As the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak continues to spread like wildfire in India, the central and state governments are respectively amping up all of their efforts to check potential contamination. The third phase of the nationwide lockdown with "considerable relaxations" is currently in place till May 17. However, governments are also keeping in place necessary curbs so as to not lose all the gains that have been achieved in the battle against the virus.

The total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection in India crossed the 70,000-mark on Tuesday, while the death toll is nearing the 2,300-mark. However, the recovery rate from the virus was reported to be around 31.14% until yesterday, which is a significant development over last week's 26.59%.

In India, the state of Maharashtra has emerged as the epicenter of the coronavirus spread where the number of cases witnessed a massive spike recently. According to the Health Ministry, Maharashtra has the highest number of cases with over 23,000 positive cases of infection and more than 860 deaths.

Notably, Mumbai, the financial capital of the country, has become the hotbed of the coronavirus spread in the state where the number of cases has crossed the 14,500-mark and the death toll is nearing the 530-mark as well. One of the real challenges in Mumbai is controlling the disease contamination in Asia's biggest slum -- Dharavi, which is an extremely densely-populated region.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted a meeting on Monday via video conferencing with the Chief Ministers of all the states to discuss the next stage in the exit from the nationwide lockdown. He also took feedback from the states on further easing of restrictions on activities while gradually restarting economic activities in a phased manner.

Several of the state chiefs pointed out that with the return of migrants, there is a need to concentrate on strict implementation of the social distancing guidelines, usage of masks and sanitization in order to curb the spread through fresh infection, especially in rural areas. The chief ministers in their suggestions on the economy have also sought support to MSMEs, infrastructure projects like power, easing of interest rates on loans, and assured market access to the agricultural produce.

The Prime Minister requested all the Chief Ministers to share with him by 15th May, a broad strategy on how each one of them would want to deal with the lockdown regime in their particular states. "I want states to make a blueprint on how to deal with various nuances during and after the gradual easing of the lockdown”, he said.

Here are the latest updates on coronavirus in India on Tuesday, 12 May 2020:

11:14 IST Tuesday, 12 May 2020

2 students from Jamshedpur, who had returned from Kolkata, have tested COVID-19 positive. The total number of positive cases in the state is now 164: Jharkhand Health Secretary Nitin Madan Kulkarni

11:03 IST Tuesday, 12 May 2020

Delhi: Passengers who will board a special train for Patna today arrive at New Delhi railway station, as the train services resume today. One of the passengers says, "I started walking at around 2:00 am today to reach the station. I'll reach Patna tomorrow".

Delhi: Passengers who will board special train for Patna today arrive at New Delhi railway station, as the train services resume today. One of the passengers says,"I started walking at around 2:00 am today to reach the station. I'll reach Patna tomorrow". pic.twitter.com/pzhT0y96nA

— ANI (@ANI) May 12, 2020

10:29 IST Tuesday, 12 May 2020

An Assistant Sub-inspector of CISF deployed in #Kolkata lost his life last night due to COVID-19 infection: Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)

09:25 IST Tuesday, 12 May 2020

47 new COVID19 positive cases, 2 deaths reported in Rajasthan today; the total number of positive cases in the state is now 4035: Rajasthan Health Department

47 new COVID19 positive cases, 2 deaths reported in Rajasthan today; the total number of positive cases in the state is now 4035: Rajasthan Health Department pic.twitter.com/ThNHjUKy1Y

— ANI (@ANI) May 12, 2020

08:57 IST Tuesday, 12 May 2020

Spike of 3604 #COVID19 cases in the last 24 hours; total positive cases in the country is now at 70756, including 46008 active cases, 22454 cured/discharged/migrated cases and 2293 deaths: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare

08:45 IST Tuesday, 12 May 2020

12 more #COVID19 positive cases reported in Bihar taking the total number of cases in the state to 761: State Principal Secretary (Health), Sanjay Kumar

08:30 IST Tuesday, 12 May 2020

One person from Giridih tested positive for COVID19 last night. The total number of positive patients in the state is now 162: Jharkhand Health Secretary Nitin Madan Kulkarni

08:05 IST Tuesday, 12 May 2020

Out of the 1019 samples tested yesterday for #COVID19, results of 10 are positive: King George's Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow

07:46 IST Tuesday, 12 May 2020

Amid rising concerns over a second wave of COVID-19, the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday (May 11) said that countries must exercise  "extreme vigilance" while beginning to exit the lockdowns imposed to check the spread of the deadly virus. The WHO issued a warning after Germany reported a spike in fresh COVID-19 cases after deciding to ease lockdown. South Korea, which had managed to flatten the coronavirus curve, is now witnessing a new outbreak of the highly contagious disease in nightclubs. 

07:42 IST Tuesday, 12 May 2020

800 people to be tested for COVID-19 monthly in every district: Health Ministry directs states. 

06:42 IST Tuesday, 12 May 2020

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar says he had a "productive discussion" on coronavirus with his counterparts from the US, Australia, Brazil, Japan, Israel, and South Korea via video conference.

A broad-based virtual meeting on responding to the #CoronaVirus challenge.

Productive discussion with FMs @SecPompeo, @MarisePayne, @Israel_katz, @moteging @ernestofaraujo & Kang Kyung-wha. pic.twitter.com/iOYWJAai2D

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 11, 2020

06:40 IST Tuesday, 12 May 2020

Bihar: Shramik special train from Surat in Gujarat reached Gaya with 1200 migrants on Monday.

06:37 IST Tuesday, 12 May 2020

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday sought a national Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to reboot economic activities in the country. "To reboot the economic activities, the Union Government may come up with a National Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). Our production lines are interlinked so also our value addition process cutting across state boundaries. A national SOP will guide in a unified response in rebooting economy," he said. (IANS input)

06:30 IST Tuesday, 12 May 2020

Madhya Pradesh: COVID-19 death toll in the state rises to 221 with 6 more fatalities – 3 in Bhopal, 2 in Jabalpur and 1 in Indore; total cases 3,785 after 171 people test positive, active cases 1,817. (PTI input)