The novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, pandemic has spread across 190 countries. The outbreak is having a major impact on global economy and the stock market. FM Nirmala Sitharaman has announced Rs 1.7 lakh crore ‘PM Gareeb Kalyan’ scheme aimed at reaching out to the poorest.
The total number of confirmed cases in India is 649. The Union Health Ministry has said that 43 people have recovered so far, but 13 have died. Today is the second day of the 21-day nationwide lockdown.
Globally, there have been over 4.74 lakh confirmed cases of COVID-19. At least 21,350 people have died so far. Infections are rapidly rising in the US, Italy, Spain, France and the United Kingdom. Catch the latest updates here:
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LIVE Updates | Maharashtra Health Department:
5 more people tested positive for COVI-19in Maharashtra today (3 from Sangli and 1 each from Kolhapur & Pune), taking the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 130.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Prime Minister's Office:
PM Narendra Modi had a telephonic conversation today with Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad al Thani, the Amir of Qatar. The two leaders discussed the ongoing developments related to the COVID-19global pandemic and its social and economic impact.
Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu LIVE Updates | State health department:
3 more people test positive for coronavirusin Tamil Nadu; COVID-19 cases in the state rise to 31.
Coronavirus in Odisha LIVE Updates |
60-year-old man tests positive for novel coronavirus in Bhubaneswar; COVID-19 cases in Odisha rise to 3, says officials.
Coronavirus in J&K LIVE Updates | Rohit Kansal, J&K Principal Secretary:
Another COVID-19positive case reported just now; a patient from Rajouri district in Jammu. History of close contact with a (now deceased) positive case.
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LIVE Updates | Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh:
Nearly 11,000 convicts andundertrials who are imprisoned for offences with prescribed punishment up to 7 years or less should be released on emergency parole or furlough to reduce overcrowding in prisons andto contain COVID-19outbreak.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | PM Modi at emergency G20 summit:
The G-20 accounts for 80 percentof the world’s GDP and 60 percent of the world’s population. At the same time, we have 90 percentof the global COVID-19 cases, and 88% of the deaths caused by it. Our economies may be strong, but clearly, our systems are fragile. (4/4)
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | PM Modi at emergency G20 summit:
Multilateral fora have been less effective in promoting shared interests of humanity - whether it is combating terrorism or climate change. And now, we have yet another example. This crisis is robbing us of our most precious resource – our lives, our health.(3/4)
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | PM Modi at emergency G20 summit:
The G20 emerged as the leading forum to mitigate the 2008 global financial crisis. It has promoted financial stability and growth. However, in the process, we have allowed a purely economic agenda to define globalization. We have cooperated more to balance competing individual interests, rather than advance the collective interests of all human kind. (2/4)
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | PM Modi at emergency G20 summit:
Thousands of precious lives have been lost to this crisis. Equally alarming are its social and economic costs. However, beyond our immediate trauma, I would like to focus upon a fundamental reality, which this pandemic has exposed. (1/4)
Coronavirus LIVE Updates |
$5 trillion to be injected into the global economy by G20 countries to combat COVID-19 pandemic, reports news agency ANI.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | Health ministry:
Death toll due to COVID-19 rises to 16 in India; cases soar to 694.
Coronavirus in Bihar LIVE Updates |
One more COVID-19case in the state, a 20-year-old boy from Patna with no travel history, confirms Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH). The total number of positive cases in the state rises to 7.
Coronavirus in Kerala LIVE Updates |
Kerala govt's community kitchens become operational to deliver free food to migrant workers, elderly andthose in home quarantine.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | PM Modi tweets:
It is our firm resolve that the poor and vulnerable get all possible help to cope with the testing times. The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package will go a long way in ensuring food and livelihood security.
Coronavirus in Punjab LIVE Updates | Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Punjab Jail Minister:
To decongest prisons in wake of COVID-19pandemic, Punjab is giving parole to 6000 prisoners from jails across the state, these are prisoners who were sentenced to less than 7 years in prison.
