Chennai and Ahmedabad are emerging as new hotspots for coronavirus in India, even as Maharashtra, the worst-affected State, continues to register an increase in COVID-19 positive cases.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said: “We may soon start bus transport along with some guidelines. Airlines, railways and bus transport are required to be opened on a certain scale as there are many people stranded."

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:

80,000 COVID-19 cases reported daily in April: WHO

An average of 80,000 COVID-19 cases were reported each day in April to the World Health Organization, the top UN health agency has said, noting that South Asian nations like India and Bangladesh are seeing a spike in the infections while the numbers are declining in regions such as Western Europe.

Eighteen persons have tested positive for COVID-19 in Indore, taking the city tally to 1,699 cases.

With this, Madhya Pradesh count has surged to 3,156. So far, 595 patients have recovered from the illness in the city, while 83 have died of it, said Pravin Jadia, Indore Chief Medical and Health Officer.

The death toll in the State stands at 187, while 1,203 persons have been cured.

(Sidharth Yadav)

One COVID-19 patient each in Jaipur and Ajmer died on Thursday, taking the death toll in Rajasthan to 95.

Thirty-eight new COVID-19 positive cases detected in the State today.

According to the Medical & Health Department, the tally is now 3,355, and of these 1,739 patients have recovered and 1,275 have been discharged from hospitals.

(Mohammed Iqbal)

Over 52,000 cases in India: Union Mnistry

India has registered 52,952 COVID-19 positive cases, of which 35,902 are active, according to the latest update from the Union Health Ministry.

As many as 1,783 people have succumbed to the infection in the country, and 15,266 have been cured of the illness, the Ministry said in its daily update.

The country saw an increase of 3,561 positive cases and 89 deaths overnight, according to the update.

What are the different methods of testing are being experimented in the country to trace COVID-19 infection?

Coronavirus worse for US than Pearl Harbor, 9/11: Trump

President Donald Trump renewed his criticism of China on Wednesday over the global coronavirus pandemic and said it has been worse for the United States than Pearl Harbor and 9/11.

Mr. Trump said fallout from the pandemic has hit the United States harder than the December 7, 1941 Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor or the September 11, 2001 Al-Qaeda attacks on New York and Washington.

“This is really the worst attack we've ever had,” Mr. Trump told reporters at the White House. “This is worse than Pearl Harbor. This is worse than the World Trade Center.”

Trump lashed out at China, continuing a war of words over the origins of the deadly virus that emerged in Wuhan last year.

“It should have never happened,” he said. “Could have been stopped at the source. Could have been stopped in China.”

China hit back Wednesday at US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo over his claims the virus originated in a Wuhan laboratory, saying he has no evidence.

“This matter should be handed to scientists and medical professionals, and not politicians who lie for their own domestic political ends,” China's foreign ministry spokesperson said.

- AFP

With 20 new cases, Odisha’s tally goes up to 205

Odisha has registered the highest single day spike in COVID-19 positive cases.

Twenty new cases – 17 in Ganjam district and three Mayurbhanj district – have taken the State’s total to 205, according to the Health Department.