The nationwide lockdown to contain the deadly coronavirus looks set to be extended by two more weeks till April-end after a consensus emerged among States for continuing the curbs.
Reports from States put the figure of persons tested positive for COVID-19 at 8,683 and the death toll at 290.
“For the last two weeks or more people have shown great discipline and stayed indoors and tried to follow social distancing, since, as we say jaan hai jahan hai [the world for he who is alive], now we must also say jaan bhi jahan bhi [life and world],” a statement from PMO quoted the Prime Minister as saying, conveying an evolution in the strategy.
The Hindu has brought out a multi-language e-book on essential COVID-19 information, in addition to covering the developments related to the coronavirus pandemic as it unfolded.
Here are answers from experts on your queries about the virus, a list of State Helpline numbers , a State-wise tracker for COVID-19 cases, deaths and testing, and a map of confirmed cases in India .
Numbers to note:
24/7 national helpline can be reached at 1075 , 1930, 1944 (dedicated to Northeast), 1800-112-545 and 011-23978046 .
WhatsApp helpdesk number: 9013151515 .
Email: ncov2019-at-gmail.com.
Here are the latest updates:
Two more deaths in Telangana
Two coronavirus deaths were reported in Telangana on Sunday, taking the toll in the State due to the disease to 16, while 28 more tested positive, pushing the tally to 531.
With two fresh deaths, the number of people who succumbed to the virus rose cumulatively to 16 in the State, a media bulletin issued by the State government said.
Seven patients were discharged after treatment on Sunday taking the total number of discharges to 103.
The total number of active cases in the State cumulatively stood at 412, it said.
- PTI
'State governments should ensure smooth movement of essential commodities'
Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla writes another letter to States asking State governments to to ensure smooth movement of inter and intrastate cargo, trucks, workers and functioning of warehouse/cold storages. The letter was sent noticing hindrance in free functioning of essential commodity supply chain.
Police in Delhi’s Dwarka launch free cab service for senior citizens, women
Amid the lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus, police in Dwarka district on Sunday launched a free cab service for senior citizens and women who need to venture out in emergency cases.
This free service will be available only from 8 AM to 8PM. But one cab will be made available in night to attend any emergency service, he said.
One can contact on the number 9773527222 to avail the free cab service which is meant especially for residents of sub city Dwarka and will be provided only to move in the area of the sub city.
Death toll reaches nine in Rajasthan
A 13-year-old girl died of novel coronavirus infection in Jaipur today, taking Rajasthan's toll to nine. Health Department says she had complaints of intestine perforation and septicaemia. The number of COVID-19 positive cases in the State increased to 804 with the detection of 104 cases today.
COVID-19 cases in Madhya Pradesh rises to 567
The number of COVID-19 cases in Madhya Pradesh soared to 567 on Sunday. Two deaths were reported in Bhopal and Indore each on the day, taking the toll owing to the disease to 44 in the State.
Two more die of coronavirus in West Bengal, toll rises to 7
Two more persons succumbed to COVID-19 in West Bengal, pushing the total number of deaths due to the virus to seven, the state health department said on Sunday.
With no fresh case reported on Sunday, the number of active COVID-19 patients in the state was 95.
Also, West Bengal government makes wearing masks mandatory in public places to combat COVID-19 pandemic.
Death toll reaches 25 in Gujarat
A 27 year old male patient died of Covid-19 in Vadodara, taking Gujarat’s death toll to 25. With his death, three deaths recorded in Vadodara.
- Mahesh Langa
COVID-19 cases rise to 1,982; count of dead now 149
With 221 people testing positive for COVID-19 in Maharashtra on Sunday, the state tally of such patients has reached 1,982, a state health official said.
Twenty-two coronavirus positive patients died due to the infection in the state on Sunday, which increased the death toll to 149, he said.
85 fresh COVID-19 cases in Delhi
Five deaths and 85 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Delhi on Sunday taking the total number of deaths to 24 and cases to 1154, according to a daily health bulletin of the Delhi government.
Out of the 85 new COVID-19 positive cases, 26 have a foreign travel or contact history.
