The countrywide Covid-19 death toll rose to 652 and the number of cases to 20,471 on Wednesday, an increase of 49 fatalities and 1,486 cases since Tuesday evening, according to the Union Health Ministry.

The number of active Covid-19 cases stood at 15,859, while 3,959 people have been cured and discharged, the ministry said, adding that one patient has migrated.

Thus, over 19 per cent of the cases have recovered so far, a health ministry official said.

The total number of cases includes 77 foreign nationals who were tested positive in India.

Of the 49 deaths reported since Tuesday evening, 19 were from Maharashtra, 18 Gujarat, four from Madhya Pradesh, three from West Bengal, two from Andhra Pradesh and one each from Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, the ministry said.

Of the total 652 deaths, Maharashtra tops the tally with 251, followed by Gujarat at 95, Madhya Pradesh at 80, Delhi at 47, Rajasthan at 25, Andhra Pradesh at 24 and Telangana at 23, according to the ministry.

The death toll reached 21 in Uttar Pradesh, 18 in Tamil Nadu while Karantaka has reported 17 cases.

Punjab has registered 16 deaths, while West Bengal has reported 15 fatalities due to coronavirus infection so far.

The disease has claimed five lives in Jammu and Kashmir, while Kerala, Jharkhand and Haryana have recorded three COVID-19 deaths each.

Bihar has reported two deaths, while Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha and Assam have reported one fatality each, according to the ministry data.

However, a PTI tally of the figures reported by various states as on Wednesday showed 20,564 cases and 654 deaths in the country.

There has been a lag in the Union Health Ministry figures, compared to the number of deaths announced by different states, which officials attribute to procedural delays in assigning the cases to individual states.

According to the health ministry's data updated in the evening, the highest number of confirmed cases in the country are from Maharashtra at 5,221, followed by Gujarat at 2,272, Delhi at 2,156, Rajasthan at 1,801, Tamil Nadu at 1,596 and Madhya Pradesh at 1,592.

The number of COVID-19 cases has gone up to 1,412 in Uttar Pradesh, 945 in Telangana and 813 in Andhra Pradesh.

The number of cases has risen to 427 in Kerala, 425 in Karnataka, 423 in West Bengal, 380 in Jammu and Kashmir, 254 in Haryana and 251 in Punjab.

Bihar has reported 126 coronavirus cases, while Odisha has 82.

Forty-six people have been infected with the virus in Uttarakhand while Jharkhand has 45 cases.

Himachal Pradesh has 39 cases, Chhattisgarh has 36, while Assam has registered 35 infections so far.

Chandigarh has 27 COVID-19 cases, Ladakh 18, while 17 cases have been reported from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Meghalaya has reported 12 cases, while Goa and Puducherry have seven COVID-19 patients each.

Manipur and Tripura have two cases each, while Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh have reported a case each.

'Our figures are being reconciled with the ICMR,' the ministry said on its website.

It further said that one case of Jharkhand has been reassigned to Bihar after reconciliation.

Thackeray demands guidelines from Centre on migrant workers

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has demanded that the Centre issue guidelines by this month-end on sending the migrant workers to their native places in the wake of the coronavirus-enforced lockdown.

Speaking to the central team led by additional secretary Manoj Joshi through video conference on Tuesday evening, Thackeray said his government has opened shelter camps for over six lakh migrant labourers and they are being looked after well.

But, these people want to go back to their native places and are also protesting some times, he pointed out.

'If the central government feels the coronavirus spread will be more from April 30 till May 15, it should consider if the stranded labourers can be sent back to their homes before that. If it is possible, guidelines in this regard should be issued,' Thackeray said.

The Centre should consider if the stranded labourers can be monitored 'end-to-end' and quarantined after they reach their homes to ensure there is no spread of the coronavirus, Thackeray said, and urged the Union government to take a timely decision.

IB ministry tells journalists covering virus to take precaution

In the wake of a large number of media persons contracting COVID-19, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued an advisory to print and electronic media on Wednesday, calling on journalists covering coronavirus-related incidents to take precautions.

