Here are the top developments: 1 India Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the various empowered groups set up to respond to the coronavirus threat and directed officials to ensure sufficient availability of all essential medical equipment such as personal protective equipment, masks, gloves and ventilators.

As many as 1,023 COVID-19 positive cases found in 17 states have been traced to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation, the Union health ministry said, underlining that about 30 per cent of the total novel coronavirus cases in the country are linked to "one particular place".

The health ministry said the testing capacity has been ramped up significantly to over 10,000 tests per day to detect the coronavirus infection.

Testing and treatment for COVID-19 will be free of cost for Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries at private laboratories and empanelled hospitals, the National Health Authority has said.

The central government issued an advisory asking people to wear "homemade face covers", particularly when they step out of their houses in order to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Railways has said no final decision has been taken yet on restoration of train services and that a call on it would be taken in a few days even as railway zones were preparing action plans to resume services from April 15.

The government has assures that protocols are in place to handle fluctuation in load from switching off of lights on April 5. 2 States Tamil Nadu: Seventy four people, most of whom attended the Tablighi Jamat meet in Delhi, tested positive for coronavirus in Tamil Nadu, taking the total number of cases to 485.

Seventy four people, most of whom attended the Tablighi Jamat meet in Delhi, tested positive for coronavirus in Tamil Nadu, taking the total number of cases to 485. Andhra Pradesh: The number of coronavirus cases in Andhra Pradesh climbed further to 190, adding 26 to the overall tally since Friday night.

The number of coronavirus cases in Andhra Pradesh climbed further to 190, adding 26 to the overall tally since Friday night. Rajasthan: A 60-year-old coronavirus positive woman having no recent travel history died at a hospital in Rajasthan's Bikaner district as the state reported 21 fresh confirmed cases, taking the tally to 200.

A 60-year-old coronavirus positive woman having no recent travel history died at a hospital in Rajasthan's Bikaner district as the state reported 21 fresh confirmed cases, taking the tally to 200. Delhi: Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said that 59 new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Delhi in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of positive cases in the national capital to 435.

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said that 59 new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Delhi in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of positive cases in the national capital to 435. Kerala: Eleven more persons in Kerala tested positive for coronavirus, taking the active cases to 254 and 1.71 lakh people are under survillence in the state.

Eleven more persons in Kerala tested positive for coronavirus, taking the active cases to 254 and 1.71 lakh people are under survillence in the state. Uttar Pradesh: The number of coronavirus cases in Uttar Pradesh rose to 227 with 94 cases linked to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation.

The number of coronavirus cases in Uttar Pradesh rose to 227 with 94 cases linked to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation. J&K: With 17 more people testing positive for COVID-19, the number of cases in Jammu and Kashmir rose to 92.

With 17 more people testing positive for COVID-19, the number of cases in Jammu and Kashmir rose to 92. Uttarkhand: Six Tabligi Jamaat members tested positive for coronavirus in Uttarakhand, taking the number of cases in the state to 22.

Six Tabligi Jamaat members tested positive for coronavirus in Uttarakhand, taking the number of cases in the state to 22. Haryana: The number of COVID-19 cases climbed by 18 to 62 in Haryana, with 23 Tablighi Jamaat members among the total positive cases.

The number of COVID-19 cases climbed by 18 to 62 in Haryana, with 23 Tablighi Jamaat members among the total positive cases. Karnataka: Sixteen coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Karnataka, taking the total number of the affected in the state to 144.

Sixteen coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Karnataka, taking the total number of the affected in the state to 144. Gujarat: With 10 more persons testing coronavirus positive in Gujarat, the number of such patients in the state rose to 105, while the death toll reached 10 as one more person succumbed to the infection.

With 10 more persons testing coronavirus positive in Gujarat, the number of such patients in the state rose to 105, while the death toll reached 10 as one more person succumbed to the infection. West Bengal: A person working at the Haldia Dock Complex of the Kolkata Port Trust has tested positive for coronavirus after returning from the Tablighi Jamaat gathering in Delhi, taking the total count of COVID-19 cases in the state to 58.

A person working at the Haldia Dock Complex of the Kolkata Port Trust has tested positive for coronavirus after returning from the Tablighi Jamaat gathering in Delhi, taking the total count of COVID-19 cases in the state to 58. Madhya Pradesh: With two more persons dying due to COVID-19 in Madhya Pradesh, the death toll in the state reached 10.

With two more persons dying due to COVID-19 in Madhya Pradesh, the death toll in the state reached 10. Assam: One more COVID-19 positive case was reported from North Lakhimpur district, taking the total number of positive cases in the state to 25. 3 World The coronavirus pandemic has killed over 60,000 people worldwide, nearly three quarters of them in Europe, since it emerged in China in December.

Britain reported 708 more deaths from COVID-19 -- the fourth successive daily high -- as the number of confirmed cases rose to nearly 42,000.

Spain recorded a second successive daily drop in coronavirus-related deaths with 809 fatalities, taking the total number of deaths in the country now to 11,744.

Pakistan recorded 2,700 coronavirus cases with the number of cases in its Punjab province crossing the 1,000-mark.

Singapore reported sixth death from COVID-19 as the total cases reached 1,114 in the country.

The Sri Lankan government has indefinitely closed all international airports for incoming passenger flights due to the nationwide lockdown over the coronavirus pandemic.

Bangladesh has extended the nationwide transport shutdown till April 11 as the country recorded its biggest single-day increase of COVID-19 cases with nine new positive tests, taking the country's total to 70.

NEW DELHI: The death toll climbed to 75 on Saturday along with a significant increase in the number of confirmed infections in India, but the government assured there was no need to panic as the rate of spread was less than in many other countries and just "one place" accounted for 30 per cent of detected cases. The Union health ministry said a total of 3.072 COVID-19 cases have been reported in the country, so far.