The death toll due to the novel coronavirus rose to 452 with 32 fatalities reported since Thursday evening, while the number of cases saw a jump of 1,076 to go up to 13,835 cases on Friday, according to the Union Health Ministry.
While the number of active Covid-19 cases stood at 11,616, as many as 1,766 people have been cured and discharged, and one has migrated, it said.
The total number of cases include 76 foreign nationals.
Thirty-two deaths have been reported since Thursday evening, of which eight were reported from Rajasthan, seven from Maharashtra, six from Delhi, four from Madhya Pradesh, three from West Bengal, two from Gujarat and one each from Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.
Of the total 452 deaths, Maharashtra tops the tally with 194 fatalities, followed by Madhya Pradesh at 57, Gujarat and Delhi at 38 each and Telengana 18.
Tamil Nadu has reported 15 deaths while Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh have reported 14 fatalities each.
Punjab and Karnataka have reported 13 deaths each.
Rajasthan has registered 11 deaths while West Bengal has reported 10 deaths fatalities.
Four persons have lost their lives in Jammu and Kashmir while Kerala and Haryana have recorded three deaths each. Jharkhand has reported two deaths.
Meghalaya, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha and Assam have reported one fatality each, according to health ministry data.
However, a PTI tally of figures reported by various states as on Thursday showed at least 457 deaths.
There has been a lag in the Union Health Ministry figures, compared to the number of deaths announced by different states, which officials attribute to procedural delays in assigning the cases to individual states.
According to the ministry's data updated in the evening, the highest number of confirmed cases in the country are from Maharashtra at 3,205 followed by Delhi at 1,640, Madhya Pradesh at 1,308 and Tamil Nadu at 1,267.
Covid-19 cases have gone up to 1,131 in Rajasthan, 1,021 in Gujarat and 846 in Uttar Pradesh.
Telengana has 743 cases, followed by Andhra Pradesh at 572 and Kerala at 395.
The number of novel coronavirus cases has risen to 353 in Karanataka, 314 in Jammu and Kashmir, 255 in West Bengal, 205 in Haryana and 186 in Punjab.
Bihar has reported 83 infection cases, while Odisha has 60 coronavirus cases.
Thirty-seven people were infected with the virus in Uttarakhand, while Chhattisgarh has 36 cases. Himachal Pradesh and Assam have registered 35 cases each.
Jharkhand has 29 cases, Chandigarh has 21 cases and Ladakh has 18, while 11 cases have been reported from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Meghalaya has reported nine cases while Goa and Puducherry have reported seven Covid-19 infections each. Manipur and Tripura have two cases each, while Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh have reported a case each.
'State-wise distribution is subject to further verification and reconciliation,' the ministry said on its website. The website also mentions that the patient from Nagaland has been shifted to Assam.
Government announces fresh exemptions
The government on Friday gave exemptions to a few more areas from the purview of the ongoing lockdown including construction activities in rural areas, water supply, sanitation works and functioning of non-banking financial institutions and cooperative credit societies across India.
In a communication to all states and Union territories, Union home secretary Ajay Bhalla also said collection, harvesting and processing of minor forest produce, non-timber forest produce by Scheduled Tribes and other forest dwellers in forest areas were also allowed to be carried out during the lockdown which will last till May 3.
Construction activities in rural areas include water supply and sanitation, laying and erection of power transmission lines and laying of telecom optical fibre and cable along with related activities will be allowed, Bhalla said in his communication.
Non-Banking financial institutions, including housing finance companies, and micro finance institutions with bare minimum staff and cooperative credit societies are exempted from the lockdown across India.
Bamboo, coconut, arecanut cocoa, spices plantation and their harvesting, processing, packaging, sale and marketing are also allowed to be carried out during the lockdown.
The lockdown was first announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24 in a bid to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
It was further extended till May 3.
On Wednesday, the home ministry had announced a series of exemptions given to different people and services during the lockdown.
Workers transfer essential items from a goods train to trucks for transportation to various parts of the state during the nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus, in Nagaon, Friday, April 17, 2020. PTI
650 armed forces medical officers pursuing post graduation to be deployed to treat Covid-19 patients
Around 650 armed forces medical officers, pursuing post graduation, are being deployed at military healthcare facilities handling coronavirus patients across the country, officials said on Friday.
At present, the medical officers are undergoing training at Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) in Pune.
The decision to deploy the officers for treatment of coronavirus patients was taken at a meeting Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held to review contribution of the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) in assisting civilian authorities in various parts of the country to deal with rising Covid-19 cases.
In addition, 100 medical officers are also being deployed to work in hospitals offering treatment to infected people.
The defence ministry, in a statement, said orders notifying 50 AFMS healthcare facilities as 'Covid-19 hospitals' and 'mixed Covid-19' hospitals have been issued.
