Tally zooms to 46,711, 12,726 cured; GoI to operate 64 special flights to evacuate stranded IndiansÂ
United News of India
New Delhi, May 5: India’s COVID-19 tally mounted to 46,711 on Tuesday after registering the sharpest single-day spike of more than 3,900 cases, despite the forty-second day of nationwide lockdown.
There were 195 deaths, highest in a day, taking the toll to 1,583.
As per Health Ministry data, the number of cured cases has now improved to 12,726 while the active cases stood at 32,138.
Noting the highest single-day mortality, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has said it was because of the delay of reporting deaths by some states.
The Centre also said that as the country is dealing with a highly infectious disease, the reporting of the cases should be on time for better case management.
The Group of Ministers (GoM) was apprised that the death rate in the country stood at around 3.2 per cent while the recovery rate was more than 25 per cent, a positive effect of the nationwide lockdown in the country along with cluster management and containment strategy.
Maharashtra continues to remain the worst-affected state with more than 14,500 cases and 583 deaths.
Gujarat, at distant second, bears the burden of 5,804 cases and 319 fatalities.
Delhi, at third position in statewise tally, has reported 4,898 cases with a total of 64 deaths, followed by Madhya Pradesh with 2,942 cases and 165 deaths.
To evacuate Indians stranded abroad, 64 special flights will be operated in the first phase to bring back 15,000 people from 12 countries, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri informed.
Addressing a webinar, he said as many as 64 flights of the state-run Air India and Air India Express will be operated from May 7 to May 13.
The Centre also told the Supreme Court that the Indians, stranded abroad, will be brought back from May 7 onwards. A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan was hearing a plea seeking a direction to the Centre to bring back Indians stranded in Nepal.
Taking to twitter, Ministry of Home Affairs said, “GoI grants Consular Services to Foreign Nationals, stranded in India due to travel restrictions in wake of #COVID19India outbreak, for a period upto 30 days from the date of lifting of prohibition on international air travel of passengers from India.#lockdown,”