The advisory also asked the management of media houses to take necessary care of their field as well as office staff.

'It has come to the notice of the ministry that a large number of media persons have recently contracted Covid-19 while covering the happenings in certain parts of the country,' it said.

In view of the fact that media persons, including reporters, cameramen, photographers, etc. are covering incidents relating to Covid-19 in various parts of the country involving travel, amongst others, to containment zones, hotspots and other Covid-affected areas, it is advised that all such media persons may take due health and related precautions while performing their duties, the advisory said.

'Management of media houses is requested to take necessary care of their field staff as well as office staff,' it said.

The advisory comes a day after the governments of Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Delhi decided to arrange Covid-19 tests for media persons. Some journalists from a Tamil news TV channel in Chennai tested positive for the infection in a fresh incident involving scribes.

Also, during a special camp organised at the Azad Maidan in Mumbai on April 16 and 17 for Covid-19 testing of scribes, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) collected swab samples of 171 media persons, including electronic and print media journalists, photographers and cameramen.

Out of the 171 media persons, 53 tested positive for coronavirus.

Migrant laborers and homeless people gather on the banks of Yamuna River during lockdown in New Delhi AP

Puducherry CM, ministers, MPS, MLAs to be tested

The Puducherry government on Wednesday said chief minister V. Naryanasamy, his ministerial colleagues, MLAs and MPs would be tested for coronavirus on the premises of the Assembly on April 23.

Health minister Malladi Krishna Rao told reporters that the medical test would be held between 9am and 11am on Thursday and test results would be available by April 25.

'We will use the RTPCR equipment to conduct the test,' he said.

Stressing the need for such a test for the peoples representatives, the health minister said they had been moving about in various places to ascertain whether the social distancing was adhered to by the public.

'To be on safe side, the test had been planned now for people in public life,' he added.

Workers wearing protective suit prepare food packets to distribute among the needy ahead of Ramadan, during the nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus, in Srinagar, Tuesday, April 21, 2020 PTI

813 virus cases in Andhra

Covid-19 cases crossed the 800-mark in Andhra Pradesh, reaching 813 as 56 new cases were added in the state in the last 24 hours ending Wednesday morning.

The coronavirus toll also rose to 24 while as many patients had recovered and been discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours, a latest Covid-19 bulletin said.

It said 5,757 samples were tested during the period, of which 5,701 turned negative.

Kurnool and Guntur districts continued to maintain a worrisome trend as they added 19 new cases each, aggregating 203 and 177 respectively, the top two in the state.

Though the bulletin did not give any details about the new patients, sources in the Covid-19 Command Control Centre said they were the secondary contacts of the Tablighi Jamaat attendees.

AP announces one-time aid of Rs 2000 to fishermen struck in Gujarat

Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday announced one-time financial assistance of Rs 2,000 each to over 6,000 fishermen stuck in Gujarat in view of Covid-19 lockdown.

A decision in this regard was taken by chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy after reviewing the state's preparedness at large for combating Covid-19 disease amid rise in number of cases.

'The Chief Minister has directed the authorities to ensure that one-time financial assistance of Rs 2,000 is given to each of the fishermen stuck in Gujarat,' an official statement said.

He also said that Andhra Pradesh is ready to provide support to the Gujarat administration in improving facilities being provided to the stranded fishermen.

On April 21, Jagan had called on his Gujarat counterpart seeking measures at the earliest to support 6,000 fishermen from Andhra Pradesh.

After the review meeting, the state government said Covid-19 testing is being done on a war footing mode and about 5,757 tests have been conducted in the last 24 hours.

'AP leads the way in terms of testing and is ranked number 1 with respect to tests conducted per million in the country with the number standing at 830 at the moment,' the statement said.

The Covid-19 cases crossed 800 in Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday.

