The novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, pandemic has spread across 185 countries and territories. Today is the twenty-seventh day of India’s nationwide lockdown, which has been extended till May 3. Confirmed COVID-19 cases in India stand at 17,656. The death toll from the outbreak in India is at 559.
Maharashtra, Delhi and Gujarat have reported the highest number of cases. Restrictions have been eased in non-hotspot areas of the country from today.
Globally, there have been over 24 lakh confirmed cases of COVID-19. At least 1.65 lakh people have died so far. The United States, Spain, Italy, France, Germany and the UK are the most-affected countries. The outbreak continues to have a major impact on the global economy. Catch the latest updates here:
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Coronavirus in Rajasthan LIVE Updates |
98 more COVID-19cases (including 50 in Jaipur, 32 in Jodhpur, and7 in Kota) and2 more deaths (in Nagaur andKota) reported in Rajasthan today. Total coronavirus cases in the state now at 1,576 anddeaths at 25.
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LIVE Updates | Liquor shops can remain open in state with social distancing measures, says Maharashtra Health Minister
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said liquor shops in the state can remain open with social distancing measures in place.
"If social distancing is properly maintained, there should not be any ban on liquor shops," Tope said while responding to a question regarding the subject during his Facebook Live earlier today.
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LIVE Updates | Rajesh Tope, State health minister:
Maharashtra has done 76,000 tests, Mumbai has done over 50,000 tests.We have decided to undertake 75,000 rapid tests.The statehas done most number of tests in the country.There are about 6,000 surveillance teams working in the state.Liquor shops in the state can remain open with social distancing.
Coronavirus in Delhi LIVE Updates:
5 more areas of Delhi added to the list of COVID-19 containment zones in the last 24 hours. The number of containment zones in the national capital is now at 84. (ANI)
Coronavirus LIVE updates | BREAKING:
UK coronavirus death toll from those hospitalised rises by 449 to 16,509, health ministry told AFP
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates: Niti Ayog CEO Amitabh Kant:
We have done very well as a country on containing Coronavirus.
India's mortality rate is one of the lowest in the world. It is important that we don't allow this to spread from urban to rural areas.
Tracking, containing, quarantining is very critical.Privacy of the Aarogya Setu app is top class as privacy has been out topmost concern.
Moving a step further with the app as we open up the economy need to combine it with big data andAI. Need to put self assessment tools andan e pass when people move from red to green areas you can use the pass.
Coronavirus in Delhi LIVE Updates | Max Healthcare:
The first patient who was administered Plasma Therapy on compassionate grounds at Max Hospital, Saket has shown positive results andwas recently weaned off ventilator support. The patient is a 49-year-old, male from Delhi who had tested COVID positive on April 4.
Patient's family requested plasma therapy when he showed no improvement and he was administered fresh plasma as a treatment on April 14.
After receiving the treatment, the patient showed progressive improvement and by the fourth day, was weaned off ventilator support on the morning of April 18. The patient is now doing well and his two consecutive COVID tests have come negative.
Coronavirus in Delhi LIVE Updates | Delhi government:
Rapid testing for COVID-19commenced today at the Nabi Karim area containment zone in Central District of the national capital. 62 random samples were tested in the area and all came negative.
Coronavirus in Gujarat LIVE Updates | Gujarat Director General of Police Shivanand Jha:
Curfew will continue in some areas of Ahmedabad, Surat and Rajkot till April 24 in view of the lockdown which was imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh LIVE Updates |
Three more people test positive for COVID-19 in UP's Gautam Buddh Nagar; tally reaches 100.
Coronavirus in Odisha LIVE Updates |
Odisha Govt's Higher Education Department permits resumption of normal activities of State public andprivate universities during Coronavirus lockdown, with certain restrictions.
Coronavirus in Manipur LIVE Updates | CM N Biren Singh:
Manipur has become a COVID-19 free state now. We have decided to relax Coronavirus lockdown in rural areas but it will continue in Imphal till further orders. Shops of essential goods will open between 8 AM and 2 PM in urban areas.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates |
Advisory council of the 15th Finance Commission willmeet on April 23-24 to discusss theimplications of coronavirus pandemic for GDP growth in FY21, FY22.
Coronavirus in Kerala LIVE Updates | CM Pinarayi Vijayan:
There has been no confrontation between state govt and Centre. Kerala is following directions issued by Centre. Barber shops will not be opened and restaurants will only provide online delivery.
Coronavirus in Mumbai LIVE Updates | BMC:
30 new Coronaviruspositive cases have been reportedin Dharavi today. The total number of positive cases in the area increases to 168 (including 11 deaths).
Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu LIVE Updates | Dr C Vijayabhaskar, State Health Minister:
43 new COVID-19positive cases and two deaths reported today, taking the total number of positive cases in Tamil Nadu to 1,520. Total 17 deaths have been reported in state till date.
Coronavirus in Mumbai LIVE Updates | BMC:
Two BMC employees posted in the Disaster Management Department of BMC have tested positive for COVID-19. Both were asymptomatic; they have been kept at Isolation Facility at COVID-19 care center of BMC.
Coronavirus in Kerala LIVE Updates | CM Pinarayi Vijayan:
There was a time when the situation in Kerala could have gone out of hand but with proper contact tracing, we were able to contain andovercome it. The mortality rate in the world is 5.75, it is 2.8-3 in India, and0.58 in Kerala. We are carrying out testing aggressively.
Coronavirus in Kerala LIVE Updates | CM Pinarayi Vijayan:
Sixnew COVID-19cases reported in Kerala, all from Kannur, of which fivehave foreign travel history. Total cases in the state at 408, including 114 active cases.
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LIVE Updates | Rajesh Tope, Health Minister:
283 more COVID-19cases reported in Maharashtra, taking total positive cases in the state to 4483, as of 11 am today. Of the 283 new cases, Mumbai has recorded 187.
Coronavirus in Punjab LIVE Updates |
Number of COVID-19cases reaches 245 in Punjab including 38 cured and16 deaths. 61 cases have been reported in SAS Nagar, 48 in Jalandhar and26 in Patiala.
Coronavirus in Mumbai LIVE Updates | BMC:
53 journalists in Mumbai tested positive for COVID-19; All are under isolation. Samples of 171 journalists reporting from field, including photographers, video journalists and reporters, were collected. Most of the positive journalists were asymptomatic.
Coronavirus in Himachal Pradesh LIVE Updates | Himachal Pradesh Health Department:
There are 23 active COVID-19cases in Himachal Pradesh, 11 patients have recovered, four migrated out of the State andone person succumbed to the disease. A total of 2,902 people have been tested for COVID-19 so far.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | Remdesivir shows promise against COVID-19, but more trials needed: Scientists
Researchers claim that COVID-19 patients in a clinical trial are responding quickly to Remdesivir, a finding which they said is "promising," while also emphasising the need for more trials to test the effectiveness of the antiviral drug.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | ICMR:
We have received a grievance that In West Bengal, RTPCR kits are not working properly. These kits are US FDA approved and have good standards, only thing is they should be stored under 20 degrees temperature, otherwise, results may not be correct.
Coronavirus in J&K LIVE Updates |
14 new COVID-19cases reported, all from Kashmir. Total number of cases now stands at 368, Jammu- 55 and Kashmir- 313.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | Lav Agarwal, Health Ministry:
Mahe in Puducherry, Kodagu in Karnataka andPauri Garhwal in Uttarakhand have not reported any COVID-19case in last 28 days. The number of districts where no case has been reported in last 14 days has increased to 59. Goa is now COVID-19 free.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | Ministry of Home Affairs:
Union Home Ministry wrote to Kerala govt yesterday, expressing concerns over modified guidelines regarding lockdown issued by the later. Kerala has allowed some activities that violate the ministry's instructions issued under Disaster Management Act.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | Lav Agarwal, Health Ministry:
So far, 2,546 people have been cured and recovery rate is 14.75 percent.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | Lav Agarwal, Health Ministry:
Since yesterday there have been 1,553 additional confirmed COVID-19cases, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 17,265. 36 more deaths also reported in the last 24 hours.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | Lav Agarwal, Health Ministry:
Every citizen is fighting this battle along with the government, which is why we have achieved success as compared to other countries. Even as we are relaxing lockdown measures in some parts, it is necessary that we follow social distancing norms. The only vaccine to this disease is social distancing.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare:
Overcoming lockdown restrictions, sown area of summer crops has increased significantly, registering an increase of 36 percentover the previous year, pushed up mainly by rice cultivation.
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates | Confirmed cases in SAARC countries
> India: 17,265 confirmed cases (includes recoveries and deaths)
> Afghanistan: 996 cases
> Bangladesh: 2,948 cases
> Bhutan: 5 cases
> The Maldives: 52 cases
> Nepal: 31 cases
> Pakistan: 8,648 cases
> Sri Lanka: 295 cases
(Source: News reports and Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center, as of 3.45 pm IST on April 20)
Confirmed cases in Russia surpass 47,000
Russia reported 4,268 new cases today, which took the total number of confirmed cases in the country to47,121.
Forty-four patients have died in the last 24 hours in Russia.
