Highlighting India’s approach in combating COVID-19,Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said,“This time the hallmark of our approach has been fivefold: Maintaining a continuous situation awareness; Pre-emptive and proactive approach; Graded response as per continuously evolving scenario; Inter-sectoral coordination at all levels; and lastly, but most importantly creating a people’s movement to combat this disease.

The home ministry in a tweet has communicated that new guidelines to fight the coronavirus pandemic shall come into effect from May 4. The guidelines will give considerable relaxations to districts that have done well to combat the virus so far.

Of the 934 deaths, Maharashtra tops the tally with 369 fatalities, followed by Gujarat at 162, Madhya Pradesh at 110, Delhi at 54, Rajasthan at 46 and Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh at 31 each

“India extended a nationwide lockdown to 40 days from 21 days, but relaxed restrictions in rural areas to facilitate agricultural harvesting in the second half of April. The country has determined that many of these areas are free of the virus. India also plans a phased opening of different regions while continuing to carry out identification and contract tracing, Moody’s said.

Of the 872 deaths, Maharashtra tops the tally with 342 fatalities, followed by Gujarat at 151, Madhya Pradesh at 103, Delhi at 54, Rajasthan at 33 and Andhra Pradesh at 31.