Coronavirus: Over 350 dead in India; cases cross 10,000
What's the story
On Monday, the total number of cases due to the coronavirus outbreak surged past 10,000 in India. The development comes hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to announce the extension of a nationwide lockdown to limit the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Around 10 states and Union Territories have already extended the lockdown till April-end. Here are more details.
Statistics
India's Health Ministry has confirmed 9,352 COVID-19 cases, 324 deaths
According to the Union Health Ministry's latest update, by 5 pm on Monday, India had reported a total of 9,352 COVID-19 cases. These include 324 deaths and 8,048 active cases along with 979 patients who were cured/discharged, and one patient who migrated out of India. Data compiled from official state government statistics showed that India's COVID-19 tally stood at 10,441, including 357 deaths.
Information
Important note for West Bengal COVID-19 cases
For West Bengal, the total number of COVID-19 cases taken into account were 152, as reflected on the Union Health Ministry website. This is because the state government has only confirmed 110 active cases in the bulletin and not the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases.
Madhya Pradesh
Important note for Madhya Pradesh COVID-19 cases
Madhya Pradesh has not released its Monday bulletin. The state's tally has been calculated using the Health Ministry's update, which reported 604 cases and 43 deaths. Since MP had reported 43 deaths till Sunday, it is assumed the one new death in Indore and two new deaths in Bhopal have not been counted. The state's death toll is at least 46.
Latest reports
Meghalaya, Nagaland report first cases; 2 new deaths in Karnataka
Late-Monday, Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed the 31st COVID-19 case in the state. The northeastern state of Meghalaya reported its first case of COVID-19. Earlier in the day, Nagaland had also reported its first case. Karnataka reported two new deaths on Monday: both men, aged 55 and 65. In Maharashtra, Pune's death toll rose to 34.
Maharashtra
Maharashtra's COVID-19 cases reached 2,334
Maharashtra's tally reached 2,334 on Monday, including 160 deaths, according to the last update from the health department's COVID-19 tracker. Including the latest fatalities in Pune, the death toll reached 163. In Mumbai, the death toll reached 101. The city also reported over 1,500 cases. Mumbai's Dharavi reported 49 COVID-19 cases, including five deaths. Dharavi is notably Asia's largest slum and is densely populated.
Badly-hit states
Here are some other states badly hit in the outbreak
The national capital of Delhi is India's second worst-hit region, with 1,510 COVID-19 cases and 28 deaths. The city witnessed an uptick of 356 cases from Sunday. Tamil Nadu is the third worst-affected, reporting 1,173 COVID-19 cases and 11 deaths. Further, Rajasthan reported 897 cases (including 11 deaths), Telangana reported 592 cases (including 17 deaths), and Gujarat reported 572 cases (including 26 deaths).
News highlights
Tamil Nadu, Arunachal, Meghalaya, etc., extend lockdown
Tamil Nadu, Arunachal Pradesh, Puducherry, Meghalaya, Mizoram decided to extend the lockdown till April 30. Earlier, Odisha, Punjab, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Telangana had extended the lockdown. Chennai's civic department made wearing masks mandatory in public. India extended the regular and e-visa of foreigners stranded in India till April 30. Chandigarh extended summer vacations till May 15 for government and government-aided schools.
Information
Testing kits consignment from China to arrive on Wednesday: ICMR
At Monday's COVID-19 Union Health Ministry press briefing, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said India has enough kits to continue testing for six more weeks and a consignment of rapid testing kits from China will arrive on Wednesday.
News highlights
Pune man fined for not wearing mask in public
A 31-year-old man was convicted by a Pune court and fined Rs. 1,000 for not wearing a mask in public—mandatory in Maharashtra. A 29-year-old man was arrested in Delhi for allegedly impersonating an IAS officer to bypass lockdown restrictions. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking arrangements for a special flight to evacuate Keralites stranded in the Gulf.