Coronavirus LIVE Updates: India enters Day 1 of 21-day lockdown; confirmed cases at 519

Around 7 IPL matches which are scheduled to be held in PCA stadium Mohali would be held without spectators as Health Minister Punjab Balbir Sidhu says that they would see the situation and would not allow public gathering in PCA Mohali keeping view of Coronavirus. 

Amid the growing positive cases of Coronavirus in India, the government has stepped up its preventive measures against the deadly virus. Along with the centre, the state governments have also augmented their preventive measures. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, G Kishan Reddy has shared a list of helpline numbers for all the states and union territories across the country.

The Delhi government has ordered the shutting of all public swimming pools in the city with immediate effect till March 31 in wake of coronavirus outbreak, an official said on Friday.

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday has targeted the government over coronavirus. Taking to Twitter, he has said that coronavirus is a huge problem but the government is in a stupor. He added that ignoring the problem is a non-solution and that the Indian economy will be destroyed if strong action is not taken. 

Amid the coronavirus scare across India, Union Minister Babul Supriyo on Friday said that the annual popular sporting event Indian Premier League (IPL) should be postponed. Supriyo gave multiple examples of sporting events across the globe that have been called off or postponed because of the pandemic.

Asserting that a health scare as serious as coronavirus should be placed ahead of any sporting event, Supriyo said, "EPL matches have been postponed, Italy's Serie A has been called off. Yesterday, America's NFL was also abandoned, So, the advisory issued by the Health Ministry regarding the IPL should be followed in a serious way. According to me, sports is very important but it cannot be at the cost of a health scare so serious."

In a big announcement, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister on Friday said that Delhi was strictly banning any large sports gatherings like the IPL in order to arrest the spread of the novel Coronavirus. India to date has reported atleast 75 confirmed cases of the novel Coronavirus as per figures by the Union Ministry of Health and Delhi has only reported 6. 

While addressing a press brief Manish Sisodia said, "The main way to arrest the spread of the virus is to stop big social events. Especially in events like IPL, people will travel from all over the place. We have decided to ban such events. I request everyone to not wait for government guidelines in times like these. All of us have to come together to stop Coronavirus," he said.

BCCI President Sourav Ganguly reaches Mumbai to convince IPL franchisees to hold IPL matches closed door as gate money from IPL matches (of Rs 4-5 crore per match) is inconsequential and secondary as compared to huge revenue from TV rights. Reports say that the IPL Governing Council will explain to the franchise owners the financial ramifications of not holding IPL and convince them that closed doors are the only option.

The Jawaharlal Nehru University on Friday ordered the suspension of classes with immediate effect till March 31 due to the coronavirus outbreak. However, routine office work will remain unaffected, the university said as it urged all officers, faculty members, and staff to be present on their duty. 

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat took to twitter to announce that all schools in the state will be closed till March 31 amidst the Coronavirus scare in the country. "We have issued advisories to all hotels regarding safety measures to be taken while allowing foreign tourists in hotels. All schools have been closed until March 31. Do not fear as no case of Coronavirus has been reported here," he said. 

In view of the Coronavirus breakout, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday proposed that the leadership of SAARC nations should chalk out a strong strategy to fight Coronavirus. He said that the leaders could discuss via video conferencing, ways to keep the citizens healthy and together the SAARC nations can "set an example to the world" 

In a series of tweets, PM Modi said that South Asia which is home to a significant number of the global population should leave no stone unturned to ensure the people are healthy. 

Kerala assembly has been adjourned sine die in the wake of the Coronavirus Pandemic. Assembly was scheduled to continue till April 8, 2020.

Around 900 people are still under observation in Pathanamthitta after the district administration released a route map identifying places visited by the three-member family from Ranni which returned to Kerala from coronavirus-hit Italy last month, health officials said.

Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council announces all sports/coaching activities in all the sports centers of Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council of Jammu province will remain off with effect from March 13 till further order

Heritage Museum at Mumbai's CSMT to remain closed for public viewing this month as preventive measure says Central Railways. 

Amid the novel Coronavirus breakout and the steps being taken to contain it, Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijuju has urged all the sports federations to follow advisories issued by the Sports and Health Ministry. Taking to Twitter, Rijiju strongly urged all the National Sports Federations to adhere to the advisory issued on March 3, especially in view of the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.  

Forty-six persons who were in direct contact with the 76-year old man who died on Tuesday night due to co-morbidity and coronavirus infection have been placed under quarantine, district officials said on Friday.

Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Sharat B said 31 of them have been categorised as "high risk" and the remaining 13 as "low risk". The high-risk persons are being shifted to ESIC hospital here. Officials said four family members of the man have displayed flu symptoms and their swab samples have been sent for testing in Bengaluru. 

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has been pushed back by 18 days due to the outbreak of coronavirus. The 13th season of the tournament will be starting from April 15, 2020.

An advisory released on Friday afternoon quoted BCCI Secretary Jay Shah and said, "The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to suspend IPL 2020 till 15th April 2020, as a precautionary measure against the ongoing Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) situation.

The BCCI is concerned and sensitive about all its stakeholders, and public health in general, and it is taking all necessary steps to ensure that, all people related to IPL including fans have a safe cricketing experience. 

The BCCI will work closely with the Government of India along with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and all other relevant Central and State Government departments in this regard."

Director-General of Higher Education, Haryana announces that all universities and colleges situated in the state will be closed till 31st March 2020, as a precautionary measure. 

Indian Army reveals that in the Indian Army’s Manesar quarantine facility, one male individual who had returned from Italy on March 11 has been tested positive. He was employed in one of the restaurants in Italy for the last 14 years.

More than 700 people working in a leather company in Greater Noida have been put under surveillance after a Delhi-based director of the firm tested positive for novel coronavirus, officials said on Friday.

The 46-year-old man had recently traveled to Italy, Switzerland before returning to India, Gautam Buddh Nagar Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Anurag Bhargava said.

 As a precautionary measure against coronavirus, the All India Chess Federation (AICF) has postponed all national championships till May 31.

The Bihar Government announced that all cinema halls and public parks will remain closed till March 31 in the state to contain the spread of Coronavirus. 

Karnataka government announces closure of malls, cinema halls, pubs and night clubs in the state 

Six more of Positive tested cases of Coronavirus in Maharashtra, as confirmed by State Public Health Department PRO. Five from Mumbai and one from Thane.  Total number of COVID-19 in Maharashtra raises to 122..

The World Health Organisation on Wednesday declared the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, outbreak as a pandemic, months after the virus spread from China's Wuhan. Over one lakh twenty thousand people have been tested positive for the virus and at least 4,000 people have died and over 60,000 have recovered. The virus has spread to nearly 120 countries and so far, 67 cases have been reported in India.

What is Coronavirus?

The coronavirus (CoV) is a novel strain in the large family of viruses that causes illnesses ranging from the common cold to acute respiratory syndromes. Common symptoms of the novel coronavirus (nCoV) strain include respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties, as per WHO. Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people, according to the WHO. Several known coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans.

How does it spread?

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), human coronaviruses most commonly spread from an infected person to others through the air by coughing and sneezing, close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands. The viruses can also spread by touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing your hands, the CDC said.

Precaution against Coronavirus 

While there is no vaccine to protect against this family of viruses, WHO has released a list of precaution that must be followed amid the worldwide outbreak of the virus:

Wash your hands frequently
Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.

Maintain social distancing
Maintain at least 1-meter distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing. 
 

Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. 
 

Practice respiratory hygiene
Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose off the used tissue immediately. 
 

If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care as soon as possible
Stay home if you feel unwell mildly. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention immediately. National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area. There are helpline numbers.
 

Stay informed and follow advice given by your healthcare provider, stay away from fake news 
Stay informed on the latest developments about COVID-19. Follow advice given by your healthcare provider. Stay away from fake news.

An employee in Google's Bengaluru office has allegedly been diagnosed with COVID-19 after he confessed to possessing 'flu-like' symptoms. In the wake of this, Google has directed all its employees in the Bengaluru office to work-from-home on Friday. The 26-year-old is said to have returned from Greece recently, soon after which, he began to show likely symptoms.

Google released an official statement stating, "We can confirm that an employee from our Bangalore office has been diagnosed with COVID-19. They were in one of our Bangalore offices for a few hours before developing any symptoms. The employee has been on quarantine since then, and we have asked colleagues who were in close contact with the employee to quarantine themselves and monitor their health."

“Out of an abundance of caution, we are asking employees in that Bangalore office to work from home tomorrow. We have taken and will continue to take all necessary precautionary measures, following the advice of public health officials, as we prioritize everyone's health and safety.”

Amidst the increasing panic due to the soaring number of cases of Coronavirus in the country, the markets are set for another day of mayhem after the indices opened at a 3-year low. The Sensex tanked 2,548.94 pts to 30,229.20 in the opening session while the Nifty plunged 729.95 pts to below 9000, the first time since 2017. Following the blood bath at Dalal Street with markets hitting the lower circuit limit, trading was halted for 45 minutes.

A 26-year old Japanese national has been quarantined at a local hospital in Gaya, Bihar after he showed sympoms of the novel Coronavirus. The suspect is a tourist named Skiya Inouea and has been quarantined at Anurag Magadh Medical Hospital.

"The Japanese tourist, who was travelling via train here, had developed symptoms like cough and running nose. Based on these symptoms, railway officials brought him to the hospital," the hospital's medical superintendent Dr Vijay Krishna Prasad told reporters.

All 112 tested negative for Coronavirus at ITBP Quarantine Facility, Chhawla. After 14 days of quarantine at ITBP facility Chhawla. 112 Wuhan evacuees including 36 foreign nationals have been tested negative in the Coronavirus test. Today is the 16th day of their quarantine. They will start leaving the facility from 11 AM onwards today. Nityanand Rai, MOS Home along with SS Deswal DG ITBP will meet the group at 11 AM.

Haryana government has cancelled two-day spring festival which was scheduled to be held in sector 5 from March 14 to 16. Previously Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij declared Coronavirus as an 'epidemic' in the State amidst the soaring number of  Coronavirus cases in the country. 

Bengal Legislative Assembly imposed restrictions in the wake of Coronavirus. Only limited media houses will be allowed inside the assembly. The session has begun from today. Only one person allowed with every MLA. Slips will not be distributed. No entry passes for gallery viewing of house proceedings. House proceedings will continue as normal. Each media house will provide only one reporter and one Cameraperson. Only few and restricted channels allowed inside the house.

