Here are the top developments: 1 India Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the chief ministers during the video meet to focus on COVID-19 containment measures -- testing, tracing, isolation and quarantine -- with a common goal of ensuring minimum loss of life, and pitched for a joint strategy for a "staggered" exit from the ongoing lockdown.

PM Modi will share a video message with countrymen on Friday at 9am amid a nationwide lockdown.

The government has directed states and union territories to book under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Disaster Management Act, 2005 people who violate lockdown rules or make false claims.

About 9,000 Tablighi Jamaat members and their primary contacts have been quarantined till now in the country after the government undertook "massive efforts", the MHA said.

The government launched a mobile app - 'AarogyaSetu' - to help people assess themselves the risk of catching coronavirus infection and alert authorities if they have come in close contact with a person infected with the deadly virus.

Around 50 members of medical staff, including doctors, nurses and paramedics, have tested positive for coronavirus across the country, the health ministry said.

The Railways is converting 312 sleeper class coaches into isolation wards by modifying the coaches to make them suitable to act as quarantine hubs. 2 States Maharashtra: As many as 81 people tested positive for COVID-19 in Maharashtra, taking the tally to 416, while two more patients succumbed to the infection, raising the death toll to 19.

As many as 81 people tested positive for COVID-19 in Maharashtra, taking the tally to 416, while two more patients succumbed to the infection, raising the death toll to 19. Rajasthan: An 85-year-old coronavirus patient died and 13 others, including three who had attended a Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin area, were tested positive in Rajasthan taking the total number of positive cases to 133.

An 85-year-old coronavirus patient died and 13 others, including three who had attended a Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin area, were tested positive in Rajasthan taking the total number of positive cases to 133. Andhra Pradesh: Coronavirus positive cases continued to maintain an upward curve in Andhra Pradesh with 11 more reported during the day, adding to the 21 since Wednesday night, and taking the aggregate to 143 so far.

Coronavirus positive cases continued to maintain an upward curve in Andhra Pradesh with 11 more reported during the day, adding to the 21 since Wednesday night, and taking the aggregate to 143 so far. Delhi: The Delhi government has launched a dedicated helpline number on WhatsApp - +91 88000 07722 - to ensure that citizens have an easy access to credible information around the COVID-19 crisis. There are 208 active coronavirus cases in the national capital.

The Delhi government has launched a dedicated helpline number on WhatsApp - +91 88000 07722 - to ensure that citizens have an easy access to credible information around the COVID-19 crisis. There are 208 active coronavirus cases in the national capital. Uttar Pradesh: Eight more people tested positive for coronavirus infection in Uttar Pradesh, taking the total count of COVID-19 cases in the state to 121.

Eight more people tested positive for coronavirus infection in Uttar Pradesh, taking the total count of COVID-19 cases in the state to 121. Kerala: Kerala reported 21 new cases of coronavirus with eight from the worst affected Kasaragod district, taking the tally of active patients to 256

Kerala reported 21 new cases of coronavirus with eight from the worst affected Kasaragod district, taking the tally of active patients to 256 J&K: Eight new positive cases of COVID-19 were detected in Jammu and Kashmir, taking the total number of cases to 70 even as the first coronavirus patient of the valley -- a 67-year-old woman from the old city area -- was discharged from hospital after recovering from the disease.

Eight new positive cases of COVID-19 were detected in Jammu and Kashmir, taking the total number of cases to 70 even as the first coronavirus patient of the valley -- a 67-year-old woman from the old city area -- was discharged from hospital after recovering from the disease. Himachal Pradesh: Three people tested positive for coronavirus in Himachal Pradesh, taking the total number of cases in the state to six.

Three people tested positive for coronavirus in Himachal Pradesh, taking the total number of cases in the state to six. Madhya Pradesh: A married couple tested positive for coronavirus in Morena district of Madhya Pradesh, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases in the state to 100.

A married couple tested positive for coronavirus in Morena district of Madhya Pradesh, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases in the state to 100. Tamil Nadu: As many as 75 more people tested positive for coronavirus in Tamil Nadu and the total count rose to 309.

As many as 75 more people tested positive for coronavirus in Tamil Nadu and the total count rose to 309. Karnataka: The Karnataka government has decided to declare five districts in the state, which have a high number of COVID-19 cases, as 'red zones'. The number of positive cases in the state stands at 16.

The Karnataka government has decided to declare five districts in the state, which have a high number of COVID-19 cases, as 'red zones'. The number of positive cases in the state stands at 16. Puducherry: One more person tested positive for coronavirus in Puducherry, taking the total number of active cases in the union territory to four.

One more person tested positive for coronavirus in Puducherry, taking the total number of active cases in the union territory to four. Haryana: The number of COVID-19 positive cases rose to 33 in Haryana, with active cases standing at 20. 3 World Confirmed coronavirus cases approached one million around the world as Europe reeled from the pandemic and the US prepared for what President Donald Trump warned would be "horrific" days ahead.

The coronavirus death toll in Spain surged past 10,000 after a record 950 deaths in 24 hours, with the number of confirmed cases passing the 110,000 mark, the government said.

Iran reported 124 new deaths from the coronavirus, raising its total to 3,160, as President Hassan Rouhani warned that the country may still battle the pandemic for another year.

The death toll from the coronavirus pandemic in the US crossed 5,000 and the number of infections surged past 200,000 as the country grappled with an unprecedented health crisis, including a huge shortage of medical supplies and protective equipment.

The Sri Lankan Airlines temporarily suspended all flight operations with effect from April 8 to April 21 in view of the travel restrictions imposed by various countries, including India.

Thailand will introduce a six-hour night curfew in a bid to control the spread of coronavirus, authorities said, warning anyone who breached the order faced a two-year jail term.

NEW DELHI: The Centre has asked the states and Union territories to take all necessary steps for the smooth disbursement of Rs 27,500 crore to beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana through banks from Friday. Meanwhile, 2069 coronavirus cases have been reported in India so far, including 53 deaths, the Union health ministry said.