COVID-19 count: 17 deaths

The death toll due to the coronavirus pandemic rose to 17 on Friday morning, even as the country continued to be under a lockdown for the third day in an attempt to contain the infection. The total number of cases soared to 724 with 66 of the patients being discharged so far, the Health Ministry announced. India is soon likely to participate in the WHO's "solidarity trial" for developing potential drugs for COVID-19, officials said on Friday. At a press briefing on coronavirus at 4 pm, Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal said 75 new cases of coronavirus and four deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours. Elsewhere in the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Boris Johnson tested positive and is self-isolating at 10 Downing Street. PM Modi has wished his UK counterpart a speedy recovery.