LIVE NOW

auto-refresh

Coronavirus Pandemic LIVE Updates: 1,594 New Cases and 51 Fatalities Reported in 24 Hours; India's Death Toll Rises to 937

News18.com | April 28, 2020, 7:00 PM IST

Event Highlights

Over 1,500 Cases, 51 Deaths in Last 24 Hours
Plasma Therapy Not Approved for COVID-19

Coronavirus Pandemic LIVE Updates: The government today said 1,594 new cases and 51 deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours, taking the country's total number of positive cases to 29,974 and the death toll 937. The numbers include 22,010 active cases and 7,027 patients who have been cured or discharged or have migrated, said the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Lav Agrawal, Joint Secretary in the ministry, said plasma therapy is being experimented with, but there is no evidence this can be used as a treatment and that a national-level study has been launched by the ICMR to study its efficacy. "Until ICMR concludes its study and robust scientific proof is available, plasma therapy should be used only for research or trial purpose. If plasma therapy is not used in proper manner under proper guidelines, it can also cause life-threatening complications," he said.

Apr 28, 2020 7:00 pm (IST)

India is Providing Pharma Assistance to Nearly 85 Nations: Jaishankar at BRICS | " India is providing pharma assistance to nearly 85 nations, including many countries in Africa, on a grant basis, to support their response to the pandemic," Minister of External Affairs, Jaishankar said at the BRICS meeting. EAM pointed out that the efficacy of traditional medicine systems to strengthen immunity should be recognized and that BRICS should support these efforts.

Apr 28, 2020 6:53 pm (IST)

Over 120 Fresh Cases Reported in TN | 121 new COVID-19 positive cases reported in the state, the total number of positive cases is now 2,058, stated the Health Department.

Apr 28, 2020 6:44 pm (IST)

Countries To Cooperate in COVID-19 Vaccine Development: Russian Minister at BRICS Meeting | Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister at the BRICS meeting said that the countries will cooperate in COVID-19 vaccine development, while a 15 billion dollar loan instrument will also support ravaged economies due to pandemic. Rejecting allegations about China and Russia spreading misinformation, he said, "no facts, these allegations are baseless."

Apr 28, 2020 6:30 pm (IST)

UPDATE | A person from Goalpara district, secondary contact of a Markaz attendee, has tested COVID positive. The number of COVID-19 patients in Assam now stands at 37 and active hospital cases are nine, said Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma

Apr 28, 2020 6:22 pm (IST)

Kamal Hassan Takes a Dig at Central Govt

PM asks private firms not to distress its employees in this crisis.But the D.A hike for Central govt employees & Earned Leave for State govt employees are frozen?This balcony Government has to understand that it is their duty to also save our entrepreneurs and our work force now
— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) April 28, 2020

Apr 28, 2020 6:14 pm (IST)

5 New Cases in Gautam Buddh Nagar; Total Rises to 134 | Five more people tested positive for coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar taking the district's tally to 134. On a brighter note, eight patients were discharged from hospitals in the district.

Apr 28, 2020 6:07 pm (IST)

Over 100 Attacks on Police in Maharashtra: State HM | As many as 135 attacks have been recorded on police personnel in Maharashtra during Coronavirus lockdown and over 500 have been arrested, stated the Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.

Apr 28, 2020 5:58 pm (IST)

UPDATE | Four more persons have tested positive for COVID-19, taking the total positive cases to 485 which includes 123 active cases said, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Apr 28, 2020 5:51 pm (IST)

Over 1,500 Cases, 51 Deaths in Last 24 Hours; Total Rises to 29,974 | 1594 new cases and 51 deaths reported in last 24 hours. India's total number of Coronavirus positive cases rises to 29,974 (including 22010 active cases, 7027 cured/discharged/migrated and 937 deaths), stated Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Apr 28, 2020 5:43 pm (IST)

BMC Asks Thyrocare to Stop Testing for Coronavirus | The public health department of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has sent a show-cause notice to Thyrocare Lab over alleged lapses asking them to stop testing for coronavirus till they give a reply, Read More

Apr 28, 2020 5:38 pm (IST)

Asian Development Bank Approves USD 1.5 Bn loan to India | The Asian Development Bank said it has approved USD 1.5 billion (about Rs 11,400 crore) loan to India to help fund its fight against coronavirus pandemic. The loan has been sanctioned with a view to support immediate priorities such as disease containment and prevention.

