COVID-19 toll in India crosses 100 as country enters 13th day of lockdown

As per the latest update given by the Indian government, 4,067 people so far across the country have been infected with the deadly pandemic virus.

Of 4,067 people, 292 have recovered while 109 died.

Maharashtra, a western state of the country, has reported so far the highest number of COVID-19 patients (690) followed by Tamil Nadu (571).

Interestingly, the southern state of Tamil Nadu took weeks to report its first case but the figure spiked within few days to over 500.

Delhi, which has suffered greatly due to the congregation at a religious event by Tablighi Jamaat, has reported 503 positive cases.

Though the national capital was one of the hotspots of COVID-19 in the country since the time of the outbreak in India, the Jamaat event which took place in mid-March has led to a further surge in the tally.

The preachers at the event, which was hosted at Delhi's Nizamuddin, later had travelled to various parts of the country causing more trouble for the police to track the attendees.

Meanwhile, the country is going through a massive unprecedented 21-day lockdown which was called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stem the spread of the virus though the announcement has greatly impacted the poor and migrant workers economically.

Though the Centre and state governments have assured of sufficient food supplies, the workers took an uphill task of reaching home by walking hundreds of miles across state borders with some even collapsing on road due to the scarcity of food.

Humanitarian problems grasped the country as people including a child in Bihar died in last few days out of hunger due to the lockdown which will end on Apr 14 midnight.

As of now, the government is not in the thought of extending it but Prime Minister Modi few days ago told the Chief Ministers that a strategy must be chalked out to phasewise lift the lockdown ensuring a staggered movement of people post Apr 14 midnight.

On a brighter side, India on Sunday night by and large responded to Modi's call to switch off household lights and light candles, diyas or mobile flashlights and stand at doorsteps or balconies in a show of unity.

Contrary to the Prime Minister's appeal to people, many were seen bursting crackers, holding marches with lights on roads violating the lockdown and blowing the idea of social-distancing out of window.

Meanwhile keeping all stakeholders on board, Modi on Sunday dialed former Presidents Pranab Mukherjee and Pratibha Patil, ex-Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and HD Deve Gowda, Chief Ministers like Mamata Banerjee of West Bengal, Naveen Patnaik of Odisha, K Chandrasekhar Rao of Telangana, key politicians Mulayam Singh, Akhilesh Yadav, MK Stalin.

(Image Credit: UNI)