'These hospitals have a combined bed capacity of 9,038 patients. Civilian Covid-19 cases would also be admitted in these hospitals as a surge capacity to augment the state healthcare facilities,' it said, detailing decisions taken at the meeting chaired by Singh.
Those who attended the meeting include Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar, Director General of AFMS Lt Gen Anup Banerji, Director General, Director General Medical Services (Navy) Vice Admiral M V Singh and Director General Medical Services (Air) Air Marshal M S Butola.
A list of retired medical officers and paramedical staff of the armed forces hospitals is being readied for deployment in hospitals treating the virus infected people, officials said.
The AFMS is also extending support to the government in helping several countries to deal with the pandemic. A 15-member medical team is currently in Kuwait to help the country in handling Covid-19 cases.
'While appreciating various measures initiated by the Armed Forces Medical Services, Rajnath Singh directed them to extend all possible assistance to civil authorities to overcome the challenges posed by Covid-19,' the ministry said.
The AFMS has set up multiple quarantine facilities across the country to keep suspected cases besides taking care of hundreds of people evacuated from corona-virus hit countries.
Eleven migrant labourers stopped from leaving Saharanpur; rumours spread on WhatsApp claiming they are jamaatis
Eleven migrant labourers were stopped while trying to leave Saharanpur through forests. A case has been registered against a WhatsApp group admin for spreading rumours that they were jamaatis, police said on Friday.
The migrant labourers were caught when they reached a village named Syalna on their way and the villagers informed the police saying some dubious persons had entered the village on foot, Badkot police station SHO D S Kohli said.
Police rushed to the spot with a medical team and brought the labourers to Badkot where they were medically examined to ascertain if they had symptoms of Covid-19, Kohli said.
Preliminary investigations revealed they were trying to reach Saharanpur through the Ganga ghati and Yamuna ghati forests in Uttarkashi district, the official said.
Meanwhile, someone spread a rumour on WhatsApp saying they were jamaatis, Kohli said.
A case has been registered against the admin of the WhatsApp group under the Disaster Management Act and relevant sections of the IPC, he said.
Gujarat and Goa to open certain Government offices and industries after April 20
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has allowed government offices to open from April 20 with limited staff as per the Centre's guidelines, secretary to the CM, Ashwani Kumar said on Friday.
However, offices in hotspots and containment zones will not be opened, and staff living in these areas have been exempted from attending work, he added.
'As per the guidelines, offices will function with only 33 per cent staff if Class 3 and 4. Class 1 and 2 officials will resume duty as per orders of their head of departments. As a precautionary measure, employees will have to wear masks and adhere to social distancing norms in office,' he said, adding that office premises and vehicles will be disinfected.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday said some industrial units and government offices could reopen from April 20 after proper medical precautions are put in place.
Goa had seven COVID-19 patients, and six of them have been discharged following recovery.
'Masks will be made compulsory from April 20. We will also take strict action against those spitting. We will open a few government offices from April 20 and install thermal guns at the entrances to check all those who come in. We have procured 1,000 such guns,' he said.
Sawant said meetings are being held to decide which activities could resume after April 20.
'After April 20, Goa State Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) will be empowered to allow industries to open after taking proper precautions. They will have to obey social distancing norms and will not be allowed to bring labourers from outside the state,' he said.
15 more cases in Dharavi, tally 101
The number of coronavirus cases in Mumbai's Dharavi slum area reached 101 on Friday with 15 new patients being detected, said an official of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.
A 62-year-old COVID-19 patient from the area died at Sion hospital, he added.
A total of 10 coronavirus patients from this densely populated area have died so far.
Three new cases each were found in Matunga labour camp, Muslim Nagarand Indira Nagar, two at Social Nagar and one each at Dr Baliga Nagar,Laxmi Chawl, Janata society and Sarvoday Society on Friday, said the BMC official.
Curfew in part of Rajkot from Friday midnight
The Gujarat government has decided to impose a curfew in Jugleshwar area of Rajkot city from Friday midnight to contain the spread of coronavirus, officials said.
Of the total 28 coronavirus positive cases reported in Rajkot so far, majority of them are from this area, they said.
Though the lockdown is in place, authorities realised that it is not proving effective to stop people's movement in that area, the officials said.
'Since people are still roaming outside in that area despite the lockdown, we have decided to impose a curfew from midnight in Jungleshwar area of Rajkot,' Secretary of the Gujarat Chief Minister's Office (CMO), Ashwani Kumar, said.
As of now, no specific date for the termination of curfew has been announced.
Man dies in Rajasthan, cases touch 1,193
A 56-year-old man suffering from coronavirus died in Rajasthan, where 62 fresh cases were reported on Friday, taking the total number of Covid-19 positive cases to 1,193 in the state, officials said.
A government official said the man was found coronavirus positive on Wednesday and died at the MDM Hospital in Jodhpur late on Thursday night.
'He also had cardiac complications,' the official said.
A government report said the number of deaths in the state due to Covid-19 has gone up to 17.
