Coronavirus LIVE: PGI-Chandigarh starts plasma therapy trial

The PGI Hospital here has been selected as one of the centres by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to conduct trials of convalescent plasma therapy in patients with serious COVID infection, the hospital said on Tuesday.

With this approval, serious sick COVID 19 positive patients admitted in the Nehru Hospital Extension block will be eligible to get this form of treatment.

In this trial, antibodies from the blood of patients who have recovered from COVID-19 are used to treat severely infected patients.

However, the exact role of this therapy in the treatment of coronavirus positive patients is still debatable and hence the ICMR decided to conduct a multi-centric study to clarify its role in these patients, said the hospital in a statement.

In a week, government will arrange trains for guest workers who desire to return to their home states: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami.

Since work has resumed following easing of lockdown curbs, migrant workers who wish to stay back in Tamil Nadu may do so: Chief Minister K Palaniswami

MHA also issues SOPs for persons stranded in India who are desirous to travel abroad for urgent reasons.

Priority will be given for travel from abroad to compelling cases in distress, including migrant workers who have been laid off: MHA

People faced with expiry of short term visas, those with medical emergency, pregnant women, elderly will be given priority: MHA

Those required to return to India due to death of family member, and students to be given priority. Travel cost to be borne by travellers: MHA

31 new COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in Haryana today; taking the total number of positive cases to 548: Health Department, Govt of Haryana

15 new COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in Jammu and Kashmir today; 1 from Jammu division and 14 from Kashmir division. Total positive cases in the Union Territory stand at 741, including 413 active cases: Govt of Jammu and Kashmir

Launched Operation 'Samudra Setu'- meaning 'Sea Bridge',as a part of national effort to repatriate Indian citizens from overseas. Naval Ships Jalashwa&Magar are presently enroute port of Malè, Maldives to commence evacuation operations from May 8 as part of Phase-1: Indian Navy

Four people, who recently returned from Gujarat and West Bengal, tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Odisha on Tuesday, taking the number of cases in the state to 173, an official said.

The number of active COVID-19 cases now stands at 112. Of the four new cases, two hailed from Balasore, one from Ganjam and the other from Cuttack districts, the official said.

Cuttack last reported a COVID-19 case on April 3, while Ganjam falls in the orange zone. The new cases in the two districts are two persons who recently from Surat in Gujarat.

In Balasore, the two new patients, aged 50 and 26, recently returned from West Bengal. Contact-tracing and follow-up actions are being undertaken in the three districts, the official said.

A total of 3,535 samples were tested for COVID-19 in Odisha on Monday, the highest in a day in the state, the official said. The Health Department has tested 44,663 samples so far.

A depot holder in Punjab's Kapurthala was allegedly beaten to death by a policeman's family members after he refused to give them free ration: Police

193 stranded Pakistanis were repatriated via Attari-Wagah border. Pakistan High Commission is pleased to see them return home safely and reunite with their families and friends: Pakistan High Commission

13 new positive cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Chandigarh today. Total number of cases rise to 115 and 1 death: Chandigarh Health Department

Two floor of BSF headquarters closed for sanitization after a staff member tested positive, will be opened from tomorrow. Total cases in BSF is 69: Border Security Force (BSF)

Four new COVID-19 positive cases recorded in Jharkhand today; all 4 are from Hindpiri area of Ranchi. There are 119 total positive cases in the state now: State Health Secretary Nitin Madan Kulkarni

Total number of positive cases in India rises to 46,711 including 31,967 active cases, 1,583 deaths, 13,160 cured/discharged and 1 migrated: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

219 new cases have been reported in Punjab today, taking total number of cases to 1,451 out of which 1,293 cases are active. 25 patients have lost their lives due to the infection. Two patients are on ventilator support: Punjab Health Department

Israeli Defence Minister Naftali Bennett has said that scientists at the country's main biological research institute have made a "significant breakthrough" in developing an antibody to the novel coronavirus, as the researchers wrapped up the development phase and moved to patent and mass produce the potential treatment.

