COVID-19 death toll in India exceeded 100 on Saturday, with the country reporting 104 deaths, including three in Tamil Nadu.
Over 3,500 confirmed cases have been reported across India, according to Health Ministry and State government data. As per Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech on April 3, the nation is poised to observe a lights-off event at 9 p.m. on Sunday — explained here is how that will affect our power system.
Across the world, more than 1.1 million people have been infected, the bulk of which is in Europe and China, which is the epicentre of the virus. Among India’s immediate neighbours, Pakistan has registered over 2,800 cases and 40 deaths.
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 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.
Numbers to note:
24/7 national helpline can be reached at 1075, 1930, 1944 (dedicated to Northeast), 1800-112-545 and 011-23978046.
WhatsApp helpdesk number: 9013151515.
Email: ncov2019-at-gmail.com.
Here are the latest updates:
11.40 am | India
PM tweets #9pm9minute to remind people to light up diyas on Sunday night
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reminded people to light up lamps on Sunday night to show the country’s collective resolve to fight coronavirus.
“#9pm9minute”, the Prime Minister tweeted to remind people of the exercise.
Mr. Modi had on Friday urged people to switch off the lights at their homes and light up lamps, candles or mobile phone torches for nine minutes at 9 p.m. on April 5 to display the country’s “collective resolve” to defeat coronavirus.
– PTI
11.35 am | USA
NY continues to record highest number of daily deaths from COVID-19
New York State, the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S., continued to record the highest count of daily deaths from COVID-19 as a staggering number of 630 people died in a 24-hour period and Governor Andrew Cuomo said the outbreak in the state could peak in about seven days.
The state had recorded the highest single increase in the number of deaths from novel coronavirus in a single day between April 2 and 3 when 562 people had died, one person dying from the viral infection almost every two-and-a-half minutes.
In the 24 hours since April 4, the death toll grew to 630, “all-time increase” up to a total of 3,565, up from 2,935 on Friday morning, Mr. Cuomo said.
– PTI
11.25 am | South Africa
South African Muslim cleric dies of coronavirus after attending Nizamuddin congregation
A South African Muslim cleric, who recently returned from India after attending the Nizamuddin congregation, has died after contracting the novel coronavirus, according to his family members.
Moulana Yusuf Tootla, 80, attended the March 1 to 15 Tablighi Jamaat congregation in the Nizmuddin area, that has emerged as the epicentre for the spread of the coronavirus in different parts of India and abroad after thousands of people took part in it.
Tootla, who died on Tuesday, was buried after his body was collected in a bag