Covid19 cases in India crossed 8800
The death toll due to the novel coronavirus rose to over 250 and the number of cases crossed 8,800 in the country on Sunday. With the rise in number of positive cases and death toll, many states have already announced lockdown extension till April 30. The lockdown has been extended in states like Punjab, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, West Bengal and Telangana. However, many people in certain parts of the country flout the lockdown norms by gathering to buy food items. Meanwhile, PM may soon announce extension of the lockdown across the country with some relaxations in certain parts. In India, Maharashtra has been the worst-affected state with over 1,800 cases and more than 100 deaths.
8.00 PM | NEW DELHI
COVID-19 containment zones in Delhi rises to 43
The number of coronavirus containment zones in the national capital rose to 43 on Sunday, with southeast Delhi having the most such zones at 12.
There were 33 COVID-19 hotspots in the city on Monday. With the announcement of 10 more containment zones, the respective district authorities have started to seal those areas to stop the spread of the virus
7.40 PM | UNITED KINGDOM
U.K. death toll tops 10,000 from coronavirus
Health officials say 657 more people in England have died from the new coronavirus, raising the total U.K. deaths over 10,000.
The 657 deaths come on top of the 9,875 deaths of people with COVID-19 in British hospitals announced Saturday.
7.30 PM | TAMIL NADU
COVID-19 woman gives birth to ‘healthy’ baby boy in TN
A coronavirus positive woman has given birth to a ‘healthy’ baby boy at a government medical college hospital near here, where she has been undergoing treatment, officials said on Sunday.
A team of doctors carried out the cesarean delivery at the Perundurai IRT Government Medical College Hospital, designated facility for COVID-19 cases, on Saturday night, they said.
She is among 14 women undergoing treatment at the hospital for coronavirus.
The new born was ‘healthy’, officials said.
7.20 PM | ASSAM
Assam to support Centres decision on extension of lockdown
The Assam government on Sunday decided to go with any decision to be taken by the Centre on extension of the 21-day lockdown, imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus in the country.
Following meeting of the Council of Ministers during which the decision was taken, Assam Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said there was no shortage of food items and enough stock was available in the state.
7.00 PM | NEW DELHI
MHA asks states/UTs to take welfare measures for migrant workers
The Centre has asked all states and Union Territories to take welfare measures, including food, shelter, medicine, mobile and video call facilities, for migrant labourers living in various relief camps across the country.
In a communication to the state governments and Union Territory (UT) administrations, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) highlighted the Supreme Court directions regarding welfare of migrant labourers housed at relief shelters and camps in different parts of the country.
6.40 PM | TAMIL NADU
106 fresh COVID-19 cases in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu reported 106 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of those infected to 1,075 on Sunday, the state government said.
Health Secretary Beela Rajesh said of the 106, as many as 16 had “inter-state travel” history and the remaining were their contacts.
So far 16 government labs and 9 private labs have been identified for COVID-19 testing in the State.
The governemnt labs are Kings Institute Guindy, MMC, Theni, Tirunelveli, Tiruvarur, Salem, Coimbatore, Villupuram, Madurai, Tiruchi, Perundurai, Stanley, Dharmapuri and esic coimbatore.
The private labs are CMC vellore, Apollo, Erlich, SRIMC, YRG care, Hi tech, Miot, MMM clinical lab services.
JIPMER pondicherry laboratory is the mentor lab.
Also, the government will pay for the test of samples if done in priavate laboratories, as per the Chief Minister’s announcement, adds Mr. Rajesh.
6.25 PM | KARNATAKA
17 new cases reported in Karnatka
The total number of positive cases reported in Karnataka on Sunday is 17, taking the tally to 232. This the highest number of cases reported in a day.
6.15 PM | UNITED KINGDOM
Boris Johnson ‘discharged from hospital’: Downing Street
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was discharged from hospital on Sunday, a Downing Street spokesman said, a week after being admitted for treatment for coronavirus and spending three days in intensive care.
“The PM has been discharged from hospital to continue his recovery, at Chequers,” the spokesman said, referring to the prime minister’s country estate outside London.
“On the advice of his medical team, the PM will not be immediately returning to work.”
