The number of COVID-19 positive cases in India exceeded 3,200 and the death toll touched 96 on Saturday, according to State and Health Ministry reports. Despite the rise in cases, Joint Secretary at the Union Health Ministry Lav Agarwal said the revised testing guideline is still under consideration and would be released by April 4.
Worldwide, confirmed infections rose past 1 million and deaths topped 58,000, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. Experts say both numbers are seriously undercounted because of the lack of testing, mild cases that were missed and governments that are underplaying the crisis.
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 .
The new 24/7 national helpline numbers are 1075 , 1930, 1944 (dedicated to Northeast), 1800-112-545 and 011-23978046 .
Email: ncov2019-at-gmail.com.
The Prime Minister has announced a WhatsApp helpdesk number : 9013151515 .
Here are the latest updates:
DRDO develops disinfection chamber, face mask
A unit of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has designed a full-body disinfection chamber for healthcare workers who are in the forefront of battle against coronavirus, it said on Saturday.
The Vehicle Research and Development Establishment, a DRDO laboratory at Ahmednagar in Maharashtra, has developed a `Personnel Sanitization Enclosure’, an official release said here.
The walk-through enclosure is a portable system equipped with sanitizer and soap dispenser.
29-year-old man test positive in Odisha
One asymptomatic 29-year-old male of Odisha’s Kalahandi district tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday taking the State’s total number of patients to 21. He has travel history to Bahrain, according to Health Department.
One more person test positive in Goa
A patient detected positive for coronavirus on Saturday. The patient has travel history from San Francisco to New Delhi to Goa. He travelled to Goa from New Delhi via Air India flight AI 883 on March 22. The Goa government has appealed to people on board the said flight to home quarantine themselves and report on the helplines.
145 new coronavirus cases in Maharashtra
As many as 145 persons were confirmed to have coronavirus infection in Maharashtra on Saturday, taking the number of patients to 635, an official statement said.
Further, six coronavirus patients died in the State during the day. Four of them were from Mumbai, one in Amravati and one at Mumbra in Thane district, it said.
A total of 32 COVID-19 patients have died in the State so far.
Cyber frauds trying to dupe people with fake ‘PM CARES’ links
Fraudsters are using fake links to dupe people in the name of online coronavirus donations to the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund, also known as PM CARES Fund, Maharashtra Cyber police officials said on Saturday.
They said several such links have been traced and disabled
Principal Secretary of Public Health in Madhya Pradesh tests COVID-19 positive
The Madhya Pradesh Principal Secretary of the Public Health and Family Welfare, the senior most bureaucrat in the department, tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday even as the toll owing to the illness reached double digits in the State.
She tested positive along with an Additional Director in the Directorate of Health Services tasked with implementing strategies to combat the outbreak in the State, according to Sudhir Dehariya, Bhopal Chief Medical and Health Officer.
- Sidharth Yadav
Congress seeks more financial aid for State govts
The Congress on Saturday said the Union government should empower the State governments by announcing a special economic package of ₹1 lakh crore and release about Rs. 42,000 crore due as compensation for the goods and services tax (GST). It urged the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to offer zero interest loans as the States have been at the forefront of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi asked the government to scale up testing rather than ‘lighting lamps’, while the party criticised the government for not banning export of diagnostic kits until Saturday.
“India is simply not testing enough to fight the #Covid19 virus. Making people clap & shining torches in the sky isn't going to solve the problem,” Mr. Gandhi tweeted.
Congress seeks more financial aid for State govts
Final COVID-19 samples of 263 people housed at ITBP quarantine centre taken
The final COVID-19 sample collection of 263 people, evacuated recently from Italy and now staying at an ITBP quarantine facility, has been done and results are expected soon, a senior official said on Saturday.
Another batch of 217 people, who too were brought back from Milan city in Italy and admitted to this facility on March 15, has been found negative for COVID-19, he said.
“Final samples of 263 people brought to the quarantine from Rome on March 22 have been taken. The reports are awaited,” a spokesperson of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police force (ITBP) said.
Tamil Nadu goverment announces further curbs on public movement
The Tamil Nadu government on Saturday announced further curbs on public movement as part of its fight against COVID-19, revising the business hours of shops selling essential commodities.
Chief Minister K Palaniswami appealed against giving communal colour to the spread of the contagion and requested people to avoid religious congregations and strictly maintain social distancing.
The Tamil Nadu government on Saturday announced further curbs on public movement as part of its fight against COVID-19, revising the business hours of shops selling essential commodities.
Chief Minister K Palaniswami appealed against giving communal colour to the spread of the contagion and requested people to avoid religious congregations and strictly maintain social distancing.
