Covid19 cases in India crossed 23000 Confirmed cases and 17000 Active cases.

As the nationwide lockdown has entered its 31st day, coronavirus cases in the country have crossed 23,000-mark to stand at 23,221 and the death toll over 725. With India struggling to flatten the COVID-19 curve, the rate of recovery has improved to 19.89%, from 9.99%, while 12 districts have not reported a single case in the last 28 days.

Meanwhile, the worldwide death toll from the coronavirus pandemic crossed 190,000 with nearly two-thirds of the fatalities in Europe.

8.10 PM | PUNJAB

11 more test positive for COVID-19 in Punjab; count rises to 298

Eleven more people tested positive for coronavirus in Punjab on Friday, pushing the total in the state to 298, officials said here.

Of the fresh cases, six were reported in Patiala, two in Mansa and one each in Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Amritsar, as per a medical bulletin. The number of active cases now stands at 211.

8.00 PM | WEST BENGAL

Central team seeks interaction with Bengal’s COVID-19 death audit committee

The central team visiting Kolkata to assess the COVID-19 situation wrote to the West Bengal government on Friday seeking a detailed report on functioning of the coronavirus death audit committee and a meeting with its members, and expressed displeasure at the arrangements in hospitals and quarantine centres.

7.45 PM | TELANGANA

Telangana reports 13 new cases

Telangana reported 13 new coronavirus positive cases and no deaths today. As many as 29 persons were discharged.

7.30 PM | NEW DELHI

Without lockdown India would have around one lakh cases by now: Government

The government said on Friday the nationwide lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was a timely step, without which there would have been an estimated one lakh coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in India by now.

In a press briefing, officials said the coronavirus outbreak is under control in the country and credited a robust surveillance network along with implementation of the lockdown and other containment measures for it.

Without lockdown India would have around one lakh cases by now: Government

7.10 | MADHYA PRADESH

Madhya Pradesh’s COVID-19 cases up by 75 to 1,846

As 75 more people, of whom 37 in Bhopal alone, tested coronavirus positive till Friday afternoon, the number of such cases in Madhya Pradesh climbed to 1,846, health officials said.

Seven more person succumbed to the infection in the state since Thursday night, which increased the death toll to 92, the officials said.

7.00 PM | RAJASTHAN

Over 10,000 people arrested in Rajasthan so far for violating lockdown

Over 10,000 people have been arrested and nearly 1.03 lakh vehicles seized for violation of lockdown orders and curfew in Rajasthan so far, a senior police officer said here on Friday.

Around 9,000 of them were arrested under section 151 of CrPC, Additional Director General (Crime) B L Soni said.

He said over  ₹1 crore has been collected in fines.

6.50 PM | MUMBAI

Dharavi reports six new cases

Dharavi reported six new cases on Friday, bringing the total to 220 cases. It also reported its 14th death, a 60 year-old woman from Gopinath Colony.

6.45 PM | TAMIL NADU

Tamil Nadu reports 72 new cases

Tamil Nadu reported 72 more COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of infected persons to 1755 in the State. Also, two deaths were reported today and 114 patients have been discharged.

6.30 PM | ODISHA

Five more test positive for COVID-19 in Odisha

Five more persons tested positive for COVID-19 in Odisha’s Bhadrak district on Friday, taking the total number of cases in the state to 94, officials said on Friday.

6.20 PM | KERALA

Infant dies of COVID-19 in Kerala, three positive cases confirmed

A four-month-old baby girl became the youngest vicitm of COVID-19 in Kerala on Friday as three more people tested positive for the deadly virus in the state, which has reported 450 cases so far.

6.15 PM | WEST BENGAL

Three COVID-19 patients die in West Bengal

Three novel coronavirus patients have died in West Bengal, taking the COVID-19 death toll to 18 in the state, Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha said on Friday.

During the last 24 hours, 51 new COVID-19 positive cases were detected in Kolkata and districts of Howrah, North 24 Parganas, Hooghly, Purba Burdwan and Purba Medinipur, he said.

“These three deaths were confirmed by the audit committee, taking the total number of deaths in West Bengal to 18,” Mr. Sinha said.

6.00 PM | GOA

Goa government makes wearing of masks compulsory

The Goa government on Friday made it compulsory for all people in the state to wear masks while stepping out of their houses as a preventive measure against coronavirus.

In a statement issued here, the government said that action will be taken against those who violate the order.

5.50 PM | NEW DELHI

Shashi Tharoor slams Centre for getting faulty test kits

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Friday attacked the government over reports of India getting faulty rapid antibody test kits from China and asserted that the answer to the problem lies in indigenous development of test kits as done by countries like the US, South Korea and Germany.

India’s apex medical research body ICMR on Tuesday advised States to stop using the rapid antibody test kits till it examines their quality in the wake of complaints that they are not fully effective.

– PTI

5.40 PM | NEW DELHI

Situation especially serious in Ahmedabad, Surat, Hyderabad, Chennai: MHA

The Centre on Friday said the COVID-19 situation is especially serious in major or emerging hotspot areas including Ahmedabad, Surat, Hyderabad and Chennai.

In a statement, the Home Ministry said that violations of lockdown measures reported in some parts of the country pose a serious health hazard to public and may lead to the spread of COVID-19.

– PTI

5.25 PM | BIHAR

Bihar reports 15 more cases, State tally now 197

Bihar reported 15 more COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of infected persons to 197 in the State.

The patients comprise five men and ten females from Jamalpur in Munger district.

5.20 PM | KOTA

About 1,400 students leave from Kota

Nearly 1,400 students from Haryana and Assam left Kota for their home towns by buses on Friday morning, while over 2,000 from various places in Rajasthan are scheduled to leave in the evening. Meanwhile, students from Bihar have appealed to Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister of their home state, to make arrangements for their return and staged a silent protest here.

Over 50 students from the Union territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Diu had left for home in three buses on Thursday noon and more than 250 students from Rajasthan had left for their respective home districts till Thursday night.

– PTI

5.05 PM | NEW DELHI

Around 40 healthcare staff of AIIMS advised self-quarantine

Around 40 healthcare staff, including doctors and nurses working at the gastroenterology department in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), have been advised self-quarantine after a 30-year-old male nurse working with them tested positive for coronavirus, official sources said on Friday.

Contact tracing was immediately initiated and samples of these 40 healthcare workers along with some patients from the ward where the nurse was posted were sent for testing.

5.00 PM | NEW DELHI

Delhi’s peak power demand falls by up to 49%

Delhi’s peak power demand has reduced by up to 49% with commercial and industrial activities virtually at a standstill due to the lockdown imposed to contain the spread of coronavirus, discom and power department officials said.

According to official data, the peak power demand during the day has reduced by 40-50%, while the peak electricity demand during the night has reduced by around 20-30%.Read more 4.40 PM | ODISHA

Four more West Bengal returnees, all male, tested positive for COVID-19 in Bhadrak district of Odisha, taking the State’s tally to 94 on Friday.

One person was found positive earlier in the day, according to the State government.

4.30 PM | NEW DELHI

‘Doubling rate has reduced due to the lockdown’

Chairman of the Empowered Group-1, Dr. V.K. Paul, says: “If we take three-day average, the doubling is happening in 10 days, compared to five days in the first week. By March 21, doubling rate had started at three days (the number of cases were 300 then). On March 23, the graph dips(which is a major achievement) to doubling in 5 days. It was post Janta Curfew, because of travel restrictions.”

Till March 29, the doubling rate remained around 5. After April 6, it started going towards 10. This is the effect of lockdown, says Dr. Kaul, while referring to a graph maintained by independent researchers.

“If the doubling rate were three, the growth of cases would be much faster, as is the situation being faced by many countries. This shows that the decision taken by the Prime Minister for the lockdown was absolutely correct. Today, we have about 23,000 confirmed cases. If the lockdown was not implemented, it would have been about 73,000 cases during the period,” he adds, while noting that the impact of the lockdown became apparent by April 4-5. “We would have taken the exponential curve path post March 23, but due to lockdown the situation is otherwise.”

“There was a slowing of the trend, even during the second phase, we are at the middle stage … the lockdown is to continue for about two more weeks … therefore, the effect will be there till about second week of May,” says Dr. Paul.

“We are still to see the effects of lockdown in the days to come. Independent scholars have determined the current doubling rate as 14 days.”

If lockdown measures were not taken, as per reasonable estimates, there would have been close to 1 lakh confirmed cases, says Empowered Group-1 Chairman.

4.23 PM | NEW DELHI

9,45,000 people are under surveillance, says NCDC

NCDC Director says the lockdown has worked well in cutting community transmission and helping in community surveillance. Apart from the Centre, the State governments have contributed immensely in community surveillance. House-to-house searches in containment zones have been carried out for identifying suspected cases, in which tests are done and confirmed cases are referred to isolation centres.

From the district and State to the Central level, the surveillance network has been set up. In all, 9,45,000 people have been kept under surveillance.

If any of them develop any symptoms, they undergo testing. Since January 23, we had started surveillance. The first milestone in implementing measures against COVID-19 was when we stopped international flights, he says. 

4.20 PM | NEW DELHI

COVID-19 Seva helpline set up on Twitter: Health Ministry

The Union Health Minister today held a meeting with State Health Ministers, Health Secretaries and other officials, said the Ministry representative at the press briefing. He said early identification was important for saving lives. The Health Minister also held a video conference meeting with his counterparts in other countries and shared experiences, highlighting the twin principles of community engagement and containment efforts on which India has worked.

COVID-19 Seva helpline has been set up on Twitter for quickly addressing questions from the general public, he added.

4.10 PM | NEW DELHI

Recovery rate is now 20.57%, says Health Ministry

Another team that visited Dharavi in Mumbai has suggested installation of portable toilets, said the Home Ministry spokesperson. For about 2,000-3,000 people, there should be arrangements for institutional quarantining.

