Coronavirus: Screen Rohingya Muslims, Home Ministry Tells State, UTs

The death toll due to COVID-19 touched 452 in India, as per tracking website worldometer as the Centre defended its testing strategy in the wake of fresh criticism, saying the ratio is not low.

The confirmed coronavirus death toll in the United States reached 32,917 on Thursday even as President Donald Trump unveiled a plan to open up the country in three phases.

However, Europe was still in the "eye of the storm" of the coronavirus pandemic, the World Health Organization warned as parts of the continent moved to ease restrictions but others extended lockdowns and postponed major events.

Here are all the major developments from the day:

9:30 PM: The Home Ministry has asked all states and UTs to screen Rohingya Muslims living under their jurisdiction for COVID-19 as many of them had attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin, officials said on Friday.

8:40 PM: With three more deaths due to COVID-19, death toll in Gujarat increases to 41: health official.

7:55 PM: Himachal Pradesh government has no plans to start bus service to the state from Delhi in view of extended lockdown in which inter-state movement is banned, a senior state official said on Friday and urged people not to fall prey to rumours.

7:41 PM: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has allowed government offices to open from April 20 with limited staff as per the Centre's guidelines, secretary to the CM, Ashwani Kumar said on Friday. However, offices in hotspots and containment zoneswill not be opened, and staff living in these areas have been exempted from attending work, he added.

7:40 PM: Death toll due to COVID-19 rises to 452 in country, cases climb to 13,835, says the Health Ministry.

4:42 PM: India doing better than many countries on outcome ratio, which is ratio of number of COVID-19 recoveries versus deaths: Health Ministry.

4:29 PM: 1,919 dedicated COVID-19 hospitals with 1.73 lakh isolation beds, 21,800 ICU beds readied in India: Health Ministry.

4:22 PM: We carried out more than 28,000 tests in the country on Thursday: ICMR

4:20 PM: Before lockdown, doubling rate of COVID19 cases was around 3 days, but according to data from the past 7 days, the doubling rate of cases now stands at 6.2 days. Doubling rate in 19 States, Union Territories are even lower than average doubling rate: Lav Aggrawal, Health Ministry

4:16 PM: 1,007 fresh COVID-19 cases, 23 deaths reported in India in the last 24 hours: Health Ministry

4:14 PM: RT-PCR kit manufacturing work happening in the country and we can produce around 10 lakh kits by month of May: Health Ministry

4:12 PM: India working with global partners to develop a vaccine as soon as possible: Health Ministry

4:10 PM: Around 5 lakh rapid testing kits being distributed among states: Health Ministry

4:07PM: Over 13% people have recovered from COVID-19: Health Ministry

3:10 PM: An ambulance driver and a sweeper have been booked for denying to take the body of a COVID19 victim, a native of Tamil Nadu' Thoothukudi, to crematorium in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh: Sambhal SP Yamuna Prasad

2:25 PM: Home Minister Amit Shah says: "Modi government is leaving no stone unturned in the fight against COVID19, ensuring a minimum disruption in people’s lives while planning for a strong and stable India in days ahead. Steps were taken by RBI today to boost the Indian economy to further reinforce PM Modi's vision."

2:00 PM: Congress makes 10-point demand charter to Arvind Kejriwal-led government in Delhi to help those in distress due to COVID-19.

1:40 PM: Clerics and community leaders in Delhi urge people to pray at home during the holy month of Ramzan. Cleric Mufti Mukarram says, "We should stay at home and practice social distancing to keep ourselves & others safe. If we fast and pray at home, there is no problem with it".

1:14 PM: As many as 288 more COVID19 cases and 7 more deaths reported in Maharashtra. Total coronavirus cases in the state stand at 3,204 and deaths at 194: State Health Department

12:21 PM: Three police personnel injured after they were attacked while patrolling in Tonk today. Vipin Sharma, Additional SP says, "police party was attacked in 'Kasaai mohalla'. We have brought some people for interrogation, investigation underway".

11:52 AM: 92 more COVID19 cases reported in Gujarat. Total coronavirus cases in the state now at 1021, including 74 discharged and 38 deaths: State Health Department

11:25 AM: Two more persons succumbed to COVID-19 in Gujarat, taking toll to 38: Health official.

10:54 AM: Priyanka Gandhi urges UP CM to set up "economic revival task force" in the state for revival of the economy hit by coronavirus.

10:50 AM: Total 1640 COVID19 cases reported in Delhi till today, of which 62 positive cases were reported yesterday. 38 persons have expired till date, 34 are in ICU and 6 are on ventilator: Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain

10:30 AM: Collection, harvesting of minor forest produce, non-timber forest produce by ST, forest dwellers exempted from lockdown: MHA's new guidelines

10:26 AM: Non-banking financial institutions, housing finance, microfinance institutions with minimum staff allowed to function during lockdown: MHA

10:20 AM: Construction activities in rural areas, water supply, sanitation, laying of power, telecom lines exempted from lockdown: MHA.

10:00 AM: China's coronavirus ground-zero city of Wuhan on Friday abruptly raised its death toll by 50 per cent to a total of 3,869.

9:45 AM: A record number of 4,591 Americans have died in the last 24 hours due to the deadly novel coronavirus in the US, which has the highest number of COVID-19 casualties in the world.

9:40 AM: Total 38 new COVID19 cases reported today in Rajasthan, including 18 in Jodhpur-18 and 5 in Jaipur, according to the state's health department.

9:30 AM: India's number of positive Covid-19 cases climbs to 13,387, says Health Ministry.

9:00 AM: The police in neighbouring Navi Mumbai have identified around 1,600 senior citizens who live alone and need help during the COVID-19 lockdown. The police have set up a help desk to check in on at least 24 elderly persons every day.