A homeless man sleeps as another smokes a bidi or hand-rolled cigarette as they spend time on a pavement during lockdown to prevent the spread of new coronavirus in Hyderabad, on Wednesday, April 22, 2020. AP

Govt paves way for return of stuck seafarers to homes, issues guidelines for crew change

The government has come out with guidelines for change of crew at Indian ports, a move that will put an end to hardships faced by stuck seafarers and pave way for them to return to their homes.

Under the standard operating procedure (SOP), any seafarer would be allowed sign-on at the port of embarkation only after the test for Covid-19 is found negative, failing which action as per guidelines of the ministry of health and family welfare would be taken.

Shipping minister Mansukh Lal Mandaviya on Wednesday in a statement said, 'Crew change at sea ports will be possible now with the issuance of the SOP by the Ministry of Home Affairs. This will put an end to hardships faced by thousands of seafarers.'

'Change of crew of ship (seafarers) is an important measure for operation of merchant ships. The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued SOP... This SOP has been formulated to streamline the sign-on/sign-off of Indian seafarers at Indian ports for merchant shipping vessels,' the shipping ministry said in the statement.

For sign-on, ship owner and recruitment and placement service (RPS) agency will identify the Indian seafarers for joining a vessel, according to the SOP.

Centre recommends Maharashtra govt to increase bed capacity

Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope on Wednesday said the Central committee has recommended an increase in the capacity of quarantine facility in Mumbai from 1,200 beds to 2,000, in light of the rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in the city.

An inter-ministerial central team (IMCT) arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday for a two-day visit to assess the state's preparedness to fight the coronavirus outbreak.

'The Central committee has also asked us to provide minimum oxygen supply to patients undergoing treatment, as it will help ease their breathing distress if any,' the minister said.

In keeping with the committee's directives, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been asked to arrange for more beds and increase testing across Mumbai, Tope said, adding that tents can also be put up in open grounds if needed.

The IMCT on Wednesday visited quarantine facilities and transit camps at Dharavi to assess the corrective measures taken by the state government.

'The Covid-19 cases in Dharavi have not increased in the last couple of days, indicating that our containment strategy has been working in the area, which has five containment zones,' he said.

The team was accompanied by Tope and officials from the state health department and the BMC during the visit.

A member of the National Students’ Union of India checks the temperature of people who have come to collect food at its office on Raisina Road in New Delhi on Monday, April 20, 2020. Picture by Prem Singh

Allow construction activities at hydro power plants: Power ministry to states

The power ministry has asked states to allow construction activities at thermal and hydro power plants falling outside the municipal corporation limits during the lockdown.

The ministry of home affairs (MHA) has allowed construction of hydro power plants outside the municipal limits in the states from April 20 in its directive issued on April 15, 2020.

The Centre has given some relaxations in the lockdown guidelines based on assessment of the situation in different areas across the country.

In an advisory to states, the ministry of power stated, 'It is requested to allow the construction activities in thermal/hydro power generation projects outside the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities as per para 16(i) of the MHA order on April 15.'

The ministry also asked the stated to allow the intrastate and interstate movement of construction materials, equipment, spares and consumables, etc, for these under construction power projects.

The resumption of project works at sites may be carried out while taking all mandatory precautions and norms of social distancing as well the advisories issued by MHA and Ministry of Health and Family welfare from time to time with regard to Covid-19, the ministry stated in its advisory issued to states on April 20, 2020.

The advisory has been issued to all the state/UT secretaries of power, district magistrates, police commissioners/ superintendent of police and CEOs of urban local bodies (ULBs) of all states and UTs in the country.

NBA urges UP govt to allow scribes to enter with photo ID card

The News Broadcasters Association (NBA) on Wednesday urged Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath to allow media personnel travelling across the Delhi-Noida border for work on the basis of photo identity cards issued by their channels and exempt them from the requirement of having special passes.

The Gautam Buddh Nagar administration on Wednesday asked media houses located in Noida and Delhi to send details of their personnel who need to travel between the two cities during the lockdown imposed due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

On Tuesday night, the district administration sealed the Delhi-Noida border.

