Corona Updates You Must Track: FM Nirmala Sitharaman To Discuss Economic Package, COVID-19 Cases Near 75,000-Mark

India’s total COVID-19 tally is nearing the 75,000-mark. In the last 24 hours, 122 people died due to the infection, with Maharashtra alone reporting 53 deaths. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will hold a press conference at 4 pm on Wednesday to share the details about the Rs 20 lakh crore economic package.

Another phase of lockdown will come into effect from 18 May, the details of which will be shared by the government over the next few days. Track all the important developments on COVID-19 here:     

PM announces economic stimulus: In an address to the nation on Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a Rs 20 lakh crore special economic package to fight the crisis triggered by COVID-19. As part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, the package would include some recent decisions taken by the Reserve Bank of India to inject liquidity in the system, a Rs 1.7 lakh crore relief package announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the last week of March, and a slew of other measures the FM will announce over the next few days, starting Wednesday. 

Get ready for Lockdown 4.0: As was widely expected, the Prime Minister in his address also said that lockdown would continue post 17 May, but hinted at fewer restrictions, suggesting a gradual opening up of the economy. The details, he said, would be shared with citizens before the third phase of the lockdown ends. The contours of the fourth phase of the lockdown, the PM said, will be based on the feedback that would be provided by the state chief ministers. On Monday, during an e-conference with the chief ministers, the Prime Minister had asked them to share their strategy for post-17 May lockdown. 

India cases and toll: On Wednesday morning, the total active COVID-19 cases are at 47,480 (up from 46,008 on Tuesday morning) while the number of recoveries are at 24,385 (up from 22,454), according to the data provided by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. India reported 122 deaths due to COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, taking the toll to 2,415. The total confirmed cases are now at 74,281—India has  surpassed Canada on the global table and is the 12^th worst-hit country by coronavirus in terms of total tally.

COVID-19 tracker/Photo: @MIB_India/Twitter

Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu lead surge in cases: Maharashtra reported more than 1,000 fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the state’s total count to 24,427 confirmed cases so far. The death toll has climbed to 921, with 53 people succumbing to the infection in the last 24 hours.

After Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu has reported the maximum cases in the last 24 hours—716 fresh cases with more than 500 cases in Chennai alone. The state’s total confirmed coronavirus cases stand at 8,718, next only to Gujarat, which has so far reported 8,903 COVID-19 cases.  

Global corona update: The global coronavirus count has reached 43,42,355 cases with 16,02,443 recoveries and 2,92,893 deaths, as per the data on worldometer, a website that tracks COVID-19 numbers real-time. While the US continues to lead with 14,08,636 cases, Russia has surged past countries like the UK and Italy on the global COVID-19 ladder and reported 2,32,243 confirmed coronavirus cases with 2,116 deaths. 

At 1,78,214 confirmed coronavirus cases so far, Brazil has also seen a huge spike in its COVID-19 tally. China is reporting a fresh spurt in COVID-19 cases, which many fear could mark a second wave of the infection.

Story of hope: A 113-year-old woman in Spain, believed to the oldest woman in the country, has defeated the infection and recovered fully, reported BBC. Maria Branyas, who was born in Mexico in 1907, has 13 great-grandchildren. She was diagnosed with mild COVID-19 symptoms, following which she spent a few weeks in isolation. Branyas had lived through the deadly Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-19.