Here is a look at updates from major Indian cities on the outbreak of coronavirus — 1 Mumbai BMC declared five dedicated hospitals for Covid-19 positive patients and shift all the positive patients in these hospitals where staff with proper personal protection equipment will handle them.

Vegetables, grocery items and packaged goods continue to remain in short supply across Mumbai, forcing many shops to roll down their shutters for a few days or operate short hours.

On a day 67 Covid-19 cases were reported in Maharashtra, of which 80% or 53 cases were from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and 43 from within the city itself.

While other states and regions are facing an acute shortage of blood, Mumbai's blood banks are adequately stocked for this month. With elective surgeries put on hold and fewer emergencies (like accidents) reported, the requirement of blood has dropped by almost 50% in the city.

Taj hotels in Mumbai to host doctors, nurses on Covid-19 duty. 2 Delhi The procurement process for PEEs (Personal Protective Equipment) N95 masks, ventilators is in the advanced stage and these will reach the States soon. There is no shortage as of today, says Union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan after visiting Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital.

In the last two days, 600 people (related to Markaz Nizamuddin) in Delhi have been quarantined. We are trying to trace all contacts, says Delhi health minister Satyendra Jain.

108 members of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital staff, including doctors and nurses, have been quarantined after they came in contact with two patients who in their second test report were found positive for Covid-19. Of the 108, 85 are in home-quarantine and 23 in the hospital.

Delhi government has launched a Covid-19 chatbot to provide information about the virus to the general public. “WhatsApp number 8800007722 will provide you with all information related to novel coronavirus.

There has been a drastic fall in crime figures in the second half of March. Delhi Police data shows that between March 15 and 31, most crimes have reduced by half and some have even reduced by almost 80%. 3 Chennai Chennai civic body to close meat stalls if social distancing rules are broken. Following reports of overcrowding at meat and fish stalls, Greater Chennai Corporation commissioner G Prakash said shopkeepers would be held responsible for customers crowding or breaking social distancing norms.

A group of students pursuing social work course in Ambedkar Arts College, Chennai has launched counselling service to people in need of help as confinement to homes during the lockdown period is causing psychological problems to many.

About 150 inmates in Puzhal prison have been working day and night preparing about 31,000 three-layered face masks a day. They have sent about 1.80 lakh masks to the DGP office in the past week. 4 Lucknow Lucknow Municipal Corporation is using emergency funds under the miscellaneous head to complete its day-to-day tasks as the annual budget 2020-21 could not be passed due to the lockdown.

The UP government has released 10,438 prisoners on interim bail and eight-week parole, following a Supreme Court directive to decongest jails in wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The rural development department has identified 2.5 lakh people who have migrated to UP villages from within and outside the state following the nationwide lockdown. Of them, 6,000 are those who have a history of travelling abroad, according to figures compiled by the department. 5 Bengaluru With the last international traveller to have landed in Bengaluru set to complete 14 days of home quarantine on April 6, isolation for suspected Covid-19 cases will focus exclusively on primary and secondary contacts of the travellers and others who have tested positive for the virus.

The lockdown has had its impact on Bengaluru's burgeoning cybercrime, but not all tech-savvy criminals, especially banking fraudsters resorting to phishing and vishing, seem to be undeterred, city police said, citing statistics. 6 Hyderabad Municipal Administration and Urban Development department warned individuals and organizations of action against them if they distribute food without contacting government officials. The decision was taken following an incident in Manikonda on Thursday. Around 3,000 people gathered at Manikonda on account of free distribution by individuals and social distancing went for a toss.

Cybercrime police in Hyderabad and a security thinktank on Friday busted a racket by a fraudster, who created fake UPI IDs that resembles the one created for the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situation Fund. 7 Ahmedabad Civil hospital authorities invited applications for temporary recruitment of medical and paramedical staff for the new Covid-19 hospital.

One more person dies of Covid-19 in Ahmedabad; Gujarat death count rises to 10.

Ahmedabad medical association identified 150 private doctors for Covid-19 duty.

Ahmedabad medical association to distribute N95 masks. 8 Kolkata 140 US citizens to be flown back on Sunday

West Bengal government has put on hold all kinds of renovation, decoration and furnishing of government offices to meet the unforeseen expenses needed to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.

MR Bangur Kolkata’s first Covid-19 hospital, MCH plan dropped

Sanitization drive to combat corona as three more Covid-19 suspects being sent to hospital isolation in Salt Lake

35 staffers of Dum Dum hospital including doctors, nurses and other workers, have been sent to home quarantine 9 Chandigarh Three coaches will be modified into isolation wards at the Chandigarh railway station, said a Northern Railway official. In the morning, the spare coaches were transported from Nangal station to the Chandigarh railway station.

Extending a helping hand to know about their well-being and ensure full assistance amid the lockdown, police in Chandigarh have tried to reach out to 1,656 senior citizens over the phone in two days. But the cops could get through only 834 senior citizens, who answered the calls. A total of 34 senior citizens sought help after which cops visited their houses.

As the UT administration is getting good response from NGOs, social organisations and volunteers, UT adviser Manoj Parida has appealed to the city residents to donate only masks, sanitisers, soaps and sanitary pads.

NEW DELHI: The number of coronavirus cases in the country neared the 3,000-mark on Saturday forcing state governments and various city administrations to enforce even stricter measures to enforce the lockdown. So far 68 people have died of the virus in the country.