Coronavirus India HIGHLIGHTS: Maharashtra sees largest single-day spike in cases, Telangana extends lockdown till May 7

A one-and-a-half-month-old baby boy in Delhi has died of coronavirus becoming the country's youngest victim of the infection which also affected a 12-day-old infant girl in Bhopal, as COVID-19 cases jumped by over one thousand for the sixth straight day on Sunday prompting authorities to scale up rapid antibody based blood tests.

Ten staff members of the Alshifa Hospital in southeast Delhi's Okhla have been quarantined after they attended to a patient who tested positive for coronavirus. According to a senior doctor at the hospital, the patient was admitted on April 13 with anal abscess and was operated upon. He later complained of having chest pain and was asked to get tested for coronavirus at the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. The report confirmed that he was infected with the virus and was referred to another hospital, the doctor said. Ten staff members, including the doctor who did the surgery, have been quarantined at the hospital. They have got their tests done for the virus and the reports are expected by Tuesday, the doctor said.

As the country inches towards partial relaxation of lockdown post-April 20 as indicated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb held a marathon tele-conference discussion with 1,200 elected public representatives in the three-tier panchayat bodies and asked them to devise a proper exit strategy to make sure economy recovers after lockdown is lifted.

A press statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) today informed, Deb told the elected public representatives that his government has already prepared a plan to recover the loss incurred following the lockdown within the next 100 days. He added that elected representatives have a major role to play in this lockdown exit strategy and asked them to make plans for their respective areas as well.

“If needed, the elected representatives have to work overtime so that the post-lockdown economy returns to normalcy and various works of State and Central schemes get completed. A Pradhan, if he or she wants, can change the entire village,” the Chief Minister said.

Limited economic activities will begin in half of Madhya Pradesh from Monday but strict lockdown would be enforced in Indore, Bhopal and Ujjain and gutka and liquor will remain out of bounds. Announcing this, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday said the situation was under control in Indore and Bhopal but no relaxation will be given in these two most affected cities. Out of 52 districts, 26 districts have been affected by COVID outbreak with only 12 of them reporting double digit positive cases and three districts reporting just one case each.

Works like road construction and repairs, irrigation, agriculture and MNREGA activities will be allowed in 26 districts that have not reported a single case and those areas of other districts that are not in containment zones within the ambit of the guidelines issued by the Centre, Chouhan said while admitting that the pandemic has broken the back of the state. No movement of labours will be allowed from affected districts.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Sunday announced that the ongoing lockdown in the state has been extended to May 7, news agency PTI reported. Briefing reporters after a state cabinet meeting, he said the lockdown would be implemented in a tough manner in the state. He also said food delivery apps would not be allowed to operate in the state from Monday. 

Maharashtra on Sunday recorded the highest number of COVID-19 cases in a day, with as many as 552 persons testing coronavirus positive, taking the state tally of such cases to 4200. So far, 507 COVID-19 patients have been discharged in the state after recovery.

The current count of COVID19 patients in the state of Maharashtra is 4200 Today newly 552 patients have been identified as positive for Covid19. From these,507 Covid19 patients have been cured and discharged from the respective hospitals.#CoronaVirusUpdates #MeechMazaRakshak

— Rajesh Tope (@rajeshtope11) April 19, 2020

On the eve of April 20, when some relaxations in the lockdown restrictions are expected, the Ministry of Health has issued an advisory against spraying humans with disinfectants, saying that not only does it not fulfil the purpose of killing the pathogen, it is also physically and psychologically harmful. It has listed out the harmful effects that the chlorine present in the disinfectant can have on humans.

“Spraying of individuals or groups is NOT recommended under any circumstances. Spraying an individual or group with chemical disinfectants is physically and psychologically harmful. Even if a person is potentially exposed with the COVID-19 virus, spraying the external part of the body does not kill the virus that has entered your body. Also there is no scientific evidence to suggest that they are effective even in disinfecting the outer clothing/body in an effective manner,” the advisory says. Read more here

The district administration of Kutch has decided to allow marriage ceremonies on condition that social distancing is maintained and not more than 20 people attend the functions.

