MHA gives Rs 11,092 cr to states

Around 8,000 tests have been conducted in the last 24 hours across the country, the highest in a single day, the Health Ministry said in its daily briefing on COVID-19 on Friday. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in India rose to 2301, including 56 deaths and 156 of those who have recovered. Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu are the worst affected states with 423 and 309 cases, respectively. PM Narendra Modi, earlier in the morning, 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. As India enters the 10th day of lockdown, the government is considering options as to how to lift the lockdown on April 14.