6.00 PM | JAMMU AND KASHMIR
Jammu and Kashmir sees 21 new cases
Jammu and Kashmir government spokesman Rohit Kansal confirmed 21 new cases of Covid-19 in Jammu and Kashmir. “17 from Kashmir and 4 from Jammu. Total number of positive cases now stand at 245,” he said.
5.55 PM | MADHYA PRADESH
Madhya Pradesh reports 16 new cases
Madhya Pradesh recorded 16 new cases of COVID-19 until Sunday evening, taking the tally to 562. The count in Indore has crossed the 300 mark, with 311 persons testing positive in the city so far. There have been 41 deaths owing to the illness, and as many recoveries.
5.45 PM | DELHI
Operation SHIELD to be implemented in Delhi containment zones: Kejriwal
Operation SHIELD was very successful in Dilshad Garden containment zone and the same strategy will be followed in other containment zones, said Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.
People in these containment areas called red zones are facing problems because of the lack of movement, but they must realise that we are doing this for their own health and safety, he added.
“We will start a huge sanitation drive in these areas as well which will be done by high tech machines from Japan.
“Experts will identify high risk areas and classify them as orange zones and the sanitation drive will be conducted there as well,” Mr. Kejriwal said.
Cases have been rising in Delhi over the past few days and we are all worried we are hopeful that Operation SHIELD will be a success and bring down the numbers.
Autodrivers who have a valid driving license and a valid badge will be eligible for ₹5,000 relief. They will have to visit the Delhi transport website and update their bank account number to be eligible for the money
5.40 PM | HIMACHAL PRADESH
Himachal Pradesh to be divided into 6 zones for lockdown exit plan: CM
Himachal Pradesh will be divided into six zones as part of the strategy to end COVID-19 lockdown measures, chief minister Jai Ram Thakur said on Sunday.
At a meeting with senior officers, the Chief Minister said: “As per the threat of COVID-19 and cases found in Himachal Pradesh, the state will be divided into six zones including a red zone, four orange zones and a green zone for drafting exit plan from COVID-19 lockdown.”
Mr. Thakur said the exit plan would be initiated only when there is initial flattening of coronavirus curve followed by tapering of the curve with the tendency to reach a ‘stage zero’ infection.
5.20 PM | DELHI
Delhi govt identifies one more COVID-19 hotspot; total now 34
The Delhi government on Sunday identified Mahavir Enclave area in southwest Delhi as COVID-19 hotspot and ordered its sealing, taking the total number of such zones in the city to 34, an official said.
He said an order has been issued and the Delhi government’s ‘Operation SHIELD’ will come into force.
“An order has been issued to seal street number 5 and 5A, H-2 Block, Bengali Colony in Mahavir Enclave,” the official said.
5.00 PM | ANDHRA PRADESH
AP govt. to distribute over 16 crore masks to citizens
In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Andhra Pradesh government will soon distribute over 16 crore facial masks to all citizens in the State for protecting themselves from coronavirus.
Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, who chaired a high-level review meeting at his residence on Sunday directed officials to complete the mask distribution quickly.
4.45 PM | SPAIN
Spain’s overnight coronavirus death toll rises, total at 16,972
Spain’s overnight death toll from the coronavirus rose to 619 on Sunday from a nearly three-week low of 510 on Saturday, the Health Ministry said, breaking a three-day streak of daily declines.
The country’s total death toll from the virus climbed to 16,972 from 16,353, the ministry said in a statement. Overall cases rose to 166,019 from 161,852.
4.30 PM | INDIA
Daily COVID-19 press briefing
State governments are trying to provide door-to-door essential goods in the hotspots in coordination with the civil society, an MHA spokesperson said.
“The Centre has again clarified to the State governments that there is no bar on inter-State or intra-State transportation of goods, godowns also can store the goods, as they are also exempted. Staff of manufacturing units of essential goods have to be given passes for smooth work,” she added.
The Home Ministry has been providing information on potential cybercrimes to people through twiitter handle, CyberDost, she said.
She asked people to use the cybercrime portal for getting information and reporting cases.
An ICMR spokesperson said that currently there are 219 testing facilities, including 151 government labs in government sector. A total of 1,86,906 samples have been tested till 2.30 pm.
“Government and private medical colleges are being roped in for testing, 14 such institutes have been identified.
“All Covid-19 cases have been analysed; about 80% mild and asymptomatic cases have been treated in care centres.
