COVID-19 spread across the world: All Updates

27 COVID-19 patients discharged from Assam hospitals

India's war against coronavirus is truly people-driven: PM Modi in Mann Ki Baat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday addressed his monthly radio broadcast Mann Ki Baat where he said the war against the deadly coronavirus has become a people's movement in the country.

He said the "people's driven fight" against COVID-19 will be discussed in future.

"We are fortunate that every individual of this country is fighting together in the war against the coronavirus," he said while addressing the radio broadcast.

PM Modi addresses Mann Ki Baat

COVID19 death toll in India touches 779

Yogi Adityanath bans public gatherings in Uttar Pradesh till Jun 30

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday banned all public gatherings in his state till June 30 amid the surge in Covid-19 cases across the country, media reports said.

While 24,506 people have been infected with the pandemic virus in the country, Uttar Pradesh has so far reported 1,621 positive cases including 247 cured and 25 deaths.

Yogi Adityanath bans public gatherings in Uttar Pradesh till Jun 30

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday banned all public gatherings in his state till June 30 amid the surge in Covid-19 cases across the country, media reports said.

While 24,506 people have been infected with the pandemic virus in the country, Uttar Pradesh has so far reported 1,621 positive cases including 247 cured and 25 deaths.

Following IMCT's letter, West Bengal sets deadline for generating Covid-19 test results

Issuing a set of 11 instructions, West Bengal Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha directed his health officials: "It must be ensured that time taken between the collection of sample and final result is around 12 hours."

"There were a large number of patients in the isolation wards of CNCI as well as M.R. Bangur hospital awaiting Covid test results for five days or longer," IMCT chief Apurva Chandra wrote in a letter to CS.

"Specifically at CNCI, there were four patients since Apr 16 awaiting test result, two since Apr 17, and three since Apr 18," Apurva Chandra wrote.

"Dead bodies should be immediately shifted from the wards maintaining all protocols," Rajiva Sinha directed.

Saying that it will show zero tolerance towards any report of inconvenience of public in government hospitals, the state has instructed government-run hospitals and medical colleges not to refuse treatment to any patient.

"In case of referral, patient should be invariably provided with ambulance support," the Chief Secretary directed.

All doctors at OPD/emergency wards have been directed to compulsorily wear protective gear as per protocol while it has been also instructed to maintain utmost cleanliness and sanitisation at all health facilities, including the places where doctors sit and change.

"Special attention on M.R. Bangur with provision of all required infrastructure and support, and senior officers from Swasthya Bhawan should visit medical colleges and hospitals regularly," the instruction letter read.

Centre allows shops to open with conditions, malls to remain shut

A month after the nationwide lockdown was imposed to combat COVID-19, the Indian government on Friday allowed the opening of all neighbourhood shops in residential areas, except those in the malls, with certain conditions.

The Union Home Ministry issued an order late night where it directed shopowners maintain certain norms like wearing masks and maintain social distancing.

"Giving relaxation in the category of Commercial and private establishments, MHA has issued an order to all States/UTs, to allow opening of all shops registered under Shops & Establishment Act of respective States/ UTs, including shops in residential complexes, neighborhood & standalone shops," read the government order.

Death toll in India touches 775

The death toll due to COVID-19 in India has touched 775, as per government data released on Saturday.

The total number of people hit by the highly infectious disease in the country now stands at 24,506.

India witnessed 57 deaths in the country in the past 24 hours.

India witnesses biggest spike ever in Coronavirus cases, total tally crosses 23K

India on Friday reported the biggest single-day spike in the Coronavirus cases so far with as many as 1752 new infections reported on Friday itself, taking the total tally to 23,452.

The number of deaths rose to 723 with 37 more people succumbing to Coronavirus in the last 24 hours, as per data released by the Union Home Ministry.

However, infusing a ray of hope, the Union Home Ministry also informed that there have been no new cases in 80 districts for the last 14 days. This suggests that the chain of infection has been broken in these places.

Intense lockdown declared in five cities of Tamil Nadu to combat COVID-19 spread

Tamil Nadu has declared an intense lockdown in five cities from Sunday to break the chain of the highly contagious Coronavirus spread.

