Coronavirus India Updates: Centre postpones CTET exam due to COVID-19; CBSE was to conduct teacher eligibility exam on 5 July

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

Nirmala Sitharaman says Tamil Nadu given Rs 6,600 cr for medical equipment

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the Centre has provided Rs 6,600 crore to Tamil Nadu since April for “procurement of medical equipment to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic,” News18 reported.

“Besides, a total of Rs 2,825 crore worth assistance had been released to the state till June 14 through various welfare scheme components of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, she told BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit workers addressing a virtual rally,” the report added.

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

Centre says CTET exam postponed

Union human resources development minister Ramesh Pokhriyal on Thursday said that the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) examination to be conducted by CBSE on 5 July has been postponed in view of the present circumstances.

Earlier on Thursday, the Supreme Court also passed orders about the Class 10 and 12 CBSE exams and ICSE exams.

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Delhi govt issues revised SOPs for home isolation

Delhi LG Anil Baijal said that only COVID-19 patients who “do not have adequate facilities at home to ensure physical segregation and do not have other medical conditions would require to be shifted to COVID-19 Care centres and other facilities.”

Health deptt to deploy a robust surveillance mechanism. Only those COVID positive cases who do not have adequate facilities at home to ensure physical segregation and do not have other medical conditions would require to be shifted to Covid Care centres and other facilities.

— LG Delhi (@LtGovDelhi) June 25, 2020

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Bombay HC asks for Railways’ reply on converting coaches into isolation centres

The Bombay High Court on Thursday “sought an affidavit from the Centre detailing steps taken by the Railways towards converting coaches into isolation/quarantine centres, as well as on the viability of ICUs onboard,” Bar and Bench reported.

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Eiffel Tower reopens, ending 104-day coronavirus shutdown

Marking another milestone in France’s recovery from coronavirus lockdown, the Eiffel Tower reopened to visitors Thursday after its longest-ever closure in peace time: 104 days.

Tourists who are trickling back to Paris were delighted to find the landmark open when some other attractions in the French capital remain closed. The Louvre Museum isn’t reopening until 6 July.

“It’s very special, very special because it’s only the Paris people,” said Annelies Bouwhuis, a 43-year-old visitor from the Netherlands. “We’ve seen a lot Paris people enjoying their city, enjoying their parks without all the tourists.”

Lifts that usually whisk visitors up the 324-meter (1,063-feet) tall wrought-iron Eiffel Tower remain closed, so for now people have to take the stairs.

Of the tower’s three decks, only the first two reopened. Those who made the climb Thursday were rewarded with far-away views and a light breeze in scorching summer weather.

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Nearly 8,50,000 students to take SSLC exam in Karnataka today amid COVID-19

The Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) exams began in Karnataka on Thursday amid tight security and rigid precautions amid the coronavirus scare.

The Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KSEEB) on the directions of the state government decided to conduct the SSLC or the 10th standard board exams amid Covid-19 fears.

According to KSEEB officials, as many as 8,48,203 students would take up the examination at 2,879 exam centres.

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No leave for police personnel from June, says Gujarat government

The Gujarat Home Department has asked the state Director General of Police (DGP) and other senior officers not to grant any leave to the police personnel, saying that their presence was necessary for the effective implementation of Unlock-1.

A notification issued on Thursday by the home department said that the presence of all the available police force was necessary for the implementation of the Centre’s guidelines for the phased re-opening of coronavirus-induced lockdown or Unlock-1 that came into effect from 1 June.

“For the effective implementation of Unlock-1, it is necessary that police personnel remain active in the field. Therefore, all the police officers as well as lower rung police personnel are hereby advised not to demand leave unless it is for medical or any other unavoidable reasons,” the notification said.

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Karnataka CM warns of another lockdown in Bengaluru

Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa on Thursday asked people to cooperate by following the measures put in place for the control of COVID-19 if they don’t want another lockdown or sealing in Bengaluru.

