- Centre calls for stricter lockdown enforcement
- Amit Shah speaks to Maharashtra CM over lynching of 2 sadhus
United News of India
New Delhi, Apr 20: India’s total number of Coronavirus cases reached to 17,656 on Monday, while the government asserted that the country ‘s doubling rate of COVID-19 has now slowed down from 3.4 days to 7.5 days.
With 24 fresh Covid deaths reported since last evening, the toll rose to a total of 559 across the country, the government data said.
‘It is according to the data of past seven days the country’s doubling rate has improved to 7.5 days, said Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary MoHFW while briefing the media here on Monday. Meanwhile, as per Union Health Ministry’s latest update, with more than 1553 cases of COVID 19 in the past 24 hrs, the death toll has gone up to 559, including the 52 deaths reported in the past 24 hrs.
Active COVID cases in the country, at present stand at 14,175 after 880 fresh active cases were added since evening last.
There is an improvement in the number of cured and discharged cases with the figure for now resting at 2546.
While observing that certain States and Union Territories (UTs) allowing activities which are not permitted under consolidated guidelines for Lockdown 2.0, the Centre has reiterated that they must act for strict compliance without any dilution.
In a letter written to the Chief Secretaries of States and Administrators of UTs, the Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said that some States and UTs were issuing orders allowing activities which have not been permitted as per the guidelines issued by the Home Ministry under the Disaster Management Act 2005.
The Centre has directed the Kerala government to ensure strict compliance of lockdown norms after the state government decided to relax restrictive measures by allowing opening of restaurants, barber shops, works shops and other activities.
Rajya Sabha Secretariat on Monday resumed functioning after 27 days since lockdown came into force on March 25.
Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu said he has asked the officials to transact core business that cannot be deferred by deploying manpower accordingly in conformity with the spirit of norms of lockdown.
Cases in the worst COVID hit-state in the country- Maharashtra have again spiked and crossed the 4000 mark today with the number now at 4203 with the number of casualties now 223, followed by the National Capital where the number crossed 2000 mark with 2003 cases and 45 deaths.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Maharashtra Chief Minister Udhav Thackeray over the Palghar lynching incident and sought report from the State, a senior Home Ministry officials said here.
Two Sadhus of the Juna Akhara were allegedly killed by a mob in Palghar district of Maharashtra on April 16.
Reacting to the incident, the Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said that action has been taken and the culprits have been arrested.
