India's COVID-19 tally rises to 724 with 75 fresh cases, toll at 17
India’s COVID-19 tally increased to 724 cases and 17 deaths on Friday as the country entered the third day of its nationwide lockdown. However, several more reports of cases and deaths have surfaced since then and numbers are likely to increase. Here are the latest developments from the day:
India’s COVID-19 tally increased to 724 cases and 17 deaths on Friday (March 27) as the country entered the third day of its nationwide lockdown. However, several more reports of cases and deaths have surfaced since then and numbers are likely to increase.
Here are the latest developments from the day:
75 fresh cases, 4 new deaths
India reported 75 new cases and four deaths in the last 24 hours on Friday, the health ministry said at 4 pm, taking the tally to a total of 724 cases and 17 deaths. Kerala alone reported 39 fresh cases of coronavirus on Friday, taking the total number of people under treatment to 164, the highest in the country. Meanwhile, Maharashtra reported 28 cases, 15 of them in Sangli alone, on Friday as the state’s tally rose to 153. However, some of these numbers are not added to the official tally yet.
RBI permits freeze on EMI payments
The Reserve Bank of India has allowed banks to put on hold EMI payments on all term loans for three months. It also slashed its repo rate by 75 basis points to 4.40% from 5.15%, and that the Cash Reserve Ratio by 100 basis points to 3%. It announced steps to boost liquidity worth 3.2% of the gross domestic product.
RBI to infuse ₹3.74L Cr liquidity into financial system to tide over COVID-19 crisis
Exodus of migrant workers
The Centre has asked state governments to take steps to prevent a mass exodus of migrant workers in the wake of the national lockdown. Meanwhile, the ministry of home affairs has ruled out any plan to ferry stranded migrants from across cities or states, saying the idea of lockdown was to ensure no movement of people from their current locations.
PM interacts with RJs
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged radio jockeys to provide feedback on difficulties and challenges faced by people due to the coronavirus outbreak to help the government resolve their problems swiftly. Interacting with a group of RJs via video, he urged them to spread information about the views of experts and steps taken by the government to tackle the situation.
More ventilators ordered
The health ministry said an order has been placed for 10,000 ventilators in addition to earlier order of 1,200 ventilators. Bharat Electronics Limited has been asked to purchase 30,000 additional ventilators in one-two months to address the shortage of ventilators in the country.
NEET postponed
National medical entrance exam NEET has been postponed in view of the countrywide lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak. It was earlier scheduled for May 3. The National Testing Agency (NTA) has also postponed the pending board exams for a few subjects.
India likely to participate in WHO’s ‘solidarity trial’
India is soon likely to participate in the WHO’s multi-country “solidarity trial” for developing potential treatments for COVID-19, said Union health ministry on Friday. On developing a vaccine, an ICMR official said the Department of Biotechnology is looking into the vaccine development programme.
After three decades, ‘Ramayan’ returns to small screen on popular demand
Re-run of Ramayan, Mahabharat
Doordarshan and DD Bharati will be telecasting mythological series ‘Ramayan’ and ‘Mahabharat’ respectively from Saturday on public demand, said Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar. Many social media users had demanded the airing of the two series amid the 21-day lockdown.
Boris Johnson tests positive
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday said he has tested positive for coronavirus after experiencing “mild symptoms”, becoming the first world leader to announce the infection. Minutes after Johnson’s announcement, his health secretary Matt Hancock said he too was infected and is in self-isolation.
We have entered recession: IMF
Coronavirus pandemic has driven global economy into a downturn that will require massive funding to help developing nations, said IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva. “It is clear we have entered a recession” that will be worse than in 2009 following the global financial crisis, she said in an online press briefing.
Global toll past 25,000
The coronavirus pandemic has killed 25,066 people, with Europe accounting for most of the deaths, according to a tally at 1430 GMT on Friday. Europe was the worst-hit continent with 17,314 fatalities. Italy had the highest numbers of deaths in the world at 8,165, followed by Spain (4,858) and China (3,292). Over 547,034 cases have been registered around the world since December.