(Contains Press releases concerning Covid-19, issued in last 24 hours, inputs from PIB Field Offices and Fact checks undertaken by PIB)

Updates on COVID-19 from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

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

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Central teams being deployed to districts with highest number of COVID19 cases

As many as twenty (20) Central Public Health Teams from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare have been formed and are being sent to the 20 districts that are reporting the maximum number of COVID-19 cases in the country.

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Government of India to facilitate return of Indian Nationals stranded abroad

Government of India will be facilitating the return of Indian nationals stranded abroad on compelling grounds in a phased manner. The travel would be arranged by aircraft and naval ships. The SOP has been prepared in this regard.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.Medical screening of passengers would be done before taking the flight. Only asymptomatic passengers would be allowed to travel..

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Blood donation saves lives, let's raise awareness for blood donation & ensure that the needy have timely & affordable access to safe and quality blood: Dr Harsh Vardhan

While talking about the present situation in the country the Union Minister added “During the difficult times of COVID-19 we are able to manage the critical supply of blood to the needy patients. He said he called the meeting of Red Cross officials to mobilise voluntary blood donation and helped them by arranging 30,000 passes for Red Cross Society workers and their vehicles engaged in promoting voluntary blood donation.”

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Dr. Harsh Vardhan reviews preparedness and containment measures taken for the management of COVID-19 in Madhya Pradesh through Video Conferencing

Expressing the concern of high fatality rate due to COVID-19, Dr. Harsh Vardhan stated, “It is painful to know that in few districts the fatality rate is higher than the national average”. He exhorted that State also needs to focus on the non-affected districts by conducting search, surveillance and testing of SARI / Influenza Like Illness cases, as this may avoid the further spreading of cases in other areas.He advised that State needs to ensure that non-COVID-19 services are not hampered due to emphasis on COVID-19 management.

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India Salutes Corona Warriors Indian Navy Salutes the Corona Warriors on Land, Air and High Seas

Indian Navy joined the entire nation to express gratitude and salute the Corona Warriors on Sunday. Expressing gratitude and appreciation of the entire nation - while representing the Indian Armed Forces - towards the determination and committed efforts of our Corona Warriors - the medical professionals, health workers, policemen, government staff and media, for their relentless efforts against Covid-19 on 03 May 20 through a number of activities on ground, in air and on water.

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Raksha Mantri lauds Armed Forces for ‘Armed Forces Salutes Corona Warriors’ gestures

ShriRajnath Singh has appreciated efforts of the Armed Forces for carrying out hundreds of activities at various locations across the country on ground, in water and air to Salute the Corona warriors who have been steadfastly fighting to stop the spread of the virus. Armed Forces paid rich tributes to India’s Corona Warriors on Sunday in a unique military way. From Srinagar to Thiruvananthapuram and Dibrugarh to Kachchh, the Army carried out various activities like laying wreath at the Police Memorials, honouring and felicitating health professions and emergency supply operatives. Visits to hospitals were carried out over hundreds of towns in all states from the local Army formations all over the Nation in small and big numbers by Army teams along with military bands which played patriotic tunes as a tribute to the Nation’s frontline warriors against Corona.

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Firms Selling Fake PPE Kits Using Brand Name “Khadi”; KVIC Mulls Legal Action

It has come to the notice of Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) that certain unscrupulous business firms are manufacturing and selling personal protective equipment (PPE) kits, fraudulently using its registered trademark logo of ‘Khadi India’. The KVIC clarifies that it has, so far, not launched any PPE kit in the market. It must be clarified that KVIC specifically uses double-twisted hand-spun, hand-woven Khadi fabric for its products and hence, the kits made of non-woven material like polyester and polypropylene are neither Khadi products nor KVIC approved products.

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Empowered Group 6 Engages CSOs/NGOs/Industry/Intl Organisations in India’s fight against COVID-19

As the country faces an unprecedented challenge with the Covid-19 global pandemic affecting our nation, the Empowered Group 6 (EG 6) constituted by Government of India and chaired by CEO, NITI Aayog is playing a key role in galvanizing Civil Society Organisations, NGOs and development partners, Industry partners, and International Organisations to create synergies with the Government of India.

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DRDO develops UV Disinfection Tower

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed an Ultra Violet (UV) Disinfection Tower for rapid and chemical free disinfection of high infection prone areas. The equipment named UV blaster is a UV based area sanitiser designed and developed by Laser Science & Technology Centre (LASTEC), the Delhi based premier laboratory of DRDO

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ShriNarendra Singh Tomar launches “The Saras Collection” on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal

Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj and Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, ShriNarendra Singh Tomar, launched “The Saras Collection” on the Government e Marketplace (GeM) portaltoday. A unique initiative of GeM and the DeenDayalAntyodayaYojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), Ministry of Rural Development, the Saras Collection showcases daily utility products made by rural self-help groups (SHGs) and aims to provide SHGs in rural areas with market access to Central and State Government buyers.

