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10.20PM

Covid19 cases in India crossed 14,000 Active cases in India crossed 11,000

As the country enters its 24th day of the nationwide lockdown, the tally of positive cases crosses 14,000 while the number of reported deaths is at 455. Maharashtra and Delhi remain the worst hit with the number of positive cases crossing 3,200 and 1,600, respectively. This morning, the RBI announced a 25-bps-cut in the reverse repo rate, maintaining that India is on a positive growth trajectory. Globally, the death toll from the virus has crossed 1,40,000, with the US alone accounting for over 32,000 deaths.

10.10 P.M. | RAJASTHAN

98 new cases in Rajasthan

98 new COVID-19 positive cases were detected in Rajasthan today, taking the State’s tally to 1,229. A total of 183 patients have been cured and 93 of them discharged from hospitals, according to the Medical & Health Department.

9.55 PM | ODISHA

Two more patients recover in Odisha

Two more COVID-19 patients, both of Bhubaneswar, have recovered and tested negative. Of the total 60 cases in Odisha so far, 21 have recovered, 38 are under treatment and one person has died, according to Health Department.

9.50 | NEW DELHI

67 new COVID-19 cases reported in Delhi

67 new COVID 19 positive cases were reported in the capital today with four deaths. The total number of cases now stands at 1707 with 42 deaths. Also, 21 patients were discharged today bringing the total number of patients discharged to 72 .

9.20 PM  | NEW DELHI

MHA asks states to screen Rohingya refugees for Covid-19 as many of them attended Nizamuddin meet

The Home Ministry has asked all states and UTs to screen Rohingya Muslims living in their jurisdiction for Covid-19 as many of them had attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi’s Nizamuddin, officials said on Friday.

In a communication to Chief Secretaries and DGPs, the ministry said there have been reports that several Rohingya Muslims have attended ‘Ijtemas’ and other religious congregations of Tablighi Jamaat and there is a possibility of their contracting Covid-19.

9.00 PM  | NEW DELHI

PM Modi assures India’s support to South Africa for essential medical supplies

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday assured India’s support to South Africa in maintaining essential medical supplies to fight the novel coronavirus pandemic.

“Had a good discussion with President @CyrilRamaphosa about the COVID-19 challenge, and assured India’s support to South Africa for maintaining essential medical supplies,” the prime minister tweeted.

8.45 PM | KARNATAKA

44 new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Karnataka; total at 359

In a record spike for the state, a staggering 44 new positive cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Karnataka, taking the number of infections to 359, the Health department said on Friday.

With 44 new cases, this is the highest single day tally in the state so far, after 36 new cases were reported on Thursday.

8.35 PM | MEGHALAYA

Take action against anyone hampering last rites of COVID-19 patients: HC to authorities

The Meghalaya High Court has directed authorities to take legal action against anyone obstructing the cremation or burial of COVID-19 victims in the state.

The direction came after a 69-year-old doctor, the first coronavirus fatality in Meghalaya, was buried a day after his death on Wednesday due to protests and denial of permission by a town body and a crematorium

8.20 PM | NEW DELHI

650 armed forces medical officers to be deployed to treat COVID-19 patients

Around 650 armed forces medical officers, pursuing post graduation, are being deployed at military healthcare facilities handling coronavirus patients across the country, officials said on Friday.

At present, the medical officers are undergoing training at Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) in Pune.

The decision to deploy the officers for treatment of coronavirus patients was taken at a meeting Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held to review contribution of the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) in assisting civilian authorities in various parts of the country to deal with rising COVID-19 cases.

8.00 PM | GUJARAT

Gujarat reports 78 new cases

A sharp rise of coronavirus cases continues in Gujarat. As many as 78 new cases and 3 deaths were reported on Friday evening, taking the numbers to 1099 cases and 41 deaths. Silver lining is 12 have been recovered and discharged. As of now, nine persons are on ventilator support while 963 patients are stable across the state.

–Mahesh LangaGujarat Police Woman reacts to a swab test at the Urban Primary Health Care Center in Vejalpur at Ahmedabad on April 17.

7.45 PM | NEW DELHI

Examine issue of school fee payment: CBSE

In the wake of the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown, the CBSE on Friday advised states and union territories to examine the issues of school fees payment and salaries to teachers “sensitively and holistically” keeping in mind the interest of all stakeholders.

7.35 PM | TAMIL NADU

Tamil Nadu reports 56 new cases

After witnessing a dip in the number of new coronavirus positive cases in the last couple of days, Tamil Nadu on Friday saw as many as 56 people testing positive for the contagion taking the total to 1,323, the State government said.

While 23,934 people are in home quarantine, those in government facilities are 34 and 29,673 samples have been tested till date, the government said.

7.30 PM | ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR

Man tests positive for COVID-19 in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

A government employee tested positive for the COVID-19 in Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Friday, officials said.

The 49-year-old man is the first positive case after the administration started pool testing of samples, they said. Andaman and Nicobar.

The fresh case has taken the total number of people infected with the deadly virus to 12 in the Union Territory.

The administration has adopted the “pool testing” method using less kits for more tests in the fight against the deadly virus. The new method has been effective for efficiently utilising the resources available to combat the coronavirus outbreak here in these remote islands, according to the officials.

The new method involves testing multiple samples in a single test. If a batch tests positive, then everyone whose samples were a part of that batch would have to be tested separately.

“Five samples per testing kit are used. So, 25 kits are required for testing 100 samples,” a health department official had earlier said.

7.10 PM | NEW DELHI

Doubling rate of COVID-19 cases reduced with imposition of lockdown, says Health Ministry

The Union Health Ministry said on Friday that the rate at which the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the country was becoming double in the last one week was 6.2 days, as against three days before the nationwide lockdown was imposed.

Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary of the Health Ministry, further informed that five lakh rapid antibody testing kits, which arrived from China on Thursday, are being distributed to States for districts with high case burden.

Doubling rate of COVID-19 cases reduced with imposition of lockdown, says Health Ministry

6.50 PM | TAMIL NADU

Tamil Nadu gets 24k rapid test kits: CM Palaniswami

Tamil Nadu on Friday received 24,000 rapid test kits from China to screen for coronavirus and the state government has sought 50,000 more from the Centre, Chief Minister K Palaniswami said.

This was out of the order placed for 1.25 lakh kits, which would enable results in shorter time, he told reporters here.

6.40 PM | WEST BENGAL

22 more test positive for COVID-19 in West Bengal

At least 22 people tested positive for COVID-19 in different parts of West Bengal in the last 24 hours, Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha said on Friday.

Four persons were discharged after recovering from the disease during the period. Taking the fresh cases into account, the number of active COVID-19 patients in the state rose to 162, Mr. Sinha said.

According to the state health department, West Bengal has reported 210 COVID-19 cases so far.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, however, put the figure at 251 on its website.

6.25 PM | MAHARASHTRA

Dharavi reports 15 new cases

Dharavi crossed 100 cases on Friday, totalling 101. It also reported its tenth death. Asia’s largest slum reported 15 new cases on Friday, mostly from Muslim Nagar and Matunga Labour Camp areas. The deceased is a 62 year-old man from Dharavi.

6.10 PM | GUJARAT

Gujarat govt. offices to reopen from April 20th

Gujarat government offices to reopen with limited staff and adequate measures of social distancing and sanitation etc from April 20th.

6.05 PM | NEW DELHI

HRD Minister asks private schools not to hike fees

Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank asks private schools to consider not hiking fees this year, and also not demanding upfront quarterly fee during this time of lockdown.

6.00 PM | BIHAR

Bihar reports second COVID-19 death

A 35 year old youth died of COVID-19 in Bihar at Patna AIIMS. He was from Vaishali district. With this, Bihar reports two deaths due to the coronavirus pandemic.

