New Delhi: Odisha became the first state in the country to extend the lockdown over the COVID-19 pandemic till April 30 as the number of patients infected by the novel coronavirus continue to rise across the country. Seventeen people, who had tested positive for the coronavirus, died across the country in the last 24 hours, taking the number of dead to 169 in India. The number of people infected with COVID-19, caused by a novel coronavirus, rose to 5,865 on Thursday, government data showed. A novel virus is one that has not been previously identified in humans. PM Modi, in a video meeting with leaders of all parties, has suggested that the lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus will be extended and restrictions will not be lifted in one go after April 14.
Several hotspots have been singled out in cities across the country for greater effort on isolating them completely. In Delhi, 20 coronavirus hotspots in Delhi - including the famous Sadar Bazar -- will be sealed, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia announced at an emergency meeting held at the Chief Minister's residence.
Here are the Highlights on Coronavirus Pandemic:
Apr 10, 2020 05:57 (IST)
Coronavirus News: FIR Against Delhi Jamaat Attendee For Not Informing Authorities After Return To Prayagraj
Police filed an FIR against a person for not informing the authorities after his return to Prayagraj from the Tablighi Jamaat event at Nizamuddin's Markaz in Delhi, reported ANI.
"We got information that a professor in Govindpur had returned from Delhi. On interrogating him, we got to know that he had attended the Nizamuddin Markaz event from March 6-10. FIR was lodged against him as he didn't inform us earlier about it" said Superintendent of Police, Prayagraj. He, along with his wife, has been quarantined.
Apr 10, 2020 05:01 (IST)
Coronavirus News: COVID-19 Patient Dies In Pune Taking Toll To 25 In District
A COVID-19 patient died at a hospital in Pune, taking the total death toll to 25 in the district, reported ANI.
"A COVID-19 positive person has passed away at Sassoon hospital in Maharashtra's Pune, taking the total death toll to 25 in the district. There are 209 positive cases in Pune, till now," said District Health Officer (DHO).
Of all the positive cases in the district, Pune Municipal Corporation has reported 175 cases, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation 22 cases and Pune Rural 12 cases.
Apr 10, 2020 04:05 (IST)
Coronavirus News: Uttarakhand Announces Rs 10 Lakh Ex-Gratia To Families Of Offcials, Staff Who Lose Lives To COVID-19
Uttarakhand government on Thursday announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakhs to the next of kin of officials, employees and people who have lost their lives while carrying out their duties during coronavirus outbreak, reported ANI.
Apr 10, 2020 02:36 (IST)
Coronavirus News: No New Case In Uttarakhand On Thursday
No positive case of COVID-19 was reported from the state on Thursday, reported ANI.
"No positive case was found in Uttarakhand today. A total of 35 cases have been reported in the state till date, including the five discharged) the Directorate of Health Services said.
Apr 10, 2020 01:57 (IST)
Coroanavirus Updates: Centre Issues Guidelines For Safe Blood Donation
In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Blood Transfusion Council (NBTC) has put in place a set of national guidance norms to ensure adequacy and safety of blood, given the restrained gathering and social distancing norm in force currently.
The development comes after the government had received several requests from various stakeholders regarding the concerns for maintaining safety and adequacy of blood during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The NBTC has issued interim recommendations for blood transfusion services to maintain a safe and adequate blood supply amid the coronavirus crisis.
ANI Input
Apr 10, 2020 01:49 (IST)
Covid-19 Update From Rajasthan: Schools Told Not To Take Fee For 3 Months
The Rajasthan government on Thursday barred schools in the state from taking any fee from students for next three months in view of the coronavirus outbreak.
It also directed the schools to promote students, except those of classes 10 and 12, to the next standard.
According to an official release, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot took the decisions at a video conference with officials and state ministers Bhanwar Singh Bhati, Govind Singh Dotasara and Subhas Garg.
The schools will suspend the recovery of any amount pending since March 15 and will not take the present and advance fee for the next three months, the release said.
Gehlot said online classes and e-learning should be arranged by schools and colleges for the continuity of education, according to the release.
Apr 09, 2020 23:27 (IST)
Coronavirus In Chhattisgarh: AIIMS Raipur Develops Software For Getting Sample Test Reports
The IT department of AIIMS Raipur has developed a software that will help the medical staff and state health department in getting desired information about a particular sample test report within seconds.
The software can be used to search for any particular information among over 3000 sample test reports.
Initially, the task was quite daunting as collecting a sample, testing it and communicating the test report to concerned health department officials usually took three to four days.
ANI Input
Apr 09, 2020 21:13 (IST)
Breaking: Maharashtra Sees Biggest Spike In Coronavirus Cases In A Single Day
Maharashtra registered 25 new deaths linked to COVID-19 on Thursday in its sharpest spike yet amid the global pandemic which took the total number of fatalities to 97. With 229 more people testing positive, the number of coronavirus cases in the state reached 1,364, a health official said.
"Both the number of new patients and that of deaths are highest for a single day so far," the official said.
Apr 09, 2020 20:44 (IST)
Rajasthan Makes Face Masks Mandatory In Urban Areas
The Rajasthan government on Thursday made it mandatory to wear face masks in all urban areas and agriculture mandis of the state, an official statement said.
Through video conferencing, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot directed officials to ensure compliance of the state government decision which will be applicable in all 196 urban local bodies of the state and in agriculture mandis (wholesale markets).
"The decision was taken to contain the spread of coronavirus pandemic in the state," the statement quoted Mr Gehlot as saying.
PTI Input
Apr 09, 2020 20:42 (IST)
Coronavirus Update From Uttar Pradesh: A Day After Sealing Orders, Authorities Step Up Vigil In Hotspots
A day after the UP government sealed off coronavirus hotspots in 15 districts of the state, the authorities on Friday stepped up vigil in the areas allowing only the doorstep delivery of essential services and ensuring that people stay at home.
Later in the day, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath asked officials to further divide the hotspots into sectors and appoint a magistrate for each of the area to keep tabs on the situation, an official spokesperson said.
All business and other establishments will remain closed in the hotspots and the doorstep delivery of essential commodities will be strengthened, the spokesman said.
Apr 09, 2020 19:49 (IST)
Coronavirus Lockdown Delhi Update: Over 3,900 people detained for violating lockdown orders
As many as 190 cases were registered and 3,954 people detained in the national capital on Thursday for violating government orders during the lockdown imposed to control the spread of the coronavirus outbreak, police said.
According to the data shared by the police, 190 cases were registered under section 188 (for disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code till 5 pm on Thursday.
Apr 09, 2020 19:48 (IST)
Coronavirus Updates From Punjab: Spike in COVID-19 cases; total count rises to 130
Punjab witnessed a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases on Thursday with 24 more people contracting the infection, pushing the total count to 130 in the state.
Besides, two more COVID-19 related deaths were reported in the state, taking the toll count to 10, officials said.
As the number of coronavirus cases keeps rising, the infection has now marked its presence in 17 districts in the state with Muktsar and Sangrur reporting cases for the first time.
PTI Input