Meanwhile, the number of positive cases increased to 1,193.
Of the fresh cases, maximum 28 are from Jodhpur, 13 from Tonk, six each from Jaipur and Kota, two from Nagaur, and one each from Ajmer, Jhalawar and Jhunjhunu. The remaining four are evacuees from Iran.
Workers spray disinfectant on a street at Munirka to prevent the spread of coronavirus pandemic, during the nationwide lockdown, in New Delhi, Thursday, April 16, 2020 PTI
Ashok Leyland seeks govt support for MSMEs to kickstart economy post-lockdown
Micro, small and medium enterprises, which form the backbone of Indian industry, will need to be supported by the government to kickstart the economy after the lockdown is lifted, according to Ashok Leyland managing director and CEO Vipin Sondhi.
Measures such as easy access to working capital and liquidity through banks and NBFC's, providing interest free and collateral free loans; introduction of an incentive for MSME's to help them pay salaries and wages to their employees in these times need to be considered by the government.
'It would be crucial to kick-start economic activity after this period of disruption. MSME's are the backbone of Indian industry and form the key element of the product supply chain - be it agri-processing, textiles, or auto-ancillaries,' Sondhi said in a statement.
Stating that MSMEs will need support from the government, he suggested measures to be considered which include 'easy access to working capital and liquidity, through banks and NBFC's, providing interest free and collateral free loans; introduction of an incentive for MSME's to help them pay salaries and wages to their employees in these times'.
Sondhi also said the NPA recognition period must be extended for MSMEs from 90 days to 360 days and ensure that all pending payments to industry/MSME's are cleared immediately by the government departments and PSUs.
Lastly, he said,'MSMEs can be incentivised to produce medical supplies, with a buy back arrangement from the government.'
Maharashtra cases touch 3,236
The number of Covid-19 patients in Maharashtra reached 3,236 on Friday with 34 more persons testing positive for the infection, an official said.
Of the new cases, the highest, 23, were recorded in Pune since Thursday evening, while six more persons were diagnosed with the infection in Mumbai, said the state health department official.
Four cases were detected in Malegaon town of Nashik district and one in Thane, he added.
Four who escaped isolation facility nabbed
Four persons, including two Covid-19 patients, who had escaped from an isolation facility in Madhya Pradesh's Indore city in a truck, were nabbed at Morena district, police said on Friday.
Eight people, including six coronavirus patients and two suspects, had escaped from an isolation facility set up at a hotel in Indore on Wednesday, of which three Covid-19 patients were later traced and hospitalised.
The remaining four, who wanted to return to their home state Uttar Pradesh, were caught on Thursday night at the border district of Morena, additional city superintendent of police (CSP) Puneet Gehlot said.
All occupants of the truck, including the four escapees, the driver and cleaner of the Uttar Pradesh- registered vehicle, were placed under medical watch and tested, he said.
Driver, sweeper booked of refusing to carry virus patient's body
A driver and a sweeper working with the health department have been booked in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal for allegedly refusing to carry the body of a coronavirus patient, police said on Friday.
The driver of a hearse van and the sweeper allegedly refused to bring the body of the Covid-19 patient from Moradabad to Sambhal, SHO Ravindra Pratap Singh said.
'A 76-year- old man had died in Moradabad and the van driver, Pushpendra Kumar, and sweeper Hridesh Kumar refused to carry his body back to Sambhal,' Sambhal's Chief Medical Officer Amita Singh said.
Later, a case was registered against the two in Sambhal, the CMO added.
Infant among 3 found positive in Bihar
Three persons, including a six-month-old infant girl, have tested positive for Covid-19 in Bihar, taking the total number of coronavirus cases in the state to 83, a top official said on Friday.
According to principal secretary, health, Sanjay Kumar, all the three cases reported late Thursday— the infant, a woman aged 21 years and a 55-year-old man—have been reported from Munger district.
The trio belong to the same family from Jamalpur block, which had earlier reported seven cases, including a 60-year-old man who tested positive on Wednesday.
'The 60-year-old had attended a Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Nalanda district,' block development officer Rajiv Kumar said.
The district now has 17 cases, and is the second worst-affected in the state after Siwan where 24 people have tested positive.
Prior to the spurt witnessed in the last couple of days, Munger had for some time been without any active case, having reported one death and six recoveries.
Chhattisgarh cases go up to 36
Three more people, including two women, tested positive for coronavirus in Katghora town of Chhattisgarh's Korba district, taking the number of such cases in the state to 36, officials said on Friday.
Katghora, located around 200km from the state capital Raipur, has emerged as the top Covid-19 hotspot in Chhattisgarh with 27 confirmed cases reported so far from the town.
Three people, including two women, from the Purani basti area of the town tested positive for coronavirus on late Thursday night, Korba Collector Kiran Kaushal said.
They had come in contact with infected persons in the locality, she said, adding the trio has been shifted to AIIMS Raipur for treatment.
