India enters 11th day of lockdown, death toll from COVID-19 reaches 77
New Delhi/IBNS: As India entered the 11th day of nationwide lockdown, the Union Health Ministry on Sunday informed that 77 people died of the deadly novel Coronavirus in the country so far amid registration of 472 new cases in the last 24 hours.
However, John Hopkins University's Coronavirus live tracking map showed 99 deaths in India.
The total number of positive COVID-19 cases witnessed a steep surge in the past week to reach 3588.
India recorded the highest number of cases (601) and deaths (12) on Friday.
Out of the total cases, more than 1000 infected people were attendees of the religious congregation held by Islamic group Tablighi Jamaat at Delhi's Nizamuddin Markaz last month, which has emerged as a new hotspot of Coronavirus spread in the country.
Reports suggest around 2000-3000 preachers had congregated at the event of Tablighi Jamaat preachers in mid-March, just days after the Delhi government had banned the gatherings of 200 people at any place in the wake of the outbreak of Novel Coronavirus.
India to showcase solidarity tonight by lighting candles, flashlights for 9 minutes:
Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for solidarity, many Indians are likely to switch off lights at their houses, stand at the doorsteps or balconies and light candles or switch on mobile flashlights for nine minutes on Sunday night to stand united as a nation.
The question remains how far the request will see success amid a flurry of criticisms with the Opposition accusing PM Modi of promoting superstition and his critics as well as many common men booing the idea at this time when the health workers need protective gears and testing kits to fight the contagion.
Modi said the move would unite the citizens in the country's fight against Coronavirus.
Donald Trump requests PM Modi to supply hydroxychloroquine tablets:
Amid the whopping rise in the number of cases in the US, President Donald Trump on Saturday informed that he has requested Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to supply hydroxychloroquine tablets, which has evolved to be a potent drug at present in treating the novel Coronavirus creating pandemic across the world.
Speaking during a press conference on Coronavirus Task Force at the White House, Trump said: "After call today with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is giving serious consideration to releasing the hold it put on a US order for hydroxychloroquine."
World Bank extends support to India:
Earlier, the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors had approved a fast-track $1 billion India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project to help India prevent, detect, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen its public health preparedness.
This is the largest ever health sector support from the Bank to India.
Global scenario:
Globally as many as 1,202,236 people have been infected with the deadly Coronavirus and the death toll has risen up to 64,753.
As the entire world is reeling under the threat from the outbreak of novel coronavirus, which had its outbreak in China's Wuhan last December, the United States currently has the maximum number of COVID-19 positive patients.
The country recorded a whopping number of more than 1000 deaths in one single day and over 30,000 cases per day.
According to John Hopkins University Coronavirus live tracking map, the US has 311,544 positive cases and 8,488 deaths.
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