The number of Covid-19 cases in India rose by 505 in 24 hours to 3,577 overnight as testing picked up pace to check and contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
The death toll rose by eight to 83 while 275 people have been either cured, discharged, or migrated from the country, according to latest health ministry data.
Today, April 5, 2020, marks the 12th day of the three-week coronavirus lockdown in India. At 9:00 pm, for nine minutes, 1.3 billion Indians shut off their lights at home and lit candles, diyas and mobile torch lights in a show of solidarity against the pandemic. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Thursday called for the initiative.
The pandemic has so far infected more than 1.1 million people globally and resulted in death of 62,000. The U.S. is the worst affected with a death toll of 7,500, while Italy has recorded the lowest daily fatalities since March 26.
But the big question remains: When, and how, will this end?
Track latest news updates and developments on how the coronavirus situation is evolving in India here:
Bihar: Two More Test Positive For Covid-19 In Bihar, Total Count At 32
Two more people have tested positive for Covid-19 in Bihar, taking the total number of patients suffering from the dreaded disease in the state to 32.
Bihar’s Principal Health Secretary Sanjay Kumar said that the latest case was that of a 65-year-old man from Bhagalpur district, with a travel history to the U.K. Earlier, a 37-year-old Gaya resident, who had recently returned from Dubai, tested positive for coronavirus infection, he said.
Gaya District Magistrate Abhishek Singh said the patient was admitted to a hospital along with his wife, who had contracted the disease a few days ago.
Gujarat Firm Makes Low-Cost Ventilators In 10 Days
A Rajkot, Gujarat-based company has developed low-cost ventilators in just 10 days and will deliver 1,000 of these machines to the Gujarat government-run hospitals in next few days.
The ventilator, Jyoti CNC Automation Ltd., was tested at a medical lab of Ahmedabad's civil hospital and given an approval on Friday night, an official said. The market cost of a single ventilator is Rs 6.5 lakh, but the company has been able to manufacture it at less than Rs 1 lakh.
Jyoti CNC has also decided to donate the first 1,000 ventilators it manufactures to the Gujarat government, the company’s founder Prakaramsinh Jadeja said.
Production Of Essential Items Rises 10 Days Into Coronavirus Lockdown
As the confusion over essential goods cleared, production of such items increased nearly two weeks after India put its 1.3 billion citizens under a 21-day lockdown to combat spreading of the new coronavirus pandemic.
While factories churning out packaged atta (wheat flour) and edible oil were running at about 40 percent capacity, those making biscuits are operating at 20-25 percent capacity. Plants making personal hygiene products, such as soaps, shampoos, detergents and sanitary napkins, are operating at 25-30 percent capacity.
PM Modi Tweets #9pm9minute Amid Blackout Threat
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reminded people to light up lamps on Sunday night to show India’s collective resolve to fight the coronavirus pandemic. "#9pm9minute", the prime minister tweeted to remind people of the exercise.
But PM Modi’s call to “challenge the darkness” of Covid-19 is seen having an unintended consequence—that of blackouts across India’s power grids.
14 New Covid-19 Cases In Gujarat, Tally Rises To 122
The number of Covid-19 cases in Gujarat has jumped to 122 with 14 new patients being reported from the state, an official said on Sunday.
Out of the 14 new cases, 10 have a direct or indirect link to the religious congregation organised by Tablighi Jamaat at Nizamuddin Dargah in Delhi last month, Principal Secretary (Health) Jayanti Ravi said.
Of the total Covid-19 count, 72 are of local transmission, 33 patients have foreign travel history and 17 have inter-state travel history, she said. So far, 17 patients have been discharged after recovery, she said.
Markets This Week Will Track Covid-19 Updates For Further Cues, Analysts Say
Indian stock markets may see high volatility this week as sentiment will continue to be driven by how the coronavirus situation is evolving worldwide and domestically, said analysts.
The S&P BSE Sensex had last week lost 2,224.64 points. The S&P BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty 50 will be closed on Monday for 'Mahavir Jayanti' and on Friday for 'Good Friday'. On the macroeconomic front, PMI data for the services sector is due on Monday. (read more)
Maharashtra Covid-19 Cases Rise To 556, Phase-Wise Easing Of Lockdown Likely
The Maharashtra government is weighing the possibility of easing the ongoing 21-day coronavirus lockdown in phases, the state’s health minister said.
As of 9:45 am on April 5, 2020, Maharashtra had a total of 556 Covid-19 cases—490 active, 42 discharged and 24 deaths—even as India's count rose to 3,374 with a death toll of 77. Globally, the coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 1.2 million people and killed over 50,000.