Pulled into poverty
(Image: News18 Creative)
Hong Kong reports zero new cases for first time since early March
Hong Kong has recorded zero new coronavirus cases today for the first time since March 5, health authorities said. However, according to Reuters, authorities have urged residents to maintain strict hygiene and social distancing practices and avoid unnecessary travel.
The city, which has avoided the exponential increases seen in other parts of the world, has confirmed 1,025 total cases and four deaths since the outbreak began in January.
Coronavirus in Spain LIVE Updates | Spain's confirmed COVID-19 cases have surpassed 2 lakh
The number of people diagnosed with the novel coronavirus infection in Spain has surpassed the 2 lakh threshold, the country's health ministry has said.
The ministry said the number of cases rose to 2,00,210 from 1,95,944 cases yesterday. Spain has the second highest number of diagnosed cases in the world after the United States.
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates | Confirmed cases in ASEAN countries
> Brunei: 138 cases (including recoveries and deaths)
> Cambodia: 122 cases
> Indonesia: 6,575 cases
> Laos: 19 cases
> Malaysia: 5,389 cases
> Myanmar: 111 cases
> Philippines: 6,259 cases
> Singapore: 6,588 cases
> Thailand: 2,765 cases
> Vietnam: 268 cases
(Source: Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center, as of 2.50 pm IST on April 20)
86,000 Assamese people stranded in other states get Rs 2,000 each
The Assam government today deposited Rs 2,000 each to the accounts of 86,000 people who are now stranded in other states due to the ongoing nationwide lockdown.
State Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the decision to provide financial support to the needy people, who are stuck at different places in other states, was taken by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal during a review meeting. (Input from PTI)
Coronavirus in Rajasthan LIVE Updates | State Health Dperatment:
Total 57 new COVID-19cases andtwodeaths have been reported today in the state, of which 43 are from Jaipur, 6 from Jodhpur and3 from Kota. Cumulative positive cases now stand at 1,535, death toll at 25.
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LIVE Updates | CM Uddhav Thackeray:
No one should think that lockdown has been lifted. We have just tried to revolve the wheel of economy a bit. I've heard that some people are treating relaxations as lifting of lockdown. If they continue to behave like this we'll take strict measures
Coronavirus in Turkey LIVE Updates |
Turkey's confirmed coronavirus cases have risen to 86,306, taking it to the highest total outside of Europe and the United States.
According to Reuters, Turkey only reported its first coronavirus patient on March 10, but has seen the number of cases rise sharply since then. The country now has the seventh-highest number of cases on a country basis.
Check out these eerie images of city life disrupted by the novel coronavirus
Though restrictions have been eased in some relatively less-affected areas, most of the new measures are targeted at easing pressure on farming and manufacturing sectors.
Here is a look at city life that has come to a sudden standstill during the lockdown.
Coronavirus impact | Business optimism for April-June for Q2 falls to record low, worse than 2009 financial crisis: Report
Business optimism for the ongoing April-June quarter has slumped to its record low level, reflecting the plunge in business sentiment owing to the heightened uncertainty around the impact of COVID-19, according to a report.
What does a fever do?
(Image: News18 Creative)
MHA forms Inter-Ministerial Central Teams to assess situation in Maharashtra, MP, Rajasthan and West Bengal
The Centre has constituted six Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) to make on-spot assessment of the COVID-19 situation and issue necessary directions to four states — Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and West Bengal — for redressal.
The teams will submit their report to the central government in the larger interest of the general public, the Union Home Ministry has said.
MHA says COVID-19 situation 'especially serious' in Mumbai, Kolkata, Jaipur and Indore
The COVID-19 situation is "especially serious" in Mumbai, Pune, Indore, Jaipur, Kolkata and a few other places in West Bengal, and violation of lockdown measures risk the spread of the novel coronavirus, the Centre has said.
In a communication to state governments, the Union Home Ministry noted that there have been several incidents of violence against COVID-19 frontline healthcare professionals, complete violation of social distancing norms and movement of vehicles in urban areas. These should be stopped, it said.
More to follow.
Coronavirus in Bangladesh LIVE Updates | Bangladesh shuts down villages after tens of thousands attend cleric's funeral
Bangladesh has tightened a clampdown on seven villages after tens of thousands attended the funeral of a popular local cleric in spite of a nationwide lockdown to control the spread of COVID-19, Reuters has reported.
The massive gathering in Brahmanbaria district, about 60 km east of the capital Dhaka, has raised concerns about the potential for a spike in cases in a country of 160 million people with poor medical infrastructure.
Coronavirus in Delhi LIVE Updates | District Magistrate South Delhi:
All 16 high-risk contacts of the pizza delivery person who had tested positive for COVID-19, have tested negative.
