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Covid-19 cases rise to 46,433 in India; death toll at 1,563

New Delhi (NVI): The death toll due to coronavirus in India rose to 1,563 while the total number of positive increased to 46,433, the Union Health Ministry confirmed.

In the last 24 hours, 3,900 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in the country, making it the highest single day rise, it said.

At least 195 more people scummed to the pandemic in a day.

Maharashtra remain worst affected state hit by COVID-19 with 14,541 cases. Gujarat comes next with 5,804 cases, followed by Delhi that has reported 4,898 infections.

Other states with a high virus hit included Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, as per Health ministry data.

In terms of total deaths, the state of Maharashtra tops the tally with 580 fatalities, the epicenter of coronavirus spread.

More than 70 per cent of the deaths are caused due to co-morbidity, ministry added.

Meanwhile, restrictions have been eased in non-hotspot areas.

At least 12,726 people have been discharged or cured.

190 new cases in Afghanistan take Covid-19 tally to 2,894

(Pic Courtesy: TOLO news)

New Delhi (NVI): Coronavirus cases in Afghanistan inch towards 3000-mark as at least 190 new coronavirus cases have been reported in the country in the past 24 hours, taking the overall COVID-19 tally to 2,894, according to Afghan media reports.

The 190 new coronavirus case were reported in Paktia (41), Herat (30), Kandahar (25), Kabul (24), Balkh (17), Nangarhar (13), Laghman (11), Farah (9), Sar-e-Pul (6), Kunar (5), Zabul (3), Paktika (2), Khost (1), Uruzgan (1), Helmand (1) and Nimruz (1), according to TOLO news.

In the past 24 hours, 190 positive cases have been recorded across the country, and the country total is 2,894, Deputy Public Health Minister Wahid Majroh was quoted as saying by the news website.

Majroh said that in the past 24 hours there have been five deaths– 1 each in Herat, Kabul and Wardak, and two in Paktia– and the threat of the coronavirus is currently at its “highest level.”

At least, 397 people have been cured or discharged while 90 have died across the country.

UPSC defers Civil Services prelims

New Delhi (NVI): The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) today announced that the Civil Services Examination (CSE) which was scheduled to be held on May 31, has been postponed due to coronavirus lockdown.

The decision was taken during a meeting held by the commission to review the situation after the second-phase of the nationwide lockdown due to COVID-19. Taking notice of the extension of restrictions, the Commission decided that it will not be possible to resume examinations and interviews for the present, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions said in an official statement.

The situation will be reviewed again on May 20, and fresh dates for these examinations shall be notified on the UPSC website, it said.

The Commission has already deferred the following: (a) Personality test for remaining candidates for the Civil Services Examination, 2019; (b) Notification for the Indian Economic Service/Indian Statistical Service Examination, 2020; (c) Notification for the Combined Medical Services Examination, 2020; (d) Notification for the Central Armed Police Forces Examination, 2020 and (e) the NDA & Naval Academy Examination, 2020, an official statement read.

As and when dates are decided for the deferred tests/examinations, it will be ensured that candidates are given a notice of at least 30 days, it added.

Nearly 10 lakh people register for Civil Services exam every year.

25 more test positive in J&K, Covid tally climbs to 726

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): In yet another spike in the number of Covid-19 positive cases in Jammu and Kashmir, 25 more people were tested positive for coronavirus today, taking the overall tally in the Union Territory to 726.

Officials said that 20 cases were confirmed at Viral Diagnostic Lab at SKIMS, four others at Covid-19 testing lab at Chest Disease Hospital, Dalgate, Srinagar and one in Jammu.

They said that among the 24 new cases from Kashmir division, twelve are from Baramulla, four from Budgam and two from Srinagar, Shopian, Bandipora, and one each from Pulwama and Poonch district.

