The Financial Express : Apr 25, 2020, 07:03 PM
New Delhi: India’s total number of Coronavirus positive cases rises to 24,942, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Saturday, April 25. There are 18,953 active cases, while 5210 people have been cured/discharged/migrated. The death toll stands at 779. In a positive news, the average doubling rate of COVID-19 cases in the country is 9.1 days as of now and from Friday 8 am to Saturday 8 am, India recorded a six-per cent growth in new cases, which is the lowest daily growth rate recorded since the country crossed 100 cases, news agency PTI reported quoting the Union Health Ministry.The Ministry of Home Affairs today issued a clarification on the order allowing the opening of shops. An MHA release said: “In rural areas, all shops, except those in shopping malls are allowed to open. In urban areas, all standalone shops, neighbourhood shops & shops in residential complexes are allowed to open”. It further said that as specified in the consolidated revised guidelines, these shops will not be permitted to open in areas, whether rural or urban, which are declared as containment zones by respective States/ UTs. Shops in markets/market complexes and shopping malls are not allowed to open. It is clarified that sale by E-commerce companies will continue to be permitted for essential goods only. It is further clarified that the sale of liquor and other items continues to be prohibited, it added.