Plan ready to avoid grid collapse on Sunday night: M.P. official
A plan has been drawn up to ensure that the Western Region Power Grid does not collapse when people switch off house lights in response to prime minister’s appeal on Sunday, a senior official said here.
Energy departments of some states have expressed fear that sudden dip in power consumption at 9 pm on Sunday followed by sudden surge when lights are switched on again could cause the national grid to collapse, causing a blackout.
In Madhya Pradesh, it has also revived memories of a shut-down of the Western Region Grid in July 2002.
“We are going to reduce power generations from our coal-fired power stations in the run-up to 9 pm tomorrow."
More than 60,000 deaths worldwide from coronavirus
The coronavirus pandemic has killed over 60,000 people worldwide, nearly three quarters of them in Europe, since it emerged in China in December.
A total of 60,457 deaths have been recorded, including 44,132 in Europe, the continent worst hit by the virus.
- AFP
U.P. cases climb to 234
Positive cases in U.P. now stand at 234 spread across 28 districts. Sixty new cases were reported today.
PM Narendra Modi holds telephonic conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump
We agreed to deploy full strength of India-U.S. partnership to fight COVID-19, says Prime Minister Narendra Modi on telephonic conversation with Donald Trump.
Andhra Pradesh reports 10 new cases
The number of coronavirus cases in Andhra Pradesh climbed further to 190 on Saturday evening. In the tests conducted between 10 am and 5 pm on Saturday, 10 new cases were detected, according to the latest bulletin of the Medical and Health Department.
Over 3,700 detained, 167 cases registered for lockdown violations in Delhi
More than 160 cases were registered and 3,747 people detained in Delhi on Saturday for violating government orders during the lockdown imposed due to coronavirus outbreak, police said.
According to the data shared by the police, 167 cases were registered under section 188 (for disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code till 5pm.
A total of 3,747 people have been detained under Section 65 (persons bound to comply with reasonable directions of police officers) and 388 vehicles have been impounded under Section 66 of the Delhi Police Act, they stated.
COVID-19 testing, treatment free for Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries at private labs, empanelled hospitals
Testing and treatment for COVID-19 will be free of cost for Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries at private laboratories and empanelled hospitals, the National Health Authority (NHA) said on Saturday.
The NHA, which implements the national health insurance scheme, said this will strengthen the country’s response to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
“Testing and treatment of COVID-19 is already available for free in public facilities. Now, more than 50 crore citizens, eligible under the health assurance scheme will be able to avail free testing through private labs and treatment for COVID-19 in empanelled hospitals,” it said in a statemen
Delhi police sets up isolation centre for its personnel
The Delhi police has set up a 10-bed isolation centre in Dwarka South police station for its personnel who show symptoms of COVID-19 infection but has no permanent residence in the city, a senior police officer said on Saturday.
At the isolation centre, police personnel will be provided a basic hygiene kit.
The 10 beds are placed at a safe distance from each other, the officer said.
Public can operate home appliances on Sunday night: TNEB
The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) has been mandated to ensure no service disruption on Sunday when the people across the country respond to the call of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to turn off lights at their respective residences, the state government has said.
As per the orders of the chief minister K Palaniswami and electricity minister P Thangamani, the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) has taken steps to see to it there is no disruption in electricity supply to residences during that time on Sunday
No community transmission in Goa, says CM Pramod Sawant
There is no community transmission of novel coronavirus in Goa, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Saturday, adding that six of the seven COVID-19 patients had foreign travel history while one was an infected person’s brother.
He said the lockdown in force must be adhered to strictly to effectively combat the virus outbreak.
“We have not progressed to community transmission stage because of lockdown and social distancing measures put in place,” he said.
74 new cases in Tamil Nadu
Another 74 persons test positive for COVID-19 in Tamil Nadu on Saturday. Total count in the State rises to 485.
Karnataka reports 16 new cases
Sixteen new COVID-19 cases were reported in Karnataka, taking the total number of infections in the State to 144.
Of the 144 cases, 16 are Tablighi Jamaat attendees.
Delhi has 40 cases of local transmission out of 445 cases: Arvind Kejriwal
Out of 445 cases in Delhi, only 40 have cases of local transmission, says Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Six patients have died till now, out of these five were above 60. I appeal to all elders to stay safe and stay indoors since they are at risk, adds Mr. Kejriwal.
"As of now eleven coronavirus patients are in ICU in Delhi, five on ventilator," says the Delhi Chief Minister.
