Six new COVID 19 related deaths reported in past 24 hours: Indian Govt

Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, while addressing the press conference here said 106 new COVID 19 infection cases were recorded during the same period.

"Till now there have been 979 COVID 19 confirmed cases in the country," he said.

He said the number of deaths in the4 country due to Coronavirus outbreak now stands at 25.

"In the last 24 hours, 106 new positive cases and six deaths have been reported," he said.

Meanwhile, the Indian Council of Medical Research said 35,000 tests related to COVID 19 have been performed so far.

113 labs are operational in the country. 

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing 'Mann Ki Baat' on Sunday apologised to the nation for taking such a hard decision like 21-day lockdown to combat the spread of Coronavirus, while also warning those who are violating the norms stating they "playing with their own life."

"I apologise to the nation for taking some hard decisions that have caused inconvenience to the common man. I believe you will forgive me. I had to take these steps to ensure your protection," PM Modi said during his monthly radio address Mann ki Baat.

"People must be thinking that what kind of PM I am ...Many are also angry with me to force you to stay indoors. But lockdown is the only solution right now. Many people are still defying lockdown... this is sad..," he said.

1.3 billion people in India are witnessing lockdown since Wednesday to respond to the Prime Minister's call to stop the spread of the deadly virus, which has crippled several nations including the developed ones.

The 21-day lockdown was called on Tuesday after people across the country observed "Janata Curfew" on March 22 in response to PM's call for the same.

As a measure to stop the spread of Coronavirus, Modi-led central government has already suspended all international and domestic flights till Apr 14.

Train services have also been suspended.

The inter-state bus services are not available to the Indians making it tough for the migrant workers to travel back to their native lands though the government has urged all people to remain wherever they were.

Essential services which include grocery shops, pharmacies, media, banks and ATMs have been exempted from the lockdown to help people to buy the basic commodities and materials.