5.50 PM | KARNATAKA

Kodagu district administration offers tele-medicine facility

Soon after launching an online supermarket for door delivery of essentials to the people, who are confined to their houses during lockdown, the Kodagu district administration has taken its e-initiative forward by offering tele-medicine facility to its people.

Making use of available technology, the Kodagu district administration has started a website www.kodaguedoc.letstart.in for the benefit of dispensing tele-medicine at a time when most health facilities including clinics of doctors across the State have shut shop.

5.40 PM | WEST BENGAL

Patients inconvenienced as hospitals close for sanitisation after COVID-19 deaths

With several hospitals in Kolkata and neighbouring Howrah district ceasing operations after patients admitted there died due to COVID-19, people have been largely inconvenienced, some having to go without treatment for their ailments over the past week.

Apart from Charnock Hospital, SS Chatterjee Heart Clinic and State-run Howrah General Hospital – which have completely shut down operations – specific wards of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, NRS Medical College and Hospital and the Calcutta Medical College have also stopped functioning for the time being, with authorities there working to get the premises sanitised, an official said.

The decision to shut down these facilities has affected many patients who need treatment, but the move was necessary to ensure safety of people and medical professionals, the Health department official said.

– PTI

5.35 PM | LONDON

17 more flights to repatriate stranded Britons from India

The U.K. government announced an additional 17 charter flights next week, with a total capacity of around 4,000 passengers, to bring home British nationals stranded in India since last month amidst the international travel lockdown over the coronavirus pandemic.

The latest flights are scheduled for London from Ahmedabad on April 20, 22, 24, 26; from Amritsar on April 21, 23, 25 and 27; from Bangalore (via Ahmedabad) on April 23; from Delhi on April 21, 23, 25 and 27; from Goa on April 20, 22 and 24; and from Mumbai on April 26.

The new set of flights takes the total number of repatriation flights from India to the U.K. to 38.

– PTI

5.30 PM | NEW DELHI

India sees steep rise in crimes against women amid lockdown: NCW

There has been a steep rise in crime against women across the country amid restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus outbreak, with the National Commission for Women receiving 587 complaints from March 23 to April 16, out of which 239 are related to domestic violence.

According to data shared by the NCW, 123 cases of domestic violence were received between February 27 and March 22. In the last 25 days, the commission received 239 more such complaints.

5.25 PM | NEW DELHI

Local brands now rule hand sanitizer market: Report

New entrants and smaller brands are now dominating the hand sanitizer market, a segment which has witnessed multi-fold surge in sales post the Covid-19 crisis, says a report.

Following the Covid-19 crisis, when demand for hand sanitizers increased, smaller players jumped in to exploit the demand surge and in the month of March, around 61 per cent of the market was captured by these newly launched brands, Nielsen said without naming the brands.

According to ‘Nielsen Covid-19 Impact on FMCG and Retail: Edition 2’, in March the top three players had only 38 per cent market share.

– PTI5.15 PM | HARYANA

Industries, including Maruti in Manesar, can resume operations in a phased manner in Haryana’s COVID-19 non-containment zones, says Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala.

– PTI

4.45 PM | KARNATAKA

A health worker carrying CSIR-CFTRI high protein biscuits to the Covid-19 patients being treated at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi.  

COVID-19 patients undergoing treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi have been fed with high-protein biscuits whose recipe was developed at the Mysuru-based CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI).

The Institute supplied 500 kg of high protein biscuits and 500 kg of high protein rusks to the Department of Dietetics of the AIIMS following an appeal from the AIIMS management for the nourishment of patients.

 4.30 PM | NEW DELHI

Will be able to procure 10 lakh rapid test kits by May: Health spokesperson

Work is underway on indigenous production of RTPCR kits. “By May we will be able to produce 10 lakh rapid test kits,” Health Ministry spokesperson says.

“Capacity for 6,000 ventillators per month has been created. 1,919 dedicated hospitals and healthcare centres have been set up, 1.73 lakh isolation beds and 21,800 ICU beds have been made available,” the spokesperson says.

Kerala has done well on its containment strategy, contact tracing and testing, the Health spokesperson says and adds that similar efforts were being made in other parts of the country.

Different genome sequences

The ICMR representative says that over 3.19 lakh tests have been conducted till yesterday. In one day, 28,340 tests were conducted.

He says that people in different countries have come with different genome sequences of the virus. “It won’t impact the type of medicine/vaccine, as the enzymes used in different strands are the same. This virus does not mutate much,” he adds.

According to some research, BCG re-vaccination has to be done in the adolescent phase. Till we have evidence of its effectiveness, we won’t prescribe it for health workers, he concludes.

4.10 PM | NEW DELHI

13% of the cases have been cured so far: Health Ministry spokesperson

Home Ministry spokesperson during the daily government briefing on COVID-19 says, “Cooperative Credit Societies have been allowed to function with minimum staff.” Water, roadways and residential projects in rural areas have also been given exemptions, he adds.

Over 100 tonnes of supplies have been transported to hospitals and individuals by the Indian Postal Service personnel. Over 2 lakh postal employees have been providing door-to-door service to the elderly, widows and differently-abled. They have also been helped to make banking transactions.

The spokesperson says, till now, 1,749 people have been cured, constituting over 13% of the cases. There have been 13,387 confirmed cases so far, including 1,007 new ones.

The doubling rate of spread is 6.2 days in the past seven days, says the Health Ministry spokesperson. There are 19 States and Union Territories where doubling rate is below the national average.

40% decline in growth factor

This is a product of how we are trying to manage the situation. The growth factor was was 1.2 on April 1, while between March 15 to March 31 it was 2.1. There has been a 40% decline in the growth factor.

The outcome ratio, which is the number of recovered cases over deaths, is 80%. 80% cases are recovering, compared to 20% deaths.

5 lakh rapid anti-body test kits are being distributed to the States, the spokesperson says.

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, The Department of Bio-technology, Department of Science and Technology and Department of Atomic Energy are contributing through their 30 labs to increasing testing capacity.

Partnering to develop drugs

“Work on in viral sequencing is in progress, we are working with global partners to develop effective vaccines. It is a time consuming effort and we are trying to accelerate it. Work on plasma therapy is also going  on. Also on effective drugs. There are several potential drugs, but none of them have proven results. India is partnering with WHO  in the trials. Existing drugs are being reevaluated for use in treating Covid-19 patients. Traditional medicine systems are also being explored,” he says.

4 PM | NEW DELHI

Containment ops to be scaled down if no secondary COVID-19 case reported for 4 weeks

Containment operations will be scaled down if no secondary positive case of COVID-19 is reported from a quarantine zone for at least four weeks after the last confirmed test has been isolated and all his contacts have been followed up for 28 days, the Union Health Ministry said.

According to the ministry’s “Updated containment plan for large outbreaks COVID-19”, a containment operation (large outbreak or cluster) is deemed to be over 28 days from the date the last case in that zone tests negative.

The closing of the surveillance for the clusters could be independent of one another provided there is no geographic continuity between clusters. However, the surveillance will continue for severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) and influenza-like illness (ILI).

– PTI

3.50 PM | NEW DELHI

Modi govt. leaving no stone unturned to fight COVID-19: Amit Shah

“Modi government is leaving no stone unturned in this fight against COVID-19, ensuring minimum disruption in people’s lives while planning for a strong and stable India in days ahead,” Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted.

Complimenting the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for the steps taken to boost the economy, Mr. Shah said such action will further reinforce Mr. Modi’s vision.

