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The United States (US) on Friday announced to provide financial assistance of $2.9 million to India to help the country in tackling the coronavirus pandemic.

This is in addition to the $100 million aid announced by the US in February.

Apart from India, the US is also providing financial assistance to another 63 countries which are in high threat due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A total amount of $174 million will be spent by the US in providing financial assistance to the 64 countries.

The US State Department said it is providing $2.9 million to help the Indian government prepare laboratory systems, activate case finding and event-based surveillance, support technical experts for response and preparedness in order to curb the spread of COVID-19.

“This builds upon the foundation of more than $1.4 billion in health assistance out of the more than $2.8 billion in US assistance for India over the last 20 years,” the State Department said.

The US is also providing $1.8 million to Nepal and $3.4 million to Bangladesh to help them fight the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, the number of coronavirus cases in India jumped to 873 on Saturday.

The death toll due to coronavirus cases in the country has also increased to 19 on Saturday.