Coronavirus LIVE Update: India's Cases Rise To 59,92,532; 94,503 Dead

COVID-19 restrictions should continue till end of May: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee

Our experts feel COVID-19 restrictions should continue till end of May: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said on April 29, 2020, reported PTI. 

Lockdown In Punjab To Be Extended By 2 More Weeks

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh announced on April 29, 2020, that the lockdown in the state has been extended by 2 more weeks till May 17, 2020. He added that the lockdown will be lifted from 7 am to 11 am every day during which the shops will be open. 

India Post Mobile App Helps Deliver Masks

The android mobile application of Department of Posts, "Post Info," has been helpful in delivering medicines and masks to the people at their doorsteps during the ongoing lockdow

Only Streamed Films To Be Eligible For Oscars 2021

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will allow only films streamed online for the forthcoming Oscars in the wake of the industry-wide shutdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier, the Academy required that a film be shown in a commercial motion picture theatre in Los Angeles County for a theatrical qualifying run of at least seven consecutive days, during which period screenings must occur at least three times daily

Immunity Passports? WHO Does Not Think So

Many governments across the world are considering issuing immunity passes to people whose rapid antibody tests are negative suggesting the risk that they will spread the deadly coronavirus is less, helping  countries to resume activities and return to work. 

The World Health Organization however has stated that there is not enough evidence about the effectiveness of antibody-mediated immunity to guarantee the accuracy of an “immunity passport” or “risk-free certificate.”

People who assume that they are immune to a second infection because they have received a positive test result may ignore public health advice. The use of such certificates may therefore increase the risks of continued transmission

COVID-19 Dead Bodies Piled In Bathrooms In Ecuador

Ecuador's health system has taken a beating due to the outbreak of COVID-19. 

As AFP reports, in one hospital in Guayaquil overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients, staff have had to pile up bodies in bathrooms because the morgues are full, health workers say.

In another, a medic told AFP that doctors have been forced to wrap up and store corpses to be able to reuse the beds they died on.

USA Records Over A Million Cases

USA has recorded over a million cases of COVID-19 accounting for one-third of the total cases across the world. The USA is followed by Spain and Italy in the number of highest courses. 

IIT Guwahati Working On Developing Vaccine For COVID-19

 Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati is collaborating with Hester Biosciences Ltd to work on vaccine development against COVID-19. 

IIT Guwahati and Hester expect the vaccine to be ready by the year-end to start animal studies. 

Government Permits IT Firms, BPO To Work From Home Till July 31

On Tuesday, Ravi Shankar Prasad, the Union Minister for Information Technology announced that the government was extending permissions for work from home services till July 31 for the IT sector and the BPOs. This was in response to the IT industry's request to further facilitate work for home for Outside plant engineers for virtual private networks. 

The earlier limit was till April 30. 

India Crosses 30,000 Cases, 1000 deaths

India's cases and deaths increased to 31,332 and 1007 respectively as the country reported 1,398 new cases and 70 new deaths. 

The death toll has been rapidly increasing in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan. 

Around 7700 patients have also recovered.