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The US briefly topped Italy as the country with the highest death toll on Saturday, 11 April, with 18,860 deaths. However, soon after, Italy reported 19,468 deaths, surpassing the US.
Meanwhile, in India, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Telangana announced an extension of the lockdown in their states till 30 April.
The nationwide lockdown is likely to be extended for at least two more weeks, based on a consensus between the PM and CMs of all states, PTI reported.
The total number of coronavirus cases in India shot up to 7,529 on Saturday, with the death toll standing at 242, according to the Union Health Ministry.
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Two more people have tested positive for coronavirus in Maharashtra's Aurangabad taking the total number of cases in the district to 20, including one death and one recovery, ANI reported quoting Dr Sundar Kulkarni, a civil surgeon.
The US has become the first country to report more than 2,000 coronavirus deaths in one day, with 2,108 fatalities in the past 24 hours, according to the Johns Hopkins University tally, AFP reported.
Brazil, the hardest-hit Latin American country in the coronavirus pandemic, passed the mark of 1,000 deaths on Friday, the health ministry said, reported AFP.
The ministry's latest figures gave a toll of 19,638 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 1,056 deaths -- one fewer than it had indicated in an initial tally earlier in the day.
The United States of America has recorded more than 500,000 coronavirus cases,” according to Johns Hopkins, reported AFP.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has urged governments to put women and girls at the centre of their efforts to recover from COVID-19, fearing that the limited gains in gender equality and women's rights made over decades are in danger of getting reversed due to the pandemic.
“I urge governments to put women and girls at the centre of their efforts to recover from COVID-19. That starts with women as leaders, with equal representation and decision-making power,” Guterres said, reported PTI.
In Gujarat, Jalaram Seva Samaj Trust is providing food to the needy people, at Jalaram Mandir in Tarsadi of Surat district, every day amid the lockdown, ANI reported.
The global coronavirus death toll topped 100,000 on Friday as Easter celebrations around the world kicked off in near-empty churches with billions of people stuck indoors to halt the pandemic's deadly worldwide march, reported AFP.
The grim milestone came as the World Health Organization issued a dire warning that prematurely lifting lockdown restrictions — which have kept more than half the world's population in lockdown — could spark a "deadly resurgence" of the disease.
“Three more COVID-19 cases have been found in Agra. The total number of positive cases in Agra now stands at 92, including 81 active cases,” said Prabhu N Singh, Collector and District Magistrate Agra, reported ANI.
The total number of coronavirus cases in India shot up to 7,447 on Saturday, with the death toll standing at 239, according to the Union Health Ministry.
According to the latest Health Ministry data, there are 6,565 active cases and 239 people have died so far in the country. As many as 642 patients have been cured or discharged and one has migrated.
40 deaths and 1,035 new cases in last 24 hours, the sharpest ever increase in cases.
“Three new cases of COVID-19 in Jharkhand — one from Ranchi's Hindpiri, the other two from Koderma and Hazaribagh. Total number of positive cases in the state goes up to 17,” said Jharkhand Health Secretary Nitin Madan Kulkarni, ANI reported.
The United States recorded more than 500,000 coronavirus cases. The cases now stand at 501,301 as of morning today, according to Johns Hopkins tracker.
“At least three have died of corona in Chandni Mahal area in past the days. Out of 102 people staying in 13 different religious locations in the area, 52 tested positive. Interaction between people tested positive and residents of Chandni Mahal can't be ruled out,” said Office of DM (Central District), ANI reported.
Chandni Mahal is one of the 30 areas which have been declared containment zones, in Delhi.
“Three more coronavirus positive cases have been found in Lucknow,” said Dr Sudhir Singh, in-charge of isolation ward King George's Medical University (KGMU), reported ANI.
A 71-year old man, undergoing treatment for COVID-19 at a government hospital in Kannur, died on Saturday.
The deceased, who had tested positive for the coronavirus, hailed from neighbouring Mahe, an enclave of Puducherry, Kannur District Medical Officer Dr K Narayana Naik told PTI.
With three more persons, including a 75-year-old man, succumbing to COVID-19 in Indore, the death toll in the city has reached 30, officials said on Saturday.
The three men died during treatment at different hospitals in the city over the last three days. However, their test reports, which confirmed that they were coronavirus positive, were received this morning, an official of Government Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College said.