The team also held a meeting with the Maharashtra Chief Minister and other officials through video conference.

The Health Ministry representative, while addressing the press conference, says an additional 1,684 additional confirmed cases have been reported, taking the total number of cases to 23,077. Of these, 17,610 are under medical supervision; 491 more patients have been cured, taking the total to 4,748. The recovery rate is about 20.57% now.

The representative added that in the past 28 days, no cases have been reported in 15 districts, and in past 14 days, no cases have been reported from 80 districts.

4.00 PM | NEW DELHI

Updates on Centre’s COVID-19 press briefing

Home Ministry spokesperson says that there were some apprehensions in the industry that CEOs may be punished or factories may be sealed if any positive case are detected in the precincts. The Ministry has clarified to all States that there are no such provisions.

Four more  inter-ministerial teams led by Additional Secretaries and comprising public health experts, are being sent to Ahmedabad, Surat, Hyderabad and Chennai.

Two of the teams have sent their feedbacks. The Indore team has reported that there are 171 containment zones, of which 20 are critical. The team also surveyed the Mau containment zone. They found that proper measures are being taken and there is adequate availability of medical equipment. It also had a meeting with the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and other officials on a range of issues.

3.50 PM | TAMIL NADU

Six police personnel in Coimbatore have tested positive for COVID-19. Three of them are attached to Podanur police station. The station has been closed temporarily.

3.30 PM | NEW DELHI

Insensitive to freeze DA, says Rahul Gandhi

Noting that it was “insensitive and inhumane” to freeze dearness allowance, the Congress on Friday said instead of “hurting” the middle-class employees and pensioners, the government should shelve bullet train and Central Vista redevelopment projects to save money for the coronavirus fight.

“It is insensitive and inhumane on the part of the government to cut the DA of central employees, pensioners and jawans who are serving the public while fighting coronavirus, instead of suspending the bullet train project and the Central Vista beautification project of lakhs of crores (of rupees),” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.

3.05 PM | TAMIL NADU

Complete lockdown for four days in Chennai, Madurai and Coimbatore

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Friday announced that a complete lockdown would be effected in Chennai, Madurai and Coimbatore Municipal Corporations from 6 a.m. on April 26 to 9 p.m. on April 29.

In a statement, the Chief Minister also announced that the complete lockdown would be imposed in Salem and Tiruppur Municipal Corporations between 6 a.m. on April 26 to 9 p.m. on April 28.

3.03 PM | MUMBAI

2 suspected COVID-19 patients’ bodies lie unattended for hours

The bodies of two suspected COVID-19 patients were left unattended for several hours, one of them for nearly 20 hours, in the isolation ward of a civic-run hospital in Andheri here, where other patients were present, sources said on Friday.

According to the sources, the hospital staff was not ready to wrap the bodies due to the fear of getting infected.

However, the hospital administration finally handed over the bodies to their relatives on Thursday around 4 pm, they said.

– PTI

3.00 PM | LUCKNOW

Uttar Pradesh to bring back migrant workers in phases

Uttar Pradesh will bring back labourers and workers who are stranded in other States and have completed 14 days of quarantine in a phased manner.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday instructed officials to prepare a working plan for it and come up with details in this regard, his office said in a statement after a high-level meeting.

 2.50 PM | NEW DELHI

Hyundai Motors India gives essentials worth over Rs. 9 cr. to Delhi, Haryana, T.N., Maharashtra

Hyundai Motor India (HMI) on Friday said it has provided personal protective equipment (PPE) kits, masks, sanitisers and dry ration worth over Rs. 9 crore to the governments of Delhi, Haryana, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra as part of its contribution to fight COVID-19.

The company said it has also donated incinerators to hospitals in Tamil Nadu for safe disposal of medical waste.

Hyundai Motor India Managing Director and CEO SS Kim said, “Being a longstanding partner in India’s growth over two decades, we stand united with government of India through these trying times and offer assurance of our utmost commitment.”

– PTI

2.40 PM | BIHAR

Five more cases detected in Bihar

Five more COVID-19 cases have been detected in Bihar, taking the total number of cases in the State to 182. While one male, 28, is from Nalanda, two Females of 38, 55 years respectively, are from Biharsharief, Nalanda district, and two females of 6 and 60 years are from Naya Bazaar in Bhojpur, Buxar district.

Travel histories of those infected are being ascertained, said State Principal Health Secretary Sanjay Kumar.

2.40 PM  | KERALA

Kerala CM seeks PM’s intervention to bring bodies from Gulf back home

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday conveyed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi the deep angst of Keralites waiting for the return of the mortal remains of their kin who had died in the Gulf countries due to reasons other than COVID-19.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr. Vijayan said  Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries required the Indian embassies there to give a “clearance certificate” to local authorities as a precursor of allowing the return of the remains to the country.

2.25 PM | GOA

Goa government to provide thermal guns to industries

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday said the government will provide all necessary infrastructure, including thermal guns and screening devices, to industries to fully resume their operations in the state.

The Goa government granted conditional permits to industrial estates in the state, which have started operating in phases since April 20, after all COVID-19 patients in the state had recovered.

– PTI

2.20 PM | MADHYA PRADESH

Man commits suicide after being quarantined in MP

A 30-year-old farm labourer who was quarantined at a school in Madhya Pradesh’s Sidhi district, allegedly committed suicide, police said on Friday.

The man, who belongs to the Baiga tribe, was found hanging from a tree near the quarantine facility at Dubri Kala village, some 80 km from the district headquarters, on Thursday, superintendent of police R S Bevanshi said.

As per preliminary investigation, the man did not wish to be kept in isolation and wanted to be with his children.

– PTI

2.05 PM | NEW DELHI

Biggest message from COVID-19 is that India must be self-reliant, says Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that the biggest message arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic was for India to be self-reliant and self-sufficient for the majority of its needs, and that this was necessary for the country if it faced such a crisis again.

He was addressing a video conference of sarpanches from across the country on Panchayati Raj Day, during which he also launched two programmes, e-GramSwaraj, for monitoring of rural infrastructure works and e-governance, and Swamitva programme, which involves mapping of rural housing and land holdings via technology including drones. The Swamitva programme, Mr. Modi said, would help rural India leverage property for institutional credit and other benefits.

2.00 PM | TAMIL NADU

Prime Minister must explain why COVID-19 rapid test kits failed, says Alagiri

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan must explain to the country why the COVID-19 rapid test kits procured by India from China failed and why the Indian government paid ₹600 per kit to China while the Chattisgarh government bought test kits from South Korea at ₹337 per kit that were functioning well, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K.S. Alagiri said on Friday.

1.50 PM | NEW DELHI

While observing roza and prayers, we expect everyone to follow lockdown as per the guidelines. Azaan may be carried out in accordance with NGT guidelines, the Delhi Police said in a tweet.

1.50 PM | KARNATAKA

18 new cases reported in Karnataka

As many as 18 new COVID-19 cases have been reported in Karnataka on Friday. With this, the total number of cases in Karnataka stands at 463.

Five of the patients who tested positive were those who were housed in the jail in Ramanagaram after being arrested for inciting violence in Padarayanapura on April 20, 2020. Former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy had criticised the government’s decision to shift those arrested to Ramanagaram which is a green zone and has no COVID-19 cases. All five have now been shifted to a designated hospital in Bengaluru.

1.40 PM | NEW DELHI

Why were infected RPF personnel allowed to travel, asks Derek O’ Brien

After nine Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel tested positive for COVID-19 after returning to West Bengal from Delhi, TMC MP Derek O’ Brien on Friday questioned why they were travelling during the nationwide lockdown imposed to contain the spread of the deadly disease.

The personnel were part of a 28-member RPF contingent from the Kharagpur division of South Eastern Railway, which had returned on April 14 from Delhi with a consignment of arms and ammunition aboard a parcel express train, SER spokesman Sanjay Ghosh said.

– PTI1.35 PM | NEW DELHI

NGT directs team of Centre, CPCB to supervise scientific disposal of COVID -19 waste

The National Green Tribunal on Friday directed a team, comprising the Centre and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), to supervise handling and scientific disposal of COVID-19 waste in accordance with the guidelines.

The tribunal said that while the Bio Medical Waste Rules deal with waste generated in dealing with infectious diseases, the coronavirus pandemic has presented further challenge in terms of capacity to scientifically dispose of generated waste.

 1.30 PM | TAMIL NADU

Founder of news portal held for ‘false’ reports in T.N.

The founder of an English news portal has been arrested here on charges of carrying “false” and “provocative” reports against the local administration and government over COVID-19 relief works, police said on Friday.

Andrew Sam Rajapandian, who runs ‘Simplicity’ portal, was arrested on Thursday on a complaint from a city corporation official and produced before a magistrate who remanded him to judicial custody, they said.

– PTI1.10 PM | ANDHRA PRADESH

Andhra Pradesh tally crosses 900

Andhra Pradesh recorded 62 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total tally of the State to 955.

With two new deaths reported today, the toll stands at 29.

1.05 PM | PUDUCHERRY

Puducherry CM, Ministers test negative for COVID-19

Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy, his cabinet colleagues and legislators tested negative for COVID-19 on Friday.

The Health Department had on Thursday conducted PT-RCR tests for COVID-19 as the leaders have been visiting potentially vulnerable areas in the containment zones on a daily basis to assess measures to prevent the spread of virus in the Union Territory.

1.05 PM | TIME

COVID-19 crisis to impact over 29 lakh aviation jobs in India: IATA

The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to impact more than 29 lakh jobs in the Indian aviation and dependent industries, global airlines’ grouping IATA said on Friday.

About India, IATA said the pandemic is expected to potentially impact 29,32,900 jobs in the country’s aviation and its dependent industries. Besides, the groupnoted that the revenue impact for airlines operating to and from the Indian market would be $11.221 billion (over ₹85,000 crore).

