Here are the top developments: 1 India The Centre has cautioned the state governments and Union Territory administrations against giving exemptions beyond the prescribed limit during the 21-day lockdown.

The coronavirus pandemic is a reminder of the interconnected nature of the world and the need for adopting a global response to it, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a message to his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang.

Railways is scrambling to provide information regarding thousands of passengers who travelled on five trains with people who participated in the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi. All these trains began from Delhi between March 13 and March 19 - the Duronto Express to Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, the Grand Trunk Express to Chennai, the Tamil Nadu Express to Chennai, New Delhi-Ranchi Rajdhani Express and the AP Sampark Kranti Express.

Indian Council of Medical Research senior scientist R Ganga Ketkar said 47,951 tests for COVID-19 have been conducted in the country till date.

There are 126 labs in the ICMR network and 51 private labs have been given approval to conduct tests for coronavirus, ICMR said.

The CBSE will conduct class 10 and 12 examinations for only 29 main subjects which are crucial for promotion and admission to higher educational institutions, Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' has announced.

The MHA said over 6.75 lakh migrant workers have received shelter in 21,486 homes set up by states and union territories to contain their movement during the countrywide lockdown. 2 States Tamil Nadu: As many as 110 people who returned to Tamil Nadu from Tablighi Jamaat meet in Delhi tested positive for coronavirus, taking the total cases in the state to 234.

As many as 110 people who returned to Tamil Nadu from Tablighi Jamaat meet in Delhi tested positive for coronavirus, taking the total cases in the state to 234. Kerala: Kerala reported 24 new cases of coronavirus, taking the total number of people under treatment in the state to 237.

Kerala reported 24 new cases of coronavirus, taking the total number of people under treatment in the state to 237. Maharashtra: A 51-year-old male COVID-19 patient died in Maharashtra, taking death toll to 13 while the total number of positive case in the state climbed to 335.

A 51-year-old male COVID-19 patient died in Maharashtra, taking death toll to 13 while the total number of positive case in the state climbed to 335. Rajasthan: Fifteen fresh cases of coronavirus were reported from Rajasthan with 13 of them detected in the Ramganj area of Jaipur's walled city, taking the count of the infected people to 108 in the state.

Fifteen fresh cases of coronavirus were reported from Rajasthan with 13 of them detected in the Ramganj area of Jaipur's walled city, taking the count of the infected people to 108 in the state. Uttar Pradesh: The state reported its first two deaths due to coronavirus with one casualty each in Basti and Meerut districts as the total number of COVID-19 cases rose to 116.

The state reported its first two deaths due to coronavirus with one casualty each in Basti and Meerut districts as the total number of COVID-19 cases rose to 116. Delhi: Two resident doctors of the Centre-run Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi have tested positive for coronavirus infection, taking the total number to 152, including 53 people who attended the congregation in Nizamuddin.

Two resident doctors of the Centre-run Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi have tested positive for coronavirus infection, taking the total number to 152, including 53 people who attended the congregation in Nizamuddin. Punjab: Five more persons tested positive for coronavirus in Punjab, taking the total count of confirmed cases in the state to 46.

Five more persons tested positive for coronavirus in Punjab, taking the total count of confirmed cases in the state to 46. Madhya Pradesh: Nineteen more COVID-19 cases have been reported in Indore, taking the total number of cases in the state to 85.

Nineteen more COVID-19 cases have been reported in Indore, taking the total number of cases in the state to 85. Assam: A total of five COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in Assam.

A total of five COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in Assam. Andhra Pradesh: Andhra Pradesh saw an exponential rise in the number of COVID-19 positive patients, with 43 confirmed cases noted on Wednesday, taking the number to 87 in the state.

Andhra Pradesh saw an exponential rise in the number of COVID-19 positive patients, with 43 confirmed cases noted on Wednesday, taking the number to 87 in the state. Bihar: A total of 23 coronavirus positive cases have been reported in Bihar till now while one person has died of the infection.

A total of 23 coronavirus positive cases have been reported in Bihar till now while one person has died of the infection. Chandigarh: A 49-year-old Chandigarh man with no travel history to any coronavirus-hit country tested positive for the infection, taking the number of confirmed cases to 16 in the union territory.

A 49-year-old Chandigarh man with no travel history to any coronavirus-hit country tested positive for the infection, taking the number of confirmed cases to 16 in the union territory. Haryana: No fresh COVID-19 patient was detected in Haryana which has seen 29 coronavirus cases so far. 3 World The UK reported its biggest single-day coronavirus toll of 563, taking the total number of COVID-19 deaths in the country to 2,352.

A 13-year-old boy with no underlying health conditions has become the UK's youngest victim of the coronavirus pandemic as the death toll from COVID-19 continues to rise in the country.

The coronavirus pandemic has claimed more than 30,000 lives in Europe alone, a global tally showed, in what the head of the United Nations has described as humanity's worst crisis since World War II.

The US is headed for a "very tough two weeks", President Donald Trump has warned, advising people to be prepared for the "hard days" ahead.

Iran's death toll from the coronavirus has passed 3,000, the health ministry said, as President Hassan Rouhani accused Washington of missing a "historic opportunity" to lift sanctions.

Japan will bar visitors from the United States, China and most of Europe, the Prime Minister said, as the country seeks to stem a recent rise in coronavirus cases.

As many as 27 people have died from coronavirus in Pakistan even as number of confirmed cases in the country has reached 2071.

Australia reported one more fatality from the deadly coronavirus, taking the death toll to 21, while the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases crossed over 4,800 mark.

The coronavirus death toll in Spain surged over 9,000 on Wednesday after a record 864 deaths in 24 hours, with the number of confirmed cases passing the 100,000 mark

COVID-19: Cases increased due to Tablighi meet; no national trend, says Centre

NEW DELHI: With as many as 376 new cases of COVID-19 reported in the last 24 hours, the Union health ministry on Wednesday said the spike was "not a national trend" and was primarily due to travel by those who had attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation. The health ministry said till now there are 1,637 COVID-19 cases in the country, including 38 deaths.