Coronavirus LIVE Updates: PM Modi to address at 10 AM on April 14; total cases at 9352

Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga on Monday announced his government was extending the lockdown in the state till April 30 “with new guidelines” to consolidate the gains made over the past three weeks in the fight against coronavirus.

He said the intensity of restrictions during the next two weeks could differ from district to district and village to village depending on the situation in the areas. A state-level task force headed by chief secretary Lalnunmawia Chuaungo will frame the new guide lines and decide what measures are required in which areas. The task force will consult district and village level committees to reduce the inconvenience.

Amid the rising Coronavirus cases in India, PM Modi, on Tuesday, announced a 21-day curfew throughout India starting at midnight on Tuesday. He said that 21 days were necessary for breaking the transmission cycle of the pandemic. The 21-day curfew is applicable to all states, districts, and villages - irrespective of whether they are currently under curfew or not. Currently, India's positive cases stand at 512, with nine deaths. 

"From midnight 12, across the country, there will be countrywide lockdown in India. There will be a complete restriction of leaving out from the residence.  All districts, village will be locked down. This is curfew only -a stricter curfew than Janta curfew. We have to bear economic consequences because of this. But to save every Indian's life at this time is my and the government's responsibility," said PM Modi. 

Stating that while India's economy will face a brunt, PM Modi said it was this responsibility to do this to save every Indian's life. Talking about how health experts stated that 21 days are necessary to ensure breaking the chain transmission, he said these 21 days were most crucial. Explaining the fallout for not handling the next three weeks as catastrophic, he said that 'India will be set back by 21 years if 21 days are not handled'. 

He added, "I appeal to you with folded hands that wherever you are in the nation now, stay there only. Looking at the present situation, the lockdown will be for 21 days -  3 weeks. Coming 21 days are very crucial for families and citizens. As per experts, 21 days is needed minimum for breaking the cycle. If 21 days not handled, then the country and your family will go back to 21 years behind."
 

Highlights:

• All transport services -- road, rail and air -- to remain suspended during the lockdown period
• Executive Magistrates will be deployed by District Magistrate to enforce the lockdown
• Hospitals, nursing homes, police, fire stations, ATMs will continue to work
• Fair price shops and those dealing with food, groceries, fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, fish, animal fodder to remain open
• Banks, insurance offices, print and electronic media to remain open
• All social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious fucntions or gathering will be barred
• Hospitals and all related medical establishments will remain functional. Transportation for all medical personnel will be permitted.
• Delivery of all essential goods - food, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment through E-commerce.
• Telecommunications, internet services, broadcasting and cable services. IT and IT enabled servcies (for essential services) to function but kept to minimal, urging more to work from home.
• Power generation, transmission, and distribution units and services, Petrol pumps, LPG, Petroleum gas retail and storage outlets, Cold storage and warehousing services exempted.
• All educational, training, research, coaching institutions to remain closed.
• All places of worship shall be closed for public. No religious congregations will be permitted.

Repercussions: 

Legal action can be taken against a person who does not follow the quarantine period prescribed by local health authorities.
Moreover, an individual violating the containment measures can be proceeded against under Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act and Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code.
 

Coronavirus crisis in India

As of date, 562 positive cases have been reported of the pandemic Coronavirus (COVID-19) - 41 have been discharged and Maharashtra reporting the highest at 122. Nine deaths have been reported till date. India has suspended all visas and barred travel from Afghanistan, Philippines, EU, UK, China, Malaysia and mandatory 14-day quarantine from several other countries and the Prime Minister has issued a 21-day countrywide lockdown starting from 25 March to April 15.

India has also closed the India-Pakistan border and restricted passenger movement at the border with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Myanmar.  The government is monitoring all suspected cases and issued preventive advisories with states declaring the disease an epidemic shutting down all educational institutions, monuments, parks, gyms, swimming pools, pubs and banning large gatherings. All domestic airplanes and trains have ceased operation. Visit the official government here: MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE

He said, "You all might be busy in worshiping but still you took out time.  Today nation is fighting corona war. It will take 21 days. During mahabharat the war was for 18 days.  We have to win the war."

Urging Kashi to take the lead in the Coronavirus battle, he added, " Kashi is a place which could set an example for everyone, by leading the fight. Kashi could teach india sadhna, seva, samadhan. But we should remember that social distancing is the only option and better option." 

PM Modi shared government's Coronavirus helpline number on Whatsapp - 9013151515

Six more of Positive tested cases of Coronavirus in Maharashtra, as confirmed by State Public Health Department PRO. Five from Mumbai and one from Thane. Total number of COVID-19 in Maharashtra raises to 122.

Meanwhile a suspected patient with travel history to Hungary had escaped from CD hospital. He has been tracked and admitted to the hospital again. Legal action will follow, states Srinagar District Magistrate.

The Uttarakhand government has started helpline and message numbers for residents of the state who are stranded in other states due to the nationwide lockdown.

Landline number: 01352722100

WhatsApp number: 9997954800

Assures medical professionals against harassment

Ministry of Home Affairs issued an Addendum to the nationwide lockdown guidelines specifying more categories of essential services exempted during the period of the 21-day lockdown. This includes the IT vendor for banking operations, coal and mineral production, manufacturing units of packaging material for food items, medical devices, the inter-state movement of goods for imports and exports and cross land border movement of essential items such as LPG, medical supplies and food products. 

Here is the additional guidelines:

Minister of Food and Civil Supply, Consumer Affairs Minister Chhagan Bhujbal has assured that  Mumbai's busiest market - Dadar Market and Byculla Market will be kept open for the citizens. Moreover, a meeting will be held  on Thursday with APMC Market's association to decide whether to keep them open.

"We will launch a 'Door to Door Corona Survey' in Nagpur from 26 March, to check whether there're any clusters of #COVID19 patients & also if ppl on home quarantine are complying with instructions," says Tukaram Mundhe, Municipal Commissioner, Nagpur Municipal Corporation.

British national given HIV antiretroviral drugs to treat his coronavirus infection now tests negative, say Ernakulam doctors

"COVID-19 is threatening the whole of humanity and the whole of humanity must fight back," WHO Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in announcing the initiative adding, "Global action and solidarity are crucial. Individual country responses are not going to be enough."

Kerala Police today arrested 2535 people & seized 1636 vehicles across the state, over charges of violation of the countrywide lockdown

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has pledged that its party workers will feed over 5 crore poor people across the country during the 21-day nationwide lockdown in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak, news agency ANI sources said on Wednesday. BJP president JP Nadda has conveyed it to all state BJP presidents via videoconferencing that each party worker should feed at least 5 poor people during the lockdown.

"National office bearers of the party will review the progress via daily video conference meetings," the sources added.

In view of COVID-19, it has been ordered to temporarily suspend the collection of toll at all toll plaza across India. This will not only reduce inconvenience to the supply of emergency services but also save critical time, says Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport & Highways

The Railways is contemplating offering its coaches and cabins as isolation wards for patients found positive for coronavirus, sources said Wednesday. The Indian Railways, which runs 13,523 trains daily, has suspended all passenger services till April 14. Sources said the proposal to offer the empty coaches and cabins to be used as ICU's for such patients was discussed in a meeting of Railway Minister with Chairman Railway Board VK Yadav, General Managers of all zones and Divisional Railway Managers over video conferencing on Wednesday.

Amid the coronavirus threat that looms large on the country, Srinagar District Magistrate Shahid Choudhary on Wednesday, March 26, said that those who did not reveal their foreign travel history have been traced and put under quarantine in the view of the deadly COVID-19 outbreak.

The district magistrate took to Twitter to request people to report about their foreign travel history in order to avert the COVID-19 crisis for which the entire country has been placed under a 21-day complete lockdown.

Maharashtra government on March 25 revised the lockdown orders imposed in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak. In its new order, the government accentuated that the shops and establishment catering to the essential goods and services will remain excluded from restrictions. 

Hospitals, medical facilities, telecommunications, internet services, print and electronic media, security facilities and so on will remain functional. 

Three suspected cases of Coronavirus from Goa tested positive on March 25. All have a travel history of returning from Spain, Australia, and the US.

In wake of the outbreak, the government has requested volunteer doctors who are 'fit and willing' to be available to provide services in public health facilities in the future as cases of Coronavirus soar in the country. Calling for doctors to work as volunteers, the government said that the medical facilities might face "tremendous load" in case the number of cases rises in India. 

Here is the full statement: 

The country is facing an unprecedented public health emergency with the COVID-19 pandemic affecting several parts of the nation. The Central and state governments have made exceptional efforts to combat the crisis along with the involvement of all citizens.

In case the outbreak leads to a high number of infected individuals, our public health facilities will face tremendous load to take care of a large number of patients. This overwhelming burden may not be met by the available doctors in the public health system. The Central and state governments are augmenting and expediting an increase in healthcare services in every part of the country. In addition, COVID-19 ‘train hospitals’ are being created in this regard.

The Government of India requests for volunteer doctors who are fit and willing to be available for providing their services in the public health facilities and the training hospitals in the near future. We appeal to such doctors to come forward at this hour of need. You could also be a retired government, Armed Forces Medical Services, public sector undertaking or a private doctor.

One more positive Covid-19 case reported from West Bengal taking the total number of cases to 10 in the state. The Covid-19 patient is a 66-year old man from Nayabad and had been admitted to Peerless Hospital on March 23.

A 65-year-old man hailing from Hyderpora area of the city died on Thursday, becoming the first fatality in Jammu and Kashmir due to coronavirus. Government spokesperson Rohit Kansal also confirmed the death via Twitter.

Four people had tested positive for coronavirus in J-K on Wednesday, taking the total number of cases to 11. Authorities in Kashmir have expressed apprehensions that the cases could be more than reported in the Valley as a significant number of people appeared to have concealed their travel history.

Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government wrote to the National Emergency Response Centre, Ministry of Home Affairs nominating Nodal officer for the state in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Saudi Arabia's King Salman will chair an emergency virtual summit of G20 leaders including Prime Minister Modi on Thursday to advance the coordinated response to the novel coronavirus pandemic that has claimed nearly 19,000 lives and upended life and businesses across the globe. 

The test report of a woman who died on March 24 turned out positive for coronavirus on Thursday, taking the COVID-19 death toll in Maharashtra to four, a health official said. The woman, who hailed from Navi Mumbai, had symptoms similar to the coronavirus infection. Thus, as a precautionary measure, her samples were taken and sent for testing, he said.

Total number of COVID-19 positive cases rise to 649 in India (including 593 active cases, 42 cured/discharged people and 13 deaths): Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

High Commission India in Islamabad asked Indian students in Pakistan to observe precautions against the Coronavirus outbreak and stay safe. It said, "They (students) may contact High Commission at 03028514549.

Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi wrote to PM Modi over the Coronavirus outbreak. In her letter, the UPA chairperson noted eight points for the government to undertake during the 21-day lockdown imposed by PM Modi. 

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Yojana- a relief package worth Rs.1.7 lakh crore. Stressing that the Centre was looking at two aspects- cash transfer and food security-related issues, she maintained that package would help migrant workers, urban and rural poor, women, specially-abled people, farmers etc. 