In a letter to Adityanath, News Broadcasters Association (NBA) president Rajat Sharma stressed the role of news channels during the present challenging times.

'Quick and timely dissemination of updated information regarding the spread of the Covid-19 and the measures implemented by the government authorities, as well as efforts being made by members of civil society, is of utmost importance,' Sharma said.

While the nation-wide lockdown continues, print and electronic media have been exempted as essential services, and were permitted to operate even during the lockdown, he noted.

Effective April 21, the Delhi-Noida border has been completely sealed and only persons to whom special passes are issued will be permitted to move across the border, Sharma said highlighting certain 'serious issues' being faced by news channels with this arrangement.

'The closure of the Delhi-Noida border is posing extreme hardship and logistical hurdles,' the NBA chief said in the letter.

'In view of the large number of employees, reporters and support staff who are required to move from one location to another, and since the travel locations are not always fixed in advance, it is proving extremely difficult for us to identify locations and give other details at the time of getting the curfew passes issued,' Sharma said.

Senior doctors of Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences applaud junior doctors who completed their quarantine period, during the nationwide lockdown imposed to curb spread of coronavirus, at Hindpiri area in Ranchi, Wednesday, April 22, 2020. PTI

States working on academic calendar, deliberate extending summer vacations

With Punjab and Karnatka already having announced summer vacation due to the coronavirus outbreak, other states are working on academic calendar and deliberating on various measures, including advancing the summer break, to minimise academic losses.

The Punjab government has announced a month-long summer break from April 11, ending on May 10. The summer vacation in the state usually starts by the end of May.

Karntaka, had announced summer vacation in March itself when schools had to be closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Delhi government has sought suggestions on whether schools in the national capital could conduct classes during summer break to make up for the academic loss due to the coronavirus-triggered lockdown.

According to a survey by online platform Localcircles.com, 81 per cent parents are in favour of schools being shut through May and reopening on June 1. Over 10,000 parents were interviewed for the survey.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) also wrote to states and union territories last week to examine the issues of school fees payment and salaries to teachers 'sensitively and holistically' keeping in mind the interest of all stakeholders.

While Delhi Government has announced that schools will not be allowed to hike fees during the period and only tuition fee will have to be paid, the Mahrashtra government has said parents can complain to district education officers if schools demand fees during lockdown period.

While the Gujarat government had last week announced that private schools will not hike fees for a year, the West Bengal government had appealed to schools to refrain from hiking fees.

App that warns about Covid-19 containment zones, filters fake news developed by IIIT-Delhi

PM to hold video conference with CMs on April 27

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with chief ministers via video conferencing on April 27 morning on the way ahead in the fight against coronavirus, official sources said on Wednesday.

This will be the third video conference of the prime minister with the chief ministers after the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

In the last interaction on April 11, several chief ministers had recommended extension of the 21-day lockdown by two weeks, which was slated to end on April 14 earlier.

On April 14, the prime minister announced that the lockdown is being extended till May 3.

Before the lockdown was announced on March 24, Modi had interacted with the chief ministers on March 20 to discuss ways and means to check the spread of coronavirus.

I&B Ministry asks private channels to spread awareness against stigmatization related to Covid-19

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry issued an advisory to private TV channels on Wednesday, asking them to disseminate awareness materials against stigmatization during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The advisory comes in the wake of reports of stigmatisation of healthcare workers and patients dealing with coronavirus.

Enclosing links of media awareness materials prepared by the Health Ministry, the advisory asked TV channels to suitably utilize them against stigmatization during the Covid-19 crisis.

The materials are aimed at dealing with the stigma around coronavirus.

India gifts 23 tonnes of essential medicines to Nepal

India on Wednesday sent 23 tonnes of essential medicines to Nepal to help it fight the coronavirus pandemic which has infected 45 people in the country.

Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli thanked his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi for the generous support .