Amid talks about re-imposing lockdown in the city following the recent spike in cases, the chief minister said he will hold discussions on Thursday and Friday regarding the strict measures that need to be taken to control the virus.

“COVID-19 pandemic is increasing, we are making all efforts and we have even sealed some areas. Today afternoon at Krishna (the CM’s home office) I have called a meeting with Ministers and officials and will discuss the strict measures to be taken to control COVID-19,” Yediyurappa said.

Citing an increase in cases, Health Minister B Sriramulu on Tuesday had said the government may have to think about imposing lockdown in the city if the situation continues.

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Centre’s team with Lav Agarwal to visit Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana

The Union health ministry on Thursday said that a central team led by health ministry joint secretary Lav Agarwal will visit Gujarat, Maharashtra and Telangana on 26 and 29 June.

“The team will interact with the State officials and coordinate with them to strengthen ongoing efforts for management of COVID-19,” the statement said.

Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Updates

People gather at Mumbai mosque, five booked

A case has been registered against five persons, including the trustees of an Andheri- based mosque, for allegedly violating the COVID-19 lockdown norms after a group of people assembled in the premises on Thursday, police said.

The DN Nagar police received a call that some people had assembled at Eidgah Masjid in Andheri in the morning, following which a team was sent there, an official said.

The police found that no social distancing norms were followed in the premises and further probe revealed that people had not gathered for prayers, but were there for some discussion, he said.

Coronavirus Outbreak in Gujurat Latest Updates

No leave for Gujarat cops as personnel required for Unlock-1, says govt

The Gujarat Home Department has asked the state Director General of Police (DGP) and other senior officers not to grant any leave to the police personnel, saying that their presence was necessary for the effective implementation of Unlock-1. A notification issued on Thursday by the home department said that the presence of all the available police force was necessary for the implementation of the Centre’s guidelines for the phased re-opening of coronavirus-induced lockdown or Unlock-1 that came into effect from June 1.

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SC to continue hearing matter at 10:30 am tomorrow

The Supreme Court will hear the matter again at 10:30 am on Friday, Bar and Bench reported. The Supreme Court on Thursday did not pass its order on CBSE, ICSE board exams’ cancellation. and is likely to announce its order by tomorrow.

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Supreme Court to pass its order on board exams tomorrow

The Supreme Court on Thursday did not pass its order on CBSE, ICSE board exams’ cancellation. The apex court has sought more clarity on aspects of optional exam for Class 12, the publication of results, state board exams and the start of the new academic year. It also sought further clarity on the issue of option between internal assessment and exam.

The Supreme Court has asked CBSE to submit fresh draft notification and affidavit tomorrow morning to court.

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ICSE board to also cancel Class 10, 12 board exams

ICSE board also to cancel class 10 and 12 board exams. However, ICSE doesn’t agree to give option to students to write exam later, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informs Supreme Court. ICSE had earlier told SC that it would follow CBSE’s decision on the matter.

“We will declare the assessment results at once,” the ICSE told the court. “Later, we may hold the board exams.”

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Results of board exams be out by 15 July

Results of both Class 10 and 12 will be published by schools on 15 July. Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta said, “The result on the basis of the assessment for the basis of both Class 10 and 12 will be published by 15 July.”

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CBSE Class 12 exams made ‘optional’

Class 12 students will have the option of either accepting their grades on the basis of internal assessments or to sit in exams at a future date. Class 12 students will be evaluated on their performance in the last three school exams. The students can also appear for the board exam at a later date to improve.

Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta said, as soon as conditions will be conducive, “we could conduct the CBSE class 12 examinations for students who opt for it.”

SG: Cbse has scheme in which marks scored in past 3 exams will be taken in account.

For class 12, exams will be conducted "as soon as situation is conducive." "Marks for students who opt for class 12 exams will have that marks as final."

