As Bihar election approaches, the Election Commission of India has issued fresh guidelines in view of the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the state. The state elections are likely to be held between October and November since the term of the current legislative assembly ends on November 29.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lalu-targets-nitish-for-not-venturing-out-of-home-sushil-modi-hits-back-314128">Also Read:&nbsp;Lalu targets Nitish for not venturing out of home; Sushil Modi hits back</a>

The Bihar election will be first state polls to take place since the outbreak of coronavirus in India this year.

The Election Commission arrived at its guidelines after taking suggestions from various parties and chief electoral officers of various states. The EC has made it mandatory for all votes to wear masks with hand gloves to be provided to voters as they sign the register and press the EVM button.

The election body however informed that all voters would need to remove their masks for identification by officials at the time of voting.

According to EC's rule, maximum of &nbsp;1,000 voters can vote at a polling station and if a voter shows symptoms of coronavirus, the person would be given a token and would be asked to come and vote in the last hour of polling.

Also, just two people can accompany a candidate during nomination. India's poll watchdog has also laid down that only five people can campaign door-to-door, and has restricted the convoy for the roadshow to five vehicles only.

The EC has said that quarantined coronavirus patients will be allowed to vote in the last hour of voting which would be strictly supervised by health officials.

As Bihar election approaches, the Election Commission of India has issued fresh guidelines in view of the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the state. The state elections are likely to be held between October and November since the term of the current legislative assembly ends on November 29.

As Bihar election approaches, the Election Commission of India has issued fresh guidelines in view of the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the state. The state elections are likely to be held between October and November since the term of the current legislative assembly ends on November 29. Also Read: Lalu targets Nitish for not venturing out of home; Sushil Modi hits back The Bihar election will be first state polls to take place since the outbreak of coronavirus in India this year. The Election Commission arrived at its guidelines after taking suggestions from various parties and chief electoral officers of various states. The EC has made it mandatory for all votes to wear masks with hand gloves to be provided to voters as they sign the register and press the EVM button. The election body however informed that all voters would need to remove their masks for identification by officials at the time of voting. According to EC's rule, maximum of 1,000 voters can vote at a polling station and if a voter shows symptoms of coronavirus, the person would be given a token and would be asked to come and vote in the last hour of polling. Also, just two people can accompany a candidate during nomination. India's poll watchdog has also laid down that only five people can campaign door-to-door, and has restricted the convoy for the roadshow to five vehicles only. The EC has said that quarantined coronavirus patients will be allowed to vote in the last hour of voting which would be strictly supervised by health officials.

Election Commission of India issues COVID-19 guidelines for conduct of Bihar polls

The Indian state of Bihar will re-impose a 15-day lockdown to fight coronavirus and curb the surge in cases, as per state's deputy chief minister said Tuesday.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/kashmir-reopens-for-tourists-with-sops-and-guidelines-313249" hreflang="en">Kashmir reopens for tourists with SOPs and guidelines</a>

"Bihar government has decided on a 15-day lockdown from July 16 to July 31. All city municipalities, district headquarters, block headquarters will stay under lockdown. The guidelines are being finalised," Sushil Kumar Modi tweeted.

Bihar has a population of around 125 million and reported almost 19,000 cases including 134 deaths, as per local health authorities. On Tuesday, the state witnessed a record jump of new cases in one day after reporting 1,432 cases in the last 24 hours.&nbsp;

"There is no medicine or vaccine for corona. We have to ensure that we cover our faces with masks, handkerchiefs or towels," the deputy chief minister said.

India's number of case in deadly coronavirus infections crosses 9 lakh mark with 28,498 new cases and 553 deaths reported in the last 24 hours. The total cases stand at 9, 06,752 including 3, 11,565 active cases, 5, 71,460 cured and 23,727 deaths, according to the latest update from the Ministry of Health.&nbsp;

The recovery rate among COVID-19 patients has increased to 63.02%, while the recoveries deaths ratio is 96.01%:3.99%, stated the Government of India.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, India tested 1, 20, 92,503 samples tested for COVID-19 till July 13, of these 2, 86,247 samples were tested yesterday.

The World Health Organisation has said the pandemic is getting worse and worse with time as too many countries are going in the wrong direction. Tedros called for countries to come up with comprehensive strategies, and noted that roughly half of all new cases are in the Americas.&nbsp;

The number of deadly coronavirus cases around the world increased by a million in just five days.

As many as 13,236,252 people have been diagnosed with Covid-19 around the world so far. While more than 7,691,451 have recovered, 575,540 have died, according to Worldometer.&nbsp;

The Indian state of Bihar will re-impose a 15-day lockdown to fight coronavirus and curb the surge in cases, as per state's deputy chief minister said Tuesday. Also read: Kashmir reopens for tourists with SOPs and guidelines "Bihar government has decided on a 15-day lockdown from July 16 to July 31.

