New Delhi, Apr 15, On the first day of lockdown 2.0, India recorded 1,118 fresh coronavirus cases, taking the count to 11,933 and casualties to 377, even as the Health Ministry yet again denied community transmission but confirmed local virus outbreaks, and the Ministry of Home Affairs issued guidelines to suffocate the virus.
Union Health ministry has identified 170 districts as hotspots of novel coronavirus outbreak and 207 districts as non-hotspots while the rest have been categorised as green zones.
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said the next 2-3 weeks are going to be the most crucial in handling the pandemic.
After Prime Minister Narnedra Modi announced extension of the 21-day lockdown till May 3 in an effort to stem the spread of the virus, the Home Ministry issued guidelines which included that all public services such inter-state, inter-district movement of people, bus, metro services continue to remain barred till May 3. Domestic, international air travel, train services, educational institutions, coaching centres will continue to be shut.
Spitting in public now is an offence under Disaster Management Act, the ministry said, adding that public places such as cinema halls, malls, bars, shopping complexes, swimming pools, gyms, sports complexes will also be closed and all social, religious, sports, political functions, religious places and places of worship will be shut for public till May 3.
Health Ministry’s Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal in a press briefing said there are no community transmissions but confirmed local virus outbreaks.
The Centre asked all States and Union Territories (UTs) to effectively implement the new guidelines to tide over the corona crisis.
Maharashtra topped the case tally with 117 fresh cases, taking the count to 2,687 with 178 deaths. Delhi has surpassed Tamil Nadu to become second-worst affected state with 1,561 confirmed COVID-19 cases and death toll at 30. Rajasthan recorded 29 fresh cases, taking the total number of infected people in the state to 1,034 followed by Tamil Nadu 1,204 cases and death toll at 12.
The Ministry permitted all agricultural, e-commerce and construction activities from April 20 in regions that have been successful in containing the spread of the virus.
Indian Railways has started production of more than 30,000 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) coveralls this month and plan to manufacture 1,00,000 PPE by next month.
However, Railways denied any plans for special train for migrants.
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani isolated himself after an MLA he met tested positive for the coronavirus.
Covid cases near 12000 mark, 170 hotspots identified, MHA issues guidelines
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