Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday said that lifting of lockdown in the state after April 14 will be dependent upon the compliance by people to the government directives. He also said that no permission will be granted to any religious or sporting events in the state till further notice to avoid mingling of people amid coronavirus outbreak.

The National Health Authority (NHA), the apex body implementing the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme, on Friday announced its partnership with Uber India to provide safe, reliable and efficient transportation for India's frontline healthcare workers engaged in the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

The govt issued an advisory urging people to use handmade protective covers for face and mouth to prevent the spread of coronavirus. In its advisory, the govt stressed on the need to maintain social distancing and proper hygiene to ward off infection and suggested that people should use homemade face covers, which are also a good method of maintaining personal hygiene.

The government on Saturday put curbs on exports of diagnostic kits with a view to discourage shipments amid the coronavirus outbreak. The export of diagnostic kits (diagnostic or laboratory reagents on a backing, preparation diagnostic or laboratory reagents) ... is restricted with immediate effect, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification.

Railways has begun preparing to resume all its services from April 15 after a 21-day suspension of its passenger trains in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Trains, however, will begin operations only after a green signal from the government which had formed a Group of Ministers (GoM) on the issue.

The number of Covid-19 cases in the country climbed to 2,902 on Saturday while the death toll rose to 68, according to the Union Health Ministry. The number of active Covid-19 cases stands at 2,650, while 183 people were either cured or discharged and one had migrated to another country, it said.

The government on Saturday asked the people to not believe rumours and unscientific social forwards related to the spread of coronavirus disease. The government released a poster containing screenshots of forwarded messages promoting fake news to warn people against the spread of malicious information.

Union agriculture ministry has launched new features at National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) web platform to reduce farmers need to physically come to wholesale mandis for selling their produce at a time when there is critical need to decongest agri markets to effectively fight coronavirus.

A number of global companies most with large presence in India have assured employees that there will be no or insignificant layoffs while the Covid-19 outbreak and lockdown continue. Some have taken a 90-day no-layoff pledge. Some have put a stop to all layoffs for this year. Some are protecting jobs by reducing fresh hiring.

Two terrorists have been reportedly killed in the encounter which began in the early morning of Saturday in the Kulgam district. According to the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the operation, in which the security forces too are taking part, was launched based on credible inputs.

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The government on Friday launched one of the largest-ever cash transfer schemes, including the deposit of over Rs 30,000 crore into the account of woman Jan Dhan account holders as well as Rs 5,000 crore into the linked accounts of eight crore poor households with LPG connections provided under Ujjwala.

The Centre on Friday expressed concern over misbehaviour with and attacks on medical staff engaged in tracking and treating patients suffering from Covid-19. It asking states to take stern action against the offenders. At least two states, MP and UP, booked offenders under the National Security Act. The health minister Harsh Vardha urged patients and their families not to create hurdles.

The number of cases of the novel coronavirus across the globe crossed the 1 million mark as the global death toll topped 50,000. In India, the number of cases crossed the 3,000 mark at 3,082 and the death toll crosses 80. Stay with TOI for live updates

The government on Friday stuck to its stand that testing for Covid-19 will be criteria based even as it said as many as 8,000 samples were tested on Thursday, the most in a day so far. The government held that its strategy is need based and testing cant be a confidence building measure. The government is taking steps to ramp up Covid-19 testing in hotspots and high-risk zones.

The science and technology ministry on Friday approved setting up of a body, the Centre for Augmenting War with COVID-19 Health Crisis (CAWACH), at a total cost of Rs 56 crore to scout, evaluate and support innovations and start-ups that address Covid-19 challenges. A technology business incubator at IIT Bombay, has been identified as its implementing agency.

Managing Covid-19 will be more challenging for authorities as SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing it, has spread to 30% of the countrys districts. Union ministry of health data shows that the government has been able to ascertain cases in 211 of 720 districts in the country, with some big states reporting more than 60% of districts as infected while many have over 30%.

The government on Friday launched one of the largest-ever cash transfer schemes, including the deposit of over Rs 30,000 crore into the account of woman Jan Dhan account holders as well as Rs 5,000 crore into the linked accounts of eight crore poor households with LPG connections provided under Ujjwala.

India reported 15 Covid-19 deaths on Friday the highest single-day death count since the coronavirus outbreak in the country taking the toll to 85. The number of coronavirus cases crossed the 3,000-mark at 3,082 with more than 500 new cases being reported. The health ministry said at least 647 cases in the last two days reported are linked to the Jamaat meet.

The urban affairs ministry has advised state governments to allow identified street vendors to sell essential items during the lockdown, a move which would not only save their livelihood and facilitate supplies virtually at doorstep, but also prevent crowding in markets and fulfill social distancing. There are about 18 lakh identified street vendors across India.

The toll due to Covid-19 in Delhi touched six on Friday, with two more deaths being confirmed by the state health authorities. One of the deaths is linked to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation even as the authorities reported 25 more positive cases in Delhi linked to the event. On Friday, Delhi govt reported 93 new cases of which 77 had attended the Jamaat function last month.

PM Narendra Modi called for a nine-minute blackout at 9pm on Sunday and urged people to use candles, diyas and mobile torchlights to demonstrate solidarity and reiterate a collective resolve to beat back the challenge posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. The collective strength of 130 crore Indians is with each one of us, PM Modi said in his video message.

Indias power grid is ready to deal with demand fluctuation and prevent tripping during Sundays 9-minute lights-out and light-a-candle call given by PM Modi amidst Covid-19 pandemic. Power minister R K Singh on Friday reviewed measures to ensure grid stability. The lights-out is expected to shed 15 GW demand or less than 4% of India's total installed capacity.

Amid hardship to farmers during the lockdown period, the Union home ministry on Friday reminded the states of its last weeks order that allowed exemptions to farmers for carrying out harvest operations and movement of their farm produce to agri markets. These exemptions are also crucial to maintain the supply chain of fruits, vegetables and foodgrains in coming days.

PM Narendra Modi urging people to light candles or diya on April 5 to defeat coronavirus, on Friday evoked sharp reaction from opposition leaders in Bihar. States main opposition party the RJD said the PM in his address failed to respond on the countrys burning issues like how to help poor families and migrant workers who have now reached the verge of starvation due to sudden lockdown.