Coronavirus India summary: Covid-19 news, 27 May
Coronavirus live US: latest Covid-19 news -27 May
India Covid-19 update: 03:30 IST on Thursday 28 May (01:00 CEST)
According to the latest figures published by Johns Hopkins University, 5,653,821 cases have been detected worldwide, with 354,944 deaths and 2,327,388 people now recovered.
In India, there have been 158,086 cases confirmed, 4,534 people have died and 67,749 people have recovered from the virus.
Passengers riding a state bus in Siliguri maintain social distancing after the resumption of bus services following the government's easing of a nationwide lockdown imposed as a preventive measure against the coronavirus. (Photo by Diptendu DUTTA / AFP)
Gilead study shows shorter 5-day course of remdesivir works as well as 10-day one
Gilead Sciences Inc, which has suggested that a shorter treatment duration could extend limited supplies of its drug remdesivir, on Wednesday published result of a study showing no significant difference in outcomes between 5- and 10-day courses of the drug for patients with severe COVID-19.
Gilead announced "top-line" findings from the trial on April 29. The full results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
On top of the storms and the coronavirus, India is also facing its worst locust swarm in nearly 30 years.
If some of the research about coronavirus not being able to survive in the heat, this might mean a massive drop in cases in India given the extreme weather there at the moment.
Some areas have had to fight against two crises with storms hitting several areas of the country.
Villagers shift the debris of a house as a tree fell on it a house following a thunderstrom in Fulbari village on the outskirts of Siliguri on May 27, 2020. (Photo by Diptendu DUTTA / AFP)
Further tallies from regions in India. This one from Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state in the country.
An employee (R) checks the body temperature of passengers waiting to board a state bus after bus services resume after the government eased a nationwide lockdown imposed as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Siliguri on May 27, 2020. (Photo by Diptendu DUTTA / AFP)
India may need to pump $20 bln into coronavirus-hit state banks -sources
India may need to inject up to 1.5 trillion rupees ($19.81 billion) into its state-owned lenders as their pile of soured assets is expected to double during the coronavirus pandemic, three government and banking sources told Reuters.
The government initially considered a budget of around 250 billion rupees for bank recapitalisations but that has risen significantly, a senior government source with direct knowledge of the matter said, with loan defaults likely to rise as businesses take a severe hit from nationwide lockdowns to tackle the coronavirus.
"The situation is very grim," the source said, adding that banks would require fresh funds soon.
Manohar to step down as ICC chairman
International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Shashank Manohar is to step down when his term ends this year, the governing body said on Wednesday.
The ICC is set to discuss the process to elect its new chief at its board meeting on Thursday with media reports saying that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief Colin Graves is favourite to fill the post.
"No final decision was taken regarding the election process and the subject will be discussed further at the next ICC Board meeting on Thursday," the ICC said in a statement. "The existing Chair confirmed he was not seeking any extension to his term but would support the board to ensure a smooth transition."
Trump offers to mediate as India-China border dispute boils over
US President Donald Trump has offered to mediate a standoff between India and China at the Himalayan border, where soldiers camped out in a high-altitude region have accused each other of trespassing over the disputed border.
"We have informed both India and China that the United States is ready, willing and able to mediate or arbitrate their now raging border dispute," Trump said in a Twitter post.
The standoff was triggered by India’s construction of roads and air strips in the region as it competes with China's spreading Belt and Road initiative, involving infrastructure development and investment in dozens of countries, Indian observers said on Tuesday.
Both were digging defences and Chinese trucks have been moving equipment into the area, the officials said, raising concerns about an extended standoff.
More Indians repatriated
More Indian nationals are being repatriated as Phase II of the Vande Bharat Mission gets underway this week. India will be bringing home citizens from over 60 countries in the second part of the mission, which has been extended until 13 June.
Passenger on Delhi-Ludhiana flight tests positive for Covid-19
A passenger who was onboard an Alliance Air flight from New Delhi to Ludhiana has tested positive for coronavirus. As a result, 41 people - five crew members and 35 other passengers, have been placed into quarantine, The Hindu reports.
“A passenger travelling on AI9I837 Delhi-Ludhiana flight on 25 May tested positive on 26 May. All of the passengers on this flight are now under quarantine,” an Air India spokesperson confirmed.
Situation at India-China border is "stable and under control"
China has said that the border situation between the two countries is not a concern and both nations have appropriate mechanisms and communication channels in place should the situation change. The comments from a foreign ministry spokesman came in the wake of rising tensions in a stand-off between both countries military forces at the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Confirmed global deaths pass 350,000 mark
The death rate around the world from Covid-19 has passed the 350,000 landmark. The United States fatality rate is the highest in the world accounting for over 98,000 deaths followed by the United Kingdom (37,000) and Italy (32,000).
Weak demand for flights
Although India opened up its airspace for domestic travel on 25 May, airlines have reported little appetite among passengers with flights only 25-50 percent full with some as low as seven percent occupied.
Indian cities bearing the brunt of Covid-19
According to recently compiled statistics, India's cities account for 70 percent of all coronavirus cases in the country.
Workers sit on a cart in Delhi as India relaxed its lockdown restriction on May 26, 2020.
Recovery rates rising
According to the Health Ministry, the number of patients recovering from Covid-19 in India has risen to 41.61 percent.
"We have surprisingly found a low fatality rate in India"
(Reuters) India on Tuesday recorded a total of 145,380 coronavirus infections and a death toll of 4,167, comparatively low figures for the world's second-most populous country.
But separate states witnessing millions of migrant labourers returning from the big cities were recording rising infections, officials said, fearing that the pandemic could spread through villages where medical care is basic at best.
Health ministry officials said that India's death rate stood at 0.3 deaths per 100,000 people, compared to what they said was a world average of 4.4.
"We have surprisingly found a low fatality rate in India, which is very good," said Balram Bhargava, director general of the Indian Council of Medical Research, in New Delhi.
An Indian rickshaw driver smiles as he waits for passengers on a road, as the country relaxed its lockdown restriction in Delhi. With a slew of guidelines for passengers, India allowed commercial domestic flights to resume operations on May 25 for the first time since imposing a nationwide lockdown on March 25 to curb the spread of coronavirus which has claimed over 4,000 lives in India so far. (Photo by Yawar Nazir/Getty Images)
Delhi braces for locust swarm
India is currently experiencing the worst plague of locusts in the country since 1993. The swarm has destroyed some 50,000 hectares of crops in Rajasthan and is now headed towards Delhi, local media reported.
India to continue hydroxychloriquine treatment
Despite The World Health Organisation suspending testing of hydroxychloroquine, The Indian Council of Medical Research said the controversial malaria drug had caused no side effects in patients and should be used as a preventive treatment for Covid-19.
Hello and welcome
Hello and welcome to our coverage of the latest Covid-19 news from around India as it happens on Wednesday 27 May.
We'll endeavour to keep you abreast of the latest news and statistics as they emerge throughout the day as India gradually eases lockdown restrictions and people are able to move more freely around the country.