The other two deceased were aged 66 and 52, the official said, PTI reported.
“As of now, 13,500 PPE kits are being loaded on trucks and being taken to our godowns,” said Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain, ANI reported.
“Yesterday in video-conferencing, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan had said that rapid testing kits have not arrived yet. We've placed order with the same vendor, with whom central government has placed order. We've requested centre for it and placed direct order too,” he added.
Odisha has reported two fresh COVID-19 positive cases taking the total number to 50, while 12 coronavirus patients have recovered in the state, an official of the Health and Family Welfare department said on Saturday.
Two more persons tested positive and 10 recovered on Friday, the official said, adding that that the state now has 37 active COVID-19 cases. Two others had recovered earlier, PTI reported.
“Fifty-four new patients of COVID-19 in Gujarat. State count rises to 432,” PTI reported quoting an official.
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued the 5th addendum to the consolidated guidelines regarding the corona lockdown. The 5th addendum exempts from lockdown restrictions, the operations of Fishing (Marine)/Aquaculture Industry, the Ministry of Home Affairs stated.
The West Bengal government will impose a total lockdown in 10 COVID-19 hotspots and clusters from where positive cases have been reported, chief secretary Rajiva Sinha said on Saturday, PTI reported.
Though the chief secretary did not name the areas, he said local markets and all roads in those localities will be shut down, and nobody will be allowed to enter or step out of their homes.
Amid speculations and talks regarding the post-lockdown plan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is holding a video-conference with all the Chief Ministers, ANI reported.
“With 92 new COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra, state tally reaches 1,666,” stated the health Department of Maharashtra.
Mumbai reported 72 cases, two in Aurangabad, five in Malegaon and two in Panvel among others.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in the video-conferencing of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the Chief Ministers, suggested to PM that the lockdown should be extended till 30 April all over India, ANI reported.
He also said, “The decision to continue the lockdown should be taken on a national level,” reported NDTV.
If the Centre decides to extend the nationwide lockdown imposed to combat coronavirus, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) will welcome the move, party supremo Mayawati said on Saturday.
"If after serious review, the 21-day nationwide lockdown imposed in view of COVID-19, is extended by the Centre, then the BSP will welcome it," she said in a series of tweets in Hindi.
Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh, in PM's video-conferencing with chief ministers, recommended extension of national lockdown by at least a fortnight in addition to special concessions for industry and agriculture sectors urgently, the CMO stated, according to ANI.
“He also asked for faster supply of rapid testing kits,” added CMO.
Pakistan is set to receive more medical supplies from its all-weather ally China to fight the coronavirus outbreak in the country where the COVID-19 cases have sharply increased to 4,788 and death toll reached 71, officials said on Saturday.
The Ministry of National Health Services, in an early morning update on its website, reported that five patients died of coronavirus in the last 24 hours, PTI reported.
There is little food left at home, and no monetary aid or medical assistance on the horizon. They cannot even afford to fall sick amid the COVID- 19 lockdown.
The people of Kali Krishna village of Tripura are on edge, literally, living as they are on a narrow strip of land on the Indo-Bangladesh border. The village stands hemmed in between the international border and the barbed wire fence India has erected 150 yards away from it on its side, PTI reported.
“Number of COVID-19 cases reaches 50 in Mohali, Punjab, with maximum 34 cases being reported in Jawaharpur village alone. Two people have died due to the disease while five others were cured,” said Mohali Deputy Commissioner Girish Dayalan, ANI reported.
“Till date 163 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the state, including six from Sri Lanka, one each from Nepal, Thailand, Indonesia and South Africa and 64 from other states. Two deaths reported in the state so far,” said Health Department, Government of Haryana.
Seven more people have been reported COVID-19 positive in Karnataka on Saturday.Total number of cases are 214 now.
Eighteen more tconfirmed cases today in Rajasthan. While 14 tested positive in Kota, four more tested positive in Bikaner.
Total confirmed cases in the state rise to 527.
The Uttar Pradesh Shia Central Waqf Board has directed all its caretakers to immediately inform police if they hear about any person who had attended the Tablighi Jamaat in Delhi's Nizamuddin area, PTI reported.
