Coronavirus Outbreak LIVE Updates: In Delhi, 128 new cases have been reported, taking the total to 2,376. Two people have died to the coronavirus in the past day.

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The woman, a resident of Howrah city, gave birth to the baby boy around 8 pm on Monday, he said.

The pregnant woman was admitted to the Sanjiban Hospital in the Fuleswar area on 13 April and she later tested positive for the infectious disease, said its Director Subhasis Mitra.

A COVID-19 patient in West Bengal's Howrah district gave birth to a baby and the health condition of both of them is stable, hospital authorities said on Wednesday.

The pandemic has sparked not only a health emergency, but a global economic rout, with businesses struggling to survive, millions left jobless, and millions more facing starvation.

The World Health Organization on Wednesday warned that the coronavirus crisis would not end any time soon, with many countries only in the early stages of the fight, as the global death count surpassed 180,000.

"We knew we would see changes in atmospheric composition in many places during the lockdown," said Pawan Gupta, a Universities Space Research Association (USRA) scientist at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. "But I have never seen aerosol values so low in the Indo-Gangetic Plain at this time of year."

Every year, aerosols from anthropogenic (human-made) sources contribute to unhealthy levels of air pollution in many cities. Aerosols are tiny solid and liquid particles suspended in the air that reduce visibility and can damage the human lungs and heart.

The nationwide lockdown imposed in India in view of the coronavirus outbreak has decreased activity at factories and severely reduced car, bus, truck, and airplane traffic. After just a week of reduced human activities, NASA satellite sensors observed aerosol levels at a 20-year low for this time of year in the northern parts of the country.

So far, India has 15,589 active cases. There are also 77 foreign nationals who are affected by the virus, the ministry said.

With 49 deaths recorded since Tuesday, the toll now stands at 652, it said.

The total number of novel coronavirus cases in India surged past 20,000 on Wednesday. At least 1,486 fresh cases emerged in the last 24 hours, taking the COVID-19 count in the country to 20,471, according to the latest Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data.

Medical staff risk their lives and expose themselves to the dangers of the COVID-19. Though hailed publicly for their service, they are socially unwelcome once they step out of the hospital premises. The threats posed by coronavirus creates fear and panic and the until-then warm neighbourhood treats medical and other hospital staff as pariahs.

After reaching Palakkad, Chandran was stopped at the gates of the house by neighbours. “A few people gathered and asked me to leave. They argued that since I work in a hospital, I was in danger of carrying the virus. I tried to explain, but could not reason with the crowd that was gradually increasing. I finally decided to leave,” Chandran said. His regret is that he could not hug his children or talk to his wife.

After working for over a month with spells in quarantine at the Kalamassery Medical College Hospital, Ernakulam which has been turned into a COVID-19 speciality hospital, 32-year-old Ravi Chandran undertook a three hour journey home Palghat district. He was looking forward to seeing his wife and children who had moved to his in-law’s home before the Janata Curfew was announced in March 2020. Chandran works in the administration department of the hospital.

Sharing details regarding FIR registered for spreading fake news on social media/rumour related to COVID-19, he said, "Of 85 cases that were registered, 46 people were arrested, of which 12 people were later released on bail."

He further tweeted that a total of Rs 1,02,41,400 fine was realised during the lockdown.

Assam Director General of Police GP Singh on Wednesday said that a total number of 2,326 people were arrested and 17,872 vehicles were detained for violating lockdown rules.

"The state government will conduct free Covid-19 tests for the mediapersons on April 25 at the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital. Those journalists who want to get themselves tested can avail the facility," Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

Taking note of nearly 50 journalists testing positive for the novel coronavirus in Mumbai, the Assam government on Wednesday announced that it will be conducting COVID-19 tests of media persons in the state.

There are also 77 foreign nationals who are affected by the virus, the ministry said.

So far, India has 16,454 active cases. While, the recovery rate of COVID-19 patients is at 19.8 percent.

The total number of novel coronavirus cases in India climbed to 21,393 on Thursday, according to the latest Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data. The toll stood at 682, it said.

The state has recorded 27 deaths so far, while the recovery rate was at 17.8 percent with 344 COVID-19 patients being cured.

Of the new cases, 20 were reported in Jodhpur, 12 in Jaipur, 10 in Nagaur, two each in Hanumangarh and Kota and one in Ajmer.

With 47 individuals testing positive for the novel coronavirus on Thursday, Rajasthan reported a total of 1,935 positive COVID-19 cases, said the state health department.

"Houses in Dharavi are very small and 10-12 people live in a house. Even if we advise home quarantine, the shortage of space defeats the purpose," he said.

The densely populated Dharavi slum area has reported close to 190 cases of coronavirus infection so far.

The Maharashtra government has decided to aggressively evacuate suspected coronavirus patients from Dharavi and other hotspots and put them in institutional quarantine, Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Wednesday.

