India records 31 more Covid-19 deaths, 827 new cases - total at 8,356

www.mangaloretoday.com

New Delhi, April 12, 2020: Amid indications that the nation-wide lockdown could be extended beyond April 14, the total number of coronavirus cases in India has jumped to 8,356, after 909 new cases reported in past 24 hours, showed latest figures from Union Health Ministry. The death toll from COVID-19 has risen to 273 while 715 patients have been cured of the virus or discharged. Maharashtra remains the worst affected state with 1761 cases, followed by Delhi (1069), Tamil Nadu (969), Rajasthan (700)and Telangana (504).

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has said that a total of 1.79 lakh samples had been tested in India till Saturday.

On Saturday evening, the number of Covid-19 cases in the country was 7,529 and the death toll was 242.

According to ministry officials, so far 716 people have been discharged from hospitals after showing improvement.

Sunday marks the nineteenth straight day of an ongoing 21-day lockdown across the country. The three-week lockdown was expected to end on April 14 before the government’s decision of an extension on Saturday.

On Saturday Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a video conference with chief ministers of states to strategize the tackling of Covid-19, when three states Maharashtra, Telangana and West Bengal announced the extension of lockdown until April 30 on Saturday evening.

Previously, two Indian states of Odisha and Punjab had extended the Covid-19 lockdown until April 30 and May 1 respectively.