COVID-19 has claimed 20 lives in India as of March 27, according to data from the Health Ministry and State governments. As many as 767 people have been tested positive for the coronavirus.
The United States overtook China and Italy to occupy the grim title of the country with the most coronavirus infections. China, meanwhile, reported its first locally transmitted coronavirus infection in three days, and 54 new imported cases. Worldwide, the number of cases topped half a million, and deaths climbed past 24,000.
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, and a map of confirmed cases in India.
The new 24/7 national helpline numbers are 1075 and 1800-112-545 and 011-23978046. Email: ncov2019-at-gmail.com. The Prime Minister has announced a WhatsApp helpdesk number: 9013151515.
Here are today’s updates:
3.10 pm | Northeastern States
Assam’s neighbours worried by stamping of truckers
Assam’s neighbours are worried by the screening and stamping of truck drivers and handymen assigned transportation of essentials amid a countrywide lockdown.
The hill States in the Northeast surrounding Assam largely depend on supplies from outside the region. Because of a geographical advantage, essential commodities first reach Assam by train or road before being transshipped to the neighbouring States.
3.00 pm | India
MHA asks States to stop mass exodus of migrant workers
Construction workers leave for their native, Sindhanoor. They maintain social distance even as they walk, in Bengaluru’s Kengeri Satellite Town on Friday, March 27, 2020.
The Union Home Ministry on Friday asked State governments to prevent a mass exodus of migrant agriculture labourers, industrial workers and unorganised sector employees from their workplaces to hometowns amid a 21-day nationwide lockdown to combat the COVID-19 outbreak.
2.50 pm | Tamil Nadu
Tasmac to keep all shops and bars closed until April 14
Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited (Tasmac) has instructed its senior regional managers to keep all shops and bars closed until April 14.
A circular to all senior regional managers on Friday directed them to keep vigil and ensure that there is no illegal sale of liquor during this period and to co-ordinate with prohibition enforcement wing officials in the district and ensure that no untoward incidents take place.
2.40 pm | India
RBI Governor urges people not resort to panic buying; says Indian banking system is safe
Allaying depositors’ concerns, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das on Friday asserted there Indian banking system is safe, and termed linking banks’ share prices to safety of deposits as “fallacious” thinking.
The comments, which came after a massive correction in banking stocks following the Yes Bank crisis and coronavirus outbreak, also urged depositors not to resort to panic withdrawals.
2.30 pm | India
Exempt PwD caregivers from lockdown curbs, States told
The Union Government has asked all the States and Union Territories to ensure that caregivers of persons with disabilities (PwD) are able to reach them during the three-week lockdown imposed by the government to control the spread of COVID-19.
2.00 pm | Goa
Goa authority to take over Madgaon railway station platforms to provide shelter to homeless: order
The Disaster Management Authority, Goa, will take over platforms of the Madgaon railway station to provide shelter to homeless people in view of the lockdown to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, according to an order.
The order from Collector and Chairperson of South Goa District Disaster Management Authority Ajit Roy has issued a requisition under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 of the services of all platforms and station premises of Madgaon Railway Station which belongs to the Konkan Railway for shelter homes effective immediately
1.45 pm | Kerala
Kerala govt. registers case against IAS officer who jumped quarantine
The Kerala State government has registered a case against an IAS officer who jumped quarantine.
Deputy Inspector General of Police, Kori Sanjay Kumar Gurudin, told The Hindu that Kollam Sub Collector Anupam Mishra, had returned recently from Singapore and the health authorities had advised him to go into quarantine at his camp office.
1.35 pm | Odisha
Odisha Assembly asked to stay under home quarantine as State reports third case
The staff members of Odisha Assembly have been directed to stay under home quarantine as one of them had come in contact with a person who tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday night.
He was the third COVID-19 patient in the State.
The staff members have been asked to quarantine themselves because one of the staff members, who had come in contact with the coronavirus patient, had interacted with staff members for several days, Speaker of the State Assembly Surjya Narayan Patro told The Hindu.
1.30 pm | India