In a statement issued in Lucknow, chairman of Uttar Pradesh Shia Central Waqf Board Waseem Rizvi said, “All the muttawlis (caretakers) are hereby informed that if any person who had attended Tablighi Jamaat are noticed at your mosques or madrassas, or want to hide on the pretext of being a Muslim, then the police should be immediately informed.”
A 21-year-old man under home quarantine allegedly committed suicide by hanging in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar district, police said on Saturday.
Ashu hanged himself from the ceiling at his house in Khindriya village under Chapar police station limits on Friday evening, said SHO Pawan Sharma.
The exact reason behind Ashu's suicide is not yet clear, he said.
“Pharmaceutical industry has significantly increased the production of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). 20 crore tablets of HCQ have been produced by the industry this month,” said Pankaj Patel, CEO of Zydus Cadila, in Ahmedabad, ANI reported.
He added, “We have sufficient stock available, not only for domestic market, but we would be able to supply to the world if need arises. My company will produce 30 tonnes of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) equivalent to 15 crore tablets next month.”
Doctors are considered second to God and this came true for a newborn in the neighbouring Alibaug town, who was taken to a neonatal facility on a doctor's two-wheeler when he developed respiratory problems just minutes after his birth.
Alibaug resident Shweta Patil developed labour pains in the early hours of Friday and was rushed to a nearby nursing home by her husband Ketan amid the COVID-19 lockdown, PTI reported.
To help people, who are confined to their homes due to the lockdown, the Arunachal Pradesh government has taken various steps to ensure that essential commodities reach their doorsteps.
Online apps like 'U Tell Us' and 'Dukan Dada' were introduced by the state government immediately after imposition of the lockdown since 25 March, while 'Mebuddy' and 'APeats' were later introduced to supply groceries and other essentials including masks, sanitizers and ambulance.
A senior police officer from Thane city of Maharashtra has tested positive for coronavirus and is undergoing treatment in Nashik, an official said on Saturday, PTI reported.
The patient is attached to the Thane Police Commissionerate and works as a senior police inspector, he said.
“He hails from Nashik district. He had recently returned to his hometown, where he fell sick. His test reports confirmed that he is coronavirus positive,” the official said.
“Death toll due to COVID-19 in Dharavi has climbed to four after an 80-year-old man died at Kasturba Hospital,” said Mumbai’s Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), ANI reported.
A team of officials and medical professionals came under attack in Meerut's Jali Kothi area on Saturday when it reached there to take a coronavirus-infected patient to a hospital for treatment, a senior UP government official said, reported PTI.
Four people were arrested in this connection, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi said.
18 more COVID-19 cases were reported in Rajasthan today. The total number of cases in the state has now risen to 579, officials said to ANI.
COVID19 claimed 3 more lives in Indore in Madhya Pradesh today. With this, the death toll in the city is now at 30, officials said to ANI.
11 people, including a BJP corporator, were detained at Panvel in Maharashtra's Raigad district after they were found assembled at one place for a birthday celebration during lockdown, police said.
The number of COVID-19 infections in Maharashtra has risen to 1,666, officials said at 3.20 pm.
Three new cases were confirmed in Jharkhand, health officials told PTI. This brings the total number of infections to 17.
Senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai tweeted that the prime minister and chief ministers of all states have come to a consensus on a two-week extension of the lockdown. He added that the PM recommended 3 zones for the lockdown: red, green and yellow depending on severity of the virus’ spread.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal lauded the PM’s decision to extend the lockdown in a tweet.
The Health Ministry’s COVID-19 briefing on 11 April said that the Home Ministry had directed states and UTs to provide police security to doctors and other medical staff, as needed, in hospitals and the quarantine facilities where they are working.
A rise of 1,035 cases and 40 deaths has been reported in last 24 hours across country, the ministry said.
“Lockdown and containment measures are important to fight COVID19. If we had not taken any measures then we might have had 2 lakh cases at this time,” Lav Agrawal, Joint Secy for the Health Ministry said in the briefing.
This number would have ballooned to 8.2 lakh by 15 April, they added.
“The PM told us that we must not compromise on the lockdown and that we are receiving suggestions for extending it for the next 15 days. The PM said that in the next 1-2 days the Govt of India will announce guidelines for the coming 15 days,” Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said following the video conference PM Modi held with state CMs.
UP’s Noida, which is one of nearly 20 infection hotspots, will have Section 144 of the IPC in effect till 30 April. Section 144 prohibits the assembly of five or more people.
