As the 21-day lockdown ends on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be addressing the nation tomorrow at 10 am. Will the lockdown be extended? Mr. Modi is likely to answer this on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Arunachal Pradesh joined the list of States to extend the lockdown.
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 .
Here are the latest updates:
Four new coronavirus cases detected in UP’s Gautam Buddh Nagar.
- PTI
Madhya Pradesh recorded 51 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, taking the count to 613 in the State. There have been 50 deaths owing to the illness in the State, while 51 patients have recovered from it so far. Indore has reported 328, and Bhopal 142 cases, according to a State Health Bulletin.
Italy’s virus death toll tops 20,000
Italy’s death toll from the novel coronavirus topped 20,000 on Monday but its number of critically ill patients dropped for the tenth successive day as its rate of infections slowed.
The 566 new deaths reported by the civil protection service takes Italy’s fatalities total to 20,465 — officially second in the world behind the United States
With 93 new cases detected in seven districts, the number of COVID-19 positive cases in Rajasthan increased to 897 today. The highest number, 31, was reported from Jodhpur, followed by 29 in Jaipur. 133 patients have been cured in the State and 63 of them have been discharged, according to the Medical & Health Department.
-Mohammed Iqbal
Mumbai records highest single day jump yet again with 242 new cases. The total number of cases is now 1,540. The city’s death toll has touched 101 with nine new deaths reported.
Maharashtra's total cases has now reached 2,334 with 160 reported deaths.
-Jyoti Shelar
Positive cases in Uttar Pradesh jumped to 558 with 75 fresh cases, including 35 from Agra and 11 from Saharanpur, as per the State Directorate of Health Services. The State has now reported cases from 43 districts.
-Omar Rashid
Visa of foreigners extended till April 30: Home Ministry
The government on April 13 extended on gratis basis the regular visa and e-visa of foreign nationals who are stranded in India due to COVID-19 till April 30, the Home Ministry said.
In a statement, the Ministry said all those foreigners whose regular visa, e-visa or stay stipulation expired or would be expiring during February 1 (midnight) to April 30 (midnight), would be “extended till April 30 (midnight) on gratis basis, after making an online application by the foreigners”.
The decision to extend the visa exemption till April 30 was apparently taken in view of the near certain extension of the onging lockdown till April 30.
It is also an indication that international flights, cancelled since March 25, will not resume before April 30.
-PTI
Thane Municipal Corporation officials said that a total of 28 people from Thane, 14 of whom came into contact with Maharashtra Minister for Housing Jitendra Awhad, have tested positive on Monday. Officials said these include members of his personal staff, a local journalist and five police personnel with the Thane Police Commissionerate who were assigned to him as bodyguards.
-Gautam S. Mengle
Screening on in 10 containment zones: Himachal Pradesh government
The Himachal Pradesh government has started screening people for coronavirus in 10 containment zones created in four of the total 12 districts in the State, heath officials said.
Every individual in these zones is being screened, they said, adding that even if someone is showing mild symptoms, they are being tested to check the spread of the virus.
The areas which have been sealed include Missarwala in Sirmaur district, Jharmari in Solan district, Sahon and Glad panchayats in Chamba district, and Nakroh mosque in Gagret block, Kuthera Kherla in Amb block and Chowki Manyar in Bangana block of Una district.
-PTI
One more nurse working at LNJP (Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan) Hospital in Delhi tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, according to hospital officials.
This is the second nurse at hospital who has tested positive for the virus. LNJP Hospital, which is run by the Delhi government, is treating the highest number of COVID-19 patients in the city.
-Nikhil M. Babu
Delivery of Medicines through Speed Post must be given highest priority: Minister of Communications
Minister of Communications, Law & IT Sh. Ravi Shankar Prasad, has instructed Secretary-Posts to ensure that delivery of medicines through Speed Post is given the highest priority during lockdown.
He further directed that all employees of Department of Posts be sensitised so that none should face difficulty in receiving or sending medicines during lockdown. The entire postal network across the country has been galvanised for the purpose.