The Indian state of Bihar will re-impose a 15-day lockdown to fight coronavirus and curb the surge in cases, as per state's deputy chief minister said Tuesday. Also read: Kashmir reopens for tourists with SOPs and guidelines "Bihar government has decided on a 15-day lockdown from July 16 to July 31. All city municipalities, district headquarters, block headquarters will stay under lockdown. The guidelines are being finalised," Sushil Kumar Modi tweeted. Bihar has a population of around 125 million and reported almost 19,000 cases including 134 deaths, as per local health authorities. On Tuesday, the state witnessed a record jump of new cases in one day after reporting 1,432 cases in the last 24 hours. "There is no medicine or vaccine for corona. We have to ensure that we cover our faces with masks, handkerchiefs or towels," the deputy chief minister said. India's number of case in deadly coronavirus infections crosses 9 lakh mark with 28,498 new cases and 553 deaths reported in the last 24 hours. The total cases stand at 9, 06,752 including 3, 11,565 active cases, 5, 71,460 cured and 23,727 deaths, according to the latest update from the Ministry of Health. The recovery rate among COVID-19 patients has increased to 63.02%, while the recoveries deaths ratio is 96.01%:3.99%, stated the Government of India. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, India tested 1, 20, 92,503 samples tested for COVID-19 till July 13, of these 2, 86,247 samples were tested yesterday. The World Health Organisation has said the pandemic is getting worse and worse with time as too many countries are going in the wrong direction. Tedros called for countries to come up with comprehensive strategies, and noted that roughly half of all new cases are in the Americas. The number of deadly coronavirus cases around the world increased by a million in just five days. As many as 13,236,252 people have been diagnosed with Covid-19 around the world so far. While more than 7,691,451 have recovered, 575,540 have died, according to Worldometer.

Bihar to impose 15-day lockdown to curb surge in COVID-19 cases

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar during the video conference with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that extending the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/fight-against-coronavirus-has-to-be-more-focused-now-pm-modi-to-state-chief-ministers-298026">lockdown</a> will make it convenient to manage the migrants coming back to the state.&nbsp;

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"It will help in detecting possibly infected persons and containing the spread of coronavirus," the Bihar chief minister told the Indian prime minister.

"We will agree with whatever decision the central government takes on lockdown but our advice is to extend the lockdown till the end of May," CM Nitish Kumar said.

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan told the Indian prime minister that states face "different challenges" and should be given the freedom to make reasonable changes to the guidelines relating to the lockdown.

The nationwide lockdown which was announced by PM Modi on March 24 was extended till May 17 as the coronavirus cases began increasing.

"Economic activities should be allowed to resume in all parts of Delhi except containment zones," chief minister Arvind Kejriwal told India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi during video conference.

Chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to resume the passenger train services in order to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Ecohing the thoughts of other chief ministers, Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh during video conference with PM Narendra Modi pitched for extension of the lockdown but with a carefully crafted strategy, backed by fiscal and economic empowerment of the states.

(With ANI inputs)

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar during the video conference with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that extending the lockdown will make it convenient to manage the migrants coming back to the state.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar during the video conference with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that extending the lockdown will make it convenient to manage the migrants coming back to the state. Also Read: Maharashtra reports 1,230 new coronavirus cases, 36 deaths in 24 hours "It will help in detecting possibly infected persons and containing the spread of coronavirus," the Bihar chief minister told the Indian prime minister. "We will agree with whatever decision the central government takes on lockdown but our advice is to extend the lockdown till the end of May," CM Nitish Kumar said. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan told the Indian prime minister that states face "different challenges" and should be given the freedom to make reasonable changes to the guidelines relating to the lockdown. The nationwide lockdown which was announced by PM Modi on March 24 was extended till May 17 as the coronavirus cases began increasing. "Economic activities should be allowed to resume in all parts of Delhi except containment zones," chief minister Arvind Kejriwal told India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi during video conference. Chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to resume the passenger train services in order to stop the spread of coronavirus. Ecohing the thoughts of other chief ministers, Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh during video conference with PM Narendra Modi pitched for extension of the lockdown but with a carefully crafted strategy, backed by fiscal and economic empowerment of the states. (With ANI inputs)

Extend lockdown till May end: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar to PM Modi during video conference

Rajasthan today reported 130 new<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/two-floors-of-bsf-headquarters-sealed-after-staffer-tests-positive-for-coronavirus-296560"> coronavirus</a> cases with the total number of cases rising to 3,016 in the state.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-to-pay-for-rail-tickets-of-every-needy-migrant-worker-amid-lockdown-sonia-gandhi-296497">Also Read:&nbsp;Congress to pay for rail tickets of every needy migrant worker, says&nbsp;Sonia Gandhi</a>

There have been 6 deaths in the last 24 hours due to the virus with the death toll rising to 77 in the state, health authorities said on Monday.

