India now ‘7th worst-hit’ country

New Delhi: India is now seventh among the worst pandemic-hit nations, on the WHO coronavirus tracker, after it recorded its highest single-day spike of COVID-19 cases on Sunday with 8,380 new infections reported in the last 24 hours, taking the country’s tally to 1,82,143, while the death toll rose to 5,164, according to the Union Health Ministry.
The number of active COVID-19 cases stood to 89,995, while 86,983 people have recovered and one patient has migrated, it said. “Thus, around 47.76 per cent patients have recovered so far,” a senior health ministry official said.
In the last 24 hours, 4,614 patients were found cured, the ministry said.
Through a graded, pre-emptive and pro-active approach, the government is taking several steps along with the States/UTs for prevention, containment and management of COVID-19, the ministry said, adding that these are being regularly reviewed and monitored at the highest level.
The total confirmed cases include foreigners.
Interstate travel
After the Centre allowed lifting of restrictions on inter-state movement of people, states like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, which have reported the highest number of coronavirus cases, and those in the North East on Sunday decided to continue with the curbs after the end of the fourth phase of the lockdown.
Several others like Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Telangana announced they are allowing inter-state movement as part of easing of restrictions under the ‘Unlock-1’ after such travel was banned for over two months due to the coronavirus lockdown, though some of them have put their own conditions.
The Karnataka government, while allowing inter-state movement, said separate orders will be issued by Health and Family Welfare Department for people coming to the state.
The UP government said there is no ban on interstate travel but left it to the district administrations of Ghaziabad and Noida to take a call on the movement of people from adjoining Delhi.
The state has not restarted its inter-state bus service.
The Punjab government said there would be no restriction on inter-state movement of people and it would require no separate permission or e-permit. However, use of COVA app and self-generated ‘e-pass’ would be mandatory. In a televised address, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said people won’t need e-passes for inter-state travel in personal vehicles from Monday but a decision on re-starting inter-state public transport will be taken on June 7.
In neighbouring Chhattisgarh, the state government said inter-state travel without requisite permission from authorities will continue to remain prohibited.
The Odisha government said it has initiated the process to pave way for resumption of inter-state bus services. (PTI)