Intra-State and interstate mail arrangements have been made for the purpose.
Dharavi reported two new cases on Monday evening, bringing the total to 49. One is a 51-year-old resident of Murugan chawl while another is a 21-year-old man residing in Kalyanwadi, who is a wardboy at Breach Candy hospital.
-Tanvi Deshpande
One more patient discharged in Mangaluru
One more COVID-19 patient was discharged from the hospital in Mangaluru on Monday.
The 34-year-old male, discharged from the Government Wenlock Hospital in the city, had arrived at Mangaluru International Airport on March 18 and had proceeded to to his native Ajjavara, near Sullia. He was admitted to the hospital on March 28 and tested positive on March 31.
After treatment he was found negative during tests conducted on April 11 and 12, Sindhu B. Rupesh, Deputy Commissioner, said in a release on Monday.
-Raviprasad Kamila
A nurse working at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in the city tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, taking the total number of hospital staff infected by the virus to three, according to the hospital.
On April 4, 108 staff of the hospital were quarantined after they came in contact with two people admitted in the hospital, who later tested positive for COVID-19.
-Nikhil M. Babu
Information commissioners to take 30% cut in basic salary for one year: CIC resolution
All Information Commissioners will take a voluntary 30% cut in their basic salary for one year to contribute to the government move to pool all resources to face the unprecedented damage to the economy because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a CIC resolution said on April 13.
Arunachal Pradesh extends lockdown from till April 30
The Arunachal Pradesh government on Monday extended the lockdown imposed to contain the spread of novel coronavirus from April 14 to 30, a senior official said.
The lockdown has been extended till April 30, Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar said.
Only State-run buses will be allowed to ply on the roads. Construction work will be allowed to resume after contractors seek permission from authorities concerned, but migrant labourers cannot be employed, he told reporters here.
Intensive care units will be set up in hospitals at Tawang, Tezu, Aalo, Pasighat, Ziro and Khonsa this month, the official added.
-PTI
Government starts call centre to coordinate inter-State transportation of agri commodities
The Centre on April 13 said it has started an all-India level call centre for addressing the transportation problems being faced in inter-state movement of both perishable and non-perishable agricultural commodities.
The All India Agri Transport Call Centre is accessible from numbers: 18001804200 and 14488. These numbers can be called from any mobile or landline phones, the Agriculture Ministry said in a statement.
“Truck drivers, traders, retailers, transporters or any other stakeholders who are facing problems in inter-state movement of above commodities, may seek help by calling at the Call Centre,” it said.
The Ministry said call centre executives will forward the vehicle and consignment details along-with the help needed to concerned State government officials for resolution of the issues, it added.
-PTI
Army issues movement instructions for personnel held up due to lockdown
In view of the 21-day nationwide lockdown to contain COVID-19 ending on April 14 midnight and the possibility of it being lifted partially , the Army has issued instructions on the movement of personnel who were on leave or sick leave and retirees held back at regimental centres due to the lockdown.
“Personnel whose sanctioned leave expired during the lockdown period will report to the nearest station headquarters, ad hoc station headquarters or Units on April 15. They will be housed in quarantine hubs created under arrangements of Command headquarters and retained for 14 days. Thereafter, they would be despatched under arrangements to OL directorate to their respective formations or units,” the Army said in a letter dated April 7.
Extend free rations to those without cards: Sonia Gandhi
Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking the government to offer increased rations to people who are identified as beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) as well as vulnerable sections who may not enlisted under the NFSA.
The Congress president said that in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, “we must ensure that no one faces hunger”.
“I welcome your decision to provide free of cost 5 kg grain/person in addition to the entitlements under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) from April-June, 2020,” Ms Gandhi said in her letter. “However, given the adverse impact of the lockdown and its prolonged impact of people’s livelihoods, I write to you to consider a few suggestions. Firstly, the provision of 10 kg grains/person to NFSA beneficiaries must be extended for an additional period of 3 months i.e. till September, 2020. Given the chronic economic distress faced by these beneficiaries, the food entitlements may be provided free of cost,” she added.
