Coronavirus updates: The Maharashtra government said on Friday that Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur and Pimpri Chinchwad will remain closed till March 31 as a preventive measure to spread further spread of novel coronavirus pandemic. The government added that the essential services and public transport will continue to run in the state. Gujarat and Maharashtra reported fresh COVID-19 positive cases on Friday. Three new COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in Maharashtra, taking the total toll to 52 in the state, said Health Minister Rajesh Tope.Jayanti Ravi, Principal Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, Govt of Gujarat said on Friday that 2 people from Ahmedabad and 1 from Vadodara have been tested positive for novel coronavirus. Four more people have been tested positive for novel coronavirus in Lucknow. With this, the total number of cases has risen to 9, said King George’s Medical University (KGMU) administration. Andhra Pradesh recorded its third novel coronavirus positive case on Friday. A man who had recently returned from Saudi Arabia was tested positive for COVID-19 in Visakhapatnam. The novel coronavirus cases are on a rapid rise in India as the tally crosses 200. The country had recorded four deaths on Thursday with a Punjab man being the latest casualty. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in address to the nation on Thursday urged the citizens to stay indoors as much as they can and follow the directives and advisories of the the government. He announced that the entire country will observe ‘janta curfew’ on Sunday 9March 22) from 7 am to 9 pm and also take part in thanking health care providers and emergency responders who are on the frontline combating novel coronavirus pandemic by clapping for them from their homes at 5 pm on Sunday. All international commercial passenger flights stand suspended for a week, till March 22. Globally, the number of COVID-19 cases surged in Italy and France. Italy reported 475 new deaths, highest one-day total recorded by any country. France also recorded a sharp spike in novel coronavirus-related deaths- rising by 51% to 264 in 24 hours.
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2.47 pm: Coronavirus updates: COVID-19 symptoms developed 4 days ago, says singer Kanika Kapoor
“I was scanned at the airport as per normal procedure 10 days ago when I came back home, the symptoms have developed only 4 days ago,” said Bollywood singer Kanika Kapoor.
Singer Kanika Kapoor: I was scanned at the airport as per normal procedure 10 days ago when I came back home, the symptoms have developed only 4 days ago. https://t.co/Z4BMAViM3c
– ANI (@ANI) March 20, 2020
2.41 pm: Coronavirus news: No commercial flights at Leh allowed to carry in-bound passengers except Ladakh residents
The Ladakh administration has ordered that no commercial flights landing at Leh will be allowed to carry in-bound passengers except residents of Ladakh, civilian officers and officers of uniformed forces serving in Ladakh, reported ANI.
2.33 pm: Lockdown in Mumbai: School exams to be held after April 15
“Exams for class 9th & 11th will be conducted after 15th April, 2020. Teachers, except the ones for class 10th, can work from home. 2 papers of class 10th are left. It’ll take place as per schedule. These decisions are for SSC Board,” said Maharashtra Education Minister, Varsha Gaikwad.
Maharashtra Education Minister, Varsha Gaikwad: Exams for class 9th & 11th will be conducted after 15th April, 2020. Teachers, except the ones for class 10th, can work from home. 2 papers of class 10th are left. It’ll take place as per schedule. These decisions are for SSC Board. https://t.co/KmgKDZrVEJ
– ANI (@ANI) March 20, 2020
2.28 pm: Lockdown in Nagpur: Hospitals prepare for emergencies
All private hospitals in Maharashtra’s Nagpur city have informed the government that they are prepared to tackle the novel coronavirus cases as and when the need arises. Maharashtra has seen a steady rise in the number of COVID-19 cases, with 52 people testing positive for the deadly virus.
2.15 pm: Shopping mall closed: All Delhi malls to be shut due to COVID-19, says CM Arvind Kejriwal
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Friday that all shopping malls in Delhi will be shut in the wake of novel coronavirus pandemic. He however said that grocery and pharmacy stores will be running as usual. “In view of the prevailing situation, we are closing down all malls (except grocery, pharmacy and vegetable shops in them),” Kejriwal tweeted.
In view of the prevailing situation, we are closing down all Malls (except grocery, pharmacy and vegtable shops in them)
– Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) March 20, 2020
2.05 pm: Lockdown in Mumbai: Mumbai, Pune to remain shut till March 31, says Maharashtra govt
The Maharashtra government said on Friday that Mumbai, Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad and Nagpur will remain closed till March 31 as a preventive measure to spread further spread of novel coronavirus pandemic. The government added that the essential services and public transport will continue to run in these cities.
Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray: State government has ordered complete shutdown in Mumbai Metropolitan Region, except essential services and public transport. This is not a holiday, avoid crowding. Banks to remain open in the state. #Coronavirushttps://t.co/NTC2Lcps9a
– ANI (@ANI) March 20, 2020
1.54 pm: Coronavirus in India news: Italian tourist had recovered but was admitted again to the hospital
The Italian tourist who died on Friday due to novel coronavirus infection had recovered from the illness, tested negative and was discharged by SMS hospital in Jaipur four days back. But he was admitted again to a private hospital, since his condition deteriorated and he died due to COVID-19 infection, a senior official told ANI.
1.45 pm: Coronavirus news: China to hold meeting with 10 countries on controlling COVID-19
China will hold a video conference with more than 10 countries on the ways to combat novel coronavirus pandemic. “China will hold a video conference with more than 10 countries in the Eurasian and South Asia on prevention and control of #Covid-19 today. China will support and assist its friendly neighbours in the spirit of solidarity amid adversity.” Chinese ambassador to India Sun Weidong tweeted on Friday.
1.37 pm: Coronavirus update: Singer Kanika Kapoor tests positive for COVID-19
Bollywood singer Kanika Kapoor has been tested positive for novel coronavirus in Lucknow. The authorities have put her family into a quarantine facility.
1.25 pm: Govt issues guidelines on social distancing to states and UTs
The government has issued an advisory to all states and union territories regarding social distancing in the wake of novel coronavirus saying that the measures taken by them are not uniform. The social distancing measures as shares by the government are:
- Regulate hours and work in government offices to reduce congestion and maintain hygiene.
- Regulate working hours in all services except for essential seruices. Industrial establishments to adopt staggered timings and regulation of crowd in market should also be resorted to.
- Private sector to consider work from home, wherever feasible.
- Educational institutions, theatres, museums, gyms, examination centres, etc. to be closed.
- Sporting events, competitions and religious gatherings to be postponed and maintain required social distancing even in smaller gatherings.
- Plan decrease in frequency of services of metros, railways, buses and airplanes; alternate seating to ensure social distancing; disinfection and crowd control in places like railway stations, metro stations, bus stands, airports, etc.
- All senior citizens [except for public representatives/government servants/medical] professionals to remain indoors and avoid gatherings, except for medical reasons and need for essential services.
- All children below 10 years of age to remain at home and avoid going to public parks, picnics and other games requiring large number of participants.
- All health establishments to avoid non-urgent hospitalisation and minimise elective surgeries.
- Motivating citizens, particularly the Youth, to be volunteers to support the Governments ‘ongoing efforts in management of COVID-l9.
- Regulate prices of masks, saniti2ers, medicines, etc. and ensure their availability.
- Sensitise on appropriate use of masks and good hygienic practices including washing hands with soap.
1.15 pm: Kidney patients are more vulnerable to COVID-19infections: Govt
The Ministry of Science & Technology said on Friday that novel coronavirus presents particular challenges for kidney patients. “It presents particular challenges for patients who receive regular haemodialysis. These patients with damaged kidneys, also known as uremic patients, are particularly vulnerable to infection and may exhibit greater variations in clinical symptoms and infectivity,” the ministry said in a release. “Unlike other at-risk individuals, these patients do not have the ability to stay at home and not interact with others. Despite the high risk they face, they must travel to dialysis centers 2-3 times every week. This significantly increases the risk of transmission of infection to patients themselves, family members, medical staff and facility workers, and all others,” said Prof. Vivekanand Jha, Executive Director, George Institute for Global Health India and President of the International Society of Nephrology.
1.07 pm: Coronavirus in India: COVID-19 has not reached community level, says Harsh Vardhan
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Friday that the COVID-19 infection has not yet reached the “community level” stating that the government is trying to spread “good information” as best as it can to deal with the situation. “We are in touch with everything going on the research front,” he said.
12.56pm: Coronavirus in India news: Tamil Nadu-Kerala border shut
Coimbatore District Collector, Rasamani has said that the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border in Coimbatore will be shut from Friday evening in the view of novel coronavirus pandemic.
Coimbatore District Collector, Rasamani: Tamil Nadu-Kerala border in Coimbatore will be closed from today evening in the wake of #Coronavirus
– ANI (@ANI) March 20, 2020
12.50 pm: Coronavirus in Ladakh: All government offices shut till April 15
The Ladakh administration has shut all government offices till April 15 as a preventive step to avoid the spread of novel coronavirus in the region.
