Coronavirus Updates: April 06, 2020 | As it happened

With a view to prepare for any worst-case scenario as Indian battles to contain the COVID-19 outbreak, the ICMR on Monday said it is planning several interventions which include scaling-up testing capacity to one lakh tests/day in the coming months.

Authorities on Monday declared three areas in Srinagar and Ganderbal districts as red zones to prevent the spread of coronavirus after positive cases were detected from these areas, officials said.

Two areas -- Chattabal yam -- in Srinagar and Guzhama in Ganderbal have been declared as red zones, the officials said.

There was a glimmer of hope amid all-pervasive gloom as the number of active COVID 19 cases in Bihar plunged by nearly a quarter to 22 with the recovery of six patients while as no one tested positive for the deadly coronavirus in the last 48 hours, officials said on Monday.

At least two MPS from the NCP and the Shiv Sena on Monday expressed divergent views on the Centre's decision to cut 30 per cent salary of all MPs for one year, and to divert MPLAD funds for two years to fund the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

NCP MP Supriya Sule, daughter of the party chief Sharad Pawar, has supported the move.

With 37 more cases of coronavirus recorded in Pune city and its surrounding areas, the count of COVID-19 patients has gone up to 141 in the district, an
official said on Monday.

The COVID-19 count in Nashik in Maharashtra reached two after a 44-year-old man who came to Nashik from Delhi tested positive for the novel coronavirus,
said Collector Suraj Mandhare on Monday.

PNB Housing Finance on Monday said it has signed an agreement with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Citibank to raise USD 100 million (about Rs 762 crore) for providing loans in the affordable housing segment.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday reshuffled his Cabinet and sacked some key advisors for their alleged role in a recent sugar and wheat crisis the country.

A 60-year-old coronavirus patient has died at a hospital in Kota, with Rajasthan reporting 22 fresh cases on Monday, an official said.

The bomb disposal squad of the army on Monday destroyed two live mortar shells fired by Pakistani troops to target forward posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

The 81 mm shells had remained unexploded during the recent cross-border shelling by Pakistan and were noticed in the Balakote sector, they said. The officials said the army experts rushed to the spot and later safely destroyed the mortar shells.

From tomorrow, the ration will be distributed at 421 government schools to the poor who don't have a ration card in Delhi. Each person will get 4 kg of wheat and 1 kg of rice. We aim to give ration to 10 lakh such people and will take more food grains from the Centre if the need arises, Arvind Kejriwal said.

"We are raising the number of COVID-19 tests in Delhi. We have already placed an order for 1 lakh testing kits. 27,000 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits have been allocated to Delhi by the Central government," Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said.

COVID-19 cases reached to 523 in Delhi, with 20 fresh cases being reported in the last 24 hours including 10 attendees of Tablighi Jamaat event in Nizamuddin. One person died of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, total deaths stand at 7. 25 patients are on ventilators, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said.

"Out of the total number of cases, 330 people are linked to Tablighi Jamaat in Delhi. Around 1000 samples of are being tested for COVID-19 daily," he further added.

Walmart India, which operates in the cash-and-carry format, on Monday said it is encouraging its members to buy online to avoid the rush on the streets amid the rise of coronavirus cases in the country.

An order has been placed for 5 lakh testing kits for COVID19; 2.5 lakhs kits to be delivered on April 8-9: R Gangakhedkar, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said

We have quarantined over 25,000 Tablighi Jamaat workers and their contacts; 5 Haryana villages where they visited have been sealed, Punya Salila Srivastava, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs said.

Canara Bank has reduced its Marginal Cost of Funds Based Lending Rate (MCLR) on loans/advances across all tenors with effect from Tuesday for the
amalgamated entity.

Rs 1100 crores have already been released from National Health Mission Funds for the states. Also, an additional amount of Rs 3000 crores has been released today: Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry. 

