New Delhi | Jagran News Desk: The novel coronavirus is spreading at an alarming rate in India. The virus has infected 6,412 people and claimed the lives of 199 so far, as per the data available at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. According to the Health Ministry data, Maharashtra is worst affected state in India and has reported 97 deaths and 1,364 cases so far.
Amid the spiking number of coronavirus cases, the government has announced a Rs 15,000 crore "India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package". The package is aimed at boosting national and state health systems to support procurement of essential medical equipment and drugs, and strengthening of surveillance activities.
Here are the LIVE updates on the coronavirus pandemic:
16:33 pm: Health workers are on the frontline in the battle against #COVID19 & any type of misbehaviour with them is harmful to us. Incidents of misbehaviour with them negatively affects their morale: Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry
16:24 pm: 'India still not in community transmission stage': Health Ministry
16:20 pm: Yesterday, we conducted 16,002 tests. Only 0.2% cases tested positive. On the basis of the samples collected, the infection rate is not high; Rapid diagnostics kits have also been sanctioned: Lav Agrawal, Jt Secy Ministry of Health
16:18 pm: A lot of requests on Hydroxychloroquine were already there. Several countries have made requests for this particular item and taking into view the domestic necessities and keeping a sufficient buffer for our own requirement...: Dammu Ravi, AS & Coordinator [COVID-19], MEA
16:17 pm: Have sufficient supplies for PPEs, N95 masks and ventilators: Health Ministry
16:16 pm: Home Minister has held a review meeting over security at Indo-Pak and Indo-Bangladesh borders with the border security officials. He ordered to tighten security specially in the areas where there is no fencing¬ to allow any cross-border movement: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
16:14 pm: 'Will need to 1 crore hydroxychloroquine tablets for COVID-19 patients': Health Ministry
16:13 pm: 199 deaths have been reported so far: Health Ministry
16:11 pm: In view of the ensuing festivals in the month of April 2020, MHA has directed all States/UTs to ensure strict compliance of lockdown measures to fight COVID-19: Punya Salila Srivastava, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs
16:06 pm: We have evacuated 20,473 foreign nationals as of yesterday. This is an ongoing process. We are receiving excellent cooperation. This is all government effort: Dammu Ravi, AS & Coordinator [COVID-19], MEA
16:05 pm: Union Health Ministry briefs the media over coronavirus
15:25 pm: I request health ministers of all states to ensure that lockdown is followed 100 per cent in your respective states. If we lag behind in this, it will be difficult for us to win this fight against COVID-19: Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Health Minister
14:50 pm: We have around 10,000 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits, 30,000 masks and 257 ventilators. Many states are affected due to COVID-19, so I believe that lockdown should not be lifted but extended so that we end the spread of COVID-19: Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat
14:08 pm: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) validates TrueNat- a tuberculosis testing machine for COVID-19 screening tests.
13:39 pm: As of today we have 651 people who came to Punjab from Nizamuddin, Delhi. We have traced 636 of them, 15 are still untraceable and we are looking for them: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh
13:14 pm: PM Modi to interact with chief ministers on Saturday, decision on extension of lockdown likely
12:55 pm: Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) Mumbai has promulgated an order under Section 144 of CrPC, in the areas under the control of CP Greater Mumbai, prohibiting dissemination of incorrect info through various messaging and social media platforms.
12:55 pm: In view of lockdown and associated economic stress for COVID-19, Odisha government advises private educational institutes to be sympathetic to consider reduction/deferment of fees from April to June. It will help parents whose income is adversely affected: Odisha Chief Minister's Office
12:19 pm: Maharashtra: 16 new COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in the state today, taking the total number of positive cases in the state to 1,380.
12:18 pm: A petition has been filed in Supreme Court seeking its direction to the Govt of India to carry out mass house-to-house tests for identification, treatment of COVID-19 infected persons in hotspot cities and to contain its spread in the country.
12:18 pm: 32 people have been booked by Police for stepping out of their homes without wearing masks, in Northwest region of the national capital: Delhi Police
11:37 am:
11:32 am: 2 COVID-19 positive cases (from Anantapuram district) reported in the state since 9 PM yesterday till 9 am today, taking total no. of positive cases in state to 365, of which 10 patients have recovered and discharged. Total 6 deaths reported till today: State Nodal Officer, Andhra Pradesh
10:53 am: In the hotspots identified in Delhi, we are conducting door-to-door medical scanning of the residents. 6000 houses have been scanned in Nizamuddin area also, one person tested positive for COVID-19: Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain
10:53 am: In the last 24 hours we have tested 978 samples, out of which 67 are COVID-19 positive. Total number of coronavirus positive cases in the state at 308, including 259 active cases, of which 2 are on ventilators: Jayanti Ravi, Principal Secretary (Health), Gujarat
10:30 am: We have to jointly fight this pandemic. India is ready to do whatever is possible to help our friends. Praying for the well-being and good health of the people of Israel: Prime Minister Narendra Modi
10:09 am: The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Institute of Company Secretaries of India and Institute of Cost Accountants of India contribute Rs 28.80 crore towards PM CARES Fund to combat COVID-19 outbreak: Ministry of Corporate Affairs
9:22 am: 12 contacts identified of a woman from Tikri, who lost her life due to COVID-19, yesterday in Jammu. 10 of those contacts have been tested in Udhampur,of which 4 have tested positive. Tikri declared a red zone, strict containment plan being implemented: Udhampur District Commissioner
8:49 am: Increase of 547 new COVID-19 cases 30 deaths in last 12 hours; India's total number of coronavirus positive cases rises to 6412 (including 5709 active cases, 504 cured/discharged/migrated and 199 deaths): Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
8:30 am: Gujarat: 21 more persons have tested positive for COVID-19 in Vadodara, of which 20 people are from Nagarvada area. Total number of positive coronavirus cases in Vadodara stands at 39 now.
8:09 am: A 65-year-old person has passed away in Silchar Medical College and Hospital, Assam due to complication of COVID-19 infection: State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma
8:05 am: Maharashtra Principal Secretary (Special), Amitabh Gupta (who allegedly gave permission letter to Wadhavan family) has been sent on compulsory leave with immediate effect, till the pending of inquiry, which will be initiated against him: Home Minister Anil Deshmukh
7:46 am: United States records 1,783 coronavirus deaths in past 24 hours, reports AFP.
7:25 am: It has also beefed up steps to control spread of the deadly virus.
7:24 am: The government has announced a Rs 15,000 crore "India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package".
7:23 am: According to Health Ministry data, 477 have been cured and discharged.
7:23 am: Coronavirus has infected 5,865 people and claimed the lives of 169 so far.