Twelve COVID-19 related deaths reported in India since yesterday: Govt

A Home Ministry officials said 336 additional cases of COVID19 have been reported during the same period.

Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary Health Ministry, said during a press conference: "From yesterday till today 336 additional cases of COVID19 have come before us. Total confirmed cases are 2301, 56 deaths have been reported."

"12 of these 56 deaths were reported yesterday," he said.

Agarwal said 157 patients have recovered in the country so far.

Meanwhile, in his video message to the nation, Indian PM Narendra Modi on Friday asked people to switch off lights in their homes at 9 pm on Sunday and light up candles, clay lamps, torch or mobile flashlights for nine minutes to show their solidarity at a time when the country is under a 21-day lockdown to fight against COVID-19 outbreak.

Modi had addressed the nation twice in recent times.

In his first address, he had asked people to follow Janata Curfew on Mar 22 and then announced 21-day lockdown in his next.

India has completed nine days of lockdown so far.

"To defeat the darkness of despair and light our lives with hope, let's switch off all lights for 9 minutes at 9 pm on Sunday 5 April & illuminate our surroundings with candles, Diyas, Torch or Mobile flashlights. Let's maintain social distancing during this period," he said.