These are the key announcements:

• Insurance cover of 50 lakh rupees per person for health professionals which includes ward boys, nurses, technicians, paramedics, doctors, nurses - who are putting their lives at risk & treating Coronavirus patients. This will benefit approximately 22 lakh health workers.
• 8.7 crore farmers to be immediately benefited through direct cash transfers under the PM Kisan Yojana. They will be paid Rs.2,000 during the month of April. 
• Each one in the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana to get 5 kg (rice/wheat) each month for the next three months, over and above the 5Kg which is being already granted under the scheme. Additionally, one kg of the preferred regional pulse will be given to each household. This will benefit 80 crore individuals, i.e roughly two-third of India's population.
• The MNREGA wage has been increased from Rs.182 to Rs.202 with effect from April 1. This will benefit 13.62 crore families.
• Ex-gratia amount of Rs.1000 in two installments over the next three months to be paid to poor senior citizens, poor widows, and poor among the disabled.
• About 20.40 crore Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana account holders to get an ex-gratia of Rs. 500 per month for the next three months. 
• Under the Ujjwala Yojana, three cylinders will be provided to 8.3 crore BPL households for the next three months for free.
• Self Help Groups will be able to avail Rs 20 lakh collateral-free loan.
• To help low wage earners, the Centre will play 24% of their monthly wages into their PF accounts for the next three months. This will only be applicable to those establishments having less than 100 employees and where 90% of them earn less than Rs.15,000 per month.
• The Employees' Provident Fund Regulations will be amended to allow the non-refundable advance of 75% of the amount standing to the credit of the person, or three months of wages, whichever is lower. This will benefit 4.8 crore workers.
• The Centre has directed the state governments to use Buildings and Other Construction Workers’ Fund (worth Rs.31,000 crore) to provide relief to 3.5 crore registered construction workers. Moreover, the state governments have been asked to use the District Mineral Fund for COVID-19 medical expenses such as screening, facilities and health needs.

The Indian Army has begun to identify infrastructure for setting up quarantine/isolation centres in each station for military personnel. Moreover, it expressed its willingness to support the civil administration with its network of hospitals and lab facilities. It is also preparing a plan to augment health experts in severely affected areas if required.

As per ANI, a 42-year-old person has tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Nagpur. Thus, the total tally of COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra has surged to 125. 

The Dalai Lama wrote to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur to express his support for the state government's efforts to contain the menace of the novel coronavirus. He announced a donation from the Gaden Phodrang Trust to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. Moreover, he observed that the steps taken by the Central government under the "firm leadership" of PM Modi would be effective in combating COVID-19. 

J&K HC Chief Justice Gita Mittal ordered the closure of all court complexes of J&K and Ladakh during the period of the nationwide lockdown. The Principal District and Sessions Judges shall make arrangements for the hearing of any exceptionally urgent civil or criminal matters from the residence of the designated judicial officer. In the case of an urgent matter pertaining to the High Court, the Chief Justice can direct the matter to be heard from the residence of the designated judge. 

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written a letter to Chief Ministers of 18 states requesting them to provide food, shelter and medical facilities to all the stranded semi-skilled and unskilled workers from West Bengal.

Here is one such letter:

In a big development, the Centre has decided to permit doorstep delivery of medicines to people in the wake of the nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19. The official notification will be published in the Gazette of India soon. 

Speaking exclusively to Republic TV, former Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis stated that he was spending valuable time with his family at this juncture. He mentioned that the BJP has set up helplines in various districts to help people. According to him, social distancing was a big challenge because Maharashtra was a densely populated state. He observed that the most critical aspect during the national lockdown was to maintain the supply lines and he spoke to Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray on this issue. Moreover, Fadnavis revealed that the BJP had started its own supply of vegetables in Mumbai. He exuded confidence that the people will get through the lockdown.

Regarding the problem of migrant workers, he advised them to stay put where they are. He noted that the Centre's financial package was very useful to them. According to him, the Centre and the state government should put in a plan to ensure the transportation of migrant workers. 

According to Luv Aggarwal- Joint Secretary, Health Ministry, 17 states had started working on earmarking hospitals for dedicated treatment of COVID-19 patients. He revealed that 43 new cases and 4 deaths had been reported in the last 24 hours. Maintaining that India was still in the local transmission stage, he opined that the initial trend showed the stabilization in the rate of increase of COVID-19 cases.  

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh stated that the RTO and police had been given strict instructions to allow trucks carrying essential commodities to move freely anywhere. In case such trucks are stopped, they should contact the helpline number. He asked the doctors and nurses to carry their identification cards while travelling. 

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath lauded the Rs.1.7 lakh crore financial package announced by the Centre to combat the COVID-19 crisis. He has given permission to start community kitchens. According to Awanish Awasthi- the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), 1 lakh food packets and 7 lakh litres of milk have been distributed in Uttar Pradesh till now. 

Union Health Minister Dr.Harsh Vardhan chaired a meeting to review the present situation in the wake of the novel coronavirus crisis. The Health Secretary of all states also participated in this interaction.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray held a meeting in the Varsha Bungalow along with his ministerial colleagues, BMC Commissioner Praveen Pardeshi, Chief Secretary Ajoy Mehta and other officials. In this meeting, social distancing was practiced. 

Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal requested all the Pradesh Congress Committees to distribute food and essential medicines to deprived people from the state level to the block level. He also mentioned that party president Sonia Gandhi had asked MPs and MLAs to take serious initiatives to make a contribution towards equipping hospitals from their MLA/MPLAD funds. 

Here is the circular:

Read the full statement of Saudi Arabia's King Salman here:

After the announcement of the 21-day nationwide lockdown, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has extended the suspension of international commercial passenger services till April 14, 2020. 

Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Punjab Jail Minister revealed that the state government was releasing 6000 prisoners from all jails across Punjab for a period of 6 weeks. The released prisoners were sentenced to less than 7 years in jail. This measure has been taken to decongest prisons in the wake of the novel coronavirus crisis. 

In a joint statement after the virtual G20 Summit, the member nations stated that they are injecting over $5 trillion into the global economy to deal with the economic, social & financial impact of COVID-19 pandemic. The G20 expressed its commitment to do whatever it takes to overcome the current crisis. This includes protecting lives, safeguarding people's jobs and incomes, preserve financial stability, minimize disruptions to global supply chains, providing help to all countries in need of assistance and coordinating on public health and financial measures.  

Here is the full statement: 

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani announced that the late date to pay electricity bills for March and April had been extended till May 15. Furthermore, he clarified that the shopkeepers and industrialists would be charged only for their actual electricity usage. The fixed electricity charge would not be levied for the month of April. 

PM Modi participated in the virtual G20 Summit to discuss the novel coronavirus crisis. Speaking at the Summit, he put forth three proposals. First, he stated that human beings rather than economic targets should be at the centre of the G20 vision of global prosperity and cooperation. The PM also called upon the member nations to freely share medical research which can prove beneficial for the entire humanity. Furthermore, he stressed the need to develop more adaptive, responsive, affordable, and humane healthcare systems. 

In a significant development, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a Standard Operating Procedure to be followed by states and Union Territories for maintaining the supply of essential goods. As per the SOP, the suppliers of essential goods including restaurants adopting home delivery mode, warehouses, transporters and loaders of such goods, manufacturing units of essential goods and the intra-city, inter-city and inter-state movement for this purpose will be operational. This will ensure the smooth functioning of small retail shops, large organized retail stores, and e-commerce companies. Additionally, the state governments have been directed to open a 24x7 control room to register complaints.  

Read the full SOP here: 

A team of health workers in Rajasthan's Bhilwara sang a song, with their safety gear on, to keep up the spirit amid the fight against Coronavirus.

Taking stringent actions against those violating the prohibitory orders issued by the government, Jammu and Kashmir Police on Friday registered 38 FIRs against the offenders. Moreover, seized  547 number of shops and vehicles for defying the restrictions in view of the Coronavirus outbreak. Until Thursday, 218 FIRs were lodged against offenders. 

-All scheduled international commercial passenger services to India shall remain closed till 1830 hrs GMT of April 14, 2020

- Stay safe and isolated within the residential premises 

-Please follow social distancing norms and avoid any non-essential local travel

-Approach the local health department officials in case you or your family member(s) experience any of the symptoms

The affected person had traveled with the first positive case. Both the patients are in the hospital and protocols being followed: Chetan Sanghi, Chief Secretary, Andaman and Nicobar Islands said. 

In a significant contribution to fighting the Coronavirus, Shiv Sena MPs and MLAs have decided to pay their one month's salary to the Chief Minister's Assistance Fund. 

The total number of Coronavirus positive cases in Pune district is now 32, out of which 5 have been already cured and discharged.

• Kerala- 137 
• Maharashtra - 125 (4 deaths)
• Karnataka- 55 (2 deaths)
• Telangana- 44 
• Gujarat- 43 (3 deaths)
• Uttar Pradesh- 42
• Rajasthan- 40
• Delhi- 36 (1 death)
• Punjab- 33 (1 death)
• Haryana- 32
• Tamil Nadu- 29 (1 death)
• Madhya Pradesh- 20 (1 death) 
• J&K- 14 (1 death)
• Ladakh- 13
• Andhra Pradesh- 11
• West Bengal- 10 (1 death)
• Bihar- 9 (1 death)
• Chandigarh- 7
• Chattisgarh- 6
• Uttrakhand- 5
• Goa- 3
• Himachal Pradesh- 3 (1 death)
• Odisha- 3
• Andaman & Nicobar- 2 
• Islands
• Manipur- 1
• Mizoram- 1
• Puducherry- 1
   

The total number of Coronavirus positive cases in the country rises to 724 (including 66 cured/discharged persons and 17 deaths): Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. 

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, an Air India special flight carrying 314 Israelis landed here on Thursday evening with many relieved passengers holding the flags of India and Israel thanking the Indian national carrier and its crew for flying them back home in difficult circumstances.

Rupee rises 56 paise to 74.60 against US dollar in early trade.

RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das made crucial announcements in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak that has burdened the global economy. 

• Repo rate reduced by 75 basis points to 4.4.%. Reverse repo-rate reduced by 90 basis points to 4%.
• MPC (Monetary Policy Committee) noted that global economic activity has come to a near stand-still.
• Expectations of a shallow recovery in 2020 from 2019's decade low in global growth have been dashed.

• There is a rising probability that large parts of the world will slip into recession.
• India has locked down economic activity and financial markets are under severe stress. Finance is the lifeline of the economy, keeping it following is the paramount objective of the Reserve Bank of India at this point of time.

Total number of Coronavirus positive cases in Pune city is now 32, of which 10 have been cured and discharged. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the steps taken by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to safeguard the economy of the country while battling the deadly coronavirus. Addressing the media on Friday, RBI governor Shaktikanta Das announced a series of measures including slashing the repo rate and reverse repo rate, issuing a moratorium on EMIs for the next three months and more. PM Modi opined that the measures taken by the RBI will improve liquidity, ease the burden on the middle class and aid businesses. 

Six more people test positive for Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu, state government said. 

After IndiGo, GoAir says it has offered govt aircraft  and crew members to carry out emergency services and repatriation of citizens amid Coronavirus ockdown, reports PTI.

A Supreme Court bench of justices DY Chandrachud and Suryakant have issued a notice to the Centre on a plea to evacuate around 800 Indian pilgrims who have been stranded in the city of Qom in Iran due to coronavirus outbreak. Iran has seen 2234 deaths as of date due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba has told state governments that more than 15 lakh international travellers came to India over the last two months but there appears to be a gap between the actual monitoring for COVID-19 and the total arrivals.

In a letter to chief secretaries of all states and Union territories, Gauba said such a gap in monitoring of international passengers may seriously jeopardise the efforts to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, given that many amongst the persons who have tested positive for the virus so far in India have a history of international travel.

12 more people (contacts of earlier positive cases) test positive for Coronavirus in Sangli; Till now, there are 147 positive cases in Maharashtra says PRO, Maharashtra Health Department

Sensex ends 131.18 points lower at 29,815.59; Nifty inches 18.80 points higher to 8,660.25

Indian Medical Council of Research, on Friday, revealed that India will soon participate in WHO 'solidarity trial' for developing potential drugs for COVID-19, in the daily press briefing. Moreover, Health secretary Lav Agarwal stated that ICMR will try to look at repurposing molecules to get a clear clue on the drug work in labs. He added that If it is successful, ICMR can take it to trials.

