- The number of coronavirus cases in Maharashtra crossed 40,000 on Thursday. The state reported over 2,300 new cases, taking the tally to 41,642. Mumbai has 25,317 cases now.
- India’s coronavirus tally rose to 1,12,359 with over 5,609 new infections being reported for the second day in a row, according to the Union health ministry. The toll is now 3,435.
- The Centre announced that it will cap ticket prices for the next three months between Rs 2,000 and Rs 18,600 for seven flight categories based on duration.
- The government also released standard operating procedures for resuming domestic flight operations from May 25. The key guidelines include mandatory use of the Aarogya Setu app for those above 14 years of age, sanitation of baggage before entering the airport, restrictions on vehicles entering the departure zone and web check-ins among others.
- Former Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan said that the Centre’s Rs 20-lakh-crore economic package to counter the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic is inadequate. In an exclusive interview to The Wire, the economist added that migrant workers need to be provided both money and free foodgrains.
- Bookings for passenger trains at around 1.7 lakh common service centres across the country will resume in a few days, the Centre said. Passenger trains, apart from the 15 special ones, will resume in June.
- The Sports Authority of India introduced the Standard Operating Procedure for training activities to resume across the country.
- The Ministry of Home Affairs directed the states to strictly follow lockdown rules. The ministry cited reports of violation of its guidelines.
- United States President Donald Trump lashed out at China once again over the coronavirus pandemic, accusing it of trying to “deflect the pain and carnage that their country spread throughout the world”.
- The world witnessed the largest daily rise in global cases on Wednesday. The World Health Organization said 1,06,000 new infections had been reported to them in the last 24 hours. Worldwide, the total number of cases is now more than five million, according to the Johns Hopkins University tracker.
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