As the number of positive cases of coronavirus soared in the country on Sunday, the government said that it is focussed on breaking the chain of transmission of the virus to check the spread of infection.

“The biggest challenge in front of us is how to break the chain of Covid-19 transmission,” Dr Balram Bhargava, Director-General at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said at a briefing.

“To break the chain of transmission, the easiest method is to isolate the people coming from outside. The virus is not present in the air, it can be transmitted through droplets released…. It’s important to isolate those who have come from abroad to curb the spread of coronavirus,” he said.

Sunday’s janta curfew called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also part of the exercise to break the chain of transmission.

As part of the isolation drive, the government also announced on Sunday that 75 districts across 22 states where people have tested positive for coronavirus will be locked down and no trains and interstate buses will operate till March 31.

“The Central government has asked state governments to issue directions to the 75 districts that have positive cases to stop all services except the emergency services,” Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Union health ministry said at the briefing.

State governments will define what ‘essential services’ are in districts under lockdown, Aggarwal said.

He also said that states should take measures to ensure that the poor don’t face problems in 75 districts under lockdown: Union Health Ministry official

While the number of people testing positive for coronavirus continues to rise rapidly, the government said it is well equipped to handle testing of suspected cases .

“We have conducted 15,000-17,000 tests so far. We have the capacity to conduct 10,000 tests per day, it means we can conduct 50,000-70,000 per week,” Dr Bhargava said.

A country stalked by an eerie silence came alive, suddenly, at 5pm. Sounds of clapping and beating utensils rang out of residential areas, houses and high-rises, lifting the sombre Sunday mood.

Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeals, citizens across the country came out of their homes and in their balconies, clapping, beating utensils and even ringing bells as a mark of solidarity with health officials and emergency workers who are working tirelessly in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Earlier, PM Modi rang a reminder to citizens. “Do remember, 5 PM this evening for 5 minutes… Be on your terraces, balconies or windows to express gratitude to all those who are working 24/7 so that our nation becomes free from COVID-19. #JantaCurfew,” he tweeted.

Indians, who avoided venturing out — as requested by Modi in a television address on Thursday — were prompt to take to social media. Videos and photos of people, including children, in their balconies and terraces clapping and clanging utensils started doing the rounds. So much so that #5baje5minute and #claps became trending topics on Twitter.

Eleven of the 56 people who had come in close contact with Kanika Kapoor at a party in Kanpur days before the Bollywood singer tested positive for the novel coronavirus were found to be not infected by the virus, a senior official said here on Sunday.

Kanpur District Magistrate Brahma Deo Ram Tiwari said the 56 people had attended a “house warming party” hosted by her maternal uncle Vipul Tandon on March 13.

Chief Medical Officer Ashok Shukla said samples were collected on Friday and Saturday and the test results came out on Sunday.

Eleven, including Tandon, have tested negative and the results of the rest are awaited, Shukla said.

Kapoor had stayed at Tandon’s house for nearly three hours, officials said. PTI CORR NAV ABH ABH

The Delhi government on Sunday announced free meals at night shelters across the city for the poor and homeless, who have been hit hard by the outbreak of coronavirus in the country.

“Anyone can walk into these places and have meals. We don’t want anyone to suffer due to hunger,” Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said in a tweet.

Earlier, large gatherings were banned in the national capital as part of measures to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Citing the possibility of community transmission in the near future, the Delhi Police said strict action would be taken against those found violating the prohibitory order. The penalty in such cases will be a month’s jail term or a fine, or both.

India on Sunday reported three new deaths in Bihar, Gujarat and Mumbai as the number of those infected with the coronavirus rose to 370 nationwide.

On Sunday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging residents of the country to participate in a “self-imposed” lockdown between 7 am and 9 pm, as a prevention against the possible spread of coronavirus, the bustling capital city of Delhi came to a virtual standstill to observe Janta Curfew.

Today at 5 pm for 5 mins: PM Modi tweets Janta Curfew reminder

HT Correspondent

New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday reminded people about the ‘5 minutes at 5pm’ during the Janta Curfew on Sunday to show their appreciation for those who are serving others at the risk of getting infected by the coronavirus themselves.

“Do remember, 5 pm this evening for 5 minutes… Be on your terraces, balconies or windows to express gratitude to all those who are working 24/7 so that our nation becomes free from COVID-19. Janta Curfew,” the Prime Minister tweeted.

The ‘Janta Curfew’ started at 7am after the Prime Minister on Thursday called for individual ‘determination’ and “restraint through social distancing” to fight the global pandemic. It will end at 9pm on Sunday.

Several politicians and celebrities have also come out in support of the Janta Curfew.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi praised singers Malini Awasthi and Pritam Bharatwan for spreading awareness with their coronavirus-themed renditions.

The number of Covid-19 patients in India jumped to 370 on Sunday, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said.

India reported two deaths from the highly contagious virus—one each in Maharashtra and Bihar—taking the fatalities across the country to six, as per state authorities.

Gujarat also reported one death in Surat city.