Coronavirus updates: 2,653 cases, 62 deaths so far

Coronavirus latest news live updates: Total number of confirmed cases of novel coronavirus reached 2,653 Friday. So far, 69,245 samples have been tested, including 10,034 samples that were tested today. Of these, 575 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.

In the wake of the pandemic, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has approved the release of Rs 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.

Earlier this morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation and thanked the people for cooperating with the 21-day lockdown. In a new appeal to the countrymen, PM Modi asked people to put off the lights in their houses for nine minutes at 9 pm on Sunday, April 5, and light lamps at their doors or balconies.

Globally, the number of cases cross 10 lakh, the highest of which were reported from the US (258,214), Italy (119,827) and Spain (117,710). The death toll rose to 56,767; Italy has the most fatalities (14,681), followed by Spain (10,935) and France (5,398).

(Inputs and image from theindianespresss.com)