NEWS- North – East-West -South !
09.15PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation tomorrow, April 14, at 10 am. Puducherry, Arunachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are the latest to extend the lockdown till April 30. Meanwhile, India’s March retail inflation has eased 5.91% year-on-year. The MHA also extended visas for foreign travellers stranded in the country till April 30. India’s tally of positive cases is above 9500, and the death toll is at 325, as the country gears for an extension of the 21-day lockdown. Nagaland reports its first coronavirus case. Globally, the death toll from the novel coronavirus pandemic rose to 114,539 and over 1,853,300 declared cases have been registered in 193 countries and territories.
8:50 PM | LUCKNOW
Positive cases in Uttar Pradesh jumped to 558 with 75 fresh cases, including 35 from Agra and 11 from Saharanpur, as per the State Directorate of Health Services. The State has now reported cases from 43 districts.
8:45 PM | NEW DELHI
The government on April 13 extended on gratis basis the regular visa and e-visa of foreign nationals who are stranded in India due to COVID-19 till April 30, the Home Ministry said.
In a statement, the Ministry said all those foreigners whose regular visa, e-visa or stay stipulation expired or would be expiring during February 1 (midnight) to April 30 (midnight), would be “extended till April 30 (midnight) on gratis basis, after making an online application by the foreigners”.
The decision to extend the visa exemption till April 30 was apparently taken in view of the near certain extension of the onging lockdown till April 30.
It is also an indication that international flights, cancelled since March 25, will not resume before April 30.
-PTI
8:40 PM | MUMBAI
Thane Municipal Corporation officials said that a total of 14 people from Thane, who came into close contact with Maharashtra Minister for Housing Jitendra Awhad have tested positive on Monday. Officials said these include members of his personal staff, a local journalist and five police personnel with the Thane Police Commissionerate who were assigned to him as bodyguards.
8:20 PM | SHIMLA
The Himachal Pradesh government has started screening people for coronavirus in 10 containment zones created in four of the total 12 districts in the State, heath officials said.
Every individual in these zones is being screened, they said, adding that even if someone is showing mild symptoms, they are being tested to check the spread of the virus.
The areas which have been sealed include Missarwala in Sirmaur district, Jharmari in Solan district, Sahon and Glad panchayats in Chamba district, and Nakroh mosque in Gagret block, Kuthera Kherla in Amb block and Chowki Manyar in Bangana block of Una district.
-PTI
8:15 PM | NEW DELHI
One more nurse working at LNJP (Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan) Hospital in Delhi tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, according to hospital officials.
This is the second nurse at hospital who has tested positive for the virus. LNJP Hospital, which is run by the Delhi government, is treating the highest number of COVID-19 patients in the city.
8:00 PM | INDIA
Minister of Communications, Law & IT Sh. Ravi Shankar Prasad, has instructed Secretary-Posts to ensure that delivery of medicines through Speed Post is given the highest priority during lockdown.
He further directed that all employees of Department of Posts be sensitised so that none should face difficulty in receiving or sending medicines during lockdown. The entire postal network across the country has been galvanised for the purpose.
Intra-State and interstate mail arrangements have been made for the purpose.7:50 PM | MUMBAI
Dharavi reported two new cases on Monday evening, bringing the total to 49. One is a 51-year-old resident of Murugan chawl while another is a 21-year-old man residing in Kalyanwadi, who is a wardboy at Breach Candy hospital.
7:20 PM | MANGALURU
One more COVID-19 patient was discharged from the hospital in Mangaluru on Monday.
The 34-year-old male, discharged from the Government Wenlock Hospital in the city, had arrived at Mangaluru International Airport on March 18 and had proceeded to to his native Ajjavara, near Sullia. He was admitted to the hospital on March 28 and tested positive on March 31.
After treatment he was found negative during tests conducted on April 11 and 12, Sindhu B. Rupesh, Deputy Commissioner, said in a release on Monday.
7:20 PM | NEW DELHI
A nurse working at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in the city tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, taking the total number of hospital staff infected by the virus to three, according to the hospital.
On April 4, 108 staff of the hospital were quarantined after they came in contact with two people admitted in the hospital, who later tested positive for COVID-19.
7:15 PM | NEW DELHI
All Information Commissioners will take a voluntary 30% cut in their basic salary for one year to contribute to the government move to pool all resources to face the unprecedented damage to the economy because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a CIC resolution said on April 13.
7:10 PM | ITANAGAR
The Arunachal Pradesh government on Monday extended the lockdown imposed to contain the spread of novel coronavirus from April 14 to 30, a senior official said.
The lockdown has been extended till April 30, Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar said.
Only State-run buses will be allowed to ply on the roads. Construction work will be allowed to resume after contractors seek permission from authorities concerned, but migrant labourers cannot be employed, he told reporters here.
Intensive care units will be set up in hospitals at Tawang, Tezu, Aalo, Pasighat, Ziro and Khonsa this month, the official added.
-PTI
6:55 PM | NEW DELHI
The Centre on April 13 said it has started an all-India level call centre for addressing the transportation problems being faced in inter-state movement of both perishable and non-perishable agricultural commodities.
The All India Agri Transport Call Centre is accessible from numbers: 18001804200 and 14488. These numbers can be called from any mobile or landline phones, the Agriculture Ministry said in a statement.
“Truck drivers, traders, retailers, transporters or any other stakeholders who are facing problems in inter-state movement of above commodities, may seek help by calling at the Call Centre,” it said.
The Ministry said call centre executives will forward the vehicle and consignment details along-with the help needed to concerned State government officials for resolution of the issues, it added.
6:50 PM | NEW DELHI
In view of the 21-day nationwide lockdown to contain COVID-19 ending on April 14 midnight and the possibility of it being lifted partially, the Army has issued instructions on the movement of personnel who were on leave or sick leave and retirees held back at regimental centres due to the lockdown.
“Personnel whose sanctioned leave expired during the lockdown period will report to the nearest station headquarters, ad hoc station headquarters or Units on April 15. They will be housed in quarantine hubs created under arrangements of Command headquarters and retained for 14 days. Thereafter, they would be despatched under arrangements to OL directorate to their respective formations or units,” the Army said in a letter dated April 7.
6:45 PM | NEW DELHI
Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking the government to offer increased rations to people who are identified as beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) as well as vulnerable sections who may not enlisted under the NFSA.
The Congress president said that in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, “we must ensure that no one faces hunger”.