Gujarat reports 23 new cases
Twenty three new coronavirus cases were detected in Gujarat while one patient has died. So far, the tally of coronavirus positive cases mounts to 516 in the State. The State has recorded 24 deaths while 44 infected persons have been recovered and discharged.
Govt. musn’t allow foreign interests take control of Indian corporate during COVID-19 crisis: Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said that the economic slowdown has weakened Indian corporates and urged the government to ensure that no foreign interests take control of any such corporate at a time when the country is fighting the COVID-19 crisis.
His concerns came following reports that some foreign institutions had bought stakes in Indian companies in the wake of the stock market downturn.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
- Sidharth Yadav
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
--Jaideep Deobhanj
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.
--PTI
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.
--PTI
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.
--PTI
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.
--Reuters
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.
--Devesh Pandey
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
--PTI
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.
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.
-- Mahesh Langa
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.
-- Sidharth Yadav
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.
--PTI
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.
--Shoumojit Banerjee
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
(reports Amarnath Tewary)
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.
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.
Directorate of Public Health says ‘no’ to disinfection tunnels
The Directorate of Public Health (DPH) has issued a note calling into question the efficacy of sanitisation tunnels , and said no more such tunnels are to be installed in Tamil Nadu.
Awareness message drawn on the road near Alwarpet, April 12, 2020.
With disinfection tunnels being set up in public places in some parts of the State, K. Kolandaswamy, director of public health, in a circular issued to all deputy directors of health services on April 11, said disinfection tunnels would create a false sense of security and people may be diverted from handwash to the tunnel.
Seven more test positive
Seven more persons, including two women, tested positive for coronavirus in Chhattisgarh, taking the number of such cases in the state to 25, an official said here on Sunday.
The latest cases are from Katghora town in Korba district, the official said.
With these cases, the number of confirmed cases in Purani Basti area of Katghora town, which has emerged as the COVID-19 hotspot in the state, has gone up to 16, he said.
(PTI)
'Be messengers of life in a time of death,' Pope says on Easter eve
Pope Francis urged people to “not yield to fear” and focused on a “message of hope” as he led an Easter eve Mass in an empty St. Peter's Basilica on Saturday amid the coronavirus pandemic and called for an end to wars.
65 prisoners in J&K released due to coronavirus outbreak
Sixty-five prisoners, including 22 who were arrested under Public Safety Act (PSA), were released to decongest jails across Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.
The information was given by the director general of prisons in a written report submitted to the division bench of Jammu and Kashmir High Court.
Australia begins airlift of citizens from India
Australia, over the weekend, began to airlift its citizens who were stranded in India because of the ongoing lockdown to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first flight took off from New Delhi in the early hours of Sunday as part of Canberra's efforts to bring back nationals stuck in various affected parts of the world.
54-year-old from Belapur, 80-year-old from Dharavi dies
A 54-year-old man from Belapur village, who died on Friday due to pneumonia and asthma, has now tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
An 80-year-old man became the fourth fatality from Dharavi on Saturday. The victim was admitted at Kasturba Hospital, where he succumbed. According to civic officials, his daughter (30) and son (49), who live in Dr. Baliga Nagar, had also tested positive. These cases had a connection to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation held in Delhi.
France reports fall in daily coronavirus deaths
France on Saturday reported a lower daily toll for deaths from COVID-19, declaring a “plateau” had been reached in the country’s coronavirus epidemic, albeit at a very high level.
Top French health official Jerome Salomon said 353 more people had died in hospitals and 290 in nursing homes to bring the total death toll to 13,832. The day earlier, 554 had died in hospitals and 433 in nursing homes.
Six staff from Taj Hotel in Colaba test positive
Six staff members from the Taj Hotel in Colaba have tested positive for COVID-19. They were admitted to the Bombay Hospital and are in stable condition. Dr Gautam Bhansali, consultant physician of Bombay Hospital, said that the patients had very mild symptoms and were under treatment.
A spokesperson from the Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) said that approximately 500 of their employees who are at work in the Mumbai hotels have been tested to date.
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