1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced a Rs 20 lakh crore financial package to combat the coronavirus outbreak. He also announced that the nationwide lockdown would be extended into its fourth phase, beyond May 17. However, Modi said this phase of the lockdown will be “very different” from the first three, and that people cannot let the coronavirus rule their lives.
  2. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticised the Centre’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. “There are expectations during meetings with the prime minister, however, we return with an empty basket every time,” she said. “There is no income since last two months but we are not getting any alternative from Centre. We are supposed to get Rs 52,000 crore. Corona is here to stay but what about the income?”
  3. The number of coronavirus cases in India rose to 70,756. The toll reached 2,293. Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said India’s coronavirus recovery rate is improving everyday. A total of 22,455 patients have recovered so far from the infection.
  4. The Maharashtra government on Tuesday allowed home delivery of liquor during the coronavirus lockdown period to facilitate physical distancing. However, the home delivery will not be applicable in Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad and Nagpur, where the civic bodies have not allowed liquor shops to open their establishments.
  5. National carrier Air India’s office in Delhi was sealed after a staff member tested positive for Covid-19. 
  6. The World Health Organization said “extreme vigilance” was needed as countries begin to exit from lockdowns amid global concerns about a second wave of infections. 
  7. West Bengal Principal Health Secretary Vivek Kumar was transferred as the state continues to face criticism over its handling of the coronavirus crisis. 
  8. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to approve the resumption of local trains in Mumbai for people engaged in providing essential services. He also asked for the deployment of Central forces in the state to give some respite to the overworked police teams if needed.
  9. The Centre released a protocol for the usage and sharing of data collected through its coronavirus contact tracing app Aarogya Setu. The Centre specified that the users’ data can be stored for up to 180 days but said it is only meant for health purposes.The protocol came amid concerns about privacy and surveillance risks posed by the app, which has over nine crore users.
  10. Globally, the coronavirus has infected more than 41 lakh people and claimed over 2.86 lakh lives, according to the Johns Hopkins University tracker.