“The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines stipulate that social distancing norms be adhered to during functions like funerals and that gathering of not more than 20 people be allowed. In conformation to these guidelines, we have decided to permit marriages from Monday onward on the condition that not more than 20 people will attend the function and that social distancing would be observed,” Kuldipsinh Jhala, resident additional collector of Kutch, told The Indian Express on Sunday.

Aviation regulator DGCA told airlines to stop taking bookings. Private Indian airlines were taking bookings on Sunday on select flights from May 4. Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had advised airlines on Saturday night to open bookings only after the government takes a decision on resumption of passenger flights. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a circular on Sunday evening, stating: 'All airlines are hereby directed to refrain from booking tickets... Further, the airlines may note that they shall be given sufficient notice and time for restarting operations.' The first phase of the lockdown was from March 25 to April 14. The second phase began on April 15 and would end on May 3.

pic.twitter.com/0U5YIy1zoV

— DGCA (@DGCAIndia) April 19, 2020

Here are some of the striking pictures of the day.

A new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Clinical Infectious Diseases looks at how SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted within a household. As per this study, the secondary attack rate of the virus within the household is 16.3 per cent, and the risk of infection depends on the ages of the contacts and their relationship with the infected person, among others. Read more here

All government offices in Jammu and Kashmir will reopen on Monday morning as part of UT government’s decision to allow certain activity in non-hot spot areas as part of some relaxation in the lockdown. While all educational institutions and training institutes will remain closed till May 3, a government order said that all the offices dealing with essential supplies and services shall be fully functional. In other offices, officers of the level of undersecretary and above will be regularly attending duties with only 33 per cent of the non-gazetted staff present at a time as per roster prepared by respective head of offices. The Forest Department staff and workers who have been operating and maintaining zoo, nurseries, wildlife, carrying out firefighting operations in forests, watering plantations and patrolling have also been asked to work as usual. However, head of offices will have to take necessary steps.

Tamil Nadu reported 105 new positive Covid-19 cases today, including 50 from Chennai. The southern state also reported 46 more recoveries. Tamil Nadu, at present, leads states in the number of recoveries as 411 patients have been discharged from hospital so far.

105 people tested positive for #COVID19 in #TN today, taking the total to 1477. 50 people have been tested positive in #Chennai today. @IndianExpress pic.twitter.com/uFccKt0UIZ

— Janardhan Koushik (@koushiktweets) April 19, 2020

Kerala, which has appeared to have flattened the curve, witnessed 13 more recoveries and reported only two new cases. A total of 55,590 persons have been kept under observation. Kasaragod, the most sensitive hotspot in the state, is no longer the district with most number of active cases. Only 42 cases in district. Kannur with 48 cases has more infected persons. Five northern Kerala districts account for 110 of 129 active cases

#COVID19 Update | April 19, 2020

The day saw 13 recoveries and only 2 new cases.

?55,590 individuals under observation

? 19,351 samples tested; 18,547 were negative

? 1202 Community Kitchens active

?? 2,17,306 individuals served pic.twitter.com/BFAs6KYTuj

— CMO Kerala (@CMOKerala) April 19, 2020

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh ruled out any relaxation in the curfew in the state, except as needed to ensure COVID-19 free procurement of wheat, till May 3, when he will again review the situation. Captain Amarinder ordered strict enforcement of the curfew in all districts by the DCs, with no relaxation or concessions whatsoever even during the Ramzan period beginning this week. He also made it clear that no special curfew passes should be issued to the people on account of Ramzan. The Chief Minister directed the DCs to take firm steps to ensure that there is no crowding at the grocery and other shops selling essentials at this time, and all norms of social distancing are strictly adhered to.

The decision assumes significance in the backdrop of various relaxations given by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for non-containment zones in the country, effective April 20.

Chhattisgarh Health Minister TS Singh Deo provided glimpses of a 100-beded Covid-19 hospital, which is being developed in state's Korba district. "It's a newly built ESIC hospital which is now being developed dedicatedly for Covid19 patients, with a separate accommodation facility for the working medical staff," he tweeeted. The state has reported 36 COVID-19 cases so far, with the majority of them in Katghora in Korba district, which has been declared a hotspot.