"Discussion is on about whether the lockdown can be relaxed in phases. Strict rules will have to be followed in the containment zones," Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said in a live webcast on Saturday. "Not all the people can be allowed to come on to the streets in one go.” (read more)
India Puts Total Ban On Exports Of Hydroxychloroquine
India put a total ban on exports of hydroxychloroquine, a malaria drug that U.S. President Donald Trump has touted as a “game changer” in the fight against Covid-19. The move comes on a weekend when Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the global supply chain for drugs and other medical supplies with Trump. (read more)
Spike In Covid-19 Cases Due To Tablighi Jamaat Cases, Health Ministry Says
The spike in Covid-19 cases in India is due to the infections that cropped up at Tablighi Jammat, the religious congregation that took place at Nizammuddin Dargah in Delhi between March 1 and March 15, the health ministry said today.
"India added 472 cases since yesterday, with 11 additional deaths," Joint Health Secretary Lav Agarwal said. "The doubling rate which is 4.1 days now because of Tablighi Jamaat cases, would have been 7.4 days if the additional cases had not come."
Key Highlights Of Lav Agarwal's Daily Briefing:
- So far 274 districts have reported cases of Covid-19.
- The cabinet secretary has asked all states to ensure all the pharma units operate without any issue.
- The cabinet secretary has requested district magistrates to develop crisis management plans for every district.
“Domestic production of protective personal equipment has started. We are also trying to import as well from all the countries that have PPEs,” Agarwal said, adding that the health ministry has advised states on optimum and rational utilisation of PPEs.
India To Conduct Free Covid-19 Tests Under Ayushman Bharat
As part of Ayushman Bharat, not only government labs, but also private labs will offer free testing and Covid-19-related treatment to more than 50 crore Indians.
"The effort is to chase the virus as against the virus chasing us," Joint Health Secretary Lav Agarwal said at the health mninistry's daily briefing today.
Health Ministry On Coronavirus-Fuelled Migration In India
The government has set up 28,000 relief camps and shelters across the country to house daily wage workers that were migrating back to villages in the wake of the coronavirus lockdown, Joint Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava said at the health ministry’s daily briefing in New Delhi today.
About 12.5 lakh workers are staying in these shelters, he said.
Health Ministry On Rapid Test Kits For Covid-19 Screenings
The Indian Council of Medical Research, has already issued guidelines with regards to use of rapid antibody-based tests in Covid-19 hotspots, health ministry officials said at the daily coronavirus press briefing in New Delhi today.
“The primary focus of the coronavirus rapid test is to test influenza-like illness found in hotspots where we have suspected cases of Covid-19,” Joint Health Secretary Lav Agarwal said. The rapid test kits should start arriving from Wednesday, ICMR Chief Epidemiologist RR Gangakhedkar, who too was present at the briefing, said.
Also Read: India To Deploy Rapid Test Kits To Speed Up Covid-19 Screening
Coronavirus India Update: 505 New Covid-19 Cases In 24 Hours
A spreading coronavirus pandemic infected 505 Indians in the last 24 hours, increasing the total count of Covid-19 cases in India to 3,577, latest data from the health ministry showed. This includes 3,219 active cases, 275 people who have been either cured, discharged or migrated, and 83 deaths.
As far as the state-wise tally is concerned, Delhi now has the highest number of cases at 503, followed by Maharashtra (490), Tamil Nadu (485), Kerala (306) and Telangana (269)
EPFO To Accept Aadhaar Card As Birth Proof Online From Subscribers
Retirement fund body Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation will accept online its subscribers’ Aadhaar card as valid proof to rectify their date of birth and ensure that their PF accounts are KYC compliant, the labour ministry said on Sunday.
EPFO has allowed its subscribers to withdraw three months basic pay and dearness allowance as non-refundable advance to mitigate any economic pain caused by the coronavirus pandemic. But the facility was available to only those who were compliant with Know Your Customer norms. (read more)
Coronavirus India's 'Greatest Emergency' Since Independence: Raghuram Rajan
Former Reserve Bank of India governor Raghuram Rajan sees the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic as the “greatest emergency” India has faced since independence.
In a note posted on his LinkedIn page on Saturday, Rajan suggested some measures that he thought could help the country contain the economic damage from lockdowns imposed across the nation to curb the spread of Covid-19. (read more)
In Videos: #9pm9minutes
Indians respond to PM Modi's call for solidarity against the coronavirus pandemic.
In Photos: #9pm9minutes
Indians respond to PM Modi's call for solidarity against the coronavirus pandemic.
Millions of Indians Respond to PM Modi's #9pm9minute Call
Millions of Indians across the country switched off lights at their homes and lit candles, diyas or turned on mobile phone torches at 9:00 pm on Sunday, responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to show nation's "collective resolve and solidarity" in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
This is the second time Modi has sought to rally people amid the ongoing lockdown to combat the pandemic, which has claimed more than 65,600 lives globally and inflicted over 12 lakh people.
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