Corona Updates You Must Track: Unemployment Soars, India COVID-19 Cases Near 50,000-mark

In major coronavirus-related developments, India has reported 49,391 confirmed cases so far even as the unemployment rate for April stands at 23.52 per cent

Kritika Banerjee Published May 6, 2020 12:34:19 IST
2020-05-06T12:34:19+05:30
2020-05-06T12:34:19+05:30
Corona Updates You Must Track: Unemployment Soars, India COVID-19 Cases Near 50,000-mark Photo: Pixabay

On the third day of lockdown 3.0, India’s total confirmed coronavirus cases are now a little short of 50,000, at 49,391. The nationwide lockdown in the wake of the COVID-19 spread has affected the job market, with latest figures by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy putting the rate of unemployment for April at 23.52 per cent.

Here are all the important developments related to coronavirus and lockdown 3.0:

India cases and toll: According to the latest data provided by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), the total active COVID-19 cases are at 33,514 with 1,694 deaths. The number of recoveries has shown improvement, going up from 12,726 on Tuesday morning to 14,182 on Wednesday. India’s confirmed coronavirus tally now stands at 49,391.  

1 in every 4 Indians unemployed in April: With coronavirus-triggered nationwide lockdown bringing economic activity to a grinding halt, India’s unemployment rate for the month of April stood at 23.52 per cent, as per data provided by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), a Mumbai-based think-tank. This roughly translates to one in every four person currently being unemployed in India. For the week ending 3 May, the unemployment rate surged to 27.11 per cent, with CMIE saying that urban areas are more affected than the rural regions.

Where do big states stand: While Delhi, Maharashtra and Gujarat have so far reported maximum confirmed cases, states like West Bengal and Tamil Nadu are also showing a spike in confirmed COVID-19 cases.

In Maharashtra, the total COVID-19 cases are now at 15,525 with Mumbai alone reporting 9,945 cases till Tuesday. Delhi crossed the 5,000-mark with the national capital reporting more than 200 cases in the last 24 hours. In Tamil Nadu, the confirmed coronavirus cases have jumped to 4,058 while West Bengal has so far reported 1,344 cases with 140 deaths.

Vaccine for coronavirus: Countries across the globe are racing to find a cure for COVID-19. An Arab News report doing the rounds since last evening says that Italy has claimed that it has developed a vaccine that can fight coronavirus. However, no other news platform could verify this report independently.

Israel’s defence minister too recently said scientists at the country’s Institute for Biological Research have achieved a “significant breakthrough” in developing an antibody to the novel coronavirus, as per a PTI report.

In India, according to a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday, more than 30 vaccines for coronavirus are in various stages of development, with some in trial stages.

Global corona update: The coronavirus pandemic refuses to show any signs of a let up, with the confirmed COVID-19 cases now at 37,27,802, according to worldometer, a website providing real-time data on COVID-19 numbers. The recoveries are also increasing, with 12,42,347 people being cured of the illness. The virus has so far claimed 2,58,338 lives globally.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that the country has flattened the COVID-19 curve and is now in the “next stage of the battle”, hinting at gradual opening of the economy. The US alone has reported 12,37,633 confirmed coronavirus cases so far with 72,271 deaths—the number of cases, however, have shown a decline in the past week.  

Story of hope: One of the tested ways to avoid a crisis is to preempt the situation or need. That is what the local administration in Srinagar has done by gifting expectant mothers special maternity kits, reports The Indian Express. A network of ASHA and anganwadi workers are visiting houses with pregnant women and providing them hot water bag, comfortable nightwear, blanket for the baby, diapers and other essentials.

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