Coronavirus Pandemic LIVE Updates: India to Start Pool Testing as Cases Surge Past 10,800, 353 Deaths

Global Economy to Contract by -3%: IMF | India's growth rate will remain at 1.9% in 2020 as the global economy is projected to contract sharply by -3% in 2020 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, a much worse contraction than during the 2008–09 financial crisis as per the April 2020 World Economic Outlook: International Monetary Fund.

Poor Not Getting Enough Ration: Mayawati | BSP leader Mayawati alleges that the poor and downtrodden have not received sufficient quantity of ration during the ongoing lockdown and urged the Centre and state governments to look into the issue.

IndiGo to Resume Operations from May 4 | IndiGo to resume flight operations from May 4 in a phased manner. Initially starting with a slightly curtailed capacity, the airline will increase the operating capacity over the subsequent months, also re-opening selected international flights, depending on the existing international travel guidelines, the airline said in a statement.

Highest Single-day Jump in Cases | As many as 29 deaths and 1,463 new cases were reported in last 24 hours in the sharpest-ever increase in number cases. India's total number of Coronavirus-positive cases rises to 10,815. Not more than 9,272 cases are active, while 1,190 have been cured, discharged or migrated migrated and 353 have died: Health Ministry.

Pak Nationals Stuck in India amid Lockdown | Several families from neighbouring Pakistan have not been able to return home due to the closure of Wagah-Attari border in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Pakistan and India had closed the border-crossing points on March 13 as a part of efforts to check the spread of Covid-19. Read Rounak Kumar Gunjan and Subhajit Sengupta's report here.

Travel Passes in Delhi Valid Till May 3 | Travel passes issued by the Delhi Police will continue to be valid till May 3. All guidelines, instructions and orders will continue to be valid till further orders, Delhi Police Commissioner SN Shrivastava stated.

117 Million Children Face Measles Risk | Around 117 million children worldwide risk contracting measles because dozens of countries are curtailing their vaccination programmes as they battle Covid-19, the UN warns. Currently 24 countries, including several already dealing with large measles outbreaks, have suspended widespread vaccinations, the WHO and the UN's children's fund UNICEF said.

New Containment Zone in Delhi | C-2 Block of Janakpuri has been identified as a containment zone, the Delhi government said. The total number of containment zones in Delhi is now 48.

Businessmen with their new ledger books pray to Lord Ganesha and Laxmi on the occasion of Bengali new year, amid the nationwide lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus in Agartala, Tripura. (PTI Photo)

Maharashtra Sets up Expert Panels | Two committees of experts have been formed to analyse data and recommend measures to curb the spread of coronavirus in Maharashtra, Health Minister Rajesh Tope said.

Over 1,20,000 Die Globally | A total of 120,013 deaths have now been recorded since the epidemic first emerged in China in December, 81,474 of them in Europe, according to an AFP tally using data from national authorities and the WHO.

Karnataka Welcomes Decision to Extend Lockdown | The Karnataka government welcomed the Prime Minister's decision to extend the lockdown till May 3, saying it would be strictly implemented it in the state and asked the public to cooperate.

Nepal Extends Lockdown Till April 27 | The Nepal government decided to extend the lockdown period till April 27 as the Himalayan nation continued to witness an increase in the number of coronavirus cases, according to an official statement.

ICMR Approves Pool Testing | ICMR approves the use of pool testing - which facilitates testing five samples together - as the number of Covid-19 cases in India rise exponentially. 

Delhi Govt Asks DMs to Identify Paid Quarantine Facilities | The Delhi government directs all district magistrates to identify paid quarantine facilities in their respective areas. Last month, the government had identified paid quarantine facilities at three private hotels - Lemon Tree, Red Fox and IBIS - located at Aerocity in the national capital.

Most Covid-19 Deaths at RML Hospital in Delhi | Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, one of the nodal facilities to combat the coronavirus, has reported the most number of Covid-19 fatalities in Delhi, official data showed. Till Sunday, 12 of the 24 deaths reported had taken place at RML Hospital. Three deaths took place at LNJP Hospital, five at private hospitals, and one each at Safdarjung Hospital, Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital and AIIMS-Jhajjhar.

Goa Could Become Green Zone by April 17 | With no fresh coronavirus positive case being detected in Goa in the last 11 days, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the entire coastal state could become a "green zone" by April 17 if no new patients are found.

Lockdown Extension Right Decision: Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw | The extension of the lockdown is the right decision as India is witnessing a surge in the number of novel coronavirus infections, Biocon Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw said. Highlighting the importance of social distancing, she said, it "is the best social vaccine for Covid-19 in the current circumstances".

The rationale behind the 40-day lockdown is that we are making efforts to break the chain of transmission, which requires 28 days. This is why we are promoting social distancing: Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry.

602 Hospitals Dedicated to Covid-19 | As many as 602 dedicated Covid-19 hospitals equipped with 1,06,719 isolation beds and 12,024 ICU beds have been set up. Comorbities and old age are the major reasons for the number of deaths in the country: Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry.

As many as 5.29 crore beneficiaries have been given free ration of food grains under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana. 3,985 metric tonnes of pulses have been dispatched to various states and union territories for distribution: Rajesh Malhotra, Ministry of Finance.

Swift implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package is being monitored at the highest level. As of yesterday, more than 32 crore poor people have been given direct cash support of Rs 29,352 crore under the package: Rajesh Malhotra, Ministry of Finance.

Over 2,30,000 Tests Done So Far | A total of 2,31,902 samples have been tested for Covid-19 so far. Yesterday alone, 21,635 samples were tested. We have also received a sufficient number of RT-PCR testing kits: ICMR  scientist Dr Gangakhedkar.

Street vendors selling protective masks to help curb the spread of the new coronavirus wait for customers in Kabul, Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

IMF Announces Relief for 25 Poor Countries | The International Monetary Fund announces immediate debt relief for 25 poor countries to help them free up funds to fight the coronavirus pandemic. The IMF board approved the debt relief for nearly all countries in Africa, and Afghanistan, Yemen, Nepal and Haiti.

Tourists Will Need Covid-19 Certificate to Enter Goa | Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said air travellers will not be allowed to enter the coastal state without a health certificate, after the Centre opens up airports once the Covid-19 lockdown is eased or lifted.

Amarinder Singh Urges Centre to Reconsider Full Payment of Wages | Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh urges the Centre to reconsider its directives asking industries and shops/commercial establishments to continue paying full wages to their workers during Covid-19 lockdown, as it may push them to bankruptcy.

South Africa Cuts Interest Rates | South Africa's central bank slashed its main interest rate by a full percentage point, the second such cut in less than a month, as the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic deepens.

Migrant Worker Commits Suicide in Hyderabad | A 24-year old migrant worker committed suicide in Hyderabad over not being able to go home, police said. His roommate had already left for Bihar and he felt lonely here and was mentally affected on being away from the family. Prior to his suicide, he called his family and said he wants to come back home and was stuck in the city due to the lockdown. His family, however, tried to pacify him, and said will send money if needed. 

Rahul Gandhi Says India Delays Purchase of Covid-19 Testing Kits | Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today said that India delayed the purchase of testing kits and is now critically short of them. "With just 149 tests per million Indians, we are now in the company of Laos (157), Niger (182) and Honduras (162). Mass testing is the key to fighting the virus. At present we are nowhere in the game," he tweeted.

India delayed the purchase of testing kits & is now critically short of them.

With just 149 tests per million Indians, we are now in the company of Laos (157), Niger (182) & Honduras (162).

Mass testing is the key to fighting the virus. At present we are nowhere in the game.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 14, 2020