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

Canadian Researchers Use Algae To Develop COVID-19 Tests

Researchers in Canada are using algae to rapidly develop low-cost serological test kits for COVID-19 that they say would determine if someone has been infected with the novel coronavirus.

The new method overcomes the shortfalls of existing processes while saving money, according to the researchers from the University of Western Ontario in Canada.

Chief Secretary Shares Distribution Of Red, Orange And Green Zones

The Chief Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Preeti Sudan wrote to the health secretaries describing the red, orange, and green zones in every state and said that they were subject to change on a weekly basis and the list is currently dynamic. 

All 11 districts in Delhi are a part of the red zone.

First Patient To Undergo Plasma Therapy In Mumbai Dies

A 53-year old man, the first to undergo plasma therapy in Mumbai has died as announced by doctors at Lilavati Hospital. 

Plasma therapy as claimed by scientists and doctors is an experimental treatment but not a definite cure. 

IMF Planning To Approve Over USD 500 Million For Ecuador

The South American country Ecuador is facing a tough battle against COVID-19.

The International Monetary Fund's executive board is scheduled on Friday to consider Ecuador's request for emergency financing to fight the coronavirus pandemic, the IMF's website said, a sign that approval of some $500 million in aid is imminent. 

UN Chief Asks World To Follow South Korea's Example

United Nations General Secretary António Guterres has asked the world to follow South Korea's example in tackling COVID-19. 

South Korea recorded on four imported cases and has been vigilant with their testing and mitigation practices. The country recorded its first case of COVID-19 on January 20 and since then have only recorded 10, 765 cases with 247 deaths and over 9000 recoveries. 

Half Of US States Easing Restrictions As Numbers Of Unemployed Increase

As the White House Economic Reopening Guidance expired on Thursday after being followed for two weeks, half of all U.S. states went ahead easing restrictions on restaurants, retail and other businesses in hopes of reviving coronavirus-stricken commerce.

The enormous pressure on states to reopen, despite a lack of wide-scale virus testing and other precautions urged by health experts, was highlighted in new Labor Department data showing some 30 million Americans seeking unemployment benefits since March 21.

The jobless toll amounts to more than 18.4% of the U.S. working-age population, a level not seen since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Delhi Government To Screen All People Living In COVID-19 Containment Zones

The Delhi government on Thursday ordered screening of all people living in COVID-19 containment zones at least thrice within 14 days of identifying such areas.

The move comes in the backdrop of several people testing positive for coronavirus in containment zones despite restrictions imposed there.

At present, there are 100 containment zones in the national capital.

Tata Consultancy Services To Announce 75% Work From Home After Lockdown

Tata Consultancy Services will ask a vast majority of 75 per cent of its 3.5 lakh employees to work from home by 2025, up from 20 per cent currently, as the company looks to permanently adopt the remote working revolution brought by the coronavirus pandemic.

Each employee would spend only 25 per cent of their working time in office. This will also imply that of all the team members, only 75 per cent of a project team would have to be in a single location.

The decision came after TCS moved 90 per cent of its 3.55 lakh employees to remote working after the lockdown was announced using an in-house platform called Secure Borderless Work Spaces (SBWS). The platform had been in development for the past few years.

Maruti Suzuki Records No Sales In April Amid Lockdown

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, India's largest car maker recorded no domestic sales in the month of April as all its production facilities were shut due to the lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus pandemic.

India Crosses 35,000 Cases

Since its last update, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has reported 1433 new cases and 72 new deaths. 

The total number of cases and deaths stand at 35,043 and 1147. Around 8889 have also recovered.