As per official figures, 130 positive cases including one death and 61 recoveries are from Bandipora, 109 positive cases including one death and one recovery from Anantnag, 109 including two deaths and 75 recoveries from Srinagar, 103 including 39 recoveries and 3 deaths from Baramulla, 83 including 19 recoveries from Shopian, 66 including 23 recoveries from Kupwara, 30 including 12 recoveries from Budgam, 14 – all recovered from Ganderbal, 11 including 3 recoveries from Kulgam and 09 including 03 recoveries from Pulwama.

In Jammu division, 27 including 26 recoveries are from Jammu district, 20 including one death and 19 recoveries from Udhampur, 7 with four recoveries from Samba and 4 including three recoveries from Rajouri, one from Kishtiwar who has also recovered and one active case- each from Ramban, Kuthua and Reasi.

As per the daily information bulletin, 77,656 persons in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while as 11,850 persons have been kept under home quarantine. Besides, 415 persons are in hospital isolation while 182 persons are under hospital quarantine.

According to the bulletin, 57,969 persons have completed the surveillance period and 7,232 persons are under home surveillance.

Besides that, results of 28,199 samples are available so far, of which 27,473 samples have tested negative while 726 have been tested positive.

Among 726 total positive cases recorded so far, 415 are active, 303 have recovered and 8 have died.

Fact check: Centre not providing Rs 3,500 as unemployment allowance

New Delhi (NVI): There is no scheme by the Centre under the name of ‘Pradhan Mantri Berozgaar Berojgaar Bhatta Yojana’ in which it is providing an unemployment allowance of Rs 3,500 per month, the Fact Check Unit of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) clarified today.

PIB, through its special Fact Check Twitter handle informed that no such scheme is being run by the Centre. Any such claim on social media or Whatsapp is fake, it said.

“Claim: A Whatsapp message is claiming that the Indian government is providing Rs 3,500 to all unemployed under ‘Pradhanmantri Berozgaar Bhatta Yojana’.

“#PIBFactCheck: The claim and the blog link provided in the message is fake. The Central government does not have any such scheme,” it tweeted.


The fake message was doing rounds on social media, especially Whatsapp.

Record 1,074 patients cured in 24 hrs, total 11,706 so far: Health Min

Health Ministry Joint secretary Lav Agarwal at press briefing today. (PIB)

New Delhi (NVI): A total of 11,706 Covid-19 patients have been cured in the country so far, with a record 1,074 recoveries in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry said today.

“So far, a total of 11,706 people have been cured. This takes our total recovery rate to 27.52%. The total number of confirmed cases is now 42,533. Since yesterday, an increase of 2,553 has been noted in the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in India,” said Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry.

During the daily press briefing, Agarwal said that 29,453 cases are under active medical supervision currently.

The Joint Secretary added: “As of now we have 426 COVID19 testing labs in the Country. We are ensuring gradual increase in the number of labs as per need and there is no shortage of testing kits. As per sampling criteria, the testing numbers are increasing.”

According to the Ministry, outcome ratio (Recovered vs. Death) for all closed cases, which indicates the clinical management status in the hospitals was analysed since 17th April, and it is observed that there is an improvement in the country compared to that prior to 17th April 2020 (Outcome ratio was 80:20) while as of today it is 90:10.

Earlier today, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan reviewed preparedness and containment measures taken for the management of COVID-19 in Madhya Pradesh through Video Conferencing. Narottam Mishra, Health Minister of Madhya Pradesh and Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State of Health and Family Welfare along with senior officials from both Centre and State also participated.

Various issues regarding contact tracing, surveillance, strengthening house-to-house active case finding, awareness generation among the people regarding seeking treatment for non-COVID disease management, etc., were deliberated and discussed, the Health Ministry said in a statement.

Indians stranded abroad to be brought back from May 7: Centre

(File/Representational Image)

New Delhi (NVI): The Ministry of Home Affairs today said that the Indian government will facilitate the return of Indian nationals stranded abroad amid the coronavirus pandemic, in a phased manner from May 7.

