Coronavirus Outbreak Updates: COVID-19 confirmed case count in India reached more than the half-lakh mark at 52952. While 1,783 people have died due to the deadly virus across the country. Maharashtra reported the highest number of COVID-19 cases of 16758 on Thursday, taking the total number of deaths in the state to 651. Gujarat has the second most number of active cases of 6625, Delhi 5532 cases according to the latest figures from the Union Health Ministry.
At least 85 personnel of the Border Security Force (BSF) tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, taking the number of infections within the force to 152. A Delhi Police constable died due to the disease; his colleagues are in self-quarantine.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting last Tuesday for the special task force created to meet the challenge posed by the highly contagious virus. Today is the forty-fourth day of India’s nationwide lockdown, which has been extended till May 17. Restrictions have been eased, especially in non-hotspot areas. Meanwhile, the Telangana government has announced that the lockdown will continue in the state till May 29 to contain the coronavirus outbreak. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao informed the Prime Minister about state govt decision after a 7- hour cabinet meeting on Tuesday evening.
Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa has announced a relief package of over Rs 1,600 crore package will benefit farmers, small and medium enterprises, handloom weavers, flower growers, dhobis, or washermen, barbers, auto and taxi drivers among others, the worst hit by the lockdown to stem the spread of coronavirus.
US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have both claimed that there is evidence the coronavirus came from the lab in Wuhan. The Wuhan Institute of virology is the largest virus bank in Asia which preserves more than 1,500 strains. However, China has strongly denied the allegations. The World Health Organization continuously supporting China by saying no evidence to support the “speculative” claims, and scientists believe the coronavirus jumped from animals to humans, possibly at a Wuhan market selling wild animals.
Coronavirus outbreak updates globally, 265,098 people have died and 3,820,869 have been infected by the novel coronavirus. The United States has 74,809 fatalities, followed by the United Kingdom (30,076), Italy (29,684), Spain (25,857), and France (25,809). As many as 1,303,161 people have recovered globally, according to the latest data by Coronatracker.
Published: Hindustan View 07/05/2020