A 31-year-old man in the Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh who had tested positive for the infectious disease after attending the Islamic congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin Markaz was discharged on 17 April and the infection appears not to have spread any further.

After the state's only coronavirus patient was released from hospital last week and no new cases reported since, Arunachal Pradesh has become the only other state besides Goa and Manipur in India to successfully curb the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nearly 3,000 local train services operate on the route daily and over 80 lakh commuters use it everyday, making it the lifeline of the country's financial capital.

It has been a month since trains stopped plying on the Mumbai suburban rail network, which is one of the busiest and congested in the world.

Converting the unprecedented lockdown into an opportunity, Mumbai divisions of the Central Railway and Western Railway are extensively carrying out safety and maintenance works on the suburban network, which was not possible during the normal busy train schedules.

"Some irresponsible reporting on different media platforms by informed individuals is apparently leading to notion that some trains may start soon. This is totally wrong and needs to e nipped in the bud before it misguides more," said the Centrail Railway.

Mumbai divisions of the Central Railway and Western Railway on Thursday reiterated that all passenger train services will continue to remain suspended till 3 May, the last day of nationwide lockdown imposed in view of coronavirus outbreak.

With 229 fresh cases recorded in the last 24 hours, Gujarat on Wednesday emerged as the second worst affected state after Maharashtra, which reported 431 new cases. Just five days ago, Gujarat was at number six, with Delhi, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh — apart from Maharashtra — having more confirmed cases.

As the nation continued to reel under the novel coronovirus outbreak, Maharashtra and Gujarat faced the brunt of the crisis the maximum. The two western states accounted for 37 percent of the total 8,059 confirmed cases recorded in both so far.

The council has so far released a list of 87 private laboratories to conduct COVID-19 tests. Among the 87 labs, which are set up in 15 states, Maharashtra has the highest number of COVID-19 testing labs at 20.

Of the 4,85,172 individuals, 21,797 samples have been confirmed positive, said ICMR.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a total of 5,00,542 samples from 4,85,172 individuals have been tested for the novel coronavirus as of Thursday (23 April) at 9 am.

So far, the state has recorded 49 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, while three patients have succumbed to the infectious disease.

Four more COVID-19 patients in Jharkhand have recovered on Thursday, taking the recovery rate in the state to 16.32 percent with eight individuals being cured in total.

Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi at CWC meeting on Thursday said, “Since our meeting three weeks ago, the pandemic has increased disturbingly — both in spread and speed. Sections of our society face acute hardship — particularly our kisans-khet mazdoors, migrant labourers, construction workers and in the unorganized sector. Trade, commerce and industry have come to a virtual halt and crores of livelihoods have been destroyed.”

The other nurse, Pinky Gupta, had a heart ailment and was ailing for a long time. She was admitted here in an ICU. "Her samples for COVID-19 testing were not collected since she showed no symptoms for it," Thakur said.

"The reports of one of the nurses, who died during treatment, is yet to come in. Shamim Sheikh (55) was admitted to the chest ward of MY Hospital after she developed symptoms. She was on leave from 1 April to 14 April," said superintendent Dr PS Thakur.

Two nurses, including one suspected to have contracted COVID-19, working at Indore's MGM Medical College, have died. The deaths took place on Tuesday night.

“I offered our constructive cooperation and suggestions. Unfortunately, they have been acted upon only partially and in a miserly way. The compassion, large-heartedness and alacrity from the Centre is conspicuous by its absence,” Gandhi noted.

Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi addressed the CWC meet on Thursday, saying 12 crore jobs have been lost in the first phase of the lockdown. "Unemployment is likely to increase further as economic activity remains at a standstill. It is imperative to provide at least Rs 7,500 to each family to tide over this crisis," she added.

She also lauded frontline workers, saying, “The doctors, nurses, paramedics, health workers, sanitation workers and essential service providers, NGO and the lakhs of citizens providing relief to the most needy all over India. Their dedication and determination truly inspire us all.”

While addressing the Congress on Thursday, Sonia Gandhi told the CWC meet, “We have repeatedly urged the prime minister that there is no alternative to testing, trace, and quarantine. Unfortunately, testing still remains low and testing kits are still in short supply and of poor quality. PPE kits number and quality are poor.”

“If we follow govt instructions, we'll be able to eradicate COVID-19 soon. The holy month of Ramzan is about to begin. Prayers have to be offered at home itself and social distancing has to be maintained. By following it, we'll be able to protect everyone,” he said.

Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid on Thursday appealed to Muslims to follow the government’s orders in the month of Ramzan to eradicate COVID-19.

Initially, the home quarantine was only for a period of 14 days, but on Wednesday the Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar issued orders extending the home quarantine period to 28 days and that the ‘asymptomatic secondary contacts shall not be tested’.

Telangana government has advised its officials to only send the primary contacts of COVID-19 positive cases to government identified quarantine centers, while the asymptomatic secondary contacts will be ordered to undergo home quarantine for 28 days instead of 14 days, reports Telangana Today.

