Coronavirus cases in India rise to 17,265— with 1553 new cases in the last 24 hours

• The Health Ministry on Monday (April 20) said that, of the total cases, 14,175 are active cases, with 543 casualties.
  
• The Union Home Ministry has taken strong objection to the Kerala government's decision to ease lockdown restrictions.
  
• With three new containment zones added in the list, the total tally of the red zones in the national capital on Sunday (April 19) reached 79.

With 1,553 new cases in the last 24 hours, the total tally of Coronavirus cases in India now is at 17,265, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The health ministry on Monday (April 20) said that, of the total cases, 14,175 are active cases, with 543 casualties.

"At least 2,546 people have been cured and discharged from the hospital while one person has migrated," said the Ministry, adding that there are at least 77 foreign nationals affected with the disease.

Maharashtra continued to be the worst hit with 4203 cases and 223 deaths, followed by Delhi with 2003 cases and 45 fatalities, Rajasthan with 1478 cases and 14 deaths, and Tamil Nadu with 1477 cases and 15 deaths.

Punjab rules out relaxation in curfew till May 3

The Punjab government has ruled out relaxations in the curfew till May 3 barring wheat procurement.

The move came after Chief Minister Amarinder Singh reviewed the current situation arising out of the coronavirus outbreak with senior officers from the administration and police department.

On Sunday (April 19) evening, the chief minister ruled out any relaxation in the curfew, except as needed to ensure the procurement of wheat, till May 3, when he will again review the situation, a press release said.

With the decision, all exemptions given from April 20 to industries in rural areas, booksellers, dhabas, shopkeepers dealing in air-conditioners and those involved in sand and gravel mining and stone crushing have been withdrawn.

Centre objects to Kerala easing lockdown restrictions

The Union Home Ministry has taken strong objection to the Kerala government's decision to allow the opening of restaurants, bus travel in cities and MSME industries in municipal areas, saying it amounts to dilution of its lockdown guidelines.

In a letter to the Kerala government, the home ministry said the new guidelines by Kerala government, which allows the opening of activities contradicts Centre's guidelines.

The Kerala government has announced a relaxation of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in two zones, allowing among other private vehicles movement on an odd-even basis and dine-in services at hotels from Monday (April 20).

Panel to facilitate the burial of corona patients in UP

The Islamic Centre of India has formed a 15-member "Qabristan Sewa Samiti" to facilitate the last rites of persons dying of coronavirus in Lucknow district.

The committee will follow the safety protocol set by the health department, in keeping with the tenets of Islam. The 15-member committee comprises private doctors, clerics and social workers.

Till date, the city has reported one death due to the coronavirus infection — that of a 64-year-old patient who died here on Wednesday. The local people did not allow the burial of the deceased in the Aishbagh burial ground, and the deceased was later buried elsewhere under tight police security.

Well known Sunni cleric, Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali, who heads the Islamic Centre of India and is also Imam of the Aishbagh Eidgah, said that the need for the formation of such a committee arose after locals did not allow the burial of an elderly patient in the public graveyard of Aishbagh.

22 on bicycle yatra to Bihar quarantined in UP

A bicycle expedition of 15 migrant workers, on their way to Bihar, has ended in a quarantined shelter in Firozabad district of Uttar Pradesh.

The migrant workers had started their journey from Gurugram and were travelling to their homes in Bihar when the police intercepted them in Firozabad on Sunday (April 19).

According to Narkhi police, the 15 workers cycled to Firozabad while seven others walked and took a ride from Bharatpur in order to reach home. All the 22 have been booked under IPC section 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) for violating the lockdown.

"We have quarantined everyone in Firozabad and will provide them with food and all the necessary help. A medical test too has been conducted on all of them," Vinod Kumar, station house officer (SHO) of Narkhi said.

Curbs to continue in Taj city as COVID-19 tally reaches 255

Agra District Magistrate P N Singh has said the city would continue to remain under strict lockdown conditions. The government offices will remain closed, and the lockdown would continue to be effectively enforced from Monday (April 20), he said.

The statement came late Sunday (April 19) night after the number of COVID-19 cases spiked up to 255, of which 92 were Tablighis. In neighbouring Firozabad district, the number has gone up to 52.

Agra district magistrate said there would be no relaxation in the hotspot zones. The city has 50 odd such zones. The MD Jain Inter College at Hari Parbat will serve as a temporary jail for the lockdown violators, he said. Home delivery services by Zomato and Swiggy have been stopped.

Three new containment zones come up in Delhi, total now 79

With three new containment zones added in the list, the total tally of the red zones in the national capital on Sunday (April 19) reached 79.

There were two new containment or red zones in the New Delhi district and one in the South-West district. According to the Delhi government, E Block in Inderpuri in New Delhi district was made a containment zone on Sunday (April 19). In the same district, Tilak Vihar area in Tilak Nagar was also added in the containment zone list.

Also, in the South-West district, Theke Wali gali, opposite the DC office in Kapashera has also been made another containment zone. Among the districts, the highest containment zones are in the South-East District with 17 such zones; followed by the West district with 12 red zones.

The district administration announced the containment zones after three or more COVID cases are found in an area. On Saturday and Friday each, eight new zones were made.

MP doctor documenting COVID tests gets infected

A doctor, working as a demonstrator in the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College's Physiology Department but pressed for duty in the virology lab to document details related to COVID-19 samples testing, has been found infected with coronavirus, college authorities said on Sunday(April 19).

The doctor had nothing to do with the testing or examination of the samples in the laboratory, they said.

The Dean said that the infected doctor had been directed to be admitted in the hospital, and his condition is stable. The college employees and others in contact with him, have been isolated.

Here are the latest number of cases across states as per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare website.

See Also: Coronavirus cases in India state wise
List of coronavirus hotspot in mumbai