 1.00 PM | INDORE

Tally in Indore crosses 1,000

The COVID-19 tally in Indore, the hardest-hit city in Madhya Pradesh, crossed 1,000 late on April 23 after 84 fresh cases were detected.

So far, the city has recorded 1,029 cases and 55 deaths. As many as 77, or 7.5% of the patients, had recovered from the illness, said Pravin Jadia, Indore Chief Medical and Health Officer.

 12.50 PM | CHENNAI

For second consecutive day, traffic police block Anna Salai

For the second consecutive day on Friday, the city traffic police blocked traffic on arterial Anna Salai, and effected diversions at important junctions to prevent motorists from making unnecessary trips during the lockdown. Many motorists were caught unawares and found themselves stranded at important junctions such as Kotturpuram, Turnbulls Road, General Patter’s Road, Wallajah Road and Little Mount. On Thursday too, key junctions on Anna Salai had been sealed.

M.N. Mayilvahanan, Deputy Commissioner, Traffic(South) said: “As many motorists are not aware of this measure, we are guiding them to take diversions at each junction We will experiment with this on other roads also. No one has been stranded here. We are only diverting vehicular moment to other roads to reduce the traffic on Anna Salai.”

 12.40 PM | DELHI

Gambhir performs last rites of domestic help

India’s World Cup-winning former opener Gautam Gambhir performed the last rites of his deceased domestic help after her mortal remains could not be sent to her home in Odisha due to the coronavirus-forced national lockdown.

Gambhir, also a Lok Sabha from the BJP, posted a tribute on his Twitter page for his employee Saraswati Patra, who was working at his residence for the past six years.

“Taking care of my little one can never be domestic help. She was family. Performing her last rites was my duty,” he tweeted.

 12.30 PM | MADURAI

During COVID-19 lockdown, a good Samaritan in Madurai helps with last rites

On April 13, V. P. Manikandan, a social worker in Madurai, received a call from Chennai. The relative of a person who died at the hospice facility here, could not make it to Madurai due to the COVID-19 lockdown. “I asked for a consent letter and a confirmatory voice note from a member of the family. They immediately sent it and I began making the arrangements for the last rites,” he said.

Mr. Manikandan (44), who used to work as a marketing executive, took to social work in 2012 to ensure that the bodies of people, who were either abandoned by their families or orphaned, were given a decent burial or cremation.

In the wake of the COVID-19 lockdown, he is also helping families who have settled in different parts of the world to ensure that the last rights for their kin are satisfactorily completed.

12.20 PM | DELHI

Results of plasma therapy on Delhi patients encouraging, says Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that the results of plasma therapy on four COVID-19 patients look encouraging.

“Ten days ago we got the go-ahead from the Centre for plasma therapy on very serious COVID-19 patients on a limited basis for trial,” he said in a press meet today. “We did so on four patients the results of which are encouraging,” he added.

“Of the four patients, two were in ICU and were given plasma therapy on Tuesday which has improved their condition. They will be shifted out of ICU today,” said Mr. Kejriwal.

“Over the next two to three days we will conduct more such trials and will then apply for permission with the Centre to allow plasma therapy on serious COVID-19 patients across the city,” he added.

The Delhi CM also appealed to cured COVID-19 patients to donate plasma and save lives.

12.10 PM | UTTAR PRADESH

13 madrassa students in Kanpur test positive for COVID-19

As many as 13 madrassa students, who had come in contact with Tablighi Jamaat members suffering from COVID-19, have tested positive for the virus here, a senior health official said on Friday.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Ashok Shukla said, 50 samples were tested on Thursday, of which results of 13 have come positive. They are the students of a madrassa in Coolie Bazaar, a hotspot zone, from where about 30 people have already tested positive.

 12 PM | MAHARASHTRA

Maharashtra records single-day high of 778 cases on April 22

In a record single-day surge, Maharashtra reported a staggering 778 fresh COVID-19 cases on Wednesday as the State’s cumulative tally exceeded the 6,000-case mark to 6,427, while 14 new deaths took the death toll to 283.

According to State health officials, six of these deaths were from Mumbai city, while five more were reported from Pune, and one each from Navi Mumbai, Nandurbar and Dhule, with the latter two districts reporting their first deaths.

10.50 AM | INDIA

ICMR nod for coronavirus detection assay developed by IIT Delhi

IIT Delhi said it has got the approval from the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) for a probe-free coronavirus detection assay developed by it.

The institute, in a statement on Thursday, said the assay had been validated at ICMR with a sensitivity and specificity of 100%, making IIT-D the first academic institute to have obtained ICMR approval for a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based diagnostic assay.

 11.20 AM | RAJASTHAN

Rajasthan detects 36 more cases

The tally of COVID-19 positive cases in Rajasthan reached the 2,000-mark with the detection of 36 more virus-infected persons in four districts.

With the death of a 75-year-old male patient in Jaipur, the State death toll is now 29. The man was admitted to the hospital on April 13 for surgical emergency, said the State Medical and Health Department.

10.50 AM | BIHAR

Six more cases detected in Bihar

Six more COVID-19 positive cases have been detected in Bihar, taking the total number of cases in the State to 176.

The newly-detected patients include three men aged 10, 52, and 70 years, and three women aged 18, 48, and 60 years. They hail from Sadar Bazaar area of Jamalpur in Munger district.

10.20 AM | KERALA

Four-month-old baby dies of COVID-19 in Kerala

 A four-month-old female baby, a native of Manjeri in Malappuram district, undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode, died of COVID-19 on early Friday morning. This is the fourth COVID-19 related death in the State, including the Mahe death that was earlier counted in Puducherry UT’s tally.

It is learnt that the body fluid samples of her parents have been sent for lab tests and the doctors who attended to her have been asked to go on quarantine. Efforts to trace the source of infection are on.

10 AM | USA

Coronavirus pushes U.S. unemployment toward highest since Depression

Unemployment in the U.S. is swelling to levels last seen during the Great Depression of the 1930s, with 1 in 6 American workers thrown out of a job by the coronavirus, according to new data released Thursday. In response to the deepening economic crisis, the House passed a nearly $500 billion spending package to help buckled businesses and hospitals.

More than 4.4 million laid-off Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, the government reported. In all, roughly 26 million people — the population of the 10 biggest U.S. cities combined — have now filed for jobless aid in five weeks, an epic collapse that has raised the stakes in the debate over how and when to ease the shutdowns of factories and other businesses.

9.30 AM | FRANCE

French coronavirus death toll close to 22,000, says health ministry

The number of people who have died from coronavirus infection in France rose by 516 to 21,856 on Thursday, the health ministry said in a statement.

The 2.4% increase was slightly slower than on Tuesday and Wednesday, when the death toll increased by 2.6%, but well below the more than 4% rate seen last week.

The number of people in French hospitals with COVID-19 infection fell further, by 522 or 1.8% to 29,129, the ninth consecutive fall, and the number of people in intensive care fell by 165 or 3.2% to 5,053 in a 15th consecutive fall.Read more 9 AM | INDIA

As many as 23,077 people have been detected to be COVID-19 positive in India, while the death toll is 718, according to the latest update from the Union Health Ministry.

Of this, 17,610 are active cases. The Ministry says that 4,749 patients have recovered from the disease, putting India’s recovery rate at 20.5%.

Meanwhile, according to ICMR update as of 9 a.m., 23,502 samples have been confirmed positive for COVID-19. A total of 5,41,789 samples from 5,25,667 individuals have been tested so far.

8.30 AM | BIHAR

8 new cases in Bihar

Eight more COVID-19 positive cases have been detected in Bihar, taking the total number of cases in the State to 170. The new cases include a man and seven women from Khajpura locality in Patna.

The death toll in the State remains two, while the number of recovered patients is 42.

10.10PM | India

Total covid19 cases in India crossed 18,000 and active cases crossed 14,000

Despite Health Ministry’s optimism that the rate of doubling cases has slowed down to to 7.5 days post-lockdown, India’s tally of positive cases has crossed 18,300. The country reported 36 deaths in the last 24 hours and the toll stands at 583. Globally, the death toll has climbed to 1,65,000, with the United States reporting the highest number of deaths. Meanwhile, as PM Narendra Modi mentioned in his announcement, a number of restrictions in industrial sectors were lifted today.

The IMA sent the govt a white alert over violence against doctors and has said that doctors and hospitals will light a candle at 9 pm on April 22, in protest. UP CM Yogi Adityanath, whose father passed away earlier today, said he will not be attending the last rites in order to enforce lockdown norms.

9.20 P.M. | NEW DELHI

The Congress Working Committee (CWC) will be meeting on Thursday (23rd April) to discuss the current Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown situation. This will be the second CWC  through video conferencing.

Like terrorism, we’ll fight coronavirus together, says PM Modi

India and Afghanistan have fought the scourge of terrorism together and will similarly take on coronavirus (COVID-19) with solidarity and shared resolve, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday.

Responding to a tweet by Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani thanking India for the supply of wheat and medicines, Mr. Modi said New Delhi and Kabul share a special friendship based on ties of history, geography, and culture.Read more 8.40 P.M. | BIHAR

A 19 year old woman from Biharsharief in Nalanda district has been detected as COVID-19 positive, taking the total number in Bihar to 97.

8.30 P.M | TELANGANA

4 new cases in Telangana, 2 deaths

Telangana reported 4 new COVID-19 positive cases in on Monday  and two deaths, taking the death toll to 23. Total active cases is 663. No patient was reported cured or discharged today.

7.55 P.M. | MAHARASHTRA

Positive cases in Mumbai passes 3000

With the new cases reported in Dharavi, the positive cases in Maharashtra has risen to 4666 with 232 deaths. Mumbai alone has crossed the 3000 mark. The total number of COVID19 cases in the city is now 3032 and death toll is 139.