One person tested positive for Coronovirus in Pune. Total Number in Maharashtra is 17. Divisional Comissioner of Pune region Dipak Mhaisekar — One more case found positive for COVID19 in Pune today. The person found positive has travel history of US. Now number of total positive cases in city reaches to 10. Total number of positive cases of Coronavirus in India rises to 84

Odisha Assembly adjourned till March 29 amidst the Coronavirus scare in the country. Members of opposition mainly the BJP protested against speaker's decision. 

While speaking in the assembly, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray confirmed that there were 17 positive cases in Maharashtra as of now. He also announced that people returning from China, Korea, France, Spain, and Iran will be quarantined. Schools in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad will be closed. No mass gatherings will be allowed in the state. 

He also stated that railways and buses can not be shut down but advised that people should avoid unnecessary travel. He also appealed to companies to allow work from home wherever possible.

While addressing a press conference, the Union Health Ministry announced that 81 confirmed cases of the novel Coronavirus were reported pan-India out of which 64 were Indian nationals, and others were foreigners. 

The government while addressing a press conference released official figures announcing that it has brought 42,296 passengers under community surveillance till now, out of which 2,559 were symptomatic and 522 hospitalized which also included 17 foreign nationals.

Kolkata Port Trust cancels shore leaves for all crew members on all ships berthing in Kolkata, Haldia to keep Coronavirus at bay. The crew members cannot step outside the vessel. Started from 29th Jan - screening of all ships with a foreign crew. After a week, screening of all nationals whether Indian or foreign country.

More than 8,000 crew and 400 vessels have been screened. All pilots who come in contact with the crew have been provided safety gear with sanitizers, masks, and gloves. We are not allowing shore leaves. Kolkata, Haldia, Budge Budge. Small jetties. The ship agents go and provide the supplies. We are working together with the state govt. 

We are sensitizing our staff, an isolation ward has been created at Taratala hospital of Kolkata Port Trust. In Haldia too, an isolation ward has been created. Disinfectants are being used too. Cruise vessels being suspended. Vessels that are coming from China and other affected countries, before allowing berthing of the ships.

India's remaining two ODIs against South Africa in Lucknow and Kolkata called off in wake of COVID-19 pandemic as per a  BCCI official. 

Speaking in the state Assembly, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray announced that his government had classified the novel coronavirus as an epidemic. Mentioning that 17 positive cases had been detected in the state, he said that individuals who have visited China, South Korea, Italy, France, Germany, Spain, and Iran after February 15 & have arrived in the country after 5:30 pm on Friday evening, will be placed in the quarantine ward. Moreover, he ordered the closure of swimming pools, gyms, theatres in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad, Nagpur till March 31 as a precautionary measure. Moreover, schools in Pimpri Chinchwad and Pune will be closed until further notice, barring for where exams are taking place. 

On Friday, India's second death due to the novel coronavirus was reported. The victim was a 68-year-old woman from West Delhi, who passed away at the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. While she was suffering from diabetes and hypertension, she contracted COVID-19 reportedly due to being in contact with her son, who travelled to Switzerland and Italy between February 5 to 22. He too has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

After the son was admitted to the RML Hospital after developing fever and cough on March 7, his family was also screened as per protocol. Since then, his mother too was admitted to the hospital. Her condition worsened from March 9 due to pneumonia and was shifted to the intensive care unit. Despite being provided ventilatory support, the doctors were unable to save her life. The Health Ministry has started taking precautionary measures such as screening and quarantine of the victim's contacts. Currently, the total number of Coronavirus cases in India stands at 82. 

A new controversy erupted in Punjab when authorities reported that 335 people are still missing from Punjab who had a travel history to Coronavirus-affected countries. It came to notice after the central government sent a list of people of Punjab who travelled abroad and returned and asked the state to keep them on observation. The Punjab government allegedly failed to tally the list and has now asked the Punjab police to track them down.

With two more persons testing positive for coronavirus in Maharashtra, the number of infected individuals in the state has gone up to 19, a health department official said on Saturday. One of the two new patients is from Ahmednagar city, the official said. However, he did not specify the location of the other patient. As per the government decision, the schools and colleges in Pune and neighboring twin industrial towns of Pimpri and Chinchwad will remain closed till further orders.

In the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak worldwide, the Embassy of India in the United States of America (USA) issued guidelines for Indian students studying in the country on Friday. The guidelines were issued after multiple US universities started shutting down their campuses to contain the spread of the virus.

As the novel Coronavirus has gripped the world, Indian skipper Virat Kohli on Saturday urged everyone to stay strong and fight the virus by taking the required precautionary measures. This message from Kohli comes after the BCCI postponed the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the three-match ODI series against South Africa was also called off.

In the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak, the Indian Railways on Friday announced the suspension of operations of existing India-Bangladesh cross border passenger trains and buses for one month from March 15. Issuing a notice, the Indian Railways said, "As per the advisory of MHA, the operation of existing India-Bangladesh cross-border passenger trains (i.e. Maitree Express and Bandhan Express) and passenger buses shall remain suspended during the period March 15 to April 15, 2020, or till further orders whichever is earlier."

All cinema halls and malls in Punjab been shut down. All gyms, mass gatherings, religious gatherings, and restaurants closed down. Yesterday Punjab Education Minister Vijay Inder Singla had announced the closing of all schools in the state till March 31 as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Special isolation ward has been set up in a railway hospital at Karbighiya end of Patna junction as a precautionary measure for Coronavirus. Dr. Shyamal Das says, "It is a 10-bedded ward with all necessary medical equipment. A nodal officer has been appointed and a control room set up".

This comes soon after the Ministry of Consumer Affairs and Public distribution declared masks (2-ply and 3-ply surgical masks, N95 masks) and sanitizers as Essential Commodities temporarily. 

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has decided to postpone all the domestic games till March 31 in the wake of the novel coronavirus spreading around the world. The Health Ministry advisory directed all the NSFs in the country, including the BCCI, to avoid large gatherings and asked them to conduct the event behind closed doors if it couldn't be avoided. 

Amid the deadly coronavirus outbreak, the annual meet of the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS), the highest decision-making body of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, has been called off by the General Secretary of RSS Suresh (Bhayyaji) Joshi on Saturday. The meed was scheduled March 15 to 17 in Bengaluru. 

5 Coronavirus suspects escaped from the isolation ward of Mayo Hospital in Nagpur. S Suryavanshi, Sub-Inspector Nagpur police station says, "One of them had tested negative, reports of other 4 were awaited. We have traced them & they will be brought back to the hospital by the administration". 

Newly appointed Mumbai Police Commissioner Parambir Singh asks people to remain calm and practice hygiene amidst the Coronavirus outbreak.

All malls, theatres, clubs, pubs and swimming pools to remain closed for the next week in Bengaluru amidst the Coronavirus scare.  

To combat Coronavirus, Tihar Jail - one of Asia's biggest - has set up eight isolation camps on its campus. According to inputs, there are more than 17,500 prisoners lodged in Tihar. Tihar Jail's IG Raj Kumar said that to stop Coronavirus from being spread such steps were taken.

According to Raj Kumar, they got instruction from the government to set up camps. "We have set up eight camps. Every foreigner prisoner is being kept there. Apart from this all the prisoners who are being taken to court for their production are kept here for sometimes when they are brought back," he said. The official said that every prisoner is being examined by the doctors.

In view of the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus, the Home Department of Nagaland on Saturday has made use of masks and hand sanitizers compulsory in the state.The government has directed all the Deputy Commissioners to issue a notice for ensuring that people compulsorily use masks and hand sanitizers in all public places.

Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant held a high-level review meeting over preparedness in the wake of Coronavirus Pandemic in the country. Pramod Sawant also announced that all educational institutions will be closed from Monday till March 31. Casinos, Gyms, Public swimming pools, Spas, Pubs, Clubs, and Theatres will also remain closed till 31st March.

With three cases of Coronavirus in Ladakh, Spokesperson  UT administration commissioner, Secretary Rigzin Sampheal has said as a precautionary measure, the District Administration of Leh has withdrawn of inner line permits and will not issue till further order.  He also said that the administration will close the two sites of Snowleopard, Ule and Rumbak village where tourists visit the villages for Snowleopard viewing. 

The Jammu and Kashmir administration has warned those who hoard or overcharge for Masks and hand sanitizers will face strict legal action against them. 

Statewide celebrations that were scheduled to be held in Uttarakhand on March 18 to mark the completion of the BJP government's three years in office have been postponed in view of the coronavirus threat. 

The owners of the franchises of the Indian Premier League and the BCCI members met on Saturday, a day after the IPL was postponed to April 15 in the wake of the threat from the novel coronavirus. The BCCI & the IPL chairman adhered to the directives issued by the Health Ministry which has asked the NSFs, including BCCI, to avoid organizing sporting events where there is large public gathering and conduct games behind closed doors if the games were unavoidable.

"As things progress and things evolve over time BCCI will call for another meeting. Today's meeting was all about the government is watching and we are committed to IPL. Once the situation is stabilized we will continue with the games. BCCI is constantly with the government. Health is a priority," said Parth Jindal, owner of Delhi Capitals. 

"We are not interested in money or gain in this situation. Safety and security in this pandemic are the utmost. Whatever Government of India advises we will follow. No decision will be taken until clarity on the situation comes. It will come in the next 2-3 weeks. The Government needs to be commended on what they have done," said Ness Wadia, Kings XI Punjab co-owner. 

"In all districts, we have a 10-bed isolation ward for the Coronavirus infected people. 24 medical colleges have isolation wards. The total is 1208 beds. 11 have been tested positive in UP till now and 5 labs have been prepared. I appeal to all that precaution is necessary, avoid crowded places, do namaste and wash hands in regular frequency. Do not panic," said UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. 

Amid the deadly coronavirus outbreak, Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam on Saturday questioned the precautionary measures taken by the government of Maharashtra to prevent the spread of the virus. Taking to Twitter, Nirupam said that the decision to shut down schools and other public places was unnecessary and is taken has been taken in panic mode. He also said that this step will only weaken the economy and spread restlessness among the public. 

The West Bengal government has sealed the state's border with Bhutan in the wake of novel coronavirus outbreak, a senior official said on Saturday. The West Bengal Police, which mans the border gate on the Indian side in Jaigaon in Alipurduar district, stopped the movement of goods and travellers from India to Bhutan on Friday evening, the official said.

The move comes after Bhutan recently issued a notification to the Alipurduar district administration informing it about a halt in tourist and business activities in the wake of coronavirus outbreak, he said.

West Bengal schools, colleges shut down amidst Coronavirus panic from March 16 to March 31. 

The training of police personnel have been postponed till March 31 amidst the Coronavirus outbreak in the state. The police training college is located at Jharoda Kalan in South West Delhi. 

"The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday met the Indian Premier League franchises owners at the Board headquarters here in Mumbai to discuss the Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) outbreak and its impact on the upcoming season.

