Coronavirus cases in India cross 21,000-mark; death toll at 681

India coronavirus confirmed cases have crossed 21,000-mark taking positive patients toll to 21,393 including 681 deaths and 4,258  have recovered, according to health ministry’s figures released on Thursday. Till Wednesday evening, confirmed cases tally in India were at 20,471 including 652 deaths while 3,960 have recovered as per data released by the Ministry of Heatlh. The nation is under 19-day extended lockdown that will remain in place till May after PM Modi on April 14 in a televised address to the nation announced it saying it was required to continue the fight against coronavirus.

States including Maharashtra, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat remain the worst affected as number of coronavirus positive cases here are above 1,500-mark while Maharashtra and Delhi have over 5,000 and 2,000 positive cases. As the number of COVID-19 patients in the national capital are increasing, so as the containment zones. At present, Delhi alone has over 80 areas which have been declared as containment zones.

The COVID-19 crisis has shown that India can take up the role of global economic leader as it is taking care of its citizens while also helping its friends and people across the globe, he said. “It has shown that in time of need, India as a friend can step up. So, from a global leadership perspective, I think the stature of India has gone up,” Aghi said. He further said that USISPF has estimated that for India to become a USD 5 trillion economy, it needs roughly USD 100 billion-dollar investment on an annual basis.