10.10PM
Covid19 cases crossed 13000 in India,Active cases crossed 11000
As more than 370 districts in India have reported coronavirus cases, 170 districts have identified hotspots including major metros – Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru and Kolkata.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a set of guidelines which informs which services and practices are permitted. Cases of violence against doctors and medical staff are also increasing day-by-day.
10.00 PM | NEW DELHI
Security guard accused of infecting family for COVID-19 tests negative
A security guard, against whom an FIR was filed after he was accused by a family in Defence Colony of infecting them with COVID-19, has tested negative for the virus, according to Delhi government officials.
“The guard who was accused has tested negative, but I am yet to receive the report,” a Delhi government official told The Hindu on Thursday.
One person of the family, who had tested positive, died at a private hospital in the city on Wednesday.
9.30 PM | SRI LANKA
India-returned woman tests positive of coronavirus in Lanka
A woman who was recently in India for a pilgrimage became Sri Lanka’s first coronavirus case reported from outside quarantine centres, the health ministry said on Thursday.
Over 3,500 people, including foreigners, remain quarantined in more than 40 centres across Sri Lanka following the COVID-19 outbreak.
9.15 PM | PUNJAB
COVID-19 positive man dies in Punjab’s Gurdaspur, total cases rise to 197
A 60-year-old coronavirus patient from Gurdaspur died on Thursday while 11 more people contracted the infection taking the total number of COVID-19 cases in Punjab to 197, an official said.
A resident of Bhaini Paswal in Kahnuwan, the man had tested positive for coronavirus two days ago and was being treated at a government hospital in Amritsar. He also had hypertension and diabetes, a medical bulletin said.
Among the fresh cases, six were reported from Jalandhar, three from Patiala and two from Pathankot, the bulletin said, adding that the virus has so far claimed the lives of 14 people in the state.
9.00 PM | KARNATAKA
36 new cases reported in Karnataka
Karnataka reported its 13th COVID-19 death overall while 36 people tested positive, the highest single day tally so far, taking the total number of infections in the state to 315 on Thursday, the health department said.
With the spike in the number of cases and deaths, the government said, it “unfortunately” did not get 100% cooperation from the people with regard to the lockdown.
8.50 PM | NEW DELHI
First time in 167 years, railways didn’t ferry passengers on its birthday
The Indian Railways turned 167 on Thursday but for the first time ever in its over one-and-half-century-old life, it celebrated its birthday with its trains standing idle in yards and without carrying passengers amid the nationwide lockdown.
It was on this day 167 years ago in 1853 that the first passenger train in the country had run from from Bori Bunder in Mumbai to Thane.
Railway has suspended all passenger services since March 25 till May 3 due to the coronavirus outbreak. Around 15,523 trains run by the railways have been affected including 9,000 passenger trains and 3,000 mail express services which are run daily. It caters to over 20 million passengers every day.
8.40 PM | BIHAR
Six new COVID-19 cases in Bihar
Six more COVID-19 positive case reported in Bihar from Munger District. Two male and four female from a family detected positive for the virus. Total number of COVID-19 positive cases in Bihar goes up to 80.
8.25 PM | KARNATAKA
New testing lab to start functioning in Belagavi soon
The Indian Council of Medical Research has approved the use of the virology laboratory in the ICMR National Institute of Traditional medicine in Belagavi as a COVID-19 testing laboratory.
According to officials, testing of throat swab samples could begin in two to three days.
New testing lab to start functioning in Belagavi soon
8.10 PM | GUJARAT
58 new COVID-19 cases in Gujarat
Gujarat records 58 new Covid-19 infection cases, taking the total numbers to 929. So far 73 have recovered & 36 have died in the state. Today saw the steepest rise of 163 cases in the state. As on Thursday, 812 people are under treatment and stable while eight others are on ventilator support in Gujarat. So far 20903 samples have been tested. Coronavirus has spread to 24 of 33 districts in the state with highest 545 cases in Ahmedabad.
8.05 PM | UTTAR PRADESH
12 new COVID-19 cases in Noida
Twelve more coronavirus patients were detected across Noida and Greater Noida on Thursday, taking the total number of cases in Uttar Pradesh’s Gautam Buddh Nagar district to 92, officials said.