98 more persons have tested positive for COVID-19, according to Tamil Nadu Health Secretary Beela Rajesh. According to this tally, the total number of cases in the State now stands at 1,173 with 11 deaths and 58 recoveries.
-Serena Josephine M.
Total cases in India has risen to 9,352 with 324 reported deaths as on Monday evening. This includes 905 new cases and 51 deaths in past the 24 hours.
-Bindu Shajan Perappadan
Global toll crosses 110,000
The worldwide death toll from the novel coronavirus pandemic rose to 114,539 on Monday, according to a tally compiled at 1100 GMT from official sources.
More than 1,853,300 declared cases have been registered in 193 countries and territories since the epidemic first emerged in China in December. Of these cases, at least 395,000 are now considered recovered.
25 more people including 12 non-locals tested positive for the novel coronavirus in the Kashmir on Monday. The total stands at 270 — 49 in Jammu and 222 in Kashmir, according to a release from the Jammu and Kashmir government.
-Peerzada Ashiq
One more COVID-19 positive case detected in Bhubaneswar on Monday, taking Odisha’s total to 55. Active cases now stand at 41 as 13 have recovered and one has died.
-Prafulla Das
Doctor, nurse, staffer at Max Hospital test positive
A doctor, a nurse and a non-medical staff at a leading private hospital here have tested positive for COVID-19, hospital authorities said on April 13.
"So far, three hospital staffers have tested positive — a doctor, a nurse and one non-medical staff. All of them are recovering," the hospital said in a statement.
"Thirty-nine healthcare workers, who were contact traced, have been quarantined within a separate and isolated wing at Max Hospital, Saket," it said.
"There are 154 employees deployed in shifts in the COVID ward of Max Hospital, Saket. None of these employees has had any exposure to the virus. They are working in shifts and are staying on the hospital premises to reduce any risk of infection to their families and neighbours. None of them has been quarantined," the statement said.
-PTI
On remdesivir anti-viral drug
ICMR spokesperson on remdesivir anti-viral drug: "It was used during the Ebola outbreak. The study in different parts of the world is observational, indicating that two out of three patients, who would have required ventillator support or oxygen support, did not require them after its use."
This drug is not available with us, he says and adds the World Health Organisation is doing trials. "When the result comes, we will make further plans accordingly, he adds.
About Rs.28,256 crore spent so far on welfare activities, including cash transfers to women JanDhan account holders, widows, senior citizens and the differently-abled, a government spokesperson says.
About 30 crore people have benefited under the PM Garib Kalyan Yojna till April 10, he says.
NCC cadets, Civil Defence and over 50,000 volunteers have come forward to help the administration.
A health ministry official says core group has been formed in ICMR to focus on digital/molecular surveillance, rapid and economical dignostics, new drugs and repurposing of drugs, apart from associated production facilities, in close co-ordination with the public and private sector and relevant ministries.
The ICMR spokesperson says over two lakh tests done so far.
The stock is available for testing in the coming six more weeks, he adds.
15 districts have not reported any deaths in the past 15 days. Testing kits from China to arrive on April 15, he adds.
Tamil Nadu extends lockdown till April 30
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Monday evening announced extension of the COVID-19 lockdown till April 30. The ongoing lockdown was scheduled to end at 6 am on April 15.
The CM also announced that the ration entitlements for the month of May would be issued free of cost to 'rice card holders'. This include 1 kg of sugar, 1 kg of tur dhal, 1 kg of cooking oil, besides the usual allotment of rice. - Dennis S. Jesudasan
Inter- and intra-State goods movements allowed
Home Ministry spokesperson says inter- or intra-State movement of carriers of essential and non-essential goods are allowed with a driver and an additional person.
Local authorities have to facilitate the mobility of the drivers and the helpers, and others involved in the entire chain of supplies, the spokesperson says in the daily press briefing.