7.50 P.M. | GUJARAT

196 new cases in Gujarat

On Monday, Gujarat added a further 196 positive cases and 8 deaths while 26 patients have recovered and discharged, highest single day recovery. The number of positive case in the State stands at 1939 with 71 deaths.

7.30 P.M. | UTTARAKHAND

2 new cases in Uttarakhand

Two more persons tested positive for COVID-19 in Uttarakhand on Monday, taking the total number of positive cases in the State to 46, a health department bulletin said. The latest cases are from Dehradun.

18 have recovered and the State has 28  active cases.

– PTI

7.30 P.M. | HARYANA

One new case in Haryana

One person has tested positive in Haryana on Monday, with the number of new cases reaching 251 in Haryana, according to the State health department’s daily bulletin. The lone case on Monday was reported from Panchkula district, where the number of COVID-19 cases increased to 18. 141 have recovered.

– PTI7.20 P.M. | MUMBAI

Dharavi in Mumbai reports 30 new cases, bringing the total to 168., including 11 deaths.6.45 P.M. | KERALA

6 new postive cases in Kerala

Six new positive cases were detected in Kerala on Monday. The number of active cases stands at 114, as 21 have recovered. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the state will test all those in quarantine within 2-3 days.

6.30 PM | TAMIL NADU

43 more persons test positive in T.N., says Vijayabaskar

Tamil Nadu Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar said “43 persons test positive for COVID-19 in Tamil Nadu. Two more deaths, taking total deaths to 17 in TN. 46 persons were discharged today.”

6.15 PM | ODISHA

13 new cases detected in Odisha

The total number of coronavirus cases increased to 74 in Odisha with 13 new cases detected on Monday. While 49 are under treatment, 24 patients have been discharged after recovery and one has died, said State Health Dept.

6.05 PM | MAHARASHTRA

Maharashtra reports more cases in 12 hours

283 new COVID-19 positive cases in Maharashtra over a 12-hour span, taking the State’s tally to 4483. The majority of these cases – 187 – reported from Mumbai city taking the city’s tally to 2,911. Thane and Kalyan-Dombivli witnessed a sharp spike in cases, reporting 21 and 16 new cases respectively, while Mira-Bhayander reported seven new cases and Panvel six. Nine new cases were reported from Pune district, while fresh cases were reported from Navi Mumbai, Raigad, Satara, Solapur and Kolhapur as well. Till Sunday, the state’s death toll stood at 223.

5.45 PM. | WEST BENGAL

4 new cases in West Bengal in 24 hours

West Bengal Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha has confirmed 4 new cases in past 24 hours. Active cases stands at 245 on Monday. 73 persons have recovered. Total samples tested are 5469 as on April 20. Death toll remains at 12.5.15 P.M. | JAMMU AND KASHMIR

14 new cases in Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir spokeman Rohit Kansal has said that 14 new cases were reported on Monday. All of them are from the Kashmir division. The total number of cases stand at 368, including 55 from Jammu and 313 from Kashmir.

4.40 PM | ODISHA

Employees resume work in govt offices in Odisha

Senior officers of the Odisha government joined their offices on Monday, nearly a month after restrictions were imposed in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

While all Class-I officers resumed work from their offices, including state secretariat Lok Seva Bhavan, other subordinate staff started working on a roster basis.

As per the roster system, 33 per cent of the junior staff of different departments will be working on a rotational basis.

4.30 PM | NEW DELHI

RT-PCR kits need to be stored in less than 20 degree temperature, ICMR spokesperson says.

Health Ministry spokesperson, on several journalists testing positive in Mumbai, requests journalists to take precautions. Sampling criteria is that anyone who needs to be tested will be sampled, he says.

4.20 PM | NEW DELHI

Doubling rate at 7.5 days

The overall recovery rate in COVID-19 cases stand at 14.75%, says Health Ministry spokesperson.

In the last seven days, the doubling rate is 7.5 compared to 3.4 that was before the lockdown, he adds.

Based on data till 19th April, 18 States have shown better performance than the national average.

Doubling rates of select states:

Delhi: 8.5 days, Karnataka: 9.2, Telangana: 9.4, Andhra Pradesh: 10.6, J&K: 11.5, Punjab: 13.10, Chhattisgarh: 13.30, Tamil Nadu: 14, Bihar: 14.40

In some States the doubling rate is more than 20. Andaman-Nicobar 20.10, Haryana 21, Himachal Pradesh 24.5 days, Chandigarh: 24.50 days, Assam:25.8 days, Uttarakhand: 26.6  and Ladakh: 26.6 days.. In Kerala and Odisha it is more than 30 days.

In Goa, all patients have been recovered after treatment, he says.

4.15 PM | NEW DELHI

SHG comes to rescue

Self-help group members in 399 districts of 24 States initiate mask production. About 2 crore face masks, 1 lakh litres of hand santiser, liquid soaps and over 5000 PPEs were produced. SHG women also running 10,000 community kitchens in five States, a government spokesperson says.

4.00 PM | NEW DELHI

Farming operations allowed with 50% workforce: Agriculture Ministry

A spokesperson from Ministry of Agriculture says there is a 36% increase in the summer crop sowing, compared to last year.

Farming operations in field, harvesting and sowing, agencies engaged in procurement of agri-products, tea, coffee and rubber plantations are allowed with maximum 50% workers, he adds.

Fooodgrains production target for fy 2020-21 fixed at 298 MT. It was 291.1 MT last fiscal, he says.

Rs. 16,621 crore has been released to benefit 8.31 crore farmer families under PM-Kisan in the first instalment. Under PMFBY, insurance claims worth Rs. 2424 crore have been disbursed to farmers in 12 States, 18.26 lakh applications were sanctioned for loan amounting to Rs.17,800 crore. Short-term crop loans up to Rs.3 lakh allowed to repay up to May 31 at 4% PA interest without penalty, he says.

About 5,516 MT of pulses dispatched to States/UTs under Garib Kalyan Yojana.

4.00 PM | UTTARAKHAND

Badrinath temple opening postponed

The portals of Badrinath temple in Garhwal Himalayas, which were scheduled to open on April 30, will now open on May 15.

The decision to reschedule the opening of the temple gates was taken in view of circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic, Dharmadhikari of the Badrinath temple Bhuvan Chandra Uniyal said. – PTI3

.45 PM | GUJARAT

Gujarat industrial units resume operations

As the lockdown guidelines are relaxed from Monday, nearly 4,000 industrial units in Gujarat have resumed operations.

This includes ceramic units in Morbi, engineering units in Rajkot and Kutch, chemical units in Ankleshwar, and automobile units in Sanand.

3.30 PM | NEW DELHI

Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind appeals to Muslims to follow lockdown norms during Ramzan

Prominent Muslim body Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind has appealed to Muslims to adhere to all the guidelines of the lockdown and perform all religious rituals during Ramzan, starting later this week, staying inside their homes.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind general secretary Mahmood Madani also appealed to the community to help the poor and ensure ‘sehri’ (meal before start of fasting) and ‘iftar’ (meal at breaking of fast) is made available for the needy.

“It is an appeal to the Muslims in India that they adhere to the lockdown guidelines completely. They should not leave their homes without reason,” the Jamiat appeal said. – PTI

3.10 PM | UTTAR PRADESH

Kanpur records 17 fresh COVID-19 cases

Seventeen cases of coronavirus were detected in Kanpur city of Uttar Pradesh on Monday, taking the total number of such cases here to 74, a health official said.

Out of these 74 cases, six patients were cured and discharged on Sunday, while one lost his life due to the disease eight days ago, he said.

Presently, there are 66 active cases and they are being treated at G S V M Medical College. – PTI

3.00 PM | TAMIL NADU

TN extends lockdown till May 3

Tamil Nadu becomes the third State on Monday, after Punjab and Karnataka, to announce extension of lockdown till May 3.

A press release from the State government said essential services continue to be exempted from the lockdown. 

2.40 PM | TAMIL NADU

Two pilgrims test positive for COVID-19 in Tamil Nadu

Two women, who were among 127 people who went on a pilgrimage to Varanasi, have reportedly tested positive for COVID-19. The pilgrims, mostly senior citizens, from Tamil Nadu were quarantined soon after they arrived in Tiruvallur district in three buses from Uttar Pradesh last Friday.

2.30 PM | ANDHRA PRADESH

Three more COVID-19 deaths, 75 fresh cases reported in AP

The State has breached the 700-mark in the number of positive cases as 75 new cases including three deaths were reported in seven districts. It was the highest number of cases reported in a single day so far and the tally has gone up to 722. The death toll reached 20 and 27 more persons have recovered and got discharged, according to the bulletin issued by the Health department on Monday.

So far, Kurnool reported 174 cases and Guntur reported 149 cases. Both of the districts account for 45% of the total cases in the State. – Tharun Boda2 PM | INDIA

Centre gets tough on four States violating lockdown measures.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has constituted six committees, each led by Additional Secretary rank officials, to visit the four States — M.P, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and West Bengal — to ensure strict the implementation of lockdown measures.

Civil Aviation ministry will arrange for their air transportation.

1.50 PM | MUMBAI

53 journalists test positive for COVID-19

BMC’s health committee member Amey Ghole has confirmed that 167 samples of media people were collected and of those 53 have tested positive.

They are in process of figuring out the logistics and may move the positive patients to hotels and guest houses.

Most are asymptomatic at present.

1.45 PM | KARNATAKA

Karnataka continues lockdown till May 3

The Karnataka Cabinet on Monday decided to continue to the present lockdown till May 3 without any relaxation to industries or services located in rural and urban areas.

“Today’s situation will continue till May 3,” Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J.C. Madhuswamy said after the Cabinet meeting.

Accordingly, all types of industries and services would be remained closed till May 3. However, agriculture and horticulture related activities, and agricultural marketing services will be allowed.

