COVID-19 crisis: Top Headlines on April 14

The Karnataka Excise Department has decided to extend the closure of liquor shops in the state till the midnight of April 20, with the Centre extending the nation-wide lockdown aimed at controlling the spread of COVID-19.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday said police personnel in the state will be given PPE kits keeping in view their role in the fight against coronavirus.

Singapore was facing a "critical situation" in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, a top minister said on Tuesday, as 334 new cases were reported in the city-state, taking the total number of COVID-19 patients to 3,252.

Three more persons tested positive for COVID-19 in Jharkhand on Tuesday, taking the total number of cases to 27 in the state, an official said.

The External Affairs Ministry has announced a training programme on COVID-19 from April 17 for healthcare professionals from SAARC countries.

ICICI Group on Tuesday announced that it has committed Rs 100 crore to support the nation in its fight against the COVID-19 outbreak.

Jammu and Kashmir saw a drop in the number of active COVID-19 cases on Tuesday as 14 patients were discharged from hospitals and only eight fresh cases were detected in the Union Territory, officials said.

Two more people, including a woman, tested positive for coronavirus on Tuesday in Korba district of Chhattisgarh, taking the number of such cases in the state to 33, officials said.

The Mumbai police has registered at least 3,131 offences and charged 5,600 people for allegedly violating prohibitory orders during the COVID-19 lockdown since March 20, an official said on Tuesday.

Consumer electronics major Samsung India on Tuesday committed Rs 20 crore towards combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

HEALTH MINISTRY

More than 218 #LifelineUDAN flights have transported around 377.5 tons of essential medical cargo to remote parts of the country, with special focus on the North East region, islands territories and hill states. India Post network has tied up with Indian Drug Manufacturers Association, DG of Health Services & online pharma companies to deliver medicines at doorsteps of hospitals & individual customers, via intra-state & interstate mail arrangements. SHG women have been playing a vital role as Business Correspondents for banks and Bank Sakhis. They are helping disburse MGNREGA wage payments and payments under  women's PMJDY accounts and PM Kisan Yojana accounts, without people having to visit banks 

FINANCE MINISTRY:

-5.29 crore beneficiaries have been given free ration of food grains under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana

-3,985 MT of Pulses have been dispatched to various states/UTs for distribution

-More than 97 Lakh free Ujjwala cylinders delivered

-2.1 Lakh members of EPFO have taken benefit of online withdrawal of non-refundable advance from EPFO account amounting to Rs. 510 cr

-1st installment of PM-KISAN of Rs. 14,946 cr. transferred to 7.47 cr. farmers 

We had mentioned yesterday that we have kits that could last for 6 weeks. We have received another installment for RT-PCR kits which are far more sufficient in numbers, which would essentially mean that we would be able to cover ourselves for a long period of time. Additionally, we are ordering close to about 33 Lakh kits for RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction) & 37 Lakh rapid kits are expected to come at any point in time: R Gangakhedkar, Indian Council of Medical Research (ANI)

Swift implementation of #PradhanMantriGaribKalyanPackage is being monitored at the highest level. As on yesterday, more than 32 crore poor people have been given direct cash support of Rs. 29,352 crore under the package: Finance Ministry

Labour Ministry has set up 20 control rooms/grievance centres to address wage-related grievances of workers. Information on helplines is available on the website of the Ministry: Home Ministry

MHA control room is monitoring supply of essential goods and services and also resolving complaints and grievances through the helplines. Around 5,000 complaints have been resolved through this helpline so far, in coordination with states: Home Ministry

4 more deaths reported in Pune today. All the four had tested positive for COVID-19 and also had Co-morbidity, Pune Health Officials said. A total of 38 people have died in Pune till now.

Malaysia reports 170 new coronavirus cases, making a total of 4,987, as well as 5 new deaths

Indonesia reports another 60 coronavirus deaths, the highest yet in a single day, taking the total to 459

Amid the rising number of coronavirus cases across the globe, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the country may need the army to help fight COVID-19

China reports 89 new cases of coronavirus, 86 of them were imported

WHO Director-General tweeted: "Proud to announce the @WHO Health Alert service is now available @Facebook @messenger. This service gives you the latest health information and guidance to keep you safe from the coronavirus."

Managing Director of Xiaomi India welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to extend the lockdown. He tweeted: "Hon. PM @narendramodi ji announced #lockdownextension till 3rd May.

1. Keep elders safe Red heart
2. Follow social distancing House with garden
3. Improve immunity Flexed biceps
4. Download #AarogyaSetuApp Mobile phone
5. Help the needy Busts in silhouette
6. Don't cut jobs Folded hands
7. Support doctors Man health worker"

Congress leader Singhvi said: "PM's address without specific guidelines is like Hamlet without Prince of Denmark."

BJP president J P Nadda on Tuesday thanked Congress chief Sonia Gandhi for urging people to stay indoors and observe lockdown regulations amid the corona-led crisis.

PM Modi addresses the nation over coronavirus lockdown. HIGHLIGHTS: 

• I know all the citizens faced a lot of trouble because of the lockdown
• I respectfully bow to the people of India for their sacrifice
• As compared to several developed nations, India has a lesser number of cases
• Acted early, didn't wait for escalation
• Citizens have led the fight against Coronavirus
• The way coronavirus is spreading, it has startled the health experts across the globe
• Lockdown extended till May 3
• Some conditional easing of restriction after April 20
• I urge the people of India to follow the guidelines of Ayush Ministry
• Download the 'Arogya App' 
• More restrictions till April 20 

India coronavirus positive cases have reached 10363 including 339 deaths while 1036 have recovered as per health ministry's latest figures READ MORE 

Amid rising coronavirus cases in the country, 10 new hotspots have been sealed in Agra. 

• Spain to allow builders and factory workers to return to work
• UK coronavirus death toll passes 11,000
• Russia reports largest daily increase with more than 2,500 cases

• Brazilian death toll surpasses 1,200 
• Caribbean economies suffer as tourism industry is hard-hit by virus

Watch Yoga guru Swami Ramdev LIVE giving tips to fight coronavirus. Watch here: 

PM Modi said: "Greetings to people across India on the various festivals being marked. May these festivals deepen the spirit of brotherhood in India. May they also bring joy and good health. May we get more strength to collectively fight the menace of COVID-19 in times to come."

• Americans begin to receive stimulus funds
• Cuomo says “worst is over” if New York remains careful
• Canada's reported death toll tops 760
• Mexico registers more than 5,000 cases

• More than 680,000 cases confirmed in the United States
• Death toll surpasses 20,000 in Italy
• Reported cases continue to decline in South Korea
• France extends nationwide lockdown to May 11
• IMF provides debt relief to 25 member countries

The total number of global cases is likely to reach 2 million, including more than 119,000 fatalities. More than 448,000 patients are reported to have recovered.