Sharing some pictures of a 100 beded Covid19 hospital being developed in Korba, Chhattisgarh.

It's a newly built ESIC hospital which is now being developed dedicatedly for Covid19 patients, with a separate accommodation facility for the working medical staff ? pic.twitter.com/ecg8XESIng

— TS Singh Deo (@TS_SinghDeo) April 19, 2020

"Today, the world is in pursuit of new business models. India, a youthful nation known for its innovative zeal can take the lead in providing a new work culture," Prime Minister Narendra shares a few thoughts on LinkedIn, adding that India's energetic and innovative youth can show the way in ensuring healthier and prosperous future.

As the world battles COVID-19, India’s energetic and innovative youth can show the way in ensuring healthier and prosperous future.

Shared a few thoughts on @LinkedIn, which would interest youngsters and professionals. https://t.co/ZjjVSbMJ6b

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 19, 2020

All seven COVID-19 patients in Goa have recovered from the infection and have been discharged. The last of the seven cases in the coastal state was detected on April 3, and since then all have been discharged  after their samples tested negative post treatment. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant posted on Twitter today, "A moment of satisfaction and relief for Goa as the last active Covid-19 case tests negative."

A moment of satisfaction and relief for Goa as the last active Covid-19 case tests negative. Team of Doctors and entire support staff deserves applause for their relentless effort. No new positive case in Goa after 3rd April 2020.#GoaFightsCOVID19 @narendramodi

— Dr. Pramod Sawant (@DrPramodPSawant) April 19, 2020

Joint Secretary in the home ministry Punya Salila Srivastava said the Covid-19 situation has been very dynamic and the government is taking decision on a day-to-day basis. When the government has realised that allowing non-essential commodities to sell through e-commerce platforms may affect the proper implementation of the lockdown, the decision was reviewed and reversed, she said at a daily joint briefing on the COVID-19 outbreak.

Decision to allow e-commerce companies deliver non-essentials was reviewed because it was felt allowing too many things would impact #lockdown: Punya Salila Srivastava JS MHA @IndianExpress #COVID2019india

— abantika ghosh (@abantika77) April 19, 2020

Health Ministry's Joint Secretary Luv Aggarwal said, "We need to make sure that asymptomatic people who are at high risk, should be quarantined, at home or facility where they can be monitored effectively."

Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry, said in its daily press briefing that 1334 new covid-19 cases and 27 deaths were reported in last 24 hours, taking total cases to 15,712 and deaths to 507 in India. 'No new case reported in Mahe in Puducherry and Karnataka's Kodagu in the last 28 days. In 54 other districts in 23 States/Union Territories, no case was reported in last 14 days. 2,231 patients have been cured so far in the country.', Agarwal added.

The Union Health Ministry in its daily briefing today said, 'Post 20 April, relaxations are not for containment zones, state govt can impose even more stricter norms in such areas. Hotspots are areas either with large number of cases or have a doubling time of less than four days.'

Post 20 April relaxations are not for containment zones, state govt can impose even more stricter norms in such areas. Hotspots are areas either with large number of cases or have a doubling time of less than four days: Lav Agarwal JS @MoHFW_INDIA @IndianExpress #COVID2019india

— abantika ghosh (@abantika77) April 19, 2020

The press briefing by the Union Health Ministry is underway. Watch this space for more updates.

• India monitoring vaccine development initiatives
• Task force co-chaired by member Niti Ayog and Principal Scientific Advisor to government to coordinate the science and tech response
• 1334 new COVID-19 cases and 27 deaths reported in last 24 hours, taking total cases to 15,712 and deaths to 507 in India
• Total 2,144 COVID-19 dedicated facilities in the country

In its latest order, the Ministry of Home Affairs has allowed the movement of migrant labourers within a state in buses. However, it prohibited the inter-state movement of migrant labourers from where they are currently located.