The Home Ministry has written to the West Bengal government against violation of lockdown measures in the state. In a letter dated 10 April, the Centre has asked the West Bengal government to strictly ensure lockdown, based on reports they’d received that the lockdown was being ‘gradually diluted’ in parts.
The MHA letter also said that police were allowing religious gatherings in the state at this time, and that political leaders are distributing rations, not the public distribution system.
West Bengal Chief Secretary Rajiv Sinha, said, however, that they had received no such letter.
Seven new cases have been reported in Karnataka, with infections rising to 215 in the state. A police officer in Maharashtra’s Thane has also tested positive for COVID-19 and is being treated at Nashik, PTI reported.
On the topic of an exit plan from the lockdown, PM Modi said there seems to be a consensus amongst states on extension of the lockdown by another two weeks, PTI reported. This came as the PM met with CMs of states via video conference to plan for the coming weeks. Here are the highlights:
Five lakh antibody testing kits ordered by ICMR have not been received yet, the Health Ministry said. Meanwhile, another team of officials and medical professionals were attacked in UP's Meerut when they arrived to take a COVID-19 patient to the hospital.
More than 30 crore beneficiaries have been directly given support through Direct Benefit Transfer amounting to Rs 28,256 crore under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package, the Ministry of Finance said on 11 April.
The PM, in his meeting with CMs of states, condemned the attacks on medical staff and doctors, and urged CMs to ensure they were protected.
Maharashtra will continue its lockdown till 30 April, CM Uddhav Thackeray said, after the meeting of CMs with PM Modi on 11 April.
The Karnataka CM’s office has released more details of the meeting held with PM Modi.
COVID-19 cases in Uttar Pradesh rise to 448 after 15 more tested positive, and 17 fresh cases in J&K took the toll to 224, officials said to PTI.
Around 2,500 residents of a panchayat in J&K's Kathua district have decided to skip a meal everyday to feed the hungry during the lockdown, PTI reported.
Rajasthan recorded 117 new cases, taking infections in the state to 678. Andhra Pradesh reported 24 new cases, taking the toll to 405. Himachal Pradesh reported two new cases, taking its toll to 32.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s office released the details of their meeting with PM Modi via video conference. Here are the highlights:
Services at Delhi State Cancer Institute have been suspended till further notice in view of 21 people testing COVID-19 positive at the facility, officials said to PTI.
Uttarakhand has reported no new cases of the coronavirus for the third day in a row, state health officials said. The number of infections remains at 35.
Tamil Nadu reported 58 new COVID-19 cases and one more death on 11 April. Total cases in the state stand at 969, the Govt said to PTI.
“The number of COVID-19 positive cases who attended a 'single source' event at Delhi and their contacts as on today is 47. The total number of positive cases in those who attended the 'single source' event at Delhi and their contacts till today is 881”, the Tamil Nadu Health Department said to ANI.
The Jammu & Kashmir Government released Rs 27 crore under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for sustenance of relief & response operations for COVID-19 in the state, ANI reported.
Ten new cases have been reported from Kerala today, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan said on 11 April. Total number of cases stands at 373 now, of which 228 are active cases, the Kerala CM added.
Joint Secretary and above rank officers will resume work in ministries from Monday, 13 April, PTI reported, quoting sources. One third of essential staff need to be present in ministries, it added.
The death toll in Mumbai rose to 75, with 11 new deaths on 11 April, PTI reported. The number of infections in Mumbai is now at 1,132, with 1,666 infections across Maharashtra.
There are 50 COVID-19 positive cases, and one death in the state. As of today, there are 37 active cases in the state, the Odisha Information & Public Relations Department said on 11 April.
Three more COVID-19 patients in Pune passed away today, taking the death toll to 29, health officials, said.
The Rajasthan government has decided to promote students of Class 9 and Class 11 amid the lockdown, PTI reported.
No new COVID-19 cases have been reported in Gurugram in the last 72 hours, the Haryana Health Department said, reported ANI. The total number of active positive cases in the district is 18, while the total number of COVID-19 patients discharged is 14, officials said.
189 more COVID-19 cases and 11 deaths have been reported in Mumbai today, taking the total number of coronavirus cases in the city to 1,182 and deaths to 75. Of the 11 deaths reported today, 10 had co-morbidities & age-related factors, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said.
