Death toll rises to 420, cases 12,759

NEW DELHI, Apr 16:  The death toll due to Coronavirus in the country rose to 420 and the number of cases climbed to 12,759, registering an increase of 28 deaths and 826 cases since Wednesday evening, according to Union Health Ministry data. Out of this, as many as 1,514 people have recovered. The number of cases had risen by over 1,000 in the last two days.
According to a PTI tally based on reports from the States, the total number of cases was 12,935 while 1,571 patients had recovered. The death toll stood at 436.
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Coronavirus cases crossed 1,000 in Madhya Pradesh(1,090) and Rajasthan(1,104) taking to five the States which have surpassed this mark.
Maharashtra topped the tally at 3,081 with Mumbai (2,043) being the worst hit followed by Delhi(1,578) and Tamil Nadu(1,267). The cases in the country’s commercial capital have doubled in six days.
In Delhi, authorities are considering clinical screening of all food delivery personnel in south Delhi with 89 people being quarantined after a pizza delivery agent in the area tested positive for coronavirus.
The 19-year-old tested positive for the virus on April 14. A total of 72 people whom he delivered pizza to have been put under home quarantine, said B M Mishra, District Magistrate of South Delhi.
“In view of this incident, we are considering that all those involved in home delivery of food are put through clinical screening so that those showing symptoms are stopped from visiting homes,” Mishra said.
The 17 first line contact of the infected man, including his colleagues, have been quarantined at an institutional facility at Chhatarpur, Mishra said.
Official sources said that a total of 3,336 Indians in 53 countries were infected by the coronavirus while 25 lost their lives due to the disease.
They said Indians stranded abroad will have to show patience as the Government is not evacuating them as part of a larger policy decision to check spread of the virus in the country.
The sources said India has decided to supply anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine to 55 countries on commercial basis as well as grants.
On sourcing medical equipment from abroad, they said India is procuring coronavirus testing kits from South Korea and China.
India is looking at procuring medical equipment from Germany, the US, the UK, Malaysia, Japan and France to fight COVID-19, they said. (PTI)