Centre allows movement of migrant labour within a state in buses. Issues standard operating procedure for the same. No inter-state movement allowed, however. @IndianExpress pic.twitter.com/016Q5Am1R6

— Deeptiman Tiwary (@DeeptimanTY) April 19, 2020

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday called upon the Uttar Pradesh government to evolve a plan to help migrant workers from the state reach their home. In a video appeal, she urged the state government to set up a helpline and control room to reach out to all those migrant workers from UP who are stranded at various places. "These workers are our own. It is the responsibility of all of us to help them. We cannot leave them like this. We have to find a way out," she said. "I urge the Uttar Pradesh government to set up a helpline and a control room of 1,000 persons so that these stranded workers can be reached out. You have to evolve a plan to bring them back,” she said. (PTI)

?? ????? ????? ???? ???? ???? ??? ???? ?? ???? ?????????? ??? ?? ?????? ??? ?? ???? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ?? ??????? ?????#COVID pic.twitter.com/25b1A9n31X

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) April 19, 2020

Indonesia reported 327 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, taking the total number of infections to 6,575. Health ministry official Achmad Yurianto also reported 47 new deaths, taking the total to 582. The figures come a day after the chairman of the Indonesian Doctors Association said that the country's actual death toll could be nearly twice the official numbers. In response, Yurianto told reporters in an online briefing on Sunday to "avoid the added psychological burden of untrue news".

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Sunday said the state no longer has any COVID 19-positive case, as the second patient, who was undergoing treatment at a hospital here, tested negative for the disease. The 65-year-old patient was found to have contracted the disease following his return from the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi's Nizamudddin. "Good news: the second #COVID19 patient who is undergoing treatment at RIMS, Imphal has reported negative of Novel Corona Virus disease. Now Manipur has zero positive case of COVID-19 as on date as the two cases of Manipur have been reported negative (sic)," the CM tweeted.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said industries in green zones and orange coronavirus zones will get permission to resume operations in a restricted manner. In a video message, he also said that industries which are ready to provide accommodation to their workers during the lockdown will be given food grain supply and permission for raw material from the state. "The state government is allowing the industries from green and orange zones to start production and processing activities in a restricted manner. The industries will have to arrange the accommodation for their workers. They would not travel long distances for work, he said.

Meanwhile, here's what the industries said on opening the lockdown, as per a survey

CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray addressing the State https://t.co/53JPZcmu13

— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) April 19, 2020

Union minister Prakash Javadekar made it clear on Sunday that the central government has so far not taken any decision on starting train or airline services, asserting that any discussion on the issue is futile. Asked if the government is looking at any timeline to start passenger transport services like trains or airlines, he told PTI, "It has to start one day but which is that one day you don't know at this moment. Discussion about it is futile because we are examining the situation every day and drawing new lessons."

The warden of Gurgaon’s Bhondsi jail has tested positive for Coronavirus today, bringing the count of total cases in the district to 37.

“The warden had been on leave since April 09, and was at his home in Bhiwani. When he returned, he was asked to undergo the COVID-19 test as a precautionary measure, before he resumed duty,” said Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Jaswant Singh Punia. “He was not in contact with anyone here. His family is in Bhiwani itself, and we have alerted the Civil Surgeon there,” he said. Gurgaon has so far recorded 37 cases of Coronavirus, of which 17 people have recovered and been discharged.

Officials, this morning, also confirmed that two people from other states, who were undergoing treatment in the city’s Medanta-The Medicity hospital, passed away on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday.

A man who had recovered from the novel coronavirus was again found to be suffering from the infection in Himachal Pradesh, officials said. The man, who is a Tablighi Jamaat member, tested positive for the infection on Saturday within a week of his two reports coming out negative, officials added. The man, along with two others, had tested negative for the first time on April 10 and was declared as cured as per protocol after they tested negative for the second time on April 12. Subsequently, they were been discharged from the RPGMC and were kept in institutional quarantine. However, with the man testing positive again, the total number of active cases in the hill state has increased to 23 out of the total 40 positive cases.