"UP government should immediately declare a relief package for the chikan industry and all other such small and medium industries and announce help to the labour working in them," she said in a tweet in Hindi.

"Lucknow's chikan industry has brought laurels to UP in India and abroad. This industry which is already reeling due to demonetisation and GST has suffered badly due to the lockdown.

Congress general secretary for Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday urged the Uttar Pradesh government to announce a relief package for Lucknow's 'chikankari' industry, saying it has been badly hit by the lockdown.

“Success of lockdown is to be judged finally on our ability to tackle COVID-19. Cooperation between the Centre and states is key to the success of our fight against COVID,” he said.

Former Prime Minsiter Manmohan Singh at the CEC meet on Thursday said that the success of the lockdown will be judged on the ability to tackle COVID-19

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had slammed the Centre for sending teams to look into West Bengal's preparedness for tackling the COVID-19 outbreak and alleged that faulty testing kits were dispatched to the state.

The second central team in North Bengal, however, is yet to begin field visits, the official said.

The central team in the state capital, led by Apurba​ Chandra, a senior bureaucrat in the Ministry of Defence, visited the quarantine centre in Rajarhat area in North 24 Parganas district, the official said.

The inter-ministerial central team, which is in Kolkata, on Wednesday sought a detailed presentation from the West Bengal government on whether the level of testing in the state is adequate and enough oxygen and ICU beds and ventilators are available.

A central team on Thursday visited a quarantine centre in Rajarhat area near here to take stock of the COVID-19 situation, an official said. Two central teams are in West Bengal to look into the state's preparedness for tackling the COVID-19 outbreak.

The administration has said the essential services including healthcare personnel have been exempted from the restrictions and only persons with valid movement passes are allowed passage.

They said the security forces have sealed off main roads in most places in the Valley and erected barriers at several other places to check the unwanted movement of the people and to enforce the lockdown.

Restrictions to contain the spread of coronavirus continued in Kashmir for the 36th consecutive day on Thursday, even as authorities are contemplating to take critical decisions to strengthen the lockdown in the wake of violations at some places, officials said.

Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took to Twitter to report that the state has a new COVID-19 case. The person has a history of being in touch with another patient, who was part of Athgaon Majid congregation in Guwahati.

Four new coronavirus cases were reported on Thursday in Bihar, reported ANI. This brings the total confirmed cases of the infectious disease in the state to 147. Among the total people infected as on date, 46 have recovered while two lives have been claimed by the virus.

According to official figures, the district has so far reported 134 coronavirus cases and four deaths.

The containment zones fall under the Vasai-Virar municipal limits, and Dahanu and Palghar talukas, district Collector Kailas Shinde said in an order on Wednesday evening. Only essential services will be operational in the containment zones, he said.

As many as 70 areas in Palghar district of Maharashtra have been notified as containment zones after several COVID-19 positive cases were detected.

Among the total people infected as on date, 789 have recovered and 269 have died. Mumbai has the highest number of COVID-19 cases at 3096, followed by Pune (660), Thane (465), Nashik (96) and Nagpur (76).

With 431 more people testing positive for the novel coronavirus in Maharashtra, the total number of confirmed cases in the state increased to 5,652 on Thursday, according to the bulletin released by Union Health Ministry.

In an open letter on Wednesday, the medical professionals said that while they have concerns about inadequate testing across India, they find the situation in West Bengal particularly grave.

A group of non-resident physicians, health scientists, and healthcare providers have written to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee raising concerns over the "gross under-testing" and "misreporting of data" on the cause of death of COVID-19 patients.

"Unless there is a big financial package for states, how will normalcy return to the states post the lockdown," Gehlot said at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting through video conferencing.

Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot said unless the central government comes forward to financially help states, "fight against COVID-19 will get weakened".

The chief ministers of Punjab, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Puducherry, demanded a financial package for the states to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The chief ministers of the Congress-ruled states on Thursday hit out at the Centre for not providing enough financial assistance to the states to strengthen its battle against the COVID-19 pandemic

Disinfectants were sprayed outside MR Bangur Super Speciality Hospital in Kolkata on Thursday. An inter ministerial central team inspected the hospital where COVID-19 patients were being treated.

The Delhi government has ordered for strict compliance of its earlier order for landlords to not demand rent from labourers and students for one month. "District Magistrates shall undertake awareness campaign on the issues in areas having high density of labourers/students," ANI reported.

However, Executive Committee members and Senior Vice Presidents have volunteered to take cuts in their April salaries.

IndiGo CEO Ronojoy Dutta on Thursday rolled back the pay cuts that were earlier announced by the budget airline. "In deference to our Government's wishes of not reducing pay during the lockdown, we have decided not to implement the previously announced pay cuts during the month of April," CEO Ronojoy Dutta told employees in an email on 23 April.

The Rajasthan Health Department said that 134 patients have since been discharged.

The state has recorded 27 deaths so far, while the recovery rate was at 21 percent with 407 COVID-19 patients being cured.