The first patient admitted at the Wenlock hospital here after having tested positive for coronavirus was discharged Monday after full recovery.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday visited a fuel distribution outlet here to see if "social distancing" norms as emphasized by the government to combat the COVID-19 pandemic was being followed by people.

Indian Staffing Federation (ISF), the apex body of flexi staffing industry, has appointed Lohit Bhatia as its president and Farhan Azmi as its vice-president.

In the last 13 days, Indian Railways transported sugar through 1340 wagons, salt through 958 wagons and edible oil through 316 wagons/tanks, to different parts of the country, amid coronavirus lockdown: Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry

During coronavirus lockdown, 16.94 lakh metric tonnes of food grains have been transported across India till now. In 13 states, 1.3 lakh metric tonnes of wheat and in 8 states, 1.32 lakh metric tonnes of rice have been allotted, he further added.

693 new COVID-19 cases have been reported in the last 24 hours, taking the total number to 4067 in India out of which 1445 cases are related to Tablighi Jamaat. 76 per cent cases have been reported in males & 24 per cent in females: Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry

The number of COVID-19 deaths stands at 109, with 30 people succumbing to it yesterday. 63 per cent of the deaths have been reported among people over 60 years age, 30 per cent in the age bracket of 40 to 60 years & 7 per cent victims were below 40 years age, he added.

22 fresh Coronavirus positive cases reported today, taking the total number of cases in the state to 288, Rajasthan Health Department said.

GoAir on Monday said bookings for its domestic flights are open from April 15. The airline will open the bookings for international flights from May 1, 2020, GoAir Spokesperson said.

Fitch Ratings on Monday said it has downgraded ratings of Vedanta Group firm Cairn India Holdings Ltd's rating as a drop in oil prices will hurt earnings of the company.

TRS Lok Sabha member from Telangana G Ranjith Reddy has urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to bring back Indian students from the UK who
reportedly want to return to India in view of the rapid spread of COVID-19 in Britain.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that govt would provide all possible help to farmers in harvesting season. PM Modi suggested harnessing technology&encouraging exploration of innovative solutions like using ‘truck aggregators’ to connect farmers with mandis, on the lines of app-based cab services: PMO

Kerala High Court allows a cat owner's plea to allow him to buy pet-food amid the COVID-19 lockdown. The petitioner, N Prakash, an owner of three cats had approached the Court aggrieved by the decision of the police to refuse him vehicle pass for purchasing cat food.

"The ninth COVID-19 patient (total of 10 COVI19 patients) in Chhattisgarh has also now fully recovered. So now there is only 1 person in Chhattisgarh who has COVID19 and he is being looked after by a team of expert doctors, all other patients have been cured," Chhattisgarh Health Minister said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today interacted with the Central Ministers via video conference. PM appreciated the leadership of the Ministers and said that the continuous feedback provided by them has been effective in strategizing for tackling COVID-19.

"It is imperative that leaders communicate exhaustively with the state&district administration, especially in districts which are hotspots for COVID-19 pandemic, to be apprised of the ground situation&also provide solutions to the emerging problems," PM Modi said

Union Cabinet approves Ordinance amending the salary, allowances, and pension of Members of Parliament Act, 1954 reducing allowances and pension by 30% with effect from April 1, 2020 for a year.

"The President, Vice President, Governors of States have voluntarily decided to take a pay cut as a social responsibility. The money will go to Consolidated Fund of India," Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said.

Thal Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have suspended all non-essential movement of its troops and staffers as they have extended their leaves by another 10 days, till April 15, in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, officials said on Monday.

Hearing of urgent matters underway in the Supreme Court through video conferencing. Following PM Modi's announcement of a 21-day nationwide Coronavirus Lockdown, SC had issued a circular that it will continue hearing the matters of extreme urgency via video conferencing.