Apr 28, 2020 5:31 pm (IST)

Turkey Sends Medical Equipment to US | Turkey has sent a planeload of medical equipment to help the US- masks, along with overalls, disinfectant and goggles. This is an attempt to help the United States as it grapples with the coronavirus outbreak.

Apr 28, 2020 5:27 pm (IST)

Karnataka Reports Fresh Cases | Cumulatively 523 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, it includes 20 Deaths & 207 Discharges. One death due to non-Covid cause, stated the Karnataka, Department of Health and Family Welfare.

Apr 28, 2020 5:21 pm (IST)

UPDATE | Due to wide variation in sensitivity, states have been advised to stop using and return antibody testing kits from Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech and Zhuhai Livzon Diagnostics, said Indian Council of Medical Research.

Apr 28, 2020 5:16 pm (IST)

Apr 28, 2020 5:12 pm (IST)

Rs 200 Fine for Not Maintaining Social Distance | Spitting in public in Palghar district of Maharashtra will now attract a fine of Rs 500 while a person not adhering to social distancing norms will have to pay Rs 200 and shopkeeper concerned Rs 2,000 if he fails to ensure that rules are followed.

Apr 28, 2020 5:05 pm (IST)

Health Ministry Issues Guidelines for Home Isolation| Guidelines have been issued for home isolation of people who either have very mild COVID-19 symptoms or are in the pre-symptomatic phase. Such patients with requisite self-isolation facility at their residence will now have the option for home isolation, stated Health Ministry.

Apr 28, 2020 4:59 pm (IST)

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar participates in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Foreign Ministers meeting through video conferencing.

Apr 28, 2020 4:55 pm (IST)

All Stakeholders to Work in Unison to Break Transmission Chain: Delhi LG | "We have to emphasise on extensive testing, faster results, meticulous contact tracing & isolation with strict perimeter control in the containment zones," said Delhi Lieutenant Anil Baijal.

Apr 28, 2020 4:50 pm (IST)

Children in South Asia Could Face Health Crisis Amid COVID-19: UNICEF | Almost a quarter of the world's unimmunised or partially immunised children about 4.5 million live in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. With lockdown routine immunisations have been severely disrupted, this could result in severe health crisis.

Apr 28, 2020 4:47 pm (IST)

Until ICMR concludes its study and a robust scientific proof is available, Plasma therapy should be used only for research or trial purpose. If plasma therapy is not used in proper manner under proper guideline then it can also cause life-threatening complications, said Lav Aggarwal.

Plasma therapy isn't a proven therapy. It's still in experimental stage, right now even ICMR is doing it as an experiment to identify & do additional understanding of this therapy. Till it is approved no one should use it, it'll be harmful to patient & illegal: Lav Aggarwal, MHA pic.twitter.com/mRfqrvP7zU
— ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2020

Apr 28, 2020 4:42 pm (IST)

UPDATE| Plasma therapy not approved for COVID-19 so far, this is given as an experimental step, said the Health Ministry

Apr 28, 2020 4:30 pm (IST)

"Plasma therapy is being tested. However, no evidence has been found that this can be used as a treatment for Covid-19. A national level study has been launched by the ICMR to study the efficacy of this therapy," Aggarwal says.

Apr 28, 2020 4:25 pm (IST)

"With 1543 new cases in the last 24 hours, the total Covid-19 cases in the country now stand at 29,435. A total of 684 patients have been found cured in the last 24 hours. Our recovery rate is now 23.3 pre cent. This is a progressive increase in recovery rate," says Lav Agrawal, Jt Secy ,Health Ministry.

