COVID-19 LIVE updates: 1,023 out of 2,902 cases linked to Tablighi Jamaat meet, says health ministry Coronavirus (COVID-19) Today Latest News LIVE updates: While Maharashtra has reported 47 new cases, 25 new infections emerged from Agra on Saturday. There has been a spike of 355 cases in the country in the last 12 hours.

Workers sanitize an area in Nizamuddin West after several people who attended a Tablighi Jamaat congregation tested positive for COVID-19, in New Delhi on Wednesday. (Express Photo: Praveen Khanna)

TIE| Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi, Mumbai, New Delhi, Pune | April 4, 2020: COVID-19 LIVE News updates: The 1,023 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country, out of the total 2,902, are linked to the Tablighi Jamaat meeting, which means 30 per cent of the cases are linked to one thing they couldn’t control, said the health ministry Saturday. Addressing a routine press briefing on the coronavirus situation in the country, Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry said, till now there are 2,902 positive cases, 601 positive cases have been reported since yesterday, 12 deaths also reported yesterday taking total deaths to 68. He added that the doubling rate in India is less than most other countries.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a joint meeting of the Empowered Groups where he reviewed countrywide preparedness regarding availability of hospitals, proper isolation and quarantine facilities as well as disease surveillance and critical care training.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has urged people to use homemade face masks, saying “such people who are not suffering from any medical condition or having breathing difficulties may use the handmade reusable face cover, particularly when they step out of their house.”

The total number of positive cases in India Saturday rose to 2,902 including 68 deaths and 183 people who have been treated and discharged so far. While Maharashtra has reported 47 new cases, 25 new infections emerged from Agra on Saturday. There has been a spike of 355 cases in the country in the last 12 hours.

Globally, 58,871 people have died of the virus. The number of active cases is about to touch 11 lakh with 1,098,848 cases reported as of Saturday morning, according to John Hopkins. The US has reported the worst 24-hour death toll since the pandemic started, with nearly 1,500 deaths from COVID-19 between Thursday and Friday. The country has 277,828 active cases. Italy, meanwhile, has reported the maximum number of deaths at 14,681 followed by Spain (11,198), France (6,507), United Kingdom (3,605), Iran (3,294) and China (3,203).

1,023 cases linked to Tablighi Jamaat meet: Health Ministry

Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry said that so far 1,023 Covid-19 cases are linked to Tablighi Jamaat meet, which means that 30 per cent cases are linked to one thing we could not control. The Tablighi Jamaat is a conservative Muslim organisation set up in 1926 by Maulana Muhammad Ilyas in Mewat (in present-day Haryana), and aims to spread religious knowledge among Muslims. Several COVID-19 cases in the country have been traced to Tablighi Jamaat gathering that took place in New Delhi’s Nizamuddin West mid-March. In fact, the Nizamuddin area has been identified as one of the 10 “hotspots” where “unusual” transmission of coronavirus has been detected.

Doubling rate of cases in India is less than most other countries: health ministry

While establishing that confirmed cases are on the rise, the health ministry said the 'doubling rate in India is less than most other countries at the moment'. In India, cases rose to 2,902 including 68 deaths and 183 people who have been treated and discharged so far. While Maharashtra has reported 47 new cases, 25 new infections emerged from Agra on Saturday. There has been a spike of 355 cases in the country in the last 12 hours.

Here's the breakup of COVID-19 cases in India

According to the health ministry, 9 per cent of patients belong to 0-20 years age, 42 per cent belong to 21-40 years age, 33 per cent cases pertain to patients between 41-60 years age, & 17 per cent patients have crossed 60 years age.

Health Ministry press briefing update:

In a routine press briefing on COVID-19 situation in the country, the health ministry said there are 2,902 COVID-19 positive cases so far. '601 positive cases have been reported since yesterday, 12 deaths also reported yesterday taking total deaths to 68. 183 people have recovered/discharged,' said Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry

Two more tested positive for Coronavirus in Gurgaon today, 17 cases in total

Two more people tested positive for Coronavirus in Gurgaon today, with officials saying the patients are a doctor who hails from Agra, and his son, who had recently travelled to Gurgaon. “The doctor practices in Agra. His son and he have both tested positive and been admitted at Medanta-The Medicity. The authorities in Uttar Pradesh (UP) have also been alerted,” said Dr Jaswant Singh Punia, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Gurgaon. A total of 17 cases have been recorded in the district so far, of which 9 people have recovered.

2 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Gurgaon today - a doctor from Agra & his son. Both have been admitted in the isolation ward at Medanta - The Medicity. A total of 17 cases have emerged in the district so far, of which 9 people have recovered. @IndianExpress

Mumbai cop makes video to urge people to stay indoors

In an attempt to reverse the perception that the Mumbai Police is only interested in using baton to enforce the COVID-19-induced lockdown, Sachin Sooryavanshi, an assistant police inspector at Kherwadi Police Station, has made a video to explain the need for people to stay indoors. The clip has now gone viral on social media.