Britain on Saturday announced another 917 deaths in hospital of people testing positive for coronavirus, bringing the country's total toll close to 10,000, AFP reported.
With seven new infections, cases rose to 158 in Punjab, PTI reported.
Gujarat reported 36 fresh cases of COVID-19 and three more deaths on 11 April. The number of indections in the state has risen to 468, with 22 deaths.
The Chhattisgarh Government has ordered that people must wear masks when they step out of their homes. The Delhi government and the Maharashtra government had passed similar orders earlier.
A Division Bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir directed the Deptartment of Health & Medical Education to make adequate equipment of every kind available for the use of healthcare personnel and all other personnel involved in any aspect of fighting COVID-19.
A total of 452 samples have tested positive in UP as of 11 April, a press bulletin said. 45 people have recovered, and 5 have died.
“All 46 Tablighi Jamaat followers in Goa have tested negative for COVID-19,” Goa CM Pramod Sawant said on 11 April. 10 out of 46 attended the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi which has been called a ‘super-spreader’ of the novel coronavirus.
The total number of cases in the state also fell from six to two, after samples of four others were negative when tested again, Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said to ANI.
West Bengal CM mamata took to twitter to announce the extension of the lockdown in the state till 30 April, after the meeting of CMs with PM Modi. Schools will remain closed till 10 June. Bakeries would be allowed to open up with social distancing measures in place, while oil and food mills will continue to function, she said.
187 new COVID-19 cases were reported today in Maharashtra taking the state tally to 1,761. There were 17 deaths in the state as well, today.
COVID-19 cases in Haryana rose to 165 as 3 more people tested positive in Faridabad, Palwal and Hisar districts on 11 April, the Health department said.
Following the video conference meeting with CMs of states, PM Modi tweeted about the interaction, saying extensive deliberations were held.
Delhi reported 166 new cases on 11 April, taking the total number of infections in the capital to 1,069. The death toll stands at 19.
Telangana CM KCR announced that the lockdown in the state will be extended till 30 April.
Till now, 503 positive cases have been reported in the state, of which 393 are active cases and 96 have been discharged. 14 deaths have been reported till 11 April.
“A case has been registered against 28 foreigners who arrived on a tourist visa, for taking part in religious activities,” Jharkhand DGP MV Rao said. He added , “These people are under quarantine right now. After their quarantine period finishes, they will be produced before the court and sent to jail.”
The Delhi goverment will provide a one-time financial assistance of Rs 5,000 to drivers of autos, taxis, e-rickshaws, and other para-transit vehicles, ANI reported.
The Maharashtra State Excise Department said that the government has not allowed any vendors to sell liquor online or deliver it home. “Such news on social media is fake,” it added.
West Bengal has reported 95 positive cases of COVID-19, the state’s health bulletin on 11 April said.
Six staff members of the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai have tested positive and been hospitalised, India Today reported. Other asymptomatic staff members have been quarantined inside the hospital, it added.
Flight carrier IndiGo on Saturday, 11 April, said one of its staff passed away due to coronavirus infection in Chennai.
While the airline did not provide details, a source told PTI that the employee was an aircraft maintenance engineer and he passed away on Friday.
Action will be taken against landlords, society managers if they create pressure on doctors, paramedical staff to vacate premises, Noida police said on 11 April. This came after several reports from across the country that doctors and medical workers were being persecuted or attacked.
The total number of COVID-19 cases stands at 529, with 40 deaths, the Madhya Pradesh Health Department said.
An orthopedic has filed an application in the Supreme Court seeking modification of the court's 8 April order on free coronavirus tests in private labs.
The plea, filed by Kaushal Kant Mishra, says if the testing is made free for all, private labs will be overburdened financially and slow down.
Mr Mishra urged the court to allow private labs to do COVID-19 testing "as per the rates stipulated in the ICMR Advisory dated 17 March".
The US has passed Italy as the country worst-hit by the coronavirus pandemic with 18,860 dead, according to a tracker, AFP reported.
Italy topped the US soon after, with deaths touching 19,468. The US had touched 18,860 deaths just moments earlier, topping Italy as the worst-hit country, AFP reported.
The Centre is likely to categorise the country into red, orange and green zones depending on the number of COVID-19 cases and might allow limited services to function in the safe zones, PTI quoted officials as saying.