12.40 pm: Coronavirus update: Current situation in Middle East and Africa
The current situation in Middle East and Africa due to novel coronavirus pandemic is grim. The deadly virus is killing one person every 10 minutes in Iran, the health ministry Spokesman tweeted on Thursday. The death toll in the country has risen to 1,284. Egypt has also announced to close all cafes, malls, sporting clubs and nightclubs from 7 pm until 6 am local time, beginning Thursday, until March 31 as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the government said in a statement. Civil liberties activists appealed Israel’s Supreme Court on Thursday to suspend cellphone monitoring which is put in place under emergency like situations. Turkey on the other hand has sent 5,00,000 test kits to the United States at their request. Jordan’s army has also put the capital under a lockdown by sealing it off from the rest of the country, officials said. Africa is also likely to witness a spike in cases as some people escape detection, the head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control said on Thursday. South Africa too announced on Thursday that it would build a fence along its border with Zibabwe to prevent illegal immigrants from entering the country.
12.31 pm: Coronavirus latest news: Suspended Railway officer’s son returned from Spain not Italy
The Railway officials clarified that the suspended South Western Railway officer’s son had returned from Spain and not Italy. He was working in Germany and had taken a flight from Spain to return to India. The suspended Railway officer is posted in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The South Western Railway had suspended an officer after she allegedly hid information about her son who had recently returned from Italy. The officer is now in isolation after the officials got information about him.
#UPDATE Railway Officials now clarify that the officer’s son had returned from Spain and not Italy. He was was working in Germany and had taken a flight from Spain to return to India.
The suspended Railway Officer is posted on Bengaluru, Karnataka. https://t.co/d4MsWHi6iL
– ANI (@ANI) March 20, 2020
12.20 pm: Coronavirus update worldwide: US advises citizens to avoid international travel
The United States (US) has appealed its citizens to avoid all international travel in the wake of novel coronavirus pandemic.
Read more here:Coronavirus effect: US advises citizens to avoid all international travel
12.10 pm: Coronavirus news: Cannes Film Festival postponed
The Cannes Film Festival which was slated to be held in May has been postponed due to novel coronavirus pandemic.
Read More here:Cannes Film Festival postponed due to coronavirus pandemic
12.01 pm: Coronavirus update worldwide: Pakistan reports 3rd COVID-19 death, total tally reach 453
Pakistan on Friday confirmed third death due to novel coronavirus. The 77-year-old patient was a resident of Karachi who was a cancer survivor and had diabetes and hypertension. With this, the total number of cases has reached 453 in Pakistan.
11.57 am: Coronavirus in Maharashtra: Three new COVID-19 cases reported in the state
Three new COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in Maharashtra, taking the total toll to 52 in the state, said Health Minister Rajesh Tope.
11.56 am: Coronavirus news: What is herd immunity?
The novel coronavirus pandemic has brought into light a new phenomenon known as “herd immunity” and the role it plays in how COVID-19 progresses. Herd immunity refers to a situation where a lot of people in a population have immunity to an infection which can stop the disease from spreading further. It doesn’t matter if the immunity comes from vaccination, or from people carrying the virus. The important thing is that they are immune. As more and more people get infected with novel coronavirus, there will be more people who will recover and become immune to future infection. “When about 70% of the population have been infected and recovered, the chances of outbreaks of the disease become much less because most people are resistant to infection,” said Martin Hibberd, a professor of Emerging Infectious Disease at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
11.46 am: Coronavirus in Gujarat: New cases emerge in state
Jayanti Ravi, Principal Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, Govt of Gujarat said on Friday that 2 people from Ahmedabad and 1 from Vadodara have been tested positive for novel coronavirus. “The person in Vadodara has a history of travel to Spain, the 2 people in Ahmedabad had travelled to Finland & New York,” she said. “The person from Rajkot (who tested positive for #Coronavirus yesterday) had landed at Mumbai Airport and travelled from Mumbai (Maharashtra) to Jamnagar (Gujarat) by train,” she further added.
Jayanti Ravi, Principal Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, Govt of Gujarat: The person from Rajkot (who tested positive for #Coronavirus yesterday) had landed at Mumbai Airport and travelled from Mumbai (Maharashtra) to Jamnagar (Gujarat) by train. https://t.co/vKNZwXDJFF
– ANI (@ANI) March 20, 2020
11.37 am: Coronavirus outbreak news: Congress members question Ayush Ministry in Lok Sabha
The Congress party members questioned the Ayush ministry advisory related to novel coronavirus, whereas Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that no vaccination or drug is available to treat COVID-19. Shatabdi Rai (TMC) also claimed that several ministers and MPs are alleging that gau-mutra can cure novel coronavirus and other ailments. Meanwhile, Sripad Naik, Minister of Ayush Ministry has said that the people should not believe in the rumours floating around. He added that there is some belief in the old system and people are free to believe it or not.
11.27 am: Coronavirus in Gujarat: 3 more COVID-19 positive cases reported
Gujarat has reported 3 new cases of novel coronavirus. With this, the total number of cases in the state have now reached 5. Here is the breakup:-
1) Rajkot
2) 2 from Ahmedabad
3) Vadodara
4) Surat
11.15 am: Coronavirus in Rajasthan: Italian tourist dies in Jaipur
Italian tourist who was suffering from COVID-19 infection and was admitted in Jaipur died on Friday.