The latest batch of positive cases includes a three-year-old child who got infected from his parents, who are already under treatment for COVID-19, and a 26-year-old nurse working at a quarantine facility, the officials said.
7.45 PM | NEW DELHI
68 medical personnel test positive
Sixty-eight staff of Bhagwan Mahavir Hospital (BMH), including doctors, nurses and paramedical staff, have been quarantined as a precautionary measure, after a pregnant woman admitted at the hospital allegedly did not disclose that she was under home quarantine, as part of COVID-19 measures of the government, said hospital officials on Thursday.
The woman died at the Delhi government-run hospital on Wednesday night.
7.25 PM | ASSAM
Two more test positive for COVID-19 in Assam; total climbs to 34
Two people tested positive for COVID-19 in Assam on Thursday, taking the total in the state to 34, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said here.
Both the cases are from Morigaon district of the state and are secondary contacts of attendees of the Tablighi Jamaat event at the Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi, the minister said in a tweet.
The cumulative number of patients in Assam now stands at 34. The figure includes one fatality and five patients who have been cured, he added.
Thirty-three of these are linked to the Jamaat event.
Three people were discharged on Thursday from the Goalpara Civil Hospital and two others on Wednesday from the Sonapur District Hospital as they have recovered from COVID-19.
7.15 PM | NEW DELHI
3,336 Indians infected by coronavirus in 53 countries, say govt. sources
A total of 3,336 Indians in 53 countries were infected by the coronavirus while 25 lost their lives due to the disease, government sources said on April 16.
They said Indians stranded abroad will have to be patient as the government is not evacuating them as part of a larger policy decision to check spread of the virus in the country.
3,336 Indians infected by coronavirus in 53 countries, say govt. sources
6.55 PM | WEST BENGAL
Three more die of COVID-19 in West Bengal, total fatalities rise to 10
The novel coronavirus claimed three more lives in West Bengal in the past 24 hours, raising the total number of fatalities to 10, Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha said on April 16.
Twenty-four new cases of COVID-19 were reported from the State during the period, he said.
The total number of cases in West Bengal now stands at 188, while the Union Health Ministry has put the figure at 231.
6.45 PM | PUDUCHERRY
One COVID-19 patient recovers, discharged in Puducherry
One of the six active COVID-19 patients in Puducherry was discharged from a hospital in Puducherry on April 16 following his recovery while no fresh cases were reported in the union territory, a Health department official said.
The man from neighbouring Ariyankuppam is the second patient to recover from coronavirus in the union territory after a 68-year old woman was cured in Mahe, an enclave in Kerala.
The official said no fresh COVID19 case was reported in the union territory on Thursday.
The union territory has reported its first coronavirus death of a man from Mahe at a hospital in neighbouring Kannur on April 11.
6.30 PM | MAHARASHTRA
Bombay High Court extends all interim reliefs till June 15
The Bombay High Court on Thursday extended all interim reliefs for all courts in Maharashtra and Goa, Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar and Haveli and Daman & Diu till June 15.
A circular issued by Chief Justice BP Dharmadhikari and three other senior most judges said, “In this situation, interim orders arrangement continued by March 26 order till April 30 shall continue further till June 15, subject to same liberty to aggrieved party to move for vacation thereof.”
It said, “Five judges will hear extremely urgent cases through video conferencing on April 20, 23, 27, 30 and May 5 between 12 noon to 2 pm. All the Litigants, Public and Advocates in the States and UT are hereby informed that they should avoid visiting the Court complexes unless necessary.”
6.20 PM | HARYANA
Gurugram Police seizes two ambulance
Two ambulances impounded by Gurugram Police for being allegedly used to ferry migrant workers to Bihar in disguise of patients and their attendants.
– Ashok Kumar
The ambulances impounded by the Gurugram Police for allegedly ferrying migrant workers to Bihar.
6.00 PM | NEW DELHI
Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba urges States to appoint nodal officers to help migrant labourers
Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba asks States that District Collectors must appoint nodal officers who would be responsible for coordinating the arrangements for migrant labourers. Each camp should be put in charge of a senior officer.
5.40 PM | NEW DELHI
Request media to bring to our notice if anybody is hungry: Arvind Kejriwal
“In containment zones there is misinformation being spread that authorities will come and test all the people. This is incorrect. What happens in containment zones is that a survey is done to come ask people if they are showing any symptoms. They will only test people if they are showing symptoms,” says Arvind Kejriwal.
