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Covid-19 updates: Antibody test guidelines likely to be released Saturday

As per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare the total number of Covid-19 cases in India has climbed to 2,547 and the death toll stands at 62.

By HT Correspondent | Updated: Apr 03, 2020 23:11 IST
Covid-19 updates: Antibody test guidelines likely to be released Saturday

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has said guidelines for rapid antibody tests (or blood tests) are likely to be released on Saturday. “The modalities on which we are working on include how to deploy the test in high-risk areas, low-risk areas, hot spots...," ICMR's Manoj Murhekar said at a press briefing on Friday.

India has allowed faster and cheaper antibody tests to check for the coronavirus disease in so-called hot spots, of which there are 20 in the country. The test used now PCR (polymerase chain reaction) identifies the Sars-CoV-2 virus from throat or nasal swab samples of people with symptoms or high-risk individuals (health workers and family members) who might have come in contact with a Covid-19 patient.

The number of coronavirus deaths in country stand at 62, while the cases have touched 2,547.

Here are the major highlights of the day on coronavirus pandemic:

11:02 PM IST

Premier League to return 'when it is safe and appropriate'

As coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc all across the globe, Premier League on Friday announced that the 2019-20 season will only return 'when it is safe and appropriate to do so, reports ANI.

10:56 PM IST

50 Lakh to be given to the kin of any police officer that may die while discharging duties during lockdown: Maha Govt

Maharashtra Government has announced a compensation of 50 Lakh to the next of the kin of any Police officer who may die while discharging their duty during amid the coronavirus pandemic and nationwide lockdown, reports ANI.

10:32 PM IST

217 Indians evacuated from Italy test negative after a fortnight

217 Indians evacuated from Italy and housed at ITBP quarantine centre test negative for coronavirus after a fortnight, officials said, reports PTI.

10:02 PM IST

UK PM Boris Johnson staying in coronavirus isolation with mild symptoms

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was remaining in isolation on Friday as he still had mild symptoms of the coronavirus including a high temperature seven days after he tested positive for the virus, reports Reuters.

10:00 PM IST

Antibody test guidelines likely to be released Saturday

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has said guidelines for rapid antibody tests (or blood tests) are likely to be released on Saturday.

09:45 PM IST

Bookings closed for domestic, international travel till Apr 30: Air India

Air India said that bookings for all domestic and international routes are closed till 30th April, reports ANI.

09:21 PM IST

Of total coronavirus cases in Delhi, 259 from Nizamuddin Markaz, says state health dept

The Delhi Health Department said that out of the total 386 coronavirus cases in the capital city, 259 are from from Nizamuddin Markaz, reports PTI.

09:10 PM IST

67 new coronavirus cases reported in Maharashtra, death toll at 26

The state health department of Maharashtra said that 67 new coronavirus positive cases have been reported today. The total number of positive cases in the state stands at 490. The death toll in the state jumped to 26, reports ANI.

08:38 PM IST

243 Tablighi Jamaat members quarantined in Haridwar

A total of 377 members of the Tablighi Jamaat have returned to Haridwar from outside the state since March 1, of which 243 have been quarantined, reports PTI.

08:23 PM IST

India reports 62 deaths, 2,547 cases due to coronavirus

The Ministry of Health and Family welfare said that there are 2,547 confirmed cases and 62 deaths due to the novel coronavirus.

<p>India reports 62 deaths, 2,547 cases due to coronavirus</p>
08:14 PM IST

Worse yet to come for countries in conflict, says UN chief

Amid the coronavirus outbreak, United Nations Chief António Guterres said that Worst yet to come' for countries in conflict. He urged all parties to lay down arms, reports AFP.

08:00 PM IST

Govt to give 11,092 cr to states to combat coronavirus

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday approved release of 11,092 crore to all states under the State Disaster Risk Management Fund (SDRMF) for setting up quarantine facilities and arranging other facilities for checking the spread of coronavirus. The Home Ministry said the fund has been approved following assurance given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to chief ministers during his video conference on Thursday, reports PTI.

07:36 PM IST

Poland calls for 2-Year Presidential term extension due to coronavirus

Poland’s government called for extending President Andrzej Duda’s term by two years to avoid having to hold a May 10 election during the coronavirus crisis. After angering the opposition by refusing to call off the vote, Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Gowin said Friday the election should be postponed until 2022, reports Bloomberg.

07:33 PM IST

MHA contributes 205 crores to PM-CARES Fund

The Ministry of Home Affairs has contributed 205 crore, drawn from one day's salary of staffers under its command, to the PM-CARES Fund to combat the coronavirus outbreak in the country, reports PTI.

07:24 PM IST

No coronavirus case reported in Sikkim so far: Report

Sikkim has not reported any COVID-19 case so far, a senior health official said on Friday. The authorities have collected samples of 35 people, but their reports have come out negative, Director General (Health Services) P T Bhutia said, reports PTI.

First published: Apr 03, 2020 05:13 IST