Coronavirus 16th April Updates: 941 fresh Covid-19 cases, 37 deaths reported in last 24 hours, says Health Ministry

Health Ministry shared the updated tally of COVID-19 cases in India today evening. According to this data, the total number of Coronavirus infections rose to 12759 of which 10,824 active, 1,515 cured, 420 deaths.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that it is suspending IPL i.e. the Indian Premier League for the year 2020 until further notice. The decision was confirmed by the cricket administration agency owing to the ‘evolving global health concerns regarding Covid-19 and lockdown measures implemented by the Government of India’. The notice released by the board also said that the season will commence only when it is safe.

Tour de France will now start on August 29, 2020, and the event will conclude on September 30, 2020. The race was earlier scheduled to start from June 27 to July 29 in Nice but was rearranged due to the extension of COVID-19 lockdown announced by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Health Ministry officials also confirmed that India had received 5 lakh test kits for COVID-19 from China. The kits received include test kits for both rapid antibody test kits as well as RT-PCR Tets Kits. However,  the ministry officials also clarified that the rapid anti-body kits will not be used for diagnostic purposes but will be used only for epidemiology purpose.

Union Health Ministry in its evening press conference informed media persons that India had reported 941 fresh Covid-19 cases, 37 deaths in last 24 hours. In the press meet, Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agrawal also said that so far, 325 districts are complete corona-free and have not reported even a single case of COVID-19.

Union Health Ministry in its evening press conference informed media persons that India had reported 941 fresh Covid-19 cases, 37 deaths in last 24 hours. In the press meet, Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agrawal also said that so far, 325 districts are complete corona-free and have not reported even a single case of COVID-19.

325 districts in India have no cases of COVID19: Lav Agrawal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health pic.twitter.com/IJCT3cES5o

— ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2020

Aarogya Setu App, the centre’s COVID-10 tracing app, has become the world’s fastest app to reach 50 million users. The app became the world’s highest downloaded in just 13 days. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had appealed to all the citizens of India, during his nation-wide address on April 14, to download the app to stay alert and healthy. 

Get Complete Details Here.

Home Ministry today issued an advisory saying that the popular video conferencing application Zoom. The ministry advisory termed the application as ‘not a safe platform’.

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) says, "Zoom is not a safe platform", issues advisory for those who want to use it. Zoom is an online video-conferencing application/software. pic.twitter.com/zhWsFaLQr4

— ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2020

Rahul Gandhi in his press conference also called upon the central government to adapt a compassionate approach towards the poor and marginalized classes of the society including the poor, migrant workers and the farmers, whose livelihood has been deeply impacted due to the lockdown. He said that government should prepare a package dedicated to them and deliver money directly to the bank accounts of the poor people to provide relief in such testing times.  

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palanisamy today announced that the overall state tally of Tamil Nadu for COVID-19 positive has reached 1267 with 25 fresh cases being reported from across the state today.

25 new #COVID19 cases reported in the state today, taking the total number of positive cases to 1267: Edappadi K. Palanisamy, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. pic.twitter.com/UX0joTKwQW

— ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2020

As per the details shared by Haryana Health Department, the overall state tally of Haryana for Coronavirus infection has risen to 213 with 9 fresh cases being reported from across the state.  Of the 9 fresh cases reported, 8 are from Panchkula while 1 is from Palwal.

Following reports of migrant protests from across the city during the on-going lockdown, Surat Police has decided to clamp curfew in the Central Zone of the city from midnight of 16^th April 2020 to 22^nd April 2020. The curfew will be applicable in Lalgate, Athwalines, Mahidharpura and Salabatpura police stations and Kamrunagar police chowki of Limbayat police station.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today held a virtual press conference and advised the government to ‘dynamically manage’ the Coronavirus pandemic and the ensuring crisis. He said that lockdown only puts a break on the virus but doesn’t stop it, but it has long lasting and adverse and impact on our economy doing irreversible damage. He also asked the government to ramp up testing to be able to identify the areas where virus is present currently. He also added that “Our testing rate is 199 per million of the population, this is not enough. We need to increase testing, to pre-empt the virus movement."

The WHO chief, in a series of tweets, announced, that the Union Health Ministry and the World Health Organization-South-East Asia have initiated a systematic engagement of WHO’s national polio surveillance network, and other field staff, for India’s COVID-19 response, tapping into the best practices and resources that helped India wins its war against polio. 

