Goa CM Pramod Sawant has declared the state as ‘Zero Coronavirus case state’ after all seven patients tested negative for the infection. (Courtesy: Reuters photo)

Coronavirus in India Highlights: The nationwide lockdown has entered the 27th day even as the number of Coronavirus positive cases continues to rise on a daily basis. As per the latest data released by the Union Health Ministry, the total COVID-19 cases in India stand at 18,985 and the death toll is 603. The tally of those cured, discharged from hospital stands at 3,259, the ministry said.

The Kerala government on Tuesday said that it has chosen the state police’s “triple lock containment” strategy to check the spread of the infection in the northern district, a top police officer said on Tuesday. The strategy had helped in arresting the spread of the deadly virus in neighbouring Kasaragod, which was one of the first COVID-19 hotspots in the country. The decision to replicate it in Kannur was taken after the district emerged as a new hotspot, reporting most number of COVID-19 cases in the state, overtaking Kasaragod district, Inspector General of Police Vijay Sakhare said. He told PTI that the triple lock, which involves a combination of technology and human surveillance and restricting movement of people in three stages, has come into force in Kannur district.

Earlier, the Union Health Ministry said that the COVID-19 ‘doubling rate’ — the pace at which the number of coronavirus cases in India was becoming double in the last one week — has improved to 7.5 days, as against 3.4 days before the nationwide lockdown was imposed. Ministry of Health and Family Affairs Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal said that as per April 19 data, 18 states and UTs have shown an improvement than the national average doubling rate.

The government has said that there will some relaxation in the lockdown in areas outside the containment zone from Monday, April 20. However, areas declared as Coronavirus hotspots will continue be face strict restrictions from the authorities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, last week, had extended the nationwide lockdown till May 3. Telangana, however, has further extended it till May 7. In some positive news, CM Pramod Sawant has declared Goa as ‘Zero Coronavirus case state’ after all seven patients tested negative for the infection. Manipur CM Biren Singh too declared his state ‘Corona Free’ after all seven patients recovered.

Maharashtra and Delhi have emerged as the worst affected states by the Coronavirus pandemic. While Maharashtra reported 4,669 cases, Delhi’s tally stood at 2,081. States likes Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka have also been witnessing rise in infection cases.