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

Iraq Bans Reuters

Iraq has banned news wire agency Reuters for three months owing to the wire agency reporting that Iraq had more cases than were being reported by the country. 

Coronavirus Found In Bats In India Not Transferrable To Humans: ICMR

An Indian Council of Medical Research study found the family of Coronavirus in two bat species in India but these are viruses that are not transferrable to humans. 

Meghalaya Reports First Death, Six New Cases

A day after reporting its first positive case, Meghalaya reported six new cases linked to the first case. The doctor from Bethany Hospital tested positive passed away on April 15. 

494 New Cases, 15 New Deaths Reported In India

In its evening update, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has reported 494 new cases taking the number of cases to 11,933 and 15 new deaths bringing the toll to 392. 

Rajasthan crossed a 1000 cases while Madhya Pradesh is inching closer to 1000 cases. 

Uttar Pradesh reported 6 new deaths while deaths were also reported in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Meghalaya, Telangana, and Karnataka.

Meghalaya reported its first death and six new cases

Number of Hotspots In The Country

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has identified 170 districts that are hotspots and 207 potential hotspots as India witnesses a 14.11% recovery rate among patients.

On Off Social Distancing Till 2022: Harvard Study

Intermittent on and off social distancing till 2022 is the way forward to tackle COVID-19 till a vaccine is discovered and herd immunity is increased according to a study by scientists from Harvard University. 

The study looks at the transmission of SARS-COV-2 stating that the virus could become a seasonal flu and that even in the event of apparent elimination, SARS-CoV-2 surveillance should be maintained since a resurgence in contagion could be possible as late as 2024.

US Deportees Reason For Guatemala COVID Cases

Guatemala's health minister said that deportees from the United States were driving up the country's COVID-19 caseload, adding that on one flight some 75% of the deportees tested positive for the virus.

Health Minister Hugo Monroy's comments were dramatically out of line with what the government had previously said about infected deportees. Later, presidential spokesman Carlos Sandoval told reporters that Monroy was referring to a March flight on which ``between 50% and 75% (of the passengers) during all their time in isolation and quarantine have come back positive.''

Rajasthan Crosses 1,000 Cases

Rajasthan with 1054 cases becomes the 4th area to report more than 1000 cases in the country. Maharashtra, Delhi, and Tamil Nadu are the other three regions. 

Houseboats In Kerala To Turn Into Isolation Centres

The houseboats of Alleppey (Alapphuza) district in Kerala will be turned into isolation centres allowing Kerala to increase its bed capacity by a 1500-2000 beds. 

Danish Schools Reopen

Denmark became the first European country to re-open schools after a month-long closure due to the Coronavirus.