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Government takes up immediate measures for livelihood and security of tribal gatherers and artisans in the backdrop of situation arising out of COVID-19

In light of the unprecedented hardship faced by the tribal artisans, Government is taking several immediate initiatives to provide support to the tribal gatherers and tribal artisans.

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Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2020, scheduled on 31st May deferred

Taking notice of the extension of restrictions, the UPSC has decided that it will not be possible to resume examinations and interviews for the present. The Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2020, scheduled to be held on May 31, 2020 therefore stands deferred.

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PM Jan Aushadi Kendras are playing a vital role in COVID-19 Situation :MansukhMandaviya

ShriMansukhMandaviya, Minister of State (IC) for Chemicals & Fertilizers has said that Jan Aushadi Kendras are playing a vital role in COVID-19 situation as around 10 lakh persons per day are visiting 6000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras to source quality medicines at affordable prices. These Kendras are also selling Hydroxychloroquinine.

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Dr Harsh Vardhan connects with Department of Science & Technology on COVID-19 preparations

Union Minister of Science & Technology, Health & Family Welfare and Earth Sciences, Dr. Harsh Vardhan interacted with Heads of all Autonomous Institutions and Subordinate offices of Department of Science & Technology on the occasion of 50th DST Foundation Day about their S&T initiatives, particularly in relation to their endeavours for combating the COVID-19 outbreak. The Minister also launched “COVID KATHA”, a multimedia guide on COVID-19 on the occasion.

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Cotton procurement through MSP operations continuing at 34 centres in Maharashtra; Total 36,500 quintals of Kapas equivalent to 6900 bales procured during lockdown period

Around 77.40 % of total Kapas produced in Maharashtra had already arrived in the markets and been sold till 25th March, 2020; Cotton Corporation of India procured. 91.90 lakh quintals of Kapas equivalent to 18.66 lakh bales of cotton valuing Rs.4995 crores from cotton farmers. Steps have been taken to clear the outstanding payment to the farmers for the procured Kapas. Out of total procurement value, a sum of Rs.4987 crores has already reached the farmers’

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Local administrations in all parts of the country continue taking initiatives to help the public during the situation arising from COVID-19

Various initiatives include setting up control rooms for helping stranded people, tracing travel routes and contact persons of those in quarantine and those who crossed borders including lorry drivers, mitigating doubts; prescribing procedures for handling, treatment and disposal of bio-medical waste; and making arrangements for purchasing and selling of farm produce

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Extension of the last date of Invitation of Nominations for Sardar Patel National Unity Award till 30th June, 2020

Government of India has instituted Sardar Patel National Unity Award as the highest civilian award in the name of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, for contribution in promoting unity and integrity of India.The award seeks to recognize the notable and inspiring contribution made by individuals or institutions or organizations in this field and reinforces the value of strong and united India.

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Ministry of Tourism holds its 14th webinar ‘Bengal by the Himalayas’ on the rich heritage of Darjeeling under DekhoApnaDesh Webinar Series

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National Gallery of Modern Art presents the virtual program "NGMA KE SANGRAH SE" to showcase the rarely seen and unseen artworks from its repositoryduring lockdown

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INPUTS FROM PIB FIELD OFFICES

