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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:

07:22 PM IST

6 CISF personnel test coronavirus positive near Mumbai

Six Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel have tested coronavirus positive in Maharashtra, officials said on Friday. The personnel were posted at Kharghar adjoining Mumbai, a senior official said. Five CISF personnel had tested coronavirus positive earlier, he added, reports PTI.

07:12 PM IST

UK’s Queen Elizabeth II to make special coronavirus broadcast on Sunday

Buckingham Palace says Queen Elizabeth II has recorded an address to the nation and the Commonwealth about the coronavirus pandemic. The palace says the message was recorded at Windsor Castle and will be broadcast on Sunday, reports AP.

07:04 PM IST

11 CISF jawans at Mumbai airport test coronavirus positive

11 Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) jawans posted at Mumbai airport have tested positive for coronavirus. Total 142 were under quarantine since last few days. Out of which 4 were tested positive yesterday and others were tested positive today, the CISF said, reports ANI.

06:42 PM IST

Centre asks states to ensure smooth harvesting, sowing activities

The Union government on Friday asked states and union territories to ensure smooth harvesting and sowing operations, saying agricultural activities were exempted from the 21-day lockdown enforced to combat coronavirus, reports PTI.

06:20 PM IST

US unemployment rises to 4.4% in March amid coronavirus

The United States government said that employment fell 701,000 in March, and unemployment rate rose to 4.4% amid the coronavirus pandemic, reports AFP.

06:05 PM IST

55-yr-old man, son test positive for coronavirus in Noida, total cases mount to 50

A 55-year-old man and his son tested positive for coronavirus here on Friday, taking the total number of cases in Gautam Buddh Nagar to 50, officials said. "The two new patients are a man (55) and his son (25) from Sector 93B in Noida," a Health Department official said, reports PTI.

05:56 PM IST

GoM reviews overall situation across India

As the country battles a sudden surge in coronavirus cases, the government on Friday carried out a detailed review of the overall healthcare system as well as the situation arising out of the 21-day nationwide lockdown, officials said, reports PTI.

05:48 PM IST

Smriti Irani reviews, facilitates supply of materials to fight Covid-19

Union Minister Smriti Irani reviewed and facilitated the supply of materials to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

05:28 PM IST

Have prepared 328 relief centres to accomodate 57,000 people: Delhi CM

We have prepared 328 relief centres to accommodate 57,000 people. Anyone can come to these relief centres and stay here. We will take care of them, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said, reports PTI.

05:27 PM IST

5 people have died in Delhi so far due to cornavirus: Kejriwal

5 people have died in the capital city of Delhi due to the coronavirus pandemic, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said.

05:22 PM IST

Situation under control in Delhi, no need to panic: CM

Chief minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal during his address to the media also said that the situation is in control in the national capital and there is no need to panic.

05:21 PM IST

259 cases of COVID-19 reported from Nizammuddin Markaz

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said that 259 cases of the coronavirus have been reported from the Nizamuddin Markaz.

05:19 PM IST

384 positive cases reported in Delhi, says CM Arvind Kejriwal

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said that a total of 384 cases of coronavirus have been reported in the state till now, with 91 cases reported in the last 24 hours.

05:01 PM IST

102 fresh cases of coronavirus reported in Tamil Nadu: Report

The state government of Tamil Nadu said that as many as 102 fresh coronavirus cases have been reported and the total of confirmed cases has reached mounts 411, reports PTI.

04:58 PM IST

Need to ensure that no one remains hungry during lockdown : President Kovind

President Ram Nath Kovind said that it has to be ensured that no one remains hungry during the nationwide lockdown to combat coronavirus, reports PTI.

First published: Apr 03, 2020 05:13 IST