Coronavirus: India Covid-19 news summary - 27 April
Coronavirus live India: latest Covid-19 news - Monday 27 April
India coronavirus update at 05:10 IST on Tuesday 28 April (01:40 CEST)
According to the latest figures published by Johns Hopkins University, 3,035,177 cases have been detected worldwide, with 210,804 deaths and 891,804 people now recovered.
In India, there have been 29,451 cases, with 939 deaths. 7,137 people have recovered from the virus.
Is India ready to come out of its lockdown?
As India approaches the end of its current period of nationwide lockdown measures, the Times of India has prepared this seven-point checklist on the country's potential readiness for such a move.
State premiers have "expressed willingness to lift Covid-19 lockdown"
Several chief ministers of Indian states have told the country's prime minister, Narendra Modi, that they are open to lifting the lockdown measures in place in since 24 March. In a video conference with Modi, only the premiers of Meghalaya and Himachal Pradesh expressed their opposition to such a plan.
India's nationwide lockdown is currently due to run until 3 May.
Coronavirus: Dr Elisa Granato, Europe's first vaccine trial volunteer
Dr Elisa Granato, Europe's first Covid-19 vaccine trial volunteer
The Italian zoologist and microbiologist received her first injection on Thursday - before having to deny rumours of her death in the days that followed.
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Coronavirus in India: how to apply online for the curfew e-pass by state during lockdown
How to apply online for the curfew e-pass by state during lockdown
Since India was placed under a three-week lockdown on 24 March, movement has been restricted but some state governments are issuing e-passes online.
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Coronavirus cases pass 3,000,000 mark
There have now been over 3,000,000 confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University. In all, just over 208,000 people have died as a result of the pandemic, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year,
Europe has suffered over 40% of all Covid-19 infections, while the United States has been the worst affected country, accounting for nearly 975,000 of the world’s cases.
Coronavirus: Can you get Covid-19 from food and food packaging?
Can you get Covid-19 from food and food packaging?
Although extreme caution is recommended when it comes to hygiene, there is a low risk of coronavirus infection from food or its packaging.
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Three employees have since been fired for their part in the report suggesting the super-rich should be taxed higher to make up for coronavirus fall-out.
A report suggesting India's super-rich should be taxed higher to help with the economic fall-out from the coronavirus has caused some controversy. The country's income tax office has said those responsible for the paper were not asked for the opinion and said they were not thinking about implementing any ideas from the report.
“In times like these, the so-called ‘super-rich’ have a higher obligation towards ensuring the larger public good,” the officers said in the paper.
INDIA SAYS VIRUS FAR FROM OVER
In India, where a strict shutdown for its 1.3 billion people is due to end on May 3, Prime Minister Narendra held talks with the chief ministers of the country's 28 states to decide on what restrictions should be kept in place.
Modi said the risk from the virus was far from over, although India had been able to save thousands of lives because of its extended lockdown, a government statement quoted him as saying.
India has reported 28,379 confirmed infections of the coronavirus, according to government data on Monday, the highest number in Asia after China. So far 886 people have died, nowhere near the levels the United States, Italy and Spain have suffered.
Health experts say India is testing far less per capita than many countries and the virus is lurking undetected. Still, a surge in hospitalisations has not happened across the country, strengthening the case for lifting some curbs.
"(The) Prime Minister said that we have to give importance to the economy as well as continue the fight against COVID -19," the government statement said.
India's economy, which was already growing at its slowest pace in years before the pandemic struck, could contract in the fiscal year that began in April, private economists say, making jobs even more scarce for its young population.
One way out of the 40-day lockdown would be to allow the least-affected parts of the country to return to activity while keeping a tight lid on hot zones which include major cities Mumbai and Delhi, officials said.
In pictures: A woman from India's Dhimal tribal community arranges red chillies, which usually are dried to be exported to Nepal, during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus, at Mallabari village, some 34 km from Siliguri on April 27, 2020. (Photo by DIPTENDU DUTTA / AFP)
A 57-year-old head constable in Mumbai has died of coronavirus on Monday after he was denied admission in four civic hospitals. This is the third coronavirus-related death among the Mumbai police force in the last 48-hours...
Tamil Nadu: 52 new coronavirus cases have been reported on Monday, bringing the total number of cases to 1,937 in the state...
In pictures: A medical worker sits inside a mobile test van for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after she collected swabs from people to test, on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, India, April 27, 2020. (Photio: REUTERS/Amit Dave)
Principal Health Secretary, Amit Mohan Prasad, has confirmed the total number of COVID-19 cases have increased to 1,955 in Uttar Pradesh, with 1,589 cases currently active. 31 patients have lost their lives due to the disease while 335 others have recovered...
Some positive news emerging as Press Trust of India reports that 85 districts in 25 states have reported no new cases of coronavirus in the last 14 days...
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has highlighted the usse of "faulty" PPEs being provided to medical colleges in Uttar Pradesh and Yogi Adityanath, calling for those behind the scam to be punished....
In pictures: British nationals queue before checking-in for a special flight to London during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus, at the Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar on April 27, 2020 (Photo by NARINDER NANU / AFP)
Chandigarh spike
'The city in last four days has witnessed spike of 12 cases taking the total count to 39, of which 17 people have been discharged.'
RBI's special liquidity
"The RBI has stated that it remains vigilant and will take whatever steps are necessary to mitigate the economic impact of Covid-19 and preserve financial stability," the central bank said.
India cases could reach 65,000 by mid-May
According to government forecasts, at the current rate of the coronavirus spread in India there could be as many as 65,000 cases by the middle of next month.
Coronavirus in India: how to apply online for the curfew e-pass by state during lockdown
Since India was placed under a three-week lockdown on 25 March, movement has been restricted but some state governments are issuing e-passes online.
Coronavirus in India: Which shops can now open as lockdown eased?
India's government announced an easing of the Covid-19 lockdown in place in the country, allowing some shops selling non-essential goods to reopen.
Modi issues plea for lockdown compliance
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Indians to comply with a nationwide lockdown and social distancing measures on Sunday, a day after some of the world's toughest restrictions were eased slightly while cases of Covid-19 continued to mount.
In a radio address, Modi said the country was in the midst of a "war" and the country's 1.3 billion citizens should not be misled into believing the spread of the virus had been brought fully under control by more than a month of lockdown.
"We should not be trapped into over-confidence and nurse the belief that coronavirus has not reached our city, our village, our streets, our office, and so will not reach them," Modi said.
India's high population density, poor sanitation infrastructure and high rates of internal migration have raised concern over the spread of the virus in a country with 26,496 cases so far of COVID-19, the disease it causes, and 824 deaths.
The authorities have set up teams to focus on compliance with lockdown measures imposed on March 25, but experts fear they have not been able to contain the spread of Covid-19.
"Physical distancing, covering the face with a cover or a mask and washing our hands again and again will be the biggest medicine to fight this disease in the days to come," Modi said.
The lockdown, in which domestic and international travel is banned and factories, schools, offices and all shops other than those supplying essential services are shut, is slated to end on May 3, but authorities may extend it.
(Reuters)
India places mass order for ventilators
According to the Times of India, the national government has placed an order for over 50,000 ventilators with 10,500 due to arrive by 30 April. India has also placed a huge order for PPE and face masks to be issued to states.
Delhi cases rise
The number of coronavirus cases in Delhi rose by 293 on Sunday, according to the Indian Express.
Hello and welcome to our live Covid-19 India blog where we plan to bring you the latest breaking news, updates and information relating to the pandemic in the country. At the time of writing over 27,000 people have been diagnosed positive with coronavirus and over 800 deaths in the nation as a result of the virus.