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

India has about 0.2 deaths/lakh population compared to approx. 4.1 deaths/lakh for the world;So far, more than 24 lakh samples have been tested

During last 24 hours, a total of 2,350 COVID-19 patients have been cured. Thus, so far, a total of 39,174 patients have been cured of COVID-19. This means a recovery rate of 38.73% amongst COVID-19 patients. The recovery rate is improving continuously.India currently has 58,802 active cases. These are all under active medical supervision. Of the active cases, only approx. 2.9% of the cases are in ICU.In terms of case mortality per lakh population, India has so far about 0.2 deaths per lakh population vis-a-vis approx. 4.1 deaths per lakh population for the world as a whole.

A record number of 1,08,233 samples were tested yesterday in the country. So far a total of 24,25,742 samples have been tested.From one laboratory conducting COVID-19 test in January, India has very rapidly increased its testing capacity by adding over 385 government laboratories and 158 private laboratories for testing in the country.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued revised testing guidelines for COVID-19. In addition to earlier criteria, the testing strategy has been widened to include frontline workers involved in containment and mitigation of C0VlD-19, all hospitalized patients who develop lLl symptoms and all symptomatic ILI among returnees and migrants within 7 days of illness. It has issued guidelines on preventive measures to contain spread of COVID-19 in workplace settings to deal if suspect or confirmed case of COVID-19 is detected in these settings. The Ministry has also issued guidelines for Dental Professionals in COVID-19 pandemic situation as the Dentists, auxiliaries as well as patients are at high risk of cross-infection.

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Proactive coordination among States and Railways essential to run more trains for smooth transport of Migrant Workers; District Authorities must give their requirements to Railways

In a communication to the States, Union Ministry of Home Affairs has noted that fear of COVID-19 infection and apprehension of loss of livelihood are the main driving factors for the movement of stranded workers towards their homes. In order to mitigate the distress of migrant workers, the communication stresses on a number of measures that may be taken by the State governments, pro-actively in coordination with the Centre. These include Run more Buses, ensure their Smooth Transition across States and inter-State borders; Create en-route Rest Places with basic amenities for people on foot, till they are guided to bus/rail stations; Dispel rumours, give clarity on train/bus departures: MHA to States

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Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) on Movement of Stranded Workers by Trains

In continuation of the revised consolidated guidelines on lockdown measures dt. 17.05.2020, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued revised Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) on movement of stranded workers by trains.

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Dr Harsh Vardhan participates in the 73rd World Health Assembly through VC

Highlighting the timely, graded and pro-active measures taken by India towards COVID-19 management, the Health Minister said that India took all necessary steps well in time, including surveillance at points of entry, evacuation of nationals stranded overseas, massive community surveillance through robust disease surveillance network, strengthening of health infrastructure, capacity building of over two million frontline human resources, risk communication and community involvement. I think we did our best and we did well. We are learning and we are confident of doing better in the months to come.

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As advised by Union HRD Minister, NTA gives one last opportunity for submission of Online Application Form for JEE (Main) 2020

In view of the Representations received from various Indian students who were scheduled to join colleges abroad but are now keen to pursue their studies in the country due to the changed circumstances arising out of COVID -19, and would thus like to appear in the JEE (Main) 2020, Union HRD Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ advised NTA to give one last opportunity to fill the form of JEE (Main) 2020. This is also applicable to other students who have not been able to complete the application process or submit online Application Form for JEE (Main) 2020 due to one reason oranother.

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Union Minister DrJitendra Singh lauds the Army medical COVID related assistance for Northeast and Jammu & Kashmir

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh has lauded the Army medical COVID related assistance for Northeast and Jammu & Kashmir, and appreciated the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) for responding to step in at the early stage of pandemic, in order to supplement the diagnostic and treatment facilities in the initial phase of preparedness.