Health Ministry press briefing

"We are likely to start our participation soon in solidarity trial that the World Health Organization is starting. Earlier we did not do it because our numbers were so small that our contribution would have looked minuscule," said R Ganga Ketkar, Indian Council of Medical Research in a press briefing

 On telemedicine and total no. cases

We have issued national telemedicine guidelines. This facilitates the process wherein doctors sitting at their homes can provide services to the patients. We urge & request citizens to take advantage of it & doctors to utilize this, said Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secy, Union Health Ministry

Till now 724 COVID19 cases have been confirmed, total deaths stand at 17. In the last 24 hours, 75 new positive cases & 4 deaths have been reported.

When asked about Community transmission of COVID-19 in India, Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secy, Union Health Ministry said, "  I dont think it needs any evidence. We started early and also started implementing it. Other countries started late. We still don't have a community transmission in India."

Commenting on the lockdown started since Tuesday, he said, " Lockdown is one of the strategies. What WHO is emphasizing is on isolate. We are focusing on isolation, contact tracing and treatment. From India;s point of view this has been a comprehensive approach from day one. We have to be alert always. It is too early to predict the trend. We are in this lockdown collectively. We will win definitely. Any failure of an individual, the whole effort taken by govt becomes zero."

In his daily press conference. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said," We cannot sit idle. We have to learn fro other nations. We had set up a team of 5 doctors. As per their report Delhi is ready even if there is an outbreak of even 1000 cases per day." Addressing migrants leaving the city due to lockdown, he added, "I urge those leaving Delhi for UP & Bihar to not leave delhi. We are arranging for yor food."

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi writes to the Union Minister of Human Resource to ensure an uninterrupted supply of basic necessities & medical facilities to students staying in hostels & other residential facilities in different parts of India due to  Coronavirus Lockdown.
 

Total cases in Jammu and Kashmir 17, 15 are active cases

President Ram Nath Kovind asks Governor, LGs to take stock of situation regularly and work towards its containment. He also urged Governors, LGs to mobilise volunteers of Red Cross, voluntary and religious organisations to contain coronavirus at earliest

Queen Elizabeth last saw Boris Johnson March 11 and is following all appropriate advice with regards to her welfare, says Buckingham Palace , as reported by Reuters.

Punjab Health dept states that 5 new cases of COVID19  have been reported in Punjab -3 cases from SBS Nagar,1 from Jalandhar&1 from SAS Nagar. All 5 are contacts of earlier positive cases; One case admitted in Amritsar found negative and has been treated. Total no. of patients tested positive till date are 38

Meanwhile 6 more people test positive for novel Coronavirus in UP, taking state total upto 49.  On the otehr hand, Bollywood singer Kanika Kapoor has tested positive in her third COVID19 test states Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow. 

As of now, there are five hospitals across Army, Navy, and Air Force that can carry out #COVID19 tests. Six additional hospitals are also being equipped with the resources to begin testing, state Indian Army officials.

Vistara CEO Leslie Thng announces compulsory leave without pay of up to three days for its senior employees

Centre will clear entire pending wages of Rs 11,499 crore under MGNREGA by April 10: Officials

10 new COVID19 positive cases reported in Telangana today, taking the total number of cases in the state to 59, says Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao

9 more people found COVID19 positive today in Mumbai.  5 have travel history and 4 are close contacts. 6 of them are from Mumbai & 3 are from other places. The total number of positive cases in the city now stands at 86: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation

In a massive development in the battle against Coronavirus, Indian scientists on Thursday have revealed a microscopic image of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID19). The image is from the throat swab sample from the first laboratory-confirmed COVID19 case in India, reported on Jan 30 in Kerala. The findings of the study done on the virus have been published in the latest edition of the Indian Journal of Medical Research (IJMR). 

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) exempts procurement agencies, mandis, farming operations and farm workers from lockdown rules, offering relief to farmers. Moreover,  intra- and inter-state movement of harvesting and sowing-related machines and manufacturing and packaging units of fertilisers, pesticides and seeds have also been exempted from lockdown rules.
 

85-year old Dr. Bahrainwala underwent a CT SCAN at Saifee Hospital and was diagnosed as diagnostic for COVID-19. The Surgeon was transferred to the special isolation facility at P.D Hinduja Hospital where he subsequently died. All containment and surveillance measures have been implemented to ensure the safety of our staff, patients, and visitors. Saifee Hospital reiterates that the hospital is fully operational. 

Singapore calls off Shangri-La Dialogue for the first time in its history due to the #CoronavirusOutbreak, the top-level forum was scheduled for June: Regional Media
 

The coronavirus pandemic has driven the global economy into a downturn that will require massive funding to help developing nations, IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said Friday. "It is clear that we have entered a recession" that will be worse than in 2009 following the global financial crisis, she said in an online press briefing.

With the worldwide economic "sudden stop," Georgieva said the fund's estimate "for the overall financial needs of emerging markets is $2.5 trillion." But she warned that "we believe this is on the lower end." Over 80 countries already have requested emergency aid from the International Monetary Fund.

• Three more coronavirus positive cases in Tamil Nadu with a total of nine new patients in a single day revealed the State Govt.
• 3 new Coronavirus cases reported in Gujarat as total rises to 47, according to Health department official
• Four more test positive for COVID-19 in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, total cases in UT rise to 6

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh says, 'Approximately upto 11,000 prisoners will be released on Emergency Parole, initially for 45 days'.

Italy records almost 1,000 #COVID19 related deaths, highest in a day: AFP news agency

As of March 28, India has reported  791 cases so far, and 19 deaths. To tackle the growing cases, Prime Minister Narendra Modi imposed a nationwide lockdown for 21 days. The highest number of cases have been reported from Kerala - 176 cases and Maharashtra - 156 cases. 

Meanwhile, on Monday, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Monday, has published a study warning about community transmission of the pandemic that may take place from a minimum of 20 days to a few months. It also states that by quarantining of individuals with symptoms of COVID-19 can delay the introduction of the virus into the community by three days to three weeks  - which in turn reduces cumulative cases by 62%  and the peak number of cases by 89%, in an optimistic scenario. 

The world is in the face of a devastating impact due to the coronavirus pandemic and has clearly entered a recession, the International Monetary Fund said on Friday, but projected a recovery next year. Georgieva was addressing the press after a meeting of governing body of the IMF, the International Monetary and Financial Committee. Representing 189 members, the body met virtually to discuss the unprecedented challenge posed to the world by COVID-19. The key to recovery in 2021, she said, is only if the international community succeeds in containing the virus everywhere and prevent liquidity problems from becoming a solvency issue.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma was on Saturday spotted at a market place in Shillong where people had queued up for purchasing essential goods. He urged all to maintain social distancing. Meghalaya has not reported any Coronavirus case so far.

West Bengal on Saturday has reported about its youngest coronavirus patient, a nine-month-old baby who has tested positive along with four members of her family. This includes a six-year-old girl, an 11-year-old boy, and two women, taking the number of confirmed cases in the state to 15, a senior health official said.

Amid reports of migrant workers walking down to their villages due to a 21-days lockdown in the country, SpiceJet has offered services of its aircraft and crew members to the government. Its CMD Ajay Singh said on Friday that they can operate some flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Patna to alleviate the suffering of migrant workers, especially those from Bihar. However, domestic and international passenger flights have been banned till April 14 midnight.

Amid coronavirus outbreak in the country, news agency PTI on Saturday reported that FIR has been lodged against a journalist who attended senior Congress leader Kamal Nath's final news conference as Madhya Pradesh chief minister, despite her daughter being coronavirus suspect. Days after the press conference, the journalist and his daughter had tested positive for the infection after which case was registered against them.

Amid coronavirus cases rise to 9 in the state, Bihar Government has said that speedy trial will be conducted against those who will be found in black marketing of essential commodities during Lockdown of 21 days.

According to the medical bulletin released by Jharkhand government, no positive case has been reported in the state as of now. All 137 suspects who took the test have tested negative for COVID19, reports Prasar Bharati News Services

Delhi Police PRO MS Randhawa has said that passes have been issued amid lockdown to people going out for essential services. He said: "Passes are given to essential service providers. We are taking measures so that there is no misusage of passes. Passes are linked to phone nos. You will receive an SMS after applying for the pass.  Police will check both the pass and SMS so that people don't misuse it. Others who want to apply for a pass can apply but let us clear your passes are not for roaming on streets, they are made for essential service providers. In emergency cases, we do give to others."

As UP CM Yogi Adityanath deployed buses to ferry homebound stranded workers from Delhi, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar while speaking to Republic TV, said: "No buses should be allowed to carry any passenger from any state, else COVID-19 will spread and it will be a complete violation of lockdown. People should remain where they are and the respective state govts should make arrangements for their stay and food. Else people will congregate in large numbers to get back to their native place and create a law and order situation. I have spoken to many CMs."

4 people test positive for COVID-19 in Rajasthan; total number rises to 54: Officials

MHA changes rules for State Disaster Relief Fund; money to be made available for food, accommodation for migrant workers. Medical care, clothing to be provided to migrant workers during lockdown from State Disaster Relief Fund.

Seven fresh coronavirus cases in Kashmir, the total number in Jammu and Kashmir rises to 27.

10 more COVID-19 cases confirmed in Karnataka, the total number of positive cases 74: state health department

5 more people test positive for coronavirus in UP's Gautam Buddh Nagar, 3 in Noida, 2 in Greater Noida: Officials

Joint Secretary of Health, Lav Aggarwal briefs the media on the latest developments:

• 873 confirmed cases till now. 
• 149 new cases and 2 additional deaths reported in 24 hours
• As the situation is evolving, focus on contact tracing and treatment
• Lockdown and social distancing should be followed
• Main focus on dedicated COVID-19 hospitals
• Required action taken for the transport of samples to be tested
• Nodal officers appointed by states
• Health ministry issued guidelines that CGHS (Central Government Health Scheme) chronic patients should be given medicines for 3 months at one go

A 46-year-old COVID-19 positive patient in Ahmedabad passed away. She was admitted to the hospital on March 26. She was suffering from hypertension, diabetes and was on ventilator: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Hospital — ANI.

Total number of deaths due to COVID-19 in Gujarat rises to 4 with 2 deaths in Ahmedabad, and 1 each in Bhavnagar and Surat

Home Ministry official:

States and UTs being talked about the issue of migrant workers. Home Minister has asked states to release the state disaster relief fund. The major focus is that states should identify areas for COVID-19. We are talking with states. Isolation blocks are being identified. Random sampling not required now. Cases of all syndromes, we have given indication for their testing

ICMR official:

No research on developing a vaccine for COVID-19 has so far reached the human trial stage anywhere. 44 private laboratories have been given approval so far for testing COVID-19. Reduction in viral load has been observed in COVID- 19 patients who were given anti-malarial Hydroxychloroquine drug.

We have opened a COVID-19 National Teleconsultation Centre today for doctors who are treating people with the virus so that they can get in touch with other doctors for consultation regarding the treatment of any patient. Helpline number is 9115444155: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has established a dedicated national fund with the primary objective of dealing with any kind of emergency or distress situation, like posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to provide relief to the affected, a public charitable trust under the name of ‘Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund’ (PM CARES Fund)’

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal: 

Our flying squads are patrolling in each district and distributing food packets to the needy. From tomorrow the distribution process will be carried out smoothly and food will reach everywhere. We have built the capacity to feed at least 4 lakh people from today onwards. We are also distributing food in over 500 schools and 238 night shelters.

With seven more persons testing positive, the number of coronavirus cases in Maharashtra goes up to 167.

Total 6 patients (4 from Mumbai) who tested positive for COVID-19 have passed away in the state: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Maharashtra

6 more COVID-19 positive cases in Kerala — 2 from Thiruvananthapuram and 1 each from Kollam, Malappuram, Kasaragod and Palakkad: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan

A 21-year-old man who had returned from the UK tests positive for coronavirus in Chhattisgarh, number of cases in the state now seven.

