Coronavirus Pandemic | After Delhi, Bihar Announces Complete Lockdown Till March 31

With a view to contain the spread of novel coronavirus in Bihar, chief minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday announced complete lockdown in the state after it recorded first death due to COVID-19 today. "In the wake of Coronavirus, lockdown has been imposed in the state till March 31. All essential services will available," read a statement by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

On Sunday, India reported three deaths taking the count to 7. India reported three more coronavirus deaths on Sunday, including the first casualties from Bihar and Gujarat, taking the toll to seven and the number of COVID-19 cases rose to 341, officials said, as authorities suspended all train passenger and inter-state bus services till March 31 in unprecedented steps to contain the spread of the infection.

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A 38-year-old man from Bihar with a travel history to Qatar died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Patna, where he was admitted after seeking treatment at PMCH and a hospital in Munger.  Another woman, who is suspected to have come in contact with one of her Italy-returned relatives, has also tested positive in the city and is currently undergoing treatment at the hospital.

At least 13 new suspected cases of COVID-19 have been reported from Patna in the past 24 hours, taking the total number at the PMCH to 23.

In the wake of coronavirus outbreak, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on Sunday suggested Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri to suspend all flights coming to Bihar, say reports. Earlier in the day, Bihar reported its first death due to COVID-19. The 38-year-old man, who died in Patna, was tested positive for coronavirus on Saturday.

On Saturday, Nitish Kumar had held a meeting to review the preparedness in tackling the coronavirus outbreak in the state. The meeting was attended by his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi, Health Minister Mangal Pandey, Chief Secretary Deepak Kumar, Director General of Police (DGP) Gupteshwar Pandey and Patna Divisional Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Agarwal.

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An official statement after meeting said that intense screening of passengers is being done at Patna and Gaya airports. The Bihar  government has also made special arrangements in order to keep passengers coming from abroad in quarantine, the statement added.

"One patient passed away yesterday due to kidney failure, his tests have come positive for coronavirus. A woman has also tested positive, she is admitted at AIIMS”, news agency ANI quoted CM Nitish Kumar as saying.

Earlier, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had appealed to the people of the state to observe Janata Curfew on Sunday by staying indoors in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

According to latest updates, the total number of confirmed positive cases of coronavirus has gone up to to 341 in India which also includes foreign nationals.

(With PTI inputs)