Lockdown 5.0: Nationwide lockdown in containment zones extended up to June 30

For lockdown 5.0, the Centre is exploring ways to fulfill the demand of opening hotels, restaurants, beaches, etc. It is expected that the Union Government may come up with more relaxations which will kick start economic activities in some states. The economies of States and Union Territories such as Puducherry, Kerala, Goa, etc and some North-eastern states are heavily dependent on tourism and hospitality, which is yet to get relaxation from lockdown restrictions.

The three Indian companies are Alpha Design Technologies Pvt Ltd, Bharat Forge Ltd and Medha Servo Drives Pvt Ltd, the space organisation said in a statement on Friday. Apart from the Indian firms, 18 other companies, including eight American and three Brazilian, have been selected to manufacture the critical breathing devices. Nasa developed the ventilator specifically for coronavirus patients at its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JLP) in Southern California.

Brazil now has the fifth highest death toll from COVID-19 worldwide, registering over 1,000 deaths in the past 24 hours and registering a hike in the total tally of new cases to 27,878, the government said on Friday. In the last 24 hours, Brazil reached a record milestone for 26,928 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, bringing the nationwide total to 465,166.

Addressing a press conference on Friday, New York governor Cuomo said the city is on track to meet all the metrics and will enter phase one of reopening on June 8. "Phase one should bring about 4,000,000 employees back to work in New York City. Remember that reopening does not mean we're going back to the way things were...It is reopening to a new normal, it's a safer normal," Cuomo said.

Researchers conducted genetic analysis of the novel coronavirus and its similar variants in animals, and confirmed that its closest relative is a coronavirus that infects bats. In the study they said the ability of the virus, SARS-CoV-2 to infect humans was gained by exchanging a critical gene fragment from a coronavirus that infects a scaly mammal called a pangolin.

Malegaon has recorded 763 cases, followed Nashik city at 179 and 168 reported from other parts of the region. Among the 61 COVID-19 deaths reported in the district, 48 patients were from Malegaon, eight from Nashik city, three from other parts of the district and two from outside the district.

Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday indicated that Maharashtra, especially hotspots like Mumbai and Pune, would continue to remain under lockdown—albeit with a few further relaxations—once Version 4.0 ends this Sunday. He claimed the state government had the overall Covid-19 numbers under control and that the fatality rate had come down, but added that it was still not time to lower one's guard.

The total number of COVID-19 infected personnel is now 2,325 in the state and 26 have died so far.

The first aircraft with over 160 passengers from Kolkata arrived at Agartala airport on Friday after the resumption of commercial flight amid COVID-19 induced nationwide lockdown. Agartala airport is taking care of social distancing norms, sanitization, web check-in and contactless passenger boarding. Passengers at airport are being provided PPE kits including mask, face shield and gloves at the security hold area, Agartala airport director said.

The bus carrying 38 passengers was on its way to Kolkata when it skidded off the National Highway 16 and overturned near Balasore town, causing injuries to seven persons, a police official said. Police and fire service personnel rushed to the spot and rescued the passengers with the help of locals, while the injured persons were sent to the district headquarters hospital here, he said.

Total number of cases in the state is now 8,414. Death toll stands at 185.