With 49 individuals testing positive for the novel coronavirus on Thursday, Rajasthan reported a total of 1,937 positive COVID-19 cases, said the state health department.

Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday announced that the state government would provide an insurance of Rs 10 lakh each to all journalists who are reporting during the coronavirus pandemic.

In an interview to PTI, Naqvi also expressed confidence that Muslims will abide by lockdown guidelines during the holy month of Ramzan.

The entire Muslim community cannot be held responsible for one group’s "crime", Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Thursday while reacting to instances of Muslims being blamed for the spurt in COVID-19 cases after Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin Markaz, and asserted that most of the minority community members have condemned the group’s action.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on Thursday directed authorities to create a dedicated COVID-19 facility for Delhi Police personnel. Baijal also directed setting up an exclusive testing center for Delhi Police personnel on duty amid the coronavirus pandemic.

SpiceJet on Thursday on said, "(Our) air ambulance will fly Asian Games Boxing Gold Medallist Dingko Singh from Imphal to Delhi to help him resume his treatment for liver cancer. The air ambulance service will be provided free of charge to the Padma awardee."

Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar said that the state government has decided to provide insurance of Rs 10 lakh each to all journalists who are reporting during coronavirus pandemic.

"As on today, we have 12 districts that did not have a fresh case in the last 28 days or more. There are now 78 districts (23 states/UTs) that has not reported any fresh cases during the last 14 Days," said Health ministry joint secretary Lav Aggarwal.

The Union health ministry on Thursday said that in last 24 hours 1,409 positive cases have been reported, which takes the total confirmed cases to 21,393.

"We have been able to cut transmission, minimise spread and increase doubling rate. We have utilized this time to prepare ourselves for future. Growth has been more or less linear, not exponential," said CK Mishra, Environment secretary and Chairman of the Empowered Group 2.

The 'empowered groups' are described by CNBC-TV18 as, "The groups of officers have been empowered to identify problems, and provide solutions for time bound implementation, delineate policy, formulate plans as well as strategies operations."

CK Mishra, Environment Secretary and chairman of the Empowered Group 2, on Thursday said, "On 23 March we had done 14,915 tests across the country and on 22 April, we have done more than 5 lakh tests. If a rough calculation is done it is about 33 times in 30 days. This is not enough and we need to ramp testing in this country."

Punya Salila Srivastava, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday said that the ministry has clarified to state governments that in-house care-givers of senior citizens, prepaid mobile recharge utilities and food processing units in urban areas are exempted from lockdown restrictions.

"This graph clearly tells us where we stand. This is the current story and based on this current story and future projection we need to evolve a strategy in this country."

CK Mishra, Environment secretary and Chairman of Empowered Group 2 on Thursday said, "Right at the bottom, the yellow line is India's story. We have deliberately taken 400th case on 23 March (as the benchmark). It shows what was the position, when each of these countries had 400th case and how they have moved beyond.

West Bengal 58 government on Thursday said that 58 new COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in last 24 hours. There are 334 active cases in the state now.

ICMR's Balram Bhargava on Thursday said that "it is very difficult" to predict that when the peak of COVID-19 pandemic will arrive in India.

AIIMS director Randeep Guleria on Thursday said that it was "important to reach out to patients who are missing out of treatment because of the stigma and panic", adding adding, "It is important to encourage more and more people to get tested, get treated."

Delhi AIIMS director Randeep Guleria on Thursday said that at various centres, "we've started using convalescent plasma that is the blood of COVID-19 patients who have recovered. A large number of patients who have become alright have come forward and volunteered to donate their blood."

The total cases stand at 427, including 57 in Jammu and 370 in Kashmir.

The Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday said that 20 new cases were reported in the union territory, one from Jammu Division and 19 from Kashmir.

The 5 pm update was quoted by ANI as saying, "1,229 new COVID-19 cases and 34 deaths reported in the last 24 hours. Total number of cases rises to 21,700, including 16,689 active cases, 4,325 cured and 686 deaths."

The Union health ministry's daily 5 pm update on number of coronavirus cases on Thursday said that 1,229 new cases had been reported in 24 hours, taking the total to 21,700. However, in the ministry's press briefing at 4 pm, health ministry joint secretary Lav Aggarwal said that 1,409 cases had been reported in 24 hours.

West Bengal chief secretary Rajiva Sinha on Thursday said, "In India, close to 70 percent cases are asymptomatic and doctors are also worried as to how to identify them. If lockdown opens on 4 May then this will be a big challenge."

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said that 10 new COVID-19 cases have been reported in the state. The total number of cases in the state stands at 447, of which 129 are active cases.

In Gujarat's Vadodara, 45 people who had tested positive for COVID-19, were discharged on Thursday from the Ebrahim Bawany Industrial Training Institute quarantine centre, after recovering. A doctor of the institute was quoted by ANI as saying, "All of them have agreed to donate blood plasma, as they have developed antibodies."