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MoHUA announces results of Star rating of garbage free cities

Shri Hardeep S, Puri, Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, has informed that for the assessment year 2019-2020, a total of six cities have been certified as 5-Star (Ambikapur, Rajkot, Surat, Mysuru, Indore and Navi Mumbai), 65 cities as 3-Star and 70 cities as 1-Star. In the light of the COVID crisis, MoHUA has issued detailed guidelines to all States and cities on special cleaning of public places and collection and disposal of bio-medical waste from quarantined households. MoHUA, in the first week of April, also revised its hugely popular citizen grievance redressal platform, Swacchata App in order to enable citizens to get their COVID-related issues also redressed by their respective ULBs.

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Mother Dairy contributing in stabilizing dairy supply chain in Vidarbha and Marathwada Region amid Lockdown

With the country fighting Covid-19 pandemic and under lockdown, availability of essentials like food and health services to the masses is crucial. While for the consumers it is important that their supplies are maintained; for farmers too, it is imperative that the value chain starting with them is up and running to market their produce even under restrictions. Taking the initiative further in this context, Mother Dairy, a wholly owned subsidiary of National Dairy Development Board, contributed in stabilizing the dairy supply chain in Vidarbha and Marathwada Region amid Lockdown. Located in Civil Lines area of Nagpur city, Mother Dairy is extending all possible support to farmers and procuring an average milk volume of 2.55 lakh litres per day in Vidarbha and Marathwada region.

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Ministry of Culture’s Development of Museums and Cultural Spaces hosts a webinar on ‘Revitalising Museums and Cultural Spaces’ on the International Museum Day

The Covid-19 pandemic will have significant economic and social repercussions for the cultural and creative industries. Organised for leading Indian and global cultural institutions, creative businesses, startups, policy makers and media, experts in the webinar discussed the way forward for the culture and creative industry.

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INPUTS FROM PIB FIELD OFFICES