“I welcome your decision to provide free of cost 5 kg grain/person in addition to the entitlements under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) from April-June, 2020,” Ms Gandhi said in her letter. “However, given the adverse impact of the lockdown and its prolonged impact of people’s livelihoods, I write to you to consider a few suggestions. Firstly, the provision of 10 kg grains/person to NFSA beneficiaries must be extended for an additional period of 3 months i.e. till September, 2020. Given the chronic economic distress faced by these beneficiaries, the food entitlements may be provided free of cost,” she added.
6:35 PM | CHENNAI
98 more persons have tested positive for COVID-19, according to Tamil Nadu Health Secretary Beela Rajesh. According to this tally, the total number of cases in the State now stands at 1,173 with 11 deaths and 58 recoveries.
M.6:10 PM | INDIA
Total cases in India has risen to 9,352 with 324 reported deaths as on Monday evening. This includes 905 new cases and 51 deaths in past the 24 hours.
5:50 PM | PARIS
The worldwide death toll from the novel coronavirus pandemic rose to 114,539 on Monday, according to a tally compiled at 1100 GMT from official sources.
More than 1,853,300 declared cases have been registered in 193 countries and territories since the epidemic first emerged in China in December. Of these cases, at least 395,000 are now considered recovered.Read more5:45 PM | SRINAGAR
25 more people including 12 non-locals tested positive for the novel coronavirus in the Kashmir on Monday. The total stands at 270 — 49 in Jammu and 222 in Kashmir, according to a release from the Jammu and Kashmir government.
5:15 PM | BHUBANESWAR
One more COVID-19 positive case detected in Bhubaneswar on Monday, taking Odisha’s total to 55. Active cases now stand at 41 as 13 have recovered and one has died.
4:45 PM | NEW DELHI
A doctor, a nurse and a non-medical staff at a leading private hospital here have tested positive for COVID-19, hospital authorities said on April 13.
“So far, three hospital staffers have tested positive — a doctor, a nurse and one non-medical staff. All of them are recovering,” the hospital said in a statement.
“Thirty-nine healthcare workers, who were contact traced, have been quarantined within a separate and isolated wing at Max Hospital, Saket,” it said.
“There are 154 employees deployed in shifts in the COVID ward of Max Hospital, Saket. None of these employees has had any exposure to the virus. They are working in shifts and are staying on the hospital premises to reduce any risk of infection to their families and neighbours. None of them has been quarantined,” the statement said.
-PTI
4.40 PM | NEW DELHI
ICMR spokesperson on remdesivir anti-viral drug: “It was used during the Ebola outbreak. The study in different parts of the world is observational, indicating that two out of three patients, who would have required ventillator support or oxygen support, did not require them after its use.”
This drug is not available with us, he says and adds the World Health Organisation is doing trials. “When the result comes, we will make further plans accordingly, he adds.4.25 PM | NEW DELHI
About Rs.28,256 crore spent so far on welfare activities, including cash transfers to women JanDhan account holders, widows, senior citizens and the differently-abled, a government spokesperson says.
About 30 crore people have benefited under the PM Garib Kalyan Yojna till April 10, he says.
NCC cadets, Civil Defence and over 50,000 volunteers have come forward to help the administration.
A health ministry official says core group has been formed in ICMR to focus on digital/molecular surveillance, rapid and economical dignostics, new drugs and repurposing of drugs, apart from associated production facilities, in close co-ordination with the public and private sector and relevant ministries.4.20 PM | NEW DELHI
The ICMR spokesperson says over two lakh tests done so far.
The stock is available for testing in the coming six more weeks, he adds.
15 districts have not reported any deaths in the past 15 days. Testing kits from China to arrive on April 15, he adds.
4.10 PM | TAMIL NADU
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Monday evening announced extension of the COVID-19 lockdown till April 30. The ongoing lockdown was scheduled to end at 6 am on April 15.
The CM also announced that the ration entitlements for the month of May would be issued free of cost to ‘rice card holders’. This include 1 kg of sugar, 1 kg of tur dhal, 1 kg of cooking oil, besides the usual allotment of rice. – Dennis S. Jesudasan
4.00 PM | NEW DELHI
Home Ministry spokesperson says inter- or intra-State movement of carriers of essential and non-essential goods are allowed with a driver and an additional person.
Local authorities have to facilitate the mobility of the drivers and the helpers, and others involved in the entire chain of supplies, the spokesperson says in the daily press briefing.
Warehouses and coldstorages should be allowed, irrespective of the category of goods,except those in the hotspots and containment areas, he adds.3.15 PM | NEW DELHI
Foreigners whose visas have expired as they are stuck here due to COVID-19 lockdown extended till April 30 on Gratis (free) basis.
Foreigners asked to apply online to avail the visa extension facility, says MHA.
3.00 PM | HARYANA
Coronavirus cases in Haryana rose to 182 on Monday, with a fresh case reported from Sirsa district.
Out of the total positive cases, the number of active cases in the state is 146, the state health department’s daily bulletin said, adding 34 patients have been discharged.
The state has recorded two COVID-19 related deaths.
– PTI
2.25 PM | NEW DELHI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation on Tuesday at 10 am, the Prime Minister’s Office said.
The 21-day nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus ends on Tuesday and the prime minister is likely to talk about its possible extension.
2.00 PM | BIHAR
the total number of COVID-19 pandemic positive cases in Bihar has gone up to 65, said state health minister Mangal Pandey.
Mr Pandey also said that the government has decided to start door to door screening in hotspots of three kms radius in each of four districts of Siwan, Begusarai, Nawada and Nalanda from where number of pandemic disease have regularly been coming.
1.45 PM | DELHI
Three staff members, including one doctor, of Max Hospital Saket have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last two days, a spokesperson for the hospital said.
On Thursday, two people admitted at Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital Saket had tested positive for the virus.
1.15 PM | MAHARASHTRA
Maharashtra has joined Punjab and Odisha in extending the lockdown. “The State Government hereby directs the lock-down orders issued vide notification dated 25th March 2020 shall now be extended upto and inclusive of 30th April 2020,” the CMO handle has tweeted.
1.10 PM | KARNATAKA
Fifteen new positive cases have been detected since Sunday evening in Karnataka taking the total cases to 247.
The new cases include three each from Mandya and Belagavi, four from Hubballi- Dharwad, two from Bidar and one each from Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural and Bangalore.
Except for one case of a 62-year-old male from Bengaluru Urban, all other cases have contact history.
12.40 PM | ODISHA
One more person, who was afflicted with COVID-19 in Odisha, has recovered on Monday, taking the total number of patients cured of the disease to 13 in the state, health department officials said.
