVID tests during this period. Samples already collected will be sent to other lab: Dr DK Singh, RIMS Director

Government briefing on coronavirus begins: 

About 19,398 ventilators available in India, orders placed for 60,884 more of which 59,884 will be made by domestic manufacturers.
Centre says they have ordered 2.22 crore PPE to meet the projected demand of 2.01 crore PPE.
Of total 2.49 crore, N-95/N-99 masks ordered, 1.49 crore masks ordered from domestic manufacturers.
Over 4 lakh oxygen cylinders available; sufficient for now.
Orders for over 1 lakh oxygen cylinders placed; industrial oxygen being converted into medical oxygen.

Auto major Mahindra reports zero sales in domestic market in April.
 

Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser tests positive for coronavirus infection.

Experts say there has been a 'significant' increase in cybercrime against women during lockdown.

Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Bhagel writes to PM seeking relaxation in borrowing limit for state.
 

Three Delhi police constables were suspended for lying about coming in contact with COVID-19 positive colleague.
 

WHO should be ashamed for acting PR agency for China, says Trump

US President Donald Trump has said the World Health Organisation should be ashamed of itself, as he likened it to a public relations agency for China amidst the coronavirus pandemic after it originated in Wuhan.

An eight-year-old boy, admitted to the Institute of Child Health (ICH) in Kolkata with respiratory distress, and a nurse at the facility have tested positive for COVID-19.

Delhi-Gurugram border completely sealed: 

Taking extra precautions over COVID-19, the Gurugram administration completely sealed the border with Delhi on Friday morning. Due to this, chaos prevailed at Sirhaul, Dundahera and Nathupur borders. Some of the residents of Gurugram who are trapped in Delhi after the lockdown desperately wanted to return Gurugram. Many of them literally pleaded with the cops but they were refused by Gurugram Police.

About 19,398 ventilators are available in India, orders placed for 60,884 more of which 59,884 will be made by domestic manufacturers: Centre

Union Health Ministry addresses daily pressing on coronavirus, says 8,888 COVID-19 patients, which is 25.37 per cent of total cases, have recovered so far. 

All wildlife sanctuaries, national parks including Dhachigam park in Jammu and Kashmir closed for public.

Ministry of Home Affairs approves transportation of migrants labourers via rail; asks Railway Ministry and state governments to coordinate and facilitate the return of labourers.

Pune's death toll due to coronavirus reaches 99 with six fresh casualties reported on May 1. Total 1,728 people infected with coronavirus in the district.

1,993 new cases of COVID-19 reported in last 24 hours in country; total number of cases rise to 35,043: Union health ministry.

Five more policemen including 16 test coronavirus positive in Maharashtra's Malegaon. Total 274 people infected with coronavirus including 47 policemen in the area.

Delhi High Court not to use air conditioners: The Delhi High Court has decided not to use air conditioning in its buildings considering the doubt of spread of Coronavirus through centralized air conditioning system. This has been decided while the court was hearing a plea by advocate KC mittal. Court premises will instead use fans and proper ventilators directs Delhi High Court. The special committee of judges that was evaluating the risk of centralized air conditioning said that it would further look for a permanent solution and disposed of the petition with these directions. 

Delhi: Driver of Central Delhi DM Nidhi Srivastav tests COVID-19 positive. DM sent to quarantine.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on COVID-19 situation: If areas in Mumbai and nearby districts continue to report COVID-19 cases then lockdown relaxation will not be allowed in those areas after May 3. All the precautions will be taken to protect the state. We'll slowly start lifting restrictions in the green zones.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on COVID-19 situation: Out of total positive cases 75-80% are mild or very mild cases. We have done nearly two lakh testing till date.

Uddhav Thackrey on COVID-19 situation in Maharashtra: Lockdown means speed breaker or circuit breaker. If this would have not been done then figures would have gone very high. We are taking care of all policemen who have been tested positives.