22 more cases reported in Karnataka between 5 pm yesterday and 5 pm today. Total number of positive cases in the state is now at 673, including 331 discharges and 29 deaths: State Health Department.

13 people, including two healthcare workers and a baby, test positive for COVID-19 in UP's Gautam Buddh Nagar; cases rise to 192: Official

3 new COVID-19 positive cases reported in Kerala today; all 3 are from Wayanad district. Total cases in the state are 502 including 37 active cases: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

85 new COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in the state today; total positive cases is at 1,344. 7 deaths have been reported today taking the number of deaths to 68. Total active cases stand at 940: Alapan Bandyopadhyay, Home Secretary, West Bengal

We also need to ensure that people continue to receive non-COVID19 healthcare services at both government and private facilities. Services for critically ill patients should also run smoothly: Lav Agarwal, Health Ministry Joint Secretary

Till now, 67 Shramik Special Train have been run by various Zonal Railways. Till 4 May, we had run 55 trains. Today, trains have been operated from Bengaluru, Surat, Sabarmati, Jalandhar, Kota, Ernakulam etc. 21 more such trains may leave today: Ministry of Railway.

We persuaded certain states as we were not receiving reports of cases/deaths on time from them, after which the cases have been reported and we have seen spike in death cases today: Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry

The offices that are operational now must ensure thermal scanning of employees.The in-charge must ensure sufficient availability of face masks and sanitisers. Social distancing norms must be followed. Employees must be registered on Aarogya Setu app: Joint Secy,Ministry of Home Affairs

The rates fixed for the journey will be ₹50,000 for London-Mumbai, similarly for London to Ahmedabad, London to Bengaluru and London to Delhi. For Chicago-Delhi-Hyderabad the rough cost will be about Rs 1 lakh: Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri

To maintain social distancing, gathering of not more than 50 persons are allowed at wedding functions and not more than 20 persons at last rites of deceased persons: Punya Salila Srivastava, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs

While tackling the virus, think in terms of zones. While reopening the economy, think in terms of supply chains.
#ReopeningIndiaEconomy

COVID-19: Those arriving by repatriation flights to be screened, put under 14-day quarantine, says aviation minister

CM has issued orders today to allow the operation of industries during Lockdown 3.0. Industries must follow the guidelines as mentioned in the advisory issued by Central Government. All safety precautions and protocol must be followed: Additional Chief Secy (Home) Awanish Awasthi

64 flights will be operated in the 1st week of operation to bring stranded Indians from different countries from May 7 to May 13: Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri

Govt of India has decided to operate two special flights from Doha to India. The first one will be from Doha to Kochi on 7th May and the second will be from Doha to Thiruvananthapuram on 10th May: Embassy of India in Doha.

3 new deaths including an 11-year-old child have been reported in Pune district today. Total active cases of COVID-19 stands at 2,132 with rise in death toll to 118: Health Official, Pune

One more person has tested positive in Uttarakhand, taking the total number of cases to 61 including 39 cured/discharged: State Health Department

45 Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel have tested positive for Coronavirus so far- 43 of those deployed for IS duties in Delhi and 2 of those deployed for Law and Order duty with Delhi Police: ITBP

24 people have tested positive in Indian Army’s Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi. Results of more patients in the hospital are awaited: Army sources.

40 days of the on going lockdown have passed. The migrant workers have no work, no money and no ration. Government is not helping them in an appropriate manner. In such a situation they can at least be treated with compassion. Do not oppress them to the extent that they get hurt.

It is the duty of the government to provide them with correct information and transport them to their native places, tweeted Priyanka Gandhi

Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi to hold meeting via video conference with Chief Ministers of the Congress-ruled states tomorrow, over situation due to coronavirus

66 new positive cases of COVID-19 and 5 deaths reported today in the state. Total number of cases rise to 3,127 with 82 deaths. Actives cases in the state are 1,581: Rajasthan Health Department

We've had demanded govt to provide migrant labourers at least 3 month's salary. If they return to their home states now when work is resuming, it will be a huge problem: US Ahuja, President,Chamber of Industrial & Commercial Undertaking, Ludhiana, Punjab

8 more COVID-19 cases reported in Pimpri Chinchwad today, including 2 infants: Pimpri Chinchwad Health Department

COVID-19 fallout: Vistara CEO says senior employees to go on leave without pay for up to 4 days per month in May and June.

