Coronavirus: UK Registers 881 Deaths In Last 24 Hours; India Sanctions Rs 15,000 Cr Covid-19 Package

The coronavirus pandemic has killed more than 60,000 people in Europe alone, according to an AFP tally compiled from official sources. That figure accounts for more than 70 per cent of the deaths so far officially recorded worldwide, which is nearing 90,000.

The United States recorded nearly 2,000 novel coronavirus deaths for a second day in a row, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University as of 8:30 pm Wednesday (0030 GMT Thursday). This brings the total number of US fatalities to 14,695. The US death toll now exceeds that of Spain, which has suffered 14,555 deaths, but has not surpassed Italy, whose toll stands at 17,669. 

The number of coronavirus positive cases in India also continued on an upward trend on Thursday mounting to 5,865 while the death toll touched 169, according to the Health Ministry.

In a big relief to the common people, the Supreme Court of India has directed that private labs should conduct coronavirus tests free of cost, observing they need to be philanthropic in the hour of national crisis. 

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10:00 PM: Spanish Health Ministry has said that coronavirus related deaths in the country have exceeded 15,000, but the authorities have claimed the death rate has again slowed. Despite the nation-wide toll reaching 15,238 Spanish authorities are optimistic that the death rate has again slowed after small increases in the previous two days, Al Jazeera reported.

9:40 PM: UK registers 881 coronavirus deaths in daily update, reports AFP.

8:19 PM: Number of coronavirus cases in Maharashtra rises to 1,346, showing an increase of 211 cases over the previous day, says Health Minister Rajesh Tope.

8:10 PM: Madhya Pradesh government makes wearing masks mandatory for anyone stepping out of house, says order.

7:45 PM: China has unveiled a new trial protocol warranting re-testing of the recovered coronavirus patients besides intensifying the screening of asymptomatic cases as concerns grew over the second wave of virus infections in the country. The move comes a day after China lifted the 76-day lockdown in Wuhan, where the pandemic originated.

7:30 PM: Three more COVID-19 positive patients died here on Thursday, taking the death toll to 21 in the city, said health officials. Maharashtra is one of the most affected states in the country.

7:00 PM: 18 new Coronavirus positive cases have been reported in Telangana today. Total number of positive cases in the state now stands at 471: Telangana State Health Minister Eatala Rajendra

6:55 PM: Rajasthan government has mandated wearing of face mask by people in urban areas of the state: Department of Information and Public Relations

6:50 PM: India and Russia have deliberated on the fast evolving global situation arising out of the coronavirus crisis and decided to help each other in facilitating any requirement of medicines and medical equipment to deal with the pandemic.

The decision was taken during a telephonic conversation between Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov, government sources said.

5:40 PM: Government of India sanctions Rs. 15,000 crores for 'India COVID19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package': Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

5:30 PM: Increase of 591 new COVID19 cases and 20 deaths in last 24 hours; India's total number of Coronavirus positive cases rises to 5865: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

5:23 PM: With 67 new cases in the past 24 hours, the tally of coronavirus cases in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday reached 410. Of these, 221 are Tablighi Jamaat attendees.

4:31 PM: Ten teams of coronavirus specialists have been  sent to nine states and orders for 49,000 ventilators have been placed, for which the supply is underway, says a health ministry official.

4:30 PM: 540 cases of coronavirus infection and 17 deaths due to it reported since Wednesday: Health ministry official.

4:10 PM: A 76-year-old man died due to coronavirus in Jodhpur while 47 tested positive for COVID-19 in Rajasthan. 

4:00 PM: Mumbai APMC has decided to shut down mandis in the city as one person tested positive. As a result, 70-80 per cent of vegetables and fruits trading will be stopped.

3:55 PM: Maharashtra Cabinet has approved a proposal for 30% salary cut for all state legislators for a year starting from this month.

3:16 PM: Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) has offered to the government the functional, 50-bed Guru Harkrishan Hospital and six-storey 500-bed hospital building at Gurdwara Bala Sahib for isolation/treatment of COVID19 positive/suspected patients.

3:06 PM: 76,000 people in Chhattisgarh are currently under home quarantine. Total number of cases in the state stands at 11: Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel

2:12 PM: GB Pant Hospital has been removed from the list of designated COVID-19 facilities, as per a Delhi government order. LNJP Hospital will create an additional 500 beds for COVID-19 patients.

2:10 PM:  Twelve fresh cases of COVID-19 reported in Bihar. The total number of cases rises to 51: Official

2:05 PM: Regular work at the Calcutta High Court and its circuit benches will continue to remain suspended till April 30, amid a spurt in COVID-19 cases.

2:00 PM: Karnataka cabinet has approved 30 per cent cut in salaries of Ministers and MLAs in the state for one year, said Law Minister J C Madhuswamy in the wake of coronavirus pandemic.

1:52 PM: "Noida Authority is conducting sanitisation drive across Noida, especially in the sealed areas. Also, drones are being used for spraying disinfectant. I want to appeal to all to stay at home and do not panic," said Ritu Maheshwari, CEO of Noida Authority

She also said home delivery of essential commodities will be endured by authorities.

1:50 PM: Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik said a decision was taken in today's cabinet meeting to recommend CM Uddhav Thackeray's name for the two vacant MLC posts that are recommended by Governor. "As MLC elections can't be held due to COVID19, it is being done to avoid a constitutional crisis," Malik said.

1:15 PM: Odisha becomes the first state to extend lockdown. CM Naveen Patnaik said, "Odisha to extend lockdown till April 30; schools to remain closed till June 17."

1:03 PM: The Centre has approved the COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness package aimed at boosting national and state health systems to support procurement of essential medical equipment and drugs, and strengthening of surveillance activities.

The Health Ministry said the 100 per cent centrally funded package will be implemented in three phases from January 2020 to March 2024.

12:50 PM: More than 1.5 million cases of the novel coronavirus have been registered worldwide, according to a tally compiled by AFP at 0530 GMT Thursday from official sources

12:18 PM: Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain on Thursday said there are 669 cases of coronavirus in the national capital at present, including 426 from the Tablighi Jamaat event that took place in Nizamuddin Markaz last month.

12:00 PM: India has reported the first death of a doctor due to coronavirus infection. Dr Shatrughan Panjwani, 55, a general physician, died of COVID-19 in Indore. Four days back he was diagnosed to have contracted the disease. He had a history of diabetes, respiratory problems.

11:40 AM: 55 new COVID-19 cases in Gujarat; state tally rises to 241: Govt official.

11:24 AM: 162 new COVID19 positive cases reported in Maharashtra today, taking the total number of positive cases in the state to 1297: Maharashtra Health Department

10:50 AM: An 80-year-old woman, who was diagnosed with coronavirus after developing severe respiratory problems died of cardiac arrest in Gadag district early on Thursday, taking the toll in Karnataka to six, district officials said.

10:30 AM: India shall do everything possible to help humanity's fight against COVID-19, said PM Modi in response to US President Trump thanking India for its HCQ decision.

 "Fully agree with you President @realDonaldTrump. Times like these bring friends closer," Modi tweeted.

10:10 AM: Jharkhand reports its first COVID-19 death.

10:00 AM: Rajasthan recorded 30 more cases of coronavirus on Thursday, taking the state's tally to 413, an official said.