Coronavirus Updates: April 11, 2020 | As it happened

79 new Coronavirus positive cases reported in Telangana today. The total number of positive cases in the state is 1275 including 444 active cases, 801 cured/discharged and 30 deaths.

In the last 24 hours, 347 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Gujarat. The total number of cases stands at 8542 now, including 2780 cured/discharged cases and 513 deaths.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that states shall be given the freedom to permit public transport, subject to restrictions based on the conditions of each state. Metro rail service should be allowed in cities other than those in the red zone, subject to restrictions.

States face different challenges and therefore should be given the freedom to make reasonable changes to the guidelines relating to the lockdown.

An encounter broke out between Naxals and security forces during search and cordon operation in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh. Joint troops of Special Action Team of CRPF and DRG (Chhattisgarh police) are carrying out the operation. Constable Manna Kumar of 170 Battalion lost his life.

Joint Secretary of Health Ministry, Lav Agarwal, along with other government officials briefed media over COVID-19 situation in India. Here are the highlights from the presser: 

• Around 4000 Indians have been brought back by 23 flights under Vande Bharath Mission. Over 5 lakh migrant workers have been sent to their home states by 468 special trains. 101 special trains were run yesterday.
• The total number of recoveries is 20917, 4,4029 people are under active medical supervision. In the last 24 hours, there were 4213 new cases and 1,559 recoveries. The recovery rate is now at 31.15%. The total number of cases is at 67,152.
• People having COVID-19 symptoms should come forward to report so that they don't spread the infection to others.
• Discharge policy has been changed because several countries have changed their policy from test-based strategy to symptom and time-based strategy. We have also changed it based on this.
• As per the revised policy, mild/very mild/pre-symptomatic cases admitted to the COVID care facility can be discharged after 10 days of symptom onset and if there is no fever for 3 days. No need to test before discharge, home isolation advised after discharge.
• Aarogya Setu app has been downloaded in 9.8 crore smartphones so far. It will be available on Jio feature smartphones from tomorrow. We've worked a lot on data privacy of Arogya Setu users and made sure that user data are not compromised.

Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa inaugurates four buses that have been converted into COVID-19 testing facilities in Bengaluru.

West Bengal Government has issued an order clarifying that 'operations including plucking in tea gardens is allowed with deployment of up to 50% of the total regular workforce at a time'.

Chandigarh Administration has decided that public dealings in government offices to start from May 18.

No new case of COVID-19 has been reported in Uttarakhand today. A total number of positive cases stands at 68 including 1 death and 46 recovered. 21 active cases remain in the state

The Indian health ministry confirmed that more than 4,200 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the last 24 hours, the country's biggest spike so far.

PM Modi meets CMs via Video conferencing over coronavirus pandemic. HIGHLIGHTS: 

• This is PM Modi's 5th video conferencing with the Chief Ministers of states over coronavirus pandemic

126 new cases of COVID-19 and 2 deaths have been reported in Rajasthan today till 1 pm, taking the total number of cases & deaths to 3940 and 110, respectively. Number of active cases stands at 1566

Till now, 15 police personnel have tested positive for Coronavirus in Bihar. 

Russia reports 11,656 new cases of coronavirus, 221,344 cases in total. Russia's largest daily increase so far.

No death due to COVID-19 reported in Delhi in the last 24 hours. 310 persons tested positive in the national capital today; taking the total number of positive cases to 7233. The death toll stands at 73

10 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Karnataka, taking the total number of positive cases to 858 including 31 deaths and 422 discharges. 

38 new COVID-19 cases reported in the state in last 24 hours. Out of the 38 cases, 26 have returned from Gujarat, 1 from Karnataka and 8 people from Chittoor Dist. had visited Chennai's Koyambedu market. Total number of positive cases in the state is now 2018

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced on Monday that the country will move into Alert Level 2 starting Thursday, which will allow domestic travel and the reopening of retailers, malls, cafes, restaurants, and other public spaces.

INS Jalashwa, the Navy warship is docked at the Kochi port after it brought back 698 stranded Indians from the Maldives. 

84 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Rajasthan today, taking the total number of cases & deaths to 3898 and 108, respectively. Number of active cases stands at 1537

14 new Coronavirus positive cases reported in Odisha, taking the total number of cases in the state to 391

Three more from Giridih tested COVID-19 positive late night. All had returned from Surat recently. Total positive cases rise to 160.

• A virtual opera from Italy’s Teatro alla Scala 
• Unique Mother’s Day tributes
• A new way to make friends online
• One non-profit’s initiative to help out struggling restaurants

Watch yoga guru Swami Ramdev's lessons to boost immunity, maintain healthy body and fight coronavirus. Watch today's show on yoga asanas for diabetic patients |

• PM Boris Johnson outlines plan for easing UK lockdown
• Avianca files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after travel bans ground its fleet
• Members of coronavirus task force in US begin self-quarantine
• Brazil reports more than 10,000 new cases
• Five players in Spain’s top two divisions test positive for COVID-19

White House senior adviser Kevin Hassett predicted Sunday that the unemployment rate in the US will climb to 20 percent or higher in May or June as a result of the economic fallout caused by the coronavirus, before rebounding.

Hello and welcome to today's live coverage of coronavirus news in India and across the world, with me, Sushmita Panda and my colleagues Himanshu Shekhar, Shashwat  Bhandari, Vani Mehrotra, Priya Jaiswal, Sidhant Mamtany and Rashi Hardaha. You can get in touch with us directly on twitter @sushmitapanda, @himaanshus, @ShashBhandari​ @vani_mehrotra​ @priyajais @smamtany and @rashihardaha for news, tips, photos, questions and comments.

Here's a quick overview: 

The total number of global cases has surpassed 4.1 million, including more than 283,000 fatalities. More than 1,490,000 patients are reported to have recovered.

Deaths by country:

United States- 80,787
Italy- 30,560
Spain- 26,621
France- 26, 380
United Kingdom- 31,855
Belgium - 8,656

Coronavirus in India: Total COVID-19 positive cases near 67,000-mark
Coronavirus Death Toll in India: As of Saturday evening, the death toll stood at 2,212