Around 9 lakh people in the city ate lunch and dinner yesterday but there are still people who are in need of help. I request the media to bring to our notice if anybody is hungry and help us direct them to shelters and food. About 15 lakh people without ration cards have applied for ration, Mr. Kejriwal adds.
5.20 PM | HARYANA
Nine members of family test positive in Haryana’s Panchkula
With nine members of a family from Panchkula testing positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), the total number of cases in Haryana rose to 213 on Thursday, officials said.
5.10 PM | MAHARASHTRA
15 more cases in Dharavi
With the 15 new cases, Dharavi has reported a total of 26 new cases on Thursday, including a ninth death. The deceased is a 58 year-old man from Laxmi Chawl, the first reported case from the area.
Dharavi now has a total of 86 cases, including 9 deaths. Of Thursday’s new cases,11 are from Muslim Nagar alone. Of these 11, one is a 13 year-old boy.
5.00 PM | INDIA
Those who booked flight tickets during Mar 25-Apr 14 for travel till May 3 can get refunds: Govt.
The Civil Aviation Ministry on Thursday said the passengers who had booked flight tickets during the first phase of lockdown for travel up to May 3 must get a full refund from the airlines without any cancellation charges if they ask for it.
4.20 PM | INDIA
Fatality rate at 3.3%, recovery at 12.02%: Health Ministry
In a daily press briefing, an MHA spokesperson said that action is being taken by State governments against violation of lockdown measures. There is adequate availability of food grain and other essentials.
“In the areas which are not hotspots or containment zones, some select activities will be allowed April 20 onwards, while implementing social distancing measures. The focus is on strengthening rural economy,” she said.
A video-conference meeting was held with WHO officials for better coordination at the ground level, a Health Ministry spokesperson said.
“Health Minster interacted with the industrialists at the Confederation of Indian Industries event, apprised them of the measures being taken by the government to revive the economy, encouraged them for the Make In India initiatives.
“State governments have been asked to rope in NGOs and private sector.
“1489 people have recovered so far, including 183 new ones, 941 new confirmed cases, taking the total to 12,380 so far, 414 deaths, including 37 new ones. 325 districts have reported no cases.
“The fatality rate is 3.3%, recovery is 12.02%,” the spokesperson said. In 27 districts of 17 States, no cases have been reported in the past 14 days, he added. “An additional team for monitoring of containment work has been sent to Maharashtra, two was already there.”
“Over 2.90 lakh tests have been conducted so far, 30043 tests were conducted yesterday,” said an ICMR representative.
“Lab capacity is currently 42,418 tests in one shift of nine hours.
“There are two types of kits for rapid tests, totalling 5 lakh, which have been made available so far. Both the types have more than 80% sensitivity and over 84% specificity.
“Rapid anti-body tests are not for early diagnosis, it is used for surveillance in hotspot zones, to ascertain whether the number of cases are increasing or declining,” he added.
A Civil Aviation Ministry core group was formed to ensure transportation of essential goods, with special focus on North-East States, Island territories and hilly terrains, an Infra Ministry spokesperson informed. “Arrangements were made for transportation of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment from China to India, since April 4.”
Railway: “Over 16 lakh free meals served till April 15, Over 8 lakh wagons carried supplies through the country
“5,000 beds prepared in 17 dedicated hospitals and 33 isolated hospital blocks in railway hospitals. Indentified 19 Covid patients. Over 10,500 quarantine beds made available. Over 5,000 train coaches to serve as quarantine or isolation facilities for up to 80,000 beds.”
Postal Service: “Over 1.5 lakh post offices and 4 lakh postal employees working on the ground for delivery of essential services. Rs.21,000 crore worth of transactions throgh post office saving banks. Rs.120 crore worth of Aadhar enabled payment systam transactions and delivery of 26 lakh accountable items done.”
Road Transport Ministry: “Timely release of payments to contractors, consultants and vendors using digital payment platforms, amounting to Rs.10,000 crore, has been done.”
ICMR spokesperson: “Rapid anti-body test kits have arrived from China, their sensitivity and specificity is less. We are using them only to keep a watch on the trend.