Odisha has so far reported 54 coronavirus cases while a 72-year-old patient from the state capital died of the disease.
– PTI
12.10 PM | MAHARASHTRA
Dharavi reported four new cases, including a death on Monday.
A 60 year-old man living in Nehru chawl was declared dead at Sion Hospital, making him the fifth fatality from Asia’s biggest slum.
Besides, three other new cases were reported, one each from Indira Nagar, Janata society and Gulmohur chawl.
The patient from Gulmohur chawl is a 34 year-old nurse from Sushrusha Hospital that has been sealed after eight of their staff tested positive.
Janata society has seen five cases so far. This brings the total cases from Dharavi to 47 including five deaths.
The State has reported 2064 cases so far, including 82 fresh ones.
12.00 NOON | TAMIL NADU
Provisions for the ration card holders getting packed at a TUCS outlet in Chennai.
Tamil Nadu government is selling grocery kits for Rs. 500 through its ration shops. The kit comprises of 19 items including tur dal, urad dal (half kg each), 250 each grams of bengal gram and garlic, 100 grams of pepper, cumin, mustard, fenugreek, turmeric powder, and chilli powder. State-owned branded tea powder is also being provided along with one kg salt. In addition to this, 200 grams of sunflower oil, 50 grams fennel seeds and 10 grams of cinnamon is also provided.
11.50 AM | ANDHRA PRADESH
The COVID-19 cases continued their upward trend in Andhra Pradesh, adding 12 since Sunday night and taking the overall tally to 432.
Guntur district has now taken the top spot in the state with 90 cases, with the addition of eight since Sunday night, according to the latest bulletin issued by the Health Department on Monday. – PTI11.40 AM | NAGALAND
The first case of COVID-19 in Nagaland came to light around midnight on April 12.
Assam Health Minister Himanta Bishwa Sarma confirmed that one person from Nagaland was found with symptoms of COVID-19. He was referred to the Guwahati Medical College Hospital. He has been tested “positive and is undergoing treatment”.
11.30 AM | USA
New York City, the epicenter of the COVID19 pandemic in the U.S., now alone has over 1,00,000 novel coronavirus cases, more than the confirmed cases in China and the UK, according to the official data.
According to the data from the New York City government, an increase of at least 5,695 cases on Sunday put New York City’s total number of coronavirus infections at over 1,04,410 as of April 12 and 27,676 hospitalisations. The city’s death toll is 6,898.
According to estimates by Johns Hopkins University, there are 85,208 coronavirus cases in the UK, 83,135 in China and 71,686 in Iran.11 AM | GUJARAT
One person died in Gujarat due to COVID-19, bringing the death toll to 26. The State recorded 26 new cases of coronavirus infection.
This brings the total number of cases in the State to 538, according ti the State Health department. So far, 47 patients have recovered from the infection, it added.10.40 AM | INDIA
According to the latest Health Ministry update, the number of COVID-19 cases in India have gone up to to 9,152. As many as 308 people have died due to the infection, the Ministry said.
The number of people have who have recovered is 856. India currently has 7987 active cases, the Ministry update added.
However, data from the State authorities puts the total number of cases at 9,205 and the number of active cases at 7,880. The death toll is 332, according to State data.10.20 AM | INDIA
A week after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced that it would “license” the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and supply it to various countries on a “government to government basis”, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) maintains that the drug is still prohibited for export, causing some confusion in industry circles.
On Sunday, the government said it had cleared the release of HCQ for 13 countries.
9.50 AM | ITALY
Italy on Sunday reported its lowest coronavirus death toll in more than three weeks, confirming trends showing that the COVID-19 outbreak in Europe’s worst-hit nation had peaked.
The 431 new deaths reported by the civil protection service were the lowest since March 19. Italy’s death total now stands at 19,899, officially second behind the United States.
9.30 AM | SINGAPORE
Fifty-nine Indians working in Singapore are among the 233 new coronavirus cases reported on Sunday, taking the total number of COVID-19 patients in the city-state to 2,532.
Of the new cases, 51 are linked to known clusters while 15 to earlier cases. The remaining 167 have no links to earlier cases, pending contact tracing, the Health Ministry said in its daily update.
9 AM | DELHI
The Capital on Sunday recorded five deaths and 85 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of deaths to 24 and the cumulative cases to 1,154, the government said.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the rise in the number of cases here over the past few days was a worrying trend and the government would be launching a “massive” sanitation drive from April 13 across the city’s red and orange zones. The government has declared containment zones as red zones and the high-risk zones as orange zones.
8.30 AM | CHINA
China reported the highest number of new daily coronavirus cases in nearly six weeks, driven by a rise in infected travellers arriving from overseas and underscoring challenges Beijing faces in preventing a second wave of COVID-19.
A total of 108 new coronavirus cases were reported on Sunday, up from 99 a day earlier and marking the highest number of cases since 143 cases were reported in March 6.
The total number of confirmed cases in mainland China now stands at 82,160, while the death toll rose by two to 3,341.
The death toll due to the novel coronavirus rose to over 250 and the number of cases crossed 8,800 in the country on Sunday. With the rise in number of positive cases and death toll, many states have already announced lockdown extension till April 30. The lockdown has been extended in states like Punjab, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, West Bengal and Telangana. However, many people in certain parts of the country flout the lockdown norms by gathering to buy food items. Meanwhile, PM may soon announce extension of the lockdown across the country with some relaxations in certain parts. In India, Maharashtra has been the worst-affected state with over 1,800 cases and more than 100 deaths.
8.00 PM | NEW DELHI
The number of coronavirus containment zones in the national capital rose to 43 on Sunday, with southeast Delhi having the most such zones at 12.
There were 33 COVID-19 hotspots in the city on Monday. With the announcement of 10 more containment zones, the respective district authorities have started to seal those areas to stop the spread of the virus
7.40 PM | UNITED KINGDOM
Health officials say 657 more people in England have died from the new coronavirus, raising the total U.K. deaths over 10,000.
The 657 deaths come on top of the 9,875 deaths of people with COVID-19 in British hospitals announced Saturday.
7.30 PM | TAMIL NADU
A coronavirus positive woman has given birth to a ‘healthy’ baby boy at a government medical college hospital near here, where she has been undergoing treatment, officials said on Sunday.
A team of doctors carried out the cesarean delivery at the Perundurai IRT Government Medical College Hospital, designated facility for COVID-19 cases, on Saturday night, they said.
She is among 14 women undergoing treatment at the hospital for coronavirus.
The new born was ‘healthy’, officials said.