— Bar & Bench (@barandbench) June 25, 2020

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Class 10 CBSE exams completely cancelled

Class 10 CBSE exams are now cancelled completely, amid the coronavirus outbreak in the country, the HRD ministry told the Supreme Court on Thursday.

SG: For class 10, there is no option for exams. The CBSE board exam for class 10 stands cancelled.

— Bar & Bench (@barandbench) June 25, 2020

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Pending Class 10, 12 CBSE exams stand cancelled, HRD tells SC

The Ministry of Human Resource Development has informed the Supreme Court that pending CBSE Class 10 and 12 examinations stand cancelled, reports Bar&Bench.

SG: Our affidavit filed half an hour back states that taking into account suggestion from States, exam for Class 10 and 12 from July 1 stands cancelled.

— Bar & Bench (@barandbench) June 25, 2020

Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Updates

Maharashtra govt to take legal action again ‘Coronil’ if sold in state

The Maharashtra government on Thursday has decided to take legal action against Yoga guru Ramdev’s Patanjali, if they try to advertise or sell the drug they claim can cure the coronavirus, in the state, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said reports ANI.

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Harsh Vardhan launches ‘eBloodServices’ app

Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan today launched the ’eBloodServices App’, an initiative by the Indian Red Cross Society. “Those in need can get registered on the app and know where they’ll get blood. They can also demand up to four units of blood. The Indian Red Cross Society’s blood banks will wait up to 12 hours for them. We -urge voluntary blood donors to continue donating blood in these times,” he told ANI.

सीधा प्रसारण !! #COVID19 के खिलाफ़ ज़ंग को मज़बूती देने के लिए @IndianRedCross के 'eBloodServices' App का शुभारंभ करते हुए केंद्रीय मंत्री डॉ हर्ष वर्धन @MoHFW_INDIA https://t.co/XWJnECPVFt

— DrHarshVardhanOffice (@DrHVoffice) June 25, 2020

Coronavirus Outbreak in Arunachal Pradesh Latest Updates

Arunachal reports first COVID-19 death

Arunachal Pradesh has recorded its first COVID-19 fatality after a 43-year-old woman succumbed to the disease, while two new coronavirus cases have been reported, taking the northeast state’s tally to 160, officials said on Thursday.

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Over 2 lakh samples tested in past 24 hours

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has said that 75,60,782 samples were tested for COVID-19 in the county till yesterday. Of these, 2,07,871 samples were tested in the last 24 hours.

Coronavirus Outbreak in Delhi Latest Updates

SDMA to meet today to discuss COVID-19 situation in Delhi

The State Disaster Management Authority will meet on Thursday evening in the Capital to discuss the coronavirus situation, ANI reports. A decision will also be taken on the current format of home isolation rules for Covid-19 patients in the city.

Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Updates

Three more Maharashtra cops die of COVID-19 as toll rises to 54

Three Maharashtra Police personnel, including an officer, died of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, taking the toll in the state force to 54, an official said on Thursday. Out of the 54 victims, 34 were from the Mumbai Police force, he said.

Three officers were among the 54 personnel who have so far succumbed to the viral infection since its outbreak in the state, he said. As of now, more than 4,200 police personnel have been infected with coronavirus. Of these, over 3,000 have recovered, the official said.

Coronavirus Outbreak in Tamil Nadu Latest Updates

Over 30 personnel at Naval Air Station ‘INS Parundu’ test positive for COVID-19

Over 30 personnel attached to Naval Air Station INS Parundu here have tested positive for coronavirus, district officials said on Thursday, but the forward operating base was ‘operational’, Defence sources in Chennai said.

While the district authorities put the number of infected at 33, Defence sourcessaid ‘some’ of the sailors, mostly who had arrived here recently on postings, have been affected with the virus. They said that as per standard protocol, such personnel are quarantined and tested for the contagion in which ‘some’ of them have tested positive.

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IIT Bombay scraps face-to-face lectures till year-end

According to reports , The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Mumbai has become the first major educational institution in the country to scrap all face-to-face lectures for the rest of the year due to the COVID19 pandemic.