"Five hundred patients from Markaz are in hospitals, 1,800 in quarantine. All these are being tested for COVID-19, so cases may spike," adds Mr. Kejriwal.
PM Modi to interact with floor leaders of political parties on April 8
Amid a countrywide lockdown due to COVID-19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with floor leaders of various political parties via a video link on April 8.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said Prime Minister Modi will interact with floor leaders of all those parties who have more than five MPs in both houses of Parliament on April 8 at 11a.m..
Tamil Nadu has placed orders for 1 lakh rapid test kits, says Health Minister
Tamil Nadu has placed orders for 1 lakh rapid test kits for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) through the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation (TNMSC), according to Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar.
The Minister also said that television sets were being installed television sets in the isolation wards to keep patients engaged and motivated.
Since March, 75,000 masks stitched by Tihar, Mandoli jail inmates
Prisoners at the Tihar and Mandoli jails here have stitched 75,000 face masks since March for the traffic police, the prisons’ inmates and for organisations that placed orders in the wake of novel coronavirus pandemic, prison department officials said.
The department has also produced 750 litres of sanitiser, they said.
--PTI
11 including one with history of travel of Nizamiddum test positive in Bengal, active cases rise to 49
Eleven more cases were reported in West Bengal in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of active cases to 49. One of those tested positive is from Haldia in Purba Medinipur who had participated in the Tablighi Jamaat conference in New Delhi.
U.P. cases climb to 227
Positive cases in U.P. now stand at 227. It includes 94 people linked to Tablighi Jamaat, said U.P. Health principal secretary Amit Mohan Prasad.
Rate of increase in cases in India less as compared to other countries: Health Ministry
Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agrawal has given an age profile for cases in the country: 9 % cases among people till 20 years of age, 42% among people between 21-40 years age, 33% among 41-60-year-olds and 17% among those above 60 years.
There are 58 critical cases, mainly in Kerala, MP and Delhi, he said.
"The government of India's response has been proactive and graded. Compared to other countries, the rate of increase in number of infections in India less," he said.
"1023 cases related to Tablighi Jamaat cluster have been found postive in 17 States so far.
"As we see, 30% of total cases are linked to one particular place, which we could not understand or manage. Our actions should be stringent and measures coordinated," he added.
"Lockdown measures being implemented effectively in all States," Home Ministry spokesperson said.
"Tablighi Jamaat update: 22,000 workers and their contacts have been quarantined so far
"The first instalment of SDRF, Rs.11,092 crore, was released yesterday. The fund can be used for extending relief to migrant workers
"Guidelines have been issued for streamlining nationwide supply chains of essential goods and agri-products," the Home Ministry added.
ICMR spokesperson said 75,000 people have been tested so far. "We are gradually increasing our capacity for testing..over 100 testing govt labs are functioning, apart from private labs..About a week ago, about 5000 tests were taking place, now the capacity is 10,000 per today."
Two new cases in Dharavi
Two more cases have been reported in Dharavi, a 30-year-old and a 48-year old resident. The total number of cases in Dharavi is now four, excluding the conservancy worker who was not a resident.
Odisha imposes containment measures at places with new cases
Apprehending that community transmission may occur in many pockets, the Odisha government on Saturday imposed containment measures at places where fresh COVID-19 positive case emerged since Friday morning. The measures will remain in force till April 14 midnight.
The areas where the measures were imposed include Surya Nagar and Bomikhal areas of Bhubaneswar, Danagahir village in Puri district, and Brahmabarada village in Jajpur district.
Five new cases in U.P.
Five new cases of COVID-19 have emerged Gautam Buddh Nagar on Saturday, taking the total number of coronavirus cases in the district to 55, the highest in Uttar Pradesh.
Four persons have been tested positive in the JJ Colony in Sector 5 of Noida, according to an official release. A health department official said one person works in the Cease-Fire Company and he has infected three other persons in the family.
One other person has been found infected by the contagion in Wajidpur village of Sector 135 in Noida.
Both the places have been sealed till April 5 and sanitisation process has started as per protocol.
31 cases reported in northeast; 25 in Assam alone
The number of COVID-19 cases in the northeast touched 31 on Saturday, 25 of them from Assam.
All but three of these cases have been related to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation at Nizamuddin in Delhi last month.
19 new cases recorded in Andhra Pradesh
The State government reported 16 more COVID-19 positive cases from six districts taking the total tally to 180 as of Saturday morning. Four of the patients recovered and got discharged while one died. Three persons from Kurnool district , who attended the Tabilighi Jamaat at Nizamuddin, also tested positive for COVID-19 .