7.20 PM | ASSAM
The Assam government on Sunday decided to go with any decision to be taken by the Centre on extension of the 21-day lockdown, imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus in the country.
Following meeting of the Council of Ministers during which the decision was taken, Assam Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said there was no shortage of food items and enough stock was available in the state.
7.00 PM | NEW DELHI
The Centre has asked all states and Union Territories to take welfare measures, including food, shelter, medicine, mobile and video call facilities, for migrant labourers living in various relief camps across the country.
In a communication to the state governments and Union Territory (UT) administrations, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) highlighted the Supreme Court directions regarding welfare of migrant labourers housed at relief shelters and camps in different parts of the country.
6.40 PM | TAMIL NADU
Tamil Nadu reported 106 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of those infected to 1,075 on Sunday, the state government said.
Health Secretary Beela Rajesh said of the 106, as many as 16 had “inter-state travel” history and the remaining were their contacts.
So far 16 government labs and 9 private labs have been identified for COVID-19 testing in the State.
The governemnt labs are Kings Institute Guindy, MMC, Theni, Tirunelveli, Tiruvarur, Salem, Coimbatore, Villupuram, Madurai, Tiruchi, Perundurai, Stanley, Dharmapuri and esic coimbatore.
The private labs are CMC vellore, Apollo, Erlich, SRIMC, YRG care, Hi tech, Miot, MMM clinical lab services.
JIPMER pondicherry laboratory is the mentor lab.
Also, the government will pay for the test of samples if done in priavate laboratories, as per the Chief Minister’s announcement, adds Mr. Rajesh.
6.25 PM | KARNATAKA
The total number of positive cases reported in Karnataka on Sunday is 17, taking the tally to 232. This the highest number of cases reported in a day.
6.15 PM | UNITED KINGDOM
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was discharged from hospital on Sunday, a Downing Street spokesman said, a week after being admitted for treatment for coronavirus and spending three days in intensive care.
“The PM has been discharged from hospital to continue his recovery, at Chequers,” the spokesman said, referring to the prime minister’s country estate outside London.
“On the advice of his medical team, the PM will not be immediately returning to work.”
6.00 PM | JAMMU AND KASHMIR
Jammu and Kashmir government spokesman Rohit Kansal confirmed 21 new cases of Covid-19 in Jammu and Kashmir. “17 from Kashmir and 4 from Jammu. Total number of positive cases now stand at 245,” he said.
5.55 PM | MADHYA PRADESH
Madhya Pradesh recorded 16 new cases of COVID-19 until Sunday evening, taking the tally to 562. The count in Indore has crossed the 300 mark, with 311 persons testing positive in the city so far. There have been 41 deaths owing to the illness, and as many recoveries.
5.45 PM | DELHI
Operation SHIELD was very successful in Dilshad Garden containment zone and the same strategy will be followed in other containment zones, said Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.
People in these containment areas called red zones are facing problems because of the lack of movement, but they must realise that we are doing this for their own health and safety, he added.
“We will start a huge sanitation drive in these areas as well which will be done by high tech machines from Japan.
“Experts will identify high risk areas and classify them as orange zones and the sanitation drive will be conducted there as well,” Mr. Kejriwal said.
Cases have been rising in Delhi over the past few days and we are all worried we are hopeful that Operation SHIELD will be a success and bring down the numbers.
Autodrivers who have a valid driving license and a valid badge will be eligible for ₹5,000 relief. They will have to visit the Delhi transport website and update their bank account number to be eligible for the money
5.40 PM | HIMACHAL PRADESH
Himachal Pradesh will be divided into six zones as part of the strategy to end COVID-19 lockdown measures, chief minister Jai Ram Thakur said on Sunday.
At a meeting with senior officers, the Chief Minister said: “As per the threat of COVID-19 and cases found in Himachal Pradesh, the state will be divided into six zones including a red zone, four orange zones and a green zone for drafting exit plan from COVID-19 lockdown.”
Mr. Thakur said the exit plan would be initiated only when there is initial flattening of coronavirus curve followed by tapering of the curve with the tendency to reach a ‘stage zero’ infection.
5.20 PM | DELHI
The Delhi government on Sunday identified Mahavir Enclave area in southwest Delhi as COVID-19 hotspot and ordered its sealing, taking the total number of such zones in the city to 34, an official said.
He said an order has been issued and the Delhi government’s ‘Operation SHIELD’ will come into force.
“An order has been issued to seal street number 5 and 5A, H-2 Block, Bengali Colony in Mahavir Enclave,” the official said.
5.00 PM | ANDHRA PRADESH
In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Andhra Pradesh government will soon distribute over 16 crore facial masks to all citizens in the State for protecting themselves from coronavirus.
Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, who chaired a high-level review meeting at his residence on Sunday directed officials to complete the mask distribution quickly.
4.45 PM | SPAIN
Spain’s overnight death toll from the coronavirus rose to 619 on Sunday from a nearly three-week low of 510 on Saturday, the Health Ministry said, breaking a three-day streak of daily declines.
The country’s total death toll from the virus climbed to 16,972 from 16,353, the ministry said in a statement. Overall cases rose to 166,019 from 161,852.
4.30 PM | INDIA
State governments are trying to provide door-to-door essential goods in the hotspots in coordination with the civil society, an MHA spokesperson said.
“The Centre has again clarified to the State governments that there is no bar on inter-State or intra-State transportation of goods, godowns also can store the goods, as they are also exempted. Staff of manufacturing units of essential goods have to be given passes for smooth work,” she added.
The Home Ministry has been providing information on potential cybercrimes to people through twiitter handle, CyberDost, she said.
She asked people to use the cybercrime portal for getting information and reporting cases.
An ICMR spokesperson said that currently there are 219 testing facilities, including 151 government labs in government sector. A total of 1,86,906 samples have been tested till 2.30 pm.
“Government and private medical colleges are being roped in for testing, 14 such institutes have been identified.
“All Covid-19 cases have been analysed; about 80% mild and asymptomatic cases have been treated in care centres.
“Moderate cases are being treated at health centres and severe ones are being treated at dedicated hospitals. 20% of the cases would require moderate or critical care treatment,” a Health Ministry spokesperson said.
The Health Ministry shared data to show that more than adequate arrangements were and have been in place for treating the patients. In 601 hospitals, over 1 lakh beds are available
“We have been increasing the hospitals and number of available isolation beds,” the spokesperson said.
The Central Bureau of Investigation, in addition to their work, has joined hands with other government agencies to provide food to the needy and poor including migrant labourers/workers, said a CBI spokesperson.