“Government of India will be facilitating the return of Indian nationals stranded abroad on compelling grounds in a phased manner,” the MHA said in a statement while adding that the travel would be arranged by aircraft and naval ships.

The Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) has been prepared in this regard, it said.

The Home Ministry said that Indian Embassies and High Commissions are preparing a list of distressed Indian citizens. “This facility would be made available on payment-basis. Non-scheduled commercial flights would be arranged for air travel. The travel would begin in a phased manner from May 7,” the MHA statement read.

Proper safety measures will be in place and medical screening of passengers would be done before taking the flight. Only asymptomatic passengers would be allowed to travel, the ministry said. During the journey, all these passengers would have to follow the protocols, such as the Health Protocols, issued by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, it said.

MHA further stated that on reaching the destination, everyone would have to register on the Arogya Setu app. The app was

launched by Centre on April 1 to track down the increasing coronavirus cases across the country.

Everyone would be medically screened and after scrutiny, they would be quarantined for 14 days, either in a hospital or in an institutional quarantine on payment-basis, by the concerned State government, the ministry added. After 14 days of essential quarantine, COVID test would be done and further action would be taken according to health protocols, it said.

In this regard, State governments are being advised to make arrangements, including for testing, quarantine and onward movement of the returning Indians, the ministry informed.

3 CRPF personnel killed in shootout at Kashmir’s Kupwara, minor boy also dead

File Photo

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): At least three CRPF personnel were killed and one was critically injured after a patrolling party was attacked by terrorists at Kralgund area of Handwara in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, the force officials said today.

A 14-year-old handicapped boy was also killed as he was caught in the crossfire, a police official said. Earlier, CRPF spokesperson had said that a militant was killed at the spot.

“One unidentified militant has been killed. Three CRPF men have been injured in the attack. It was an attack on CRPF party that was responded effectively,” CRPF spokesperson in Srinagar, Pankaj Singh told NVI, adding that a CRPF jawan, who also got hit in the gunbattle, is critical.

He said security forces have cordoned off the area and a search for other attackers was launched.

The attack comes a day after an Army Colonel, a Major, two soldiers and a J&K police sub-inspector lost their lives in an encounter at Chanjimulla area of Handwara. Two militants were also killed in the overnight gunfight, including a top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander from Pakistan.

Pakistan violates ceasefire along LoC in J&K’s Rajouri

Ceasefire
Representational image

Jammu (NVI): Pakistani troops initiated an unprovoked ceasefire violation along Line of Control (LoC) in Nowshera and Sunderbani sectors in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district today, defence officials said.

“…At about 1600 hours, Pak initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with Small Arms & shelling with Mortars along LoC in Nowshera Sector, District Rajouri(J&K),” they said, adding that Indian Army is retaliating.

Later, the Pakistani Army also violated ceasefire in Sunderbani sector at around 1630 hours, they added.

In another news, three CRPF personnel were killed and one was critically injured after a patrolling party was attacked by terrorists at Kralgund area of Handwara in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

(More details awaited)

Covid-19 deaths reach 471 in Pakistan; cases top 20,000

New Delhi (NVI): Pakistan is witnessing a rapid increase in the positive cases of coronavirus with more than a 1,500 cases being reported in the last 24 hours, taking the total cases to 20,725 with at least 471 fatalities being recorded so far.

Looking at the breakdown of cases, Sindh province has reported 7,882 coronavirus cases, highest among all the provinces, while Punjab has 7,646 positive cases.

On the other hand, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has recorded 3,129 cases, Balochistan is at 1,218, Gilgit-Baltistan at 364, Islamabad at 415 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is at 71 cases so far, according to Geo News.

In addition to this, Pakistan had reported 400 recoveries in the last 24 hours taking the number of recovered patients to 4,715 in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Sindh province has banned all religious gatherings during the holy month of Ramzan in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus.

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