“There is no evidence so far about the impact of weather on the spread of Covid-19.”
–Devesh PandeyA large number of citizens stand in queue close to each other in front of State Bank of India to withdraw money from Telangana Government giving Rs. 1,500 per family at Mallepally, while ignoring social distancing norms in Hyderabad on Thursday.A fisherman trying his luck near Thoothukudi new harbour beach as the mechanised boats abstain from fishing.Agriculture activity is going on in full swing in Nilgiris. Farmers are spraying fertilizer and pesticides at Mpalada village near Udhagamandalam.A young boy takes a dive into the clean Yamuna river with the backdrop of Signature Bridge in New Delhi.Conservancy workers spraying bleaching powder on a road in Erode.A flock of cattle out on a deserted road in front of district court in Khammam.A child having fun in a makeshift swing at the Maduravoyal Erikarai bus stop on Poonmallee High Road.Migrant workers in Ambattur industrial estate were distributed with provisions by inspectorate of factories in Chennai.Patients being discharged from the COVID-19 ward at the Tiruchi Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital in Tiruchi.A mother offering rice soup to her child on the National Highway. They were on their way to Anakapalle from Chennai on foot due to lockdown. Many labourers were seen carrying luggage on one shoulder and a child on the other shoulder, travelling along the highways.Deserted look at a fruit and vegetable market at Vijayanagar in Bengaluru.Municipal workers getting ready to spray disinfectants at Dumas street in Puducherry.Bulls fighting while business goes on as usual at Ghazipur mandi, in New Delhi.Family members look on, as police patrol at Saradhi Nagar in Khammam.Pune police detain citizens violating lockdown orders at Jedhe chowk, Swargate in Pune. Around 150 citizens were booked walking and travelling on bikes.Medical staff wearing protective gear, getting ready at a hospital in Srinagar.A large number of citizens stand in queue close to each other in front of State Bank of India to withdraw money from Telangana Government giving Rs. 1,500 per family at Mallepally, while ignoring social distancing norms in Hyderabad on Thursday.A large number of citizens stand in queue close to each other in front of State Bank of India to withdraw money from Telangana Government giving Rs. 1,500 per family at Mallepally, while ignoring social distancing norms in Hyderabad on Thursday.A fisherman trying his luck near Thoothukudi new harbour beach as the mechanised boats abstain from fishing.Agriculture activity is going on in full swing in Nilgiris. Farmers are spraying fertilizer and pesticides at Mpalada village near Udhagamandalam.A young boy takes a dive into the clean Yamuna river with the backdrop of Signature Bridge in New Delhi.Conservancy workers spraying bleaching powder on a road in Erode.A flock of cattle out on a deserted road in front of district court in Khammam.A child having fun in a makeshift swing at the Maduravoyal Erikarai bus stop on Poonmallee High Road.Migrant workers in Ambattur industrial estate were distributed with provisions by inspectorate of factories in Chennai.Patients being discharged from the COVID-19 ward at the Tiruchi Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital in Tiruchi.A mother offering rice soup to her child on the National Highway. They were on their way to Anakapalle from Chennai on foot due to lockdown. Many labourers were seen carrying luggage on one shoulder and a child on the other shoulder, travelling along the highways.Deserted look at a fruit and vegetable market at Vijayanagar in Bengaluru.Municipal workers getting ready to spray disinfectants at Dumas street in Puducherry.Bulls fighting while business goes on as usual at Ghazipur mandi, in New Delhi.Family members look on, as police patrol at Saradhi Nagar in Khammam.Pune police detain citizens violating lockdown orders at Jedhe chowk, Swargate in Pune. Around 150 citizens were booked walking and travelling on bikes.Medical staff wearing protective gear, getting ready at a hospital in Srinagar.A large number of citizens stand in queue close to each other in front of State Bank of India to withdraw money from Telangana Government giving Rs. 1,500 per family at Mallepally, while ignoring social distancing norms in Hyderabad on Thursday.A large number of citizens stand in queue close to each other in front of State Bank of India to withdraw money from Telangana Government giving Rs. 1,500 per family at Mallepally, while ignoring social distancing norms in Hyderabad on Thursday.4.05 PM | UTTAR PRADESH
The number of positive cases in UP stands at 773, and the death toll is at 13, as per U.P. Health Department Principal Secretary Amit Mohan Prasad.