Coronavirus | Modi govt. leaving no stone unturned to fight COVID-19, says Amit Shah

3.50 PM | KERALA

The students of Thrissur Government Engineering College have come up with an invention to support the on-going preventive mission against COVID-19. They have prepared a COVID WISK (Walk-in Sample Kiosk) for safe collection of sample of symptomatic people.

Engineering students make walk-in sample collection kiosk in Thrissur

3.40 PM | HARYANA

Nuh and Panchkul districts report fresh cases

Coronavirus cases in Haryana rose to 221, with Nuh and Panchkula districts reporting fresh cases.

While worst-hit Nuh reported five cases, Panchkula, which saw a surge after nine members of a family earlier tested positive, reported two more cases, according to the State’s Health department bulletin.

– PTI

3.25 PM | TAMIL NADU

12 patients discharged in Coimbatore

12 patients were discharged from Government Medical College and ESI Hospital after recovering from COVID-19 in Coimbatore.

The patients were discharged after 14 days of treatment and will be under 14 days of house quarantine after their discharge. With this, 26 patients have been discharged from ESI Hospital so far, officials said.

12 patients discharged in Coimbatore after recovering from COVID-19

3.20 PM | MAHARASHTRA

Maharashtra’s tally at 3,236

At least 34 new COVID-19 cases were reported in about 12 hours from Maharashtra — the majority of them being from Pune. With this the State’s cumulative tally had touched 3,236 on Friday, said State health officials.

In all, 23 of the new cases were reported from Pune, while only six were from Mumbai as of now. Four more were reported from Malegaon in Nashik and one from Thane district, said authorities.

Coronavirus: 34 new cases reported in Maharashtra as tally goes up to 3,236

3.15 PM | RAJASTHAN

62 fresh cases reported in Rajasthan

Sixty-two new COVID-19 cases have been reported in Rajasthan today, taking the State’s tally to 1,193.

A total of 183 patients have been cured and 93 of them discharged from hospitals, according to Medical and Health Department.

3 PM | MALAYSIA

Malaysia turns back Rohingya boat over virus fears

Malaysia has denied entry to a boat carrying about 200 Rohingya due to coronavirus fears, the air force said, after news emerged this week that scores died on another crowded vessel.

Activists are now fearful that large numbers of Rohingya, a persecuted Muslim minority from mostly Buddhist Myanmar, may be trapped on boats at sea and unable to reach other countries.

The Rohingya boat was spotted Thursday by a Malaysian air force jet off the northwestern island of Langkawi and then intercepted by two navy vessels backed by a helicopter.

Malaysian sailors gave the Rohingya food before escorting them out of the country’s waters, the air force said.

– PTI2.55 PM | BELGIUM

Number of deaths due to COVID-19 passes 5,000 in Belgium.

– PTI

2.50 PM | KARNATAKA

Mandya reports 3 new cases

The number of COVID-19 cases in Mandya rose to 11 with three isolated persons from Malavalli testing positive for the virus.

All the three [P-322, P-323 and P-324] are primary contacts of P-171, a Malavalli resident who had attended the Tablighi Jamaat conference at Nizamuddin masjid in New Delhi last month, said the Department of Health and Family Welfare sources.

69 people have been isolated from Friday as they have been in contact with these three new COVID-19 patients, said Mandya Deputy Commissioner M.V. Venkatesh.

– M. T. Shiva Kumar2.45 PM | TAMIL NADU

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami conducting a review meeting with officials regarding preventive measures to control the spread of COVID-19 in Salem, 17 April, 2020.  

2.30 PM | TELANGANA

Export curbs on formulations of Paracetamol lifted

The Centre has permitted the export of formulations made from Paracetamol. The government has, however, decided to continue with the restriction on export of Paracetamol APIs that were placed, along with that on export of the formulations, on March 3.

A common fever medication globally, Paracetamol is the most sought after and widely used drug ever since the COVID-19 outbreak.

India removes export curbs on formulations from Paracetamol

2.20 PM | ODISHA

14-day quarantine for Odisha’s healthcare providers

Doctors, nurses and all health service providers in Odisha’s COVID-19 hospitals are placed under quarantine for 14 days after they have tended to patients for about the same period in a particular month, a top official here said.

Arrangements for safety have been made for health workers in the facilities earmarked for coronavirus patients, and those dealing with suspected or confirmed cases provided with Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), Development Commissioner S.C. Mohapatra said.

14-day quarantine in a month for docs, nurses in Odisha’s COVID-19 hospitals: Official

2.15 PM | TAMIL NADU

Anna University cancels all end-semester examinations. New dates to be announced later.

2.15 PM | NEW DELHI

Congress makes 10-point demand charter to Kejriwal govt.

Congress makes 10-point demand charter to the Kejriwal government in Delhi to help those in distress due to COVID-19.

Ajay Maken said that migrant workers were the backbone of any city and should be incentivised. The government must make them feel safe in Delhi and other towns, he says.

He says that the Congress was disappointed with the announcements made by the RBI and that the government should take more measures to help those affected by COVID-19

He also sought for  regulations to check the spread of the virus by delivery people in Delhi.

– PTI

2 PM | NEW DELHI

Women’s hockey team to raise funds for the poor affected by the lockdown

The Indian women’s hockey team launched a fun fitness challenge to raise funds for the migrant labourers whose families have been affected by the nationwide lockdown to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 18-day challenge aims to raise money through crowdfunding to feed at least 1,000 families while also encouraging people to adapt to an active lifestyle during the nationwide lockdown that has been extended till May 3.

Indian women’s hockey team to raise funds for poor affected by lockdown

1.55 PM | SRINAGAR

A COVID-19 patient, 70-year-old resident from north Kashmir, has died in a Srinagar hospital. The toll in J&K has touched five due to Coronavirus. The patient was admitted to the hospital on April 2, officials said.

1.50 PM | KARNATAKA

Positive cases in Dakshina Kannada rise to 13

A 39-year old resident of Uppinangady with travel history of Delhi and under quarantine since April 1, tested positive to Covid-19 on Saturday here. 

Deputy Commissioner Sindhu B Rupesh in a statement here said the person was kept in quarantine facility of the district administration since April 1. While the person tested negative for Covid-19 on April 2, samples collected on April 13 indicated that the person has contracted the disease.

The person is now shifted to district government Wenlock Hospital, the designated Covid hospital and is under treatment. With this, the total number of Covid-19 positive cases from DK rose to 13, while nine are already discharged and are under observation, the DC said.

1.45 PM | KARNATAKA

12 positive cases in Mysuru, in biggest single-day rise

In a biggest single-day rise in COVID-19 cases in Mysuru, 12 new positive cases have been reported and 11 of them are linked to the pharmaceutical company in Nanjangud.

Multiple cases are being reported from Mysuru almost on a daily basis after a brief lull and the spike in cases from Nanjangud had put the district among the country’s hotspots. Till date, 61 cases are linked to Jubilant Generics Limited in Nanjangud, which is now turning into be a biggest cluster.

11 cases – 10 from Nanjangud and one from Mysuru – are the contacts of Patient Number 52, the man who was the first employee of company to test positive.

1.40 PM | ODISHA

Odisha government has announced that it will to test 5,000 samples in Bhubaneswar over the next seven days for COVID-19. With a population of 10 lakh people, the city has emerged as a hotspot with 46 positive cases so far.

1.30 PM | UTTAR PRADESH

Man tests positive, booked for violating lockdown in U.P.

Unnao police have lodged an FIR against a person who tested positive for COVID-19 on charges of allegedly violating the lockdown norms by attending religious meetings.

The district, adjoining Lucknow, reported its first positive case on Thursday from the Kotwali area.