Telangana: First death due to COVID-19 recorded in the state on Saturday. 6 persons have tested positive today; taking the total number of positive cases in the state to 65.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah urges citizens to "join hands" and make monetary contributions to emergency fund launched by PM Modi to combat health contingencies like coronavirus

Number of coronavirus cases in Madhya Pradesh goes up to 34 with a BSF officer testing positive.

Thousands of migrant labourers were seen lining up to board buses at Delhi's Anand Vihar bus terminal to head back to their native towns. This, amid the nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus and social distancing norms in place. 

The total number of Coronavirus cases in Jammu and Kashmir is 28, including 25 active cases of which 21 are in Kashmir division and 4 in Jammu division. Our teams have been consistently trying to trace every single contact and test them: Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary-Planning, J&K

A 23-year-old man from Rajasthan has tested positive for COVID19 in Andhra Pradesh. He is stable and being treated at GGH Kurnool: Kurnool District Collector, Andhra Pradesh

Twenty-eight new coronavirus cases detected in Maharashtra; total number rises to 181.

Eight new coronavirus cases found in Gujarat; the total number rises to 55.

The total number of positive cases of Coronavirus in Delhi rises to 49: Delhi Government

Ambala has reported its 1st positive case of coronavirus. A 21-year-old man is a resident of Ram Nagar village in Patiala, Punjab, on the Ambala-Patiala border. He has recent travel history to Nepal. He was admitted to hospital on March 26: Chief Medical Officer, Ambala

Three more test positive for COVID-19 in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, total cases in UT rise to 9: Official

2 more COVID-19 positive cases detected in Gujarat. One 25-year-old man from Gandhinagar got infected through local transmission. While a 65-year-old man from Gir Somnath has travel history of Saudi Arabia; Total number of positive cases in the state is 55: Gujarat Health Dept

Six more people test positive for coronavirus in Andhra Pradesh. The total rises to 19.

Haryana: 5 Coronavirus patients from Gurugram and 1 from Faridabad were discharged today.

Board of Control for Cricket in India to contribute Rs 51 Crores to Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM-CARES Fund) to fight COVID-19.

Coronavirus Update from Mumbai: One CISF jawan working at Mumbai Airport has tested positive for Coronavirus.He has been taken to Kasturba Hospital for treatment. 

This hotelier from Matunga refused to follow the rules! So, we followed him and drove him straight to the police station!

Thousands of migrant workers were seen thronging the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border in the hope of reaching their homes inspite of the threat of the spread of the coronavirus disease. Several workers including women and children, many also wearing protective masks - waited in long queues to board buses at the Anand Vihar Interstate Bus Terminal. 

Second COVID19 death in Kashmir: 52-year-old man from Tangmag dies at Govt CD hospital in Srinagar. He was tested positive on March 28. Doctors say he had no travel history or contact with COVID positive person. 

3 more people test positive for #Coronavirus in Ahmedabad, a total of 58 people have tested positive till now in the state: Gujarat Health Department

Death toll due to COVID-19 reaches to 25 in India. Total cases rise to 979, says Health Ministry. 86 people have been cured so far.

PM Modi on Sunday addressed the nation on Coronavirus. He apologised to the nation for the inconvenience caused due to 21-day lockdown. PM interacts with people who have successfully fought coronavirus. 

A 40-year-old female, who tested positive for coronavirus, died on Sunday at MCGM Hospital in Mumbai. The patient, who complained of severe repiratory distress at the ime of admission, had a history of hypertension.  

The test reports of a 40-year-old woman who died in Mumbai on Saturday have come out positive for coronavirus, taking the death toll of COVID-19 patients in Maharashtra to seven, a civic official said on Sunday. The woman was admitted to a civic hospital on Saturday after she complained of severe respiratory distress, the official said.

In a bid to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, the Indian Railways has introduced isolation coaches - compartments of existing trains that have been modified to house patients. In the visuals of a prototype of the isolation coach, it can be seen that a Non-AC coach has been modified with both the middle & upper berth removed, plastic curtains fitted in each patient cabin, a separate cabin for the medicos, a modified bathroom with increased tap height and many more facilities. One coach is said to handle up to eight patients and can handle 16 patients if the situation arises. 

India's response to COVID-19 has been "pre-emptive, pro-active and graded", the government said on Saturday, brushing aside the allegations that the 21-day nationwide lockdown was announced without any planning.

The government said it had already put in place a "comprehensive response system" at its borders much before the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the coronavirus as a public health emergency of international concern on January 30.

A 69 yr old coronavirus positive man with travel history from Dubai has died at Kalamassery Medical hospital in Eranakulam at 8 am today.  He was admitted in the hospital on March 22. The Ministry of Health and Family welfare has not confirmed the death yet. 

The current count of COVID19 patients in the state of Maharashtra is 159. Yesterday,  Mumbai 05 & Nagpur 01, such 06 people have been identified as positive. Till date 28 people from these have been recovered and are discharged from the respective hospitals.

Two more coronavirus positive cases have been reported in Tamil Nadu, numbers hit 40 in the state. 42-year-old male who returned from West Indies and a 49-year-old male who returned from the UK have been tested positive. Both took transit flights from the Middle East, both patients are stable in isolation ward.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday appealed to migrant workers not to leave for their native places during the 21-day nationwide lockdown in the interest of the country. Taking to Twitter, he asked the migrant workers to stay wherever they were as the risk of the coronavirus spreading increases due to large gatherings. Thousands of migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand have started walking back to their homes due to the lockdown. So far, 49 coronavirus cases have been reported in the national capital.  In his tweets in Hindi, Kejriwal said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also appealed to people to stay wherever they are.

Centre directs States to enforce strict implementation of lockdown. Cabinet secretary and MHA are in constant touch with State Chief Secretaries and DGPs. Video Conferences were held by Cabinet Secretary & Home Secretary yesterday evening and today morning with Chief Secretaries & DGPs. It was noted that, by and large, there has been effective Implementation of guidelines across all states and UTs.

Amid coronavirus outbreak, National Conference President and MP of Srinagar Farooq Abdullah released an additional amount of Rs 1.5 Cr to Srinagar based hospitals.

Kotak Mahindra Bank & Managing Director Uday Kotak personally, commit immediate support of Rs 50 crore to #PMCARES fund (Rs 25crore each): Kotak Mahindra Bank

Center directs States to ensure no movement of people across cities. All arrangements be made for migrant labourers at their place of work including timely payment of wages. Action should be taken against those asking students/labourers to vacate: Govt of India

JSW Group commits Rs 100 crores as a direct contribution towards the PM-Cares Fund

128 Railway hospitals, 586 dispensaries across country now open to all central govt employees

In a move to stop the exodus of migrant workers from various states to other parts of the nation, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), on Saturday, has ordered all state/Union territory governments to provide adequate arrangement of food and shelter to poor people including migrant workers in each state. The MHA also ordered all states to keep migrant workers who have moved from their homes in 14-day government quarantine facilities after thorough screening. The Centre also called the mass movement of migrant workers a 'breach of lockdown'.

Here are the MHA measures on migrant labourers

• State/UT govts to provide shelter, food to poor including migrant labourers
• Migrant labourers who have moved towards their home states to be kept in 14-day quarantine in government facilities after screening
• All employers (industry, shops, commercial establishment) to play wages to workers during lockdown
• On month rent to be waived by land lords of migrants
• Landlord frcing students to vacate will be liable for action

MHA ordered that all district and state borders should be effectively sealed. States have been directed to ensure there is no movement of people across cities or on highways. DMs and SPs to be made personally responsible for implementation of these directions issued under DM Act.

Bihar government Directs all DM to ensure that migrant labours reach their respective villages or places on vehicles provided by district administration after medical check up . On reaching their village all such people should stay in a relief  camp organized by Govt of Bihar for 14 days and follow the protocol of social distance .

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal once again appealed to thousands of migrants wanting to return to their native places to refrain from gathering and heading back saying the nation will lose the fight against the deadly coronavirus outbreak if the situation persists. Thousands of out-of-job migrants along with their families had gathered at Delhi's Anand Vihar bus depot on Saturday hoping to board state-run buses to head back to their native towns.

The CM mentioned Saturday's chaotic scenes from Anand Vihar captured on national media saying that there is a high risk of transmission of coronavirus when people gather in such crowds and asked people to think of their safety. "I saw pictures of the gathering of thousands of people. When you are standing in a crowd, even if a single person among it is infected with COVID-19, you will also get infected. Think about your own life and your family," Kejriwal said.

Invoking religious references to the fight against the coronavirus outbreak, the Aam Aadmi Party chief also urged people to read 18 chapters of Bhagavad Gita during the remaining 18 lockdown days. "Staying at home during this time in patriotism. Read 18 chapters of Bhagavad Gita during the remaining 18 lockdown days; we are doing that in our family. Need focus like Arjun in our fight against coronavirus." 

CM Kejriwal assured the people that there is no dearth of food and water and those will be provided to anyone in need. "Delhi government is providing lunch and dinner to more than four lakh people every day. We are putting in all the efforts to make sure that everyone gets food in the national capital. There is no dearth of food and water. There is nothing to worry about."
 

Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has decided to make available all National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) and their hostels across the country for conversion into quarantine/ isolation facilities.

• 23 fresh coronavirus cases reported in Delhi, total rises to 72: Health Department
• Four fresh coronavirus cases confirmed in Bihar; count up to 15: official
• Seven new COVID-19 cases reported in Karnataka; Tally mounts to 83. State govt

Taking action to battle the pandemic Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Central government on Sunday, has set up 11 empowered groups for ensuring a comprehensive and integrated response to COVID-19, according to ANI sources. Moreover, 9 of the 11 groups will be headed by Secretary level officers, 1 by a member of NITI Aayog and 1 by CEO NITI Aayog. These groups which have been set up under the Disaster Management Act will each have a senior representative from PMO and one from Cabinet Secretariat.

11 empowered groups set up by Centre

The groups have been empowered to  identify problem areas, provide solutions, delineate policy, formulate plans, strategise operationsa nd teke necessary steps for effective and time-bound implementation. Moreover, the Department of Expenditure has issued special instructions to enable expeditious decision making in procurement matters. Sources report that these groups have been formed by a direct order from PM Modi.

Here are the 11 groups and the members:

Centre has suspended two officials and show caused two officials, who were responsible to ensure strict compliance to the instructions issued by Chairperson, National Executive Committee, formed under Disaster Managment Act 2005 regarding containment of spread of COVID-19. They have prima facie failed to do so.

These officers have failed to ensure public health and safety during the lockdown restrictions to combat COVID-19. Due to the serious lapse in performance of their duties, the competent authority has initiated disciplinary proceedings against the following officers:

1. Additional Chief Secretary, Transport Department, GNCTD - Suspended with immediate effect.
2. Additional Chief Secretary, Home and Land Buildings Departments, GNCTD - Show Cause Notice.
3. Principal Secretary, Finance, GNCTD & Divisional Commissioner, GNCTD - Suspended with immediate effect.
4. SDM Seelampur - Show Cause Notice.

Sensex plummets 1,375.27 pts to end at 28,440.32; Nifty tanks 379.15 pts to 8,281.10
 

A Kam Air flight from Kabul, Afghanistan landed at Delhi airport at around 2:40 pm today with 35 Indians onboard. They will be kept in quarantine for 14 days at Indo-Tibetan Border Police camp, say officials.

As the Centre and the state governments tackle the issue of migrant workers travelling across states, a shocking video has emerged from Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly on Monday, where migrant workers are seen being allegedly sprayed with a disinfectant solution on entering the state. Congress UP East General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi, who shared this video has pointed out to the UP government that this move will not aid in killing the virus, but will lead to a potential spread of the pandemic Coronavirus (COVID-19). The Bareilly district magistrate has said that he will look into the matter.

