The global death toll from the virus surged past 103,000, with the United States quickly becoming the epicentre of the pandemic.

The nationwide lockdown to contain the deadly coronavirus looks set to be extended by two more weeks till April-end after a consensus emerged among States for continuing the curbs amid the tally of confirmed infections crossing 8,300.
For the last two weeks or more people have shown great discipline and stayed indoors and tried to follow social distancing, since, as we say jaan hai jahan hai [the world for he who is alive], now we must also say jaan bhi jahan bhi [life and world], a statement from PMO quoted the Prime Minister as saying, conveying an evolution in the strategy.
The Hindu has brought out a multi-language e-book on essential COVID-19 information, in addition to covering the developments related to the coronavirus pandemic as it unfolded.
Here are answers from experts on your queries about the virus, a list of State Helpline numbers, a State-wise tracker for COVID-19 cases, deaths and testing, and a map of confirmed cases in India.
Numbers to note:
24/7 national helpline can be reached at1075,1930, 1944 (dedicated to Northeast), 1800-112-545and011-23978046.
WhatsApp helpdesk number: 9013151515.
Email: ncov2019-at-gmail.com.
Here are the latest updates:
‘Be messengers of life in a time of death,’ Pope says on Easter eve
Pope Francis urged people to not yield to fear and focused on a message of hope as he led an Easter eve Mass in an empty St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday amid the coronavirus pandemic and called for an end to wars.
65 prisoners in J&K released due to coronavirus outbreak
Sixty-five prisoners, including 22 who were arrested under Public Safety Act (PSA), were released to decongest jails across Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.
The information was given by the director general of prisons in a written report submitted to the division bench of Jammu and Kashmir High Court.
Australia begins airlift of citizens from India
Australia, over the weekend, began to airlift its citizens who were stranded in India because of the ongoing lockdown to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first flight took off from New Delhi in the early hours of Sunday as part of Canberra’s efforts to bring back nationals stuck in various affected parts of the world.
54-year-old from Belapur, 80-year-old from Dharavi dies
A 54-year-old man from Belapur village, who died on Friday due to pneumonia and asthma, has now tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
An 80-year-old man became the fourth fatality from Dharavi on Saturday. The victim was admitted at Kasturba Hospital, where he succumbed. According to civic officials, his daughter (30) and son (49), who live in Dr. Baliga Nagar, had also tested positive. These cases had a connection to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation held in Delhi.
France reports fall in daily coronavirus deaths
France on Saturday reported a lower daily toll for deaths from COVID-19, declaring a plateau had been reached in the countrys coronavirus epidemic, albeit at a very high level.
Top French health official Jerome Salomon said 353 more people had died in hospitals and 290 in nursing homes to bring the total death toll to 13,832. The day earlier, 554 had died in hospitals and 433 in nursing homes.
 Six staff from Taj Hotel in Colaba test positive
Six staff members from the Taj Hotel in Colaba have tested positive for COVID-19. They were admitted to the Bombay Hospital and are in stable condition. Dr Gautam Bhansali, consultant physician of Bombay Hospital, said that the patients had very mild symptoms and were under treatment. 
A spokesperson from the Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) said that approximately 500 of their employees who are at work in the Mumbai hotels have been tested to date.