4.00 PM | INDIA
Mobiles, TVs, refrigerators to be available on e-commerce platforms from April 20
Mobile phones, televisions, refrigerators, laptops and stationery items will be allowed to be sold through e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Flipkart and Snapdeal from April 20 during the lockdown, officials said on Thursday.
The clarification from a senior home ministry official came a day after Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla issued revised guidelines for the extended lockdown period till May 3.
3.55 PM | MAHARASHTRA
Maharashtra to open up economic activities in 20 districts from April 20
Maharashtra will open up industrial activity in Special Economic Zone and Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) zones in as many as 20 districts from April 20, State Industries Minister Subhash Desai said on Thursday.
These districts have been identified as posing “least danger” to economic activity because the number of COVID-19 cases are the lowest here, Mr. Desai said after finalising a review proposal for Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
3.45 PM | UK
UK set to extend lockdown as COVID-19 deaths continue to rise
The UK government is preparing to formally extend the initial three-week strict social distancing measures imposed last month to try and curb the rapid spread of the coronavirus pandemic as the country’s death toll from COVID-19 crosses 12,868.
UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is standing in for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson as he recuperates after testing positive for the virus, will chair a crucial meeting of the Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms (Cobra) on Thursday during which the Cabinet will finalise the plans for an extension.
Ministers have already indicated in their daily Downing Street briefings this week that an extension to the lockdown measures, likely to be for another three weeks, is inevitable.
3.30 PM | TAMIL NADU
With lockdown in force, political parties and govt offices take to video conferencing apps
With the COVID-19 lockdown forcing people indoors, political parties and State government offices are now getting used to holding virtual meetings, sometimes with hilarious initial consequences, as people figure out how these apps work. Political parties, especially, face such a challenge, as their cadre on the ground across the State are not familiar with such technology.Read more 3.10 PM | BIHAR
With two more cases of COVID-19 from Buxar district, the number of COVID-19 positive cases has gone up to 74 in Bihar. Both persons had come from Asansol in West Bengal.
3.05 PM | GUJARAT
Curfew in four areas of Surat till April 22
In the wake of surge in cases from certain pockets in Surat, the Gujarat government has decided to impose curfew in four police station jurisdiction areas of Surat city from tonight to April 22. Only women will be allowed to go out to buy essential items from 1-4 pm.
3.00 PM | INDIA
Army special trains to meet Operational Requirements on Northern and Eastern Borders during lockdown
To meet the operational requirements on the Northern and Eastern borders during the COVID-19 lockdown period, the Army has decided to run two military special trains on April 17 and 18, Army sources said on Thursday. Separately, the Army issued fresh instructions to personnel on work and movement in compliance with the extended lockdown.
“Only personnel due to rejoin units deployed on the Northern and Eastern borders and have undergone the mandatory quarantine period and found medically fit will be accommodated,” an Army source said.
2.50 PM | GOA
Goa may enter green zone by April 20
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday retweeted BJP national general secretary B L Santhosh’s post on Twitter, indicating that Goa might be the first state to enter the green zone of the COVID-19 pandemic by April 20.
Taking to Twitter, Mr. Santosh had earlier said that if all goes according to the government’s plan, Goa would be the first State to be declared a green zone by April 20.
The health ministry has categorised all districts in India into different COVID-19 zones. A district that has not reported positive coronavirus cases can be marked under the green zone and lockdown may be eased a little at such places.
2.40 PM | ASSAM
Three COVID-19 patients in Assam recover
Three COVID-19 patients in Assam recovered and were discharged from the Goalpara Civil Hospital on Thursday, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
They were released after two successive tests turned out to be negative, he said.
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) protocol on COVID-19 they have been sent to 14-day home quarantine, Mr. Sarma said.
2.30 PM | TAMIL NADU
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami has stated that 25 new COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in the State today, taking the total tally to 1,267.
So far, a total of 15 persons have died due to COVID-19 in the State.
2.25 PM | ASSAM
Gauhati High Court gives Assam police seven-day deadline for releasing ‘declared foreigners’ on bail
The Gauhati High Court has given the border wing of the Assam police seven days to comply with its April 15 order to release on bail ‘declared foreigners’ (DFs) who have completed two years in detention camps.