The number of coronavirus cases in Gujarat rose to 1,604 on Sunday after 228 more people tested positive for the infection, an official said. Of the total new cases, 140 were reported from Ahmedabad, taking the district's tally to 1,002, state principal secretary (health) Jayanti Ravi said. Besides, Surat reported 67 new cases, Vadodara-eight, Rajkot-five, Banaskantha and Bhavnagar-two each, and Botad, Chhota Udepur and Mehsana- one each, she said. Out of 1,443 active cases in Gujarat, nine patients are on ventilator support, while the condition of the rest is stable, she said. Total 28,212 samples have been tested so far in the state for coronavirus, she added. (PTI)

British education minister Gavin Williamson said on Sunday that no decision had been taken on when to reopen schools, as the coronavirus lockdown enters a fourth week. "I can reassure schools and parents that they will only reopen when the scientific advice indicates it is the right time to do so," Williamson said on Twitter.

The lockdown-related restrictions will not be relaxed in Delhi after April 20, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced Sunday, pointing out that the number of corona positive cases were on the rise in the city and lifting prohibitions on economic activities may worsen the situation. Kejriwal said the decision will be reviewed after a week. He repeatedly referred to the situation in European countries such as Italy, Spain and France in making a case for prohibitory measures, which have remained enforced in the city for nearly a month now.

"I also want to offer relaxations. It is rather easy actually. And if we offer relaxations and the situation worsens, we fall short of ICUs and ventilators and people die in large numbers, we will not be able to forgive ourselves. Keeping the health of people of Delhi in mind, we have decided that as of now there will be no relaxations. We will again assess the situation after a week and offer some relaxations if the situation permits," Kejriwal said.

Tamil Nadu has registered a dip in the number of fresh cases during last week and is now optimistic of flattening the curve in the coming days.

According to PTI, the recent daily figures have showed a decline or marginal increase of the virus that has claimed 15 lives in the state so far. “The last three days saw a decline in the number of COVID-19 positive cases, indicating our efforts in monitoring and effective monitoring at that, appropriate prevention measures and containment plans are beginning to pay results,” Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar said on Saturday.

A day before it’s guidelines on phase two of the COVID-19 lockdown come into effect, the Centre has banned the operation of all e-commerce companies from delivering non-essential items. In its April 15 guidelines, the Ministry of Home Affairs had said that operation of e-commerce companies would be allowed and their delivery vehicles would be allowed to ply with valid passes. This had opened doors for e commerce platforms to deal in non-essential items as well. While the new order makes no distinction on essential and non-essential items, the MHA spokesperson tweeted saying that e-commerce platforms would not be allowed to deal only in non-essential items.

A carton containing a television set, a stove, a red bag with four shirts, three trousers and a pair of jeans, a handful of steel utensils and two big plastic containers — just enough to fit into a handcart. Four days and nights he pedalled with his cart, hoping that if he tried hard enough, he could get from Old Delhi to Madhubani in Bihar. He made it as far as Gonda, half-way to home. A fortnight later, he is still there, afraid even his body wouldn’t make it to his village if he gets COVID-19, as his family keeps urging him to return. Asad Rahman and Santosh Singh report on a family’s despair and its growing worry, that no one might care enough for poor like them. Read more

At least two doctors and six nurses at the Lady Hardinge Medical College in Delhi. According to a doctor, a 10-month-old baby who was recently brought to the emergency department with respiratory problems had tested positive for COVID-19. The father was also tested positive.

The healthcare staff was deployed at the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit of the hospital. The hospital has initiated a contact tracing to find out who all had come in contact with them in the last few days. Now, the entire Paediatric ICU is being sanitised, the doctor said, reported PTI

The Union Health Ministry has issued an advisory against the spraying of disinfectant on people for COVID-19 management, saying it was physically and psychologically harmful. Even if a person is potentially exposed to the COVID-19 virus, spraying the external part of the body does not kill the virus that has entered the body, it said, adding there is no scientific evidence to suggest that they are effective even in disinfecting the outer clothing/body in an effective manner. The ministry said it has received many queries regarding the efficacy (if any) of use of disinfectants such as sodium hypochlorite spray-on individuals to disinfect them.

Barricaded by lockdowns, we have all become citizens of the windowsill. In this borderland between the home and the world, there is the possibility of new encounters, and the freedom to float away into a reverie. Barricaded by lockdowns, we have all become citizens of the windowsill, writes Benita Fernando. Read our Sunday EYE cover story, here

At least four states, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra, have issued advisories to medical shops and pharmacies to note down name, address and phone numbers of anyone purchasing medicines for fever, cold and cough. Seeking a daily list, the Andhra and Telangana governments said authorities will subsequently trace the people on it and get suspected coronavirus cases tested.