Warehouses and coldstorages should be allowed, irrespective of the category of goods,except those in the hotspots and containment areas, he adds.
Foreigners whose visas have expired as they are stuck here due to COVID-19 lockdown extended till April 30 on Gratis (free) basis.
Foreigners asked to apply online to avail the visa extension facility, says MHA.
Haryana COVID positive cases rise to 182
Coronavirus cases in Haryana rose to 182 on Monday, with a fresh case reported from Sirsa district.
Out of the total positive cases, the number of active cases in the state is 146, the state health department’s daily bulletin said, adding 34 patients have been discharged.
The state has recorded two COVID-19 related deaths. - PTI
PM Modi to address the nation on April 14 at 10 am
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation on Tuesday at 10 am, the Prime Minister's Office said.
The 21-day nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus ends on Tuesday and the prime minister is likely to talk about its possible extension.
With one more COVID-19 positive case detected in Begusarai district, the total number of COVID-19 pandemic positive cases in Bihar has gone up to 65, said state health minister Mangal Pandey.
Mr Pandey also said that the government has decided to start door to door screening in hotspots of three kms radius in each of four districts of Siwan, Begusarai, Nawada and Nalanda from where number of pandemic disease have regularly been coming.
Max Hospital Saket doctor among three to test positive
Three staff members, including one doctor, of Max Hospital Saket have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last two days, a spokesperson for the hospital said.
On Thursday, two people admitted at Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital Saket had tested positive for the virus. - Nikhil M. Babu
Maharashtra extends lockdown till April 30
Maharashtra has joined Punjab and Odisha in extending the lockdown. "The State Government hereby directs the lock-down orders issued vide notification dated 25th March 2020 shall now be extended upto and inclusive of 30th April 2020," the CMO handle has tweeted.
15 new cases in Karnataka
Fifteen new positive cases have been detected since Sunday evening in Karnataka taking the total cases to 247.
The new cases include three each from Mandya and Belagavi, four from Hubballi- Dharwad, two from Bidar and one each from Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural and Bangalore.
Except for one case of a 62-year-old male from Bengaluru Urban, all other cases have contact history. - Afshan Yasmeen
13 COVID-19 patients recover so far in Odisha
One more person, who was afflicted with COVID-19 in Odisha, has recovered on Monday, taking the total number of patients cured of the disease to 13 in the state, health department officials said.
Odisha has so far reported 54 coronavirus cases while a 72-year-old patient from the state capital died of the disease. - PTI
Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora flanked by Election Commissioners Ashok Lavasa (L) and Sushil Chandra. 
Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora and Election Commissioners Ashok Lavasa and Sushil Chandra to voluntarily take 30% cut in basic salary for one year to contribute funds for fighting COVID-19. - Damini Nath
Fifth death from Dharavi
Dharavi reported four new cases, including a death on Monday.
A 60 year-old man living in Nehru chawl was declared dead at Sion Hospital, making him the fifth fatality from Asia's biggest slum.
Besides, three other new cases were reported, one each from Indira Nagar, Janata society and Gulmohur chawl.
The patient from Gulmohur chawl is a 34 year-old nurse from Sushrusha Hospital that has been sealed after eight of their staff tested positive.
Janata society has seen five cases so far. This brings the total cases from Dharavi to 47 including five deaths.
The State has reported 2064 cases so far, including 82 fresh ones. - Tanvi Deshpande
19 items for Rs. 500 in Tamil Nadu
Provisions for the ration card holders getting packed at a TUCS outlet in Chennai.
Tamil Nadu government is selling grocery kits for Rs. 500 through its ration shops. The kit comprises of 19 items including tur dal, urad dal (half kg each), 250 each grams of bengal gram and garlic, 100 grams of pepper, cumin, mustard, fenugreek, turmeric powder, and chilli powder. State-owned branded tea powder is also being provided along with one kg salt. In addition to this, 200 grams of sunflower oil, 50 grams fennel seeds and 10 grams of cinnamon is also provided.