The BCCI along with all the IPL franchises have reiterated BCCI’s stand of putting safety and well-being of fans, athletes and employees as a priority. The board will continue to monitor and work closely with Government of India, state governments and other state regulatory bodies to decide on the future course of action in the best interest of public health.

The BCCI and all its stakeholders are committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for everyone involved in our great sport and the nation," read his statement. 

Home Ministry: Rs 4 lakh will be paid as ex-gratia to the family of the person who will lose their life due to #Coronavirus, including those involved in relief operations or associated in response activities. https://t.co/duQCN1yVP7

— ANI (@ANI) March 14, 2020

 

In view of the ongoing Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) outbreak, the BCCI on Saturday announced that all matches of the Paytm Irani Cup, Senior Women's One-Day Knockout, Vizzy Trophy, Senior Women's One-Day Challenger, Women's Under 19 One-Day knockout, Women’s Under 19 T20 League, Super League and knockout, Women's Under 19 T20  Challenger Trophy, Women's Under 23 knockout, Women’s Under 23 One-Day Challenger have been put on hold till further notice.

Amid the spread of Coronavirus in Maharashtra, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Saturday, has called off its annual 'Gudi Padwa gathering'. Moreover, it also requested the government to postpone the upcoming municipal elections for the next six months. Slamming the government's move to close theatres, gyms, swimming pools, MNS questioned how is the Thackeray government tackling the spread of the virus via crowded public transport such as buses, trains, etc.

All classes including sessional tests in the University & its institutions at Aligarh including schools will remain suspended till March 22. All examinations of the University & schools will be held as per schedule.

After completing requisite quarantine period and being tested negative twice in 16 days of stay, 112 Wuhan evacuees including 36 foreigners leave the ITBP facility, Chhawla, New Delhi in different batches. Only 2 left, 110 people departed to their homes.

In view of the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus, Yoga guru Baba Ramdev on Saturday revealed few facts related to the novel coronavirus to help people cope with the outbreak. He advised people to not panic over the COVID-19 virus and advised them to take precautions.

Speaking to the media Baba Ramdev said, "I want to appeal to all to not be afraid of Coronavirus.The need of the hour is to take precautions. Keep 3-4 ft distance, use hand sanitizer, etc. This is basic. People with low immunity or suffering from asthma, heart ailments or diabetic are most vulnerable to the virus. Yoga is the best tool to improve on all the above."

Two more persons tested positive for Coronavirus in Maharashtra in Yavatmal as per the Yavatmal Collector. Both had travel history to Dubai. Maharashtra number raised to 22 now.

In another step to avoid mass gatherings in order to contain the Coronavirus spread, the government has now postponed the Padma Awards which were scheduled to be held on April 3 until further notice. This comes amid the Coronavirus pandemic which has so far claimed 5,547 lives. In a notice issued on Saturday, the Ministry of Home Affairs informed that the next date and time of the investiture ceremony will be intimated in due course.

The Government Saturday informed that 164 persons have completed their 28-day surveillance period and, so far, only two cases have been tested positive in Jammu and Kashmir. 1878 travelers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been put under surveillance while 1567 persons are under home quarantine. Persons who are in hospital quarantine stand at 24 and 123 persons are under home surveillance.

Maharashtra FDA issues notification declaring Hand sanitizers, 2 Ply, 3 Ply and N95 masks under Essential commodity act 1955. FDA also assures everyone that it will be supplied in ample quantity. It also warns of legal action if someone hoards these articles for black marketing.

Special screening counters set up at Jammu Railway Station. All travelers to undergo thermal scanning and self-declaration. 

A total of 117 people with novel coronavirus-like symptoms have been put in home isolation in Mizoram, a senior health official said on Sunday. 

Though Mizoram has not yet reported any positive case of coronavirus, 117 people have been home quarantined as a precautionary measure, Health department principal director F Lallianhlira - PTI.

Tens of thousands of devotees thronged the Baba Balak Nath temple in Himachal Pradesh's Deotsidh on Saturday on the first day of month-long 'chaitra' fair despite the threat of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Nearly 25,000 devotees thronged the temple complex in Hamirpur district and had the glimpse of the cave, while some of them were seen wearing masks. - PTI

Three suspected coronavirus patients who had been quarantined left a government hospital in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district on Saturday evening without informing anybody, the police said. Two women and a man admitted to the isolation ward of the District Hospital in Ahmednagar, left without informing the doctors, said a police official. Efforts are on to trace them. 

The Uttarakhand government has declared novel coronavirus an epidemic and shut all multiplexes, cinema halls, degree colleges and technical institutes across the state till March 31, official sources said. The decision was taken at a meeting of the state council of ministers here late on Saturday night. However, medical colleges will remain open, they said.

The South Eastern Railway (SER) has opened a 50-bed isolation ward in the Ranchi rail division hospital in view of the novel coronavirus outbreak, officials said on Sunday.

Apart from the 50-bed isolation ward, a 24/7 emergency team has also been deployed at the hospital, the SER said in a statement. Cleaning workers of the SER are sanitising points of human contact such as doorknobs, washbasins and benches at major railway stations at regular intervals, it said.

Telangana reported a fresh case of the novel coronavirus on Saturday, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the state to two, with the government announcing a number of measures, including closure of all educational institutions till March 31, to prevent the spread of the pandemic.

A person, who travelled to Italy, tested positive for the virus. The patient has been admitted to the state-run Gandhi hospital, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao told the Assembly.

The samples of two others, who are suspected to be suffering from COVID-19, have been sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune, Rao said.

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope tweeted to confirm that a new person was found to be tested positive for Coronavirus which brings up the total cases in Maharashtra to 32. Woman found positive for Coronavirus in Aurangabad has travel history from Russia and Kazakhstan. She is currently in the hospital and her condition is stable.

According to sources, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephonic conversation with Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray amid the novel coronavirus scare. Currently, Maharashtra has the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country at 32.  

After the conversation with the PM, CM Uddhav Thackeray convened a meeting to review the steps taken to check the spread of COVID-19 in the state. This meeting is being held in Sahyadri Guest House in the presence of NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, and his ministerial colleagues. It is likely that the Maharashtra CM and Health Minister Rajesh Tope will conduct a press briefing at 5 pm.

With the increase in the number of coronavirus cases, the Kerala government on Sunday launched intensified medical check-up at border areas for people entering the state by rail and road.

The government has identified 24 spots in border areas that Kerala shares with Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and multiple teams each headed by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) began the checking of vehicles coming into the state.

The Assam government on Sunday ordered shutting down of educational institutions, gymnasiums, swimming pools and cinema halls with immediate effect till March 29 in the wake of novel coronavirus outbreak. Assam Chief Secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna, addressing a press conference here said, "Even though no positive case has been detected in the state so far, we are taking all precautionary measures."- PTI

India's coal imports registered a decline of 14.1 per cent to 17.01 million tonnes (MT) in February in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, as per industry data.

The country's coal imports in February last year stood at 19.82 MT, according to a provisional compilation by mjunction services, based on monitoring of vessels' positions and data received from shipping companies.

Trinamool MP Derek O'Brien has given a Zero Hour notice in Rajya Sabha seeking permission to "demonstrate" five steps from the floor of Parliament on how to prevent coronavirus, sources said on Sunday.  Generally, MPs are given around three minutes to speak on issues during Zero Hour. TMC chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee last week made a similar demonstration from her office in Kolkata urging people not to panic.

Ten persons have been admitted to the isolation ward of the Beliaghata ID and BG Hospital here with novel coronavirus-like symptoms, a senior health department official said on Sunday. All the 10 persons, who are from across the state, have a history of traveling abroad or coming in contact with foreigners, he said.- PTI

The Delhi government has ordered all mini buses to be disinfected daily in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the city where seven COVID-19 cases and one death have been reported so far.

The government had recently also ordered the agencies concerned to disinfect all DTC and cluster buses in the wake of the outbreak of the virus. The transport department has issued an order directing the owners of mini buses plying in the national capital to wash and disinfect their vehicles every day.

All paramilitary forces, including the CRPF, the ITBP, and the BSF, have been advised to keep ready quarantine camps for COVID-19 suspects as a preparatory measure, Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy said on Sunday.

As of now, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) is operating a camp which can house about 500 people near Delhi for the quarantine purpose and the facility has released two batches of people so far. We have given instructions to all our paramilitary forces across the country to keep the quarantine facilities at their respective areas in case of any requirement. We have identified certain centres also for the camps and they are ready. They can accommodate any number of people as will be required by the Health Ministry, Reddy told reporters.- PTI 

It is notified for the information of the general public that in view of COVID-19 threat, as a precautionary measure, Railways have decided to temporarily suspend the distribution of blankets in AC Coaches till further orders. The temperature in AC coaches will be increased accordingly. However, passengers can bring their own blankets / Shawls for their own use.

Calcutta High Court, its subordinate courts to hear only urgent matters from Tuesday to prevent mass gatherings in view of coronavirus scare. 

Today Maha Health Minister Rajesh Tope visited Seven Hills Hospital in Mumbai after Kasturba Hospital to inquire about passengers arriving in the hospital from seven countries. Rajesh Tope discussed with doctors about available coronavirus quarantine facilities. Moreover, MCGM has occupied Seven Hills Hospital, currently with 500 beds and another 500 beds will be available after some civil work. Also, instructed MCGM officials to provide masks as per the requirement..

Mumbai's famous temples Siddhivinayak, Mumba Devi and Mahalaxmi temples have also been shut from Tuesday by the temple authorities until further notice. 

Pubs, malls, theatres, schools, colleges shut

• The Maharashtra government has ordered to shut all pubs and discotheques in Mumbai city and suburbs until further notice. 
• The government has also sought the deferring of Municipal polls by 3 months due to the outbreak of Coronavirus.
• On March 14, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said that all malls except grocery stores which sell commodities of day-to-day need to be closed in view of coronavirus.
• The government announced that all educational institutes including public and private schools and colleges will remain shut till 31 March in view of the rise in Coronavirus cases in the state.
• Moreover, the government has stated that all exams of standard 10 & 12 and university courses will continue according to the schedule but postponed all exams up to Class 9.
• Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray invoked the Epidemic Diseases Act declaring the Coronavirus as an epidemic - declaring all gyms, swimming pools, malls, theatres, pubs shut in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Nagpur, Pimpri-Chinchwad till March 31.

With Sensex crashing over 2000 points, the RBI governor Shaktikanta Das, on Monday, assured that while the Indian economy was affected by the pandemic Coronavirus (COVID-19), the domestic liquidity conditions remain comfortable. He said that trade in sectors like drugs, electronics, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, etc which were most exposed to China was hurt the most. He also introduced two measures to battle the economic slowdown due to a fall in trade.

