India’s novel coronavirus (COVID-19) count inched close to the 50,000-mark. The deadly COVID-19 infected 49,391 in India, including 33,514 active cases.

In the last 24 hours, 2,958 new cases and 126 deaths were reported, as per the latest figures from the Union Health Ministry.

126 deaths were reported on May 5th, 2020, taking a total number of deaths in the country to 1,694.

The Health Ministry has said 14,182 people have been cured or discharged so far.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 5th, 2020 chaired a meeting of the special task force created to meet the challenge posed by the highly contagious virus.

The meeting was meant to discuss the progress in India’s efforts in vaccine development, drug discovery, diagnosis and test.

The government said more than 30 vaccines for coronavirus are in different stages of development. A few of them are at the trial stage.

Appreciating the scientific coming together of computer science, chemistry and biotechnology in drug discovery, Modi suggested that a hackathon be held on this subject, linking computer science to synthesis and testing in the laboratory.

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