1.40 PM | KERALA

Rigorous infection-control in Kerala hospitals pays off

For Kerala, when COVID-19 struck, it was not a last-minute crash course on dealing with a contagious microbe. The learning was on right from 2017, when the State had rolled out the Anti Microbial Resistance programme, in which infection prevention and control (IPC) was a strategic point.

The Nipah outbreak in Kozhikode in 2018 was perhaps the first major test of the lessons learned. And Kerala did emerge victorious in the battle, but lost nurse Lini Puthussery. This time, Health Minister K.K. Shylaja had given a mandate to health-care workers — that there should be no casualties among them. So far, a nurse at the Kottayam medical college and two field workers in Ernakulam have been affected by COVID-19. All have recovered.

1.30 PM | WORLD

WHO-recommended disinfectants effective against novel coronavirus: Study

Alcohol-based hand disinfectants recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) are effective against the novel coronavirus which causes COVID-19, according to a study.

The formulations can be prepared quickly and easily by pharmacies and help alleviate the current shortage of disinfectants, said researchers from Ruhr-Universitat Bochum (RUB) in Germany.

 1.10 PM | RAJASTHAN

Newborn tests positive for COVID-19 in Rajasthan’s Nagaur

A newborn baby has tested positive for COVID-19 in Rajasthan’s Nagaur district, an official said Monday.

“The baby born on Saturday is coronavirus positive. Her mother, father and other family members are also COVID-19 patients,” Nagaur chief medical and health officer Dr Sukumar Kashyap said.

 12.50 PM | INDIA

RS Secretariat resumes duties

The Rajya Sabha Secretariat resumed functioning today, 27 days after the implementation of the national lockdown, said Vice President of India Venkaiah Naidu on Monday.

Essential business will continue within the norms of the lockdown, he wrote on Twitter.Vice President of India✔@VPSecretariat

Rajya Sabha Secretariat resumed functioning today after 27 days since lockdown came into force on March 25. I have asked the officials to transact core business that cant be deferred by deploying manpower accordingly in conformity with the spirit of norms of lockdown. #COVID19

12.40 PM | MADHYA PRADESH

Death toll in Indore rises to 52, COVID-19 cases reach 897

Three more persons died of coronavirus Indore in the last 24 hours, taking the toll in the Madhya Pradesh district to 52, an official said on Monday.

The deceased included two men and a woman, in the age group of 42 to 47 years, Chief Medical and Health Officer Praveen Jadia said.

Besides, seven more people tested positive for COVID- 19 here, taking the total number of such cases in the district to 897, he said.

The State has reported 74 deaths so far. The total number of cases in the State stands at 1,414.

12.30 PM | KARNATAKA

Five new cases in Karnataka

Five new cases have been reported in the State on Monday taking the total number of positive cases to 395.

All the five are from Kalaburgi and contacts of previous positive patients, according to the health department”s midday bulletin.

So far, 16 deaths have been reported. As many as 111 people have been discharged.

12.20 PM | TAMIL NADU

In Chennai, doctor’s burial marred by protests, attacks

In a shocking repeat of what happened when a doctor from Andhra Pradesh died of COVID-19 just a week ago, a mob attacked a group of persons, including doctors, during the burial of a neurosurgeon, who had died after he tested positive for COVID-19, in a private hospital on Sunday.

The body of the 55-year-old doctor, who heads a private hospital on Poonamallee High Road, was shifted from the private hospital to Chennai Corporation’s burial ground near Kilpauk on Sunday night. However, residents gathered on the road and protested.

12.10 PM | MAHARASHTRA

All areas in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad to be sealed till April 27

In view of the increasing COVID-19 positive cases in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, the municipal commissioners of the Pune and the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation on Sunday ordered to seal all areas within their limits for the next seven days.

In their directives issued under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, and the Disaster Management Act, 2005, PMC Commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad and PCMC Commissioner Sharavan Hardikar declared the civic bodies as ‘containment zones’.

12 PM | KASHMIR

Four new cases of coronavirus in Kashmir

The number of COVID-19 cases in Jammu and Kashmir has climbed to 354 as four more persons tested positive for the virus, officials said on Monday.

Four new cases — all from Kashmir — have been detected in the union territory, the officials said.

The officials said the total number of positive cases has now risen to 354. Five patients have died in Jammu and Kashmir and 56 have recovered.

– PTI

11.40 AM | RAJASTHAN

Rajasthan registers 1 death, 17 new cases

The death of a resident of Nagaur in Rajasthan has brought the toll in the State to 24. According to authorities, the patient suffered from hypertension and was admitted to Jaipur’s Sawai Man Singh Government Hospital on Saturday, and tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday.

Seventeen more COVID-19 positive cases have been detected in Rajasthan today, taking the State’s tally to 1,495. Among them, 205 patients have recovered so far and 97 have been discharged from hospitals, says the State Medical and Health Department.

11.30 AM | INDIA

COVID-19 situation serious in Mumbai, Kolkata, Indore: MHA

The Centre on Monday said the COVID-19 situation is “especially serious” in Mumbai, Pune, Indore, Jaipur, Kolkata and a few other places in West Bengal, and violation of lockdown measures risk the spread of the novel coronavirus.

In a communication to state governments and union territories, the home ministry said there have been several incidents of violence against COVID-19 frontline healthcare professionals, complete violation of social distancing norms and movement of vehicles in urban areas. These should be stopped, it said.

The situation is “especially serious” in Indore in Madhya Pradesh, Mumbai and Pune in Maharashtra, Jaipur in Rajasthan, and Kolkata, Howrah, East Medinipur, North 24 Parganas, Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Jalpaiguri in West Bengal, the ministry said.

– PTI

Watch | What is PPE?

Personal protective equipment or PPE is crucial to keep healthcare workers on the COVID-19 pandemic’s frontline safe. But what exactly does it include?All about Personal Protective EquipmentVolume 90% .

11.10 AM | NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand’s lockdown extended

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced New Zealand’s lockdown will last another week.

For nearly four weeks, nonessential workers have been able to leave their homes only to buy groceries or get exercise.

From next week, workers at some businesses such as construction and manufacturing will be able to resume their jobs, and some schools will reopen, although parents will be encouraged to continue having their children learn from home.

10.50 AM | MANIPUR

Manipur’s second COVID-19 patient again tests negative

The second COVID-19 patient in Manipur tested negative for the virus again on Sunday, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) director Prof Ahanthem Santa Singh said in Imphal.

With this, Manipur no longer has any active COVID-19 case, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said on Twitter.

The patient, who is undergoing treatment at RIMS, had tested negative for the virus on Saturday as well, the director told PTI.

“Good news: the second #COVID19 patient who is undergoing treatment at RIMS, Imphal has reported negative of Novel Corona Virus disease. Now Manipur has zero positive case of COVID-19 as on date as the two cases of Manipur have been reported negative (sic),” the CM tweeted.

10.40 AM | GUJARAT

Cases continue to spike in Gujarat

The number of COVID-19 infections in Gujarat continues to see sharp rise on Monday, with 108 new cases and four deaths.

The total number of cases in the State is now 1,851 cases and the number of deaths is 67.

Three of the four who died were men. Two hailed from Ahmedabad and the ther two from Surat. So far, 34 people have died in Ahmedabad and 10 in Surat.

10.10 AM | PUNJAB

Punjab rules out relaxation in curfew till May 3

The Punjab government has ruled out any relaxation in the curfew till May 3 barring wheat procurement.

The move came after Chief Minister Amarinder Singh reviewed the current situation arising out of the coronavirus outbreak with senior officers from the administration and police department.

 10.05 AM | ODISHA

Odisha police officer suspended for entering Puri Jagannath temple during lockdown

The Odisha government has placed an inspector-in-charge of a police station for allegedly entering Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri, in violation of the lockdown imposed to curb COVID-19.

The suspended officer identified as Deepak Kumar Jena IIC of Badachana police station under Jajpur district was accused of entering the 12th century temple with his family members on Sunday evening.

 10 AM | USA

U.S. wants to send team of experts inside China for COVID-19 probe: Trump

The U.S. wants to send a team of experts to China to investigate coronavirus, President Donald Trump has said, a day after he warned Beijing of “consequences” if it was knowingly responsible for the spread of COVID-19 which has killed more than 165,000 people globally, including over 41,000 in America.

Describing the coronavirus as a plague, Mr. Trump, during his White House news conference on Sunday, said that he is not happy with China where the pandemic emerged in December last year in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.

9.40 AM | BIHAR

Three new cases in Bihar

Three more COVID-19 positive cases have been detected in Bihar. With this, the total toll in the State is  now 96.

The three new patients are aged 30, 36 and 52 years, and are residents of Jamalpur in Munger District.

9.20 AM | INDIA

MHA writes to States, asks to follow guidelines

Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla on Monday wrote to all States, reminding them to follow the March 31 observations made by Supreme Court that all States must comply with the guidelines issued by the MHA. He said that some States are allowing activities not permitted as per MHA guidelines.

The MHA has written to Kerala givernment regarding the dilution of lockdown guidelines, pointing out that the Kerala government has allowed functioning of local workshops, barber shops, restaurants, book stores, MSMEs in municipal limits, and bus travel in the cities/towns for shorter distance etc which amounts to violation of guidelines issued by MHA under Disaster Management Act, 2005.

9 AM | INDIA

17,265 confirmed cases, 543 deaths: Health Ministry

India has 17,265 confirmed cases of which 14,175 are active, according to the latest update from the Health Ministry.

As many as 2,546 people have been discharged. The death toll stands at 543, according to the Ministry.

8.30 AM | USA

US records 1,997 coronavirus deaths in 24 hours: Johns Hopkins

The number of coronavirus deaths in the United States rose by almost 2,000 in the past 24 hours to reach 40,661 on Sunday, a tally from Johns Hopkins University showed.

The rise in deaths, by 1,997, is marginally above the 1,891 which Johns Hopkins data showed a day earlier for the previous 24-hour period to Saturday.

