A health worker sanitizes an area near the Nizamuddin mosque in New Delhi, India, on April 10, 2020.Photo:Xinhua

India's federal health ministry said Saturday evening the death toll due to the COVID-19 in the country rose to 242 and the total number of confirmed cases in the country reached 7,529.

"As of 5:00 p.m (local time) today 242 deaths related to novel coronavirus have been recorded in the country," read the information released by the ministry.

This is a jump of three deaths and an increase of 82 cases since the morning.

On Saturday morning the number of COVID-19 cases in the country was 7,447 and the death toll was 239.

According to ministry officials, so far 653 people have been discharged from hospital after showing improvement.

"The number of active cases in the country right now is 6,634," read the information.

Saturday marks the eighteenth straight day of the ongoing 21-day lockdown across the country announced by the government to contain the spread of the pandemic.

A medical worker wearing a protective suit takes a swab from a woman to test for novel coronavirus disease at a residential area in Mumbai, India, April 9, 2020. Photo:Xinhua

The three-week lockdown is expected to end on April 14.

Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held a video conference with Chief Ministers of states to strategize tackling of the COVID-19.

This was the third such interaction of the prime minister with the chief ministers since the outbreak of the disease.

"Prime Minister observed that the combined effort of the center and the states has definitely helped reduce the impact of the COVID-19 but since the situation is rapidly evolving, constant vigilance is paramount," a government spokesman said. "He emphasized the criticality of coming three to four weeks for determining the impact of the steps taken till now to contain the virus, adding that teamwork is the key to facing the challenge."

Two Indian states Odisha and Punjab have extended the COVID-19 lockdown until April 30 and May 1 respectively.

A man walks through a disinfection tunnel at the entrance of a market in Bangalore, India, April 9, 2020. Photo:Xinhua