After the person tested positive, “during investigation we found out that the person along his friends was regularly violating the lockdown,” said Circle Officer Unnao City Yadvendra Yadav.

Coronavirus: Man tests positive, booked for violating lockdown in U.P.

1.10 PM | KERALA

Kerala exploring alternatives to salary challenge

The State government is seriously exploring alternatives to Salary Challenge announced for employees and teachers last week.

Finance Minister T. M. Thomas Isaac said here on Friday that the Cabinet would take a call on the issue soon.

The move comes in the wake of the lukewarm response from employees and political resistance of the Congress-led United Democratic Front to the proposal. The government had appealed to donate a month’s salary either as a lumpsum or in instalments to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund.

12.50 PM | TELANGANA

How a woman’s death in a Hyderabad hospital revealed 19 more COVID-19 cases

In what can be called a textbook case of the spread of COVID-19, a patient’s uninformed decision to visit a private hospital for treatment has resulted not only in her death, but also the infection spreading to 19 more persons.

Index case in this instance was an aged matriarch of a family residing in Talabkatta (or Talab Chanchalam) area of Santhosh Nagar Circle, which has been declared as containment zone now. Ailing from several other co-morbidities such as hypertension, diabetes and kidney problem for long, she developed bronchial infection recently, and went to a private hospital in Purani Haveli area for treatment.

12.35 PM | DELHI

No private school will be allowed to increase fees during lockdown: Delhi Deputy CM

Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia said on Friday that no private school in Delhi will be allowed to increase school fees during lockdown.

I have received complaints that many schools have increased their fees and some schools are shutting online class facility for students if parents are not paying fees, said Mr. Sisodia. 

Online education must be provided to all students, he said, adding that even if parents are not able to pay the fees, the student’s name should not be cut from the classes.

No school will demand fee on a three-month basis; they will charge only tuition fee for one month, he said.

Mr. Sisodia added that the schools will not be allowed to charge any transportation fees or any addition fee apart from basic tuition fee.

As for the teachers, all private schools will have to pay salaries to all teaching and non teaching staff contractual and non contractual during lockdown, said the Deputy CM.

He added that strict action will be taken against private schools not following these orders.

12.25 PM | MADHYA PRADESH

Indore registers 8 new deaths, total toll in the State rises to 75

Madhya Pradesh reported 20 deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing its death toll to 75. Of this, eight deaths took place in Indore, its most populous city.

Indore also registered 256 new cases in a day, the most for the city till date.

On Wednesday the count in the city stood at 586. With reports from New Delhi detecting 218 new cases and from the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, Indore, 26, the numbers grew by 43% to 842.Read more 12.15 PM | TAMIL NADU

Tamil Nadu has received 24,000 rapid testing kits for detecting coronavirus infections.

This is part of an order placed by the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation. The State may receive a share from the Central government’s consignment too, officials said.

COVID-19: Tamil Nadu gets 24,000 rapid test kits

12.10 PM | CHHATTISGARH

3 more test coronavirus positive in Chhattisgarh

Three more people, including two women, tested positive for coronavirus in Katghora town of Chhattisgarh’s Korba district, taking the number of such cases in the State to 36, officials said on Friday. The number of active cases in the State is 13, as 23 people have recovered from the infection.

Katghora, located around 200 km from the State capital Raipur, has emerged as the top COVID-19 hotspot in Chhattisgarh with 27 confirmed cases reported so far from the town.

Three people, including two women, from the Purani basti area of the town tested positive for coronavirus on late on Thursday night, Korba Collector Kiran Kaushal said.

They had come in contact with infected persons in the locality, she said, adding the trio has been shifted to AIIMS Raipur for treatment.

– PTI12.05 PM | ANDHRA PRADESH

As per latest reports, 38 new coronavirus positive cases have been registered during the last 24 hours in Andhra Pradesh. The total number of cases in the State now stands at 572.

As many as 14 people have died in the State due to COVID-19 so far while 20 people have recovered.

12 PM | KERALA

Kerala cautious about asymptomatic carriers

The State is cautious about the asymptomatic spread of COVID-19, Health Minister K.K. Shylaja has said.

“But since we have quarantined people aggressively and campaigned for social distancing, asymptomatic spread is likely to be limited.” Asymptomatic spread has been found in some through contact tracing, but there is no evidence of it yet in the community, the Minister told The Hindu on Thursday.

11.50 AM | UTTAR PRADESH

Set up task force for economic revival in UP; provide relief to farmers, labourers: Priyanka to CM

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday sought the setting up of a task force for economic revival in Uttar Pradesh and providing relief for farmers and labourers in the state suffering due to the crisis created by coronavirus.

In a letter to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, she demanded that farmers be assured of the procurement of their produce and their pending dues for sugarcane crop be cleared immediately.

 11.45 AM | RAJASTHAN

Another death in Rajasthan

Rajasthan reported the the death of a 56-year-old who had tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday.

The man, hailing from Jodhpur, was also suffering from acute cardiac disease, according to the State Medical and Health Department. With this, the death toll in the State is now 16.

Meanwhile, 38 new COVID-19 positive cases were detected in Rajasthan today, taking the State’s tally to 1,169. A total of 164 patients have recovered.

11.30 AM | GUJARAT

Two new deaths in Gujarat

Gujarat saw two new deaths and 92 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infection, bringing the total number of cases in the State to 1,021. The death toll stands at 38.

As many as 74 patients have recovered so far.

A 55-year-old man from Ahmedabad and a 31-year-old man from Vadodara are the most recent victims of COVID-19. Of the 38 deaths, 18 were residents of Ahmedabad and six of Vadodara.

11.10 AM | KARNATAKA

Karnataka’s testing rates lowest among southern States

Karnataka is yet to obtain the much-awaited rapid testing kits for COVID-19 from China. This has lead to delay in beginning randomised tests, which was supposed to have commenced on April 12.

Although Karnataka has been boasting of a relatively low number of positive cases compared to other States, an analysis by The Hindu shows that Karnataka has the lowest testing per million population among the southern States (barring Telangana). While the rate of testing in Telangana is not in public domain, Karnataka’s rate is lower than Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh.

 11 AM | UTTAR PRADESH

Man dies in Meerut, UP death toll is now 14

One more person infected with COVID-19 succumbed in Meerut on Thursday night, taking the number of casualties in Uttar Pradesh to 14.

This is the second death in Meerut, one of the hotspots in the State, because of COVID-19, said officials. “The 57-year-old was admitted to the isolation ward of Meerut Medical College. His condition deteriorated late on Thursday and he died during treatment,” said Raj Kumar, chief medical officer, Meerut.

 10.40 AM | CHINA

China’s Wuhan revises up total coronavirus death toll by 1,290

China’s Wuhan city, the epicentre of the Coronavirus outbreak, said on Friday it had revised up its total coronavirus death toll by 1,290, admitting that many cases were “mistakenly reported” or missed entirely, according to state-run CCTV.

The adjustment, detailed in a social media posting by the city government, adds 1,290 deaths to the tally in Wuhan.

10.20 AM | INDIA

Construction in rural areas, micro finance institutions exempt from lockdown

Non-banking financial institutions, housing finance, and micro finance institutions will be allowed to function with minimum staff during the lockdown, the Ministry of Home Affairs said on Friday.

According to MHAs latest guidelines, the following items have been exempted from the lockdown:

• Collection, harvesting of minor forest produce, non-timber forest produce by ST, forest dwellers
• Bamboo, coconut, arecanut, cocoa, spices plantation — their harvesting, processing, packaging, sale and marketing
• Construction activities in rural areas, water supply, sanitation, laying of power, telecom lines

9.50 AM | BIHAR

6-month-old tests positive in Bihar

With three more COVID-19 positive cases detected in Munger district of Bihar, the total number of coronavirus cases in the State goes up to 83.