• Chandigarh: Due to lockdown, some of the migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and other persons are stranded at Chandigarh. For smooth movement of these persons, the Chandigarh Administration has made elaborate arrangements to ensure comfortable and safe journey of the stranded persons. On 18.05.2020, the following stranded persons were sent: a) Shramik Special Train with 1296 persons at 05.00 PM for Amethi, Uttar Pradesh; b) 10 persons to Murshidabad in West Bengal through Shramik Special Train from Sirhind, Punjab. From Chandigarh to Sirhind, Punjab their journey was arranged through Special CTU Bus.
• Punjab: Chief Minister launched a telemedicine programme, as part of a groundbreaking partnership forged between Christian Medical College Ludhiana and IMAS Healthcare Private Limited, the official facilitator of physician-to-physician video consultations for Cleveland Clinic (USA) in India on a host of medical problems, including Covid-19. The Punjab Government has decided to relax the restrictions imposed on the plying of Public Transport in the state. From Wednesday onwards, State Transport Undertaking buses will be allowed to ply on select routes from point to point between Major cities and District Headquarter with 50% occupancy of its full capacity. These buses will embark from bus Stands only, where all the passengers will be screened before they are allowed to board the buses. It would be ensured that all the passengers are maintaining social distancing in the Public Transport, all are wearing masks and their hands are sanitized with sanitizer provided by the drivers.
• Haryana: State Government has decided to provide superior quality PPE kits, N-95 masks and hand sanitizers to private doctors as per their requirement at government rates. Apart from this, if a private doctor is infected with COVID-19, then his treatment would also be carried out at government expense. After Corona, investment in health services, public health, disease research, etc. would also be increased in the State. Haryana Government has decided to allow the government schools to open their administrative offices to carry out urgent and unavoidable administrative functions while ensuring strict compliance of norms issued by MoHFW for the containment of COVID-19. It is pertinent to mention here that the State Government had already allowed the private schools of Haryana to open their administrative offices.
• Himachal Pradesh: Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has urged the Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers D.V. SadanandaGowda for allotting one Bulk Drug Park for the State. He said that the Union Government has announced a beneficial scheme for promotion of domestic manufacturing of critical Key Starting Material/Drug Intermediates and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) in the country.
• Kerala: KSRTC to begin services in all districts from tomorrow. In Kannur, Police stopped nearly 100 migrants from trying to walk to Uttar Pradesh through the railway tracks. In Perambra, Kozhikode scuffle broke out between protesting migrant workers and Police. Seven expatriates showing Covid symptoms who reached Kerala last night from Gulf have been hospitalized.  Four more flights will bring home more than 700 people stranded in Gulf countries. Expats and non-resident Keralites returned to the state made up almost all of the 29 cases reported yesterday.
• Tamil Nadu: Puducherry to allow opening of liquor shops; Aadhar card made must for buying liquor. Large number of stranded Tamil Nadu migrant labourers returning from Maharashtra are testing positive for Covid. Hair salons in rural Tamil Nadu allowed to be re-opened from today.  Class 10 board exams in Tamil Nadu rescheduled, to be held from June 15 to June 25. Total cases till yesterday: 11,760, Active cases: 7270, Deaths: 81, Active cases in Chennai is 5460.
• Karnataka: Karnataka records highest daily spike with 127 cases and three deaths. Total cases till now 1373; Active: 802, Recovered: 530, Deaths: 40.    Non-resident Kannadigas irked as state bans entry of people from Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat; 50% of cases in last one from people returning from other States. Karnataka seeks Center’s nod for intercity special trains.
• Andhra Pradesh:CM says that State should focus on restarting the economy without losing sight of COVID-19 preventive measures. State records highest recovery rate at 53.44 per cent, higher than nation’s average of 32.9 per cent. 57 new cases, two deaths reported with 69 discharged in the last 24 hours after testing 9739 samples; 150 cases from returnees from other States. Total cases: 2339. Active: 691, Recovered: 1596, Deaths: 52.  
• Telangana: With lockdown restrictions eased in Telangana, RTC buses have started plying from Secunderabad to various districts from today. State allows resumption of services of domestic helps in all zones, including GHMC limits. Total cases till yesterday 1,592; Hyderabad continues to be a concern for authorities as 26 new cases reported yesterday. 5,000 hospital beds to be Covid-ready in the State.
• Assam: Health Minister held a discussion with Deputy Commissioners and Superintendent of Police in Barpeta district for operation of a regional screening centre and augmenting output in COVID19 testing and patient care.
• Manipur: In Manipur, a 64 year old lady and her 23 year old daughter who returned from New Delhi tested COVID19 positive. Out of the total 9 cases in the state, 2 have recovered and rest are undergoing treatment.
• Mizoram: NSS volunteers of Government Kolasib College in Mizoram distribute 150 handmade masks to vegetable sellers and police personnel in Kolasib.Aizawl police arrested a person for posting false information on social media about an active COVID19 case in Mizoram.
• Nagaland: Muslims in Nagaland observing holy month of Ramzan at their homes and making plans to celebrate Eid at home due to lockdown.  Dimapur village councils agree to use of quarantine centers identified by Govt in their localities.
• Sikkim: Around 1054 stranded Sikkimese from Bangalore were evacuated by the Govt of Sikkim in coordination with Govt of Karnataka.
• Maharashtra: 2033 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the state, thereby taking the tally of positive cases to 35,058. While 25,392 active cases are there in the state presently, 8437 patients have also recovered till date, as per the latest report. Maharashtra Government has decided to provide food grains to 3.08 crore Above Poverty Line Orange Card holders at subsidized rates of five kilogram per person for May and June. Amidst the present situation of COVID-19 pandemic, the State Government has begun distribution of foodgrains from 52,422  ration shops in the state.
• Gujarat: 366 new COVID-19 cases and 35 deaths were reported in the state  taking the total number of the reported cases to 11,746. Out of theses 4,804 have recovered.  The state now has 6,248 active cases, 38 of whom are on the ventilator. Meanwhile, shops, offices, transport and markets reopened in the non-containment zones after a gap of more than fifty days on the odd-even basis.
•  Rajasthan: 250 new COVID-19 cases have been reported till 2 p.m. today, which takes the total number of positive patients in the state to 5757.  The number of patients recovered till date stand at 3232.
•  Madhya Pradesh: 259 new COVID-19 cases were reported taking  the tally of positive cases in the state to 5,326. There are 2549  active cases in the state as per latest report.  
• Goa: 9 more new COVID-19 cases have been reported, which takes the tally of coronavirus infected patients to 31.

PIB FACTCHECK

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