Sooryavanshi says he made the three-minute clip after getting frustrated over the resistance shown by a number of people to comply with the lockdown rules. In the dramatised clip, Sooryavanshi can be seen explaining why people need to follow the lockdown orders and how the Mumbai Police takes no pleasure in using force to enforce the lockdown. Read more

PM @narendramodi chaired a joint meeting of the Empowered Groups constituted for planning and ensuring implementation of COVID-19 response activities in the country.

No shortage of PPE kits: Health Minister Harsh Vardhan

Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said the procurement process for PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) kits, N95 masks, ventilators is in the advanced stage and these will reach the states soon. He, however, said that “there is no shortage as of today”.

F stranded citizens from Kerala, Tamil Nadurance evacuates 112

France on Saturday evacuated 112 French citizens stranded in Kerala and Tamil Nadu in a special Air India flight, news agency PTI reported quoting its official sources. The Embassy of France had made a request to the Kerala government to facilitate the journey of the French citizens stranded due to the lockdown announced by the central government to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Coronavirus latest India update: How many people have died in each state till now

According to the ministry’s state wise updated data as of now, six fresh deaths were reported today — three from Maharashtra, two from Delhi and one from Gujarat. Thus, Maharashtra has reported the most deaths (19) so far, followed by Madhya Pradesh (11), Telangana (7), Gujarat (9), Delhi (6), Punjab (5), Karnataka (3), West Bengal (3), Jammu and Kashmir (2), Uttar Pradesh (2) and Kerala (2). Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Bihar and Himachal Pradesh have reported a death each. The figure of 2,902 includes 55 foreign nationals.

New York: Andrew Cuomo orders shift in ventilators to overwhelmed hospitals

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said he would order the redistribution of critically needed ventilators. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called for a national enlistment program for doctors and nurses. And the coronavirus outbreak picked up speed with more deaths and more hospitalisations. Cuomo said Friday he will order the redistribution of hundreds of ventilators to hospitals overwhelmed with critical coronavirus patients amid alarming increases in outbreak-related deaths and hospitalizations. Read More

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo briefs the media inside a nearly completed makeshift hospital at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York. (Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo via AP/File)

US accused of seizing face mask shipments bound for Europe, Canada

Germany accused the US on Friday of confiscating thousands of protective face masks that Berlin authorities have already paid for, calling it “an act of modern piracy.” Berlin Interior Minister Andreas Geisel said US officials intercepted a shipment of 200,000 face masks in Bangkok intended for use during the coronavirus outbreak. Read More

Coronavirus latest update: Total infections in Chhattisgarh rises to 10

In Chhattisgarh, a 16-year-old boy from Katghora has been found positive with Covid-19 taking the number of positive patients in the state to 10. He had come from Maharashtra and was quarantined in a mosque.

In #Chhattisgarh a 16-year-old boy in Katghora has been found positive with #covid19 taking the number of positive patients in the state to 10. He had come from #Maharashtra and was quarantined in a mosque  @IndianExpress

Coronavirus latest India update: Three more positive cases reported from Narso, Udhampur in Jammu

Three more positive cases reported from Narso, Udhampur in Jammu division on Saturday. All the three have come in contact with one positive case from Udhampur, who had a travel history to abroad, UT govt spokesperson Rohit Kansal said.

FIFA postpones U-17 Women’s World Cup in India due to COVID-19

The FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup to be held in India in November was on Saturday postponed by football’s governing body due to the worsening COVID-19 pandemic across the globe. The women’s age group showpiece was to be held at five venues in the country –Kolkata, Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, Ahmedabad and Navi Mumbai — from November 2-21. Read More

Priyanka calls for large scale testing, says govt must act

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday said it is imperative for India to immediately ramp up its rate of testing for coronavirus and that the government must act now for the lockdown to yield results. The Congress general secretary asserted that extremely valuable information about the severity of the disease, disease clusters and focal points is gained from testing. "It is imperative that India immediately ramps up its rate of testing. Extremely valuable information about the severity of the disease, disease clusters and focal points is gained from testing," she said in a tweet.? "In order for this lockdown to yield results, it has to be backed up by large scale testing and other measures to support the medical infrastructure systems in this country. The government must act now," she said.

