Covid tally in India crosses 33,000 as country nears lockdown exit

As per the government update, 33,050 people including 8,325 cured and 1,074 deceased have been infected with the pandemic virus.

Maharashtra, where the financial capital Mumbai is located, has topped with the maximum number of positive Covid-19 cases (9,915) followed by other western state Gujarat (4,082).

The national capital Delhi is also a worry as it has recorded almost 3,500 cases.

Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh are the states which have recorded more than 2,000 cases.

Meanwhile, the Narendra Modi government at the Centre will soon have to take a call over the unprecedented, massive 40-day lockdown which is due to end on May 3.

However earlier during a meeting with several Chief Ministers, Modi had hinted at a staggered exit from the lockdown with the red zones (where maximum Covid cases are reported) and orange zones (where fewer Covid cases are reported) witnessing the restrictions.

The green zones which are dearth of any Covid case will see some relaxations.

While the K Chandrasekhar Rao government has already extended the lockdown in Telangana till May 7, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday hinted at the extension of the shutdown in the red and orange zones till the end of May in her state.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday informed that the countrywide lockdown to combat Coronavirus has been effective in improving the situation in India and that new guideline from May 4 will provide 'considerable relaxations' to many districts.

A review meeting was held in this regard on Wednesday following which the MHA announced that the lockdown guidelines now in effect should be strictly observed till May 3.

Amid the nationwide anti-Covid-19 lockdown, the central government on Wednesday allowed all stranded migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students with no Coronavirus symptoms to head back to their home states.

All stranded people will be screened at the beginning of their journey as well as at their destination.

Moreover, the travellers will have to remain in home or institutional quarantine on arrival following the guidelines of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The lockdown, which was initially called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Mar 24 for 21 days, had led to a humanitarian crisis with several migrant workers stranded at various parts of the country triggering a panic nationwide.

Though the respective state governments as well the Centre had repeatedly assured of enough food supply for all, the migrant workers took to their feet to cross state borders.

In a more worse situation amid the lockdown, which was later extended by Modi till May 3, the migrant workers allegedly being motivated by some false social media posts and news reports gathered outside Mumbai's Bandra railway station to head back to their homes creating chaos and flouting the social distancing norms.

(Images: IBNS File, UNI)