So far, 1,600 people in the state have been affected including 20 deaths.

The four-day intense shutdown will be applicable in Chennai, Madurai and Coimbatore from Sunday 6 am, which will continue till 9 pm on Wednesday.

Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami declared that in Tirupur and Salem, restrictions will be intensified for three days, starting 6 am on Sunday till 9 pm on Tuesday.

India reports 1,684 new COVID cases in last 24 hrs, no new infection in 15 districts for last 28 days

The Union Health Ministry on Friday said 1,684 new Coronavirus cases were reported in the last 24 hours while 15 districts across the country remained infection-free for the last 28 days.

In a press bulletin, joint secretary of Union Health Ministry, Lav Agarwal, said no new case in 80 districts has been reported in the last 14 days.

"We hope the number of districts reporting no new cases increases," Agarwal said in a news briefing.
As per the latest government update, 23,077 people including 4,749 cured and 718 deceased have been infected till date.

The recovery rate now stands at 20.57%, said the Health Ministry on Friday.

51 new cases reported in West Bengal

West Bengal chief secretary Rajiva Sinha said, "51 new cases have been reported in the state in last 24 hours."

The total number of positive cases in West Bengal is now 385. 

The new cases have been reported from Kolkata, Howrah, North 24 Parganas, East Midnapore, Hoogly, West Midnapore and East Burdwan.

Three more deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours taking the toll to 18, said Sinha. 

943 tests have been done in the last 24 hours taking the total number of tests across the tests to 8933. 

No new cases in 80 districts for last 14 days: Health Ministry

Joint Secretary of Union Health Ministry, Lav Agarwal, said no new case in 80 districts across the country has been reported in the last 14 days.

"We hope the number of districts reporting no new cases increases," Agarwal said in a news briefing. 

Fresh 1684 cases in last 24 hours in India

1,684 fresh COVID-19 cases were reported in the last 24 hours, sais Joint Secretary of Union Health Ministry, Lav Agarwal. 

West Bengal: Nine RPF constable who returned from Delhi test positive

Nine RPF constable, who returned from Delhi in a parcel train on Apr 14 and were under isolation, test positive for Covid-19. Of these nine RPF personnel, 1 posted in Cuttack, 6 in Kharagpur & one each in Mecheda and Uluberia. 19 others of the RPF team, who returned from Delhi in same train, have been quarantined. Barracks, where these RPF men were under isolation, have been sealed.

Maharashtra: 30 people, who attend Covid-19 patient's funeral, test negative

Thirty persons, who were placed in institutional quarantine after attending the funeral of an infected patient, have tested negative for the COVID-19, stated Collector Abhijeet Chaudhari on Friday.

The fatality occurred in Mumbai after which the body was transported to the native of the deceased, and the last rites were performed in Kherade-Wangi village here on April 19.

On April 22, Mumbai authorities intimated Sangli administration that report of the deceased has been received confirming that the individual was infected from the contagion.

In an immediate preventive step, the mourners who attended the funeral were placed in quarantine, and their swab samples were sent for testing, he said, adding that their reports were received this morning.

Coronavirus cases in India cross 23,000 mark, toll 718

More than 23,000 of 1.3 billion people of India have been infected with the pandemic Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19 while 718 people died of the contagion.

As per the latest government update, 23,077 people including 4,749 cured and 718 deceased have been infected till date.

Maharashtra, where the country's financial capital Mumbai is located, has reported the highest number of cases (6,430) keeping the state government run by a political coalition on toes.

Gujarat, which is the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is picking up the cases fast as the western part of the country has registered 2,624 cases followed by the national capital Delhi (2,376).

Indian government's daily press briefing on COVID-19

Assam: Man from Bilasipara tests positive

A man from Bilasipara, Dhubri has tested COVID positive. He has a history of being in touch with another patient, who was part of Athgaon Majid congregation in Guwahati.

The number of patients is now 35.

Thieves suspected of catching Covid 19 in Bareilly after robbery in a hotspot

In a bizarre incident, three thieves, of a family, are suspected to be positive for Covid 19 after they went for a robbery in a hotspot area of Subhash Nagar locality in the city recently.

