India COVID cases near 1.75 lakh mark, death toll 4971 

New Delhi, May 30:  As the country looked all set to enter Lockdown 5 on Monday, easing out restrictions and opening up more venues for public consumption, including shopping malls, restaurants and religious places, the number of Novel Coronavirus patients rose to 1,73,763, while the death toll surged to 4,971.

The Ministry of Home Affairs announced that the ongoing lockdown will continue till June 30 in all designated Containment Zones, whereas Shopping Malls, Hotels and all hospitality services, apart from religious places for worship, will be reopen by June 8.

The guidelines issued by the MHA stated that all activities will be relaxed in a phased manner outside the containment zones, as per the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, however, the states may impose restrictions or prohibit activities, as per their own assessment.

As per the latest information available at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 82,370 people have been cured and discharged from hospitals.

While Maharashtra continued to top the COVID charts, housing 62228 cases, including 33133 active patients and 26997 recoveries, 2098 deaths have been reported so far.

Tamil Nadu stood second, registering 20246 patients, including 8779 active patients and 11313 recoveries. Total 154 deaths were reported in the state.

Delhi came third, recording 17386 patients, including 9142 active patients and 7846 recoveries. The deadly virus has so far claimed 398 lives.

Gujarat continued on fourth position, housing 15934 cases, including 6343 active cases and 8611 recoveries. The state accounted for 980 deaths.

Himachal Pradesh reported five new cases of novel coronavirus, all from Kangra district, pushing the overall tally of infections to 300 in the state. The state has currently 186 active cases while 106 have so far cured and discharged.

With the detection of 141 fresh cases of COVID-19, the total number of people tested positive for the virus surged to 2922 in Karnataka.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the national capital was four steps ahead of the deadly virus and it cannot be in permanent lockdown. Addressing a digital press conference, Kejriwal said at present, Delhi has 17,386 Coronavirus cases and 398 people have succumbed to the disease.

“There were 17386 Corona cases till yesterday in Delhi, out of which 7846 people have recovered and 9142 are active cases, and there have been 398 deaths,” he added.