The Karnataka government said that 18 new COVID-19 cases have been reported in the state in the last 24 hours. The total number of cases in the state stands at 445, which includes 17 deaths and 145 discharges.

Four more people tested positive for COVID-19 in Ranchi on Thursday, the state health secretary said. The total number of positive cases in the state rose to 53.

Fifty-four more COVID-19 cases reported in Tamil Nadu on Thursday. Total number of cases in the state is at 1,683, including 908 active cases and 20 deaths.

An artist modified an autorickshaw on the theme of coronavirus to spread awareness about the disease in Chennai.

The Punjab health department said that 26 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the state on Thursday. The total number of cases in the state stand at 283.

The BMC on Thursday said that 25 new coronavirus cases and one casualty were reported in Mumbai's Dharavi. The total number of cases in the area rose to 214, toll 13.

46 new COVID-19 positive cases were reported from three lanes in the H Block of Delhi's Jahangirpuri, the district Magistrate (North), said.

One person tested positive for COVID-19 in Uttarakhand on Thursday, taking the total cases in the state to 47, the state control room said.

The Odisha government has announced a 60-hour complete shut down in Balasore, Bhadrak and Jajpur districts from 10 pm on Thursday till 26 April, in view of rise in COVID-19 cases, said Asit Tripathy, Chief Secretary, Odisha.

"We are strictly implementing the wearing of face masks by people at public places," he added.

Guwahati Police Commissioner MP Gupta on Thursday said that 137 people were arrested for not wearing face masks in public in Guwahati on Wednesday.

Three new containment zones in Delhi were on Thursday added to the list, taking the total to 92. The three new hotspots identified are Lake View Apartment in Mehrauli, Raj Nagar in Dwarka and Dayanand Vihar.

Tripura chief minister Biplab Deb said that the the second coronavirus patient in the state has been found negative after consecutive tests.

Six new COVID-19 cases were reported in Haryana on Thursday. The number of COVID-19 cases stands at 270, including 24 linked to foreign nationals. 170 patients have been cured, 97 are undergoing treatment whereas three people have lost their lives due to the infection.

In Mumbai, one of the worst-hit cities in the country, 4,205 cases have been reported, along with 167 deaths.

Reports said that 778 new coronavirus cases were reported in Maharashtra on Thursday in addition to 14 new deaths. This takes the total number of cases in the state to 6,427 and the toll to 283.

In Delhi, 128 new cases have been reported, taking the total to 2,376. Two people have died to the coronavirus in the past day.

Rajasthan has reported 76 new coronavirus cases in the past day, out of which 15 are from Jaipur. The total number of COVID-19 cases in the state has risen to 1,964.

In total, 57 cases have been reported from the Jammu division, and 377 from the Kashmir division.

The total number of cases in Jammu and Kashmir has risen to 434 after seven more cases were reported in Kashmir.

Telangana has reported 27 new cases and one death in the past day. Also, 58 people have been discharged in the past 24 hours.

ANI quoted the health department of Bihar as saying that nine more coronavirus positive cases have been reported in Bihar in the past day; taking the total number of positive cases to 162.

A 75-year-old woman from Bantwal, who had tested positive for Covid-19, passed away at Wenlok District Hospital in Dakshina Kannada, News18 quoted the health department of Karnataka as saying. The woman had a history of hypertension, stroke and pneumonia.

AFP has quoted an official as saying that France's coronavirus toll has hit 21,896, with 516 fatalities in the past 24 hours.

Uttar Pradesh has reported 61 more coronavirus cases on Thursday. The total cases in the state are now 1,510, including 1,280 active cases.

The Delhi Police constitutes six committees to assess and bring improvements in the preventive measures against COVID-19 for the protection of police personnel.

"We are screening all vendors but vigil by everyone will deter someone who is sick and still running such shop or 'thela'. Kindly in this process do not abuse or misbehave with vendors."

South Delhi district magistrate on Thursday said, "A vegetable hawker in Ward-3, Mehrauli found to be COVID-19 positive. From the investigation, it seems he had stopped setting up his cart after he developed symptoms. He was not a part of the shifted mandi that has been set up at DTC Terminal.

“This pandemic has shone a spotlight on the overlooked and undervalued corners of our society. Across the European Region, long-term care has often been notoriously neglected. But it should not be this way,” said Kluge, calling the workers employed in these facilities as “the unsung heroes of this pandemic.”

“This is an unimaginable human tragedy,” CNN quoted WHO's Europe Director Hans Kluge as saying during a press conference Thursday.

The WHO on Thursday estimated that half of the people who succumbed to COVID-19 in Europe were residents of long-term care facilities.

ANI has quoted Indian Army sources as saying that three army personnel tested positive for coronavirus in Vadodara,Gujarat. As per initial findings, an ATM booth seems to be the common source as they all had withdrawn money from it on same day. Their 28 close contacts have been quarantined, the agency reported.