Sunday’s figure came on the same day that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said the epidemic in his hardest-hit state is “past the high point.”

7.50 AM | ODISHA

Seven test positive in Odisha

Seven more persons tested positive for COVID-19 in Odisha, taking total number of cases detected in the State to 68.

Number of active cases stands at 43. Twenty four people have recovered and one person has died, said the State Health Department.

07.30AM| INDIA

COVID-19 does not see race, religion before striking: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday took to networking site LinkedIn to speak to young professionals that adapting to new technology in the times of COVID-19 can help create new business models and lead to the engagement of a large segment of Indians, including the poor, with technical solutions.

“COVID-19 does not see race, religion, colour, caste, creed, language or border before striking. Our response and conduct, therefore, should attach primacy to unity and brotherhood,” said Mr. Modi, adding that this has to be so, as the virus has affected across class, communities.

07.00AM | DELHI

Capital reports 110 new COVID-19 cases, 2 deaths

The Capital on Sunday reported 110 new COVID-19 cases and two deaths, taking the total number of cases to 2,003 and deaths to 45. On Sunday, 83 people recovered, taking the total number of people who have recovered to 290.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said as COVID-19 was still spreading in the Capital, the government has decided not to provide any relaxation to the ongoing lockdown.

10.30PM | India

Total confirmed cases in India crossed 16,500

As the nation strives to flatten the curve, the number of coronavirus cases in Gujarat and Maharashtra continue to surge. Meanwhile, Kerala and Tamil Nadu report high numbers of recovery cases per day. Tally in India spikes over 16,500 and toll breaches 500-mark. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said that there is no intention of lifting lockdown as of now. Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray said that certain financial activities shall begin in the state to cope with the economic crisis due to COVID-19. Globally, in Europe, coronavirus has killed over 1,00,000 people, which makes nearly two-thirds of the overall global death toll.

10:22 PM | JAMMU

500-bedded COVID-19 care centre set up in Jammu

A 500-bedded COVID-19 care centre with all necessary facilities has been established and handed over to the health department here, an official spokesperson said.

It will be the first administrative quarantine centre which has been upgraded to a COVID-19 care centre in order to stem the contraction of coronavirus, the official said.

The centre at Yatri Niwas in Bhagwati Nagar boasts of a mess, water coolers and televisions for suspected cases whose results are awaited or those confirmed cases that have been clinically assigned mild or very mild cases.

“This centre is a step towards mitigating the load on other hospitals in the Jammu district,” the spokesperson said.

9:54 PM | JAIPUR

Two deaths and 127 positive cases reported in Rajasthan today. The death toll is now 23 and the tally of patients is 1,478. Of them, 205 have recovered and 97 have been discharged from hospitals, according to the  Medical & Health Department.

–Mohammed Iqbal9:51 PM | HYDERABAD

Lockdown in Telangana extended till May 7, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao announced at a briefing today.

8:58 PM | LUCKNOW

Cases in Uttar Pradesh has now touched 1,100, as per the State Directorate of Health Services. A total of 17 deaths were reported so far.

Six of the deaths were reported in Agra, three in Meerut, two in Moradabad and one each in Lucknow, Kanpur, Bulandhshar, Basti, Varanasi and Firozabad.

8:38 PM | MUMBAI

Maharashtra reported a staggering surge of 552 new positive cases on Sunday, taking the State’s cumulative tally to 4,200 cases. Twelve more deaths were reported, raising the State’s death toll to 223.

8:32 PM | GUWAHATI

5 more patients discharged in Assam

Five more patients were discharged in Assam on Sunday, taking the total number of cured persons to 17, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

Thirty-four persons had tested positive for COVID-19 in the State since March 31 and one person, hailing from Hailakandi, had died.

Four persons, including a woman, were discharged from Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital (MMCH) and another from Guwahati Medical College Hospital here after their four successive tests were negative, the minister tweeted.

All five patients will now proceed for 14-day home quarantine, he said.

–PTI

7:57 PM | NEW DELHI

Centre stops airline bookings

The government on Sunday directed airlines to discontinue advance bookings for travel from May 4, following which Air India has reversed its earlier decision to sell air tickets.

“It has been noticed that airlines have started booking tickets for journeys with effect from May 4. No decision to commence the operation of domestic/international flights with effect from May 4 has been taken yet. All airlines are hereby directed to refain from booking tickets,” the Civil Aviation Ministry told domestic and foreign airlines. It said the airlines would be given sufficient notice for restarting flights.Read more7:52 PM | AHMEDABAD

Another 139 COVID-19 cases and 5 deaths were recorded in Gujarat today, taking the numbers to 1,743 cases and 63 deaths. In addition, 11 patients have recovered and discharged.

Gujarat’s infection curve is rising with a sharp increase in infections. A total of 367 cases and 10 deaths were reported today while yesterday’s count was 277 cases and 12 deaths.

–Mahesh Langa7:45 PM | NAGPUR

Nine COVID-19 cases were reported from Nagpur today, taking the total number of cases in the district to 72, said district authorities.

All the new cases were contacts of a 68-year-old man who died on April 5 and was the district’s first fatality, said Nagpur Municipal Commissioner Tukaram Munde.

He said till date, 192 contacts (including kin of the deceased) had been traced of whom no less than 37 had tested positive so far. The test results of 144 of these contacts were still awaited.

7:33 PM | NEW DELHI

Transported 1,150 tonnes of medical items, says Railways

Railways has transported 1,150 tonnes of medical items during the lockdown period across the country, the national transporter said on Sunday, adding that they include medicines, masks, hospital items and other medical commodities.

It said the items were being ferried through its timetabled parcel services to strengthen government’s efforts in managing the challenges and adverse impact of the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

At almost 400 tonnes, the Northern Railway ferried the maximum items followed by Western Railway (328.84 tonnes) and Central Railway (136 tonnes).

7:30 PM | SRINAGAR

Nine new cases reported in Jammu and Kashmir, tally touches 350

The number of cases in Jammu and Kashmir reached 350 on Sunday as nine more people tested positive in the Union territory, officials said.

Of the fresh cases, eight are from the Kashmir division while one is from Jammu, the officials said.

Now, the number of novel coronavirus cases in the Jammu division is 55 and that in the Kashmir division stands at 295, they added.

–PTI

7:28 PM | CHANDIGARH

Ten fresh cases in Punjab; CM rules out any relaxation in curfew

Ten fresh cases surfaced in Punjab on Sunday, taking the total tally to 244 in the State, according to government statement.

State health department said out of the ten cases reported on April 19, four are from SAS Nagar and six are from Jalandhar districts. Till now, Punjab has seen 16 Covid-19 related deaths, while 37 patients have been cured of the deadly virus.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, meanwhile ruled out any relaxation in the curfew in the state, except as needed to ensure Covid-19 free procurement of wheat, till May 3.

7:17 PM | PATNA

Six more test positive in Bihar, total rises to 92

Six more people tested positive in Bihar on Sunday, taking the total number of cases in the State to 92, a top Health Department official said.

Of these six fresh infections, two were reported from Buxar district and four from Nalanda district.

–PTI

7:16 PM | CHANDIGARH

Jail warder among 18 fresh cases in Haryana

Eighteen fresh cases of COVID-19 surfaced in Haryana on Sunday, including a jail warder, taking the total tally to 250 in the State, according to a government statement.

State Health Department said out of total 250 confirmed cases, 24 are foreign nationals i.e – 14 Italian, six are from Sri Lanka, one each from Nepal, Thailand, Indonesia and South Africa and 64 are from other States. Till now, Haryana has seen two COVID-19 related deaths, while 104 patients have been cured of the deadly virus, it added.

Chief Medical Officer, Gurugram, J.S. Punia, said a jail warder at Gurugram’s Bhondsi Jail has been tested positive. “He was absent from the duty since April 9 and returned to work two days ago. But he was asked to get his test done and not allowed to join. His samples were taken and result came on Saturday. He was found to be infected with the virus. Since he had not joined the duty, the staff and inmates at the jail did not come in contact with him,” he said.

7:10 PM | DEHRADUN

Dehradun, Haridwar and Nainital designated as red zones in Uttarakhand

Dehradun, Haridwar and Nainital in Uttarakhand have been kept in the red zone with 80% of positive cases in the State being reported from these districts.

According to a strategy devised by the Health Department for effective implementation of the extended lockdown, the State has been divided into three zones on the basis of the rate of spread of the pandemic, Health Secretary Yugal Kishore Pant said.

Dehradun, Haridwar and Nainital have been kept in the red zone while Almora, Udham Singh Nagar and Pauri districts have been kept in the orange zone. The remaining seven districts which have not yet reported a case have been kept in the green zone, Mr. Pant said.

–PTI

7:03 PM | MUMBAI

Dharavi reported 20 new cases on Sunday, bringing the total to 138 cases so far including 11 deaths

7:01 PM | NEW DELHI

Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha Secretariats to resume work from April 20

The Lok Sabha Secretariat will resume work from Monday after it was shut in the last week of March in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, according to an official order.

The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were shut on March 24 after both houses were adjourned sine die following the passage of the Finance Bill for 2020-21, bringing a premature end to the budget session of Parliament, which was slated to conclude on April 3.

According to the order issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat, it will resume work from Monday and all officers of the joint secretary rank and above will join office. Besides them, the other staff will work on a rotational basis. The order further said while working, the secretariat staff will ensure that social distancing norms are observed.

File movement shall only be through electronic mode in e-office. The only exception could be urgent files for the consideration of the Lok Sabha speaker.

Another official order also said the Rajya Sabha Secretariat will resume work from Monday.

6:55 PM | THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

2 cases reported in Kerala, 13 cured

Two new cases were reported in Kerala on Sunday, taking the total number to 401, while 13 people were cured, the Health Department said.