The newly-detected cases include a 6-month-old baby girl, a 55-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman.

9.40 AM | USA

Record 4,591 Americans die in last 24 hours

A record number of 4,591 Americans have died in the last 24 hours due to the deadly coronavirus in the U.S., which has the highest number of COVID-19 casualties in the world.

According to the Johns Hopkins University data, by 8 p.m. on Thursday, as many as 4,591 Americans have died in the last 24 hours, The Wall Street Journal said.

The previous highest was 2,569 on Wednesday.9.30 AM | INDIA

A total of 13,387 confirmed cases of coronavirus infections have been reported in India, as per the latest update from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

This includes 11,201 active cases and 1,749 discharged ones. As many as 437 deaths have been registered due to COVID-19.

India pegs fatality rate at 3.3%

India registered over 800 COVID-19 positive cases on Thursday, with the tally touching 12,759 cases and 420 deaths. These include over 10,824 active cases. A total of 1,541 people have been cured and discharged and one had migrated. The total number of cases include 76 foreign nationals.

The Health Ministry noted that India’s case fatality rate is 3.3% and percentage of people recovered is 12.02.

10.10PM

Covid19 cases crossed 13000 in India,Active cases crossed 11000

As more than 370 districts in India have reported coronavirus cases, 170 districts have identified hotspots including major metros – Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru and Kolkata.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a set of guidelines which informs which services and practices are permitted. Cases of violence against doctors and medical staff are also increasing day-by-day.

10.00 PM | NEW DELHI

Security guard accused of infecting family for COVID-19 tests negative

A security guard, against whom an FIR was filed after he was accused by a family in Defence Colony of infecting them with COVID-19, has tested negative for the virus, according to Delhi government officials.

“The guard who was accused has tested negative, but I am yet to receive the report,” a Delhi government official told The Hindu on Thursday.

One person of the family, who had tested positive, died at a private hospital in the city on Wednesday.

9.30 PM | SRI LANKA

India-returned woman tests positive of coronavirus in Lanka

A woman who was recently in India for a pilgrimage became Sri Lanka’s first coronavirus case reported from outside quarantine centres, the health ministry said on Thursday.

Over 3,500 people, including foreigners, remain quarantined in more than 40 centres across Sri Lanka following the COVID-19 outbreak.

9.15 PM | PUNJAB

COVID-19 positive man dies in Punjab’s Gurdaspur, total cases rise to 197

A 60-year-old coronavirus patient from Gurdaspur died on Thursday while 11 more people contracted the infection taking the total number of COVID-19 cases in Punjab to 197, an official said.

A resident of Bhaini Paswal in Kahnuwan, the man had tested positive for coronavirus two days ago and was being treated at a government hospital in Amritsar. He also had hypertension and diabetes, a medical bulletin said.

Among the fresh cases, six were reported from Jalandhar, three from Patiala and two from Pathankot, the bulletin said, adding that the virus has so far claimed the lives of 14 people in the state.

9.00 PM | KARNATAKA

36 new cases reported in Karnataka

Karnataka reported its 13th COVID-19 death overall while 36 people tested positive, the highest single day tally so far, taking the total number of infections in the state to 315 on Thursday, the health department said.

With the spike in the number of cases and deaths, the government said, it “unfortunately” did not get 100% cooperation from the people with regard to the lockdown.

8.50 PM | NEW DELHI

First time in 167 years, railways didn’t ferry passengers on its birthday

The Indian Railways turned 167 on Thursday but for the first time ever in its over one-and-half-century-old life, it celebrated its birthday with its trains standing idle in yards and without carrying passengers amid the nationwide lockdown.

It was on this day 167 years ago in 1853 that the first passenger train in the country had run from from Bori Bunder in Mumbai to Thane.

Railway has suspended all passenger services since March 25 till May 3 due to the coronavirus outbreak. Around 15,523 trains run by the railways have been affected including 9,000 passenger trains and 3,000 mail express services which are run daily. It caters to over 20 million passengers every day.

8.40 PM | BIHAR

Six new COVID-19 cases in Bihar

Six more COVID-19 positive case reported in Bihar from Munger District. Two male and four female from a family detected positive for the virus. Total number of COVID-19 positive cases in Bihar goes up to 80.

8.25 PM | KARNATAKA

New testing lab to start functioning in Belagavi soon

The Indian Council of Medical Research has approved the use of the virology laboratory in the ICMR National Institute of Traditional medicine in Belagavi as a COVID-19 testing laboratory.

According to officials, testing of throat swab samples could begin in two to three days.

New testing lab to start functioning in Belagavi soon

8.10 PM | GUJARAT

58 new COVID-19 cases in Gujarat

Gujarat records 58 new Covid-19 infection cases, taking the total numbers to 929. So far 73 have recovered & 36 have died in the state. Today saw the steepest rise of 163 cases in the state. As on Thursday, 812 people are under treatment and stable while eight others are on ventilator support in Gujarat. So far 20903 samples have been tested. Coronavirus has spread to 24 of 33 districts in the state with highest 545 cases in Ahmedabad.

8.05 PM | UTTAR PRADESH

12 new COVID-19 cases in Noida

Twelve more coronavirus patients were detected across Noida and Greater Noida on Thursday, taking the total number of cases in Uttar Pradesh’s Gautam Buddh Nagar district to 92, officials said.

The latest batch of positive cases includes a three-year-old child who got infected from his parents, who are already under treatment for COVID-19, and a 26-year-old nurse working at a quarantine facility, the officials said.

7.45 PM | NEW DELHI

68 medical personnel test positive

Sixty-eight staff of Bhagwan Mahavir Hospital (BMH), including doctors, nurses and paramedical staff, have been quarantined as a precautionary measure, after a pregnant woman admitted at the hospital allegedly did not disclose that she was under home quarantine, as part of COVID-19 measures of the government, said hospital officials on Thursday.

The woman died at the Delhi government-run hospital on Wednesday night.

7.25 PM | ASSAM

Two more test positive for COVID-19 in Assam; total climbs to 34

Two people tested positive for COVID-19 in Assam on Thursday, taking the total in the state to 34, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said here.

Both the cases are from Morigaon district of the state and are secondary contacts of attendees of the Tablighi Jamaat event at the Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi, the minister said in a tweet.

The cumulative number of patients in Assam now stands at 34. The figure includes one fatality and five patients who have been cured, he added.

Thirty-three of these are linked to the Jamaat event.

Three people were discharged on Thursday from the Goalpara Civil Hospital and two others on Wednesday from the Sonapur District Hospital as they have recovered from COVID-19.

7.15 PM | NEW DELHI

3,336 Indians infected by coronavirus in 53 countries, say govt. sources

A total of 3,336 Indians in 53 countries were infected by the coronavirus while 25 lost their lives due to the disease, government sources said on April 16.

They said Indians stranded abroad will have to be patient as the government is not evacuating them as part of a larger policy decision to check spread of the virus in the country.

3,336 Indians infected by coronavirus in 53 countries, say govt. sources

6.55 PM | WEST BENGAL

Three more die of COVID-19 in West Bengal, total fatalities rise to 10

The novel coronavirus claimed three more lives in West Bengal in the past 24 hours, raising the total number of fatalities to 10, Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha said on April 16.

Twenty-four new cases of COVID-19 were reported from the State during the period, he said.

The total number of cases in West Bengal now stands at 188, while the Union Health Ministry has put the figure at 231.

6.45 PM | PUDUCHERRY

One COVID-19 patient recovers, discharged in Puducherry

One of the six active COVID-19 patients in Puducherry was discharged from a hospital in Puducherry on April 16 following his recovery while no fresh cases were reported in the union territory, a Health department official said.

