Coronavirus live updates: Tamil Nadu CM announces total lockdown in 5 corporations including Chennai

Faulty antibody testing kits will be returned to respective countries: Health minister Harsh Vardhan

"Faulty antibody testing kits will be returned if they don't work properly, whether they belong to China or any other country. We have not paid for the kits yet. Wherever there is a need, we have also sent our senior officers to support you, they are not sent as monitors. They are there for hand-holding and cooperation so we get feedback on how to further extend help," the Union Health Minister told states.

Read: TN announces total lockdown in Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Salem and Tirupur corporations

18 new Covid-19 cases in Karnataka, total rises to 463, reports PTI quoting the health department

Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) writes to the West Bengal Chief Secretary after their visit to Covid-19 hospitals in Kolkata, says wait time for Covid test results for some patients is over 5 days, recommends increasing tests to 2500-5000/day.

Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) writes to the West Bengal Chief Secretary to explain methodology used by ‘Committee of Doctors’ in West Bengal to ascertain death due to Covid-19 and also if it is in line with ICMR guidelines.

Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami announces total lockdown in Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Salem and Tirupur corporations from 6am of April 26 to 9pm of April 28

Restrictions tightened in Kashmir after reports of lockdown violations

Curbs to contain the spread of coronavirus were intensified in Kashmir on Friday after reports of lockdown violations at several places, officials said.

India may see second wave of coronavirus outbreak in monsoon, say scientists

The trajectory of Covid-19 cases could have plateaued and might even fall for some weeks after the lockdown is lifted but India is likely to see a second wave in late July or August with a surge in the number of cases during the monsoon, say scientists.

Initial results of plasma therapy trial encouraging: Kejriwal

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said initial results of plasma therapy trial conducted on four Covid-19 patients is encouraging and gives hope of saving people's lives from the dreaded disease. He said the government will conduct more clinical trials of plasma therapy in the next two-three days. Thereafter, the government will seek Centre's nod to use the therapy on all serious Covid-19 patients across the city, he added. Read full story

Africa dangerously behind in global race for virus gear

African countries are dangerously behind in the global race for scarce medical equipment. Ten nations have no ventilators at all. Outbid by richer countries, and not receiving medical gear from top aid donor the United States, African officials scramble for solutions as virus cases climb past 25,000. Even in the best scenario, the United Nations says 74 million test kits and 30,000 ventilators will be needed by the continent's 1.3 billion people this year.

All hands needed on deck as country struggles to contain Covid-19, says Delhi HC

The observation, by a bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Subramonium Prasad, came while suggesting to the Delhi government to appoint nodal officers for addressing all problems, such as obtaining food packets, faced by migrant and daily wage workers living in various relief camps during the lockdown. The court was hearing a PIL by an NGO which claimed that many workers living there had to go without food several times as the food kitchens were located more than a kilometre away.

India may see second wave of Covid-19 outbreak in monsoon, say scientists

The trajectory of Covid-19 cases could have plateaued and might even fall for some weeks after the lockdown is lifted but India is likely to see a second wave in late July or August with a surge in the number of cases during the monsoon, say scientists. The timing of the peak will depend on how India is able to control physical distancing and on the level of infection spreads after restrictions are relaxed, they said.

Coronavirus death toll passes 190,000 worldwide (AFP)

We have not paid a single penny yet: Harsh Vardhan during a video conference with State health ministers

Faulty antibody test kits will be returned, irrespective of which country they were procured from, including China: Harsh Vardhan

Initial results of plasma therapy trial conducted on 4 COVID-19 patients encouraging: Kejriwal

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention in bringing back the bodies of NRIs whose death occurred due to reasons other than Covid-19

Andhra Pradesh reports 2 more Covid-19 deaths, 62 new cases. Toll mounts to 29 while the number of cases rises to 955.

Initial results of plasma therapy trial conducted on 4 COVID-19 patients encouraging: Kejriwal