Govt. puts curbs on exports of diagnostic kits with immediate effect
The government on Saturday put curbs on exports of diagnostic kits with a view to discourage shipments amid the coronavirus outbreak .
No religious, political event will be permitted in Maharashtra: Uddhav Thackeray
Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray speaks in Mumbai: "Everyone has joined this battle against Coronavirus irrespective of political party, religion, caste and race. Sonia Gandhiji too called today. Modiji is in contact. A number of Maulavis have started appealing too.
"A virus of dividing society is also working in Maharashtra. Fake videos are being circulated. I warn anyone who is spreading wrong messages. I will ensure the law will punish that person. No attempt to divide society will be tolerated.
"Deaths are of senior citizens. Please take care of senior citizens. Stop them from going out. Serve them with clean hands in a sanitized environment.
"We stopped the Tablighi event in Maharashtra. We did not let it happen here as it happened in Delhi. Almost all from Delhi event are presently in isolation wards.
"No religious, political event will be permitted in Maharashtra. Just like Hindu festivals celebrated inside, no other religious festivals will be celebrated outside.
"Five lakh migrant labourers are being taken care of by Maharashtra government. Meals, medicines, shelter is being provided.
"I expect CMs of other States to similarly take care of Maharashtra citizens and labourers. Those with cough, fever, cold should go to hospitals only dedicated to COVID treatment.
"We are keeping shops open 24 hours. What is the need to overcrowd?"
Two more test positive in M.P.
Two men tested positive for COVID-19 in Khargone district. One of them had returned from France, while the other was a member of the Tablighi Jamaat who had taken part in the gathering at the Nizamuddin centre in New Delhi, said the district Chief Medical and Health Officer. The Madhya Pradesh count reaches 163.
Meanwhile, four members of the Tablighi Jamaat, a policeman and an army-man tested positive for the illness on Saturday in Bhopal, confirmed Arun Rathore, public relations officer of the Bhopal district administration.
The AIIMS, Bhopal, on Friday night discharged a man and his daughter after they recovered from COVID-19, the first reported recoveries in Madhya Pradesh. The woman was the first reported case in Bhopal, said Mr. Rathore.
Second death in Tamil Nadu
A 51-year-old man, who tested positive for COVID-19, died at Government Villupuram Medical College Hospital on Saturday morning. He had attended the Nizamuddin conference in Delhi.
Use of masks will help in protecting community at large from COVID-19, the government has said in an advisory asking people to wear ‘homemade face covers’.
--PTI
Kashmir registers three more cases
Three more COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in Jammu and Kashmir, bringing the total number of cases in the State to 78.
The cases have been reported from Narsoo and Udhampur, said J&K government spokesperson Rohit Kansal. All cases are contacts of a positive patient from Udhampur with travel history abroad, he added.
BMC thanks Shah Rukh Khan, Gauri for lending a helping hand
The BMC took to Twitter to thank filmmakers Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan for lending a helping hand in the city's fight against COVID-19.
"We thank Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan for offering their 4-storey personal office space to help expand our quarantine capacity equipped with essentials for quarantined children, women & elderly. Indeed a thoughtful & timely gesture!," the corporation tweeted from its official Twitter handle.
Mumbai has detected over 300 COVID-19 positive cases, the highest in Maharashtra.
AIADMK to donate ₹1 crore to CM's relief fund
Tamil Nadu ruling party All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) announced a donation of ₹1 crore to the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund to combat COVID-19 related issues in India.
This is in addition to the donation of one month salary by the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, and other Ministers, MLAs and MPs, and the allotment of ₹1 crore from their constituency development funds.
The number of COVID-19 positive cases in Maharashtra reached 537 on Saturday, with Mumbai accounting for 300 of these.
More details are awaited.
New York State records highest number of deaths in single day from COVID-19
The New York State reported its highest number of 562 COVID-19 deaths in a single day, with a person dying almost every two-and-a-half minutes, as Governor Andrew Cuomo allowed redistribution of ventilators and protective gear to hospitals with greater need.
Coronavirus cases in the state, the epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S., crossed 1,00,000 and it recorded the highest increase in the number of deaths from the virus in a single day between April 2 and 3, Mr. Cuomo said.
The death toll in the state now stands at 2,935, an increase of 562 deaths in just one day, Mr. Cuomo said.
The curve continues to go up, Cuomo said while addressing reporters on Friday.
- PTI
Two more deaths in Madhya Pradesh
A man from Indore and another from Chhindwara succumbed to COVID-19 on Saturday morning, taking the toll owing to the illness to 10 in Madhya Pradesh.