Health Ministry briefing highlights:

• Health Ministry clarifies that the country is still in the local transmission stage, if it reaches the community transmission stage, the Health Ministry will admit it but country is not there yet.
• 92 new cases of COVID19 and four deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours, taking total cases to 1071 & number of deaths to 29 in India
• Exclusive cargo flights have been approved to transport medicines & other essentials. Senior citizens have to follow 100% lockdown and other measures and new guidelines have been issued to disinfect places where COVID-19 cases were reported.
• Instructs to not speculate on extension of lockdown

On Barielly's 'sanitisation' incident : 

Dr. Gangakhedkar of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) stated that 38,442 tests have been conducted till now out of which 3,501 were done yesterday, it means we are still at less than 30% of our testing capacity. In the last 3 days, 1,334 tests have been done in private labs. He clarified that no one can die with 2 doses of Hydroxy Choloroquine - which has been adcised to use on health workers only.

• Home Secretary has directed States/UTs to direct District Magistrates & Superintendents of Police to ensure food & shelter for stranded workers & full wages by employers. They were also directed to ensure that landlords don't ask for rent from labourers
• PS Srivastava from the MHA has stated that the MHA is looking over lockdown in the country. All migrants have to be quarantined for 14 days.
• Health Ministry clarifies that the country is still in the local transmission stage, if it reaches the community transmission stage, the Health Ministry will admit it but country is not there yet

Telangana CM KCR announced that 11 COVID cases have tested negative in the state and will be discharged tomorrow after formalities. Total number of cases at 70. After tomorrow, the state will have only 58 active cases. If no new cases are reported, all patients will be discharged by April 7

Punjab reports second COVID-19 death, 62-year-old man dies in Amritsar

Around 6 doctors and 4 nurses from Delhi's RML Hospital have reportedly been sent to quarantine after they were exposed to a Coronavirus positive patient, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia said.

Amid the Coronavirus outbreak and the 3-week lockdown imposed by the government, the volunteers of Animal Welfare People fed dogs in Assam's Dibrugarh area. 

Vineet, co-founder of Animal Welfare People says, "We are feeding dogs as all the eateries are closed now and dogs depend on them for food. We feed other animals too."

Kerala- 202 (1 death)
Maharashtra - 203 (7 deaths)
Karnataka- 83 (3 deaths)
Telangana- 70 (1 death)
Gujarat- 63 (5 deaths)
Uttar Pradesh- 72
Rajasthan- 59
Delhi- 72 (2 death)
Punjab- 38 (1 death)
Haryana- 35
Tamil Nadu- 50 (1 death)
Madhya Pradesh- 39 (2 death) 
J&K- 38 (2 death)
Ladakh- 13
Andhra Pradesh- 21
West Bengal- 21 (1 death)
Bihar- 15 (1 death)
Chandigarh- 8
Chattisgarh- 7
Uttrakhand- 7
Goa- 5
Himachal Pradesh- 3 (1 death)
Odisha- 3
Andaman & Nicobar- 2 
Islands
Manipur- 1
Mizoram- 1
Puducherry- 1

Indore, Madhya Pradesh 

West Bengal

Three more tests positive for novel Coronavirus in Bengal. The COVID-19 cases in state rise to 21: Official

Punjab 

65-year-old Mohali resident tests positive for coronavirus, total number of cases 39 in Punjab

An FIR was registered against Congress MLA Shailesh Pandey in Chattisgarh for allegedly violating prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC after he announced the distribution of free ration and a crowd gathered outside his residence in Bilaspur.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on Sunday claimed that post-April 7, there would be no Coronavirus cases in the state. At a press brief, he informed that there are 70 positive cases in the state, while 11 have been cured. 

"After April 7, there will be no Coronavirus patients if no new cases are reported from now. Self-control is very important in this lockdown period." 
 

In the wake of the Coronavirus lockdown imposed by PM Modi,  Nepalese migrant workers were found stranded at the Indo-Nepal border town of Dharchula in Uttrakhand. 

Lucknow district administration acquired 4 hotels on a temporary basis, for the purpose of providing quarantine to doctors and paramedical staff who are treating Coronavirus positive people at the hospitals in Lucknow.

12 new positive cases in Maharashtra

• Five from Pune, three from Mumbai, two from Nagpur, one from Kolhapur and one from Nashik.
• Total Positive tested cases in Maharashtra is 215

The government on Monday said there was no plan to extend the 21-day lockdown which came into force on Tuesday midnight. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting tweeted, saying Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba has denied media reports claiming that the government will extend the lockdown.

Rupee slips 32 paise to 75.21 against US dollar in early trade

Prohibitory orders under section 144, CrPC issued in Kerala's Kottayam district, day after village near Changanassery saw massive protest by migrant workers

Ministry of Civil Aviation is coordinating with state governments for the supply of medical equipment and related essential items needed for protection against and testing of COVID19. Air India and Alliance Air flights are being operated to carry out the necessary supply operations across the country

Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary-Planning, J&K notified that no new cases of Coronavirus were detected in Kashmir on Monday. In Jammu, there are 3 new positive cases and the total number of cases stands at 41. 

Total number of Coronavirus positive cases in India rises to 1071 (including 942 active cases, 99 cured/discharged cases and 29 deaths): Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath wrote to his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal, assuring him that his government will take care of all Delhi residents living in Uttar Pradesh in the wake of the pandemic. 

Vegetable wholesale market in Ludhiana witnesses heavy crowd, amid lockdown to prevent the spread of Coronavirus. The total number of positive cases in Punjab stand at 38.

Two domestic manufacturers are producing 50,000 N95 masks per day. It's expected to go up to 1 lakh per day within next week. Hospitals in India have 11.95 lakh N95 masks in stock. Additional 5 lakhs were distributed during last 2 days and 1.40 lakhs being distributed today:Health Ministry

Maharashtra: Charkop police in Mumbai has arrested 2 people for hoarding around 10,000 bottles of hand sanitizers for black marketing. Both accused have been arrested under multiple sections of The Essential Commodities Act.

Central Railway will run three parcel trains between Kalyan-Sankrail & Godhani-New Tinsukia for sending essential commodities like medical, food, etc.: Public Relations Department, Central Railway, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Mumbai. #COVID19

Supreme Court seeks status report from Centre on steps taken to prevent migration of workers.

Doctors on COVID-19 duty at LNJP, GBP hospitals to be accommodated at Hotel Lalit on city govt expense: Delhi health department

Tamil Nadu records 17 new cases, tally now 67
 

CRPF to set up nationwide 24x7 helplines, quick response teams for families of troops.
 

Automobile manufacturers have been asked to make ventilators and they are working on it: Health ministry

BMC has reported four new cases from Worli's Koliwada area, with no travel history and all above 50 years  of age. The municipal body has stated that one of the infected individual was a cook working in a PSU in Trombay and the other three were working at a local level and have not travelled much. The BMC has informed the in the concerned company to get screened and tested.

As local people in the area have been lax about the lockdown, BMC has quarantined the entire area whcih has more than 60 residents. The BMC has also carried out disinfection operations in the Koliwada.

45 cases in Jammu and Kashmir. 41 actives cases. 2 dead, 2 cured.
 

10 persons who were under home quarantine in Bengaluru & escaped to their native places, were arrested & a case has been registered against them at Gurmitkal Police Station: BH Anil Kumar, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagar Palike (BBMP) Commissioner

New India Assurance to provide Rs 50 lakh insurance coverage each to healthcare providers: Govt

HAL has pledged Rs 20 crores from its CSR fund to PM-CARES Fund. In addition to it, HAL employees have pledged their one day salary amounting to Rs. 6.25 crores. Cumulatively it works out to Rs. 26.25 crores: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited 

Saharanpur: Darul-Uloom writes to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, offering its building Darul-Quran in Deoband for setting up of isolation ward

Coronavirus: 2,430 samples sent to different laboratories, of which 2,305 tested negative, says UP principal secy medical, health

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office says he will enter quarantine after one of his aides tested positive for coronavirus

Prince Charles is out of self-isolation, seven days after it was reported he had tested positive for coronavirus

Amid the Coronavirus lockdown,  a religious congregation at Markaz in Delhi's Nizamuddin area has raised fears of coronavirus transmission as some part of the gathering are suspected to be COVID-19 positive. Dozens of people were taken from the area to various hospitals by district authorities after they developed coronavirus symptoms, a police officer said on Monday.

It is reported that some people have a travel history abroad. Following the scare, a team of the state health department along with a World Health Organisation (WHO) team has reached the spot. A Delhi Police team, including Joint CP DC Srivastava, also reached the spot and began cordoning off the area. State-run buses were seen carrying suspected people to hospitals.

According to media reports, a religious programme was organised at the ‘Markaz’ (the mosque) around March 18 and more than 500 people from various states had attended the programme; many of them had returned. This was before the nationwide lockdown came into force. On Sunday, around 50-70 people, who were hiding in a mosque, were taken to LNJP hospital as they were all COVID-19 suspects.

Maharashtra Positive Tested Cases for Coronovirus is now 220, with 39 discharged and 10 deaths
 

BMC has set up toll free helpline number for homeless & stranded labour for their needs during lockdown period  be it food packets/Grocery packets/Temporary Shelter : Helpline number is 1800-22-1292.

Helpline will be active between 9 AM to 9 PM everyday
 

Chandigarh: 31 from Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMER) including doctors and nurses put in islotation ward after getting in contact with a positive case of COVID 19.

Vistara asks staff to self-quarantine after passenger who took Mar 22 Mumbai-Goa flight tests positive for COVID-19

Oil marketing companies Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum, & Hindustan Petroleum today announced Rs 5 lakh each ex-gratia amount, as a one-time special measure, in the case of death of personnel involved in LPG distribution due to the infection and impact of COVID-19.

Reserve Bank of India to conduct Targeted Long Term Repo Operation (TLTRO) of up to 3 years of appropriate sizes for up to Rs 1 lakh crore. The first tranche of TLTRO for Rs 25,000 crores was conducted on March 27. Another TLTRO of Rs 25,000 crores will be conducted on April 3.

Municipal Commisioner of Mumbai has issued an advisory of the disposal of dead COVID-19 patients. BMC has stated that no burial  will be allowed of the COVID deceased. Only cremation will be permitted, irrespective of religion. The funeral should not involve more than Five people

In a drastic measure taken by the Karanataka government, the Yediyurappa government on Monday has ordered all persons under Home quarantine to send a selfie to the government - every one hour from their homes, according to a govt circular. The government has stated that with the selfie sent to the authorities the location of the individual will be known via a 'Quarantine watch mobile App'. Currently, Karnataka has 80 active cases with 5 discharged.

The circular also claims if the home quarantined individual fails to send a selfie every hour, the government team will shift such 'defaulters' to government-created Mass quarantine. Moreover, the government has also warned home-quarantined to not send 'fake or misleading photos' as that too will make them liable to mass quarantine. The government has relaxed only from 10 PM to 7 AM for these individuals from not sending such selfies. Officials visiting the quarantined individuals' homes are also instructed to use the App to click the photo of the Home-quarantined persons and send it to the government.

47 more test positive for coronavirus in Mumbai Metropolitan Region, taking number of infected persons to 170: BMC

Reliance Industries announces Rs. 500 crores contribution to #PMCARES Fund. In addition to its multi-pronged on-the-ground fight against COVID-19: Reliance Industries

Highest jump in patient count in a single day in Uttar Pradesh. 24 new COVID-19 cases within 24 hours. Meerut emerging as another concern post Gautam Budh Nagar. A total of 19 cases were reported yesterday. UP tally at 96.

Infosys Foundation, the philanthropic & corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of Infosys, today announced that it is committing Rs 100 cr to support efforts towards fighting #COVID19 in India. Foundation contributed half of this commitment (Rs 50 cr) to PM-CARES Fund: Infosys

ICMR approves first indiginously developed #Coronavirus test kit, test to cost 1200 rs as against the present cors of 4,500 rupees per test, DRDO says it has devised  indigenous equipment including multiple use ventilators and isolation tubes to fight #COVID19.
 

