TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Apr 25, 2020, 20: 06 IST
NEW DELHI: Neighbourhood and standalone shops, including those selling garments, mobile phones, hardware and stationery items have been allowed to open but those located in market places, malls and Covid-19 hotspot and containment zones, will continue to remain shut till May 3. Meanwhile, the death toll due to Covid-19 rose to 779 and the number of cases climbed to 24,942 in the country, registering an increase of 56 deaths and 1,490 cases since Friday evening, according to the Union health ministry.
Here are the top developments:
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India
- The MHA said that in rural areas, all shops, except those in single and multi-brand shopping malls, are allowed to open. Restaurants, hair salons and barber shops will not be allowed to open as these render services and do not fall under the shop category.
- The average doubling rate of Covid-19 cases in the country is 9.1 days as of now and from Friday 8 am to Saturday 8 am, India recorded a six-per cent growth in new cases, which is the lowest daily growth rate recorded since the country crossed 100 cases, the government said on Saturday.
- States and Union territories have been asked to put on hold the use of Covid-19 rapid antibody test kits till their accuracy is rechecked by the Indian Council of Medical Research, official sources said.
- Distribution of free pulses to 20 crore PDS households across the country will speed up in the first week of May as the massive operation of transportation and milling of 5.88 lakh tonne of pulses for the same is underway, the government said.
- The Railways plans to roll out hands-free washbasins at all its stations, field units and hospitals to protect its employees and passengers from coronavirus infection.
- To simplify the process of issuing e-passes for essential good