CBI officials of certain branches including at Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, in addition to their work have also extended support voluntarily and distributed food/ration to these homeless migrant labourers/workers staying in temporary shelters, the spokesperson added.
“Ordnance factories are also being roped in to provide isolation beds and other medical facilities to reach out to people even in the remote areas,” the Health Ministry said.
The Finance Ministry has extended the deadline by three months, till June, on minimum mandatory deposits in PPF and Sukanya accounts.
On March 25, the government decided to give three LPGs free to 9 crore people under Ujjwala scheme for three months, so far 85 lakh people have been covered, the Petroleum Ministry said.
The GoM had cleared the first batch of HCQ export to 13 countries, after taking into account domestic requirements and buffer stock, the MEA said.
“In China, Japan and South Korea there has been a resurgence of the virus, so we are taking more precautions,” the Health Ministry said.
3.50 PM | INDIA
The Supreme Court would hear a PIL seeking quashing of the Centre’s decision to set up the PM CARES Fund to deal with the situation arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic, where citizens can donate money, on Monday.
3.40 PM | MEGHALAYA
Almost a fortnight after withdrawing its order allowing home delivery of alcoholic beverages on health grounds, the Meghalaya government has allowed wine shops and bonded warehouses in the State to sell liquor for seven hours a day from April 13 to 17.
3.30 PM | TAMIL NADU
A 45-year-old woman with COVID-19 infection died at the Omandurar Government Multi Superspeciality Hospital yesterday.
The woman, hailing from Chennai was admitted to the hospital at 11 a.m. on April 5.
According to a health department bulletin she had developed breathlessness on Saturday and died at 7.30 p.m., despite medical attention.
3.00 PM | KARNATAKA
A total of 11 COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in Karnataka on Sunday. With this, the total number of cases stands at 226.
A mid day bulletin by the Department of Health and Family Welfare states that of the 11 cases, four are from Belagavi, three from Bengaluru, two from Kalaburagi, one each from Vijayapura and Mysuru. Three of these patients have a history of Severe Acute Respiratory Illnesses, one has a travel history to Indonesia, while all the remaining cases are contacts of patients tested positive.
Among the 226 cases, 47 of the patients have been discharged and six other patients have passed away.
2.50 PM | TAMIL NADU
A Supreme Court Bench led by Chief Justice of India S.A. Bobde is scheduled to urgently hear on Monday a plea by Nagapattinam resident Santha Muthulingam, whose husband is stranded along with 860 other Indian fishermen and labourers in Iran on account of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Ms. Muthulingam’s plea, which is listed on the top of the list of cases before the Chief Justice, highlights the distress of men living in their fishing boats and tin sheds, uncertain of what the future holds for them.
2.20 PM | INDIA
A consignment of hydroxychloroquine from India has reached the US, the global COVID-19 hotspot, days after New Delhi lifted a ban on the export of the anti-malarial drug to America and some other countries.
1.40 PM | MADHYA PRADESH
An IAS officer on special duty with the Madhya Pradesh unit of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) tested positive for COVID-19 in Bhopal on April 11. He is the third bureaucrat, all from the Health Department, to have contracted the disease in the State.
1.20 PM | GUJARAT
Wearing a mask has been made mandatory in Ahmedabad city by the civic body. Not wearing it will attract a fine of Rs 1000 for first-time violation and Rs 5000 for subsequent violations and failing to pay the penalty will attract jail term of upto 3 years.
1.10 PM | MADHYA PRADESH
An 80-year-old man who had died earlier tested positive for COVID-19 in Bhopal on Sunday, taking the toll owing to the illness to two in the city, said Prabhakar Tiwari, Bhopal Chief Medical and Health Officer. The toll in the State climbs to 41.
1.00 PM | UTTAR PRADESH
Junior doctors at the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Hospital in Aligarh city of Uttar Pradesh has purchased protective gear worth Rs 1 lakh after an acute shortage of vital protective gear for healthcare workers.
“The Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Hospital is one of the frontline medical centres for testing and treating COVID-19 patients in Uttar Pradesh,” Shah Nawaz Iqbali, vice president of the resident doctors’ association, told reporters. “The concern of the medical fraternity here should not be ignored.”
“Keeping in view this looming threat, the resident doctors’ association has raised its own fund through donations for purchasing critical protective gear like surgical masks and sanitisers,” Mr. Iqbali said.
12.30 PM | MAHARASHTRA
Maharashtra recorded 134 new Covid-19 positive cases, with 113 of these being from Mumbai city alone, as the cumulative tally in the State soared to 1895 positive cases on Sunday, said health officials.
14 other cases were reported from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (excluding Mumbai city) including seven from Mira-Bhayander, two each from Thane, Navi Mumbai and Vasai-Virar, and one from Bhiwandi.
Pune district recorded five new cases taking the tally to 262.
12 PM | JHARKHAND
A 60-year-old man died due to COVID-19 in Ranchi on April 12, the second death due to the virus in the State, a senior official said in Ranchi.
The man from Hindpiri had come in contact with another COVID-19 patient in the area.
“He was admitted to a hospital two days ago after he exhibited symptoms of the disease. The 60-year-old’s condition deteriorated, following which he was put on ventilator. He died this morning,” Principal Secretary (Health) Nitin Madan Kulkarni said.11.45 AM | MADHYA PRADESH
As many as 49 residents of Indore tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday night, taking the city count to 298. Madhya Pradesh has so far recorded 546 cases, according to the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, Indore.
11.20 AM | RAJASTHAN
Fifty-one new cases of COVID-19 infection detected in Rajasthan today, taking the total number of positive cases in the State to 751.
Among the new cases, 15 each are from Jaipur and Banswara, 8 each from Jodhpur and Bikaner, 2 from Hanumangarh and 1 each from Churu, Jaisalmer and Sikar.
Medical & Health Department said 116 patients have been cured, having tested COVID-19 negative, and 58 of them have been discharged from isolation facilities.11.00 AM | GUJARAT
According to the State health department update on Sunday, 25 new cases of COVID-19 were detected in Gujarat while one patient succumbed to the infection.
So far, 493 cases and 23 deaths have been reported in the State while 44 have recovered and discharged.10.30 AM | BIHAR
With three more positive cases from Begusarai and Nawada districts, the number of COVID-19 positive cases in Bihar rose to 64, the state principal health secretary Sanjay Kumar said on Sunday morning.
10.20 AM | ODISHA
Four more persons have tested positive for COVID-19 in Odisha, taking the total number of such cases in the State to 54, a health department official said.
