India's COVID-19 tally reached 16,960,172 on Sunday with as many as 349,691 new cases recorded in the past 24 hours. This was the fourth consecutive day when over 300,000 cases were registered in a single day. According to the figures released by the federal health ministry, as many as 2,767 deaths took place in the past 24 hours, taking the total death toll to 192,311. There are still a total of 2,682,751 active cases in the country, with an increase of 129,811 active cases through Saturday, as 14,085,110 people have been cured and discharged from hospitals so far across the country. The COVID-19 figures continue to peak in the country every day, as the federal government has ruled out imposing a complete lockdown to contain the worsening situation. While some school examinations stand cancelled, others have been postponed due to the COVID-19 situation. Delhi has been put under a week long lockdown till April 26. Also Read: India records world's highest single-day spike in Covid cases The number of daily active cases has been on the rise over the past few weeks. In January the number of daily cases in the country had come down to below-10,000. January 16 was a crucial day in India's fight against the pandemic as the nationwide vaccination drive was kicked off during the day. So far over 140 million vaccination doses (140,916,417) have been administered to the people across the country. Meanwhile, the federal government has ramped up COVID-19 testing facilities across the country, as over 277 million tests have been conducted so far. As many as 277,918,810 tests were conducted till Saturday, out of which 1,719,588 tests were conducted on Saturday alone, said the latest data issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Sunday. Also Read: Indian capital gasps for oxygen The national capital Delhi, which has been one of the most COVID-19 affected places in the country, witnessed over 24,000 new cases and 357 deaths through Saturday. So far as many as 13,898 people have died in the national capital due to COVID-19, confirmed the Delhi's health department.  

The government has enforced a fresh strict lockdown for eight days from Wednesday in an effort to stop the spread of the deadly Coronavirus. Under the fresh lockdown all government, semi-government, autonomous, private offices and financial institutions will remain closed but the officers and employees will have to stay in their respective work stations. The Cabinet division issued a notification in this regard on Monday. The lockdown will remain in force from 6:00 am Wednesday (April 14) till April 21 midnight. But the employees and staff of air, maritime and river and land ports will remain out of the preview of the lockdown. All modes of public transports, including those of road, river, railway and air, will remain suspended during the lockdown. But Emergency services, carrying of goods, production services will remain out of the purview of the restriction. Also read: Ongoing lockdown extended upto Apr 13: Quader However, the restriction will not be effective in the case of carrying goods, emergency services and production. But industries and factories will remain open on condition of maintaining health protocols. The offices, staffers and vehicles of the organisations providing emergency services, including law enforcement, agricultural products (fertilizer, seeds, pesticides, machinaris), crops, food laden vehicles, relief distribution, health services, health workers involved in mass innoculation, power, water, gas, fire services, port activities, media (print and electronic media), private security mangement, telephone, and postal services will remain out of the purview of the restriction. People’s movement will be restricted and no one will be allowed to go outside except for emergency needs (to purchase medicines, daily essentials, to take medical services and burial/ cremation of dead bodies, taking Covid-19 jabs etc). Factories, industries to operate All industries and factories will be allowed to continue their operation following health guidelines and the respective industries must take measures to carry their employees in their own vehicles. Hotels and restaurants to remain open Hotels and restaurants can operate with takeaway/online services only from 12 pm to 7 pm and 12 am to 6 am. No one will be allowed to have food sitting in hotels or restaurants. All shopping malls and markets will remain closed during this period. Also read: Police to issue movement pass during lockdown Daily essential items including kitchen items can be sold and purchased from open spaces from 9 am to 3 pm to maintain health protocols. Local administrations and the authorities concerned will ensure it. The government imposed an apparently lose nationwide lockdown for one week from April 5 as part of its tougher move to contain the spike in both coronavirus infections and fatalities. But the government allowed the resumption of public transport in city corporation areas from April 7 as well as reopening shops and shopping malls for five days from April 9 in the face of protests against the lockdown. The lockdown remained in force until April 13 (Tuesday).

The government issued a notification on Monday over enforcing a fresh strict lockdown from April 14 to 21 in an effort to stop the spread of the deadly Coronavirus. The Cabinet division issued a notification in this regard. The lockdown will remain in force from 6:00 am Wednesday (April 14) till April 21 midnight. All modes of public transports, including those of road, river, railway and air, will remain suspended during the lockdown. But the offices related to air, maritime and river and land ports will remain out of the preview of the lockdown. However, the restriction will not be effective in the case of carrying goods, emergency services and production. But industries and factories will remain open on condition of maintaining health protocols. The respective factories or industries must take measures to carry their employees in their own vehicles. The Bangladesh Supreme Court will issue separate notices on operating court activities. The offices, staffers and vehicles of the organisations providing emergency services, including law enforcement, agricultural products (fertilizer, seeds, pesticides, machinaris), crops, food laden vehicles, relief distribution, health services, health workers involved in mass inoculation, power, water, gas, fire services, port activities, media (print and electronic media), private security management, telephone, and postal services will remain out of the purview of the restriction. Also read:Govt allows public transport to operate during lockdown People’s movement will be restricted and no one will be allowed to go outside except for certain emergency needs (to purchase medicines, daily essentials, to take medical services and burial/ cremation of dead bodies, taking Covid-19 jabs etc). Hotels and restaurants can operate from 12 pm to 7 pm and 12 am to 6 am with takeaway/online services only. All the shopping malls and markets will remain closed during this period. Daily essential items like kitchen items can be sold and purchased from open spaces from 9 am to 3 pm complying with health protocols. Local administrations and the authorities concerned will ensure it. The local administration concerned will take steps in a coordinated way for carrying agricultural workers for harvesting Boro paddy. Also read:Govt to announce 7-day lockdown as covid cases surge: Quader District and field administrations will take measures to enforce the directives in a coordinated way. Law enforcement agencies will strengthen patrol and take legal action against those who will violate the directives. The Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services will take necessary steps to engage law enforcers and local administration on behalf of him. The Religious Affairs Ministry will issue separate notices on performing Jumma and Tarabih prayers in compliance with health guidelines.