Coronavirus LIVE Update: India's Cases Rise To 59,92,532; 94,503 Dead

IRS Officers Suggest COVID-19 Cess

A policy paper titled 'Fiscal Operations & Response To COVID-19 Epidemic' (FORCE)' presented to the Prime Minister's Office by the IRS Association recommends a COVID-19 cess to be introduced in the country, reports The Print. 

This cess would be a one time cess of 4% for COVID-19  relief to be levied on people with a taxable income of more than 10 lakh rupees. 

The report also recommends a new tax-saving scheme  for mobilising more funds, raising the highest income tax slab rate for income levels above Rs 1 crore to 40%, or re-introduction of the wealth tax for those with a net wealth of Rs 5 crore or more. 

High Court Reduces Price For Procurement Of Test Kits

The Delhi High Court has reduced the prices for the procurement of test kits from Rs. 600 to Rs. 400 to private companies and would not reflect on the kits being sold to ICMR and the Tamil Nadu government. 

This directive came after the three private companies ordered to manufacture 10 lakh kits for the country had a misunderstanding. The ICMR has received 2.76 lakh kits so far. 

Delhi And Mumbai Pollution Spots Turn Into Green Zones

Eight areas in Delhi and three areas in Mumbai that were considered to be pollution hotspots have now turned into green economic zones owing to the lockdown. 

These areas include Vinobapuri, Adarsh Nagar, Vasundhara, Sahibabad, Ashram road, Punjabi Bagh, Okhla and Badarpur in Delhi, and Worli, Borivali, and Bhandup in Mumbai according to System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR)

All Coronavirus Patients Discharged In Wuhan

The Chinese city of Wuhan, where the global coronavirus pandemic began, now has no remaining cases in its hospitals, a health official told reporters on Sunday.

"The latest news is that by April 26, the number of new coronavirus patients in Wuhan was at zero, thanks to the joint efforts of Wuhan and medical staff from around the country," National Health Commission spokesman Mi Feng said at a briefing.

Six People Visit Barber In MP; Test Positive

Six people who visited a barber in Madhya Pradesh tested positive. 

The barber at the salon in village Bargaon in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone district used the same cloth to shave and cut hair of the six customers.

A man from the village who works at a hotel in Indore recently came home and got a haircut on April 5. He was later found to be infected with COVID-19, chief medical and health officer of Khargone Dr Divyesh Verma said.

Masks To Be Worn All The Time When Outside: PM Modi

"A mask is something we will have to keep wearing in the times to come. It does not mean the person wearing a mask is unwell, it is just a wise precaution," PM Modi said during his Mann Ki Baat address

Britain Sets Up A China Resarch Group

Britain has set up a China Research Group to "promote debate and fresh thinking" over Britain's relationship with China. The group will assess China's handling of the outbreak and broader security concerns.

This comes after China's statistics were removed from UK's daily briefings as they feel the country is downplaying the coronavirus impact. 

Indore Doctors Feel Strain In The City Is Deadlier

Doctors in Indore feel that the coronavirus strain prevalent in the city is deadlier than the other strains found across the country. 

The National Institute of Virology is still to comment on the same and is testing the genomic sequence of the virus

UP Brings Back Labourers From Haryana

The Uttar Pradesh government has brought back 2,224 of its labourers from Haryana. The labourers returned in 82 buses and were immediately quarantined.

Another 11,000 labourers from Haryana are expected to return to the state. 

Spain To Allow People To Exercise And Walk Outdoors

Spaniards will be allowed out for exercise and to take walks from next weekend, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Saturday, in the latest move to ease one of the world's tightest coronavirus lockdowns.

And the government will on Tuesday unveil its broader lockdown exit plan that will likely be put into action in the second half of May, he said.

"If the pandemic keeps evolving positively as it has been doing until now, from May 2, individual physical activity will be permitted and walks with the people you live with," he said.

Spain currently has over 2,29,000 cases and over 22,000 deaths