NEW DELHI: India's federal health ministry said Saturday evening that four new deaths due to COVID-19 and 436 more positive cases were reported since morning across the country, taking the number of deaths to 779 and total cases to 24,942.
"As on 5:00 p.m. (local time), today, 779 deaths related to novel coronavirus have been recorded in the country," reads the information released by the ministry.
According to ministry officials, so far 5,210 people have been discharged from hospitals after showing improvement. "The number of active cases in the country right now is 18,953," reads the information.
Saturday marks the 32nd straight day of the ongoing lockdown across the country announced by the government to contain the spread of the pandemic. The lockdown which was announced on March 25 has been extended until May 3.
On Saturday, the federal government allowed opening of neighborhood and stand-alone shops, including those located in residential complexes within municipal areas.
However, the order made it clear that shops in market places, multi-brand and single brand malls located in municipality areas shall continue to remain closed till May 3.