Recently the government had allowed two private companies - Indian company MyLab and German firm Altona Diagnostics - to supply COVID-19 test kits to both government as well as private testing laboratories in India

The short-supply of personal protective equipment is fast emerging as a big problem confronting laboratories nationally, especially those collecting samples from home

Speaking at the unprecedented virtual G20 Summit on COVID-19, Xi said the world needs to be resolute in fighting an all-out global war against coronavirus which has created an unprecedented health crisis

Coronavirus Crisis Live Updates: Trump said that US has \"purchased many Ventilators from some wonderful companies. Names and numbers will be announced later today!\"

Sensex, Nifty Live News Today: Europen indices have opened in red territory on Friday, following mixed cues from DOW Jones futures that turned red earlier and other global counterparts.

A global hunt is on to find the right medicine for coronavirus. Leading Indian companies such as IPCA, Zydus Cadila are manufacturing anti-rheumatoid arthritis drugs like hydroxychloroquine and anti-malaria medicine like chloroquine. The demand for hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine jumped after US President Donald Trump called them effective in treating COVID-19. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) had also recommended the use of hydroxychloroquine for treating healthcare workers handling suspected or confirmed coronavirus cases. The Indian manufacturers have, however, reassured that there is enough capacity to meet the demand. Watch the video for more.Also Read: Hand sanitiser demand grows 1425%, face-mask 408% in February-March: Nielsen

BSE 30-share barometer Sensex ended 1,410 points higher at 29,946 and NSE 50-share index Nifty closed at 8,641, rising 323 points.

The food delivery platforms such as Swiggy and Zomato have taken a big hit with orders dropping by 60 per cent amid the coronavirus pandemic; mainland China reported a second consecutive day of no new local coronavirus cases as the country's epicenter of the epidemic Hubei province opened its borders; in a move that indicates India is readying for massive novel coronavirus (COVID-19) testing, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has sought price quotes for the supply of 10 lakh test kits for diagnosis of COVID-19. It will also procure 7 lakh RNA extraction kits, for a method which is currently used for COVID-19 testing in the country. Watch this and more on News Blast.Also Read: Lockdown forces JSW steel to scale down production at steel plants

Economists had initially anticipated a V-shaped recovery for China's economy, similar to that seen after SARS epidemic in 2003. But analysts have since slashed their forecasts to levels not seen since the Cultural Revolution ended in 1976

The passenger travel industry has been decimated by the coronavirus pandemic, with Australia's Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd announcing plans to cut 6,000 travel agent roles globally, either temporarily or permanently

Coronavirus in Bihar:  The two coronavirus patients - a 35-year-old woman and a 12-year-old boy -  have been sent to Patna's Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (RMRIMS)

Coronavirus Live Updates: Global number inches closer to 5 lakh, death toll crosses 21,000As India enters Day 2 of the 21-day nationwide lockdown, the total number COVID-19 positive cases has crossed the 600-mark in India. While the cases are rising steadily in India, countries like the United States, Italy and Spain, despite all their efforts, have been struggling to contain the outbreak. To work out a global plan to contain the highly contagious outbreak, Prime Minister Narendra...

India Coronavirus Lockdown News Updates: Respective governments of Delhi and Maharashtra have allowed establishments that sell essential items to function 24X7, but within the boundaries of social distancing

Sensex, Nifty Live News Today:BSE 30-share barometer Sensex traded 1,500 points higher at 29,892 and NSE 50-share index Nifty was at 8,720, rising 402 points.

Decision marks a clear shift in India's approach towards COVID-19 testing as ICMR, which is spearheading the coronavirus diagnosis efforts, has till March 25 tested only 25,144 samples from 24,254 individuals

Leading Indian companies such as IPCA, Zydus Cadila are manufacturing anti-rheumatoid arthritis drugs like hydroxychloroquine and anti-malaria medicine like chloroquine. Cipla and Aurobindo are making anti-HIV medicines

The company said it will scale up its capacity up to 2,000 to 2,500 tests per day as per ICMR guidelines by next week

Market breadth favoured advances with the advance-decline ratio at 3:2. Only 4 out of 30 stocks on Sensex and 11 of 50 scrips on Nifty closed in the red.

As per reports, the two iPhone manufacturers Foxconn and Wistron have temporarily stopped their production work in Chennai till April 14.

The government, however, will allow export of anti-malarial drug hydroxylcloroquine on humanitarian grounds on case-to-case basis on the recommendation of Ministry of External Affairs