Get Complete Details Here

Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain has said to ANI that in the last 24 hours, a total of 17 fresh cases of COVID-19 have been reported in India. He also confirmed that the current state tally of Delhi for Coronavirus cases stood at 1,578 of which, 1,080 cases (68.4 per cent) are Markaz related cases. Giving further break-up of the COVID-19 cases in Delhi, health minister said of 1578 cases, 876 people are currently hospitalised, 32 have succumbed to the disease and died while the rest are under observation at quarantine centres. He also added that currently 29 patients are under intensive case while 5 COVID-19 patients are on ventilator support. 

, 32 have succumbed to the disease and died

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain has confirmed that a Pizza Delivery Boy has tested positive for Coronavirus infection in the national capital. He also added that as a precautionary measure, 17 other delivery boys who were in contact with him and 72 people who came in direct contact with him have been home quarantined after the development. 

A pizza boy has been detected with #COVID19 here. 17 other delivery boys linked with him have been placed under institutional quarantine and 72 people have been placed under home quarantine: Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain https://t.co/X7fbrA4hws pic.twitter.com/5c9aCftNXV

— ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2020

Maharashtra state tally for COVID-19 positive cased today crossed 3000 mark with detection of 165 fresh cases from across the state. According to the state health department the total number of Coronavirus cases in Maharashtra currently stands at 3081.

165 more #COVID19 cases (including 107 in Mumbai) reported in Maharashtra today, taking the total number of coronavirus cases in the state to 3081: State Health Department pic.twitter.com/a1xpyzfyrX

— ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2020

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to hold a detailed consultative meeting with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today. The meeting is likely to be focused on the current economic condition and impact of COVID-19 and the ensuing lockdown on the Indian Economy. FM Sitharaman is also likely to discuss the fiscal relief package planned for the economy with PM Modi.

Six new coronaviruses in bats have been discovered by scientists in Myanmar. This is the first time that these viruses have been found anywhere in the world. As per the researchers, the study on these viruses will help in evaluating the potential of transmission and understand its risks to human health.

Know More about Coronaviruses in Bats Here.

According to sources, India is all set to receive over 6.5 lakh COVID-19 test kits today from China. Sources close to MEA has confirmed that Rapid Antibody Testing Kits (first lot of 3 lakh from Guangzhou Wondfo and 2.5 lakh from Zhuhai Livzon) and RNA Extraction Kits (1 lakh from MGI Shenzhen) have all been custom cleared and left the chinese port late last night for India. Indian Embassy in Beijing and Consulate in Guangzhou played a key role in arrangement of these test kits that will help India ramp up testing across the country.

As per the lockdown guidelines released by the Union Home Affairs Ministry on April 15, 2020, a few shops and establishments will remain open during this lockdown 2.0. Below, we have provided the complete list of establishments which will remain open and which will be closed during the lockdown across the country.

Get Complete Detail Here. 

Delhi Government has added two more areas to the list of containment zones or the COVID-19 hotspot list on Wednesday. This takes the total number of Red Zones in the national capital to 57. Delhi Government has adopted an aggressive strategy to contain the spread of coronavirus infection to few red zones demarcated by it and has been working to contain COVID-19 cases within these zones.

Get Complete List Here. 

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced relief for all health and motor insurance policies that are due for renewal during the lockdown period. FM announced that all policyholders whose auto and health insurance police that are due for renewal during lockdown can complete the process by 15^th May 2020. The decision has been taken keeping in mind the hardships faced by policyholders in renewal process.

With a view to mitigate hardship to policyholders whose health & motor (third party) insurance policies are due for renewal during COVID-19 lockdown, Govt. has issued notification allowing policyholders to make payments on or before 15.05.2020 towards renewal of their policies. pic.twitter.com/KauhDvovhf

— NSitharamanOffice (@nsitharamanoffc) April 16, 2020

A complete lockdown and curfew has been clamped upon Chhattisgarh Capital Raipur starting today as part of anti-coronavirus measures. Raipur district collector ordered complete lockdown of the district starting from 5 PM today i.e. 16^th April 2020 until 19^th April 2020, 5 PM.  During this complete lockdown, only emergency services including medical shops, milk booths, petrol pumps, LPG gas outlets and online home delivery services to remain open across the district.

The total number of Coronavirus infections in India crossed 12000 mark on Thursday morning, according to the data released by the Health Ministry. The numbers showcased by health ministry indicate that the total number of COVID-19 cases in India has gone upto 12,380 and the overall death toll also surpassed the 400 mark and currently stands at 414.