Highlights: Delhi govt imposes 70% tax on liquor, to be implemented from May 5

Union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Monday said that more stringent action needs to be taken in Delhi given the current Covid-19 situation in the national capital.

He told reporters, "Delhi is one of the places where considering the current status, more stringent action needs to be taken. I think that minimum relaxations should be given by Delhi government amid coronavirus lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19."

#WATCH Delhi is one of the places where considering the current status, more stringent action needs to be taken. I think that minimum relaxations should be given by Delhi Govt amid #CoronavirusLockdown to curb the spread of #COVID19: Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan. pic.twitter.com/hHB5xQdXWe

— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2020

Delhi's Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal held the first Cabinet meeting in the Secretariat today after government offices were allowed to be opened by the the AAP government from today.

The country's largest two-wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp on Monday said it has resumed operations across three of its manufacturing plants with actual product roll-out expected to begin from Wednesday, reports PTI.

The company is commencing operations in a graded manner at three of its manufacturing plants – Gurugram, Dharuhera (both in Haryana) and Haridwar (Uttarakhand), Hero MotoCorp said in a statement.Additionally, the company’s Global Parts Center (GPC) at Neemrana in Rajasthan has also resumed operations.

The decision comes in the wake of the relaxations put in place by the government on the countrywide lockdown and the necessary permissions granted by local authorities, it added.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has also slammed the Centre over the issue of the migrants being reportedly charged for rail tickets.

In a tweet in Hindi on Monday, she said if Indians stuck abroad can be brought back to India free of cost, then why can't the labourers be ferried free of cost by the railways.

..जब रेल मंत्री पीएम केयर फंड में 151 करोड़ रु दे सकते हैं तो फिर मजदूरों को आपदा की इस घड़ी में निशुल्क रेल यात्रा की सुविधा क्यों नहीं दे सकते?

भारतीय राष्ट्रीय कांग्रेस ने निर्णय लिया है कि घर लौटने वाले मजदूरों की रेल यात्रा का पूरा खर्च उठाएगी।

2/2

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) May 4, 2020

Nearly 4,800 Indian nationals, most of whom are living in dormitories for foreign workers, have been tested positive with the novel coronavirus in Singapore till the end of April, the Indian High Commissioner here said on Monday, reports PTI.

The total number of coronavirus cases in Singapore are 18,205 with 18 deaths, according to the figures released by Singapore Health Ministry on Sunday.

"Almost all of the infection among Indian workers is mild and their conditions are improving,” Jawed Ashraf, Indian High Commissioner to Singapore, told PTI.

The Covid-19 cases in Jaipur crossed the 1,000-mark on Monday as it registered 12 new cases taking its tally to 1,005 while the state overall crossed the 3,000-mark registering a total number of 3,009 cases, said Additional Chief Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh, reports IANS.

A total of 123 COVID-19 cases was reported in Rajasthan in the last 12 hours out of which 73 were from Jodhpur, 19 from Chittaurgarh, 12 from Jaipur, 11 from Pali, three from Kota, two from Rajsamand, and one each from Bikaner, Alwar and Udaipur, Singh said.

Five trains bound for Bihar from Kerala were cancelled at the last minute. Kerala Chief Secretary Tom Jose said the trains were cancelled due to intimation from Bihar. The state government will have to make arrangements so we were asked to go slow, he said.

Even as the third phase of the lockdown started from Monday, the Delhi-Noida border continued to remain sealed with all previous restrictions in place despite relaxations within the district.

The Gautam Buddh Nagar police has extended the restrictions imposed in the district under CrPC section 144 by another two weeks in view of the nationwide lockdown that is slated to continue till May 17, reports PTI.

Gatherings like political, social or religious congregations, protest rallies and sports events will remain banned across Noida and Greater Noida during the lockdown period, the officials said.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday hit out at the central government for charging migrant workers for rail travel during the Covid-19 lockdown.

In a tweet in Hindi he said, "On the one hand, the Railways is charging ticket fare from migrant workers stranded in various states of the country, on the other hand, the Ministry of Railways is donating ₹151 crore in PM-CARES Fund. Solve this puzzle!

Citing a media report, Rahul Gandhi said that the Railways is charging migrants for rail tickets at the same time donating money in the PM-CARES Fund.

एक तरफ रेलवे दूसरे राज्यों में फँसे मजदूरों से टिकट का भाड़ा वसूल रही है वहीं दूसरी तरफ रेल मंत्रालय पीएम केयर फंड में 151 करोड़ रुपए का चंदा दे रहा है।

जरा ये गुत्थी सुलझाइए! pic.twitter.com/qaN0k5NwpG

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 4, 2020

Congress party is holding a virtual press conference on the Centre's decision to charge migrants for rail travel.

Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala questions the decision. Says, if there is not enough money to spend on rail travel in PMCares Fund, then what is the fund being used for.

A 29-year-old female has tested positive for Covid-19 in Odisha on Monday, taking the total number of positive cases in the state to 163: Information & Public Relations Department, Government of Odisha.

Rajasthan reported four deaths and 123 new Covid-19 cases today. Total positive cases stand at 3009 and death toll is 75, as per the state health department: ANI

People line up outside a liquor shop in east Delhi's Laxmi Nagar after the Delhi government allowed sale of liquor in standalone shops, neighbourhood (colony)shops or shops in residential complexes.

Delhi is among some of the states that have allowed liquor sale as part of easing of curbs that have come into effect from today.

People line up outside a liquor shop in Laxmi Nagar after Delhi govt allowed sale of liquor in standalone shops, neighbourhood (colony)shops or shops in residential complexes. pic.twitter.com/ADyPE8ZUYQ

— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2020

A total of 11,07,233 samples have been tested for Covid-19 as on 4th May, 9 AM says Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Salons opened in Goa's capital Panaji on Monday following the revised guidelines issued by Ministry of Home Affairs for the lockdown that has been extended till May 17.

Goa: Salons open in Panaji following the revised guidelines issued by Ministry of Home Affairs for the lockdown that has been extended till May 17. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/5FFmv3rCAR

— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2020