• Kerala: State issues new guidelines for extended lockdown. CM urges PM to allot special trains to bring back Keralites from other parts of the country. Permission given to 30,000 Malayalees to return from other states through e-pass system. 5 special trains for migrant workers to Patna cancelled as Bihar denied permission. West Bengal grants permission for 2 trains from Kerala. Total confirmed cases till yesterday: 499, Active cases: 95.
• Tamil Nadu: State to hike petrol and diesel prices by Rs 3.25 and Rs 2.50 per litre respectively. Chennai hospitals shifts stable Covid19 patients to quarantine centres as cases spiral. 114 Covid19 cases from Koyambedu cluster in Cuddalore, 39 in Villupuram. Total cases till yesterday: 3023, Active cases: 1611, Deaths: 30, Discharged: 1379. Highest number of cases reported from Chennai 1458.
• Karnataka: State extends free bus service for migrant workers for two more days. 28 new cases confirmed today: Davangere 21, two each in Kalburgi&Mandya and one each in Chikkaballapur, Haveri&Vijayapura. Today one death (56/M) reported in Kalburgi. Total cases till now: 642, Deaths: 26, Discharged: 304.
• Andhra Pradesh: State decides to convert the 108 ambulances to Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances for emergency situations. State releases Rs 3.84 crore to provide special kits to 19,584 sanitation workers rendering services in villages. 67 new Covid cases, 36 discharged and no deaths reported in the last 24 hours. Total cases rise to 1650. Active Cases: 1062, Recovered: 524, Deaths: 33. Districts leading in +ve cases: Kurnool (491), Guntur (338), Krishna (278).
• Telangana: State cabinet to discuss tomorrow, issues related to easing of norms for some sectors as part of the Covid-19 lockdown exit plan. Stranded migrant workers hit Hyderabad streets, demanding to be sent back home. Two booked for fake news relating to the protest by migrant workers at Tolichowki yesterday in an attempt to trigger communal unrest. Total Covid cases till now 1082, Active cases: 508, Recovered: 545, Deaths: 29.
• Chandigarh: The designated containment area in the UT Chandigarh will be completely sealed with strict perimeter control and clear entry and exit points. Only movement of persons for maintaining supply of fruits and vegetables and for medical emergencies shall be allowed. There will be no unchecked influx of people and transport. There will be recording of details of people moving in and out of perimeter of containment area. There will be intensive screening of all residents within the containment area and testing of all suspected cases, as per protocol. No shops, offices, trade factories, dispensaries will be allowed to function within the containment area.
• Punjab: The Punjab Government completed a milestone in its fight against Covid, with the total number of RT-PCR tests crossing the 20,000 mark. The State has made use of innovative testing techniques such as use of mobile Sample collecting Kiosks, Pool testing etc. Pool testing has been started in the state to enhance the testing capacity. 5788 pooled samples have been tested as on 30th April, 2020. Punjab has taken the lead in registering the migrants residing within the State. A special online portal had been designed for this purpose. The State has successfully registered more than 6.44 Lakh migrants who are interested in returning to their home States.
• Haryana: Haryana Government is committed to ensure that all agricultural labourers and migrant labourers of other States of India who are stranded in Haryana reach their homes in a safe and systematic manner at the earliest. It has been decided that agricultural labourers of border states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh will be sent to their homes in buses and those of Bihar, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh will be sent by special Shramik Trains from different stations in Haryana. Return of migrant labourers of the remaining states, being relatively lesser in numbers, shall be ensured through special trains from New Delhi.
• Himachal Pradesh: Chief Minister has said due to the collective efforts of the State Government and active cooperation of people, Himachal Pradesh is poised to soon emerge as Corona Free State. He said it becomes all the more important that strict vigil must be maintained on each and every person visiting the State. He said that downloading of AarogyaSetu app must be mandatory for the people entering the State. He said that it would be the responsibility of the elected representatives of the Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies to ensure that the person entering their village do not jump quarantine.
• Arunachal Pradesh: StateGovt issues detailed guidelines for public places and work places. CM urged the citizens to follow preventive measures against COVID19 until the vaccine is found.
• Assam: Health Minister HimantaBiswaSarma visits containment zones, quarantine centre in Bongaigaon district to assess the COVID19 situation in the district.
• Meghalaya: CM held a review meeting with Doctors of Civil Hospital, Shillong to gear up with necessary preparedness as stranded persons in other States will start returning home from May 5.
• Manipur: CM says that taking the advantage of being in green zone, Govt has started plantation of fruits bearing plants at Luwangsangbam hills.
• Mizoram:Govt issued an ordinance with regard to compulsory use of mask and maintain social distancing at any public places in the state, failing which will be an offence.
• Nagaland: Principal Secretary says 16,526 persons stranded outside have been provided financial assistance of Rs 6.47 crore till now.  
• Sikkim: Governor handed over a consignment of face mask and sanitisers to the General Secretary of Press Club of Sikkim, for the use of frontline media persons in the fight against COVID19.  
• Tripura: StateGovt to send back 33,000 migrant workers to their respective States largely by train.
• Maharashtra: Recorded 678 new coronavirus cases, taking the overall count to 12,974 and deaths to 548. Infections shot up in Mumbai with 441new cases and 21 deaths. Total cases in Mumbai alone touched 8,800. With 10,223 positive cases, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, accounts for 80% of all positive cases in the state.
• Gujarat: The number of reported positive cases in Gujarat has climbed to 5,428 and the death toll is 290, which is the second highest in the country after Maharashtra.  However, 1,042 people have so far recovered from the viral infection.
• Rajasthan: The COVID-19 cases in Jaipur crossed the 1,000-mark today  as it registered 12 new cases taking its tally to 1,005 while the state crossed the 3,000 mark registering a total tally of 3,009.   Overall, 75 deaths have been reported in the state so far with Jaipur alone accounting for 45.
• MP: With Ujjain becoming a new Covid 19 hotspot in Madhya Pradesh, CM has ordered to send a special team of doctors immediately to control the situation. Ujjain has only 150 positive cases but witnessed 30 deaths, recording the highest mortality rate in the state. Indore, with 1,568 reported cases, continues to be the worst affected city.
• Goa: Nearly 90 per cent of the migrant workers stranded in Goa ever since the lockdown from March 24, want to return to their native places, says the State Executive Committee based on Panchayat level data collection. Migrant workers from neighbouring Karnataka top the list followed by those from UP and Bihar.

FACT CHECK

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