The number of coronavirus cases in India rose to 562 on Wednesday while the death toll due to COVID-19 in the country was revised down to nine, according to Health Ministry data.

 A 54-year-old man infected with coronavirus died at a hospital here in the early hours of Wednesday, the first death recorded in Tamil Nadu due to the contagion, state Health Minister C Vijayabaskar said.

India will be collectively failing its healthcare workers if adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) are not ensured for doctors, nurses and other staff treating COVID-19 patients, Indian Medical Association National President and Rajya Sabha MP Dr Santanu Sen said Tuesday.

The exercise to update the National Population Register (NPR) and the first phase of the Census-2021 have been deferred indefinitely due to the 21-day lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, officials said on Tuesday.

Eight new positive coronavirus cases were confirmed in Karnataka on Tuesday, taking the tally to 41 in the state, the health department said.

 Governor Vajubhai Vala today ordered Medical Education Minister Dr. Sudhakar to take full charge of controlling the spread of coronavirus.

The Union Home Ministry has issued strict guidelines for the enforcement of 21-day complete nationwide lockdown in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, invoking the National Disaster Management Act which may result in imprisonment of up to two years for any violation.

Following announcement of countrywide lockdown by Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid coronavirus scare, Mangaluru Commissioner Harsha took to Twitter to alleviate the confusion among the people following the lockdown announcement.