The department, however, was yet to share more information about the new patients, who were found to have contracted the disease late on Saturday.
Of the 54 cases in the State, one has succumbed to the disease and 12 have recovered.
Shalini Pandit, the director of state National Health Mission, had said on Saturday that about 80% of the total number of patients in the state were asymptomatic.
10.00 AM | CHINA
China has reported 99 new coronavirus cases, the highest in a single day in recent weeks, and 63 fresh asymptomatic infections, taking the total number of patients in the country to 82,052, health officials said here on Saturday, amid concerns about a second wave of the pandemic.
08.20PM
As India hopes for the coronavirus outbreak graph to flatten, Centre says that a decision on lockdown extension will be made depending on the exit day scenario. Over 230 people have died and over 7,000 have tested positive for COVID-19 in India. .Assam reports its first death, and this is the first death recorded due to coronavirus in the Northeast. Practices such as social distancing and curfew may still be very much part of everyday social life, even after April 14, the government said.
8.10 PM | NEW DELHI
The Congress on Friday urged the Modi government to talk to the Trump administration to prevent job losses of Indians holding H-1B visa in the U.S. due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said after compromising the “India First” policy in the hydroxychloroquine drug climb-down, the government is again failing to secure the safety and livelihood of Indians in the U.S.
– PTI
8.00 PM | GUJARAT
At least 70 new COVID-19 positive cases were recorded in Gujarat on Friday, taking the number of total cases to 378.
So far, 33 patients have recovered and have been discharged, while 19 have died.
7.45 PM | NEW DELHI
Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said on Friday there were indications that Punjab was moving towards the community transmission stage of COVID-19 outbreak, but asserted that his government was gearing up for every challenge, and announced mass testing in COVID-19 hotspots from next week.
Speaking to the media through video conference, Mr. Singh quoted a PGIMER study to say that the virus infection is likely to touch its peak by mid-September and may likely affect 58% of the country’s population.
– PTI
7.30 PM | BHOPAL
Police have registered an offence against 64 foreigners, including some COVID-19 patients, and 10 others from different States, all of whom were found hiding in Bhopal after attending Delhi’s Tablighi Jamaat event held last month, an official said on Friday.
The police have also registered a case against 13 local residents, who provided shelter to them in different mosques, Additional Superintendent of Police (Zone-1) Rajat Saklecha told PTI on Friday.
7.20 PM | MAHARASHTRA
The total number of confirmed cases in Maharashtra rose to 1,625 on Friday. Of these, 1392 are active cases.
108 deaths have been reported so far in the State.
7.15 PM | MUMBAI
The Retailers Association of India (RAI) has urged people not to indulge in panic buying of essential items. “There is enough stock of grains, pulses and other daily essentials for the lockdown period and beyond. There is no need for citizens to believe otherwise and engage in panic buying,” RAI said in a statement.
“RAI, along with its members, is working closely with various State Governments and with the Centre to resolve supply concerns with regards to essentials as they arise at the earliest,” it said.
7.05 PM | ARUNACHAL PRADESH
In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Arunachal Pradesh Cabinet on Friday approved an ordinance to reduce salaries of all ministers and MLAs, including the chief minister, by 30% for a year with effect from April 1, 2020.
– PTI
7.00 PM | NEW DELHI
A total of 180 flights have operated since the beginning of the 21-day lockdown under the ‘Lifeline Udan’ scheme, carrying 258.24 tonnes of cargo as on Thursday, the Civil Aviation Ministry said on Friday.
The ‘Lifeline Udan’ scheme has been started by the ministry for transport of essential goods through aerial routes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
– PTI
6.55 PM | MUMBAI
As many as 218 persons tested positive for COVID-19 in Mumbai on Friday, said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.
– PTI
6.45 PM | TAMIL NADU
As many as 77 persons tested positive for COVID-19 in Tamil Nadu on Friday, said Chief Secretary K. Shanmugam. While the total number of cases in the State has now touched 911, 44 people have recovered.
One more person died today, taking the State toll to nine.
.6.40 PM | UTTAR PRADESH
A 10-month-old girl died on Friday at a quarantine centre set up in a primary school in Uska Bazar area of neighbouring Siddharthnagar district, a senior official said. The toddler was rushed to the district hospital in an ambulance but doctors declared her brought dead, he said.
The baby’s parents had come from Mumbai and were at the quarantine centre since March 29.
– PTI
6.20 PM | GUWAHATI
The Northeast Frontier Railway has modified 315 coaches as isolation wards with 2,520 beds for various locations in Assam, Tripura and West Bengal in case of any contingency amid the COVID-19 pandemic, an official said on Friday.
Equipped with all basic facilities needed for isolation as per guidelines issued by the Railway Board, these coaches are also fitted with mosquito nets, charging points and space for paramedics, CPRO Subhanan Chanda said.
– PTI
6.20 PM | TELANGANA
The Telangana government has made wearing a mask covering nose and mouth compulsory when going out and while interacting with others, a Government Memo said while stating that some people do not show COVID-19 symptoms despite being positive of the virus.
“The earlier advisory on “Masks only for the sick” is being updated with “Mask on while stepping outdoors, in enclosed spaces and while interacting with others.”
– PTI
6.15 PM | NEW DELHI/AHMEDABAD
India is set to begin shipping the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine to the United States where President Donald Trump has touted it as a potential weapon against the coronavirus.
“The first shipments should start next week,” said Sudarshan Jain, secretary general of Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA).
– PTI
6.10 PM | NEW DELHI
In view of the festival season in April, the Central government on Friday asked the States and Union Territories to strictly adhere to the ongoing 21-day lockdown and not allow any social or religious gathering and procession.
In a communication, the Union Home Ministry also said that appropriate vigil on social media should be maintained against circulation of any objectionable content.
– PTI
5.55 PM | NEW DELHI
Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Friday announced a life insurance cover of up to Rs. 35 lakh per person to over 1 lakh FCI officials and workers in case they succumb to COVID-19 after six months of performing duty from the day of lockdown on March 24.
Currently, there is a provision to provide compensation to family members of FCI officials in case of death due to terrorist attack, bomb blast, mob violence and natural disasters. However, regular and contractual labourers are not included.
– PTI
5.50 PM | PUNJAB
Ten people tested positive for coronavirus in Jawaharpur village in Punjab’s Mohali district on Friday, taking the number of confirmed cases in the area to 32, officials said here.
The village located in Dera Bassi of Mohali has become a coronavirus hotspot in the State. The number of cases stood at 22 on Thursday.
