Coronavirus LIVE Update: India's Cases Rise To 59,92,532; 94,503 Dead

India Reports 460 New Cases, 17 New Deaths

India reported 460 new cases and 17 new deaths taking the country's total to 5734 cases and 166 deaths. 

Deaths were reported in Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. 

Maharashtra remains the state with the highest number of cases at 1135

Maha death toll rises to 72, cases to 1135

The Maharashtra health department said on Wednesday that the death toll in the state rose by 8 to 72 death. The number of cases rose by 117 to a total of 1135 cases. 36 cases were reported from Pune, and 72 of these cases were reported from Mumbai. 

Free COVID-19 testing in both government and private labs: SC

A bench of Supreme Court justices Ashok Bhushan and S. Ravindra Bhat  on Wednesday ordered in a interim direction that testing for COVID-19 in both government and private laboratories should be made free of cost. The order further asked the central government to issue a direction immediately in this regard, and gave them two weeks to file an affidavit in reply. 

Finance Ministry to release IT returns under ₹5 lakh immediately

The Finance Ministry in a press release said that it would be releasing income tax returns under ₹5 lakh immediate taking the COVID-19 situation into account. This move is expected to benefit 14 lakh taxpayers. The release also said that it would be releasing custom and GST returns immediately, which is expected to benefit 1 lakh small businesses and MSME. The total refunds will be worth ₹18,000 crores. 

Modi tweets on rumours about people to give a standing ovation on April 12

Prime Minister Modi has tweeted on a message asking people to come out on their balconies and give Mod a standing ovation on April 12, at 5PM for 5 minutes. 

 In his tweet, he's said that this may be somebody's efforts to drag him into controversy. He said that if somebody wanted to honour him that much, they could shoulder the responsibility of a poor family during the coronavirus. 

India Reports 80 New Cases

In an early update, the Ministry of Health and Family reported 80 new cases in the country and no new deaths taking the total number of cases to 5274 in the country. 

Telangana reported 58 new cases taking the state's total to 427 cases. 

Civil Aviation Minister Suggests No Relief In Flight Suspensions Till COVID Under Control

Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri stated that India will lift its suspension on all domestic and international travel after the Ministry believes that the Coronavirus situation in the country is under control.

Indigo which had earlier started booking for travel later closed them till April 30. 

WHO Leader Advices Not To Ease Lockdowns

The head of the World Health Organization's Europe office says a trend of decline in the rate of increase in new coronavirus cases does not mean it's time to relax measures aimed to stop its spread.

Dr. Hans Kluge, WHO's regional director for Europe, also said some countries ``are experiencing a rapid increase in cases or a fresh surge,'' and called for continued vigilance. He noted measures taken in many countries to shut schools and businesses.

Wearing Of Masks Made Compulsory In Mumbai, UP

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corportation issued a statement saying wearing of masks in Mumbai in the open should be adopted as a mandatory practice. 

Similarly, UP has made this a mandatory practice as well. 

ICMR Has 139 Govt, 65 Private Labs

The Indian Council of Medical Research stated that so far there have been 1,21,271 tests conducted so far in the country. On April 7, 13,345 samples were tested in the country.