Telangana has reported 27 new cases and one death in the past day. Also, 58 people have been discharged in the past 24 hours.

ANI quoted the health department of Bihar as saying that nine more coronavirus positive cases have been reported in Bihar in the past day; taking the total number of positive cases to 162.

A 75-year-old woman from Bantwal, who had tested positive for Covid-19, passed away at Wenlok District Hospital in Dakshina Kannada, News18 quoted the health department of Karnataka as saying. The woman had a history of hypertension, stroke and pneumonia.

At least 56 people have been sent to quarantine in Delhi after a dietician associated with Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital mess tested positive for coronavirus, ANI quoted the hospital's medical superintendent as saying.

AFP has quoted an official as saying that France's coronavirus toll has hit 21,896, with 516 fatalities in the past 24 hours.

Uttar Pradesh has reported 61 more coronavirus cases on Thursday. The total cases in the state are now 1,510, including 1,280 active cases.

Delhi Police constitutes 6 committees to assess and bring improvements in the preventive measures against #COVID19 for the protection of police personnel. pic.twitter.com/ne0RkCJjB7

The Delhi Police constitutes six committees to assess and bring improvements in the preventive measures against COVID-19 for the protection of police personnel.

"We are screening all vendors but vigil by everyone will deter someone who is sick and still running such shop or 'thela'. Kindly in this process do not abuse or misbehave with vendors."

South Delhi district magistrate on Thursday said, "A vegetable hawker in Ward-3, Mehrauli found to be COVID-19 positive. From the investigation, it seems he had stopped setting up his cart after he developed symptoms. He was not a part of the shifted mandi that has been set up at DTC Terminal.

“This pandemic has shone a spotlight on the overlooked and undervalued corners of our society. Across the European Region, long-term care has often been notoriously neglected. But it should not be this way,” said Kluge, calling the workers employed in these facilities as “the unsung heroes of this pandemic.”

“This is an unimaginable human tragedy,” CNN quoted WHO's Europe Director Hans Kluge as saying during a press conference Thursday.

The WHO on Thursday estimated that half of the people who succumbed to COVID-19 in Europe were residents of long-term care facilities.

Coronavirus Outbreak LATEST Updates: In Delhi, 128 new cases have been reported, taking the total to 2,376. Two people have died to the coronavirus in the past day.

However, 84 people have recovered from COVID-19 till now.

Reports said that 778 new coronavirus cases were reported in Maharashtra on Thursday in addition to 14 new deaths. This takes the total number of cases in the state to 6,427 and the toll to 283.

In Mumbai, one of the worst-hit cities in the country, 4,205 cases have been reported, along with 167 deaths.

The Odisha government has announced a 60-hour complete shut down in Balasore, Bhadrak and Jajpur districts from 10 pm on Thursday till 26 April, in view of rise in COVID-19 cases, said Asit Tripathy, Chief Secretary, Odisha.

West Bengal chief secretary Rajiva Sinha on Thursday said, "In India, close to 70 percent cases are asymptomatic and doctors are also worried as to how to identify them. If lockdown opens on 4 May then this will be a big challenge."

CK Mishra, Environment Secretary and chairman of the Empowered Group 2, on Thursday said, 'On 23 March we had done 14,915 tests across the country and on 22 April, we have done more than 5 lakh tests. If a rough calculation is done it is about 33 times in 30 days. This is not enough and we need to ramp testing in this country."

The 'empowered groups' are described by CNBC-TV18 as, "The groups of officers have been empowered to identify problems, and provide solutions for time bound implementation, delineate policy, formulate plans as well as strategies operations."

AIIMS director Randeep Guleria on Thursday said that it was "important to reach out to patients who are missing out of treatment because of the stigma and panic", adding adding, "It is important to encourage more and more people to get tested, get treated."

'As on today, we have 12 districts that did not have a fresh case in the last 28 days or more. There are now 78 districts (23 states/UTs) that has not reported any fresh cases during the last 14 Days," said Health ministry joint secretary Lav Aggarwal.

The Union health ministry on Thursday said that in last 24 hours 1,409 positive cases have been reported, which takes the total confirmed cases to 21,393.

"As on today, we have 12 districts that did not have a fresh case in the last 28 days or more. There are now 78 districts (23 states/UTs) that has not reported any fresh cases during the last 14 Days," said Health ministry joint secretary Lav Aggarwal.

The entire Muslim community cannot be held responsible for one group’s "crime", Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Thursday while reacting to instances of Muslims being blamed for the spurt in COVID-19 cases after Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin Markaz, and asserted that most of the minority community members have condemned the group’s action.

With 49 individuals testing positive for the novel coronavirus on Thursday, Rajasthan reported a total of 1,937 positive COVID-19 cases, said the state health department.

The state has recorded 27 deaths so far, while the recovery rate was at 21 percent with 407 COVID-19 patients being cured.

The Rajasthan Health Department said that 134 patients have since been discharged.