Senior Superintendent of police (SSP) Shailesh Kumar Pandey said here on Thursday that the thieves robbed a house, whose entire family were admitted to the hospital for suspected Coronavirus infection.

SSP said that the thieves who stay near the house, went for robbery after they got infomation that the entire family was admitted to the hospital.

After the robbery, the police launched a manhunt to nab them and got success immediately. But after recovering the stolen valuables from the thieves, the police went for Covid 19 test of the thieves and their reports are awaited.

COVID-19 cases in India breach 21,000 mark

India, the country of 1.3 billion people, is still on edge over the spread of Novel Coronavirus as the total positive cases across the country crossed 21,000 on Thursday.

As per the data provided by Ministry of Health and Family Welfares, the total number of cases now stand at 21,393 including 4,258 cured and 681 deceased.

Among the 28 states and eight union territories, Maharashtra reported the maximum number of cases (5,652) followed by Gujarat (2,407) and the national capital Delhi (2,248).

Modi to hold video conference with CMs on Apr 27 as COVID-19 cases cross 20,000 in India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will once again hold a video conference with all Chief Ministers on Apr 27 as the Novel Coronavirus crisis deepens in India with the tally going past the 20,000 mark, media reports said.

This will be the third video conference with all Chief Ministers over the pandemic virus that has infected 20,471 people so far across the country.

Among 20,471 people, 3,960 have been cured while 652 others died.

Among the 28 states and eight union territories, Maharashtra reported the maximum number of cases (5,221) followed by Gujarat (2,272) and the national capital Delhi (2,156).

Mo compromise on safety of healthworkers: Modi

India: Death toll touches 652

Total cases get close to 20,000 mark, 640 deaths, 3869 recovered so far

The Novel Coronavirus cases in the country spiked close to 20,000 mark on Wednesday morning with the number touching 19984, as per the government data.

Death toll mounted to 640 across the nation with maximum casualties in Maharashtra where 251 deaths have been reported so far.

In an improvement, the number of cured and discharged cases of COVID 19 were now 3869 pan India, the health ministry data said.

Active COVID cases in the country at present stand at 15474, while government had said that the doubling rate of COVID has slowed in the country referring to the data collected on April 19.

There has been a rapid rise in Gujarat wherein the cases have jumped to 2178 in just past two three days with the state standing at number two after worst hit COVID state that is Maharashtra where the number has crossed 5000 with 5218 cases as on Wednesday morning along with 251 deaths.

Gujarat also has the highest casualties at 90 after Maharashtra.

Delhi is now housing 2156 cases with 47 deaths reported so far, while in Madhya Pradesh the numbers have spiked to 1552 with 76 deaths so far.

Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan now house 1596 and 1659 cases respectively, while in Uttar Pradesh the number now is 1294.

Assam to allow inter-district movement for three days

Assam Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said the state will allow inter-district movement for three days (April 25-27) subjected to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines. 

Bangladesh confirms 120 deaths

Bangladesh on Wednesday confirmed ten new deaths from the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), taking the toll to 120.

The number of the deadly virus cases reached 3,772, with 390 were newly infected with the virus, said prof Nasima Sultana, ADG of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

In the past 24 hours, samples of 3,096 people were examined. Of them, 390 tested positive for COVID-19, and ten succumbed to the virus. With this, the country's cases stood at 3,772, and deaths 120, prof Nasima said.

Among the dead, seven were male and three female, she said, adding that five more people recovered from the epidemic, bringing the total number to 92.

Total positive cases touch 82 in Odisha, govt launches help desk on Whatsapp

Odisha reported three more Covid-19 positive cases during the last 24 hours taking the total count to 82.

According to state health and family welfare department sources, three more positive cases were detected from Basudebpur block of Bhadrak district.

With the three fresh cases, the Bhadrak district has 11 positive cases.

All the three Covid-19 patients were the co-passengers of a person who had earlier tested positive and had returned from Kolkata.

So far 27 people, who have returned from Kolkata, tested coronavirus positive in the state, accounting for almost 33 per cent of the total positive cases reported in the state.

COVID-19 claims two more deaths in Aurangabad

Two Corona positive patients died during the last 24 hrs at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) here.

