Coronavirus cases in India soar to 4,468, 292 cured and 109 dead

• There are now 4,067 active cases, while 292 individuals have been cured and discharged from the hospitals.
  
• Maharashtra remains the worst-hit state with 690 cases.
  
• Kerala has 314 cases, Telangana reported 321 cases, Uttar Pradesh has 227, Rajasthan has 253 cases so far.

It is day thirteen of a 21-day lockdown here in India. As the country entered the critical phase of Coronavirus pandemic, the number of coronavirus cases in India crossed the 4,400 mark.

At least 292 people have recovered from the deadly coronavirus across the country. However, 109 deaths have also been reported from different states. The total number includes 66 foreign nationals, and one person who has migrated. There are now 4,067 active cases of COVID-19, said the ministry.

According to Health Ministry data, Maharashtra remains the worst-hit state with 690 active cases followed by Tamil Nadu which has 571 cases, while Delhi has 503.

Kerala has 314 cases, Telangana reported 321 cases, Uttar Pradesh has 227, Rajasthan has 253 cases so far.

Speaking to the media, Joint Secretary of the Health Ministry Lav Agarwal said, "The doubling rate, which means in how many days the number of COVID-19 cases double, at present is 4.1 days. However, if cases reported due to the Tablighi Jamaat event had not come, then the doubling rate would have been 7.4 days."

He said at least 274 districts have COVID cases in India. According to the Health Ministry, at least 472 new cases and 11 new deaths have been reported since yesterday.

Parts of Lucknow sealed, alert in Lakhimpur

Four localities of the old city area in the state capital have been sealed while an alert has been sounded in the Lakhimpur district of Uttar Pradesh.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP), Vikas Chandra Tripathi said that the sealed localities in Lucknow include Peer Baksh Masjid in Talkatora area, Rahmaniya Masjid in Qaiserbagh's Phool Bagh, Mohammadi Masjid in Wazirganj's Astabal Charbagh and a house in Saadatganj's Yaseenganj,

The step was taken after seven Tablighi Jamaat members staying in these areas for the last two weeks, had tested positive.

He said three of these seven Jamaatis had come from Assam, and two each from Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur district and Jaipur, Rajasthan to attend religious gatherings at mosques in Lucknow.

Third corona death in UP, curfew in parts of Varanasi

A 55-year-old resident of Varanasi died on April 3 at the Sir Sunderlal hospital in BHU of lung infection. His report on Sunday night revealed that he was Coronavirus positive.

District magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma said, "Curfew has been clamped in Madanpura under the limits of Dashashwamedh police station, Bajardiha under Bhelupur, Gangapur and Lohta, both under Mirza Murad police station area. This has been done for proper screening of people of these localities, sanitization and other necessary exercises."

All 10 members in the deceased's family have been quarantined and their samples have been sent for testing. The deceased was a resident of Gangapur locality.

MP corona cases cross 215, Bhopal hit hard

Midway through the 21-day lockdown in Madhya Pradesh coronavirus cases kept up a rising trend. The total corona positive cases touched 215.

Figures in Bhopal recorded a big jump, from 18 to 40 by late Sunday evening. Chief Medical and Health Officer, Bhopal Dr Sudhir Kumar Daheria said 22 persons tested positive on Sunday.

According to the Sunday night bulletin, 97 samples were sent for examination of which 23 tested positive. Most persons affected are either related to the Health Department or to the Tablighi Jamaat. However, the health authorities said there is no need to panic.

After a major vegetable whole-seller in Bhopal tested positive on Saturday vegetable markets in Bhopal were sealed till further orders.

Collector Tarun Pithode ordered the closure of all except milk and medicine shops till further orders. The food delivery system and the home delivery system authorised by the competent authority by the Municipal Corporation will continue to operate.

AP's corona tally touches 252, 5 recovered

Andhra Pradesh reported 26 new cases on Sunday evening, taking the state's tally of COVID-19 cases to 252. The state government has also placed the residential locations of people testing positive for coronavirus, on a 'red alert' list, to enable greater monitoring and also ensure that such areas are quarantined properly.

Of the 252 coronavirus cases identified in the state till Sunday, 11 persons were foreign returnees, and 6 persons are their contacts. Another 6 persons got admitted to the hospital with coronavirus symptoms.

Meanwhile, the state nodal officer also released information about persons numbering 131-190, who had tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week. The available information indicates that except for 7 people, all the persons in the list are Delhi-returnees or their contacts.

So far, 5 persons in the state have recovered from the infection.

Foreigners leave India on special flights from Delhi

Amid tight security and highly sanitised departure area, foreigners working in embassies, various industries and NGOs are leaving India, sources said on Sunday.

According to Delhi airport sources, two-three special flights are being operated for foreign citizens working in India who want to be back home in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Citizens of several CIS countries, and also of Belarus left in a special flight from New Delhi's Indira Gandhi Airport. On Saturday, and also the day before, special flights were operated for Japanese and South Koreans working in NCR and other parts of India.

Indians come together for solidarity support

As a gesture and acknowledgement to all those who are on the frontlines in the battle against the COVID-19 outbreak, Indians came together for a nine-minute show of solidarity at 9 pm on Sunday.

On the request of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, people across the country switched their lights off, coming out on their rooftops or balconies to light a candle for nine minutes as a salutation for those risking their lives while fighting coronavirus,

The Prime Minister had requested Indians to pay their respects in a video message stating, "This Sunday, April 5, we must come together to dissolve the darkness of COVID-19 and bring in light. On April 5, 9 pm, I need your nine minutes. Turn off all lights in your home and light lamps, mobile flashlights and torches. We are not alone in this fight. Nobody is alone. But, please do this activity within the confines of your home. Do not violate social distancing."

UP man shot dead over remarks on Tablighi Jamaat

A 28-year-old man was allegedly shot dead on Sunday after a quarrel when he blamed Tablighi Jamaat members for the spread of coronavirus. The altercation took place at a grocery shop in Bakshi Modha village in Kareli police station area when some people were discussing a newspaper report.

Lotan Nishad blamed Tablighi Jamaat for spreading coronavirus across the country, police said. Some others objected to his remarks, and there was a scuffle.

Later, he was shot in the head with a country-made gun and died while being taken to hospital, police said.

A senior police officer said Mohammed Sona and another man have been arrested. Eight others have been booked for the crime and police are trying to trace them.

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