Zoos across India are advised to be on high alert and monitor animals 24/7 through CCTV for any symptoms/abnormal behaviour as a precautionary measure in wake of a Tiger in New York's Bronx Zoo testing positive for COVID-19

769 foreign tourists from all over the country register on ‘Stranded in India’ portal in first five days.Assistance in various forms being rendered to those requesting for help through the portal: Ministry of Tourism COVID-19

India handled COVID-19 situation comparatively better than developed nations, RSS Joint General Secretary Manmohan Vaidya has said. "To tackle COVID-19 outbreak, India's leadership took some decisive steps which got public support," Vaidya said.

"From starting helplines to feeding poor and daily wagers, RSS workers helped 25.5 lakh people during lockdown," he added. 

Prime Minister Modi addressed party workers on BJP's 40th Foundation Day. HIGHLIGHTS:  

- India's holistic approach of dealing with coronavirus is being appreciated by WHO 

- Crisis will help us chart better path, says PM Modi 

- States and Centre are working together to fight coronavirus

- In touch with world leader over coronavirus 

India’s gold imports plunged more than 73% year-on-year in March to their lowest in 6-1/2 years as record domestic prices and a lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus squeezed retail demand, news agency Reuters said quoting a government source on Monday. 

Around 198 FIRs have been registered by Delhi Police over violation of home quarantine orders. These FIRs were registered not only on the basis of the complaints by neighbours or family members but also on the basis of phone tracking, Delhi Police said. 

Police have been provided phone numbers of all those who are under home quarantine. At least 176 FIRs were lodged solely on the basis of phone tracking & surprise physical visits: Delhi Police #COVID19

Coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh: Bhopal District Magistrate had yesterday ordered more stringent lockdown guidelines. Bhopal administration on Sunday ordered, all shops, except dairies and medical stores, will remain closed till further orders. Streets wear a deserted look in Bhopal amid #CoronavirusLockdown. 

Bollywood singer Kanika Kapoor, who tested positive for Coronavirus after returning to India from London​, has been discharged from the Lucknow hospital on Monday after testing negative for the novel COVID-19 disease twice in a row. Full Story...

Use of Cloth Face Coverings to Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19

How to Wear a Cloth Face Covering

• Applying a face mask - step 1
• Cloth face coverings should—
• fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
• be secured with ties or ear loops
• include multiple layers of fabric
• allow for breathing without restriction
• be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape

(Source: CDC)

You can take steps to protect yourself and others during a COVID-19 outbreak.

• The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person. Recent studies indicate that people who are infected but do not have symptoms likely also play a role in the spread of COVID-19.
• There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
• The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.

(Source: Centres for Disease Control and Prevention)

CDC report shows the percentage of deaths due to pneumonia not associated with flu has increased sharply since the end of February. This could be caused by #COVID19.

1 more woman from Hindpiri area, Ranchi tested positive for #COVID19. She was in direct contact of the Malaysian woman (1st positive case in state) who was staying in the area&tested positive earlier. Total positive cases in state is 4

The total number of global coronavirus cases is nearing 1.3 million, including more than 69,000 fatalities. Over 260,000 patients are reported to have recovered. Here's a quick look at the numbers at the moment.

• Coronavirus: US death toll surpasses 9,000
• Japan set to declare state of emergency as cases surge
• South Korea’s daily cases dip below 50 since February peak
• Australia sees signs of slowing the spread of the virus
• Tiger tests positive at Bronx Zoo in first believed US animal case
• The Queen gives rare televised address
• Growth in new cases appears to be slowing in Spain and Italy
• Coronavirus in India: COVID-19 positive numbers stands at 3,577. 87 people have died so far

United States Coronavirus deaths top 1,200 in last 24 hours

Punjab State Commission for Scheduled Castes has directed Deputy Commissioner and Police Commissioner, Amritsar to probe delaying of cremation of Padma Shri awardee Nirmal Singh (who tested positive for COVID19 and passed away on April 2), and submit report within 7 days

Tiger at New York's Bronx Zoo tests positive for coronavirus