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

Ministry Of Finance Announces Compliance Relief

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced several compliance deadline extensions. Many deadlines as of March 31 have been extended to June 30. She also confirmed a relief package in the pipeline, stating it will come "sooner than later"

Mumbai Reports One More Death

A 65-year-old male with travel history to UAE and Ahmedabad was admitted to Kasturba Hospital on March 23, 2020 passed away late evening on March 23, 2020 and tested positive for COVID-19 after his death. He had a medical history of hypertension and uncontrolled diabetes, reported Mumbai health officials. The man who resided in Dubai had travelled from Dubai to Ahmedabad on March 15 and came to Mumbai on March 20, 2020. 

He is the 3rd COVID-19 positive death in Mumbai and Maharashtra. The person who died on March 23, 2020 had recovered from COVID-19 and passed away due to other morbidities. 

Spending Of CSR Funds For COVID-19 Is CSR Activity: FM

The Finance Minister tweeted that companies spending CSR funds for COVID-19 activities such as disaster management, prevention and healthcare and sanitation are eligible as CSR activity. This move is expected to benefit local communities. The law requires companies with turnovers above ₹1,000 crores or a net worth of atleast ₹500 crores or net profit of ₹5 crores to spend 2% of their net profit on CSR. 

PM Modi To Address Nation At 8

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing the nation at 8 PM on March 24, 2020 to speak about the menace of the COVID-19.

This will be the Prime Minister's second address to the nation pertaining to the disease. He had earlier addressed the country on March 19, 2020 where he asked the nation to abide the "Janata curfew" on Sunday, March 22

ICMR Publishes Mathematical Model For Tackling Coronavirus

The Indian Council of Medical Research has published a paper on the public health interventions strategies to control the COVID-19 transmission in India using a mathematical model. 

This study mentions port of entry based screening for modestly delaying the introduction of the virus in the community. However, this alone is not sufficient and quarantining of symptomatic as well as asymptomatic individuals. This model has its limitations but suggests such interventions along with proactively engaging with the the health and medical officials, community and the media to delay and control the spread of the disease. 

Reliance Industries Pledges Support

Reliance Group of Industries,  have come forth and decided to assist the Government in fighting COVID-19. 

The company has donated funds, is setting up isolation facilities, producing personal protective equipment for health workers, improving internet facilities and using the foundation to help NGOs deliver food. 

Manipur Reports First Case

A 23-year-old youth had returned home from UK and has tested positive for COVID-19 in Manipur making this the state and the north-east reogion's first case 

She is currently undergoing treatment at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) hospital in Imphal.

Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra Take India's Cases To 492

The Indian Union Health Ministry has confirmed 492 positive cases and 9 deaths with 34 recoveries in the country as of March 24, 2020.

Kerala with 95 cases surpassed Maharashtra's 87. Karnataka's cases increased to 37. 

India Reports 468 Cases

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has reported 468 positive cases and 9 deaths as of March 23, 2020. 

The State and the District details have not yet been updated.