Highlights: Home Ministry forms 11 empowered groups to respond to Covid-19

Spain reported 838 deaths in the last 24 hours. According to health officials who spoke to AFP, they said it is a new daily-record in terms of death toll.

#BREAKING Spain announces 838 #coronavirus deaths in past 24 hours, a new daily record pic.twitter.com/M4v6LAySZu

— AFP news agency (@AFP) March 29, 2020

With the nationwide lockdown and suspension of classes across the country, Gaikwad said that schools must not force parents to pay fees. “We might issue a directive in the coming week which will apply to all boards. At a time when people across classes are facing difficulties, schools must not collect fees, at least till the lockdown ends,” Gaikwad said.

The Taiwanese foreign ministry last week said the WHO ignored its questions at the start of the coronavirus outbreak owing to pressure from the Chinese who seek to exclude it from international bodies. Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu tweeted a complaint to the WHO, following an interview WHO Assistant Director-General Bruce Aylward did with a Hong Kong reporter in which he declined to answer questions about Taiwan and whether it should be a WHO member.

Wow, can’t even utter “Taiwan” in the WHO? You should set politics aside in dealing with a pandemic. FYI @WHO, 450+ news reports from 40+ countries so far positively covered #Taiwan’s handling of #COVID19. These reports do not mistake us as part of China & #TaiwanCanHelp. JW https://t.co/KbupbUb7NG

— 外交部 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan) 🇹🇼 (@MOFA_Taiwan) March 29, 2020

Centre in a new rule has said that people who violate the lockdown will be quarantined for 2 weeks, according to PTI.

Violators of lockdown to be sent to 14 days' quarantine: Govt

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 29, 2020

The President of India pledged to donate his one-month salary to the PM-CARES fund to curb the Covid-19 outbreak.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday thanked President Ram Nath Kovind for pledging to donate his one-month salary to the PM-CARES fund to combat the spread of coronavirus

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 29, 2020

Iran's death toll from Covid-19 has reached 2,640. An health ministry official tweeted that the 123 people lost their lives in the last 24 hours.

10 فروردین:
طی روز گذشته 2901 بیمار جدید مبتلا به کرونا شناسایی شده و مجموع بیماران به 38309 مورد رسید.

تا کنون 12391 نفر از بیماران بهبود یافته‌اند.

در طول 24 ساعت گذشته،123 نفر از بیماران مبتلا جان خود را از دست داده‌اند و مجموع فوت‌شدگان این بیماری در کشور به 2640 نفر رسید.

— علیرضا وهاب‌زاده (@vahabzadeh_ali) March 29, 2020

In his letter Congress MP from Wayanad Rahul Gandhi asked the PM to increase the number of tests to curb the outbreak in the country. He wrote, "It is critical that we start setting up these structures and manufacturing the equipment that would be required, as fast as is humanly possible. At the same time, we need to dramatically increase the number of tests that we are carrying out to get an accurate picture of the spread of the virus and to contain it."

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi writes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi offering suggestions on #COVID19. Gandhi says 'we stand together with the government in fighting and overcoming this tremendous challenge' pic.twitter.com/nIUz2koIzy

— ANI (@ANI) March 29, 2020

Big law and order problem in Kottayam as hundreds of migrant workers gather asking the government to arrange trains for them to go home. Police say the assembled are more than 3000 people. Payippad in Changanassry seeing migrant workers seeking return trains. Police resort to mild baton charge to disperse the crowd.

A 108-year-old woman, who survived two world wars and the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, has become the UK's oldest coronavirus victim after she died within hours of testing positive for the deadly virus, PTI said on Sunday quoting a media report.

Hilda Churchill, who was to celebrate her birthday on April 5, started showing mild symptoms of the virus on Tuesday, the Sun reported.

She passed away on Saturday at her care home in Salford city - less than 24 hours after testing positive for COVID-19, the daily said.

Migrant workers travelling during lockdown to be in quarantine for 14 days: Centre to states

Indian Railways says it is committed to discharge its professional as well as social responsibilities. A tweet posted by the ministry on Sunday added, "At this difficult time, every Railway hospitals will be available to serve any central government employee.Indian Railways is committed to discharge its professional as well as social responsibilities.

At this difficult time, every Railway hospitals will be available to serve any central government employee."

Centre directs states to enforce strict implementation of lockdown. The Cabinet secretary and home ministry are in constant touch with State Chief Secretaries and DGPs.

Video Conferences were held by Cabinet Secretary & Home Secretary including today morning with Chief Secretaries & DGPs. 

CBI officials have decided to donate their one day salary to Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund) to help the Center in its efforts to fight coronavirus in the country.

Madhya Pradesh government to promote students of all Classes, except 10 & 12, without exams: PTI

A 40-year old coronavirus patient has passed away in Mumbai. She was admitted in MCGM Hospital on Saturday following severe respiratory complications and was also a hypertension patient. She had tested positive for Covid-19 and hence her death is confirmed: BMC press release

This is the seventh corona virus-related death in Maharashtra