RBI announces measures to improve Indian economy

• RBI will conduct another 6 months US dollar sell-buy swap on March 23 to provide liquidity to the Foreign Exchange market.
• To counterbalance the domestic liquidity effects of the sell-buy swap,  RBI will conduct LTRO in multiple tranches upto a total amount of Rs 1 lakh crores at the policy rate. This will be followed by a review of the performance of LTRO.

Impact of COVID-19 on Indian economy

Talking about the war-footing efforts undertaken by the Indian government to tackle the economic slowdown due to the pandemic, Das said that domestic economic growth will be hit in the second round due to synchronised slowdown in global growth. Listing sectors like tourism, hospitality, airlines and others, which have been severely hit due to stall of global travel, he said that the RBI has several policies in its command to make markets function normally. To support minimal social contact, he said it is a good idea to use digital use of payment wherever cash payment is involved by using apps like the IMPS, UPI, Bharat Bill Payment Systems.

A 22-year-old man from Lucknow has shown symptoms for coronavirus in preliminary tests and his swab samples have been sent to Pune for confirmation, officials said on Saturday. He has been admitted to an isolation ward at the King George's Medical University (KGMU), they said. He is a relative of the Indian-origin woman from Canada who tested positive for the contagious disease on March 11.

The Ministry of Home Affairs announced complete closure of the passenger movement through all immigration land check posts at the India-Pakistan border from March 16 until further orders. Moreover, the movement of passengers will be restricted at the border with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Myanmar barring for select immigration land check posts from March 15. Also, the cross-border India-Bangladesh bus and train services will be suspended from March 15 to April 15.  

Read more here.

The Maharashtra state government has issued a directive that all schools and colleges in areas of municipal corporations, municipalities and nagar panchayats shall remain closed till March 31.

Maharashtra Health Minister Tope also said that examinations of classes one to nine will be postponed if they are being held currently, only the std 10th and 12th board exams will take place as per the schedule.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday assured the people of the state that his government is taking all measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus and said there is no need to panic. He also urged people to take all precautions.

In the wee hours of Sunday morning, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has announced that around 234 Indians who were earlier stranded in Iran during the Coronavirus outbreak have landed in India.

Panjab University announces that all teaching, including personal contact programmes in the teaching departments, regional centres, institutes, constituent colleges, affiliated colleges in Punjab as well as Chandigarh shall remain suspended till March 31. 

The 234 Indian evacuees from Iran who arrived in the national capital on Sunday morning, have been quarantined at an Indian Army Wellness Centre in Jaisalmer. According to the Indian Army, the wellness centre at Jaisalmer is a fully equipped facility to help Indian citizens undertake mandatory quarantine period under the supervision of skilled medical authorities. As per reports, the Army said, "Soldiers have volunteered to provide care and support to our countrymen returning from overseas."   

Pilgrimage and registration for the Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara in Pakistan will be suspended beginning Sunday midnight in view of the Coronavirus outbreak, the Home Ministry said.

The government has also suspended movement of all types of passengers through international border points with Pakistan from 00:00 hours of March 16 in view of the coronavirus threat.

"In wake of COVID19 India outbreak, as a precautionary measure to contain and control spread of the disease, the travel and registration for Sri Kartarpur Sahib is temporarily suspended from 00:00 hours on March 16, 2020, till further orders," a home ministry spokesperson said.

Amidst the soaring number of Coronavirus cases in India which hit 93 on Sunday, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh in a video message assured the people that the government was taking all necessary precautions in the state to prevent the outbreak from spreading. Taking to Twitter, the Punjab CM said, "We are doing our work, no one needs to worry. It is a scary disease but if you tackle it rightly, you and your entire family will be safe. Till now only one person has been tested positive in the state and that person is from Amritsar who had come recently from Italy."

Union Health Ministry has generated its new helpline number for Coronavirus - 1075. The previous number, 01123978046, is also active.

Telangana Health Ministry: Another COVID-19 positive case confirmed in Hyderabad city. Number of positive cases rises to 4 in the state.

"The new confirmed patient has a travel history to Scotland. The person is now admitted in a hospital in Hyderabad city and undergoing treatment," said teh Minister.

Defence Ministry officials: Around 560 evacuees have been quarantined at Armed Forces’ facilities so far. Along with this, 34 crew members of the C-17 transport aircraft which brought them back from Italy and Wuhan have also been quarantined. Of these, 372 evacuees and 17 aircraft crew members have already been discharged after quarantine. The armed forces have prepared quarantine facilities for around 15,000 citizens across the military bases in the country.

Tamil Nadu government orders all educational institutions, theatres, malls, gyms, amusement parks, swimming pools to remain closed till 31st March. No permission will be given for rallies, public meetings, summer camps, conferences, exhibitions, cultural or sporting events till March 31st.

In view of the precautionary measure pertaining to the spread of Coronavirus, Jharkhand govt has declared Coronavirus as an Epidemic and notified it in the gazette as "COVID 19 2020" and decided to close all govt and private schools and colleges in Jharkhand from 17th March to 14th April.

CM Soren declares coronavirus an epidemic; allocates 200 crore

Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren during his speech in Vidhan sabha said that " We have decided to close all  schools and colleges from 17th march to 14th april. All parks, private coaching institute shall be closed . Nobody is allowed to hold press conferences . To fight Coronavirus the govt has allocated Rs 200 crore. Outsiders will not be allowed to enter the Vidhan sabha premises till the House is functioning.  We have arranged adequate facility in the hospital so that no patient faces discomfort. ".

Union Minister of Tourism Prahlad Patel has ordered closures of all Archeological Survey of India (ASI) and national monuments with immediate effect, amid the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Centre issues advisory on 'Social distancing' to prevent spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) shutting down public places like gyms, swimming pools, theatres and banning social gatherings, urging people to work from home if necessary. The advisory has urged all states and union territories (UT) to take the put the following suggestions in action upto March 31 to prevent spread of COVID-19.

Social distancing

Moreover, the Centre has also issued travel advisories expanding compulsory quarantine to UAE, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait. The Centre has also prohibited travel from the European Union, the European Free Trade Association, Turkey and United Kingdom to India. This advisory will come into effect from 18 march to 31 March, and will be reviewed subsequently.

Travel advisory

Maharashtra issues order that no private offices should work beyond 50% attendance. Work from home is being made mandatory and we have passed orders to that effect today, as per senior government officials.

BMC issues orders:

In the wake of Coronovirus, Essel World, Imagicaa and Water Kingdom have been closed until 31st March

Coronavirus declared as Epidemic across Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir as another case has tested positive raising total upto 3 cases.

An experimental COVID-19 vaccine has been given to a healthy volunteer in the U.S., kicking off a worldwide hunt for protection against the virus. It’s one of several such efforts; experts say it’ll be at least a year before any would be ready for use, reports AP

In Haryana, the first case of coronavirus is confirmed from Gurgaon. Health officials stated that a 26-year-old woman who recently returned from a holiday in Malaysia and Indonesia has tested positive.

MEA has said that it cannot confirm whether more than 250 Indians in Iran have tested positive for COVID-19. But it added that every care is being taken by government of Iran to ensure theri safety.

Advising Mumbaikars to avoid unnecessary travel, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray clarified that the government's local trains and the local bus services (B.E.S.T) in Mumbai will remain open. Stating that no decision has been taken to shut these services by the state cabinet, he asked citizens to reduce the load on public transport. He added that while did not wish to cut off transport services, the government will be forced to do so if the public do not reduce crowding.

Clarifying another point, he added that no decision has been made regarding the functioning of government offices. He added that he has issued a directive to private companies that offices should work beyond 50% attendance. He also urged all religious leaders to shut down Mandirs, masjids, Churches, Gurudwaras for some days. 

arlier in the day, in a bid to minimize the footfall of people amidst the Coronavirus epidemic, the railways has hiked the prices of platform tickets from Rs 10 to Rs 50 for over 250 railway stations across the country.  These are namely Mumbai, Vadodra, Ahmedabad, Ratlam, Rajkot, and Bhavnagar. Moreover, Central Railway too has cancelled 22 low occupancy trains.

Indian Council of Medical Research's Director-General Dr Balram Bhargava on Tuesday addressed a press conference at the National Capital and informed about India reaching stage 2 of the Coronavirus pandemic. " We already know that we are in stage 2. We are not in stage 3, clearly," he said.

Informing about the laboratory expansion, the ICMR director-general said," currently the laboratory expansion of ICMR is engaged, we are expanding our number of laboratories and as we speak, today we have 72 functional laboratories in ICMR system."

ICMR on 4 stages of Coronavirus 

During the press conference, Dr Balram Bhargava also informed about the 4 stages of Coronavirus. "There are 4 stages. 3rd stage is community transmission which we hope we shouldn't have. It would depend on how strongly we close our international borders, in terms of which the government has taken very proactive steps. But can't say that community transmission won't happen," he said. 

 Apart from issuing travel advisories to travellers from Arab countries and Europe, Centre has restricted travel from Afghanistan, Philippines and Malaysia

Bihar govt notifies COVID 19  as Epidemic in the Bihar gazette with special powers. Apart from Bihar, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Assam, Delhi, Kerala, Jammu - Kashmir have declared the disease an epidemic shutting down all educational institutions, monuments, parks, gyms, swimming pools, pubs and banning large gatherings. 

Passengers are being advised to avoid non essential train journies. Before commencing train journey passengers should ensure that they do not have running fever. At any point of journey if passenger feels that he is having fever he can contact the Railway staff for medical attention and further assistance.

Amidst the Coronavirus outbreak, the Maharashtra government has decided that all people who have been placed under 'home quarantine' for suspected exposure to the COVID-19, will be stamped on their left hand. The state government on Tuesday stated that stamping people under home quarantine will help identify them easily in public.Highlighting it as a 'precautionary measure,' Greater Mumbai's Municipal Commissioner Pravin Pardeshi issued an order to all officials at hospitals and airports directing them to 'stamp' behind the left palm of the suspected individual. 

(For the safety of all of you, your government has decided that all educational institutions will be closed till April 2. All types of examinations including competitive examinations will be postponed till 2 April.)

Moreover, All tourist places and museums have been instructed to remain closed till 31 March. Tehsil Day, Samadhan Divas and Janata Darshan will also be postponed till April 2.

West Bengal reports first Coronavirus case after man who returned from UK tests positive In Kolkata

Amid the deadly coronavirus outbreak, the Uttar Pradesh govt on Wednesday suspended the ceremonial Ganga Arti at the Varanasi Ghats.