Health Minister K.K. Shailaja said as of now 270 people have been cured of the deadly virus in the State.

“One infected person is from Kannur and another from Kasaragod. They came from Abu Dhabi and Dubai respectively. As of now 129 peopleare under treatment in the state,” Ms. Shailaja said in a release.

At least 55,590 people are under observation in the State while 416 are in isolation wards at various hospitals. The State has till now sent 19,351 samples for testing. Kannur has 48 positive cases, while neighbouring Kasaragod has 42 and Kozhikode, 13.

–PTI

6:41 PM | CHENNAI

A total of 105 persons tested positive today taking the total number of positive cases to 1,477. In addition, 46 persons who were treated for the infection were discharged today. As of Sunday, 411 individuals have been discharged, 21,381 are under home quarantine and 1,987 in isolation wards.

6:17 PM | JAMMU

Screening of Rohingya Muslims under way in Jammu; 12 samples taken for testing

Stepping up the COVID-19 screening of Rohingya Muslims living at various slums here, the Health Department in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday collected a dozen samples for testing, officials said.

The samples were taken randomly during screening of Rohingya Muslims residing at Kargil colony and Beeru plot in Bhatindi, a red zone, by a team of doctors deputed to check for the symptoms of coronavirus among the population, the officials said.

They said over 540 Rohingyas, settled in two plots, were screened since Saturday and all of them were found with no symptoms of COVID-19.

The screening process will continue to cover all the settlements housing the foreigners.

5:53 PM | BENGALURU

Six new cases were detected in Karnataka on Sunday. The total cases in the State rose to 390 comprising 263 active cases and 111 recoveries. In addition, two new deaths were also reported today, raising the State’s toll to 16.

According to a media bulletin issued by the Department of Health and Family Welfare, a 65-year-woman, who was a resident of Bengaluru and was reported to have Severe Acute Respiratory Illnesses (SARI), passed away at a designated hospital in the city on Sunday. Another death was reported in Dakshina Kannada, a resident of Uppinangadi who was a 50-year-old woman died on Sunday.

5:50 PM | PARIS

Global death toll crosses 160,000

The worldwide death toll from the novel coronavirus pandemic rose to 160,685 on Sunday, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP. More than 2,334,130 declared cases have been registered in 193 countries and territories since the epidemic first emerged in China in December.

Of these cases, at least 518,900 are now considered recovered.

The tallies, using data collected by AFP from national authorities and information from the World Health Organization (WHO), probably reflect only a fraction of the actual number of infections.Read more5:40 PM | BHOPAL

The number of coronavirus cases in Madhya Pradesh rose to 1,407 with five more people testing positive for the disease on Sunday.

5.20 PM | UTTAR PRADESH

Cases in U.P. cross 1,000-mark; death toll mounts to 17

The number of coronavirus cases in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday mounted to 1,084, with 110 fresh cases and three deaths being reported in a day, officials said.

The virus has claimed 17 lives in the state so far.

During a daily briefing on COVID-19, Principal Secretary (Medical and Health) Amit Mohan Prasad said the state has 959 active cases.

At least 1,084 people in 49 districts of the state are infected, he said, adding that 108 of them have been cured and discharged.

 5.15 PM | KARNATAKA

18 released from quarantine in Bannur

A total of eighteen residents of Bannur, who had been quarantined at a Government facility in the town after they came into contact with a group of Tabligh Jamaat members, were discharged on Saturday after they tested negative for COVID-19.

The 18 residents of Bannur had been in quarantine since April 5 after the Tablighi Jamaat members tested positive.

Woman dies of COVID-19 in Mangaluru

A 50-year-old woman from Bantwal in Dakshina Kannada district who was down with Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) died at the Government Wenlock Hospital here in the morning.

Following SARI, the woman had been admitted to the Wenlock Hospital on April 18. She was being treated at the ICU in the hospital. Her throat swab test confirmed COVID-19 later in the day after her death at 9.15 a.m.

5.00 PM | ODISHA

Odisha to hold talks with centre, States to ensure return of migrant workers post-lockdown: Patnaik

After lockdown restrictions are lifted, Odisha will hold talks with Centre and other State governments for smooth return of its migrant workers and technology will be applied to carry out the mission, announced Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday.

4.45 PM | GOA

No active COVID-19 case in Goa, all 7 patients discharged

Goa on Sunday became the first zero COVID-19 State in the country with the last seven positive cases also testing negative.  This makes Goa the first green State in the country with no case of SARS-CoV-2 since April 3.

The coastal tourist State had a total of seven positive cases,  of whom six had travel history and one was the brother of a positive patient. 

“Goa is now COVID-19 free, all seven patients have tested negative. They will be quarantined at a government facility and later at home,” Chief Minister, Dr. Pramod Sawant said.

Goa has in all tested over 800 people of which seven had come positive.  Dr. Sawant said though Goa was the first Indian State to be free of any tested positive case and a happy moment for everyone, especially the frontline workers, it was important to realise that this was no time to relax. 

The Chief Minister said from April 20, the government would scrutinise reports of its three-day door-to-door citizens survey done last week and decide on testing people for COVID-19 wherever it felt was necessary.

4.10 PM | INDIA

Five groups working on COVID-19 vaccines to test on humans: ICMR

The Home Minister has met officials in the Ministry and directed that relaxations offered in rural areas have to be closely monitored.

The quality of food offered to migrants at shelters is to be closely monitored, according to the Health Ministry’s daily press briefing.

386791 tests have been done so far. Yesterday, 37,173 tests were done.

7886 tests were done in private labs.

2231 people have been cured, which is at a rate of 14.19%.

No cases have been reported from 54 districts in 23 states in the last 14 days.

It was informed that a high level task force has been constituted regarding the vaccine for COVID-19. Academia, industry and international efforts are to be coordinated by it.

Clinical cohorts will be developed to better understand disease trends.

There are to be no relaxations in containment zones of hotspots, where doubling of cases has happened in less than 4 days. Normalcy can be restored only gradually even after May 3.

There are 755 dedicated hospitals and 1389 health centres for severe and critical cases, it was informed.

Raman Gangakhedkar, ICMR: “Five groups, working on vaccines, are going to test on humans. Trial in Oxford will be recruiting 500 and results should be known in 6 months.

“Everybody in hotspots, with flu-like illnesses can get a test.”

Lav Agrawal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry: “A very small percentage of asymptomatic cases has been turning positive.”

MHA spokesperson on ban on non-essential goods by e-commerce companies: “Some restrictions are necessary. The list of non-essential goods was found extensive and permitting all would affect efficacy of lockdown”.

3.50 PM | INDIA

SpiceJet to send select staff on leave without pay

SpiceJet has decided to send employees earning more than Rs 50,000 per month on leave without pay on a rotational basis, sources said on Sunday amid flight services remaining suspended till May 3.

This arrangement would be in place for three months, they added.

The sources also told PTI  that the salary for April is likely to be paid to staff for the days they were on duty.

Earlier, the budget carrier had sent employees on leave without pay from March 25 to 31.

3.40 PM | JAMMU AND KASHMIR

32 more prisoners released in J&K

Thirty-two prisoners, including 16 arrested under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA), were released to decongest jails across Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, officials said on Sunday.

A total of 236 prisoners have been released this month by the Jammu and Kashmir administration on the directions of the Supreme Court.

–PTI3.15 PM | BIHAR

Two more positive cases of COVID-19 have been detected in Bihar, from Nalanda and Buxar districts. The total number of COVID-19 positive cases in Bihar goes up to 89.

3.05 PM | DELHI

MHA to allow migrant labourers to move within current State after screening

New MHA guidelines say migrant labourers can be screened and those who are asymptomatic can be allowed to move within the State to reach their place of work. All such workers living in relief camps will have to be registered with the local authorities. During the journey by bus, social distancing should be ensured.

“It should be noted that there shall be no movement outside the State/UT from where they are currently located, ” the fresh Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) sent by the MHA to States said.

2.45 PM | ANDHRA PRADESH

One more death, 44 fresh COVID-19 cases reported; 5508 samples tested in 24 hours

In line with the increase in number of samples being tested more fresh cases of COVID-19 are emerging in the State by the day. During the past 24 hours, a total of 44 new cases and one more death was reported in six districts as a result of testing of 5508 samples, the highest number of tests conducted in a day, according to the State bulletin issued by the Health department on Saturday. The tally has gone up to 647 and toll reached 17.

2.40 PM | TAMIL NADU

Nine more patients recover from COVID-19 in Tiruppur district, discharged

As many as nine patients from Tiruppur district who recovered from COVID-19 were discharged on Saturday, District Collector K. Vijayakarthikeyan said on Sunday.

This brings the total number of patients from Tiruppur discharged from Coimbatore’s ESI Hospital to 10, he told mediapersons. As of Sunday, Tiruppur district saw the confirmation of 108 COVID-19 positive cases.

2.30 PM | KERALA

Migrant labourers: CRPF, BSF, ITBP personnel to play role of interpreters in Kerala

Personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) would now be assisting the Kerala police as interpreters to communicate and better understand the requirements of the migrant labourers in the State.

 2.10 PM | DELHI

One-and-a-half-month-old baby dies of COVID-19 in Delhi hospital

A one-and-a-half-month-old baby has died of coronavirus infection at a hospital in Delhi, officials said on Sunday, in perhaps the first fatality of an infant due to COVID-19 in the national capital.

The baby died at Kalawati Saran Children’s Hospital attached to the Centre-run Lady Hardinge Medical College.

“The baby was brought to the hospital a few days ago. He tested positive for COVID-19. The child was admitted to SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Illness) ward and died yesterday,” a doctor at the hospital said on the condition of anonymity.

The surveillance team has been informed for contact tracing, he said.

1.30 PM | MAHARASHTRA

Shortage of medical kits in Maharashtra, says Uddhav Thackeray

“There is a shortage of medical kits. I won’t lie. But we are doing our best, from centre and from other sources,” said Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray.

