New Delhi: Seventy-five people have died in India after being infected with novel coronavirus, the Union Health Ministry said today, as the country recorded the biggest spike in cases with over 600 cases in the last 24 hours. The fresh cases take the total to 3,072.
India saw a steep rise in the numner of cases in the last week as hundreds tested positive after attending a religious gathering held by the Tablighi Jamaat in south Delhi's Nizamuddin last month. From 900 cases last Saturday, the case count has now breached the 3,000-mark in a week's time.
With nearly 30% of the overall cases linked to the Tablighi Jamaat event, Delhi's Nizamuddin mosque has become India's biggest hotspot for the deadly virus.
Coronavirus cases have crossed the 1 million-mark globally and nearly 60,000 have died. The United States registered nearly 1,500 deaths from COVID-19 between Thursday and Friday, the highest any country has recorded in 24 hours.
Here are the LIVE updates on the coronavirus outbreak:
Apr 04, 2020 23:32 (IST)
Coronavirus News: BMC Denies Reports Of Employees Being Infected With Coronavirus
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Saturday denied reports of its employees at Shatabdi Hospital in Kandivali being infected with coronavirus, reported ANI.
"All the employees have tested negative and are on duty," said BMC.
Several reports had surfaced about authorities quarantining all employees after a BEST bus staff tested positive for the coronavirus in Mumbai.
Apr 04, 2020 23:28 (IST)
Coronavirus News: 2 Gujarat Cops Suspended For Praying At Mosque Amid Lockdown
Gujarat Police on Saturday suspended two cops for offering prayers at a mosque in Dang district amid lockdown, reported ANI.
"A Police Inspector and a Police Sub-Inspector have been suspended for offering prayers at a mosque in Dang district amid coronavirus lockdown," Superintendent of Police Shweta Shrimal said.
Earlier in the day, a COVID-19 patient passed away in Ahmedabad. The death toll in Gujarat has risen to 10 now.
Meanwhile, 10 more persons have tested positive for coronavirus in the state, taking the total number of cases to 105.
Apr 04, 2020 23:12 (IST)
Coronavirus News: J&K Paramedical Council Donates Rs 2 Crore To COVID Relief Fund
The Jammu and Kashmir Paramedical Council donated Rs two crore to the J&K Relief Fund on Saturday to help fight the coronavirus outbreak in the state, an official spokesperson said, reported PTI.
A cheque was handed over to Lt Governor GC Murmu by Sunanda Raina, Dean of the Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu and president of the Paramedical Council, he said.
Apr 04, 2020 21:24 (IST)
Coronavirus News: 60-Year-Old Coronavirus Patient Dies In Rajasthan
A 60-year-old coronavirus infected woman, with no recent travel history, died at a hospital in Rajasthan's Bikaner district on Saturday as the state reported 21 fresh cases, taking the tally to 200, an official said.
Of the new cases, 10 can be linked to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi, he said.
"A 60-year-old woman admitted at a government hospital (PBM Hospital) at Bikaner died today. She had no (recent) travel history. She was living with disabilities and was on ventilator," Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Rohit Kumar Singh said.
He said that out of the 10 Tablighi Jamaat-linked cases, six are from Jhunjhunu and two each from Churu and Bharatpur district, reported PTI.
Apr 04, 2020 21:19 (IST)
Coronavirus News: Farmers In Amritsar Grapples With Harvest Due To Non-Availibility Of Labour
Farmers in Amritsar are facing trouble harvesting their crops this season due to the non-availability of labour and required machines amid the nationwide lockdown.
"We are facing difficulties now. The wheat crop is ready and a lot of the work has fallen on the farmer - from getting fodder for buffalos to harvesting and selling vegetables. There is always a need for labour," a farmer told ANI.
He said migrant labour largely comes from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Another farmer said that solution to all problems will have to be provided by the government and "only then will the country get grains".
"Labour and agri-medicine will also be needed to sow of new crops," he said.
The Punjab government has extended the crop procurement date by a month to June 15 in order to help farmers sell their farm produce.
The state government has also said that farmers should not gather in the market to sell their crops and follow social distancing norms.
Apr 04, 2020 21:15 (IST)
Coronavirus News: 2 Top Health Officials Test Positive In Madhya Pradesh
Indian Administrative Services officer is among 2 health officials who tested positive today in Madhya Pradesh, reported PTI.
Apr 04, 2020 21:13 (IST)
Coronavirus News: IRCTC Served Over 1.8 Lakh Meals To Poor, Needy In Last 7 Days
The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has served over 1.86 lakh meals to the poor and needy in the last seven days amid the coronavirus lockdown.
They served lemon rice in the south, khichdi-chokha in the east and kadi chawal in the north.
The railways' catering and tourism arm has served a variety of meals keeping in mind the local food preference of the people since the lockdown was announced, PTI reported.
"Starting March 28, we have served 1,86,140 meals to those who need it. It is being prepared at our base kitchens," an IRCTC spokesperson said.
IRCTC's thirteen base kitchens across the country have become the nodal points for such distribution. It has provided bulk cooked food in paper plates, from the locations where the base kitchens are situated.
Apr 04, 2020 21:07 (IST)
Coronavirus News: Himachal Pradesh Bans Sale Of Chewing Gums
Himachal Pradesh has prohibited the sale and use of chewing gum for three months to prevent COVID-19 transmission through spitting, an official said on Saturday.
COVID-19 is transmitted through droplets and there is a possibility of transmission by spitting chewing gums, said Food Safety commissioner and additional chief secretary (Health) RD Dhiman.
The sale and use of chewing gum, bubble gum and similar products would remain prohibited till June 30 in public interest, Mr Dhiman added, reported PTI.
Apr 04, 2020 20:38 (IST)
Coronavirus News: Mumbai Reports 52 Fresh Cases, 4 New Deaths
Fifty-two new coronavirus cases were detected in Mumbai on Friday while four COVID-19 patients died in the city during the day, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said.
The number of coronavirus cases in the country's financial capital thus rose to 330 and the number of those who have died has reached 22, the BMC said in a statement, reported PTI.
