The Evening Wrap Welcome to the Evening Wrap newsletter, your guide to the day’s biggest stories with concise analysis from The Hindu. We hope you are staying home and staying safe. Here are the big stories that you need to follow today: COVID Watch - Numbers and Developments The total number of COVID-19 cases in India shot up to over 6,500, with the death toll now at more than 200. Globally, more than 1.5 million people have been affected by COVID-19, with the death toll at nearly 89,000. There are a number of related developments today, summarised here in points: The Centre today sanctioned a ₹15,000 crore package to strengthen India’s fight against COVID-19. Of this amount, ₹7,774 crores will be utilised for immediate COVID-19 emergency response, and the rest for medium-term support (1-4 years) to be provided under mission mode approach. The Odisha government decided to extend the lockdown in the State until April 30 to contain the spread. The decision was taken in a meeting of the State cabinet conducted through video conferencing. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said saving the lives of people was the topmost priority at this juncture. Masks have been mandatory for everyone stepping out of their houses in Delhi, following the experience of other cities around the world, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said. Even if masks are not available, wearing a cloth or taking any similar measure will also do, but covering your mouth and nose is required, he said. The number of cases in Tamil Nadu has risen to 834. Chief minister Eddapadi K Palaniswami said there is a possibility of the State having reached Stage -III (community transmission), though the government has been taking proactive steps to control this. The United States reported the highest toll in a single day on Tuesday, with 1,973 fatalities, including 779 in New York state alone. As of Wednesday evening, the U.S. had at least 4,32,132 cases of Covid-19, by far the highest in the world. The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday decided to slash by 30% the monthly salaries and allowances of MLAs, MLCs, Ministers, the Speaker, and the Deputy Speaker for one year, in the wake of rising COVID-19 cases. The cut in salary would save the State exchequer ₹15.36 crore for one year. Bernie opts out One story that broke late yesterday was the major shake-up in the U.S. presidential race: Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, one of American politics’ more colourful characters, dropped out of the Democratic primary race, paving the way for former Vice President Joe Biden to take on Donald Trump in November’s general election. In our analysis today, The Hindu’s International Affairs editor Stanly Johny writes: “The impact of the Sanders campaign on the Democratic politics is already visible. Most Democrats who joined the 2020 race supported restructuring America’s healthcare system to make it accessible and affordable for all Americans. They also supported doubling the minimum wage, fighting climate change more vigorously, and taxing the rich more. Support for Medicare for all, one of Sanders’ top promises, is also rising in the U.S. across party lines.” Negative 2020 The fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic could be the worst since the Great Depression and will require a massive response to ensure recovery, IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said on Thursday. She warned that “global growth will turn sharply negative in 2020,” with 170 of the International Monetary Fund’s 180 members experiencing a decline in per capita income. Even in the best case scenario, assuming the virus fades later this year, allowing normal business to resume as lockdowns are lifted, the IMF expects only a “partial recovery” next year. Questions over lockdown strategy Multiple scientists of the Indian Council Of Medical Research currently coordinating the fight against COVID-19 co-authored a research study in February that questioned the effectiveness of a lockdown. The study, ‘The 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic: A review of the current evidence’, appears online in the Indian Journal for Medical Research, which is affiliated to the ICMR. It described lockdown as a “drastic public health measure” that could lead to “long-lasting adverse health outcomes.” In Brief: The Supreme Court on Thursday sought a response from the government on a petition to restore mobile Internet data services in Jammu and Kashmir to 4G speed. The plea stated that, in the absence of 4G internet, doctors, patients and the general public are unable to access the latest information, guidelines, advisories, daily updates, and restrictions about COVID-19. A Bench, led by Justice N.V. Ramana, via videoconferencing, issued formal notice to the government and sought a response in a week’s time. Evening Wrap will return tomorrow. | 
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