Coronavirus Updates April 15, 2020 | As it happened

Two Delhi Police Constables tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday. 

No case of COVID19 has been reported in Uttarakhand today. The total number of cases stand at 37.

Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal said, "Delhi to use plasma technique for treatment on a trial basis to save lives of critical COVID-19 patients. Advised all to strictly adhere to SOPs/guidelines and protocols issued by the Union Health Ministry while dealing with COVID-19 patients." 

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a charge sheet against the then (2012-14) Credit Manager, Bank of India, Guwahati (Assam) and 4 others, for causing Bank of India, a loss of approximately Rs 1,98,50,000.

The then Credit Manager, Bank of India, Guwahati, between 2012-14 had allegedly misused his position and entered into a criminal conspiracy with others and sanctioned term loan and cash credit loan by violating bank procedures and guidelines. 

Union Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan said on Wednesday that there are around 400 districts of India where coronavirus has not entered. We have been able to pinpoint where the virus is.

Steel Authority of India (SAIL) has set up a COVID-19 testing lab at Rourkela Steel Plant’s Ispat General Hospital (IGH) which has been made ready for sample testing.

A day after PM Modi's address to the nation, Health Ministry on Wednesday briefed media on COVID-19 situation in the country. Here are the highlights from the presser.

• The districts of the country will be classified into 3 categories - hotspot districts, non-hotspot districts but where cases are being reported and green zone districts. 
• Every district will be asked to establish at least one COVID-19 dedicated hospital. 
• Cabinet Secy held a video conference today with all Chief Secretaries, DGPs, Health Secretaries, Collectors, SPs, Municipal Commissioners and CMOs where hotspots was discussed and orientation on field level implementation of containment strategy was given.
• COVID-19 hotspots and green zones identified; door-to-door surveys being conducted in hotspots.
• States issued guidelines for dealing with COVID-19 hotspots across India.
• Special teams will search for new COVID-19 cases and samples will be collected and tested as per sampling criteria.
• The movement will not be allowed in containment zones, except for those related to essential services.
• No community transmission in India so far, there have been some local outbreaks. 
• Health Ministry declares 170 districts hotspots, identifies 207 as non-hotspots.

Reserve Bank of India on Wednesday announced that it will conduct TLTROs ( Targeted Long Term Repo Operation) of up to three-year tenor (the length of time until a loan is due) of appropriate sizes for a total amount of up to Rs 1 lakh crore.

So far, TLTROs for Rs 75,000 crores have been conducted in three tranches. It has now been decided to conduct the next TLTRO operation for Rs 25,000 crores: Reserve Bank of India.

The Ministry of Railways announced that they will provide protection to healthcare professionals in the fight against COVID19, Indian Railways plans to produce over 30,000 coveralls (Personal Protective Equipment) in April 2020. Railways plans to manufacture 1,00,000 of the same in May. 

According to the official statement of cab service provider, Ola has partnered with Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to enable essential medical trips in Mumbai. BMC has been provided with dedicated cars for every ward in the city to ferry health workers and paramedical staff across wards and their homes. 

The confirmed cases of coronavirus worldwide have surged past the 2 million-mark. As per latest figures 2,000,065 people worldwide are infected with the virus while over 125,000 have succumbed to the illness. READ MORE 

South Koreans began going to the polls on Wednesday to elect members of parliament under strict safety guidelines in one of the first national elections held amid the coronavirus pandemic.

A 69-year-old person from Chikkaballapura died of coronavirus in Bengaluru taking COVID-19 related toll in Karnataka to 11.

(PTI)

The South Central Railway has issued an important clarification regarding the reports of special trains for migrant workers. 

"CLARIFICATION: A communication related to internal planning of SCR to assess demand for train services is being misinterpreted in some sections as decision to run spl trains for migrant labour

There is NO such proposal & ALL Passenger Trains stands CANCELLED till 03.05.2020,"  South Central Railway has said in a tweet.

Despite gloom all over, #Amazon saw its stock zooming over 5 per cent to an all-time high of over $2,283 per share – leaving the e-commerce giant with $1.1 trillion worth and adding $6.5 billion to its founder and CEO #JeffBezos fortune.

• New York: 202,208
• New Jersey: 68,824
• Massachusetts: 28,164
• Michigan: 27,001
• California: 25,537
• Pennsylvania: 25,465
• Illinois: 23,248
• Florida: 21,628
• Louisiana: 21,518
• Texas: 15,022
• Georgia: 14,578
• Connecticut: 13,989
• Washington: 11,055
• Maryland: 9,472

• new record high of 412 cases announced last night, 3 more deaths
• total cases now 4,933 
• total deaths now 28 
• 81 new recoveries, 933 in total 
• 648,195 coronavirus tests done in total
• that's 65,538 per 1 million of population

India coronavirus positive cases have crossed 11,000-mark taking the toll of confirmed patients to 11,439. The total death toll due to COVID-19 now stands at 377. 1,306 patients have recovered so far as per the health ministry's latest figures released on Wednesday. READ MORE 

29 Coronavirus positive cases have been reported in Rajasthan today so far - 15 in Jaipur, 7 in Jodhpur and 7 in Kota. Total number of positive cases in the state now stands at 1034

• 26,540 new cases in last 24 hours
• 608,458 cases in total
• 48,224 recovered
• 25,992 deaths
• 33% of cases in New York
• 3.1 million tests performed

• 1,076 new cases in last 24 hours
• 11,439 cases in total
• 1,305 recovered
• 377 deaths
• 23% of cases in Maharashtra
• 229,426 people have been tested

United States registers record 2,228 coronavirus deaths in past 24 hours

Yoga guru Swami Ramdev gives tips to fight coronavirus. Watch Here: 

• Australian PM urges teachers to keep schools open
• China approves two experimental vaccines for clinical trials
• South Korea to hold election on April 15 despite outbreak

• New study shows Brazil likely has 12 times more cases
• Peru sees its largest single-day increase

• France extends lockdown to May
• Spain, Austria and Italy among those in Europe to ease restrictions
• Deaths in UK hospitals pass 12,000

• Major airlines reach an agreement in principle with the Trump administration on a $25 billion aid package 
• The US will halt funding to the WHO while it conducts an investigation
• Puerto Rico governor sets earlier curfew

• US death toll hits over 20,000
• Deaths in UK hospitals pass 12,000
• India extends nationwide lockdown until May 3
• France extends national lockdown to May 11
• Spain eases some restrictions with 567 new deaths