The court, hearing a petition on Wednesday with reference to the Supreme Court’s April 13 order for releasing the DFs in view of the global coronavirus outbreak, also asked the Special Director-General of Police (Border) to submit the number of people released when the matter is taken up after 10 days.
1.40 PM | INDIA
Lockdown a ‘pause button’, not a ‘solution’: Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, on Thursday, urged the government to ramp up the testing for coronavirus. In a virtual press conference, the former Congress president offered various suggestions to the government to tackle the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“India’s testing rate is very low at 199 per million so far,” Mr. Gandhi noted urging the government to scale up the testing. “Our average testing has been roughly 350 tests per district. We should be able to ramp up testing. Also, random testing to get a good idea where the virus is moving. I am proposing to scale up testing and do a mapping of how the virus is moving,” he said adding that testing is our main weapon against the virus.
1.30 PM | INDIA
Dharavi reports 11 new cases
Dharavi reported 11 new cases on Thursday, bringing the total to 71. Among the new cases are four from Mukund Nagar, totalling 18 so far. Social Nagar that had earlier seen cases also reported two new cases. Besides, new parts of Dharavi have reported cases including Sai Raj nagar, transit camp, Ramji chawl. This brings the total to 71 cases in Dharavi, including eight deaths.
1.00 PM | DELHI
89 quarantined in Delhi after pizza delivery man tests positive for COVID-19
After a 19-year-old pizza delivery man tested positive for COVID-19 in Delhi, a total of 89 people, including 72 people in houses of South Delhi where he made deliveries have been quarantined.
“A total of 17 people including the owner of the shop and other delivery boys have been put under institutional quarantine. The shop has been shut,” said BM Mishra, District Magistrate (South Delhi).
“72 people in houses where he made the delivery have been put under home quarantine. All these houses are in 5 km radius of Malviya Nagar,” he added.
12.45 PM | DELHI
Three blocks of Delhi Police Colony sealed after ASI tests positive
Three blocks of Delhi Police Colony in Model Town area have been sealed after an ASI and his son tested positive for COVID-19.
The ASI’s wife who is a staff nurse at LNJP hospital tested positive for COVID-19 last week and her family was home quarantined, a Delhi police official has said.
12.30 PM | KARNATAKA
35 new cases in Karnataka
Karnataka has reported 35 new cases of COVID-19 today. With this the total number of cases stands at 313 in Karnataka.
This is the largest increase in a day so far in the State. A majority of these cases were reported from Belagavi with 17 cases, followed by Vijayapura which has seven cases. The bulletin by the Department of Health and Family Welfare states that five cases were reported from Bengaluru, one case each from Kalaburagi and Gadag districts, and two cases from Mysuru.
12.20 PM | MAHARSHTRA
Maharashtra reports 165 new cases; State tally at 3081
Maharashtra has reported 165 new cases, taking the State tally to 3081.
The bulk of the new cases -107- was reported from Mumbai, while Pune district reported 23 including four from Pimpri Chinchwad, 13 from Thane district ,11 from Nagpur district, four from Malegaon in Nashik, two each from Navi Mumbai and Vasai Virar, and one each from Panvel, and Ahmednagar and Chandrapur districts
12.10 PM | INDIA
Major consignment of testing kits arriving from China today
A large consignment of testing kits for the novel coronavirus pandemic is scheduled to reach India from China on Thursday, sources have confirmed. The kits are expected to boost India’s testing capacity in a major way as the country aims to ramp up its testing capacity.
12.00 PM | TAMIL NADU
32 COVID-19 patients discharged from Tiruchi GH
Thirty-two patients, who had tested positive for COVID-19, were discharged after treatment from the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital on Thursday.
11.40 AM | TELANGANA
Cabinet to meet on April 19, decide on continuing or relaxing lockdown
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao will chair a Cabinet meeting on April 19 to review the COVID-19 situation in the State.
The Cabinet, it is learnt, will take a call whether to continue the lockdown strictly till May 3 or give some relaxation to certain sectors.
11.30 AM | GUJARAT
105 new cases reported in Gujarat overnight; State death toll at 36
COVID-19 cases are surging in Gujarat. As many as 105 new cases were detected overnight, taking the total numbers to 871. 36 deaths have been reported till Thursday morning. So far, 64 patients have recovered.