Migrant worker death: A 28 -year-old migrant worker died who was returning his native place from Bangalore during the lockdown died after walking almost 150 km. He belonged to Mittapalle village located in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh.

Shifting of migrants: First train carrying migrants from Lingampally in Telangana to Hatia in Jharkhand started at 5 am today. The train will reach Hatia station in Ranchi at around 11 pm on May 1.

Delhi: The Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government is sending 40 buses on Friday (May 1) to Kota in Rajasthan to bring back its students. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today shared the news on Twitter, writing, "Delhi govt is making arrangements to soon bring Delhi students back home from Kota." He also stated that students returning from Kota will have to go into self-quarantine for 14 days. (Read more)

98 devotees who returned from Hazur Sahib in Nanded to Amritsar test COVID-19 positive. (Read here)

Karnataka: 11 new positive cases reported in the state from 5 pm on April 30 to May 1 noon. Total tally at 576 which includes 22 deaths and 235 cured cases.

Maharashtra: 583 new cases reported taking the tally to 10,498 in the state which is the highest in India. 27 new death cases were also reported from the state, the mortality rate stands at 4.37 percent.

Andhra Pradesh: 60 new COVID-19 cases reported in the state, tally rises to 1463 and death toll at 33.

Uttar Pradesh: CM Yogi Adityanath said, ''Any worker or labourer of UP who is stranded in another state due to lockdown, can use his/her ration card number&avail its benefits there. Those who do not have a ration card, then under State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), food packets are being provided.''

Uttar Pradesh: BJP councilor Asha Bhati from Vasundhara Ward 74 in Ghaziabad has been found to be corona positive. Councilor Asha Bhati's corona test report came on Friday morning, after which the news was confirmed. 

Rajasthan: 3 deaths and 33 new COVID-19 positive cases reported in the state as the total number of cases rise to 2617.

3 deaths and 33 new #COVID19 positive cases reported in Rajasthan today, taking the total number of cases to 2617 including 61 deaths: State Health Department pic.twitter.com/NoughIQxfF

— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2020

Delhi police place effigies spreading the message to stay at home to avoid the threat of coronavirus.

India COVID-19 data: Total number of cases rise to 35,043 which includes 25007 active cases, 8888 cured/discharged cases, 1 migrant patient, and 1147 deaths as per Ministry of Health data. 1993 new cases and 73 deaths reported in the last 24 hours.

Uttar Pradesh: Ghaziabad comes under orange zone as the number of cases reduce after following strict regulations.

According to the MoHFW, District Ghaziabad is declared in the Orange Zone. With the commitment to fight COVID-19 and strict adherence to all the existing Protocols, Ghaziabad is determined to move in the green zone very soon.#Covid_19 #Lockdown2 #GoCoronaGo

— DM Ghaziabad (@dm_ghaziabad) April 30, 2020

Karnataka: State government has assigned State Nodal Officers after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) order regarding the inter-state movement of stranded migrant workers, tourists, pilgrims and students during the lockdown period. The Nodal officers have also been appointed for coordination with 11 different states. (ANI input)

Rajasthan: Congress MLA from Sangaod, Bharat Singh Kundanpur writes to Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot for opening liquor shops in the state.

Bharat Singh Kundanpur, Congress MLA from Sangod has written to Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot for opening liquor shops in the state. The letter reads, "When #coronavirus can be removed by washing hands with alcohol, then drinking alcohol will surely remove virus from the throat". pic.twitter.com/ToVPomDI1Z

— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2020

COVID-19 Global data: The total number of COVID-19 cases stands at 3,252,181 and the death toll stands at 233,257.

West Bengal: 40 senior police officers in West Bengal transferred from their respective postings. 

40 senior police officers in West Bengal transferred from their respective postings. pic.twitter.com/tsDMS2rz7u

— ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2020

Delhi: Delhi government to screen all people living in COVID-19 containment zones. Coronavirus cases in Delhi rise to 3515 including three deaths reported on Thursday. (PTI report)