Maharashtra has now completed six weeks of fight against the coronavirus, Mr. Thackeray said.

“Till last evening we conducted 66796 tests. 95% reports are negative. Around 3600 are positive. Around 350 have recovered. 70-75% are mild symptoms. 52 patients are severe.

“Last evening, I spoke to private medical practitioners, doctors. They assured us that practice for non-COVID-19 patients will start in Mumbai.

He said the Government has demarcated red, orange and green zones. Permissions are being given in orange and green zones for certain economic activities.

“We are not opening district borders, except for goods transport.

“Intra-district movement in green and orange zones may be allowed.

“In Mumbai and Pune, which are red zones, door-to-door delivery of newspapers will not be allowed,” Mr. Thackeray said, adding that he was aware he would be criticised by journalists for this step. “In other areas, a rethink of the decision will be done in the next 2 to 3 days.”

“There are domestic violence reports coming from different quarters of the world. State govt appeals women to dial 100 in case of any such violence,” he said.

The State govt has come up with 2 more numbers:

BMC and Birla joint service – 1800120820050

Tribal development department , Project Mumbai and Praffulla- 18001024040

“These numbers are to be called in case you are feeling depressed,” said Mr. Thackeray.

1 PM | TAMIL NADU

Madras HC sticks to video conferencing

In Tamil Nadu, the Madras High Court has decided to conduct judicial proceedings only through video conferencing until further orders.

No court will be accessible for judicial functions till then. They shall be sanitised and kept hygienically fit for future use.12.45 PM | BIHAR

In Bihar, a 55-year-old man has been found COVID-19 positive, taking the total toll in the State to 87.

Two people have died in the State of COVID-19. As many as 37 patients have recovered from the infection.

12.35 PM | INDIA

Supply of non-essential goods by e-commerce companies will remain prohibited, says MHA

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) clarified on Sunday that supply of non-essential goods by e-commerce companies will remain prohibited during the lockdown.

On April 15, the MHA had revised its earlier guidelines issued under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, to allow the States to decide on the additional public activities to be allowed from April 20 in non-hotspot zones. It said the additional facilities will have to be based on strict compliance to the existing guidelines on lockdown measures.

12.25 PM | KARNATAKA

Four new cases in Karnataka

Four new COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in Karnataka on Sunday. With this, the total number of cases in Karnataka is now 388.

According to a bulletin issued by the Department of Health and Family Welfare, all four patients are from Mysuru. While two of them have travel history to New Delhi, the other two are from the Nanjangud cluster, where a patient who was working in a pharmaceutical company in Nanjangud tested positive for COVID-19 last month.

12.15 PM | DELHI

No ease in restrictions in Delhi, says CM Arvind Kejriwal

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said that there will be no ease in restrictions in Delhi, considering that situation in the districts.

“Centre has allowed us to ease lockdown restrictions from April 20 but all districts of Delhi are hotspots,” he said.

Hence, there will be no ease in any restrictions in Delhi, said the Chief Minister. “We will assess the situation after a week to see if we can extend any restrictions,” he added.

12 PM | INDIA

New guidelines for distribution of relief materials in Chennai

The Chennai Corporation has released new guidelines for the distribution of food and relief materials for affected residents during the lockdown for COVID-19. This follows a court order based on petitions filed by Opposition parties.

According to a press release from Chennai Corporation Commissioner G. Prakash, representatives of organisations and NGOs who intend to distribute food and relief materials to affected people should inform Chennai Corporation zonal officers before 48 hours. The information pertaining to the place and time of distribution should be shared with the zonal office of the Chennai Corporation.

11.45 AM | INDIA

Chidambaram asks the government to release uniform figures for COVID-19 positive cases

Former Finance Minister P. Chidamabaram asked the government to release uniform COVID-19 figures after a huge discrepancy in Saturday’s details of positive cases released by the Ministry of Health and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

In a series of tweets, Mr. Chidamabaram asked the government to explain the difference in figures between States, Health Ministry, and the ICMR.

“Numbers of positive cases put out today by the States, by ICMR and by Ministry of Health are conflicting and confusing. Usually, States’ total is the highest, followed by ICMR number, followed by M/Health’s number. Today, it is the other way around,”said Mr. Chidamabaram.

 11.30 AM

Tea break…

A vendor distributes ‘Modi herbal chai’ to frontline workers in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, during the national lockdown to combat the spread of coronavirus.  

11.20 AM | GUJARAT

Five deaths in Gujarat, total toll 58

For the second day in a row, Gujarat saw a spike in the COVID-19 death toll as five people succumbed to the disease. This brings the total toll in the State to 58, said the health department.

The State also saw 228 new cases. Overall, 1,604 people have tested positive for the infection in Gujarat.

Of the five deaths, four are from Ahmedabad and the other from Surat. Three of the dead are female and two male. According to the health department, 94 patients have recovered so far.

With 140 new cases today, the number of cases in Ahmedabad now stands at 1,002. Twenty nine people have died in the city while 27 have recovered.

11 AM | SINGAPORE

Foreign workers’ dormitories could see more coronavirus cases, warns Singapore PM

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has warned that more coronavirus cases could come up at packed dormitories that house foreign workers, including several Indian nationals.

While efforts have been made to break the chain of transmission in foreign worker dormitories, it will take some time to show results, Lee said on Saturday .

“The migrant workers who are ill are getting the medical treatment they need. Fortunately, the vast majority of the cases are mild, because the workers are young. Our healthcare teams continue to monitor their conditions,” assured Prime Minister Lee in a Facebook post.

A large proportion of Singapore’s COVID-19 cases can be traced to foreign worker dormitories, which have seen a surge in confirmed cases recently.

Among the latest coronavirus cases is a 28-year-old Indian man working at a hospital who has no recent travel history to affected countries or regions.

10.20 AM | TAMIL NADU

Lockdown restrictions to continue until CM’s decision: Tamil Nadu govt.

All the restrictions in place during the COVID-19 lockdown in Tamil Nadu would continue “until official announcement” (offering any relaxation) is made by the Chief Minister based on the recommendations to be made by the 21-member expert committee, the Tamil Nadu government said on Sunday.

The panel is scheduled to submit its report to the Chief Minister on Monday.

“The CM would examine its recommendations and would take a decision,” it said.

10.10 AM | RAJASTHAN

Another death in Rajasthan, toll is now 22

A 62-year-old man died in Jaipur, taking the death toll in Rajasthan to 22. The COVID-19 patient was admitted to the hospital on Thursday with complaints of fever and breathlessness. He was identified as COVID-19 positive on Saturday, according to the State Medical and Health Department.

Forty-four new COVID-19 positive cases have been detected in Rajasthan, taking the State’s tally to 1,395. As many as 205 patients have recovered, says officials.

10 AM | CHINA

China declares Wuhan low-risk area

China has classified coronavirus epicentre Wuhan as a low-risk area, days after it revised the city’s death toll by 50%, even as 16 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the country, health officials said on Sunday.

According to the risk criteria defined in a guideline issued by China’s State Council, cities, counties and districts with no newly confirmed cases in the last 14 days are categorised as low-risk areas.

While declaring Wuhan as a low-risk area China has strengthened nucleic acid testing to detect coronavirus for people leaving Wuhan.

The test is required before people resume work, production or study elsewhere, it said.

9.30 AM | HIMACHAL PRADESH

Recovered patient tests positive again in Himachal

A man, who had recovered from the novel coronavirus, was again found suffering from the infection in Himachal Pradesh, officials said.

The man, a Tablighi Jamaat member, tested positive for the infection on Saturday within a week of his two reports coming out negative, they said.

Residents of different places in Mandi district, the man along with two other Jamaatis had been staying in a mosque of Nakroh village in Una’a Amb tehsil and all tested positive on April 2.

9.10 AM | SOUTH KOREA

S Korea reports single-digit rise in infections

South Korea on Sunday reported eight more cases of the coronavirus, the first time a daily increase has dropped to a single digit in about two months.

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the additional figures took the country’s total to 10,661 with 234 deaths.

It said 8,042 people have recovered and been released from quarantine and 12,243 others were undergoing tests to determine whether they contracted the virus.

South Korea’s caseload has been waning in recent weeks since it recorded hundreds of new cases every day between late February and early March, mostly in the southeastern city of Daegu and nearby areas.

Despite the recent downward trend, South Korean officials have warned about the possibility of a broader quiet spread with people easing up on social distancing.

9 AM | USA

China’s COVID-19 toll way ahead of U.S., says Donald Trump

President Donald Trump has expressed his doubts over the official Chinese figures on the number of deaths in their country due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, claiming that the fatalities were way ahead of the U.S.

Mr. Trump’s comments come two days after another 1,300 fatalities were added to the official count in the city of Wuhan, where the outbreak started. The revision puts China’s overall death toll to more than 4,600.

 8.30 AM | DUBAI

Dubai extends 24-hour coronavirus curfew by a week

Dubai, the United Arab Emirates business hub, has extended by one week a 24-hour-a-day curfew imposed as part of a sterilisation drive to control the spread of the coronavirus, the government said in a Twitter post on Friday.

The UAE has imposed a nationwide nightly curfew since March 26 for the disinfection campaign, but Dubai on April 4 expanded it within the emirate to a 24-hour lockdown for two weeks.

8.30AM HYDERABAD

A glimpse into the isolated existence of containment zones

P. Swaroopa, who has a business of ironing clothes, faced a difficult situation recently. Her residence in P&T Colony of Dilsukhnagar was barricaded and guarded by police, after it was declared a COVID-19 containment zone by government.

A patient was diagnosed with coronavirus infection in their locality and is being treated at Gandhi Hospital. The entire street where he lived has been barricaded, and the residents have been told to stay home. Whatever they needed from outside would be provided by authorities, against payment of money.

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.