Apr 28, 2020 4:18 pm (IST)

"The inter ministerial teams have submitted their reports on Surat and Ahmedabad. In Surat, they found that extensive training is taking place, lockdown is being adhered to. The police is using drones and CCTVs to monitor the activities.Food packets have been arranged for labourers in Surat," the health ministry says.

Apr 28, 2020 4:11 pm (IST)

The Union Health Ministry addresses the media on the current situation arising out of the coronavirus pandemic and the nation-wide lockdown to contain it.

#WATCH Health Ministry briefing on COVID19 situation (28th April) https://t.co/nFtcFLq0jJ
— ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2020

Apr 28, 2020 4:09 pm (IST)

Andaman 'Journalist' Booked | Andaman police took strict legal action against one Zubair Ahmed, who says he is a journalist, for "posting inciting, false and instigating tweet to disrupt public harmony, violating govt order and to create panic among public under section 188,269,270, 505(1) IPC and 51, 54 DM act". He has been arrested and will be produced before the court tomorrow morning.

Apr 28, 2020 3:56 pm (IST)

Revoke DA Freeze, Suspension of EL Encashment: Stalin | The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam President M.K. Stalin urged the Tamil Nadu government to revoke its order freezing Dearness Allowance (DA) and suspension of Earned Leave (EL) encashment for its employees and others. AIADMK government should 'pressure' the Central government to get its share of funds.

Apr 28, 2020 3:46 pm (IST)

Maharashtra Administrative HQ To Stay Shut for 2 Days For Fumigation | Maharashtra govt orders sanitisation of state secretariat and extension building after cases reported from State administrative headquarters. The building will remain shut for two days.

Apr 28, 2020 3:40 pm (IST)

RBI Employees to Donate Part of Salaries to PM Cares Fund | Employees of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) have decided to contribute one or more days' salary to the PM CARES Fund. The total contribution amounting to Rs 7.30 crore is being remitted to the fund.

Coronavirus Pandemic LIVE Updates: 1,594 New Cases and 51 Fatalities Reported in 24 Hours; India's Death Toll Rises to 937

A medic checks the temperature of a stranded student from Kota upon her arrival in Indore. (PTI Photo)

The building of the Niti Aayog, government's top think-tank, was sealed for 48 hours today as per the protocol of the health ministry after an official tested positive for Covid-19. The contacts of the infected official have been asked to quarantine themselves as a precautionary measure and disinfection and sanitisation of the building are underway.

According to the latest updates of the Health Ministry, total cases in India have crossed the 29,000-mark at 29,435, with active infections at 21,632. Total casualties are at 934, while 6,868 people have recovered.

With 190 fresh cases reported in Delhi, the total number of coronavirus cases climbed to 3,108 in the city but no fresh death was reported for the second successive day, according to Delhi government authorities. The cases also include the private secretary of southwest Delhi District Magistrate Rahul Singh, prompting the IAS officer to go into self-quarantine, an official said.

Two Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) volunteers engaged in food distribution at a Delhi government-run centres in Mehrauli also tested positive, following which several localities in the area have been declared as containment zones. The number of containment zones in the national capital rose to 99 on Monday.

After an increase in the number of patients recovered last week - more than 800 in a week - the day saw no fresh recovery of patients. So far, 54 people have died of coronavirus in the city, officials said.

To ensure proper protection of all those at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19, Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal directed the Delhi government and police, saying there should be no compromise on their safety.

As the cases rise across the country, the entire Pune city was declared a containment zone. In view of the order issued by Pune municipal commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad to this effect, police also extended the restrictions already imposed on residents. "We have already imposed a curfew in Pune city to check the spread of the coronavirus," said Joint Commissioner of Police Ravindra Shisve.

With the detection of 84 fresh COVID-19 cases in Pune, the tally in the district increased to 1,348 on Monday, while the death toll rose to 80, an official said.

Pune authorities attributed the mounting numbers to increased testing capacity, with health officials now testing over thousand samples a day.

Maharashtra on Monday, meanwhile, reported 522 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of the infected people to 8,590, a Health department official said. With 27 more fatalities, the overall COVID-19 death toll mounted to 369, he said.