'I thank Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji for India's generous support of 23 tonnes of essential medicines to Nepal, to fight COVID-19 Pandemic. The medicines were handed over to the Minister for Health and Population today by the Ambassador of India,' Oli said in a tweet.

As part of the ongoing bilateral cooperation to fight the coronavirus, India's ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra handed over the consignment to Minister for Health and Population Bhanubhakta Dhakal, the Indian mission here said in a statement.

'The consignment, as a gift from the people of India to people of Nepal, includes 8.25 lakh doses of essential medicines, 3.2 lakh doses of Paracetamol and 2.5 lakh doses of Hydroxychloroquine, it said.

Will allow homeward journey of people stranded in UP: Adityanath

The Uttar Pradesh government will allow other states to take home their residents if they want, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Wednesday.

If the governments of other states wish to recall their citizens stranded in Uttar Pradesh because of the lockdown, our government will give permission and cooperate, the Uttar Pradesh CM said during a review meeting on coronavirus with senior officials.

He also said the students brought from Rajasthan's Kota should be told to stay quarantined in their homes through the CM helpline 1076.

The CM said he will personally contact them and enquire about their well being.

Taking stock of the situation, he also told officials to take strict action against those violating the lockdown and not adhering to the social distancing norms.

11 more test positive for Covid-19 in Kerala

Employees wearing face masks practice social distancing at an office during the nationwide lockdown imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus, in Prayagraj, Monday, April 20, 2020 PTI

Penalties listed in lockdown guidelines applicable to only owners who are negligent

The penalties, listed in the April 15 guidelines of the home ministry on partial resumption of work in factories in rural areas, are applicable to employers only if an offence occurs with the consent, cognisance or negligence of the owner, the government clarified on Wednesday.

The clarification follows 'misinterpretation' by some media reports which have 'claimed' that the guidelines of the ministry have prescribed penal actions against company directors and management if employees test positive for Covid-19 disease, a home ministry spokesperson said in a tweet.

'#FactCheck. Claim: MHA (ministry of home affairs) Guidelines prescribe penal action against company directors & management, if employees test positive for #Covid-19. Fact: MHA Guidelines misinterpreted. Penalties under DM (disaster management) Act 2005 applicable if offence occurs with consent, cognisance or negligence of employer,' it said.

The Press Information Bureau (PIB) of the Union government too in a tweet said that those media reports are 'wrong and incorrect' as the provisions under Clause 21 are in the nature of 'precautions for management'.

The consolidated revised guidelines were issued on April 15, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced extension of the lockdown till May 3.

Modi also said certain industrial activities will be allowed in some areas after April 20. The guidelines specified the details of such exempted activities and the conditions for exemption.

Certain quarters of industry including exporters have raised concerns over the penal provisions in the guidelines, saying it may lead to harassment by authorities and due to this manufacturing units may not start operations, even with minimum workforce.

The guidelines of the home ministry have listed out standard operating protocols for social distancing at offices, workplaces, factories and establishments, and penalties for offences regarding violation of lockdown measures under relevant sections of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and the IPC.

According to the guidelines, activities that are allowed to operate include manufacturing and other industrial establishments with access control in special economic zones (SEZs) and export-oriented units (EOUs), industrial estate, and industrial townships.

These establishments will have to make arrangements for stay of workers within their premises as far as possible or in the adjacent buildings. The transportation of workers to workplaces would also have to be arranged by the employers in dedicated transport by ensuring social distancing.

An IAF C-17 Globemaster-III aircraft being loaded with essential medical supplies and commodities to be airlifted to various parts of the country as part of IAF’s assistance to the civil administration to fight against the spread of COVID-19, in New Delhi, Monday, April 20, 2020. PTI

No action against employers if workers catch virus: Maharashtra government

The Maharashtra government on Wednesday refuted a report circulating on social media that employers or organisations could face action if employees contract coronavirus. There was no truth to the report, it said in a statement here. A WhatsApp forward that was circulating claimed that a First Information Report (FIR) will be filed against the employer if workers/employees catch virus, the statement said.

