First Made in India Test Kit to diagnose COVID-19 has got the commercial approval by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). According to the developers, it  would cost nearly one-fourth of the current procurement cost and is faster as it screens and detects the infection within 2.5 hours as compared with over 7 hours by others.

Japan's Prime Minister and the head of the International Olympic Committee Shinzo Abe today agreed to postpone the Tokyo 2020 Games by a year in an extraordinary move, unprecedented in peacetime, as the world battles the coronavirus pandemic.

The move would be a devastating blow for the city of Tokyo, which had won widespread praise for its organization, with venues finished well ahead of time and tickets massively oversubscribed. The Olympics, which has experienced boycotts, terrorist attacks and protests, but has been held every four years since 1948, would be the highest-profile event affected by the virus that has killed thousands and closed sports competitions worldwide.

The IOC has come under increasing pressure in recent days to postpone the Games, scheduled to start on July 24, with 1.7 billion people across the planet in lockdown to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.

Government has announced a complete lockdown of the entire country for 21 days to fight COVID-19. All road, rail and air services  will remain suspended during the lockdown, which came into force midnight last night. However, freight movement will continue to carry essential commodities across the country. Essential services like Medical shops, Petrol pumps, grocery stores  milk booths, and online shopping have been exempted from the lockdown.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a Central allocation of 15,000 crore rupees to strengthen the health infrastructure to tackle the disease. In his second address to the nation in less than a week, Modi said there will be a complete ban on people from stepping outside their houses to save India and to save every Indian. He showed a poster saying corona means 'Koi Road Par Na Nikle' (No one should come out on roads). Mr Modi said, lockdown is being imposed on every state, union territory, district, village, mohalla and street. He said, the lockdown will be like ‘curfew' and more stringent than the 'janta curfew'. Mr Modi said it is applicable to everyone from the prime minister to a citizen in a village. Prime Minister said, if we don't handle these 21 days well, then our country, your family will go backwards by 21 years. Mr Modi asserting that the tough measure is necessary for a decisive battle against the coronavirus outbreak.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 8 pm today on the coronavirus outbreak. He will address the nation on vital aspects relating to the menace of COVID-19, the Prime Minister said in a tweet. "Will address the nation at 8 PM today, 24th March 2020, on vital aspects relating to the menace of COVID-19," Modi tweeted.

As many as 30 States and Union Territories have announced complete lockdown in view of Covid-19 outbreak. The lockdown covers 548 districts across the country.

Partial lockdowns have been imposed in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha. 17 districts in Uttar Pradesh, 37 districts in Madhya Pradesh and 5 districts in Odisha have been put under the lockdown. The Union Territory of Lakshadweep has only imposed restrictions on certain activities so far.

Briefing media in New Delhi, Joint Secretary in Health and Family Welfare Ministry Lav Agarwal said, the Cabinet Secretary has asked the Chief Secretaries of States and Union Territories to implement the restrictions strictly. Home Secretary also asked the Director Generals of Police of the States to impose restrictions in stricter manner.
As many as 424 active confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the country so far. While 34 patients have been discharged. The death toll in COVID-19 has risen to 9 so far.

Postponing the Olympics over the coronavirus pandemic may become "inevitable", Japan's prime minister conceded Monday, after the International Olympic Committee said a delay was being considered as pressure grows from athletes and sports bodies.

The comments from Shinzo Abe were his first acknowledgement that the 2020 Games may not open as scheduled on July 24, as the coronavirus marches across the globe causing unprecedented chaos.

Canada's Olympic and Paralympic committees meanwhile announced they will not send teams to the Games if they are held this summer, citing the health of their athletes and the general public. And Australia's Olympic committee told athletes to prepare for a Tokyo Olympics in the northern-hemisphere summer of 2021.

"It's clear the Games can't be held in July," Australian chef de mission Ian Chesterman said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the media representatives to launch 'Stay Home' campaign so that citizens can understand the gravity of the situation and take the lockdown seriously. Prime Minister today interacted with media heads through video conferencing over COVID-19 outbreak.

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar was also present. They discussed the ways to tackle the crisis and role of media in creating awareness about it. Prime Minister also urged the media personnel to take due precautions. 

In Madhya Pradesh, India's cleanest city- Indore has deploy drones to sanitize city areas against the coronavirus outbreak by sprinkle chemicals. Indore could be the first city in India to attempt to fight off the virus scare this way.

The Indore Municipal Corporation has hired two drones for that purpose.The state has reported six cases till now, five in Jabalpur and one in Bhopal. Test report of 12 patients is awaited. AIR correspodent reports that it is a first-of-its kind attempt by which crowded areas are sanitizing with the help of drones. Vegetables markets and streets of the Indore are being sprayed with sodium hypochlorite and bio-clean.

The spraying is already started at Choithram mandi and some other places. These drones take off with 16 litres of chemicals in each flight and return after 30 minutes having sprayed chemicals in an area spanning 8-10km. An official informed that special care is being taken to ensure the spray doesn’t harm citizens.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged people not to leave their houses in lockdown districts and states and follow instructions in fight against COVID-19. In a series of tweets,  Mr Modi cautioned people against complacency.

Prime Minister has lauded the people for showing their gratitude to Corona warriors like doctors, nurses and sanitation workers. People across the country came out of their homes and on their balconies at 5 pm yesterday to clap, clang utensils and ring bells to express solidarity.

In a series of tweets, Mr Modi said, the nation thanks every citizen who is leading the fight against Coronavirus. Prime Minister said, this is just a beginning of nation's victory march in a long battle against COVID-19. As the clock struck five, people came out in balconies, lawns and terraces, to express gratitude to doctors, nurses and others working continuously to combat Covid 19.