“Moderate cases are being treated at health centres and severe ones are being treated at dedicated hospitals. 20% of the cases would require moderate or critical care treatment,” a Health Ministry spokesperson said.
The Health Ministry shared data to show that more than adequate arrangements were and have been in place for treating the patients. In 601 hospitals, over 1 lakh beds are available
“We have been increasing the hospitals and number of available isolation beds,” the spokesperson said.
The Central Bureau of Investigation, in addition to their work, has joined hands with other government agencies to provide food to the needy and poor including migrant labourers/workers, said a CBI spokesperson.
CBI officials of certain branches including at Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, in addition to their work have also extended support voluntarily and distributed food/ration to these homeless migrant labourers/workers staying in temporary shelters, the spokesperson added.
“Ordnance factories are also being roped in to provide isolation beds and other medical facilities to reach out to people even in the remote areas,” the Health Ministry said.
The Finance Ministry has extended the deadline by three months, till June, on minimum mandatory deposits in PPF and Sukanya accounts.
On March 25, the government decided to give three LPGs free to 9 crore people under Ujjwala scheme for three months, so far 85 lakh people have been covered, the Petroleum Ministry said.
The GoM had cleared the first batch of HCQ export to 13 countries, after taking into account domestic requirements and buffer stock, the MEA said.
“In China, Japan and South Korea there has been a resurgence of the virus, so we are taking more precautions,” the Health Ministry said.
3.50 PM | INDIA
SC to hear PIL against setting up of PM CARES Fund on Monday
The Supreme Court would hear a PIL seeking quashing of the Centre’s decision to set up the PM CARES Fund to deal with the situation arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic, where citizens can donate money, on Monday.
3.40 PM | MEGHALAYA
Wine shops to open in Meghalaya for five days from tomorrow
Almost a fortnight after withdrawing its order allowing home delivery of alcoholic beverages on health grounds, the Meghalaya government has allowed wine shops and bonded warehouses in the State to sell liquor for seven hours a day from April 13 to 17.
3.30 PM | TAMIL NADU
Death toll in Tamil Nadu climbs to 11
A 45-year-old woman with COVID-19 infection died at the Omandurar Government Multi Superspeciality Hospital yesterday.
The woman, hailing from Chennai was admitted to the hospital at 11 a.m. on April 5.
According to a health department bulletin she had developed breathlessness on Saturday and died at 7.30 p.m., despite medical attention.
3.00 PM | KARNATAKA
11 new cases; State tally at 226
A total of 11 COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in Karnataka on Sunday. With this, the total number of cases stands at 226.
A mid day bulletin by the Department of Health and Family Welfare states that of the 11 cases, four are from Belagavi, three from Bengaluru, two from Kalaburagi, one each from Vijayapura and Mysuru. Three of these patients have a history of Severe Acute Respiratory Illnesses, one has a travel history to Indonesia, while all the remaining cases are contacts of patients tested positive.
Among the 226 cases, 47 of the patients have been discharged and six other patients have passed away.
2.50 PM | TAMIL NADU
SC to hear on Monday T.N. woman’s plea for evacuation of her husband, other fishermen stranded in Iran
A Supreme Court Bench led by Chief Justice of India S.A. Bobde is scheduled to urgently hear on Monday a plea by Nagapattinam resident Santha Muthulingam, whose husband is stranded along with 860 other Indian fishermen and labourers in Iran on account of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Ms. Muthulingam’s plea, which is listed on the top of the list of cases before the Chief Justice, highlights the distress of men living in their fishing boats and tin sheds, uncertain of what the future holds for them.
2.20 PM | INDIA
HCQ consignment from India reaches US
A consignment of hydroxychloroquine from India has reached the US, the global COVID-19 hotspot, days after New Delhi lifted a ban on the export of the anti-malarial drug to America and some other countries.
1.40 PM | MADHYA PRADESH
IAS officer from Madhya Pradesh Health Department tests positive
An IAS officer on special duty with the Madhya Pradesh unit of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) tested positive for COVID-19 in Bhopal on April 11. He is the third bureaucrat, all from the Health Department, to have contracted the disease in the State.