IndiGo CEO Ronojoy Dutta on Thursday rolled back the pay cuts that were earlier announced by the budget airline. "In deference to our Government's wishes of not reducing pay during the lockdown, we have decided not to implement the previously announced pay cuts during the month of April," CEO Ronojoy Dutta told employees in an email on 23 April.

The chief ministers of the Congress-ruled states on Thursday hit out at the Centre for not providing enough financial assistance to the states to strengthen its battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The chief ministers of Punjab, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Puducherry, demanded a financial package for the states to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

A group of non-resident physicians, health scientists, and healthcare providers have written to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee raising concerns over the "gross under-testing" and "misreporting of data" on the cause of death of COVID-19 patients.

In an open letter on Wednesday, the medical professionals said that while they have concerns about inadequate testing across India, they find the situation in West Bengal particularly grave.

As many as 70 areas in Palghar district of Maharashtra have been notified as containment zones after several COVID-19 positive cases were detected.

The containment zones fall under the Vasai-Virar municipal limits, and Dahanu and Palghar talukas, district Collector Kailas Shinde said in an order on Wednesday evening. Only essential services will be operational in the containment zones, he said.

Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid on Thursday appealed to all Muslims to follow the government's orders during lockdown imposed in view of the novel coronavirus. He further urged them to offer prayers at home during the month of Ramzan.

“If we follow govt instructions, we'll be able to eradicate COVID-19 soon. The holy month of Ramzan is about to begin. Prayers have to be offered at home itself and social distancing has to be maintained. By following it, we'll be able to protect everyone,” he said.

Telangana government has advised its officials to only send the primary contacts of COVID-19 positive cases to government identified quarantine centers, while the asymptomatic secondary contacts will be ordered to undergo home quarantine for 28 days instead of 14 days.

Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi addressed the CWC meet on Thursday saying, 'I offered our constructive cooperation and suggestions. Unfortunately, they have been acted upon only partially and in a miserly way. The compassion, large-heartedness and alacrity from the Centre is conspicuous by its absence.'

Four more COVID-19 patients in Jharkhand have recovered on Thursday, taking the recovery rate in the state to 16.32 percent with eight individuals being cured in total.

So far, the state has recorded 49 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, while three patients have succumbed to the infectious disease.

As the nation continued to reel under the novel coronovirus outbreak, Maharashtra and Gujarat faced the brunt of the crisis the maximum. The two western states accounted for 37 percent of the total 8,059 confirmed cases recorded in both so far.

With 229 fresh cases recorded in the last 24 hours, Gujarat on Wednesday emerged as the second worst affected state after Maharashtra, which reported 431 new cases.

The Maharashtra government has decided to aggressively evacuate suspected coronavirus patients from Dharavi and other hotspots and put them in institutional quarantine, Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Wednesday.

The densely populated Dharavi slum area has reported close to 190 cases of coronavirus infection so far.

"Houses in Dharavi are very small and 10-12 people live in a house. Even if we advise home quarantine, the shortage of space defeats the purpose," he said.

The total number of novel coronavirus cases in India climbed to 21,393 on Thursday, according to the latest Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data. The toll stood at 682, it said.

So far, India has 16,454 active cases. While, the recovery rate of COVID-19 patients is at 19.8 percent.

Assam Director General of Police GP Singh on Wednesday said that a total number of 2,326 people were arrested and 17,872 vehicles were detained for violating lockdown rules.

He further tweeted that a total of Rs 1,02,41,400 fine was realised during the lockdown.

Sharing details regarding FIR registered for spreading fake news on social media/rumour related to COVID-19, he said, "Of 85 cases that were registered, 46 people were arrested, of which 12 people were later released on bail."

The total number of novel coronavirus cases in India surged past 20,000 on Wednesday. At least 1,486 fresh cases emerged in the last 24 hours, taking the COVID-19 count in the country to 20,471, according to the latest Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data.

With 49 deaths recorded since Tuesday, the toll now stands at 652, it said.

The countrywide COVID-19 toll rose to 652 while the number of cases jumped to 20,471 on Wednesday, an increase of 49 fatalities and 1,486 cases since Tuesday evening, according to the Union Health Ministry.

The number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 15,859, while 3,959 people have been cured and discharged, the ministry said, adding that one patient has migrated.

Meanwhile, the Union Cabinet approved Rs 15,000 crore for "India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package" for setting up dedicated treatment facilities and laboratories as part of an urgent response to contain the pandemic.

The Cabinet also approved an ordinance aimed at preventing violence against health workers after several cases of assaults on doctors were reported during the coronavirus outbreak.

Maharashtra, Gujarat report most deaths

Of the 49 deaths reported since Tuesday evening, 19 were from Maharashtra, 18 from Gujarat, four from Madhya Pradesh, three from West Bengal, two from Andhra Pradesh and one each from Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, the ministry said.