11.05 AM | UTTAR PRADESH
Doctor tests positive in Ghaziabad
A doctor tested positive for novel coronavirus on Wednesday night in Gyan Khand I, Indirapuram in Ghaziabad following which the area was sealed and declared a hotspot.
11.00 AM | ANDHRA PRADESH
500 active cases in AP
Nine new coronavirus positive cases were added overnight, taking the total in Andhra Pradesh to 534 on Thursday morning.
The number of active cases now stood at exactly 500 after 20 patients were discharged and another 14 have died, according to the latest government bulletin.
10.55 AM | RAJASTHAN
25 fresh cases in Rajasthan
Rajasthan reported 25 fresh cases of coronavirus, taking the State’s virus tally to 1,101.
Of the new cases, 11 are from Tonk, 10 from Jodhpur, 2 from Jhunjhunu and one each from Bikaner and Ajmer. As many as 157 patients have been recovered so far and 82 of them discharged.
10. 30 AM | BIHAR
Two more test positive in Bihar
Two more persons have tested positive for COVID-19 in Bihar, raising the total number of cases in the state to 72, a top official said on Thursday. The fresh cases were reported from Patna and Vaishali districts, he said.
Reports of a 60-year-old man from Patna and 35-year-old man from Vaishali, which came in late Wednesday night, were positive, according to Principal Secretary, Health, Sanjay Kumar.
The Patna patient had come in contact with a Dubai-returnee who had tested positive last month and discharged after recovery more than a week ago, the official said.
Contact tracing was on for the patient from Vaishali, which has reported its first coronavirus case, Kumar added.
10.00 AM | KARNATAKA
66 year old man dies in Karnataka
A 66 year old male patient from Bengaluru, who was tested positive for COVID 19 died on Wednesday. With this, the number of COVID 19 related deaths in the State stands at 13.
According to the Department of Health and Family Welfare, the patient was admitted in the Victoria hospital and was ventilator support since 10 April. “He was referred from private hospital and was admitted in Victoria Hospital,” the health department stated.
10.00 AM | MADHYA PRADESH
Madhya Pradesh records 1,090 cases, 55 deaths
A 63-year-old man from Indore died of COVID-19 on Wednesday, taking the toll due to the illness to 39 in the city.
The man was admitted to a hospital April 8, and died on Wednesday without having any comorbidities, said a death summary issued by Pravin Jadia, Indore Chief Medical and Health Officer.
9.15 AM
WHO welcomes joint efforts with India to fight COVID-19
The World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has welcomed the world health body’s cooperation with India to leverage strategies that helped the country win its war against polio into the response to COVID-19 outbreak, saying such joint efforts will help defeat the pandemic.
WHO has said it will work with India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to leverage the strategies that helped the country eradicate polio to fight the pandemic.
8.00 AM
The world will need more than one COVID-19 vaccine, says GSK CEO
The world will need more than one COVID-19 vaccine so drug companies must partner in the race to develop the weapons to fight the novel coronavirus, GlaxoSmithKline Chief Executive Officer Emma Walmsley said on Wednesday.
GlaxoSmithKline Plc and Sanofi SA said on Tuesday they would develop a vaccine to fight the fast-spreading coronavirus. The drugmakers said they expect to start clinical trials for the vaccine in the second half of this year. If successful, the vaccine would be available in the second half of 2021.
Walmsley said GSK’s partnership with Sanofi brings scale to the attempt to get a covid-19 vaccine but that there was still an enormous amount of work to do. “The world’s going to definitely need more than one vaccine when you think about demand in this hugely challenged global health crisis,” she told BBC Radio.
(Reuters)7.00 AM | U.S.
Nearly 2,600 U.S. coronavirus deaths in 24 hours: Johns Hopkins tally
The United States on April 15 posted nearly 2,600 additional deaths from COVID-19 in 24 hours, a new record and the heaviest daily toll of any country, Johns Hopkins University said.
A running tally from Johns Hopkins showed 2,569 victims at 8:30 pm Eastern Time (0030 GMT Thursday), compared with the same time the previous evening, bringing the total number of U.S. deaths to 28,326 — higher than any other nation.
