India Cases Now At Over 21,000, Azadpur Mandi In Delhi Under Scrutiny: Corona Developments You Must Know

Thursday marks the 30th day of the all-India lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country has surged to 21,393. The western states of Maharashtra and Gujarat continue to report a worrying spike in coronavirus cases.

Find all the latest and important developments related to coronavirus here:

India cases and toll: According to the data released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), the number of active coronavirus cases stands at 16,454 while the death toll is now at 681. A total of 4,257 people have recovered from the illness. India has reported 1,409 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours. 

Numbers swelling in Maharashtra, Gujarat: Both the western states continue to report maximum confirmed cases of coronavirus in India. While the number of cases in Gujarat stands at 2,407, the Maharashtra numbers are now at 5,652. The two states together account for 372 or more than 50 per cent of the 681 COVID-19 deaths reported in the country. 

Where Delhi stands: The national capital has reported 2,248 confirmed coronavirus cases by Thursday morning.  The virus has claimed one more life, taking the toll in Delhi to 48. The number of containment zones too has gone up from 84 to 89. Delhi’s Azadpur Mandi, Asia’s biggest wholesale market for fruits and vegetables, is under intense scrutiny after a trader there died of coronavirus on Tuesday. Agricultural produce from several neighbouring states is sold in the market.     

Global corona update: According to worldometer, which is providing real-time data on coronavirus cases, the total number of confirmed cases is now 26,38,024. Over 1.84 lakh people have lost their lives across the globe to this virus. The good news is that a little over 7.2 lakh people have recovered too.  

Cure for corona: The World Health Organization (WHO), reported Science, has announced a mega-trial of four most promising therapies to fight coronavirus pandemic. The project, which is called SOLIDARITY, will include “an experimental antiviral compound called remdesivir; the malaria medications chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine; a combination of two HIV drugs, lopinavir and ritonavir; and that same combination plus interferon-beta, an immune system messenger that can help cripple viruses.”

Story of hope: A 97-year-old woman in Moga, Punjab, has joined the fight against coronavirus by stitching masks on her sewing machine for the needy in her area. The nonagenarian makes close to 200 masks every day. Read more on this heartwarming story here.