Oxford University has given a fresh hope in the battle against COVID-19 by beginning human trial on its anti-coronavirus vaccine. If found effective, the vaccines could be available from September.

The Hindu has brought out a multi-language e-book on essential COVID-19 information, in addition to covering the developments related to the coronavirus pandemic as it unfolded. Here is a collection of our daily cartoons on COVID-19.

Here are answers from experts on your queries about the virus, a list of State Helpline numbers, a State-wise tracker for COVID-19 cases, deaths and testing, and a map of confirmed cases in India.

Here are the latest updates:

Two pet cats test positive for COVID-19 in New York

Two pet cats in New York state have tested positive for the coronavirus, marking the first confirmed cases in companion animals in the United States, federal officials said. The cats, which had mild respiratory illnesses and are expected to recover, are thought to have contracted the virus from people in their households or neighbourhoods.

After Sonia Gandhi's suggestion to PM Narendra Modi, a case in Madras HC wants to ban all local bodies in Tamil Nadu from issuing advertisements, except tender notifications, in the media for a period of one year to offset the financial burden on account of the fight against COVID-19.

- Mohamed Imranullah S.

Puducherry CM undergoes RT-PCR test for COVID-19

Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy and Speaker V. P. Sivakolundhu underwent RT-PCR tests for COVID-19 as a precautionary measure at the Assembly committee hall on Thursday. Other MPs, Ministers and  MLAs are expected to undergo the tests too.

The precautionary measure was taken as the leaders have been visiting potentially vulnerable areas, including containment zones, to evaluate prevention measures.

Puducherry CM V. Narayanasamy undergoing RT-PCR tests for COVID-19 as a precautionary measure at the Assembly committee hall in Puducherry on Thursday.   | Photo Credit: S.S. Kumar

PIL seeks extension of moratorium period for all loans

A PIL petition in Madras High Court seeks a direction to Union Finance Ministry and the RBI to extend moratorium period for paying EMIs, with respect to all kinds of loans, till July 31 without levying any kind of interest.

- Mohamed Imranullah S.

Coronavirus has increased in speed and spread, says Sonia Gandhi

Coronavirus has increased disturbingly both in spread and speed in the past three weeks, says Congress president Sonia Gandhi at CWC meet.

"Sections of our society, especially farmers, labourers, migrant workers, face acute hardship due to lockdown ... twelve crore jobs were lost in first phase of lockdown ... It is imperative to provide at least Rs. 7,500 to each family to tide over the crisis," says Ms. Gandhi.

"We have repeatedly told the PM that there is no alternative to testing, tracing and quarantine; unfortunately, testing is still low ... When we should be tackling coronavirus unitedly, BJP continues to spread virus of communal prejudice and hatred," she adds.

- PTI

Phase-1 human trial of Oxford University vaccine to begin today

The Oxford University will on April 23 begin a Phase-1 clinical trial of its vaccine called ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 against the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). “The vaccine from the Oxford project will be trialled in people from this Thursday,” Health Secretary Matt Hancock said during a daily press conference on April 22.

47 fresh coronavirus cases in Rajasthan; tally rises to 1,953

Forty-seven more people were confirmed positive for coronavirus in Rajasthan on Thursday, taking the total number of cases in the state to 1,935.

The fresh cases include 20 from Jodhpur, 12 from Jaipur, 10 from Nagaur, two each from Kota and Hanumangarh and one from Ajmer. - PTI

'Coronavirus pandemic fast becoming human rights crisis'

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Thursday that the coronavirus pandemic is “a human crisis that is fast becoming a human rights crisis.”

said the pandemic has also seen “disproportionate effects on certain communities, the rise of hate speech, the targeting of vulnerable groups, and the risks of heavy-handed security responses undermining the health response.” - AP

Australia says all WHO members should support a proposed coronavirus inquiry

All member nations of the World Health Organization (WHO) should support a proposed independent review into the coronavirus pandemic, Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday, further threatening strained ties with China.

Asymptomatic cases increase to over 980 with 27 new infections

China has reported 27 new asymptomatic coronavirus cases, taking their total to 984, while a high-level committee headed by Premier Li Keqiang asked health officials to remain focussed on the targeted containment of the deadly virus.

U.S. was attacked, says Trump on coronavirus pandemic

Struggling to restore normalcy in the U.S. where COVID-19 has claimed the lives of more than 47,000 people and infected over 8,52,000, President Donald Trump has said that the the country was “attacked.”

“We were attacked. This was an attack. This wasn’t just the flu by the way. Nobody has ever seen anything like this, 1917 was the last time,” Mr. Trump told reporters at his daily White House news conference on Wednesday.

Lockdown in India has impacted 40 million internal migrants: World Bank

The nationwide lockdown in India, which started about a month ago, has impacted nearly 40 million internal migrants, the World Bank has said.

The lockdown in India has impacted the livelihoods of a large proportion of the country’s nearly 40 million internal migrants. Around 50,000-60,000 moved from urban centers to rural areas of origin in the span of a few days, the bank said in a report released on Wednesday.

U.S. sees 1,738 new coronavirus deaths in 24 hours: Johns Hopkins

The United States on Wednesday recorded 1,738 deaths from the coronavirus in the past 24 hours, a lower toll than the day before, according to a running tally by Johns Hopkins University.

73 policemen quarantined after five Moradabad violence accused test positive

As many as 73 police personnel who came in contact with those arrested in connection with the Nawabpura pelting of stones incident in Moradabad last week were quarantined on April 22 after five of the accused tested positive for coronavirus, a police official said.

Let there be no illusion that COVID-19 will go after May 3: Chhattisgarh Health Minister

“The lockdown, at best, can manage to control the spread to some extent, but we should know that the novel coronavirus is not going to go. A huge population will get infected with the virus, we should be ready for it. We should learn to live with it,” Chhattisgarh Health Minister T.S. Singh Deo said.