In a Facebook Post last night, IIT Bombay Director Professor Subhasis Chaudhuri said the decision was made “after a long deliberation”, reports NDTV.

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SC to hear plea seeking cancellation of remaining CBSE Class 12 papers

The Supreme Court is expected to deliver its order on a plea seeking cancellation of the remaining Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class 12 examinations on Thursday.

The outcome of the case will also have a bearing on the pending exams of the Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE). The board has said the remaining exams, put on hold due to the coronavirus outbreak, will be held in July but has given students the option of not writing the papers.

Coronavirus Outbreak in Tamil Nadu Latest Updates

Over 17,000 people from TN stranded in various countries brought back: Centre informs HC

The Centre has informed the Madras High Court that 17,701 people from Tamil Nadu stranded in various countries due to travel curbs following the COVID-19 pandemic were brought back through 50 flights.

The Union External Affairs Ministry made the submission in a counter-affidavit on a petition by the DMK seeking details on bringing Tamils stuck abroad because of COVID-19 and suspension of flights. The Ministry said 45,242 repatriation requests were received from people of Tamil Nadu stranded in different countries.

Coronavirus Outbreak in Nagaland Latest Updates

12 Army personnel test positive for COVID-19 in Nagaland

Twelve Army personnel have tested positive for COVID-19 in Nagaland’s Kohima district, officials said on Thursday. Health and Family Welfare Department officials said 12 Army personnel of Jakhama army camp quarantine centre tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday.

A group of army personnel had returned to Jakhama garrison from different parts of the country last week and were put under strict quarantine as per the military SOP rules within the camp jurisdiction, officials said.

Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Updates

ASHA workers in Maharashtra likely to get pay hike

As many as 65,000 ASHA workers in Maharashtra are likely to get a monthly pay hike of Rs 2,000 as an incentive for their hard work during the time of the COVID-19 crisis, a government official said. The Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA workers) have so far been earning about Rs 10,000 per month, he said.

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Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu remain worst-hit

With 1,42,900 confirmed cases of COVID-19 so far, Maharashtra remains the worst-affected state in the country, followed by Delhi (70,390) and Tamil Nadu (67,468).

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India reports 16,922 new cases, 418 deaths in past 24 hours

India records 16,922 new infections, taking the overall count to 4,73,105. The toll rose to 14,894 with 418 new deaths. This is by far the biggest single-day rise in the number of new cases.

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Global COVID-19 cases stand at 93.3 lakh, toll at 4.7 lakh

The total confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the world stand at 93.3 lakh, according to the Johns Hopkins University CSSE. This figure includes COVID-19 patients who have recovered and the overall global death toll which stands at 4.7 lakh.

With over 23.4 lakh reported cases to date, the United States is the worst-affected country in the world. The US is followed by Brazil, Russia, India, and the United Kingdom.

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One crore global COVID-19 cases by next week likely: WHO Director-General

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom yesterday said he expects the global COVID-19 case tally to reach one crore next week. The number of COVID-19 cases across the world is currently at about 93.3 lakh. The WHO chief reiterated the urgent need to use all tools to suppress the transmission of the novel coronavirus.

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US citizens likely to be left out as Europe reopens borders

Americans are unlikely to be allowed into more than 30 European countries for business or tourism when the continent begins next week to open its borders to the world, due to the spread of the coronavirus and President Donald Trump’s ban on European visitors, reports AP.

Coronavirus Outbreak in West Bengal Latest Updates

Mamata orders extension of lockdown in West Bengal till 31 July

Amid spiralling COVID-19 cases in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday announced the extension of the lockdown till 31 July with the continuance of the existing relaxations. The ongoing lockdown was to end on 30 June.

West Bengal’s tally of COVID-19 cases climbed to 15,173 with 445 fresh infections on Wednesday, while the death toll rose to 591 as 11 more people succumbed to the disease, health department officials said.