Movement restrictions in any situation need to be taken very carefully. It is very difficult to accept in any community. If poeple are robbed of their freedom of movement, people should know why this is happening. Each Govt has to undertsand the balance in the restrictions imposed. Communication between govt & the citizens is vital during such times. This is not just about India but the condition everywhere. 

Lockdown alone will not work. there needs to be a proper procedure of identification, quarantine & treatment. Some countries have already taken measures for distancing, banning gatherings and other things. Some countries have strong social welfare association. Many people have to earn everyday to fill their stomach. The govt has to take this population into consideration. The Govt shoould address this population.

Each & every individual matters. Its about any country, not just about india. Even the wealthiest country can have people earning for their daily livelihood.
 

NCP minister intervenes, order amended

Immediately, Maharashtra minority affairs minister Nawab Malik intervened and tweeted that the previous order has been revoked after he spoke to Pardeshi. The BMC has now amended the order claiming that those who insist on burying the COVID-19 deceased, will be allowed only if the ground is large enough so as not to create the possibility of spread of the virus in the neighbourhood. The other conditions still stand.

It has come to our knowledge that administrators of Nizammuddin Markaz violated #CoronavirusLockdown conditions & now several positive cases have been found. Strong action would be taken against those in charge of this establishment: Delhi Government
 

• Doordarshan is all set to telecast Shaktimaan, the famous serial featuring Mukesh Khanna, for 1-hour daily on DD National network from April 2020 at 1 PM: Government of India
• Chanakya, 47 episodes directed by Chandraprakash Dwivedi, is planned for daily telecast in the afternoon time bands of DD Bharti from 1st week of April, 2020: Government of India
   

HC directs J&K authorities to ensure proper shelter to 400 pilgrims stranded at Vaishno Devi shrine due to coronavirus lockdown

During our recent rescue flights, the protective equipment being provided to the flight crew has been failing with an alarming frequency or has been plagued with other issues: Indian Pilots' Guild (IPG) in a letter to Chairman & MD of Air India. #COVID19

227 cases reported on Monday

Statement by the Medical and Health Department of Telangana 

Corona Virus has spread among some of those who attended a religious prayer meeting from March 13 to 15 at Markaz in Nizamuddin area in Delhi. Among those, who attended were some persons from Telangana. Of them, six died. Two in Gandhi Hospital, one each in Apollo, Global Hospital, Nizamabad and in Gadwal. The special teams under the Collectors have identified these persons who came in contact with these persons, and they are shifted to the hospitals. They were tested and treated. Since those participated in Markaz prayers were inflicted with Corona, all those participated in the prayers should inform the officials concerned. The government would conduct tests and offer treatment to them free of cost. Hence, all those, who went for the Markaz prayers in Delhi should inform the authorities. Anyone who has information about them should alert the government.

Mumbai’s Goregaon Bimbisar Nagar has been sealed by Mumbai Police after one positive COVID-19 case was found in the locality.

After Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday ordered the registration of an FIR against a maulana for leading a mid-March congregation in West Nizamuddin in South Delhi, sources have said that the Delhi Police is going to register multiple FIRs against the organisers.

The Uttar Pradesh Police Headquarters has also issued an order to Senior police officials of 18 districts to immediately conduct COVID-19 tests of people who attended the religious gathering in Nizamuddin and hospitalise those who test positive for the virus.

Amid coronavirus lockdown in the country, the West Bengal government has ordered that sweetmeat shops will be allowed to operate with minimum staff during the lockdown. Even as the 'mishti' shops do not fall in the list of essential food items, the Mamata Banerjee government has said that they will be allowed to operate everyday for 4 hours. Issuing the order late on Monday evening, the government said that only take away facility will available. 

All 78 in quarantine at hotel Heemal Srinagar  tested negative and administration has decided to send them to home

Piyush Goyal called for further enhancing affordable access to medicines and facilitating easier movement of health professionals across national borders.

Four more persons tested positive for coronavirus in Rajasthan on Tuesday, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases in the state to 83, an official said.Additional Chief Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh said one person each has tested positive from Jhunjhunu, Ajmer, Dungarpur and Jaipur.

He said the total number COVID-19 cases in the state has risen to 83. Among the 83, seven are evacuees from Iran who had landed at Jodhpur airport recently.

Seven more new cases were reported in Tamilnadu on Tuesday, taking the numbers to 74 in the state.

Yogi Adityanath visits Isolation facility at Ghaziabad

17 new coronavirus cases were reported in Indore on Tuesday. Madhya Pradesh tally jumps to 66
 

Amid growing panic among people on coronavirus, Karnataka administration has clarified that everyone is not required to wear a mask. 

6 new positive cases confirmed in Kashmir Division. All contacts of previous positive cases. Meanwhile contact tracing continues in both Jammu and Kashmir Divisions: Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary (Planning), J&K Govt

Many Indian companies have been able to develop kits, we're buying from one such company in Pune. They've been cleared by ICMR. It goes with Make in India. It's something that wasn't available at the time of Swine Flu in'09: Dr Arvind Lal,Chairman-MD,Dr Lal PathLabs

Delhi : A Doctor of Mohalla Clinic in Babarpur has tested positive for #Coronavirus. A notice has been put up in the area asking patients who had visited the clinic between 12th to 20th March, should self-quarantine at home for the next 15 days.

A 65-year-old #COVID19 positive patient from Mohali who was admitted to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh has passed away: Girish Dayalan, Deputy Commissioner, Mohali. Total number of deaths in Punjab rise to 4.
 

Group of Ministers(GoM) discussed Nizamuddin Markaz issue today in the meeting on COVID19, a detailed briefing was given to the ministers: Govt Sources

CM Yogi Adityanath in a meeting with senior officials has directed that whoever attended the Tablighi Jamaat event in Nizamuddin Markaz from the state be traced at the earliest and be immediately quarantined. CM also said that lockdown across state should be implemented strictly

Several government banks - Indian Overseas Bank, Canara Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank, Syndicate Bank, IDBI Bank, Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank allow a 3-month moratorium on payments of instalments of all term loans outstanding on March 1, 2020 after RBI's announcement

Larsen & Toubro Limited(L&T) has committed Rs 150 crores to the #PMCaresFund to support the fight against #COVID19

On Monday, sources reported that a religious programme was organised at Tablighi Jamaat's headquarters Markaz Nizamuddin mosque between 13-15 March which had over 300 foreign attendees from Malaysia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Kyrgyzstan apart from hundreds from several states in India. After attending the meeting, prior to the nationwide lockdown, all these attendees returned to several parts of the country, possibly spreading the COVID-19 virus. On Sunday, around 50-70 people, who were hiding in a mosque, were taken to LNJP hospital as they were all COVID-19 suspects - 24 have tested positive. the mosque has claimed that while they were letting small groups of attendees leave from the venue prior to the Janta Curfew, several were stuck in the area - which has now been entirely quarantined- owing to the nationwide lockdown.

According to sources, Karnataka has quarantined 54 attendees, Tamil Nadu has traced 981 of 1500 attendees - 16 have tested positive, Assam had 100 attendees - most of them still in Delhi. Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh has traced 626 of the 711 attendees (8 have tested positive), Andaman has reported 10 positive cases - 9 of which were attendees, UP has traced 157 attendees, Jammu & Kashmir has identified 6 attendees. Delhi government has insisted on strict action against the mosque administrators as the event had violated the state's ban on public gathering imposed at that time. Currently, India's total COVID-19 cases stand at 1251 with 32 deaths.

Keeping in mind the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on Maharashtra's economy, the state government announced its decision to slash 60 percent salary of legislators and local body members for the month of March. his 60 percent pay-cut would affect all the top-level public representatives in the state, including MLAs, MLCs and the Chief Minister as well.  In an official statement, Ajit Pawar announced that there would be a 50 percent salary deduction of Class A & B employees, a 25 percent salary deduction for Class C employees and no salary deduction of class D employees. 

Speaking about the “reverse-migration”, Tushar Mehta told the Supreme Court that earlier over 4 crore people had migrated to cities to find work and they were all now migrating back to their villages due to the corona scare and the lockdown that has been imposed.

“The government is doing all that it can to save the rural population from the pandemic. “We have sent an advisory to all States to put a complete ban on any interstate travel. I am told that there are no more migrants on the roads. Anyone being found is being taken to the nearest shelters. 6 lakh 63 thousand people have been provided shelter so far and over 22 lakh are being provided food on a daily basis”. CJI said that the Supreme Court will take on-record the submission made by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that there are no more migrants on the road anymore.

The Solicitor General told the Supreme Court that the government had enough supplies in the shelters for one year. There was also a plan in place by the government to mobilise religious leaders, maulvis and sadhus to counsel the people in these shelters and help them remain calm. 

Briefing the nation on the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation in Delhi in the light of the Nizamuddin Markaz event, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday, stated that of the 89 cases which have been hospitalized from the area - two are on ventilator support, in his daily press briefing. He added that while all 97 cases in Delhi are being analysed - 41 cases have foreign travel history with 22 cases are family members of those who tested positive - some may be due to Markaz event. He revealed that 1538 people were evacuated from Nizamuddin Markaz- 441 of which have symptoms of COVID-19 and 1107 under quarantine. While 24 cases have tested positive, the others' results are awaited.

Highlights of Kejriwal press briefing

• Of the 89 cases - 2 are on Oxygen supply. All  97 cases in Delhi being analysed and 24 cases are from Markaz. 
• 41 cases of foreign travel - 22 cases of those whose family have Corona.
• Local transmission is under control in Delhi. It is possible that many positive cases can come up because of Markaz event
• Many people gathered for this religious gathering. 1538 people taken out - 441 were symptomatic, 1107 cases (asymptomatic) has been sent to quarantine

He added that several who had attended the Markaz event have gone to other states, which is worrism as 6 people from Telangana have already died. He said that the Delhi government has asked the LG to lodge an FIR in this matter and warned that if any officer is found negligent, he won't be spared. He warned that people who participated in the Markaz event directly and those who came in their contact are in danger.

Health Ministry highlights

• Sharp rise in the cases as many have not adhered to the lockdown and are violating it
• An empowered committee has been formed to work on the R&D
• 1500 nurses given online training on March 30
• Coordination with states need to setup quickly the COVID exclusive hospitals in every state
• We have about 1200 cases and hence hotspots have increased. If we feel the cases in a location are going down, the place will not be labeled as a hotspot then

Home Ministry highlights

•  21000 relief caps set up in states. Over 6 lakh migrants at these relief camps and 23 lakh people provided food
• Home ministry will provide seperately the details of the Nizamuddin incident.
•  If there is a req from the states for Central forces, the Home minstry will think on it
• 538 people taken out 21000 relief caps set up in states

ICMR highlights

• 42788 samples tested till date, 123 labs functional and  49 pvt labs approved
• 4346 samples tested yesterday - 399 patients tested in private labs yesterday
   

Basagvaraj Bommai : 62 attendees have been tracked and we are enquiring into the travel history.
 

17 new COVID-19 cases, Majority are attendants of Tablighi Jamaat event says Andhra CM Jagan Mohan Reddy

Popular Front of India National Chairman OMA Salam has stated the allegations against Markaz Nizamuddeen are unfounded and that Delhi state government and a section of media are victimising Thableeg Jama'at to divert the attention from the massive fallouts from the unprepared lockdown. Whatever was intended by the lockdown, the social distancing failed miserably because of the highly unplanned nature it was executed. Instead, it is causing tragedies.

Markaz Nizamuddeen had cancelled all their pre-scheduled programmes before the lockdown started and fully complied official instructions. However the lockdown without a warning or adequate measures to address its aftermath proved tragic to millions of people. 

Popular Front asks media to refrain from demonising Markaz and Thableeg Jama'ath for the situation created by the authorities. Popular Front also urges the central and state government to take necessary steps to ensure food, accommodation and medical facilities of all the stranded people across the country.