He had no travel or contact history, but was suffering from obesity and hypertension, according to officials at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College in Indore.
So far, Madhya Pradesh has reported 10 deaths owing to the illness, with six in Indore alone.
Malawi announces first coronavirus cases
Malawi on Thursday announced its first three coronavirus infections, one of the last African countries to report the potentially deadly disease.
The southern African country was one of the few without any confirmed cases along with the Comoros, Lesotho, Sao Tome and Principe and South Sudan.
The first was detected in an elderly woman who had recently travelled to India to visit her relatives.
- AFP
Nestle announces ₹15 crore grant
FMCG major Nestle India on Saturday announced an initial grant of ₹15 crore for providing food and essential groceries to the needy amid the coronavirus lockdown.
It will also support purchase of medical equipment for hospitals to fight against the COVID-19 outbreak, Nestle India said in a statement.
The company has already started with a contribution of ₹1 crore to Narayana Hrudayalaya Foundation for purchase of ventilators for Delhi/NCR.
“We commit to initially, a sum of ₹15 crores towards feeding programs for less privileged sections of society through participation with leading and credible NGOs engaged in this along with distribution of essential groceries to the needy,” Nestle India said.
The company would participate with NGOs working on distribution of food and essential groceries.
- PTI
Delhi hospital treating COVID-19 cases seeks details of staff WhatsApp group admins
To “prevent” any “adverse comments or statements” on social media and the spread of fake news and rumours by any hospital or college staff, the Vardhaman Mahavir College and Safdarjung Hospital in the capital has asked for names and details of all admins of WhatsApp groups of staff members.
The hospital is among those treating COVID-19 patients.
Death toll in Gujarat touches double digits
Gujarat registered its tenth death due to COVID-19 on Saturday, in addition to detecting 10 new cases of coronavirus infection. This brings the total number of cases in the State to 105, said the health department.
The deceased is an elderly woman who was on ventilator in SVP Hospital in Ahmedabad.
Of the 10 new cases detected today, five are from Ahmedabad, two from Bhavnagar, two from Gandhinagar and one from Patan.
Fourteen patients have been discharged so far, according to officials.
Tablighi Jamaat returnees in Odisha told to turn up for testing within 24 hours
Calling upon the Tablighi Jamaat returnees to come forward for testing within 24 hours, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday urged the people not to panic but stay watchful to contain the spread of coronavirus in the State.
Mr. Patnaik appealed to those who had returned to the State after attending the Jamaat’s religious conference in Delhi to call toll free number 104 and follow the advice of the doctors for the well-being of their families.
The 104 helpline is manned by a group of doctors who are accessible to the people for offering expert advice with regard to testing for coronavirus infection and treatment of COVID-19 .
The number of COVID-19 positive case in Assam touches 24. Overall, 28 cases have been detected in the Northeast, of which 25 are linked to Delhi's Nizamuddin congregation.
A 60-year-old COVID-19 positive woman with no travel history has died in a government hospital in Bikaner, Rajasthan. She was handicapped and was on ventilator for four days.
Meanwhile, the tally of COVID-19 positive cases in Rajasthan has increased to 164 with the detection of 12 cases today. This includes eight Tablighi Jamaat members.
In addition to this, 27 evacuees from Iran, staying in the Army's wellness centres in Jodhpur and Jaisalmer, have been tested positive for COVID-19. They have been shifted to isolation facilities. Including them, the infection tally in Rajasthan stands at 191.
U.P. villages tense as many skip quarantine
Authorities in Uttar Pradesh are struggling to contain people within coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) quarantine centres in rural areas.
In many districts, migrants who returned home following the lockdown and consequent loss of jobs, and were kept inside these centres as per preventive protocol, have jumped quarantine or found reasons to leave the centres. The government estimates that around 2-2.5 lakh such migrants returned to various districts of U.P. after it operated bus services to transport them back from Delhi and nearby cities.
China honors virus victims with 3 minutes of reflection
With air raid sirens wailing and flags at half-mast, China has held a three-minute nationwide moment of reflection to honor those who have died in the coronavirus outbreak.
Commemorations took place at 10 a.m. Saturday in all major cities, but were particularly poignant in Wuhan , where the virus was first detected in December
Amid new research, U.S. CDC recommends face masks to stop virus spread
President Donald Trump on Friday recommended that Americans cover their faces with masks when outdoors, a policy U-turn following growing scientific research suggesting their widespread use can stem the spread of the coronavirus .
Mr. Trump told a White House briefing that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was urging people to wear face coverings like scarves or homemade cloth masks, but to keep medical-grade masks available for health workers.