Meanwhile, Alok Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Police (eastern range) said: "All liquor shops in the eastern range that were opened today have been closed as social distancing norms were flouted in those shops."

Long queues were seen in several areas including in Andhra Pradesh's Nuzividu road of Hanuman junction town of Krishna district with authorities keeping a keen eye on social distancing guidelines. In Maharashtra too which has seen the highest number of cases and casualties witnessed people queuing out of liquor shops in large numbers.

As migrants continued to return home, chief minister Nitish Kumar said: "I want to thank Centre for considering the suggestion to run special trains to send the people of Bihar who are stranded in other states back home."

"Nobody will have to pay for the tickets. A quarantine center has been set up for them," the Bihar chief minister said.

"All of them will be staying at the quarantine center for 21 days. After which they will be given a minimum amount of Rs 1,000 each by the Bihar government. Under this scheme, Rs 1,000 has been already given to 19 lakh people in the state," CM Nitish Kumar added.

Rajasthan today reported 130 new coronavirus cases with the total number of cases rising to 3,016 in the state. Also Read: Congress to pay for rail tickets of every needy migrant worker, says Sonia Gandhi There have been 6 deaths in the last 24 hours due to the virus with the death toll rising to 77 in the state, health authorities said on Monday.

Rajasthan today reported 130 new coronavirus cases with the total number of cases rising to 3,016 in the state. Also Read: Congress to pay for rail tickets of every needy migrant worker, says Sonia Gandhi There have been 6 deaths in the last 24 hours due to the virus with the death toll rising to 77 in the state, health authorities said on Monday. Meanwhile, Alok Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Police (eastern range) said: "All liquor shops in the eastern range that were opened today have been closed as social distancing norms were flouted in those shops." Long queues were seen in several areas including in Andhra Pradesh's Nuzividu road of Hanuman junction town of Krishna district with authorities keeping a keen eye on social distancing guidelines. In Maharashtra too which has seen the highest number of cases and casualties witnessed people queuing out of liquor shops in large numbers. As migrants continued to return home, chief minister Nitish Kumar said: "I want to thank Centre for considering the suggestion to run special trains to send the people of Bihar who are stranded in other states back home." "Nobody will have to pay for the tickets. A quarantine center has been set up for them," the Bihar chief minister said. "All of them will be staying at the quarantine center for 21 days. After which they will be given a minimum amount of Rs 1,000 each by the Bihar government. Under this scheme, Rs 1,000 has been already given to 19 lakh people in the state," CM Nitish Kumar added.

Nobody will have to pay for train tickets, migrants to be given Rs 1000 after quarantine: CM Nitish Kumar

Uttar Pradesh on Thursday reported 61 more <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-reports-1229-new-coronavirus-cases-34-new-deaths-21700-infected-nationwide-294299">coronavirus</a> cases taking the total number of cases in the state to 1,510.

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The state health department informed that there are 1,280 active cases of COVID-19 infections with 206 people having been discharged.

UP has recorded 24 deaths due to the virus so far.

Meanwhile, Delhi's Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan hospital sent at least 56 people to quarantine after a dietician associated with the hospital tested positive for coronavirus.

Bihar today recorded nine&nbsp;more coronavirus cases taking the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases to 162.

Indian Army sources told ANI that three personnel tested positive for the virus in Baroda, Gujarat.

An ATM booth was reportedly the "common source" as the Army personnel were withdrawing money from it on the same day. At least 28 close contacts of the Army personnel have been quarantined.

In Rajasthan, 76 more coronavirus cases were detected taking the total number of cases in the state to 1,964.

(With ANI inputs) 
&nbsp;

Uttar Pradesh on Thursday reported 61 more coronavirus cases taking the total number of cases in the state to 1,510. Also Read: Bengaluru team to conduct trial on convalescent plasma therapy The state health department informed that there are 1,280 active cases of COVID-19 infections with 206 people having been discharged.

Uttar Pradesh on Thursday reported 61 more coronavirus cases taking the total number of cases in the state to 1,510. Also Read: Bengaluru team to conduct trial on convalescent plasma therapy The state health department informed that there are 1,280 active cases of COVID-19 infections with 206 people having been discharged. UP has recorded 24 deaths due to the virus so far. Meanwhile, Delhi's Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan hospital sent at least 56 people to quarantine after a dietician associated with the hospital tested positive for coronavirus. Bihar today recorded nine more coronavirus cases taking the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases to 162. Indian Army sources told ANI that three personnel tested positive for the virus in Baroda, Gujarat. An ATM booth was reportedly the "common source" as the Army personnel were withdrawing money from it on the same day. At least 28 close contacts of the Army personnel have been quarantined. In Rajasthan, 76 more coronavirus cases were detected taking the total number of cases in the state to 1,964. (With ANI inputs)

Delhi hospital sends 56 to quarantine after dietician tests positive for COVID-19