In a massive development, the Ministry of Home Affairs, on Tuesday, informed that 1746 individuals were staying in Delhi's Nizamuddin Markaz as of March 21 - 216 foreigners, 1530 Indians. Moreover, 824 foreigners who had spread out across the nation for various Tabligh Jamaat activities are currently being screened and quarantined, according to MHA. Apart from these individuals, MHA stated that 2137 persons have been identified in different states and have been quarantined, adding that the process of identifying is ongoing.

A total of 1030 people from Telangana went to Delhi for the religious congregation from 29 districts of Telangana

Maharashtra State Health Department revealed: 72 new cases in Maharashtra

• AhmedNagar — 3
• Mumbai — 59
• Pune — 2
• Thane — 2
• Kdmc — 2
• Navi Mumbai — 2
• Vasai-Virar — 2

Total positive tested cases in Maharashtra is 302 now

One case Related to Nizamuddin case traced from Maharashtra. Health Department PRO says attendee was from Phillipines adding that proper contact tracing has been done and appropriate action has been taken. Government is checking other attendees if any

Delhi police Crime branch has registered a case in the Nizamuddin matter against the organisers

Delhi police statement:

Case registered against Maulana Saad and others of Tableeqi Jamaat u/s 3 of Epidemic Disease Act 1897 read with Section 269, 270, 271 and 120-B IPC for violation of government directions given to the management of Markaz of Basti Nizamuddin regarding restriction of social/political/religious gathering and for taking safety measures, including social distancing for prevention and treatment of COVID-19 viral infection.

3 persons who attended religious congregation in Nizamuddin quarantined in Odisha. meanwhile, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan stated that those  who have returned back from Nizamuddin, are yet to be tested. He added, " Police has noted down their details. The same has been shared with District Colletors. They will take the necessary action."

Tamil Nadu:

45 people who attended the Nizamudhin conference have been found positive for corona only in one day. 

50 cases only today in Tamilnadu. 

124 cases in Tamilnadu now

UP

14 people who attended Nizamuddin congregation kept in isolation in UP's Bhadohi 

Karnataka:

More than 50 foreign national attended tabliq Jamaat at Nizamuddin who had attended congregation in Delhi are tracked down by Karnataka police 

Kyrgyzstan - 19
Indonesia - 20 
South Africa-4 
Gambia -3 
And rest from UK, France and USA 

Apart from that 300 people who attended the ijtema are quarantined

Punjab: 

7 punjab residents in Delhi and 2 untraceable . Punjab government has indentified the persons attended Congregation at Nizamuddin in Delhi. 9 persons have been identified from Punjab. 

Govt bans tourist visas to Tablighi activists from abroad, as number of positive cases from Nizamuddin event soars. Those having tourist visas and promoting missionary activities to be treated as visa violators and No foreigner coming on tourist visa will be allowed to conduct Tablighi activities say Officials

A 52-year-old man tests positive for COVID-19 in Silchar, first in Assam: Health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma

MHA asks MEA to seek details of accommodation in India, return ticket, finance of Tablighi activists who apply for visa. Those who have recently traveled to India and disregarded the visa terms and conditions will take strict action against them, including blacklisting them says Home Secretary, Ajay Bhalla

1339 Tabligh Jamaat workers have been shifted to Narela, Sultanpuri & Bakkarwala quarantine facilities as well as to LNJP, RGSS, GTB, DDU Hospitals & AllMS, Jhajjar. Rest of them are being currently medically screened for COVID19 infections: MHA on Markaz, Nizamuddin case
 

Cracking down on several foreign attendees of the Nizamuddin Markaz event who lodged inside several mosques in Delhi, the Delhi police, on Tuesday has lodged a case against Delhi's Jama Masjid Maulavi. 12 foreigners are  reportedly still housed inside the mosque. In total, 48 foreigners are reportedly holed up in 5 mosques in North-East District of Delhi. They are currently being evacuated from the premises and being screened for Coronavirus (COVID-19) and then quarantined. 

23 laboratories in the Maharashtra (10 government and 13 private ones) have been approved by ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) for #COVID19 diagnosis. Reports from private laboratories are being evaluated before they are finalised: Public Health Department, Maharashtra

Delhi Police has written a letter to Delhi Government seeking immediate action with regard to persons including 157 foreign nationals associated with Tablighi Jamaat meet in Nizamuddin and presently staying at various mosques and places in Delhi.

Sources report that a lady gave birth to baby in Coronavirus Quarantine Facility in Kargil district of Union  Territory of Ladakh.

Delhi and Punjab authorities have evacuated over 200 Sikhs stranded at a gurdwara in the capital region's Majnu Ka Tilla area after several occupants developed COVID-19 symptoms. They will quarantine them in a Nehru Vihar school. Earlier on March 23, the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee decided to extend a helping hand to the Government of Delhi and offered Gurudwara, Majnu ka Tila as the quarantine facility.
 

Maharashtra Health Minsiter Rajesh Tope warns "Expect the number of positive cases in Maharashta to rise. More than 5000 people are high risk contacts and are quarantine. Govt doing its best to control this virus."

Till now, there are 1637 COVID19 cases, including 386 new positive cases since y'day. There've been 38 deaths. 132 people have recovered. The no. of positive cases have gone since yesterday. One of main reasons for it is the travel by members of Tablighi Jamaat, said joint health secretary Lav Agarwal. He added, "80,000 new isolation beds will be obtained from railways."

1800 people related to Tablighi Jamaat have been sent to 9 hospitals and quarantine centers. The recent rise in cases does not represent a national trend: Lav Agrawal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health

 

 Meanwhile, ICMR conveyed that 47,951 tests done so far - of which 816 tests in private labs. 126 labs in total of ICMR and 51 private labs in total.

"The States are arranging food and shelter for the migrant workers; 21,486 relief camps have been set up where 6,75,133 persons have been given shelter", Punya Salila Srivastava, Joint Secy, Home Ministry 

Eatala Rajender speaks to Centre says, "About 1,100 people identified who attended religious meeting in Delhi. Most of them traced. 160 members yet to be tracked."

Markaz had informed that on 27th, around 1000 attendees were remaining. Delhi Police is saying that around 2600  attendees were evacuated today. Delhi Police sources state the number of attendees inside markaz was higher than what they claimed in the letter sent to us

Cases Regarding the particular Tablighi jamaat Congregation 

- 23 cases from Jammu and Kashmir 

- 20 from Telangana, 

- 17 from Andhra Pradesh, 

- 9 cases from Andaman, 

- 2 cases from Puducherry
 

Wardha Police has identified 8 people from the district to attended Markaz. Only one has come back home and he along with his family have been quarantined. Rest all seven are in Nagpur, Delhi, Agra, Bhandra etc.

J&K

We'd received a list of 855 people, we've traced many of them& have sent them to separate locations for quarantine. We're also tracing contacts of these people. The first person who died due to COVID19 in the state had also visited Markaz Nizamuddin in Delhi: J&K DGP Dilbag Singh

Maharashtra

Fifty-four attendees of Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi have been identified & quarantined in Nagpur, Maharashtra. Their samples have been collected for #COVID19 testing: Nagpur Municipal Corporation Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe

Gujarat

Seventy-two people from Gujarat, including 34 from Ahmedabad, 20 from Bhavnagar & 12 people from Mehsana, attended Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi. One attendee from Bhavnagar, who tested positive, is no more while 71 others are asymptomatic & in quarantine: DGP Shivanand Jha

Odisha

20 members of Tabligh Jamaat traced in Odisha across 7 districts. All are in govt quarantine.  Family members also in quarantine.

Haryana

Over 500 people also found in Haryana who attended Tablighi & quarantined.
 

All 33 Supreme Court Judges, including CJI, have donated Rs 50,000 each to PM Cares Fund to aid the national fight against Covid-19 pandemic. Justice Ramana had donated Rs 1 lakh each to the funds managed by PM and two CMs of Andhra Pradesh and Telengana to fight the pandemic.

• Total 112 active COVID-19 cases in Delhi; we have requested Centre to provide us testing kits, other medical equipments
• 29 out of total 120 COVID-19 patients in Delhi contracted disease from people already infected with virus
• 766 people with COVID-19 symptoms admitted at hospitals across Delhi; situation now under control
• We have decided that phone records will be traced of those who have been advised home quarantine - 11084 numbers provided to police
   

The government of India has taken the decision to receive foreign donations for PM-CARES , report sources. The MEA has formed a 75-member strong team for the same and has addressed 3300 phone calls,  2500 emails

• Indian Government has contacted envoys of different countries from where the Muslim pilgrims of Tablighi Jamaat had reached India. 
• Govt has sought more details of these pilgrims. India’s laws have been violated by these foreign pilgrims. Action likely to be taken.
• Indian envoys have taken up the matter with the respective govt of visa violations committed by their nationals who attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation
   

In view of the current situation due to #COVID19, all #CBSE school students studying in classes I-VIII to be promoted to the next class; Students of classes IX and XI to be promoted based on internal assessment of schools. Class 9, 11 students not promoted this time can appear in school based tests online or offline.
 

4 new Coronavirus positive cases reported in Visakhapatnam. They had attended the Markaz gathering in Nizamuddin (Delhi). We are trying to trace the others who attended the gathering: Visakhapatnam Administration. Total number of positive cases in Andhra Pradesh rise to 44

The number of deaths in the United States from coronavirus has surpassed those reported by China, where the pandemic began in December, according to a toll published on Tuesday by Johns Hopkins University. There have been 3,415 deaths in the US from the virus, the Baltimore-based university said, more than the 3,309 reported by China.

• The death toll due to the coronavirus pandemic climbed to four in West Bengal on Tuesday after two patients succumbed to the contagion, while 10 new cases were reported, the highest single-day rise in the state so far.
   
• Five people did not have any travel history, while the rest either came in contact with a positive patient or had a travel history outside the state.
   
• The two persons who died were among the 10 new cases, officials said. Two persons have earlier died due to the disease.
   
• A total of 1,03,391 people are under home isolation in various parts of the state as on Tuesday, while the total number of positive cases stands at 32.
   
• The state government so far had identified 70 people, who had attended a religious gathering in Delhi's Nizamuddin earlier this month.

Thirty-four Gautam Buddh Nagar residents, who have shown no symptoms of coronavirus yet, have been home quarantined as a precautionary measure after it was found that they had attended Tablighi Jamaat twice in Delhi's Nizamuddin, police said on Tuesday.

The Jaunpur administration has quarantined about 50 people who attended a Tabligh-e-Jamaat congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin area and returned to the district recently. He said their addresses and the places they visited after attending the religious congregation are being ascertained.

"People who returned two days ago from Delhi and Noida on buses were scanned. Of this, there were around 50 persons who returned after attending the Tabligh-e-Jamaat. These people have been quarantined at Shia College, and their health check-up is being done," District Magistrate Dinesh Kumar Singh said.

Seven persons from Meghalaya attended the religious congregation at Tablighi Jamaat's Markaz in Delhi's Nizamuddin West, the Shillong Markaz informed the state police on Tuesday. They attended the congregation before the nationwide lockdown was imposed in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, the Shillong Markaz said.

In the wake of the prevailing situation, it is our responsibility to co-operate with the administration, Ali, a member of the Shillong Markaz, said. The persons who attended the religious congregation have not returned to Meghalaya, said G Iangrai, the assistant inspector general of police (A).

Five of them are currently in Delhi and two are in Lucknow, he said. The Meghalaya Police are in touch with them, the officer said, adding that their details have also been shared with the police forces of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. Megalaya has, so far, not witnessed any case of COVID-19.

Pune District Collector, Naval Kishore Ram says: Till now 60 people from Pune have been put under quarantine, in connection with Nizamuddin Markaz (in Delhi) matter. Nobody has symptoms, samples being sent for testing. 