A fresh coronavirus case has been reported in Telangana on Wednesday, taking the total number of cases in the state to six. The person, who tested positive for the virus, came from the United Kingdom, official sources said to PTI.

Around 300 people to undergo coronavirus test in Noida, they are living at Bhim Rao Ambedkar SC/ST hostel. They will be quarantined and if the test will come positive they will be shifted to the isolation ward. If the test will come negative they will be freed, as per the order of concern official of Noida.

Chennai reports second positive case for #COVID19. The patient hails from Delhi, is in isolation & stable. He is under the observation of expert team: Tamil Nadu Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar. 

All Indian airlines will report significant losses in 1st quarter of this year and may initially ground around 150 planes as shock from #coronavirus pandemic will be "far deeper and much longer": Report

A batch of 195 Indians stranded in the coronavirus-hit Iran was brought back by a special plane on Wednesday evening, an official said. They landed at Rajasthan's Jaisalmer airport and were shifted to an Army's wellness facility after screening, defence spokesperson Col Sombit Ghosh said. With the arrival of this batch of evacuees, the total number of quarantined people at the Army wellness facility in the Jaisalmer Military Station increased to 484, he said.

All residents of J&K to have Rs 5 lakh free Health Insurance like Ayushman Bharat, said the government.  the Administrative Council which met under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chander Murmu accorded sanction to rolling out the Jammu & Kashmir Health Scheme to provide free of cost Universal Health Coverage to all residents of the Union Territory in convergence with Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY.  Now, around 1.25 crore residents of J&K will be provided the same benefits as are provided under Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY.

Maharashtra minister Jayant Patil says 39 tourists from state stuck in Tashkent in Uzbekistan due to unavailability of flight in view of Coronavirus outbreak

UT of Ladakh restricts international tourist entry by all routes till 30th April'20 in view of the prevailing situation.

Delhi govt says it has disinfected 7,877 public service vehicles, including auto-rickshaws, so far to contain Coronavirus spread

GoAir says it has terminated contracts of expat pilots amid curtailed operations due to #coronavirus pandemic

Karnataka health min, B Sreeramulu: The topic of closing down airports came up in the cabinet meeting but since airports come under the central govt, we need to see what steps they will take

Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan says 75 crore beneficiaries under public distribution system will be allowed to lift their quota of subsidised foodgrains for 6 months in one go, amid #coronavirus outbreak

India has evacuated its 405 citizens, including students, stranded at Kuala Lumpur airport in Malaysia due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Indian High Commission here said on Wednesday. Thanks @AirAsia for flying out 405 stranded Indians transiting thru KLIA in Spl flights to Delhi and Vizag today. Kudos to @hcikl officials for working tirelessly since yesterday to make it happen," the High Commission tweeted.

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik's sister in home isolation on return from abroad amid Coronavirus spread

Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) postpones Block Education Officer examination (preliminary) which was scheduled to be held on March 22. Andhra Pradesh govt orders closure of all educational institutions across state to prevent and contain spread of Coronavirus

One more person tested positive for Covid19, in Pimpri-Chinchwad today, taking total number of positive cases to 19 from Pune city as Maharashtra total raises to 42.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government has issued new restricting orders (as per sources):

• 50% attendence in government offices - staff to work on alternate days
• Ban on standing in BEST buses
• Crowded roads to be shut down alternately to minimize crowds
• Shops may be on alternate days or may be open intermittently through the days 

All bars, night clubs, spa and parlours shut in State as precautionary measure in view of Pandemic Covid-19.

In view of the prevailing threat of Coronavirus, the family/visitor mulaqat of prisoners (normally twice in a week) shall remain suspended from tomorrow i.e. 19.3.2020 upto 31.3.2020, stated Tihar police in a statement.

A 50-year-old man from Ratnagiri tested positive for COVID19 after having a travel history to Dubai, as per sources.

One person tests positive for Coronavirus in Srinagar today - making it the first case in the Union territory's capital

Coronavirus: HRD Ministry's National Testing Agency postpones JEE for IIT, engineering college admissions

Saudi Arabia, the current chair of the G20 bloc, has accepted a proposal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold an "extraordinary" virtual G20 Summit next week, eight months before it is meant to be held in the Saudi capital Riyadh. The decision to go virtual comes amid the fear of coronavirus pandemic that has swept across the world and killed nearly 9,000 people so far.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has collected a fine of over one lakh rupees from more than 100 people for spitting in the open "Fine of Rs 1,07,000 collected from 107 people for spitting in open. 46 people were also given warning," said BMC.
On March 18, BMC from its official twitter handle had in reply to a tweet posted: "Spitting in public space will attract a fine of Rs. 1,000 or detention u/s 189 IPC. While we do our best to ensure that no such act takes place in the city, a little cooperation from Mumbaikars in these difficult times will help us go a long way in our fight against Coronavirus." 

TOTAL POSITIVE CASES IN INDIA-175

OUT OF WHICH RECOVERED CASES-15

-Andhra Pradesh-1
-Delhi-12
-Haryana-18 (2-Gurugram)
-Karnataka-14
-Kerala-27 (out of which 3 recovered)
-Maharashtra-45
-Odisha-1
-Pondicherry-1
-Punjab-1
-Rajasthan-7
-Tamil Nadu-2
-Telangana-13
-Jammu-4
-Ladakh-8
-UP-17 
-Uttrakhand-1
-Kolkata-1
-Srinagar-1
-Chandigarh-1
 

As per the advisory from the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and the University Grants Commission (UGC), the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has postponed all the theory examinations and practicals of the University, including schools till April 2.

The ongoing examinations of classes X and XII and classes I to IX have been postponed till April 2 and a new schedule will be announced in the due course of time depending upon the situation.

Similarly, all mid-semester theory examinations and practicals of the Faculty of Engineering stand postponed till April 2.

According to the Controller of Examinations, Mr Mujib Ullah Zuberi, "The remaining examinations of BA LLB (Final Year), B Voc and BUMS also stand postponed. This notification also applies to all three AMU Off Centres at Malappurram (Kerala), Kishenganj (Bihar) and Murshidabad (Bengal). "
 

Indian Railways has cancelled 84 more trains taking the number of cancelled trains to 155. Trains to remain cancelled from March 20-31 in view of coronavirus: Officials

The second positive case of coronavirus was on Thursday reported in Andhra Pradesh, taking the total to 2.  A person who returned to the state from England on March 15 tested positive for the deadly virus. The youngster has been admitted to an isolation ward in RIMS at Ongole and his condition is stable. 
 

In view of the rapid spread of the novel Coronavirus, the Haridwar District Magistrate C Ravishankar on Thursday issued an order prohibiting the entry of visitors to the Ganga Aarti site at Har-ki-Pauri in Uttarakhand till March 31. The order also mentioned that the Aarti will continue to be held and will be live-streamed for devotees. Earlier on Wednesday, the Uttar Pradesh government suspended the ceremonial Ganga Arti at the ghats in Varanasi

In its bid to rescue the stranded Indians, the Centre is exploring all options to help a group of Indians who want to enter the Indian territory but are stuck at the Wagah Border due to technical and legal issues, government sources said on Wednesday. As per sources, the group, a few days earlier, went to Pakistan via Dubai from Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday thanked people for their suggestions and unique solutions to fight the novel Coronavirus in the country. Taking to Twitter on Tuesday, PM Modi had called upon the innovative researchers, engineers, and technology lovers to come up with unique solutions.

In a bid to tide over the shortage of masks during the coronavirus outbreak, inmates of Central Jail in Jabalpur are manufacturing face masks to cater to its high demand in the market. The face-masks manufactured in Jail will be supplied to the market in bulk.

In view of the rapid spread of the novel Coronavirus, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday will address the nation at 8 pm over issues relating to COVID-19 and the efforts to combat it. Earlier on Wednesday, PM Modi chaired a meeting with senior officials to review the ongoing efforts to contain coronavirus pandemic in India. So far, India has over 175 confirmed cases of Coronavirus and has reported three deaths.

After it was announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation amid the coronavirus pandemic on Thursday, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) chief Sitaram Yechury questioned why PM Modi has not yet spoken on the issue in Parliament. Yechury, in a tweet, noted that Parliament is in session. PM Modi had earlier held that the Parliament will function till April 30.

The ICSE board on Thursday postponed class 10 and 12 examinations due to the novel coronavirus threat, officials said. The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) Chief Executive Gerry Arathoon said the exams have been postponed till further notice. The revised dates to be announced later by the board. 

TOTAL POSITIVE CASES IN INDIA-181 (Adding 2 new cases from UP)

OUT OF WHICH RECOVERED CASES-15

-Andhra Pradesh-2
-Delhi-12
-Haryana-18 (2-Gurugram)
-Karnataka-15
-Kerala-27 (out of which 3 recovered)
-Maharashtra-47
-Odisha-1
-Pondicherry-1
-Punjab-1
-Rajasthan-7
-Tamil Nadu-2
-Telangana-13
-Jammu-4
-Ladakh-8
-UP-19
-Uttrakhand-1
-Kolkata-1
-Chandigarh-1
-Chhatisgarh-1

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope announces 2 patients on ventilator in Mumbai, everyone else stable as of now.

The National Conference suspends all its political activities in Kashmir in the wake of the first positive case of COVID-19 in the Valley. 
 

Punjab to shut down public transport including government and private buses. 

Kashmir University orders suspension of administrative & academic activities upto March 28. All exams scheduled to be held upto & including March 31st postponed, form submission date for PG & BA-LLAB programs 2020 extended upto April, 07, 2020

In an attempt to contain the Coronavirus spread, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievance and Pensions on Thursday elaborated on its previous directive instructing offices to operate with 50% of its workforce in order to avoid mass gathering. The Ministry stated that the Heads of Departments (HoDs) of all offices may ensure that 50 per cent of Group B and Group C employees are required to attend office every day and remaining 50 per cent to work from home.

Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the sports ministry has issued an advisory on Thursday advising all National Federations to refrain from conducting tournaments and selection trials till April 15 besides asking them to ensure that Olympic-bound athletes are isolated from anyone who is not a part of their training camp.

Mumbai's Haji Ali Dargah and Mahim Dargah have been closed for the general public until further orders due to the Coronavirus outbreak. The Dargah is the latest religious site to be closed in order to prevent the spread of the virus. 

Hotels in Nainital will remain closed till March 31 as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of coronavirus.

The decision for shutting down the hotels was taken by the Nainital Hotel and Restaurant Association in view of the coronavirus threat, NHRA president Dinesh Sah said. The hotels will be closed from March 20.

Being a popular tourist spot, Nainital receives lakhs of tourists every year and its  hotels and restaurants are the most crowded places. 