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LIVE Updates | Anil Deshmukh, Maharashtra Home Minister:
There would be no restriction on the timings of essential service shops. I assure that the food delivery boys will face no difficulty in carrying out their duties.
In a press release, the Chief Minister's Office has also said that all essential commodities, grocery stores and medical stores are now allowed to remain open for 24 hours in the state.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates |
All scheduled international commercial passenger services shall remain closed till April 14, DGCA has said in a circular. However, this restriction will not apply to international all-cargo operations, it has said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a three-week national lockdown in an address to the nation on March 24.
Coronavirus in Punjab LIVE Updates |
The total number of cases in Punjab rise to 33, after 2 more people test positive for Coronavirus. Of the two, one person is from Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar and is a contact of another positive patient and the second case is from Jalandhar and the patient has a travel history, according to news agency ANI.
Coronavirus in Kerala LIVE Updates | CM Pinarayi Vijayan:
Kerala reports 19 fresh cases of coronavirus, taking total under treatment to 126.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan:
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today declared an insurance package for health workers working in the country which includes more than 10 lakh Asha workers. This is good news and it gives security to all the health workers.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates:
Death toll across theglobe from COVID-19 at 21,000, news agency AP has reported.
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates |
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)Director General SN Pradhan:12 battalions and 50 sub-units deployed across country on standby. 400 personnel geared with Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) are present in every battalion. We are ready to act anytime if states need. (ANI)
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | DRDO Chairman G Satheesh Reddy:
DRDO scientists are working on the development of many products to tackle COVID-19. Sanitizers developed by us have been distributed to many people. In the last 15-20 days, we have supplied more than 20,000 sanitizer bottles to various agencies.
We have also developed N-99 and 3 layered masks, we have produced more than 20,000 masks and supplied to various agencies, including Delhi Police.
Some time back DRDO developed a ventilator along with Society for Biomedical Technology (SBMT), its technology has been transferred to the industry. An industry in Mysore is producing the secondary version of that ventilator now.
Coronavirus in Mumbai LIVE Updates:
#No. of international travellers in quarantine facilties: 297
#Total no. of confirmed cases in Mumbai: 52
#Total no. of deaths: 4
# Total number of people who have recovered and were discharged: 10
–Public Health Department, Municipal Corporation Greater Mumbai
Coronavirus LIVE Updates:
COVID-19infections across the world near 5,00,000, news agency AP has reported.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates:
5 kg of rice/wheat andone kg of pulses will be given to every family free of cost under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana. Additionally, every family will get one kilo free pulses. It shows our government's commitment towards the welfare of the poor, BJP chief JP Naddatold ANI.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates:
Community transmission phase of COVID-19 will start if the community andwe (the govt) don't work collectively andfollow guidelines. But it would never happen in India if we follow social distancing andtreatment properly,Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry told ANI.
Coronavirus in Europe LIVE Updates | WHO Europe sees 'encouraging signs' in coronavirus spread
The World Health Organisation's (WHO) European office has said it saw "encouraging signs" as Italy reported a lower rate of COVID-19 infections, cautioning it was too early to say whether the worst had passed. (Input from PTI)
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | Punya Salila Srivastava, Joint Secretary, Home Ministry:
The government is taking steps to ensure that production, supply or distribution of essential goods and services do not get affected during the lockdown. States are working to provide food and shelter to migrant workers.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | Lav Aggrawal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry:
On our request, work has started in around 17 states for COVID-19 dedicated hospitals.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | Lav Aggrawal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry:
43 fresh cases and four deaths related to COVID-19 have been reported in the last 24 hours.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | JUST IN:
Centre to allows doorstep delivery of medicines to people in view of the COVID-19 pandemic and the nationwide lockdown.
Coronavirus in South Korea LIVE Updates | South Korea warns of deportation, jail for quarantine violators
South Korea has warned that it will deport foreigners while its citizens could face jail if they violate self-quarantine rules after a surge in imported coronavirus cases.