Of the total 652 deaths, Maharashtra tops the tally with 251, followed by Gujarat at 95, Madhya Pradesh at 80, Delhi at 47, Rajasthan at 25, Andhra Pradesh at 24 and Telangana at 23, according to the ministry.

The death toll reached 21 in Uttar Pradesh, 18 in Tamil Nadu while Karantaka has reported 17 cases.

Punjab has registered 16 deaths, while West Bengal has reported 15 fatalities due to coronavirus infection so far.

The disease has claimed five lives in Jammu and Kashmir, while Kerala, Jharkhand and Haryana have recorded three COVID-19 deaths each.

Bihar has reported two deaths, while Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha and Assam have reported one fatality each, according to the ministry data.

According to the health ministry''s data updated in the evening, the highest number of confirmed cases in the country are from Maharashtra at 5,221, followed by Gujarat at 2,272, Delhi at 2,156, Rajasthan at 1,801, Tamil Nadu at 1,596 and Madhya Pradesh at 1,592.

The number of COVID-19 cases has gone up to 1,412 in Uttar Pradesh, 945 in Telangana and 813 in Andhra Pradesh.

The number of cases has risen to 427 in Kerala, 425 in Karnataka, 423 in West Bengal, 380 in Jammu and Kashmir, 254 in Haryana and 251 in Punjab.

Bihar has reported 126 coronavirus cases, while Odisha has 82.

Forty-six people have been infected with the virus in Uttarakhand while Jharkhand has 45 cases.

Himachal Pradesh has 39 cases, Chhattisgarh has 36, while Assam has registered 35 infections so far.

Chandigarh has 27 COVID-19 cases, Ladakh 18, while 17 cases have been reported from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Meghalaya has reported 12 cases, while Goa and Puducherry have seven COVID-19 patients each. Manipur and Tripura have two cases each, while Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh have reported a case each.

"Our figures are being reconciled with the ICMR," the ministry said on its website.

It further said that one case of Jharkhand has been reassigned to Bihar after reconciliation.

Cabinet approves ordinance making attacks on doctors non-bailable offence

The Union government proposed making attacks on health workers non-bailable with maximum punishment of seven years in jail and Rs 5 lakh fine.

Javadekar said a person can be sentenced to anywhere between three months and five years in jail, besides a fine between Rs 50,000 and Rs 2 lakh, for crimes against healthcare workers under the new provision. In cases where injuries are serious, the punishment will range from six months to seven years, and carry fine between Rs 1-5 lakhs, the minister told reporters.

"Our government has zero tolerance against violence and harassment targeting doctors, nurses, paramedics and ASHA workers when they are doing their best to fight the pandemic," Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said after a Union cabinet meeting.

It was not clear whether these provisions would continue even after the COVID-19 crisis.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) called off its proposed ''white alert'' and ''black day'' protests scheduled for 22 and 23 April following a meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah through video conference on Wednesday. The doctors' body has been demanding that the Centre bring a law to protect healthcare workers from rising attacks at a time when they are battling COVID-19.

The Union Health Ministry also advised chief secretaries of all states and Union Territories to adopt adequate measures in ensuring the safety of health workers involved in COVID-19 services.

In a letter, Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan said amongst all professionals, the skills and services of these health workers place them in a unique position of saving lives.

Meanwhile, official sources told PTI that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with chief ministers via video conferencing on 27 April morning on the way ahead in the fight against coronavirus. This will be the third such video conference.

In the last interaction on 11 April, several chief ministers had recommended extension of the 21-day lockdown by two weeks, which was slated to end on 14 April earlier. Modi then extended it to 3 May.

Centre, West Bengal govt continue to be at loggerheads

A political stand-off continued between the BJP-headed Central Government and the Trinamool Congress-led government in West Bengal, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleging that the Centre had dispatched faulty testing kits to her state.

"Canards are being spread every day that only a few are getting tested in Bengal for COVID-19. This is absolutely false. Faulty kits were sent to Bengal which have now been withdrawn. We didn't even get adequate testing kits," she told a press conference.

The state government, however, assured it will abide by all the Central Government orders on the nationwide lockdown and said "it is not a fact" that it was not cooperating with the central team deputed to assess the COVID-19 situation in the West Bengal.

The assurance followed the Centre's allegation that the West Bengal government was obstructing the central team's work.

West Bengal has so far reported 15 deaths and 385 confirmed cases, though at least 79 people have been cured of COVID-19 in the state.

Rahul Gandhi seeks suggestions for MSME stimulus package

The Congress party on Wednesday has sought suggestions from the public on what a MSME economic stimulus package should cover. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweets, "COVID-19 has devastated our micro, small and medium businesses."

#COVID19 has devastated our micro, small & medium businesses (MSME). The Congress party needs your help. Send us suggestions & ideas for what a MSME economic stimulus package should cover on: https://t.co/kP2NZ6TNUK or our social media platforms. #HelpSaveSmallBusinesses pic.twitter.com/UwLEPrnWdB — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 22, 2020

With inputs from agencies