The man from neighbouring Ariyankuppam is the second patient to recover from coronavirus in the union territory after a 68-year old woman was cured in Mahe, an enclave in Kerala.

The official said no fresh COVID19 case was reported in the union territory on Thursday.

The union territory has reported its first coronavirus death of a man from Mahe at a hospital in neighbouring Kannur on April 11.

6.30 PM | MAHARASHTRA

Bombay High Court extends all interim reliefs till June 15

The Bombay High Court on Thursday extended all interim reliefs for all courts in Maharashtra and Goa, Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar and Haveli and Daman & Diu till June 15.

A circular issued by Chief Justice BP Dharmadhikari and three other senior most judges said, “In this situation,  interim orders arrangement continued by March 26 order till April 30 shall continue further till June 15, subject to same  liberty to aggrieved party to move for vacation thereof.”

It said, “Five judges will hear extremely urgent cases through video conferencing on April 20, 23, 27, 30 and May 5 between 12 noon to 2 pm. All the Litigants, Public and Advocates in the States and UT are hereby informed that they should avoid visiting the Court complexes unless necessary.”

6.20 PM | HARYANA

Gurugram Police seizes two ambulance

Two ambulances impounded by Gurugram Police for being allegedly used to ferry migrant workers to Bihar in disguise of patients and their attendants.

– Ashok Kumar

The ambulances impounded by the Gurugram Police for allegedly ferrying migrant workers to Bihar.   

6.00 PM | NEW DELHI

Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba urges States to appoint nodal officers to help migrant labourers

Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba asks States that District Collectors must appoint nodal officers who would be responsible for coordinating the arrangements for migrant labourers. Each camp should be put in charge of a senior officer.

5.40 PM | NEW DELHI

Request media to bring to our notice if anybody is hungry: Arvind Kejriwal

“In containment zones there is misinformation being spread that authorities will come and test all the people. This is incorrect. What happens in containment zones is that a survey is done to come ask people if they are showing  any symptoms. They will only test people if they are showing symptoms,” says Arvind Kejriwal.

Around 9 lakh people in the city ate lunch and dinner yesterday but there are still people who are in need of help. I request the media to bring to our notice if anybody is hungry and help us direct them to shelters and food. About 15 lakh people without ration cards have applied for ration, Mr. Kejriwal adds.

5.20 PM | HARYANA

Nine members of family test positive in Haryana’s Panchkula

With nine members of a family from Panchkula testing positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), the total number of cases in Haryana rose to 213 on Thursday, officials said.

5.10 PM | MAHARASHTRA

15 more cases in Dharavi

With the 15 new cases, Dharavi has reported a total of 26 new cases on Thursday, including a ninth death. The deceased is a 58 year-old man from Laxmi Chawl, the first reported case from the area.

Dharavi now has a total of 86 cases, including 9 deaths. Of Thursday’s new cases,11 are from Muslim Nagar alone. Of these 11, one is a 13 year-old boy.

5.00 PM | INDIA

Those who booked flight tickets during Mar 25-Apr 14 for travel till May 3 can get refunds: Govt.

The Civil Aviation Ministry on Thursday said the passengers who had booked flight tickets during the first phase of lockdown for travel up to May 3 must get a full refund from the airlines without any cancellation charges if they ask for it.

4.20 PM | INDIA

Fatality rate at 3.3%, recovery at 12.02%: Health Ministry

In a daily press briefing, an MHA spokesperson said that action is being taken by State governments against violation of lockdown measures. There is adequate availability of food grain and other essentials.

“In the areas which are not hotspots or containment zones, some select activities will be allowed April 20 onwards, while implementing social distancing measures. The focus is on strengthening rural economy,” she said.

A video-conference meeting was held with WHO officials for better coordination at the ground level, a Health Ministry spokesperson said.

“Health Minster interacted with the industrialists at the Confederation of Indian Industries event, apprised them of the measures being taken by the government to revive the economy, encouraged them for the Make In India initiatives.

“State governments have been asked to rope in NGOs and private sector.

“1489 people have recovered so far, including 183 new ones, 941 new confirmed cases, taking the total to 12,380 so far, 414 deaths, including 37 new ones. 325 districts have reported no cases.

“The fatality rate is 3.3%, recovery is 12.02%,” the spokesperson said. In 27 districts of 17 States, no cases have been reported in the past 14 days, he added. “An additional team for monitoring of containment work has been sent to Maharashtra, two was already there.”

“Over 2.90 lakh tests have been conducted so far, 30043 tests were conducted yesterday,” said an ICMR representative.

“Lab capacity is currently 42,418 tests in one shift of nine hours.

“There are two types of kits for rapid tests, totalling 5 lakh, which have been made available so far. Both the types have more than 80% sensitivity and over 84% specificity.

“Rapid anti-body tests are not for early diagnosis, it is used for surveillance in hotspot zones, to ascertain whether the number of cases are increasing or declining,” he added.

A Civil Aviation Ministry core group was formed to ensure transportation of essential goods, with special focus on North-East States, Island territories and hilly terrains, an Infra Ministry spokesperson informed. “Arrangements were made for transportation of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment from China to India, since April 4.”

Railway: “Over 16 lakh free meals served till April 15, Over 8 lakh wagons carried supplies through the country

“5,000 beds prepared in 17 dedicated hospitals and 33 isolated hospital blocks in railway hospitals. Indentified 19 Covid patients. Over 10,500 quarantine beds made available. Over 5,000 train coaches to serve as quarantine or isolation facilities for up to 80,000 beds.”

Postal Service: “Over 1.5 lakh post offices and 4 lakh postal employees working on the ground for delivery of essential services. Rs.21,000 crore worth of transactions throgh post office saving banks. Rs.120 crore worth of Aadhar enabled payment systam transactions and delivery of 26 lakh accountable items done.”

Road Transport Ministry: “Timely release of payments to contractors, consultants and vendors using digital payment platforms, amounting to Rs.10,000 crore, has been done.”

ICMR spokesperson: “Rapid anti-body test kits have arrived from China, their sensitivity and specificity is less. We are using them only to keep a watch on the trend.

“There is no evidence so far about the impact of weather on the spread of Covid-19.”