The Central Railway has cancelled 30 more outstation trains till April 1, citing low occupancy due to the coronavirus outbreak, an official said on Thursday.

These trains are cancelled mainly due to low occupancy, as people have been advised to avoid non-essential travel during the pandemic, a Central Railway spokesperson said.

As the number of Coronavirus cases reaches around 49 in the State, Mumbai's Western Railways on Thursday have decided to shut down the AC local train services from Friday evening. According to sources, the AC local trains will be replaced by the non-AC suburban trains till March 31. The train services run from Churchgate to Virar.  

Apart from this, the administration in Mumbai has reduced the number of ST buses to 50 per cent as a preventive measure to curb the deadly virus

In a significant development, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), which has been medically heading India's fight against coronavirus, is holding a crucial meeting on the measures that have been taken so far. Earlier in the day, ICMR  had confirmed that there is no community transmission of the Covid-19 virus yet. The development comes after ICMR tested 826 cases to check if there is any community transmission of the virus and found the results to be negative. 

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Thursday visited the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai and took stock of the screening activities and preparedness to curb the spread of Coronavirus through travelers. The visit comes shortly after the Health Minister confirmed 49 positive cases of the deadly virus in the State. 

Stepping up its war against Coronavirus, the Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, on Thursday, has ordered the police to lodge cases against those who are violating the mandatory home quarantine. Maharashtra has currently recorded the highest number of positive COVID-19 cases in the country at 49. The total number of cases in the country stands at 180, including 3 deaths.

Amidst the soaring number of Coronavirus cases in India, which has now crossed 170, Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) officials raided a hand sanitiser manufacturing unit in Nahur, Mulund on Wednesday and seized substandard sanitisers worth Rs 25 lakh. This development comes less than a week after the FDA officials raided two similar units that were engaged in the manufacturing of unlicensed sanitisers.

Two immigration officers at the Kolkata Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport on Thursday were sent to a 12-day quarantine as they came in contact with the 18-year-old youth who has been tested positive for Coronavirus in West Bengal.

In a massive development, sources report on Thursday, that an anti-CAA protest organiser in Delhi has tested positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19). Sources further report that Tabrez Khan - who is a resident of Jahangirpuri Eidgah Road has allegedly organised anti-CAA protests, has been admitted to LNJP hospital's isolation ward on Wednesday night. 

In a massive development on Thursday, the government of India announced stringent measures to combat the novel Coronavirus crisis. International flights shall not be allowed to land in India from March 22 for a week. Moreover, the Centre has directed the state governments to advise the people below the age of 10 and above the age of 65 to remain at home. The state governments have also been instructed to enforce work from home for private sector employees barring for those working in emergency or essential services. 

Read the government's press release here:

 Amid coronavirus outbreak, the Delhi Police on Thursday said it will not conduct drunken driving test unless someone is visibly drunk and driving recklessly.

They said no drunken driving checking will be conducted unless someone is visibly drunk and driving so recklessly as to endanger his/her or others' life

The West Bengal jail department is mulling releasing life convicts on parole in the wake of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

According to Additional Director General (ADG), Prisons, Arun Gupta, the department is pondering over the idea that whether life convicts who are "willing and can be sent", could be released on parole in the backdrop of the coronavirus outbreak.

There are around 60 prisons in West Bengal, housing around 25,000 inmates, of whom around 7,000 are convicts and the rest are undertrials.

• No scheduled international commercial passenger aircraft shall be allowed to land in India from March 22, 2020, for one week. Max travel time 20 hours is allowed for any aircraft.
• State governments shall issue appropriate directions so that all citizens above 65 (other than for medical assistance) except for public representatives /govt servants/medical professionals are advised to remain at home.
• All children below 10 years advised to remain at home and avoid picnics
• Ministry of Pharma & dept to take action against those charging exorbitant rates for masks, sanitisers, and logistics and also allow adequate supply to hospitals and people at large.
• Metros, Railways, buses, and airplanes will consider a reduction in crowds and encourage alternate spacing
• Youth and citizens are urged to volunteer regarding awareness on COVID 19
• Concessional tickets except for patients, students, Divyangjan category suspended from March 20 midnight in view of COVID-19
• On March 21, Air India to send Boeing 787 Dreamliner to Italy to bring back stranded Indian students & other Indians.

Amid the ongoing global Coronavirus Pandemic, the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday confirmed that an Indian Patient who was receiving treatment in Iran for Coronavirus has died. This is the first death of an Indian national abroad due to Coronavirus. So far India has had 186 confirmed positive Coronavirus cases. 

Introduces 'Janta curfew'

"I ask for another support from you - Janta curfew. This 22nd March, all people have to follow this curfew. 7AM to 9PM no one should be out of their home," he said adding,"I urge all state Govts that they lead in following the Janata Curfew.I want another cooperation from you, many people are at work at hospitals, airports, govt employees, Mediapersons, Autos, trains. These poeple without caring for themselves are working for you people as 'protectors of the nation".

Announces 5 PM salute for all 'protectors of nation' 

"We should come out and thank these people on the Janata Curfew day. At 5PM we will be at our doors for 5mins and applaud there protectors," he added.

1- Every India should be vigilant. Avoid stepping out of your homes until it is absolutely essential.

2- Those over the age of 60 should remain inside their homes only. 

3- Dutifully observe Janta Curfew on Sunday, 22nd March 2020 from 7 AM to 9 PM.

4- At 5 PM on 22nd March 2020, the day of the Janta Curfew, from your homes, express gratitude to those working round the clock to keep India healthy (such as doctors, nurses, paramedics, municipal staff, armed forces, airport staff)

5- Avoid going to hospitals for routine check-ups. If there are surgeries that can be postponed, kindly do so.

6- Formation of COVID-19 Economic Response Task Force under the leadership of the Finance Minister to comprehensively look at ways to boost the economy.

7- Do not cut the wages of those working in your homes, support staff and drivers, gardeners. 

8- Do not indulge in panic buying. India has enough food and ration supplies.

9- Stay away from rumours.

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope cautions state could witness sharp increase in coronavirus cases in April. Meanwhile, Haryana Health Department has reported four positive cases of Coronavirus (all from Gurugram) so far.
 

Govt bans export of all ventilators, surgical/disposable masks, textile raw material for masks with immediate effect amid Coronavirus pandemic.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation: In the wake of ‘Janta Curfew’ to be observed on 22nd Mar, DMRC has decided to keep its services closed. The move is aimed at encouraging the public to stay indoors&maintain social distancing, which is essential in the fight against Covid-19.

U.S. Embassy India says:

"In countries where commercial departure options remain available, U.S. citizens who live in the United States should arrange for immediate return to the United States, unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period."
 

As many as 114 passengers who arrived here from Dubai by a SpiceJet flight on Friday were put in mandatory quarantine though no passenger on the aircraft showed any major symptoms of coronavirus, a senior official said to PTI.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray declared the closure of all workplaces from the midnight of March 20 until March 31 amid the novel coronavirus outbreak. This would be applicable in Mumbai, Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad, and Nagpur. Meanwhile, the government offices will operate at 25% attendance. 

Exceptions:

Thackeray clarified that essential services would continue to operate. Stock exchanges, clearing corporations, depositories ,stock brokers and SEBI registered participants operating through these institutions will be exempted. As per the amended BMC order, port, electricity, petroleum, oil, energy, media, IT services provided to any of the essential services and production processes which require continuity of process have been added to the list of establishments that are exempted from the 50% work from home rule in Mumbai.
 

Adopting stringent measures like Maharashtra, amid the pandemic Coronavirus (COVID-19), Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Friday, has directed all public and private companies to reduce their working staff to 50%, except essential services. Moreover, he also announced that the government will start stamping suspect cases of COVID-19 with 'Home quarantine' at all airports, railway stations from Sunday. Assuring that no positive cases of Coronavirus were found in Assam, he also urged people to practice social distancing.

Bollywood singer Kanika Kapoor confirmed that she has tested positive for COVID-19. In a post on Instagram, the singer shared that she got herself tested after experiencing symptoms, and it came positive. She added that she and her family are in quarantine at the moment and following all medical advice. 
 

Lok Sabha MP Dushyant Singh who was spotted attending a party in Lucknow with Bollywood singer Kanika Kapoor, has self-isolated himself along with his mother former chief minister of Rajasthan Vasundhara Raje. The singer Kanika Kapoor has since then tested postive for COVID-19. She been self-isolated, after returned from UK, entering the country via Mumbai and then flying to Lucknow.

Moreover, Dushyant Singh reportedly also attended Parliament the next day and was sitting with Surendra Nagar Nishikant and Manoj Tewari in the Central Hall on Thursday. Since then, Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien has gone into self-isolation after he revealed he had spent 2.5 hours sitting next to Dushyant Singh. Haryana MP Deepender Hooda too has gone into self-isolation after he had reportedly shared a lunch with Dushyant Singh on Thursday. Congress leader Jitin Prasada has confirmed that he has gone into quarantine after attending a party where Kanika Kapoor was present.

Amid Lok Sabha MP Dushyant Singh self -isolating himself on Friday, after exposure to Bollywood singer Kanika Kapoor, President Ram Nath did not shake hands with the MP, say sources. Singh had visited the Rashtrapati Bhavan along with a delegation of MPs, few days earlier, report sources. But government sources acknowledge that all protocols are being are being followed and that the President's office is in touch with health ministry. Dushyant Singh has not tested positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19) as of now.

(I was present at an event yesterday. Associate Member of Parliament Mr. Dushyant Singh was also present at the event. As a precaution, I am going to self isolation. I will follow the necessary guidelines by the government.)

12 more persons have tested positive for #COVID19 in Kerala- 5 in Ernakulam, 6 in Kasaragod and 1 in Palakkad. There are total 40 Coronavirus positive cases in the state: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan

Lucknow's Taj Hotel will remain closed till further orders, says District Magistrate after Singer Kanika Kapoor who has tested positive for COVID-19 had attended a party in the hotel.

Saudi Arabia and India to work closely to gather global cooperation in dealing with coronavirus outbreak: Saudi envoy to PTI

As coronavirus is spreading rapidly and has already infected more than 170 people in India, the iconic dabbawalas in Mumbai will be suspending their tiffin services from March 20 to March 31. The dabbawalas in Mumbai serve at least two lakh people across the city, but due to coronavirus scare, the union has decided to suspend all their services till the end of this month. The lunchbox delivery service is expected to resume from April 1. 

Indian Railways: Suburban services in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Secunderabad shall be reduced to bare minimum level only to cater to essential travel requirement on March 22, Sunday. #CoronaVirus

Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Ashwini Kumar Choubey on Thursday speaking about the coronavirus outbreak across India said the people should spend at least 15 minutes in the sun as the Vitamin D provided by the Sun improves immunity and kills viruses. 