1.20 PM | GUJARAT
Wearing masks made mandatory in Ahmedabad
Wearing a mask has been made mandatory in Ahmedabad city by the civic body. Not wearing it will attract a fine of Rs 1000 for first-time violation and Rs 5000 for subsequent violations and failing to pay the penalty will attract jail term of upto 3 years.
1.10 PM | MADHYA PRADESH
MP death toll rises to 41
An 80-year-old man who had died earlier tested positive for COVID-19 in Bhopal on Sunday, taking the toll owing to the illness to two in the city, said Prabhakar Tiwari, Bhopal Chief Medical and Health Officer. The toll in the State climbs to 41.
1.00 PM | UTTAR PRADESH
Doctors in Aligarh buy PPE after raising funds
Junior doctors at the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Hospital in Aligarh city of Uttar Pradesh has purchased protective gear worth Rs 1 lakh after an acute shortage of vital protective gear for healthcare workers.
“The Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Hospital is one of the frontline medical centres for testing and treating COVID-19 patients in Uttar Pradesh,” Shah Nawaz Iqbali, vice president of the resident doctors’ association, told reporters. “The concern of the medical fraternity here should not be ignored.”
“Keeping in view this looming threat, the resident doctors’ association has raised its own fund through donations for purchasing critical protective gear like surgical masks and sanitisers,” Mr. Iqbali said.
12.30 PM | MAHARASHTRA
134 new positive cases recorded in Maharashtra as tally rises to 1895
Maharashtra recorded 134 new Covid-19 positive cases, with 113 of these being from Mumbai city alone, as the cumulative tally in the State soared to 1895 positive cases on Sunday, said health officials.
14 other cases were reported from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (excluding Mumbai city) including seven from Mira-Bhayander, two each from Thane, Navi Mumbai and Vasai-Virar, and one from Bhiwandi.
Pune district recorded five new cases taking the tally to 262.
12 PM | JHARKHAND
60-year-old man dies due to COVID-19 in Jharkhand
A 60-year-old man died due to COVID-19 in Ranchi on April 12, the second death due to the virus in the State, a senior official said in Ranchi.
The man from Hindpiri had come in contact with another COVID-19 patient in the area.
“He was admitted to a hospital two days ago after he exhibited symptoms of the disease. The 60-year-old’s condition deteriorated, following which he was put on ventilator. He died this morning,” Principal Secretary (Health) Nitin Madan Kulkarni said.11.45 AM | MADHYA PRADESH
As many as 49 residents of Indore tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday night, taking the city count to 298. Madhya Pradesh has so far recorded 546 cases, according to the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, Indore.
11.20 AM | RAJASTHAN
Fifty-one new cases
Fifty-one new cases of COVID-19 infection detected in Rajasthan today, taking the total number of positive cases in the State to 751.
Among the new cases, 15 each are from Jaipur and Banswara, 8 each from Jodhpur and Bikaner, 2 from Hanumangarh and 1 each from Churu, Jaisalmer and Sikar.
Medical & Health Department said 116 patients have been cured, having tested COVID-19 negative, and 58 of them have been discharged from isolation facilities.11.00 AM | GUJARAT
According to the State health department update on Sunday, 25 new cases of COVID-19 were detected in Gujarat while one patient succumbed to the infection.
So far, 493 cases and 23 deaths have been reported in the State while 44 have recovered and discharged.10.30 AM | BIHAR
With three more positive cases from Begusarai and Nawada districts, the number of COVID-19 positive cases in Bihar rose to 64, the state principal health secretary Sanjay Kumar said on Sunday morning.
10.20 AM | ODISHA
Four more test positive for COVID-19 in Odisha, total count 54
Four more persons have tested positive for COVID-19 in Odisha, taking the total number of such cases in the State to 54, a health department official said.
The department, however, was yet to share more information about the new patients, who were found to have contracted the disease late on Saturday.
Of the 54 cases in the State, one has succumbed to the disease and 12 have recovered.
Shalini Pandit, the director of state National Health Mission, had said on Saturday that about 80% of the total number of patients in the state were asymptomatic.
10.00 AM | CHINA
China reports nearly 100 new cases in one day, highest in recent weeks
China has reported 99 new coronavirus cases, the highest in a single day in recent weeks, and 63 fresh asymptomatic infections, taking the total number of patients in the country to 82,052, health officials said here on Saturday, amid concerns about a second wave of the pandemic.