–Devesh PandeyA large number of citizens stand in queue close to each other in front of State Bank of India to withdraw money from Telangana Government giving Rs. 1,500 per family at Mallepally, while ignoring social distancing norms in Hyderabad on Thursday.A fisherman trying his luck near Thoothukudi new harbour beach as the mechanised boats abstain from fishing.Agriculture activity is going on in full swing in Nilgiris. Farmers are spraying fertilizer and pesticides at Mpalada village near Udhagamandalam.A young boy takes a dive into the clean Yamuna river with the backdrop of Signature Bridge in New Delhi.Conservancy workers spraying bleaching powder on a road in Erode.A flock of cattle out on a deserted road in front of district court in Khammam.A child having fun in a makeshift swing at the Maduravoyal Erikarai bus stop on Poonmallee High Road.Migrant workers in Ambattur industrial estate were distributed with provisions by inspectorate of factories in Chennai.Patients being discharged from the COVID-19 ward at the Tiruchi Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital in Tiruchi.A mother offering rice soup to her child on the National Highway. They were on their way to Anakapalle from Chennai on foot due to lockdown. Many labourers were seen carrying luggage on one shoulder and a child on the other shoulder, travelling along the highways.Deserted look at a fruit and vegetable market at Vijayanagar in Bengaluru.Municipal workers getting ready to spray disinfectants at Dumas street in Puducherry.Bulls fighting while business goes on as usual at Ghazipur mandi, in New Delhi.Family members look on, as police patrol at Saradhi Nagar in Khammam.Pune police detain citizens violating lockdown orders at Jedhe chowk, Swargate in Pune. Around 150 citizens were booked walking and travelling on bikes.Medical staff wearing protective gear, getting ready at a hospital in Srinagar.A large number of citizens stand in queue close to each other in front of State Bank of India to withdraw money from Telangana Government giving Rs. 1,500 per family at Mallepally, while ignoring social distancing norms in Hyderabad on Thursday.A large number of citizens stand in queue close to each other in front of State Bank of India to withdraw money from Telangana Government giving Rs. 1,500 per family at Mallepally, while ignoring social distancing norms in Hyderabad on Thursday.A fisherman trying his luck near Thoothukudi new harbour beach as the mechanised boats abstain from fishing.Agriculture activity is going on in full swing in Nilgiris. Farmers are spraying fertilizer and pesticides at Mpalada village near Udhagamandalam.A young boy takes a dive into the clean Yamuna river with the backdrop of Signature Bridge in New Delhi.Conservancy workers spraying bleaching powder on a road in Erode.A flock of cattle out on a deserted road in front of district court in Khammam.A child having fun in a makeshift swing at the Maduravoyal Erikarai bus stop on Poonmallee High Road.Migrant workers in Ambattur industrial estate were distributed with provisions by inspectorate of factories in Chennai.Patients being discharged from the COVID-19 ward at the Tiruchi Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital in Tiruchi.A mother offering rice soup to her child on the National Highway. They were on their way to Anakapalle from Chennai on foot due to lockdown. Many labourers were seen carrying luggage on one shoulder and a child on the other shoulder, travelling along the highways.Deserted look at a fruit and vegetable market at Vijayanagar in Bengaluru.Municipal workers getting ready to spray disinfectants at Dumas street in Puducherry.Bulls fighting while business goes on as usual at Ghazipur mandi, in New Delhi.Family members look on, as police patrol at Saradhi Nagar in Khammam.Pune police detain citizens violating lockdown orders at Jedhe chowk, Swargate in Pune. Around 150 citizens were booked walking and travelling on bikes.Medical staff wearing protective gear, getting ready at a hospital in Srinagar.A large number of citizens stand in queue close to each other in front of State Bank of India to withdraw money from Telangana Government giving Rs. 1,500 per family at Mallepally, while ignoring social distancing norms in Hyderabad on Thursday.A large number of citizens stand in queue close to each other in front of State Bank of India to withdraw money from Telangana Government giving Rs. 1,500 per family at Mallepally, while ignoring social distancing norms in Hyderabad on Thursday.4.05 PM | UTTAR PRADESH

The number of positive cases in UP stands at 773, and the death toll is at 13, as per U.P. Health Department Principal Secretary Amit Mohan Prasad.

4.00 PM | INDIA

Mobiles, TVs, refrigerators to be available on e-commerce platforms from April 20

Mobile phones, televisions, refrigerators, laptops and stationery items will be allowed to be sold through e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Flipkart and Snapdeal from April 20 during the lockdown, officials said on Thursday.

The clarification from a senior home ministry official came a day after Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla issued revised guidelines for the extended lockdown period till May 3.

3.55 PM | MAHARASHTRA

Maharashtra to open up economic activities in 20 districts from April 20

Maharashtra will open up industrial activity in Special Economic Zone and Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) zones in as many as 20 districts from April 20, State Industries Minister Subhash Desai said on Thursday.

These districts have been identified as posing “least danger” to economic activity because the number of COVID-19 cases are the lowest here, Mr. Desai said after finalising a review proposal for Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

 3.45 PM | UK

UK set to extend lockdown as COVID-19 deaths continue to rise

The UK government is preparing to formally extend the initial three-week strict social distancing measures imposed last month to try and curb the rapid spread of the coronavirus pandemic as the country’s death toll from COVID-19 crosses 12,868.

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is standing in for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson as he recuperates after testing positive for the virus, will chair a crucial meeting of the Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms (Cobra) on Thursday during which the Cabinet will finalise the plans for an extension.

Ministers have already indicated in their daily Downing Street briefings this week that an extension to the lockdown measures, likely to be for another three weeks, is inevitable.

3.30 PM | TAMIL NADU

With lockdown in force, political parties and govt offices take to video conferencing apps

With the COVID-19 lockdown forcing people indoors, political parties and State government offices are now getting used to holding virtual meetings, sometimes with hilarious initial consequences, as people figure out how these apps work. Political parties, especially, face such a challenge, as their cadre on the ground across the State are not familiar with such technology.Read more 3.10 PM | BIHAR

With two more cases of COVID-19 from Buxar district, the number of COVID-19 positive cases has gone up to 74 in Bihar. Both persons had come from Asansol in West Bengal.

3.05 PM | GUJARAT

Curfew in four areas of Surat till April 22

In the wake of surge in cases from certain pockets in Surat, the Gujarat government has decided to impose curfew in four police station jurisdiction areas of Surat city from tonight to April 22. Only women will be allowed to go out to buy essential items from 1-4 pm.

3.00 PM | INDIA

Army special trains to meet Operational Requirements on Northern and Eastern Borders during lockdown

To meet the operational requirements on the Northern and Eastern borders during the COVID-19 lockdown period, the Army has decided to run two military special trains on April 17 and 18, Army sources said on Thursday. Separately, the Army issued fresh instructions to personnel on work and movement in compliance with the extended lockdown.

“Only personnel due to rejoin units deployed on the Northern and Eastern borders and have undergone the mandatory quarantine period and found medically fit will be accommodated,” an Army source said.

2.50 PM | GOA

Goa may enter green zone by April 20

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday retweeted BJP national general secretary B L Santhosh’s post on Twitter, indicating that Goa might be the first state to enter the green zone of the COVID-19 pandemic by April 20.

Taking to Twitter, Mr. Santosh had earlier said that if all goes according to the government’s plan, Goa would be the first State to be declared a green zone by April 20.

The health ministry has categorised all districts in India into different COVID-19 zones. A district that has not reported positive coronavirus cases can be marked under the green zone and lockdown may be eased a little at such places.

2.40 PM | ASSAM

Three COVID-19 patients in Assam recover

Three COVID-19 patients in Assam recovered and were discharged from the Goalpara Civil Hospital on Thursday, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

They were released after two successive tests turned out to be negative, he said.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) protocol on COVID-19 they have been sent to 14-day home quarantine, Mr. Sarma said.

2.30 PM | TAMIL NADU

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami has stated that 25 new COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in the State today, taking the total tally to 1,267.

So far, a total of 15 persons have died due to COVID-19 in the State.

2.25 PM | ASSAM

Gauhati High Court gives Assam police seven-day deadline for releasing ‘declared foreigners’ on bail

The Gauhati High Court has given the border wing of the Assam police seven days to comply with its April 15 order to release on bail ‘declared foreigners’ (DFs) who have completed two years in detention camps.

The court, hearing a petition on Wednesday with reference to the Supreme Court’s April 13 order for releasing the DFs in view of the global coronavirus outbreak, also asked the Special Director-General of Police (Border) to submit the number of people released when the matter is taken up after 10 days.

1.40 PM | INDIA

Lockdown a ‘pause button’, not a ‘solution’: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, on Thursday, urged the government to ramp up the testing for coronavirus. In a virtual press conference, the former Congress president offered various suggestions to the government to tackle the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“India’s testing rate is very low at 199 per million so far,” Mr. Gandhi noted urging the government to scale up the testing. “Our average testing has been roughly 350 tests per district. We should be able to ramp up testing. Also, random testing to get a good idea where the virus is moving. I am proposing to scale up testing and do a mapping of how the virus is moving,” he said adding that testing is our main weapon against the virus.