GMCH sources said first fatality was reported on Wednesday morning when a 76-year-old woman died at GMCH. She was confirmed Corona positive Tuesday evening.

The second casualty was reported during wee hours today when a 60-year-old positive patients who was on kept on life support system in GMCH succumbed during the treatment, the sources said.

With this the total fatalities of Aurangabad has gone up to five due to corona virus.

Death toll in India touches 640

Tamil Nadu: One more COVID-19 death takes toll to 18, 76 test positive

One more COVID positive patient died taking the toll to 18, even as 76 more positive cases were reported on Tuesday as Tamil Nadu's tally mounted to 1,596, with 178 more being discharged, taking the numbers to a whopping 635.

An official release here said a 60-year-old man died of coronavirus at the RGGH here following which the toll increased to 18, which is 1.12 per cent.

Meanwhile, the state saw a significant increase in corona cases, with 76 people, including 55 from Chennai alone, testing positive, as the corona tally in Tamil Nadu swelled from 1,520 to 1,596.

Other positive cases were reported from Tenkasi (five), Villupuram (four), Chengalpet and Thanjavur (3 each), Kallakurichi (2) and Kancheepuram, Tiruvarur, Namakkal and Coimbatore (one each).

A total of 178 people were discharged today--the highest on a single day that included 51 from three hospitals in Chennai, 48 in Karur,

HP: 251 COVID-19 samples found negative in Hamirpur

Out of 370 samples sent from Hamirpur to IGMC, Shimla and Tanda Medical College for testing against COVID-19, as many as 251 have been found negative, District Magistrate Harikesh Meena said here on Tuesday.

He said that during last three days, a total number of 370 samples of primary and secondary contacts of two persons who were found positive earlier were sent for testing. Of these, 251 have been found negatives, 10 samples have been found invalid and 12 have been repeated.

Bangladesh reports nine more deaths, tally rises to 110

Bangladesh has confirmed nine more COVID-19 deaths bringing the total count to 110 in the country.

The tally of positive tests has surged by 434 in the 24 hours till 0800 hrs on Tuesday to 3,382, according to data released by the Directorate General of Health Services.

Two more patients recovered in the last 24 hours, raising the number of recoveries to 87, said Nasima Sultana, additional director general of DGHS, during its regular briefing on Tuesday.

The authorities collected 3,128 samples and tested 2,974, up 7 per cent from the day before, according to the health directorate.

Among the fatalities, five were men and four were women: all were aged between 40 and 69.

West Bengal reports three new deaths

West Bengal reports 29 new COVID-19 cases. 3 deaths have been reported.

Indian Health Ministry Daily Briefing

Meghalaya reports fresh COVID-19 positive case, state tally surges to 12

Meghalaya on Tuesday reported a fresh positive case for COVID-19 taking the state's tally to 12.

The patient is one of the family friends of the first positive patient.

The first COVID-19 positive patient of the state – a 69-year-old senior doctor of a Shillong based hospital- died on April 15. 

Confirming the report, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said the new COVID-19 patient is now in the quarantine centre.

“One of the family friend of the positive patient has also been tested positive. The person is already in quarantine centre. The total number is at 12. One deceased and other 11 are stable,” Sangma tweeted.

Meghalaya has now 11 active positive cases for COVID-19 and out of the active cases, eight people are the family members of the deceased doctor and two are helpers and one is family friend.

Death toll in India touches 590

COVID-19 tally in Delhi breaches 2000-mark

A total of 78 new novel coronavirus cases have surfaced in Delhi in the past 24 hours, taking the count to 2081, office of the Chief Minister said here on Monday night.

Amid outrage over food scarcity, Centre to use surplus rice for sanitiser manufacturing

The Centre on Monday informed that the excess rice in central godowns will be used in the manufacture of ethanol to keep up with the demand of sanitisers in the country, a move which might pave way for controversy as millions complain of starvation during the phase two of nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of novel coronavirus across India.

A meeting of National Biofuel Coordination Committee (NBCC) was held on Monday under the Chairmanship of Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan, wherein it was approved that the surplus rice available with Food Corporation of India (FCI) may be converted to ethanol for utilization in making alcohol-based hand-sanitizers and in blending for Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme.
 