”There was nomeeting for taking such a decision. The government is not even considering such a proposal. Prima facie it looks like the forward pertains to a meeting of industrial establishments in another state,” the statement said. The if someone contracts coronavirus infection, the government will ensure that the person is treated, it said. The government had also made it clear that permission to restart industries was being given on the condition that social distancing and other restrictions were followed, the statement added.

Sweepers wearing protective suits clean an area of a school during a nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the coronavirus pandemic, in New Delhi, Wednesday, April 22, 2020 PTI

Karnataka orders partial easing of lockdown norms from April 23

The Karnataka government has announced partial relaxation of COVID-19 lockdown norms in the state allowing IT and IT enabled services to operate with essential minimum staff and also certain construction activities, manufacturing of packaging materials, courier services, among others, from April 23.

The activities will be permitted only outside the COVID-19 containment zones identified by the government.

'IT and IT enabled Services will be allowed to operate with essential minimum staff only.

Rest to work from home,' the government said on Wednesday.

Earlier on April 18, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, hours after announcing that IT/BT companies can resume operations with 33 per cent strength after April 20, had rolled it back, citing public opinion as the reason.

Service provided by self-employed people like electrician, IT repair, plumbers, motor mechanics, and carpenters in local areas have also been given exemption, in Wednesday's order.

Tea, coffee and rubber plantation have been allowed to work with 50 per cent workforce, and a similar exemption have been given to processing, packaging, sale and marketing of these produce.

'To mitigate hardship to the public, select additional activities have been allowed,which will come into effect from 00.00 hours of April 23,' Chief Secretary TM Vijay Bhaskar said in an order on Wednesday.

However, these additional activities will be operationalised by District Administrations and BBMP (city corporation in the case of Bengaluru city) based on strict compliance to the guidelines on lockdown measures, it said.

Before operating these relaxations, district administrations and BBMP (city corporation) shall ensure that all the preparatory arrangements on social distancing in offices, work place establishments as also sectoral requirements are in place, it said, adding that relaxations will not apply in containment zones.

Facing a financial crunch, the state government has been eager to kick-start economic activities in the state that had come to halt due to the coronavirus lockdown.

Government asks state drug controllers to ensure availability of drugs, medical devices

The government on Wednesday asked all state drug controllers to ensure availability of essential medicines and medical devices required in the treatment of COVID-19.

In a meeting with the state drug controllers, Union Pharma Secretary P D Vaghela asked them 'to provide all support to manufacturing units with the help of local administration and concerned authorities by regular interaction so that there is no shortage of medicines and medical devices'.

They were also requested to ensure the utilisation of manufacturing capacity to full extent so that sufficient stocks without any hindrance can be made available at all levels, the ministry of chemicals and fertilizers said in a release.

They were instructed to ensure that hoarding and price escalation of drugs and medical devices do not happen and to initiate action in such cases, the release said.

The pharma secretary also asked them to monitor availability of the hydroxychloroquine, azythromycin and paracetamol formulations, the release said.

The state drug controllers were also asked to monitor the list of essential drugs circulated by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare on regular basis and to provide the data, it added.

They were asked to provide information of drugs and devices manufacturing units in their states, the release said.

32 new Covid-19 patients in Bengal; total active cases rise to 300

West Bengal reported 32 new Covid-19 cases, taking the total number of active cases in the state to 300, Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha said on Wednesday.

The death toll, however, remained at 15, and six patients were discharged since Tuesday evening, he said.

The active cases were reported from Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) areas, Howrah, Asansol and Siliguri, the chief secretary said.

The number of people discharged from different hospitals is 79 so far, he said adding that a total of 855 samples have been tested in West Bengal since Tuesday.

Most of these cases have happened because of family contact, Sinha said.

A total of 394 people have been infected by coronavirus in West Bengal, while the Union Home and Family Welfare website put the figure at 423.

