“Airlines are advised to open their bookings only after a decision in this regard has been taken by the government,” the minister added.Earlier on Saturday, Air India said it has opened bookings on select domestic flights from May 4 and on select international flights from June 1.

“In the context of COVID-19 situation, it has been decided to extend payment of compensation of Rs 10 lakh to all postal employees, including Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS), succumbing to the disease while brought on duty. The guidelines will come into effect immediately and continue for the entire period till the crisis of COVID-19 is over,” the Ministry of Communications said in a statement.

The worldwide death toll from the novel coronavirus pandemic rose to 160,755, according to a tally from official sources compiled by Worldometer. More than 2,330,883 declared cases have been registered in 193 countries and territories since the epidemic first emerged in China in December