12 new coronavirus cases reported in AP
The COVID-19 cases continued their upward trend in Andhra Pradesh, adding 12 since Sunday night and taking the overall tally to 432.
Guntur district has now taken the top spot in the state with 90 cases, with the addition of eight since Sunday night, according to the latest bulletin issued by the Health Department on Monday. - PTI
First case reported from Nagaland
The first case of COVID-19 in Nagaland came to light around midnight on April 12.
Assam Health Minister Himanta Bishwa Sarma confirmed that one person from Nagaland was found with symptoms of COVID-19 . He was referred to the Guwahati Medical College Hospital. He has been tested “positive and is undergoing treatment”. - Iboyaima Laithangbam
New York City now has more COVID19 cases than China, UK
New York City, the epicenter of the COVID19 pandemic in the U.S., now alone has over 1,00,000 novel coronavirus cases, more than the confirmed cases in China and the UK, according to the official data.
According to the data from the New York City government, an increase of at least 5,695 cases on Sunday put New York City’s total number of coronavirus infections at over 1,04,410 as of April 12 and 27,676 hospitalisations. The city’s death toll is 6,898.
According to estimates by Johns Hopkins University, there are 85,208 coronavirus cases in the UK, 83,135 in China and 71,686 in Iran.
Gujarat records 26 new cases
One person died in Gujarat due to COVID-19, bringing the death toll to 26. The State recorded 26 new cases of coronavirus infection.
This brings the total number of cases in the State to 538, according ti the State Health department. So far, 47 patients have recovered from the infection, it added.
According to the latest Health Ministry update, the number of COVID-19 cases in India have gone up to to 9,152. As many as 308 people have died due to the infection, the Ministry said.
The number of people have who have recovered is 856. India currently has 7987 active cases, the Ministry update added.
However, data from the State authorities puts the total number of cases at 9,205 and the number of active cases at 7,880. The death toll is 332, according to State data.
Pharma units in limbo amid confusion over hydroxychloroquine exports
A week after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced that it would “license” the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and supply it to various countries on a “government to government basis”, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) maintains that the drug is still prohibited for export, causing some confusion in industry circles.
On Sunday, the government said it had cleared the release of HCQ for 13 countries.
Italy reports lowest COVID-19 death toll in over three weeks
Italy on Sunday reported its lowest coronavirus death toll in more than three weeks, confirming trends showing that the COVID-19 outbreak in Europe’s worst-hit nation had peaked.
The 431 new deaths reported by the civil protection service were the lowest since March 19. Italy’s death total now stands at 19,899, officially second behind the United States.
59 Indians among 233 new cases in Singapore
Fifty-nine Indians working in Singapore are among the 233 new coronavirus cases reported on Sunday, taking the total number of COVID-19 patients in the city-state to 2,532.
Of the new cases, 51 are linked to known clusters while 15 to earlier cases. The remaining 167 have no links to earlier cases, pending contact tracing, the Health Ministry said in its daily update.
In a single day, Delhi records 5 deaths, 85 new COVID-19 cases
The Capital on Sunday recorded five deaths and 85 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of deaths to 24 and the cumulative cases to 1,154, the government said.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the rise in the number of cases here over the past few days was a worrying trend and the government would be launching a “massive” sanitation drive from April 13 across the city’s red and orange zones. The government has declared containment zones as red zones and the high-risk zones as orange zones.
China's new cases rise to near 6-week high
China reported the highest number of new daily coronavirus cases in nearly six weeks, driven by a rise in infected travellers arriving from overseas and underscoring challenges Beijing faces in preventing a second wave of COVID-19 .
A total of 108 new coronavirus cases were reported on Sunday, up from 99 a day earlier and marking the highest number of cases since 143 cases were reported in March 6.
The total number of confirmed cases in mainland China now stands at 82,160, while the death toll rose by two to 3,341.