There is apprehension that a number of people are purchasing drugs like paracetamol to suppress coronavirus-like symptoms, to avoid going for COVID-19 testing, being put in 14-day quarantine, or facing social stigma attached to the disease. Officials in Telangana said they had found several cases of people who had self-medicated forfever and cold and later tested positive for coronavirus.

China has classified coronavirus epicentre Wuhan as a low-risk area, days after it revised the city's death toll by 50 per cent, even as 16 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the country, health officials said on Sunday. According to the risk criteria defined in a guideline issued by China's State Council, cities, counties and districts with no newly confirmed cases in the last 14 days are categorised as low-risk areas. Those with fewer than 50 cases or those with over 50 but without a concentrated outbreak are classified as mid-risk areas, and those with over 50 cases as well as a concentrated outbreak are classified as high-risk areas. China's National Health Commission (NHC) said on Sunday that 16 new confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported in the country on Saturday, with nine imported cases and seven local transmissions.

Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Saturday said airlines are “advised” to open bookings only after the government takes a decision on starting domestic and international commercial passenger flight services. “The Ministry of Civil Aviation clarifies that so far no decision has been taken to open domestic or international operations,” he wrote on Twitter.“Airlines are advised to open their bookings only after a decision in this regard has been taken by the government,” the minister added. His tweet came after Air India said it has opened bookings on select domestic flights from May 4 and on select international flights from June 1. Four days ago, IndiGo had announced that it would start flight operations in a phased manner from May 4. The private carrier has been taking bookings on select domestic flights since then.

The number of coronavirus cases in India has climbed to 15,707, which includes 507 deaths, the Union Health Ministry said today, adding that 1,329 cases and 27 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours.

In a relief for the students, the CBSE has decided to reduce the curriculum load for next year’s Class 12 Board exams in proportion to the teaching time lost due to the coronavirus lockdown, HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal told Ritika Chopra. He also said the JEE Main will now most likely be held in June. Pokhriyal also said that private schools should not charge an increased fee in the wake of the “difficult circumstances.” Read the entire interview, here

Dwindling supplies of carbon dioxide from ethanol plants are sparking concern about shortages of beer, soda and seltzer water – essentials for many quarantined Americans.

Brewers and soft-drink makers use carbon dioxide, or CO2, for carbonation, which gives beer and soda fizz. Ethanol producers are a key provider of CO2 to the food industry, as they capture that gas as a byproduct of ethanol production and sell it in large quantities. But ethanol, which is blended into the nation’s gasoline supply, has seen production fall sharply due to the drop in gasoline demand as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Gasoline demand is down by more than 30% in the United States. Read more

Global top news this hour

• South Korea reports single-digit new cases: South Korea has reported eight more cases of the coronavirus over the past 24 hours, the first time for a daily jump in the country to drop to a single digit in about two months. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the additional figures released Sunday took the country's total to 10,661 with 234 deaths.
• US, Canada to keep the border closed 30 more days: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the U.S. and Canada have agreed to keep the border closed to nonessential travel for another 30 days. Trudeau says it will keep people on both sides of the border safe amid the pandemic

• Brazilian drivers protest virus lockdown restrictions: Hundreds of people denouncing pandemic lockdown measures opposed by President Jair Bolsonaro snarled traffic in major Brazilian cities on Saturday. Protesters in trucks, cars and on motorcycles honked horns on the streets of Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and the capital of Brasilia, calling for governors to resign over measures that have forced most businesses to close for weeks.