–PTI
5.40 PM | INDIA
Stoppered supply lines with trucks waiting on highways, the ongoing harvest season and procurement of food grains in various parts of the country are some of the issues that will inform the kind of lockdown the country will continue to have post April 14.
5.30 PM | INDIA
The Delhi Police have registered a total of 137 cases against individuals for not wearing masks under section 188 IPC (disobeying an order issued by a public servant).
5.15 PM | INDIA
The Punjab government on Friday announced to extend the curfew in the State till May 1, 2020.
The cabinet also approved the Punjab Clinical Establishment (Registration and Regulation) Ordinance 2020, to bring the state’s private hospitals under the umbrella of the COVID-19 battle.
The decisions were taken at a meeting of the Council of Ministers, chaired by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, to check community spread of the pandemic and to prevent overcrowding at the ”Mandis” in the light of the ensuing wheat harvesting – procurement season.
Mr. Singh will convey the decision about curfew to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Saturday’s conference with the chief ministers, according to an official statement.
5.00 PM | INDIA
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Friday asked the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to address the concerns of mentally ill people on the streets of the country during the coronavirus lockdown.
The NHRC took cognisance of a complaint about the alleged human rights violation and asked the MHA to inform it of the arrangements made for the mentally ill within two weeks.
“In the meantime necessary directions may be issued by them [MHA] to all the States and Union Territories to ensure that persons suffering from any kind of mental ailment under their jurisdiction are provided with proper counselling towards necessary precautions for their personal care and protection from the virus and not deprived of basic amenities like food, shelter and medical care etc.,” an NHRC statement said.
4.45 PM | INDIA
Over 200 farmers from Amreli and Bhavnagar districts in Gujarat have donated their Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi amount of Rs 2,000 to the PM CARES fund set up to fight the coronavirus outbreak, officials said.
As part of the Centre’s Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, farmers get Rs 6,000 as minimum income support in three equal installments, the last of which was disbursed recently, they said.
— PTI
4.40 PM | INDIA
The National Commission for Women launches Whatsapp number 07217735372 for survivors of domestic violence and women in distress due to the lockdown.
4.15 PM | INDIA
MHA
So far, 20,473 foreign nationals have been successfully evacuated on request of several countries, an MHA spokesperson said.
The government will decide on how to manage the return of Indian nationals, the spokesperson said, adding that “our ambassadors and High Commissioners are in regular touch with them, giving all support to them. MEA has also set up a COVID-19 control room, where helplines are active and a full team is taking calls and guiding them. The situation is under control.”
The issue of export of HCQ was reviewed over a period of time, keeping in view domestic priorities, and the restrictions were gradually relaxed. HCQ is in high demand globally; a lot of requests are already there from several countries. Taking into view domestic stock and requirement, keeping a sufficient buffer for our own requirement, decision was taken by a group of Ministers to release some in a staggered manner, the MHA said.
“The first batch of HCQ export has been released, the next batches are to follow,” the spokesperson said.
Urban local bodies have intensified measures in the hotspots. In view of the coming festivals, State governments have again been told to enforce lockdown. The Home Minister had a meeting with BSF through video-conferencing, giving instructions to intensify monitoring along the Indo-Pak border. Those living in the border areas are also being sensitised, it was added.
“As per details available on April 9, a total of 37,978 relief camps, catering to 14.30 lakh stranded migrant workers and the other needy, are being run across the country. Of them, over 34,000 are by State governments, and 3,900 by NGOs.
“Also, 26,225 food camps are feeding over 1 crore people. Of them, 14,999 are being run by State governments and 11,426 by NGOs. About 16.50 lakh people are being given shelter and good by their employers or the industry,” the spokesperson said.
PTI adds:
Amit Shah directs BSF to enhance vigil along Pakistan, Bangladesh borders
“Union Home Minister Amit Shah has directed the BSF to enhance vigil along the Indian borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh, especially in the non-fenced areas.
“The Minister reviewed the security of the two borders on Thursday and also directed the BSF to ensure that no cross-border movement takes place at these two fronts,” Joint secretary in the Ministry, Punya Salila Srivastava told reporters.
Health Ministry
The Health Ministry said that about 1 crore tablets of HCQ will be required. 3.28 crore tablets are available with us. Therefore, compared to projected requirements, more than three times the tablets are with us already.
Arrangements for an additional 2-3 crore tablets have also been made. Through private sectors, two crore tablets have been sent in the fields, the Ministry added.
“We have today 146 labs in public sectors, and 68 private labs with 16,500 collection centres.
“Yesterday, we conducted over 16,000 tests, in which 0.2% were found to be positive.
“Rapid diagnostic kits have been sanctioned, orders have also been given. They will be available at the earliest.
“Earlier 9 lakh N95 masks were available; 20 lakh N95 masks have now been made available to the States,” the Ministry added.
The Ministry spokesperson expressed concern over the attacks on healthcare workers and appealed to the public to encourage the frontline workers.
“If there is any community transmission, we will ourselves inform you about it,” he added.
ICMR
The ICMR representative said that till 9 p.m. yesterday, 1.44 lakh samples tested, adding that “yesterday we expanded our testing strategy by including all symptomatic cases in hotspot areas”.
When asked about an ICMR study showing that about 40% instances of the surveyed patients did not have travel history, the spokesperson said that VRDL lab test results are from the areas where the cases were prevalent. “The findings about patients with no travel history have to be further inquired into”.
4.00 PM | INDIA
The production of personal protective equipment (PPE) is being ramped up, a meeting held by the Prime Minister’s Office to review the efforts to tackle the spread of coronavirus was informed on Friday.
Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister P K Mishra chaired the meeting of the empowered groups of officers set up to tackle the challenges arising out of COVID-19.
The meeting reviewed and expressed satisfaction on the detailed testing protocol and procedure, under which 1,45,916 samples have been tested across the country till date.
–PTI
3.40 PM | DELHI
‘Operation SHIELD’, aimed at countering the community spread of the Novel Coronavirus, announced by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday, has stalled COVID-19 from spreading at Dilshad Garden, the Delhi government claimed.
In the last 10 days, the government claimed in a statement, there had been no reported cases from the Dilshad Garden area, terming it the first instance of the “successful implementation” of the initiative.
3.35 PM | UTTAR PRADESH
The number of cases in U.P. now stands at 431, said Amit Mohan Prasad, State Principal Secretary, Health department.
3.25 PM | INDIA
As part of its efforts to ramp up the testing capacity, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has approved the use of diagnostic machines used for testing drug-resistant tuberculosis for conducting coronavirus tests.