UP Health Minister Jai Pratap Singh has quarantined  after came in contact with Bollywood singer Konika Kapoor who has tested positive for novel coronavirus.  The singer and UP health minister were among 100 guests at a party thrown by interior designer Adil Ahmad, who is the nephew of former BSP MP Akbar Ahmad Dumpy.

Moreover, UP MLA Pankaj Singh - Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's son has also self-quarantined himself till the health minister's results are recieved.

In a massive development, Indian Railways on Friday has announced that there will be a pan-India shutdown for all passenger trains on Sunday on account of 'Janta curfew'. The Railways has released a statement stating that all trains originating from 22:00 hrs on 21 March to 24:00 hrs on 22 March will be suspended. Passenger trains already on run on Sunday at 7:00 Hrs will be allowed to run on the 'Janta curfew' day.

Moreover, Suburban services in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Secunderabad shall be reduced to a bare minimum level only to cater to essential travel requirements on March 22, Sunday. Similarly, for mails/express trains originating on the day of 'Janta curfew' are being cancelled, but those already running will be allowed to proceed.

Two doctors in Maharashtra have been booked on Thursday for allegedly claiming to have cured the Coronavirus infection. According to reports, the two doctors in Vasai and Nalasopara respectively had allegedly put hoardings outside their clinics claiming to cure the Coronavirus. However, no vaccine against the disease is available so far, globally. 

A man suspected to be infected with COVID-19 allegedly committed suicide by jumping off the seventh floor of the Safdarjung Hospital here on Wednesday, soon after he was admitted there by the airport authorities, police said. While police said he was aged 35, a Health Ministry statement said the man 23-year-old.

The man was brought by the airport authorities and was immediately put in the isolation ward, hospital sources said, adding that his samples had already been taken for testing.

The sources said the man forced open the isolation ward and jumped off the building.

Authorities in Kashmir on Thursday quarantined 78 people, who arrived from Leh in Ladakh union territory, for suspected novel coronavirus infection, officials said.

The two-week quarantine has been made mandatory for all persons coming to Kashmir from Ladakh. "Seventy-eight passengers arriving from Leh have been quarantined at a designated facility on the outskirts of Srinagar. Medical and logistics teams have been deployed," Srinagar Deputy Commissioner Shahid Iqbal Chaudhary said in a tweet.

The number of Coronavirus cases in Telangana reached 13 with a group of seven Indonesians and a youth, who returned from Scotland, testing positive for the virus on Wednesday.

The number of COVID-19 cases in the state stood at six after the Scotland-returned youth tested positive for the virus.-PTI

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday in a shocking remark said that "The BJP is a bigger virus than Corona." His statement comes at a time when India is battling the outbreak of the deadly virus which has resulted in the death of more than 7,500 people globally. 

Targeting the BJP he said, "The issue which the people are worried about is more serious than corona. We will fight this disease for a few days but the BJP, which for its own gain has worked to spread hate across the country is a serious disease. I appeal to all the mothers and sisters to do something to protect themselves from coronavirus but once it's gone then we all have to fight with this long term disease."

Churches in Odisha have decided to temporarily suspend all activities as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus outbreak.

The Odia Baptist Church in Cuttack, one of the largest in the state, and the Church of Christ in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday decided to put all activities, including Sunday mass, on hold till March 31.- PTI

Mass gatherings in St Michael's Church at Mahim in Mumbai have been suspended till March 31 in the wake coronavirus outbreak, one of its members said on Thursday.

Thousands of people gather at the Mahim Church for Sunday and Wednesday masses. But Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the Archbishop of Bombay, has exempted Catholics from attending churches till March 31, an active member of the Mahim Church, Rita D'Sa, told PTI on Thursday.

The Samajwadi Party on Thursday said it has cancelled all political programmes this month and advised workers to stay home in view of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

"In view of the spread of coronavirus, I appeal party workers to remain home and remain connected through phones with others and provide them necessary help," SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will speak to the Chief Minister and Health Ministers of all the states at 4 PM on Friday. The Prime Minister is also scheduled to address the nation on Thursday 8 PM over issues relating to COVID-19 and the efforts to combat it. 

Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Thursday announced that domestic travellers arriving at the state's Dabolim airport will also be screened for coronavirus infection.

In the view of the Coronavirus outbreak, the Puri Jagannath temple in Orissa will be closed to prevent the mass gathering of the devotees amidst the virus scare. The administration of the temple announced that the temple would be closed for the devotees from Friday. The administration also revealed that despite the closure of the temple to the devotees, rituals would be carried out within the temple as per usual.  

The Orissa government on Wednesday had issued an advisory to all religious institutions to adhere to the COVID-19 prevention norms, following which the temple decided to shut its doors to help arrest the spread of the virus. 

IndiGo CEO Ronojoy Dutta on Thursday announced a pay cut for all employees amid the novel Coronavirus crisis. He also mentioned that senior vice presidents and above would take a 20% pay cut while the salaries of the cockpit crew would be cut by 15%. At the same time, Dutta stressed that he would himself take a 25% cut in salary. Highlighting the substantial loss in revenue, he said that the very survival of the airline industry was at stake.

Kejriwal addressed the media on Saturday and said, "Trains, metro, auto, taxi won't run tomorrow. We thought about this. 50% of the buses won't run tomorrow. Some people did not like conditions at quarantine so arrangements made at hotel. Such paid quarantines won't be charged with GST.  We are worried about people losing work. Kitchen was to be set up in Delhi and food should be distributed for free but it would attract crows. 72 lakh people will get more ration."

Amid rising cases of coronavirus in India, Himachal Pradesh has banned the entry of domestic and foreign tourists in the state. Currently, there are 271 confirmed cases of the novel Coronavirus in India with one death reported in Mumbai, Delhi, Kalaburagi and Punjab each. In Delhi, 26 people have tested positive for COVID-19. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi advised people against going back to their villages. According to him, this would risk the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic. He called upon everyone to stay put in their respective cities for the time being and avoid crowding at railway stations and bus terminals. 

In a big announcement, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant urged tourists to avoid visiting the state before March 31 in the wake of the novel coronavirus crisis. He stated that beaches, restaurants and many public places in Goa will remain closed. 

Shahid Choudhary, the District Magistrate of Srinagar declared that there will be total restrictions in Srinagar city on March 22 which includes a ban on public or vehicular movement. Business establishments will be closed. Moreover, no social or religious gatherings will be allowed to take place. In another development, he revealed that a person with travel history to Saudi Arabia who had run away before his sample could be taken had been successfully traced and put in quarantine. 

15 individuals who were advised home quarantine were intercepted by the Central Railway Police Force at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai just before they were about to board a long-distance train. All of them have been sent to an isolation centre in Worli. 

The Mizoram government has imposed Section 144 of CrPC in Aizawl, Lunglei, Lawngtlai, Kolasib, Khawzawl, and Champhai districts. The prohibitory orders have been issued to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus crisis. Meanwhile, the state government has also stopped issuing Inner Line Permits to visitors. 

Amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, the premises of the Parliament were sanitised. The sanitization drive was held on the directions of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. This development comes after several parliamentarians including Dushyant Singh, Derek O'Brien, Varun Gandhi, Sanjay Singh went into self-isolation. In fact, O'Brien demanded the Parliament session to be deferred. 

According to the Gujarat Chief Minister's Office, it was decided in a high-level meeting that there will be a total lockdown in Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot, and Vadodara until March 25. Only shops selling necessities things like vegetables and medical items will be allowed to remain open. 

The government of India notified the guidelines laid down by the Indian Council of Medical Research for COVID-19 testing in private labs. As per the guidelines, the maximum cost for testing sample should not exceed Rs.4,500. This may include Rs.1,500 as a screening test for suspect cases, and an additional Rs.3,000 for the confirmation test. At the same time, the ICMR has encouraged the private labs to go for free or subsidized testing, contending that there is a national public health emergency. 

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot imposed a lockdown in the state from March 22 to March 31. Barring for essential services, all government, and private offices, malls, factories, and tourist spots will be closed. According to Gehlot, it was imperative for people to stay at home. Shops selling grocery items and medical items will remain open. 

As per the ICMR, a total of 16,021 individuals have been tested for the novel coronavirus as of 6 pm on March 21. Out of this, there are 315 confirmed COVID-19 cases. 

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announced on Saturday that the state will remain in lockdown from March 22 till March 31 in view of the coronavirus pandemic.

Assam reports first coronavirus case; four-and-a-half-yr-old girl tests positive in Jorhat, samples sent to ICMR for reconfirmation: DC — PTI

Tamil Nadu has shut its border with neighbouring Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, informed Coimbatore District Collector. The measure has been taken to contain the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus. The state has so far reported four cases of coronavirus.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the 4-year-old child who was reported to have tested positive coronavirus positive has been found negative. He stated that the disease has no confirmed cases in the state.

Indian Railways has cancelled all passenger trains till 10 pm today during Janta Curfew in the view of Coronavirus.

In a big step to contain the spread of coronavirus, Maharashtra restricted travel on Mumbai's suburban local trains to only government personnel engaged in the provision of essential services from Sunday. In a late-night release on Saturday, the Konkan divisional commissioner informed ID cards of people will be checked at every station.

India has reported its fifth death due to coronavirus in Mumbai on Sunday. As per Public Health Department under Municipal Corporation, Greater Mumbai, a 63-year old male patient who has tested positive died at 11.03 PM on March 21. He also had a chronic history of diabetes, high blood pressure and ischemic heart disease. The press note by the health department added that he had developed acute respiratory distress syndrome that led to his death.

Bihar has reported its first cases of coronavirus on Sunday. While a 38-year-old man, who had returned from Qatar, and was suffering from kidney ailment has died, AIIMS, Patna also confirmed that he tested positive of COVID 19. However, it is unclear if the man died of COVID 19. 

Another man has tested positive of the novel coronavirus. The person is currently admitted in Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences and the treatment is going on. He had returned from Scotland.

In wake of the coronavirus outbreak in India, all railway operations will be suspended till March 31. No passenger train will be allowed to operate. Only goods trains will run from March 22 midnight till March 31.

The Central government has extended the restrictions on the movement of non-essential passenger transport including inter-state transport buses till March 31, in order to contain the spread of COVID-19. A decision was also taken to suspend all metro rail services till 31st March 2020. Further, the state governments will issue orders allowing only essential services to operate in about 75 districts with confirmed coronavirus cases. 

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting held on Sunday morning with Chief Secretaries of all the states by the Cabinet Secretary and the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister. 

Here is the official press release:

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has gone into quarantine after the doctor who administered her a vaccine tested positive for the new coronavirus COVID-19.

