The death toll due to COVID-19 has risen to 62 in India on Friday, 3 April, and the total number of cases has increased to 2,547, as the country registered a record spike of 478 new cases, according to the Union health ministry.

Meanwhile, 93 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Delhi, taking the total number to 386. 102 fresh COVID-19 cases were reported in Tamil Nadu, taking the total to 411.

Meanwhile, in a special video message, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to all citizens to “switch off all lights for 9 minutes and light up lamps or torch or cellphone flashlights on Sunday, 5 April at 9 pm.”

Odisha announced a 48-hour lockdown in three of its cities – Bhubaneswar, Bhadrak and Cuttack, starting from 8 pm tonight.