1.30 PM | INDIA

Dharavi reports 11 new cases

Dharavi reported 11 new cases on Thursday, bringing the total to 71. Among the new cases are four from Mukund Nagar, totalling 18 so far. Social Nagar that had earlier seen cases also reported two new cases. Besides, new parts of Dharavi have reported cases including Sai Raj nagar, transit camp, Ramji chawl. This brings the total to 71 cases in Dharavi, including eight deaths.

1.00 PM | DELHI

89 quarantined in Delhi after pizza delivery man tests positive for COVID-19

After a 19-year-old pizza delivery man tested positive for COVID-19 in Delhi, a total of 89 people, including 72 people in houses of South Delhi where he made deliveries have been quarantined.

“A total of 17 people including the owner of the shop and other delivery boys have been put under institutional quarantine. The shop has been shut,” said BM Mishra, District Magistrate (South Delhi).  

“72 people in houses where he made the delivery have been put under home quarantine. All these houses are in 5 km radius of Malviya Nagar,” he added.

12.45 PM | DELHI

Three blocks of Delhi Police Colony sealed after ASI tests positive

Three blocks of Delhi Police Colony in Model Town area have been sealed after an ASI and his son tested positive for COVID-19.

The ASI’s wife who is a staff nurse at LNJP hospital tested positive for COVID-19 last week and her family was home quarantined, a Delhi police official has said.

12.30 PM | KARNATAKA

35 new cases in Karnataka

Karnataka has reported 35 new cases of COVID-19 today. With this the total number of cases stands at 313 in Karnataka.

This is the largest increase in a day so far in the State. A majority of these cases were reported from Belagavi with 17 cases, followed by Vijayapura which has seven cases. The bulletin by the Department of Health and Family Welfare states that five cases were reported from Bengaluru, one case each from Kalaburagi and Gadag districts, and two cases from Mysuru.

12.20 PM | MAHARSHTRA

Maharashtra reports 165 new cases; State tally at 3081

Maharashtra has reported 165 new cases, taking the State tally to 3081.

The bulk of the new cases -107- was reported from Mumbai, while Pune district reported 23 including four from Pimpri Chinchwad, 13 from Thane district ,11 from Nagpur district, four from Malegaon in Nashik, two each from Navi Mumbai and Vasai Virar, and one each from Panvel, and Ahmednagar and Chandrapur districts

12.10 PM | INDIA

Major consignment of testing kits arriving from China today

A large consignment of testing kits for the novel coronavirus pandemic is scheduled to reach India from China on Thursday, sources have confirmed. The kits are expected to boost India’s testing capacity in a major way as the country aims to ramp up its testing capacity.

12.00 PM | TAMIL NADU

32 COVID-19 patients discharged from Tiruchi GH

Thirty-two patients, who had tested positive for COVID-19, were discharged after treatment from the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital on Thursday.

 11.40 AM | TELANGANA

Cabinet to meet on April 19, decide on continuing or relaxing lockdown

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao will chair a Cabinet meeting on April 19 to review the COVID-19 situation in the State.

The Cabinet, it is learnt, will take a call whether to continue the lockdown strictly till May 3 or give some relaxation to certain sectors.

11.30 AM | GUJARAT

105 new cases reported in Gujarat overnight; State death toll at 36

COVID-19 cases are surging in Gujarat. As many as 105 new cases were detected overnight, taking the total numbers to 871.  36 deaths have been reported till Thursday morning. So far, 64 patients have recovered.

11.05 AM | UTTAR PRADESH

Doctor tests positive in Ghaziabad

A doctor tested positive for novel coronavirus on Wednesday night in Gyan Khand I, Indirapuram in Ghaziabad following which the area was sealed and declared a hotspot.

 11.00 AM | ANDHRA PRADESH

500 active cases in AP

Nine new coronavirus positive cases were added overnight, taking the total in Andhra Pradesh to 534 on Thursday morning.

The number of active cases now stood at exactly 500 after 20 patients were discharged and another 14 have died, according to the latest government bulletin.

10.55 AM | RAJASTHAN

25 fresh cases in Rajasthan

Rajasthan reported 25 fresh cases of coronavirus, taking the State’s virus tally to 1,101.

Of the new cases, 11 are from Tonk, 10 from Jodhpur, 2 from Jhunjhunu and one each from Bikaner and Ajmer. As many as 157 patients have been recovered so far and 82 of them discharged.

10. 30 AM | BIHAR

Two more test positive in Bihar

Two more persons have tested positive for COVID-19 in Bihar, raising the total number of cases in the state to 72, a top official said on Thursday. The fresh cases were reported from Patna and Vaishali districts, he said.

Reports of a 60-year-old man from Patna and 35-year-old man from Vaishali, which came in late Wednesday night, were positive, according to Principal Secretary, Health, Sanjay Kumar.

The Patna patient had come in contact with a Dubai-returnee who had tested positive last month and discharged after recovery more than a week ago, the official said.

Contact tracing was on for the patient from Vaishali, which has reported its first coronavirus case, Kumar added.

10.00 AM | KARNATAKA

66 year old man dies in Karnataka

A 66 year old male patient from Bengaluru, who was tested positive for COVID 19 died on Wednesday. With this, the number of COVID 19 related deaths in the State stands at 13.

According to the Department of Health and Family Welfare, the patient was admitted in the Victoria hospital and was ventilator support since 10 April. “He was referred from private hospital and was admitted in Victoria Hospital,” the health department stated.

10.00 AM | MADHYA PRADESH

Madhya Pradesh records 1,090 cases, 55 deaths

A 63-year-old man from Indore died of COVID-19 on Wednesday, taking the toll due to the illness to 39 in the city.

The man was admitted to a hospital April 8, and died on Wednesday without having any comorbidities, said a death summary issued by Pravin Jadia, Indore Chief Medical and Health Officer.

9.15 AM

WHO welcomes joint efforts with India to fight COVID-19

The World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has welcomed the world health body’s cooperation with India to leverage strategies that helped the country win its war against polio into the response to COVID-19 outbreak, saying such joint efforts will help defeat the pandemic.

WHO has said it will work with India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to leverage the strategies that helped the country eradicate polio to fight the pandemic.

 8.00 AM

The world will need more than one COVID-19 vaccine, says GSK CEO

The world will need more than one COVID-19 vaccine so drug companies must partner in the race to develop the weapons to fight the novel coronavirus, GlaxoSmithKline Chief Executive Officer Emma Walmsley said on Wednesday.

GlaxoSmithKline Plc and Sanofi SA said on Tuesday they would develop a vaccine to fight the fast-spreading coronavirus. The drugmakers said they expect to start clinical trials for the vaccine in the second half of this year. If successful, the vaccine would be available in the second half of 2021.

Walmsley said GSK’s partnership with Sanofi brings scale to the attempt to get a covid-19 vaccine but that there was still an enormous amount of work to do. “The world’s going to definitely need more than one vaccine when you think about demand in this hugely challenged global health crisis,” she told BBC Radio.

(Reuters)7.00 AM | U.S.

Nearly 2,600 U.S. coronavirus deaths in 24 hours: Johns Hopkins tally

The United States on April 15 posted nearly 2,600 additional deaths from COVID-19 in 24 hours, a new record and the heaviest daily toll of any country, Johns Hopkins University said.

A running tally from Johns Hopkins showed 2,569 victims at 8:30 pm Eastern Time (0030 GMT Thursday), compared with the same time the previous evening, bringing the total number of U.S. deaths to 28,326 — higher than any other nation.