• Spain to start easing confinement of children: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez says the government will seek to extend the country's state of emergency by two weeks to fight the new coronavirus outbreak but will start easing the total confinement of children. Spain imposed one of the strictest lockdowns in Europe in mid-March that brought economic activity to a near standstill.
• France sees drop in cases: France's national health agency says the number of virus patients in intensive care dropped for the 10th straight day, while the number of overall virus hospitalizations has fallen for three consecutive days. Health officials say confinement is ``stopping the viral spread.'' The total number of deaths in France from COVID-19 reached 19,323, and nursing home deaths amount to more than one third of the total.
• Sri Lanka to ease lockdown: Sri Lanka's government has announced it will start relaxing a countrywide curfew. The president's office announced that curfew in 18 of the country's 25 districts will be in force from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. every day starting Monday. Curfew in the remaining seven districts, where most of the patients have been reported, will start Wednesday, and 25 areas identified as high-risk localities will remain locked down.

Missed the newspaper? Worry not, we have you covered. Here are some major stories that you shouldn't miss reading from our paper today. You can also read our paper at epaper.indianexpress.com (The paywall has been lifted due to the pandemic and lockdown)

• Testing pool to be widened: The Centre may start by screening all patients who come to the hospital at hotspots and clusters with flu-like symptoms. This will be irrespective of the disease they have come for. The plan is to eventually extend this to all hospitals in the country. This will be followed by voluntary community testing.

• Drop in TB reporting: For the entire three-week lockdown period, the total number of notifications is 34,566. This when the disease, according to government estimates, kills an average of 1,400 people per day in India. This sharp drop in notifications, experts warn, could not just lead to a rise in transmission of the disease but also worsen outcomes at a later stage and even accelerate dropouts from TB’s long treatment cycle.

• 26 of family in containment zone test positive: Twenty-six members of a family in North Delhi’s Jahangirpuri have tested positive for coronavirus, prompting Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to make a fresh appeal to people to stay indoors, especially in containment zones. The Capital currently has 76 containment zones, including C-block in Jahangirpuri where the family lives.

• 7 of 10 Maharashtra industries can’t fulfill norms for reopening: Seven out of 10 big manufacturing and industrial establishments surveyed by the Maharashtra government have expressed inability to provide accommodation within or near their premises for their workers. Also, three in four are unwilling to arrange transport for staffers. 

• 75% of the dead in India over 60 years: While about 3.3% of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) patients in India have died so far, 75.3% of those who died were over 60 years old. In 83% of the deaths, the patients had co-morbidities like diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. According to the Union Health Ministry’s analysis, 42.2% of the deaths occurred in the over 75 years age group, 33.1% in 60-75 years, 10.3% in 45-60 years, and 14.4% below 45 years.

STATES which have received rapid test kits, either from the Centre or sourced independently, are devising own strategies on how to use them. While some like Chhattisgarh plan to use these as tracers to check for community transmission, others like Goa and Karnataka are prioritising it for persons with ILI (influenza-like illness) symptoms, some others like Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand plan to focus on hotspots or red zones, and Mumbai and Haryana for testing frontline healthcare, police and sanitation workers.

Kerala, which expects 1,00,000 anti-body detection kits to arrive in a day, has already planed its deployment in good detail: health workers who have exposure to patients/ potential positive cases/ their contacts in all 14 districts — 25,000; vulnerable population aged above 60 in all districts — 20,000; persons under quarantine in all districts but in proportion to the number of persons under observation in each — 25,000; police/ local level people’s representatives/ anganwadi teachers/ field workers — 25,000; the balance 5,000 for validating the accuracy of the kits. Read more

A 49-year-old man, complaining of severe breathlessness, died as his family unsuccessfully tried to admit him in eight hospitals between Friday night and Saturday morning, his brother has alleged. “My brother could have been saved if he would have been put on ventilator on time. For almost eight hours, we rushed from one hospital to another. At each hospital, we begged the authorities to admit him. But all efforts were in vain. We lost him,” said Avidan Rasal, younger brother of Sudarshan Rasal (49).

Rasal lived in Worli, a hotspot in Mumbai for COVID-19. There are at least 388 confirmed cases in the ward, the highest for any ward in Mumbai. Sudarshan often had cough and breathing problems, had diabetes and high blood pressure. He had a mild cough for the last few days. On Friday night, he had breathing problems and vomiting. His family rushed him to Kasturba hospital as they thought he had caught the infection. Avidan alleged the doctors there examined him without any tests and said he didn’t have COVID-19. Read more