10.58 am: Coronavirus latest news: 4 more tested COVID-19 positive in Lucknow
Four more people have been tested positive for novel coronavirus in Lucknow. With this, the total number of cases has risen to 9, said King George’s Medical University (KGMU) administration.
10.40 am: Coronavirus: If PM Modi wants social distancing, why is Parliament working, says Shiv Sena
The Shiv Sena on Friday said if Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants social distancing in the wake of novel coronavirus outbreak then why is allowing the Parliament to function. An editorial in Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ said thousands of officials, MPs and members of the staff work together in Parliament. “Shutting down or slowing down the government work on one hand, but being adamant in keeping the Parliament session on the other is certainly not aimed at keeping up the great democratic traditions,” it said.
10.27 am: Coronavirus news: FM Nirmala Sitharaman to meet ministers on Friday
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will meet the ministers for Animal Husbandry, Dairy & Fisheries, Civil Aviation, MSMEs, and Tourism, at North Block on Friday to take feedback and assess the economic impact of novel coronavirus pandemic.
Read more here: Financial package for coronavirus-affected sectors in the pipeline
10.22 am: Coronavirus in Punjab: Mohali woman tests positive for COVID-19; total tally reaches 3
A 69-year-old woman, who had recently returned from the United Kingdom (UK), has been tested positive for novel coronavirus. With this the total number of cases have reached 3 in Punjab, an official said on Friday. “The woman, a resident of Phase 3 A in Mohali, has tested (positive) for coronavirus,” Mohali Deputy Commissioner Girish Dayalan told PTI. “She had returned from the UK,” he added.
10.15 am: Coronavirus in Bengaluru: Lawyers write to chief justice to shut court for 2 weeks
Advocates Association of Bengaluru has written to high court chief justice requesting him to shut the court for two weeks in the wake of novel coronavirus scare.
10.10 am: Coronavirus in India news: West Bengal reports second COVID-19 positive case
A man who recently travelled to the UK has been tested positive for novel coronavirus in West Bengal. This is the second confirmed case in the state, a government official told PTI.
10.00 am: Coronavirus update: 114 Indians who returned from Dubai, quarantined in Pune
All of the 114 passengers who returned from Dubai to Pune via a SpiceJet flight on Friday early morning have been sent to quarantine wards in the city. One of the passengers, who himself complained about having a cough has been admitted to Naidu Govt Hospital.
9.45 am: Coronavirus latest news: Walmart to recruit 1,50,000 workers as shoppers surge on COVID-19 fears
Walmart Inc. said on Thursday that it would recruit more than 1,50,000 hourly workers in the United States, in the wake of a jump in the number of shoppers who are doing panic buying owing to novel coronavirus pandemic.
9.30 am: Coronavirus news: China reports new COVID-19 cases from aborad
China’s novel coronavirus infections from overseas hit a new daily record while the number of infected travellers crossed that of the domestic cases, forcing authorities to enforce tough custom rules and public-health protocols.
9.15 am: Coronavirus latest news: Death toll in Italy surpasses China
Italy is the worst COVID-19 affected country outside China as the total death cases rose to 3,405 in the country, more than, 3,245 recorded in China, where novel coronavirus outbreak started in December last year.
9.00 am: Coronavirus news: Railways takes preventive steps: lifts without buttons
Railways Minister Piyush Goyal shared a picture on Twitter of a unique way to operate lifts without touching buttons. “Taking novel measures to ensure hygiene and prevent the spread of COVID-19, Railways installs unique mechanism to operate lifts without touching buttons at the North Western Railway Headquarters in Jaipur,” he tweeted.
Taking novel measures to ensure hygiene and prevent the spread of COVID-19, Railways installs unique mechanism to operate lifts without touching buttons at the North Western Railway Headquarters in Jaipur. #IndiaFightsCoronapic.twitter.com/qaJQp4Fbqj
– Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) March 20, 2020
8.45 am: Coronavirus in Uttarakhand: Two IFS trainees tested COVID-19 positive
Two Indian Forest Service (IFS) trainees were tested positive for novel coronavirus in Uttarakhand, reported ANI. “Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy has been put under lockdown after two IFS trainees were found positive,” said Amita Upreti, Director General of Uttarakhand Health Department.
8.30 am: Coronavirus in Andhra Pradesh: Third COVID-19 positive reported
Andhra Pradesh recorded its third novel coronavirus positive case on Friday. A man who had recently returned from Saudi Arabia was tested positive for COVID-19 in Visakhapatnam.