40 people from Haryana who attended the Nizamuddin Markaz event traced, and have been quarantined. 4 tested positive and have been admitted to hospital in Ambala.

Two persons, who had attended a religious congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin area, tested positive for coronavirus here on Wednesday, a senior official said. Director of Health and Family Welfare Mohan Kumar said the two had returned from Delhi after attending the congregation and were admitted to the State Government hospital.

Twenty more people tested positive for coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday, taking the total number of such cases in the state to 86. Among the new cases, 19 were reported from Indore and one from the neighbouring Khargone district, he said. Of the 19 new patients in Indore, nine are from one family, including three children, aged 3, 5 and 8, residing in Tanzeem Nagar area of the city, the official said. A police official from Indore is also among the new coronavirus patients. Besides, Jabalpur has so far reported eight cases, Ujjain-six, Bhopal-four, Shivpuri and Gwalior two each and Khargone-one. Of the total 86 patients, five died, including three of Indore and two from Ujjain.

Two more COVID-19 patients died in Maharashtra, taking the state toll to 12, health officials said on Wednesday. One was a 75-year-old man from Mumbai, while the other, a 50-year-old man, died in adjoining Palghar district, the officials said. Maharashtra now has 320 COVID-19 cases and 12 deaths. Thirty nine coronavirus positive patients have been discharged after recovery.

The Delhi Police Special Branch on Tuesday wrote to the city government for taking immediate action with regard to people, including foreign nationals, who stayed in 16 mosques in the national capital after taking part in a religious congregation at Nizamuddin which has turned out to be a COVID-19 hotspot, officials said. The communique said there were 157 such people -- 94 from Indonesia, 13 from Kyrgyzstan, 9 from Bangladesh, 8 from Malaysia, 7 from Algeria and one each from Tunisia, Belgium and Italy. Remaining are Indian nationals.  It said they were staying in mosques in South East, North East and other districts in the city, police said.

Total number of COVID19 positive cases rise to 1637 in India (including 1466 active cases, 133 cured/discharged/migrated people and 38 deaths)

All the 43 patients tested positive for COVID-19 today in Andhra Pradesh have returned after attending the event at Delhi's Nizamuddin Markaz: Chief Minister's Office, Andhra Pradesh

"The State Government is in contact with Central Govt over details of more than 100 people who went to Nizamuddin Markaz. We urge people who went to come forward and get tested", Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh

The total number of coronavirus cases in the state stands at 101.
 

"205 people were in hope of going back to Punjab. I tweeted to the PM that these people who were Hindus and Sikhs ,not there to attend any programme. I also sent the CM of Delhi evidence that these people are stranded in the premises of Gurdwara. These are responsible sikhs", Manjinder Singh Sirsa

18 residents of Lucknow, who participated in Nizamuddin Markaz event in Delhi, have not returned to the city.  24 foreigners who came to Lucknow after participating in the event have been admitted at Balrampur Hospital, says Lucknow Police Commissioner Sujit Pandey

Puducherry:

We've identified 6 people from Puducherry & 3 from Karaikal who had attended Tablighi Jamaat meeting in Delhi. Their samples have been taken & sent for tests. I appeal to all other people who had attended the meeting to come forward & identify themeselves: Puducherry CM

Kerala:

Kerala: 22 people from Mallapuram district had attended the (Tablighi Jamaat) meeting at Delhi's Nizamuddin. They have been placed under home quarantined on their return, says Superintendent of Police Abdul Kareem #COVID19

Uttarakhand:

26 people of Uttarakhand participated in Tablighi Jamaat event at Delhi's Nizamuddin Markaz. They are still in Delhi. 173 out of 713 people who participated in regular jamaats at the mosque in last 28 days have been quarantined: Ashok Kumar,Director General of Police(Law & Order)

Assam:

Only positive case in state had attended Tablighi Jamaat - was in Delhi from March 6-9, said Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. He added that from March 18 to March 29 he was suffering from fever and 5 people who came in contact with him has been quarantined and samples have been sent for tests.
 

Wipro Ltd, Wipro Enterprises Ltd and Azim Premji Foundation have together committed Rs 1125 Crore towards tackling the unprecedented health and humanitarian crisis arising from #COVID19 pandemic outbreak.

Himanta Biswa Sarma: 68 people have not returned back to state. Out of 347, 230 people have been identified and located. Total 5 positive cases in Assam - all Markaz attendees.

With the sudden spike of Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases amid the Nizamuddin Markaz scare, PM Modi is scheduled to address all state Chief Ministers via video-conferencing on Thursday. Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia has informed that in a 36-hour operation all 2361 occupants in the mosque have been evacuated of which 617 have been hospitalised and others have been quarantined, with the entire building being sanitised. The Delhi Crime Branch which has booked the Markaz chief Maulana Saad for violating lockdown is currently searching for him by raiding possible hideouts.

Markaz building in Nizamuddin is being sanitized.  A religious gathering was held here that violated lockdown conditions & several COVID-19 positive cases have been found among those who attended it.  6 people from Telangana who attended the gathering have lost their lives. 2361 residents have been evacuated.

•    The States were sensitized about the intensive contact tracing of Tablighi Jamat participants as this has increased the risk of containment efforts of COVID-19.  The States were asked to complete the contact tracing process on a war footing.
•    It has been found that foreigners who had participated in the Tablighi Jamat had violated visa conditions.  The State were asked to initiate action for violation of visa condition against the foreigners and the organizers of the event.
•    The States were asked to implement the PM Garib Kalyan Yojana within the next week.  This will involve large cash transfer to beneficiaries.  It should be organized in a staggered manner to ensure social distance. 
•    It was noted that lockdown is being implemented effectively all over the country.  The States were asked to ensure that intra-state movement of goods is allowed without any hindrance while maintaining social distance.
•    The manufacturing of essential goods should be ensured.  It should also be ensured that the supply chains of such goods are maintained.

Rajasthan officials state 'we have put 37 people under quarantine who have visited and participated in Markaz at Nizamuddin. There are 5 people who came in contact with these people. So in total we have quarantine 42 people.

Two resident doctors of Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi test positive for COVID-19: Official sources

Syed Sajid Nizami says people kept coming despite goverment instructions and that the Jamaat allowed people to gather even when the Delhi CM and PM asked not to do so.

Adani Foundation has contributed Rs 50 lakh towards ISKCON, Dwarka, to feed the underprivileged population in the national capital.

13 more positive tested cases for Coronovirus in Maharashtra. 12 from Mumbai, One from Buldhana. Total Positive tested cases for Coronovirus in Maharashtra is 335.

After Home Minister Amit Shah, Home secretary Ajay Bhalla speaks to chief secy of both UP and Bihar. The MHA has instructed that every religious location is to be checked  for any congregation, as any collection of more than 3 people is illegal at this point. This has to be done  irrespective of the religion, stated MHA
 

Tamil Nadu on Wednesday has reported 110 new cases taking the state's Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally to 234. Sources report that all new cases were related to Delhi's Nizamuddin Markaz case. Moreover, the Tamil Nadu government has admitted all 1103 members who have returned after attending the event in isolation wards and the government health department has expressed gratitude to those attendees who admitted themselves voluntarily.
 

People from Markaz Nizamuddin were admitted on 6th floor. One of them tried to commit suicide today. We successfully saved him. We're taking all possible measures to tighten security so that such incidents don't repeat: Hospital Admin,Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital, Delhi

First case of COVID-19 positive from world's largest slum area Mumbai’s Dharavi has been found. A 56 years old male patient with no travel history has tested positive and currently he is in Sion Hospital. His family of 7 member is also under observation. BMC has sealed the area

"What happened in Delhi was even more unfortunate. Those who did negligence should introspect. Everyone is watching what is happening. Something like this happening in Delhi was not done. They should have come forward by themself and speak to the authority," says Health Minister Harshvardhan to DD

Delhi: New Positive Cases - 32
Total Positive Cases - 152
Foreign Travel Cases - 51
Contacts History Cases - 29
Markaz Masjid Cases - 53
Under Investigation - 19
Discharged/Migrated out - 06/01
Death - 02

Delhi Police registers case in connection with the use of DTC, cluster buses to carry migrant workers leaving the city to Anand Vihar ISBT amid the lockdown due to COVID-19 outbreak
 

As a precautionary measure,  to avoid further spread of Covid-19, a total of 86 contact persons has been quarantine at Poddar Hospital from Worli Koliwada, after 4 cases had een reported from one locality.

Meanwhile, tracing more Markaz attendees, Maharashtra's Konkan division releases press note on Tablighi numbers, stated, 200 people participated from the Konkan division which includes Navi Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Palghar
 

Nizamuddin Markaz attendees update from Haryana; The state has traced 524 attendees in 7 different cities. Out of these 89 are foreigners located in Nuh in haryana. All of them put in home quarantine.
 

8 new positive cases of Covid-19 in Assam. All attendees of Tablighi jamaat in Nizamuddin, states Himanta Biswa Sarma. Total case rise to 13.

As Maharashtra reports 33 new cases totaling to 335 cases, PM Modi on Wednesday has had a telephonic conversation with CM Uddhav Thackeray on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation in the state. State officials said the prime minister urged Thackeray to step up "tracing, testing, and treatment" of the persons who arrived in Mumbai and the rest of the state after attending Tablighi Jamaat meet in New Delhi last month. The Prime Minister is scheduled to address all state CMs via video conference amid the sharpest spike in cases seen in India (386).

Overall 3400 people had attended the event - Tamil Nadu : 1500 - 110 have tested positive, rest in quarantine; Gujarat: 1500 attendees - tracing ongoing (29 attendees tested negative);Telangana - 1100, 65 are being traced; 6 have died, 76 tested positive; Uttar Pradesh - 569 (most in quarantine); Haryana- 503 (all traced & quarantined); Himachal Pradesh - 157 (All traced & quarantined); Madhya Pradesh - 107 (trace ongoing), Chattisgarh - 101, Bihar -81, West Bengal -71, Assam -100 - (67 still in Delhi, others quarantined, 1 positive); Arunachal Pradesh -1.
 

After several countries evacuated their citizens from India as Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases soared to 1637, the US embassy in India, on Wednesday, that the US Mission India will arrange several flights from April 4 to transport their citizens back to the US. The embassy stated that US citizens in Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan can get in touch with the embassy to facilitate their travel to Delhi from where they will be flown to the US. The embassy has also shared details of hotels near Delhi airport where they can make reservations as the flights may be announced at short notice.

BMC has sealed Chembur-based Sai Hospital after a patient tested positive in the hospital and was moved to Kasturba hospital. Close contacts of the person placed under quarantine.

The number of deaths has more than doubled in the past week. In the next few days we will reach 1 million confirmed COVID19 cases, and 50 thousand deaths, says WHO

After Dharavi reported its first Coronavirus (COVID-19) case on Wednesday, the victim passed away in Sion hospital before he could be moved to Mumbai's COVID-19 hospital - Kasturba Hospital, as confirmed by BMC officials. Authorities have already sealed part of Dharavi with 300 flats and 90 shops to prevent the spread of the virus. Apart from the Dharavi resident, three more COVID-19 positive victims died in Mumbai - 84 yr old woman died in Hirandnandani Hospital, a 73-year-old woman in Wockhardt Hospital and a 63-year-old woman in Nair Hospital, taking the total number of deaths to 16.

• Many countries are asking people to stay at home and shutting down population movement, which can help to limit transmission of the #coronavirus, but can have unintended consequences for the poorest and most vulnerable people
• I have called on governments to put in place social welfare measures to ensure vulnerable people have food & other life essentials during this crisis
• In India, for example, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a $24 billion package, incl free food rations for 800 million disadvantaged people, cash transfers to 204 million poor women & free cooking gas for 80 million households for the next 3 months
• Many developing countries will struggle to implement social welfare programs of this nature. For those countries, debt relief is essential to enable them to take care of their people and avoid economic collapse