The government is set to embark on a massive evacuation plan to bring back Indians who were stranded in other countries due to the coronavirus pandemic. At least 64 flights will be operated in the coming week to bring back as many as 14,800 people. The evacuations start tomorrow, reported NDTV

Special flights will be sent to the United States, Kuwait, Philippines, Bangladesh, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and the UAE. A majority of these flights will be operated by Air India.

About 200-300 passengers will be allowed on these special flights to ensure social distancing.

A senior official of Department of Legal Affairs in Ministry of Law & Justice tested positive for COVID-19 on May 1. He had last visited his office on 23rd April. As precautionary measure, Shastri Bhawan office of Department of Legal Affairs has been sealed: Law Ministry

8 more COVID-19 cases reported in Karnataka between yesterday 5 pm and 12 pm today . Total number of cases in the state is now at 659, including 324 discharged & 28 deaths: State Health Department

TASMAC state-run alcohol shops will not open in Greater Chennai City police limits on May 7th, opening date to be announced later: Tamil Nadu Govt

A Shramik special train carrying 1,250 migrant workers to Bihar left from Hyderabad in the early hours of Tuesday, officials said.

The train chugged out at 3.05 a.m. from the Ghatkesar railway station near Hyderabad for Khagaria in Bihar.

The workers boarded the train after thermal screening by the personnel from the health department of Telangana.

Rachakonda Police Commissioner Mahesh Bhagwat, who flagged off the train along with other officials, said the passengers were provided breakfast and water bottles.

Delhi: Long queue of people outside a liquor shop in Mayur Vihar Phase -1 area amid Coronavirus lockdown. Delhi Government has imposed a "Special Corona Fee" of 70% tax on Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of the liquor.

67 new COVID19 positive cases reported in Andhra Pradesh in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases in the state to 1,717, death toll 34: Andhra Pradesh Health Department

Rajasthan recorded five more coronavirus deaths on Tuesday, taking the state's toll to 82, an official said.

The state also reported 38 fresh coronavirus cases, he said.

Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Rohit Kumar Singh said all the five deaths took place in Jaipur.

The death toll due to COVID-19 in the state has climbed to 82, he said.

Referral hospital in Gr Noida, dedicated forCOVID-19 patients has received patients from all central armed police forces. Currently 58 jawans from ITBP, BSF, & CISF are admitted at the hospital. Teams of specialist doctors are treating our jawans 24×7: DG ITBP SS Deswal to ANI

Delhi: Large crowd of people seen at a government liquor shop in Jhandewala area; social distancing norms being flouted. Delhi Government has imposed a "Special Corona Fee" of 70% tax on Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of the liquor.

Nine more coronavirus cases have been reported in Chandigarh, taking the tally of COVID-19 cases to 111, a health official said on Tuesday.

City's Bapu Dham colony, the epicentre of the virus, saw seven new cases. With these, half of the total cases were reported from there.

Officials said one patient belonged to each Sector 30-B and Dhanas village.

A day earlier, five positive cases were reported in Chandigarh.

18-year-old man who returned from Surat tests positive for COVID19 in Ganjam. He is under quarantine at a government facility, contact tracing. Total positive cases in the state is now 170: Information & Public Relations Dept. Govt. of Odisha.

3900 COVID-19 cases and 195 deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours, the largest spike till now in both

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi interacts with Nobel laureate Abhijit Banerjee on the economic impact of the COVID19 crisis

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Monday what he called a normalization plan to gradually ease restrictions imposed during the coronavirus pandemic as the death rate falls, but warned of tougher measures to come should the number of infections rebound.

In a televised address following a Cabinet meeting, Erdogan said shopping malls would be allowed to open starting on May 11, as would barber shops, hairdressers and beauty parlours as long as they work on a system of appointment and accept customers at half-capacity.

Erdogan said that the government is also lifting entry and exit restrictions for seven cities where the coronavirus outbreak has been brought under control.