Priyanka Gandhi VadrIt is imperative that India immediately ramps up its rate of testing. Extremely valuable information about the severity of the disease, disease clusters and focal points is gained from testing. In order for this lockdown to yield results, it has to be backed up..1/2#MoreTesting

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

..by large scale testing and other measures to support the medical infrastructure systems in this country. The government must act now. 2/2#MoreTesting

WHO, IMF say saving lives 'prerequisite' to save jobs

The WHO and IMF chiefs insisted Friday that saving lives was a "prerequisite" to saving livelihoods in the coronavirus pandemic -- a crisis they called "one of humanity's darkest hours". World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and International Monetary Fund managing director Kristalina Georgieva said getting the COVID-19 virus under control first was necessary to revive economic activity -- though they admitted it was difficult to strike the right balance.--AFP

Latest coronavirus update: Pakistan records 2,700 coronavirus cases

Pakistan's coronavirus cases rose to 2,708 on Saturday with the number of patients in the Punjab province, which accounts for more than half of the country's total population, crossing the 1,000-mark. According to the National Health Services, COVID-19 has so far claimed 40 lives, while 130 patients have recovered. Punjab -- the hotspot of the viral infection in Pakistan -- reported a total of 1,072 cases, followed by Sindh at 839, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 343, Balochistan 175, Gilgit-Baltistan 193, Islamabad 75 and 11 cases in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). --PTI

US evacuates stranded citizens as Pak relaxes ban on international flights

Pakistan relaxed its ban on international flights to let a US chartered plane to land and evacuate 294 American citizens, including nine diplomats, amid the coronavirus pandemic, PTI reported. Pakistan had on March 21 suspended all overseas flights for two weeks to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, that has infected over 2,708 people in the country. According to a report in the Dawn, the special plane first landed at Karachi airport and then at Islamabad on Friday to take back the American citizens as the US authorities planned to evacuate its people from the country. The flight took 119 US citizens from Karachi and 175 Americans, including nine diplomats, from the Islamabad International Airport, PTI quoted sources.

95 police officers, 46 medical staff died in fight against coronavirus in China: Media

Ninety-five Chinese police officers and 46 medical workers died in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, State-run media reported on Saturday, revealing for the first time the casualties of the frontline officials fighting the battle against the global health crisis. The revelation of the casualties came as China on Saturday held a national memorial for the martyrs and victims of the coronavirus outbreak. China has reported 81,639 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 3,326 deaths, majority of them from epicentre Hubei province and its capital Wuhan, where the deadly virus originated late last year.

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Coronavirus (Covid-19) latest news live updates:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday addressed the nation and thanked the people for cooperating with the 21-day lockdown. In a new appeal to the countrymen, the prime minister asked people to put off the lights in their houses for nine minutes at 9 pm on Sunday, April 5, and light lamps at their doors or balconies. India has enetered into the 11th day of lockdown today.

Many states have seen a sharp spike in cases in the last few days, fuelled by those who attended the gathering and their contacts. Tamil Nadu, for instance, reported 102 new cases on Friday, of which 100 were linked to the Delhi meet.

coronavirus, coronavirus news, coronavirus italy, coronavirus spain, coronavirus us, coronavirus italy news, covid 19 india, coronavirus latest news, coronavirus live news, coronavirus india, coronavirus india news, coronavirus india live news, coronavirus in india, coronavirus in india latest news, coronavirus latest news in india, coronavirus cases, coronavirus cases in india Coronavirus latest news LIVE updates: Residents overlook as BMC civic workers undertake a sanitisation drive at Dr Baliga Nagar, Dharavi on Friday. (Express photo by Nirmal Harindran)

Telangana reported 75 new cases, all linked to the Tablighi Jamaat gathering. In Uttar Pradesh, 40 of the 48 new cases reported in the last 24 hours were traced to the congregation. The states from which cases linked to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation have been reported so far are: Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.

The last doubling of positive cases, from 606 to 1,251, took five days (March 26-March 31). The epidemic doubling time is an estimate of the speed of spread of a disease and the success of containment measures. In South Korea, it took 31 days to double; US took 6 days; and Italy took 12 days.

coronavirus, coronavirus news, coronavirus latest new live updates, coronavirus italy, coronavirus spain, coronavirus us, coronavirus italy news, covid 19 india, coronavirus latest news, coronavirus live news, coronavirus india, coronavirus india news, coronavirus india live news, coronavirus in india, coronavirus in india latest news, coronavirus latest news in india, coronavirus cases, coronavirus cases in india Coronavirus latest news LIVE updates: Relatives attend a burial ceremony of victims of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the southern town of Cisternino, Italy. (Reuters)

Meanwhile, a Group of Ministers headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Friday carried out a detailed review of the overall healthcare system and the situation arising out of the 21-day nationwide lockdown, including the supply of essential commodities.

Also, during a meeting of one of the 11 empowered group of officers tasked with different aspects of coordinating response to the coronavirus pandemic, it has emerged that between 20,000 and 30,000 ventilators may be lying dysfunctional across the country – in both public and private sector hospitals — either for want of parts or servicing.

According to sources, the issue figured during a meeting of the empowered group of officers on Wednesday chaired by the NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant. A dozen senior representatives of industry chamber Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) were among those who attended the meeting.