Mamata Banerjee writes to PM Modi over central ministerial teams' visit to WB, calls it breach of protocol

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said the Ministry of Home Affairs' decision to send two Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCT) to her state was done without prior intimation and therefore was a breach of protocol.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Banerjee wrote: "While I appreciate the pro-activeness  shown by the Central Government in sending their teams to West Bengal, the same was done without prior intimation and hence is a breach of established protocol."

She also mentioned that while the state government was supposed to provide the teams with their logistics, they directly contacted the central forces like BSF and SSB for the support.

COVID-19: Death toll touches 559

19 COVID-19 patients discharged from Assam hospitals

Assam has discharged 19 COVID-19 patients from different hospitals of the state sofar.  

On Monday, two patientswere discharged from Sonapur Civil Hospital and Lakhimpur Civil Hospital.  

Assam Health ministerDr Himanta Biswa Sarma said that, the patients were discharged from thehospitals after their successive testes confirmed as negative.  

West Bengal: COVID-19 cases touch 245

With 54 new confirmed cases in last 24 hours, the number of active Covid-19 cases mounts to 245 in West Bengal.

Seven patients were discharged after treatment in last 24 hours, taking the total number of persons recovered from novel coronavirus to 73.

Bengal has tested 5469 samples so far.

Indian Health Ministry's Daily Press Breifing

Basis on which Centre deploying IMCT in Bengal unclear: Mamata Banerjee

Reacting to the Centre's decision to deploy two Inter-Ministerial Central teams to seven districts of West Bengal for making spot-assessment of the COVID-19 situation, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted, "We welcome all constructive support & suggestions, especially from the Central Govt in negating the #Covid19 crisis. However, the basis on which Centre is proposing to deploy IMCTs in select districts across India including few in WB under Disaster Mgmt Act 2005 is unclear."

"I urge both Honb’le Prime Minister @NarendraModi Ji & Home Minister @AmitShah Ji to share the criterion used for this. Until then I am afraid, we would not be able to move ahead on this as without valid reasons this might not be consistent with the spirit of federalism."

Assam releases Rs. 2000 to state's migrant workers stranded outside

Assam government on Monday released Rs 2000 to each of 86000 people (migrant workers from Assam) bank accounts who are stranded outside of the state due to lockdown.

Assam Health Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said that, Assam will start Rapid tests for COVID-19 in the state from today. The centre has provided 9600 Rapid Testing Kits to the state.

MHA to deploy Inter-Ministerial Central teams to West Bengal

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will deploy two Inter-Ministerial Central teams to seven districts of West Bengal for making spot-assessment of the COVID019 situation. 

Centre calls out Kerala for 'violating' lockdown measures

The central government has called out the southern state of Kerala for "violating" lockdown measures. 

In a separate letter, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has lashed out at the Kerala government for granting extra relaxations, which were not listed by the Centre, from Monday.

The Leftist government in the southern state has allowed the opening of local workshops, barber shops, restaurants, bookstores and vehicular movement.

A letter by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla read, "This amounts to dilution of guidelines issued by MHA and violation of MHA Order dated 15th April 2020 issued under the Disaster Management Act 2005.

I would urge you to rectify the guidelines of GoK in line with the consolidated revised guidelines dated 15th April & 16th April 2020 without any dilution and to ensure strict compliance of lockdown measures."

Follow lockdown measures strictly: Centre to States, UTs

The Centre on Monday asked all states and union territories to follow its lockdown guidelines "strictly".

In a letter to all the states, India's Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla wrote, "... It has come to notice that some of the States/UTs are issuing orders allowing activities which have not been allowed as per guidelines issued by MHA under the Disaster Management Act, 2005."

"I would again urge you to ensure compliance of the revised consolidated guidelines, and direct all concerned authorities for their strict implementation in letter and spirit without any dilution and to ensure strict compliance of lockdown measures," the letter added.

Total confirmed cases in India cross 17,000

As per the government update, the total number of COVID-19 cases now stand at 17,265 including 2,547 cured and 543 deceased.