The ICMR has validated ‘TruenatTM beta CoV test on TruelabTM workstation’ and has recommended it as a screening test, the apex health research body said on Friday.
Issuing a guidance on the use of Truenat beta CoV, the ICMR said throat/nasal swabs will be collected in the viral transport medium (VTM) with virus lysis buffer provided along with the kit.
–PTI
3.20 PM | SPAIN
The number of people dying of coronavirus in Spain each day fell again on Friday as the country registered 605 fatalities over the past 24 hours, the health ministry said.
The overall death toll rose to 15,843 on Friday from 15,238 the previous day, it said in a statement. The total number of coronavirus cases rose to 157,022 on Friday from 152,446 on Thursday.
3.15 PM | INDIA
Budget carrier SpiceJet operated its first freighter service on Friday to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam from Hyderabad, carrying around 16 tonnes of medical supplies as part of the transportation of medical essentials, including medicines and other medical supplies, amid the coronavirus pandemic, the airline said.
Besides, one of its freighters flew with critical medical equipment from Singapore to Bangaluru, while a passenger aircraft transported medical supplies as in-cabin cargo to Guwahati from Kolkata, it said.
–PTI
3.00 PM | TRIPURA
The Tripura government has invoked the Essential Services Management Act (ESMA) after a few nurses at a state-run hospital complained about shortage of masks and other protective equipment in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
Tripura is the second State after Madhya Pradesh to have enforced the Act of 1986, which gives the police the right to arrest without a warrant anybody violating the ESMA’s provisions.
Under it, employees in a long list of “essential services” like post and telegraph, railway, airport and port operations are prohibited from going on strike.
–PTI
2.45 PM | KERALA
In a huge relief for Kasaragod district, which has witnessed the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the State, 22 patients have been discharged from various hospitals.
In the second stage of coronavirus infection, a total of 138 patients from Kasaragod are receiving treatment in various hospitals.
2.40 PM | TAMIL NADU
The Expert Committee of medical experts constituted to track the spread of COVID-19 in Tamil Nadu on Friday recommended to Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami to extend the ongoing lockdown by two weeks beyond April 14.
“Despite all the efforts taken by the government, cases [of COVID-19] have been increasing so far…All the doctors [on the 19-member panel] feel that it would be good if the lockdown is extended for 14 more days. This is among the recommendations of the Committee,” a panel spokesperson told journalists at the Secretariat in Chennai in the afternoon.
2.30 PM | PUNJAB
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday said the State is in second stage of COVID-19. Ahead of State cabinet meeting, slated for today, Mr. Singh said he personally feels the lockdown should be extended.
He, however, added that the Cabinet would take a decision on the State’s lockdown extension.
Addressing a press conference through video conference, Mr. Singh said Punjab will allow district-wise relief from lockdown only to farmers to allow them for harvesting of Rabi crop.
He said the state was expecting a bumper crop of 185 lakh tonnes of wheat and is making arrangements for harvest of the crop.
He said predictions by health experts about the spread of the pandemic are “horrendous and frightening“.
“Prediction by experts about spread of the virus are horrendous and frightening,” he said, adding that the government is preparing itself and gearing up for such a situation.
2.20 PM | RAJASTHAN
The “ruthless containment” model adopted in Bhilwara, which emerged last month as the worst-affected district in Rajasthan, has succeeded in breaking the chain of novel coronavirus transmission. Among the 27 COVID-19 positive cases found earlier, 25 patients have been cured of the infection and 15 of them discharged from hospital.
Bhilwara Collector Rajendra Bhatt said on Friday that the remaining 10 persons, who were under observation, would be discharged in a couple of days. The two elderly patients who died after testing COVID-19 positive reportedly had co-morbidity and other medical complications, while one of them was also in a state of coma when he was tested.
2.15 PM | TAMIL NADU
The district administration has sealed a private hospital run by a doctor after he tested positive for COVID-19.
The doctor who had returned from USA about 20 days ago, is the 12th COVID-19 positive patient in the district. The doctor’s residence and clinic have been made containment zones.
2.00 PM | PUDUCHERRY
Two more persons, who returned from the Tablighi Jamaat conference in New Delhi, tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday, taking the total tally of active patients in the Union Territory to seven.
1.45 PM | KERALA
Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac reveals in an interview with The Hindu, the State’s plans to use the COVID-19 fight as a window of opportunity to set up agriculture processing industries and pharma consortiums.
1.30 PM | MAHARASHTRA
Sushrusha hospital in Dadar, where two nurses have tested positive, has been sealed off, April 10, 2020.
Two nurses from Dadar’s Sushrusha Hospital have tested positive. About 28 other nurses have been put in quarantine in the same hospital. Besides, the management has been ordered to stop new admissions and shift patients out in 48 hours.
Another senior citizen has tested positive from Dadar, bringing the total to six from the area.
1.20 PM | KARNATAKA
Ten new cases have been detected in the State on Friday, taking the total number to 207.
The new cases include five from Mysuru and two from Bengaluru. All the patients from Bengaluru and Mysuru are contacts of patients who tested positive earlier.
A 55-year-old male from Kalaburagi, who is suffering from severe acute respiratory illness, is also a contact of another positive patient. Two from Bengaluru Rural have also tested positive.
With Friday’s additions, a total of 42 cases have been reported from Mysuru. This includes 31 from the Pharma company, three who returned from Dubai and the remaining who returned from Delhi.
1.10 PM | DELHI
A councillor in the Dwarka area, her husband and son have tested positive for Covid-19.
The Delhi Police has registered a case against them for violating home quarantine guidelines.
1.00 PM | MAHARASHTRA
Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh has spoken to CM Uddhav Thackeray regarding DHFL chairman Kapil Wadhawan and his family violating the lockdown by travelling, and a detailed inquiry will be done regarding the same, NCP chief spokesperson Nawab Malik said in a press note.
Pending inquiry, Amitabh Gupta, Principal Secretary (Special), Home Department, has been sent on a long leave, the note said.
“IPS and IAS officers come under the ambit of the PMO. If the Central Government wishes to take action against Amitabh Gupta, they are free to do so. We will welcome the same,” Mr. Malik added.
12.50 PM | BIHAR
The number of COVID-19 patients in Siwan district has gone up to 29. The total number of infected persons in Bihar goes up to 60.
12.40 PM | UTTAR PRADESH
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, in a letter to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, urged the State government to considerably increase testing for COVID-19 and cited the example of Congress-ruled Rajasthan.
The letter, dated April 9, was released by the Congress on Friday.
