IMF Chief Fears Worst Recession Since Great Depression; Cases in India Now at 5,865

 2020 could witness the worst global economic fallout since the Great Depression of the 1930s, with over 170 countries likely to experience negative per capita income growth due to the raging coronavirus pandemic, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on Thursday.

“Today, the world is confronted with a crisis like no other. COVID-19 has disrupted our social and economic order at lightning speed and on a scale that we have not seen in living memory,” she said.

The virus is causing a tragic loss of life, and the lockdown needed to fight it has affected billions of people. What was normal just a few weeks ago — going to school, going to work, being with family and friends — is now a huge risk, she said.

Meanwhile, the number of active coronavirus cases in hospitals has jumped to 5,218 from a total confirmed cases of 5,865, among whom 477 have been cured, according to Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as on 5:00 PM of Thursday.

17 deaths have been registered in last 24 hours due to COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, taking the toll in India to 169 now.

In its regular press briefing, an Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) official confirmed on Thursday that 1,30,000 samples have been tested so far for the virus infection, of which 13,143 samples were tested on Wednesday.

The positivity rate – number of positive cases out of total samples tested – has remained between three to five per cent in the last one month, added the official.

In another news, in an attempt to enforce lockdown rules strictly, Odisha state government has promulgated an ordinance with provision of imprisonment up to two years for those who violate the epidemic regulations, news agency PTI quoted official sources as saying.

The development comes after Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik earlier on Thursday noon confirmed that the lockdown period in the state will be extended till April 30. Becoming the first state to do so, CM Patnaik also directed the educational institutes in the state to remain closed till June 17.