The state government has banned the use of mobile phones inside CCUs and ICUs by both doctors and patients, the chief secretary said, adding that there will be landline phones.

'One of the most infectious devices is the mobile we are using. Go to any sophisticated hospital these days and they will say mobile phones carry more germs than even shoes. We cannot take that risk. We have arranged for landlines and mobile phones should be kept outside the CCUs and ICUs. This is applicable to doctors, patients and everybody,' Sinha said.

Delhi Waqf Board asks people to refrain from visiting mosques during Ramzan

The Delhi Waqf Board has appealed to people to offer prayers at home during the month of Ramzan and asked mosques under its jurisdiction to create awareness about official guidelines to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

The advisory issued by Delhi Waqf Board CEO SM Ali is addressed to all the mosques in the city, specifically those under the Board's jurisdiction, an official said.

According to the advisory, people should stay at their homes to offer namaz during Ramzan. However, Imams, Muazzins and Mutawallis can offer the prayers at mosques.

Special prayers should be held at mosques for respite from coronavirus during the holy month of Ramzan, it said.

'The mosques have been asked to create awareness about various guidelines of the government related to the epidemic. The mosques have been advised to broadcast the guidelines after each Azaan (call to prayer) and also at other times through loudspeakers,' the official said.

The advisory also asks people to maintain social distancing, use sanitisers and maintain general cleanliness.

The month of Ramzan, during which followers of Islam observe fast from dawn to dusk, will begin from the coming weekend.

Delhi government forms audit committee to monitor Covid-19 deaths

The Delhi government has constituted a three-member committee to audit on a daily basis the deaths caused by novel coronavirus in the national capital.

According to an order issued by the health department, the committee headed by former director general of health services Dr Ashok Kumar will audit each and every death reported in both government and private hospitals in the city.

'All government and private hospitals are directed to report all such deaths to the committee along with the copy of case sheet for death audit,' the order stated.

Researchers at IIIT-Delhi have developed an app which warns people about a coronavirus containment zone nearby and helps them check whether a news item about the pandemic is genuine or fake.

The WashKaro app, developed by professor Ponnurangam Kumaraguru and Dr Tavpritesh Sethi of the Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology (IIIT-Delhi) along with five students, is currently available for android platforms.

Kumaraguru is the professor of Computer Science and Dean of Students Affairs while Sethi is a Clinician Data Scientist and an assistant professor of Computational Biology at the institute.

The research team had also presented the app at the World Health Conference in Geneva on April 8 through video conferencing.

'It is targeted at the layman and the daily updated content is delivered in Hindi as small audios for those who may not be able to read. The app delivers government advisories from official pages and contains a Symptom Tracker (based upon WHO) for people to know if they are safe,' said Professor Kumaraguru.

WashKaro aims to provide the right information to people in the right format at the right time, he said.

It also houses Covid-Tracer, which tells people if their safety is compromised because they are close to a coronavirus hotspot.

It uses bluetooth technology for communication and does not need internet or location services. No data is stored anywhere on any server, Kumaraguru said.

'The containment zones are mapped on the app and if you enter the area, it will alert you that you are entering a zone,' he said.

He also said in case we get access to database of coronavirus positive patients, the app can also alert whether someone is close to such a patient.

Another interesting feature of the app is onAIr, which makes use of the Artificial Intelligence technology to cross-reference news with WHO documents.

'This ensures that people are shielded from fake information and hoaxes. Besides that, the app has abundant information regarding the pandemic and therefore serves as a conduit of verified information compared to other social media sources,' said Kumaraguru.

Eleven more people tested positive for Covid-19 in Kerala with totalpositive cases in the State touching 437on Wednesday.

Two house surgeonsof the Kozhikode Medical college are among those who have tested positive for the virus.

The two had travelled outside the state,Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told reporters.

Kannur reported seven cases, Kozhikode two, while one case each was reported from the districts of Kottayam and Malappuram.

Only one person tested negative.

The state has 127 active cases and 29,000 people are under observation, including 346 in hospitals.