The Chancellor 's spokesman said the 65-year-old German leader informed about the doctor's test shortly after holding a news conference on Sunday as she announced new measures to curb the spread of the virus.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced a national lockdown on Sunday in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The lockdown will start on Monday at 6 a.m (0400GMT).

Two more fatalities from the COVID-19 virus were confirmed in Greece Sunday, bringing the death toll to 15. About 94 new cases were confirmed, bringing the total to 624.
 

At the Coronavirus Task Force’s press briefing in the White House on March 23, US President Donald Trump confirmed that Senator Rand Paul has the novel coronavirus COVID-19.

In another major announcement, Trump said that the national guard has been ordered to help with the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in New York, California and Washington where the outbreak has hit hard. He mentioned speaking to the governors of all three states and said that they will have control of the national guard in their respective states.

As per reports, additional supplies will be delivered to the three states in the next 48 hours, including extra beds and facemasks. 

Number of anti-CAA protesters at Shaheen Bagh has reduced significantly amid lockdown announced in the state in view of Coronavirus till 31st March and the 'Janta Curfew' that was observed yesterday, according to ANI. Similar Shaheen Bagh-like protests in Lucknow's Ghantaghar and Mumbai Bagh have been put on hold with curfew bwing imposed in most states.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal presents budget amid lockdown in Delhi. The government has agreed to  implement Centre’s Ayushman Bharat Yojana scheme as announced by Deputy CM Manish Sisodia while presenting Delhi budget for 2020-21. A total budget of Rs 65,000 crore was announced by Sisodia, who is also the state finance minister.

Government of India asks states to strictly enforce lockdown, legal action will be taken against violators.

Supreme Court cancels all proximity cards (ID cards) for lawyers entering the Supreme Court. CJI S A Bobade says only lawyers allowed by the president of the bar will be allowed. No physical court hearings from tomorrow, says CJI.

Lok Sabha has been adjourned sine die after passage of the Finance Bill on Monday through voice vote. The session was earlier scheduled to conclude on April 3. Rajya Sabha is still currently in session.

(Uttar Pradesh also has to become a full partner in the country's fight against the global pandemic Corona virus. That is why the decision of complete lockdown has been taken today in 16 districts. I appeal to the people of the state to give their support for the healthy and secure future of 23 crore people)

Two-wheeler major TVS Motor Company on Monday said it is suspending production at all its plants for two days in order to safeguard its employees from the coronavirus pandemic.

After reviewing the situation with the Chief Secretary and DGP, the CM has announced full curfew with no relaxations. DCs have been asked to issue orders accordingly. Any person required to be given relaxation will be so allowed specifically for a given period and purpose.

RBI announces large liquidity injections via repo window under Liquidity Adjustment Facility. As a pre-emptive measure to tide over any frictional liquidity requirements on account of dislocations due to COVID-19, the Reserve Bank of India has decided to conduct the following fine-tuning variable rate Repo auctions for ₹1,00,000 crores. This will be conducted in 2 tranches.

Chandigarh-Punjab-Haryana border sealed

Chandigarh Police has sealed all 38 outer border nakas (manned/unmanned) which have been operational on round the clock basis, where in vehicles working for essential service, vehicles carrying patients, ambulance, government vehicles of Haryana, Punjab will be allowed to come.  Further all the incoming persons would be enquired regarding their purpose of coming and on production of their local residence proof will be allowed to enter.

Delhi's borders sealed

After announcing complete lockdown on Sunday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has imposed Section 144, metro services are shut and the borders of the state have been shut.

J&K borders shut

Sources have reported that the J&K government has shut its borders towars Punjab to stop people movement.

Maharashtra seals  its state borders & district borders

CM Uddhav Thackeray has announced that a state-wide lock down, shuttin its borders. Furthermore, all places of worship have been shut. Moreover, all district borders have been shut too. Moreover, Mumbai-Pune expressway has also been shut down.

Sources report that ED has asked officers to be available on the phone, amid Coronavirus outbreak. ED has asked officers to continue work over phone / video conferencing. CBI has already asked all its branches to immediately suspend all non-urgent interrogations till April 4. 

“All investigation teams outside their respective headquarters may be recalled with immediate effect. Report compliance.” Joint Director Administration has issued orders to all units of the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Madhya Pradesh sees first Covid-19 cases; four test positive for novel coronavirus in Jabalpur

Compulsory screening extended to international travellers from Australia and US, as informed by Ministry of Health.

Consultants/Advisors with Central Govt Ministeries above 60 Years asked to work from home

Meghalaya announces 24-hour shutdown beginning midnight; CM Conrad Sangma says Saturday will be observed as 'coronavirus awareness day'

GoAir says it is voluntarily suspending all flights on Sunday when Janta curfew will be in force. Meanwhile, InidiGo reduces to 60% of its aircraft on Sunday.

A total of 236 persons among suspected cases and contacts of known positive cases have tested positive for COVID19, says Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). India  has seen 4 deaths till date.

Aviation ministry says its officials, who came in contact with an MP on Mar 18 in Parliament, have gone into self quarantine

Ride-hailing platforms, Ola and Uber have suspended shared rides temporarily in an effort to curb the spread of Coronavirus that has claimed over 11,000 lives so far globally. Shared rides allowed users to commute with other riders and these rides usually cost less than standalone rides. However, the company said it will continue to provide Micro, Mini, and Prime as well as rental and outstation services rides.

"In our efforts to curb the spread of COVID- 19, we are temporarily suspending the ‘Ola Share’ category until further notice,” an Ola spokesperson said.

As coronavirus cases in Maharashtra rises, Uddhav Thackeray Government on Saturday issued circular to restrict or lower the use of air-conditioners to a minimum in government offices, to curd the spread of #Coronavirus.

Amid coronavirus outbreak, consumer affairs ministry has taken measures to limit the prices of sanitizer, mask prices. Price of 2 ply masks capped at Rs 8 and 3 ply at Rs 10. Hand sanitiser prices capped at Rs 100 for 200 ml.  All urgent pricing measures to stay till June 30, 2020. Earlier on March 13, the government declared face masks and hand sanitizers as essential commodities for the next 100 days as it stepped up efforts to boost supply and prevent hoarding of these items in its fight to check the spread of coronavirus disease.

After a person in Noida's Sector 74 test positive for COVID 19, the Government of Uttar Pradesh has announced to lockdown the society from March 21 to March 23. With this the toll in Noida goes up to 5.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announces the shutdown of metro rail, state and city bus services in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday to follow Janta Curfew. He appealed to people to not panic over coronavirus. He said, "We've sufficient stock of essential commodities and medicines in the state. So please don't rush to shops to buy things and hoard commodities."

Amid restrictions in Mumbai due to coronavirus outbreak, Health Minister Rajesh Tope said, "Local will be functional. We have been operating it for essential activities. I would say that people should be self-disciplined, follow social distancing and use train, not unless it's essential."

The Indian Council of Medical Research revised its strategy to fight the spread of the new coronavirus on Saturday, saying all hospitalised patients with severe acute respiratory illness, shortness of breath and having fever and cough will now be tested for COVID-19 infection.

The new ICMR guidelines also said asymptomatic direct and high-risk contacts of a confirmed case should be tested once between day 5 and day 14 of coming in his/her contact.

The apex body for biomedical research revised its strategy in view of a spurt in coronavirus cases in the country this week. The new strategy aims to contain the spread of infection more effectively and to provide reliable diagnosis to all individuals meeting the inclusion criteria of COVID-19 testing.

Till now, all asymptomatic individuals who undertook international travel in the last 14 days and developed symptoms, all symptomatic contacts of laboratory-confirmed cases and all symptomatic health care workers were being tested for the infection as per the guidelines.

Amid coronavirus outbreak, as per Government directions, the office of the Mumbai Cricket Association will remain closed till 31st March 2020. The further decision would be taken as per the directions of the Government of Maharashtra.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has launched a toll-free helpline on coronavirus safeguards for students, officials said on Saturday. The facility is available on helpline number 1800 11 8004 from 8 am to 8 pm, initially up to March 31, they said.

Earlier, the CBSE had allowed students to carry sanitisers and masks to examination centres for Classes 10 and 12, and instructed the centres to change seating arrangements to ensure adequate distance between examinees. According to the Health Ministry, number of COVID-19 cases reached 258 in India on Saturday after 35 fresh cases were reported in various parts of the country,

Ladakh Administration: Three more people have been tested positive for COVID 19 in Leh (two persons) and Kargil (one person), taking the total number of cases to 13 in the Union Territory. The condition of all the infected people is stable.

With six new coronavirus positive cases being reported in Gujarat on Saturday, the number of infected persons in the state has gone up to 13, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said. These patients are being treated in hospitals at Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat and Rajkot, Patel told reporters in Vadodara.

In a bid to expand the medical facilities in India, the Centre on Tuesday has asked all state governments to deploy funds to establish additional medical facilities to boost the medical infrastructure of the country, according to a press release. It added that additional facilities including hospitals, clinical labs, isolation wards should be set up by these funds. Apart from this the Centre also directed the states to upgrade and expand existing facilities and ensure all facilities are sufficiently equipped with ventilators, personal protective equipment (PPE), masks and drugs to treat the patients.

Centre issues directive to states

Cabinet Secy Rajiv Gauba writes to states, asks earmarking of hospitals dedicated for management of COVID cases

Indian Council of Medical Research has recommended the use of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug for the prevention of COVID-19 for high-risk population. This will only apply to asymptomatic healthcare workers involved in the care of suspected or confirmed novel coronavirus cases and the asymptomatic household contacts of confirmed cases. The protocol states that its use will be restricted to emergency situations.  

ICMR accelarates kit manufacturing

Moreover, the National Task Force has stressed that the use of this drug should not instill a false sense of security. Also, the high-risk contacts of a confirmed case undergoing this treatment should remain in home quarantine. Moreover, this drug should only be given on the prescription of a registered medical practitioner. If a person gets any other symptoms apart from that of COVID-19, he should immediately seek the treatment of the same medical practitioner who prescribed the drug. Recently, three COVID-19 patients in Rajasthan were successfully cured with a combination of swine flu medicines, the aforesaid drug, and HIV drugs.

ICMR announced that process of kit manufacturing fast-tracked at ICMR-NIV Pune. 2 kit manufacturers already approved. I'd like to clarify that FDA/CE approval isn't mandatory. ICMR-NIV approved tests which will be done there on fast-track basis will also be acceptable for #COVID testing.

Reliance is enhancing its production capacities to produce 100,000 face-masks per day & a large number of personal protective equipments for the nation’s health workers to equip them further to fight #coronavirus: Reliance statement