The country has tightened entry rules for travellers from countries suffering big outbreaks, subjecting them to two weeks of mandatory quarantine but at least 11 people violated self-quarantine rules between March 13 and 24, the health ministry said. It did not specify their nationalities. (Input from Reuters)
Coronavirus in Europe LIVE Updates | Reported cases in European countries
> Italy: 74,386 cases (includes recoveries and deaths)
> Spain: 49,515 cases
> Germany: 37,323 cases
> France: 25,604 cases
> Switzerland: 10,909 cases
(Data: Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, as of 4.00 pm IST on March 26)
Coronavirus in Odisha LIVE updates:
Odisha to set up the largest COVID-19 hospital in the country. Will be a 1000-bed hospital and will be functional in a fortnight.Odisha will be the first state in the country to set up such a large scale hospital exclusively to treat COVID-19 patients. (ANI)
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi:
The Govt announcement today of a financial assistance package, is the first step in the right direction. India owes a debt to its farmers, daily wage earners, labourers, women and the elderly who are bearing the brunt of the ongoing lockdown.
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LIVE Updates | JUST IN:
Total number of coronavirus positive cases have rises to 125 in Maharashtra.
Coronavirus in Haryana LIVE Updates:
Total number of COVID-19 positive casesin the state now stands at 18 – 2 cases in Faridabad;10 in Gurugram;1 in Palwal;3 in Panipat;1 in Panchkula and 1 in Sonepat
Coronavirus LIVE Updates:
South Africacharges two coronavirus positive men with attempt to murder for not staying isolated. (AFP)
Coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh LIVE Updates:
Chain of supply of essential commodities established, there will be no shortage. Shops selling essential commodities to remain open from 6am-11pm daily. Passes issued to doctors/paramedics,sanitation workers etc to facilitate their movement, Lucknow Police Commissioner S Pandeytold ANI.
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates | Reported cases in various countries:
> China: Around 81,731 reported cases (including recoveries and deaths)
> Italy: 74,386 cases
> United States: 66,197 cases
> Spain: 49,515 cases
> Germany: 37,323 cases
> Iran: 27,017 cases
> France: 25,600 cases
> Switzerland: 10,897 cases
> United Kingdom: 9,640 cases
> South Korea: 9,241 cases
(Data: Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, as of 2.55 pm IST on March 26)
Coronavirus in Rajasthan LIVE Updates |
Two more people have test positive in the state — a 45-year-old man in Jaipur and a 35-year-old man in Jhunjhunu. Both have a foreign travel history. Contact tracing is underway. The total number of cases in Rajasthan has now risen to 40.
Coronavirus in Delhi LIVE Updates |
Meanwhile, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has extended closure of its services till April 11 — when the nationwide lockdown is scheduled to end.
On March 22, DMRC had announced closure of its services till the end of March.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates |
The finance minister has announced a series of measures to tackle the economic impact of the nationwide lockdown triggered by the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more on some of those announcements here:
> Rs 1.7 lakh crore relief announced under PM Gareeb Kalyan Anna Yojana for food
> Centre asks states to use Rs 31,000 crore fund for construction workers
> Rs 50 lakh medical insurance announced for every health worker
>Senior citizens, widows, divyangs to get Rs 1,000 through DBT
Read more: Govt to pay EPF contribution of both employee and employer for next 3 months
FM Nirmala Sitharaman has said that the Centre will pay EPF contribution of employers as well as the employees (12 percent each) for the next three months.
Read more here
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is now answering questions from the press. Stay tuned to this LIVE blog for the latest updates of the novel coronavirus pandemic and its economic impact.
The finance minister made a series of announcements today.
The government has hiked MGNREGA wages by Rs 2,000/worker and has offered sops to farmers.
FM Nirmala Sitharaman:
Today's measures are aimed at reaching out to the poorest, we will obviously think about other things.
FM Nirmala Sitharaman has said that the announcements made today will come into effect immediately.
FM Nirmala Sitharaman:
States to use district mineral fund for COVID-19 medical expenses. States will use the District Mineral Fund for medical screening, facilities and health needs.
