BIG: Modi govt restricts international flights from landing in India between March 21-29

In wake of vel Coronavirus pandemic, Government on Thursday anunced that international commercial passenger aircraft shall be allowed to land in India from March 22 to March 29 to contain virus spread. On March 11, government suspended all tourist visas until April 15 and said it would quarantine travellers arriving from seven virus-hit countries. In its advisory issued on Thursday, government also suggested state governments issue appropriate directions so that people above 65 years of are advised to remain at home. 

Meanwhile, Prime Minister is also scheduled to address nation on Thursday 8 PM over issues relating to COVID-19 and efforts to combat it. Earlier on Wednesday, PM Modi chaired a meeting with senior officials to review ongoing efforts to contain coronavirus pandemic in India. India has reported 4 deaths so far. 

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Fourth death due to COVID-19 reported

India recorded its fourth Coronavirus death on March 19, of a man from Punjab. On March 17, a 64-year-old COVID-19 patient passed away at Mumbai's Kasturba hospital. 

70-year-old, who became recent victim to virus had travel history and had recently returned from Germany to Delhi via Italy earlier this month. Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to live at 8 PM on Thursday over issues relating to COVID-19 and efforts to combat it.

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Coronavirus in India as on March 19

vel coronavirus cases in India rose to 174 on Thursday, according to Health Ministry. cases include 25 foreign nationals -- 17 from Italy, 3 from Philippines, two from UK, one each belonging to Canada, Indonesia and Singapore. figure also includes three deaths reported from Delhi, Karnataka and Maharashtra so far.

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Maharashtra has highest number of cases - 49 cases, including three new cases, three foreigners, while Kerala has recorded 27 cases which include two foreign nationals. Delhi has, so far, reported 12 positive cases which include one foreigner, while Uttar Pradesh has recorded 17 cases, including one foreigner. Karnataka has 14 coronavirus patients.

number of cases in Ladakh rose to eight and Jammu and Kashmir four. Telangana has reported six cases which include two foreigners. In Haryana, re are 17 cases, which include 14 foreigners. Rajasthan has also reported seven cases including that of two foreigners. Tamil Nadu has two cases so far. Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Pondicherry, Chandigarh and Punjab have reported one case each.

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