The chief ministers of Congress-ruled states on Thursday hit out at the central government for not providing financial assistance to them, asking how will the country win the battle against COVID-19 in this time of crisis.

A slum in Hongasandra municipal ward of Bengaluru has become a COVID-19 hotspot and has been completely sealed after some people contracted the coronavirus from a migrant labourer, an official said on Thursday.

Another Bantwal woman on Thursday tested positive for coronavirus increasing the number of COVID-19 cases in Dakshina Kannada District.

An ordinance that makes acts of violence against healthcare personnel or damage to property during an epidemic a cognizable and non-bailable offence has come into effect.

The finance ministry on Thursday decided to put on hold increment in dearness allowance (DA) for 50 lakh central government employees and 61 lakh pensioners till July 2021 due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Sixteen new coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Karnataka, taking the total number of infections in the state to 443, the Health department said on Thursday.

Two cats in New York State have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, marking the first confirmed case of the COVID-19 infection in pets in the US, according to health authorities.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday accused the BJP of spreading the virus of communal prejudice and hatred in the country and asserted that "grave damage" is being done to social harmony.