LIVE: WHO reiterates that it sounded warning as early as January

SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that America needs to reopen its economies. He tweeted two media reports on how the lockdown is harming the US economy. He clarified that social distancing needs to be followed.

FREE AMERICA NOW

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 29, 2020

Rajasthan reported 29 new cases of Covid-19. 52 people died due to Covid-19 in the state.

29 new cases of #COVID19 have been reported in Rajasthan today, taking the total number of cases to 2393 including 52 deaths. 781 patients have recovered from the disease: Rajasthan Health Department pic.twitter.com/UJD20ItiPu

— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2020

Twenty one new positive cases reported in Agra district on Wednesday, taking the total number of cases there to 425, according to district magistrate Prabhu N Singh, reports ANI.

Total death toll stands in Agra district is now 11 while 69 people have been discharged after making a complete recovery from the disease

Russia on Wednesday reported 5,841 new cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing its overall nationwide case tally to 99,399, reports Reuters.

The official nationwide death toll reached 972 on Wednesday after 108 people with the virus died in the last 24 hours, Russia's coronavirus crisis response centre said.

Kerala government decides to issue ordinance for deducting salaries of its employees to mobilise funds to fight COVID-19, says its finance minister: PTI

The government on Wednesday said, all officers, staff (including outsourced staff) working in central government should download 'Aarogya Setu' App on their mobile phones immediately. Before starting for office, they must review their status on App and commute only when App shows 'safe' or 'low risk' status, reports ANI.

The officers/staff are advised that in case the App shows a message that he/she has a 'moderate' or 'high risk', he/she should not come to office and self isolate for 14 days or till the status becomes 'safe' or 'low risk'.

Tamil Nadu government has announced some relaxations for Chennai, Madurai and Coimbatore from April 30 onwards.

In Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai, on 30th April, shops will open from 6 AM to 5 PM for essential items, vegetables & fruits. From May 1 shops will open from 6 AM to 1 PM. People are advised not to rush to shops to buy essential items, said Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi Palaniswami , according to ANI.

India has kept 3 warships on standby to bring back thousands of Indian nationals stranded in the Gulf countries as New Delhi works towards implementing the challenging evacuation plan amid the coronavirus outbreak, govt sources said on Wednesday. These include INS Jalashwa, one of India's biggest warships

Delhi's deputy CM and education minister Manish Sisodia says that the CBSE exams should be cancelled and students of class 10 and 12 should be promoted on basis of internal exams and assessment.

He said that the syllabus for next year should be curtailed by 30%. Related exams like those of JEE should also be held on basis of curtailed syllabus .

Earlier, CBSE, in a tweet, had said "Recently there has been a lot of speculation regarding 10th CBSE Board exams. It is reiterated that the boards decision to take board exams for 29 subjects of class 10 and 12, stands the same as mentioned in circular dated 1.4.20."

Recently there has been a lot of speculation regarding 10th CBSE Board exams. It is reiterated that the boards decision to take board exams for 29 subjects of class 10 and 12, stands the same as mentioned in circular dated 1.4.20.@DrRPNishank @PMOIndia @PTI_News

— CBSE HQ (@cbseindia29) April 29, 2020

Centre has said that plasma therapy is very technical and is at an experimental stage currently. Those who do not have permission should not practice it. Delhi has permission from Centre. Only, those who have permission should perform this therapy, Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain told news agency ANI on Wednesday.

Delhi's health minister Satyendar Jain says that the Azadpur Mandi is being properly disinfected. All the shops nearby, where Covid-19 positive cases were reported, have been sealed. All the precautionary measures are being taken: ANI

He said, "those who are asymptomatic or have light symptoms of Covid-19 will be kept under home quarantine for 14 days and will be treated at their homes, as per the new protocol. There is no need to hospitalise such patients."

An 11-month old was baby among 73 new coronavirus cases reported in Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday, taking total numbers in the state to 1,332, according to the state government bulletin: PTI

Eleven traders associated with Delhi's Azadpur Sabzi Mandi have tested positive for Covid-19, district magistrate (North) Deepak Shinde said on Wednesday, reports ANI.

"We are tracing the contacts of the cases. They are not directly connected to the mandi," he added.

Authorities have announced a shutdown in Varanasi on Wednesday.

Varanasi District magistrate Kaushalraj Sharma said that given the increasing number of corona positive cases in the Varanasi municipal corporation limits, all types of shops, markets, home delivery and business activities will remain closed for one day on April 29.

He said that the movement of the people engaged in the government work and order, social organisations providing food packets, home delivery of milk and those associated with the government and private hospitals will be allowed. Apart from these, all types of passes will remain suspended on April 29.

A decision may be taken to open shops and other activities from a new type after tomorrow onwards. He said that this order is only for the limits of Varanasi municipal corporation and does not apply to rural areas.

According to news agency, 12 new cases of coronavirus were reported in Varanasi on Tuesday.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday praised media's role in the fight against Covid-19 and expressed happiness that only three mediapersons have tested positive for the disease in the national capital so far.

"Am so happy to share only 3 out of 529 media persons tested have been detected positive. My best wishes to all of you. Your work is very important esp during a pandemic. Those who have been detected positive, I am praying for your speedy recovery," he tweeted.

Am so happy to share only 3 out of 529 media persons tested have been detected positive. My best wishes to all of you. Your work is very important esp during a pandemic. Those who have been detected positive, I am praying for your speedy recovery

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) April 29, 2020