Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru being sanitised with the spraying of disinfectants, as a precautionary measure against the coronavirus outbreak. (Photo Credit: ANI)
New Delhi:
The number of novel coronavirus cases in India rose to 151 with first case reported in the Indian armed forces. News Nation has learnt that a 34-year-old Indian Army soldier has been tested positive for coronavirus. Meanwhile, one more person has tested positive for coronavirus in Pune. This takes the total number of Covid-19 positive cases in Pune to 18 and 42 in Maharashtra. On Tuesday, one person died in Maharashtra taking the death toll to three in country. Meanwhile, China has given the go-ahead for researchers to begin human safety tests of an experimental coronavirus vaccine in the race to develop a shot against the Covid-19 epidemic, reported Reuters.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has described the coronavirus pandemic as the"defining global health crisis of our time", and urged countries to test all suspected cases of COVID-19.
Italy reported 345 new coronavirus deaths in the country over the last 24 hours taking its total death toll over 2,500. The total number of cases in Italy has crossed 31,000. Italy has reported the highest number of cases outside China. Meanwhile, China reported 11 deaths due to Covid-19 on Tuesday with the epicentre of the novel coronavirus outbreak Wuhan city in China reporting a single confirmed case for the second consecutive day. So far, 3,237 have died in China due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, health officials said on Wednesday. China's National Health Commission (NHC) said 11 new deaths and 13 new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection were reported in the country on Tuesday. (With agency inputs)
Prime Minister's Office: PM expressed gratitude to all those at the forefront of combating COVID-19 including the various state governments, medical fraternity, paramedical staff, armed and paramilitary forces, those associated with aviation sector, municipal staff and others.
Prime Minister's Office: PM expressed gratitude to all those at the forefront of combating COVID-19 including the various state governments, medical fraternity, paramedical staff, armed and paramilitary forces, those associated with aviation sector, municipal staff and others.
IIT Delhi: All remaining students (except international students & students with special needs) are requested to vacate the hostels at the earliest. Hostels will function with skeleton staff & packed food will be provided for remaining students.
All ongoing examinations of CBSE for Classes 10th & 12th, scheduled between 19th March & 31st March, shall be rescheduled after 31st March: Anurag Tripathy, CBSE Secretary
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation on 19th March 2020 at 8 PM, during which he will talk about issues relating to COVID-19 and the efforts to combat it.
EE mains examination should be rescheduled&new date will be announced on March 31 after re-assessment of the situation since the examination may require travel by examinees to different towns & the dates may clash with rescheduled CBSE, other board exams: MHRD
Another person tests positive for coronavirus in Pimpri-Chinchwad, taking number of infections in Pune district to 19: Official
Maharashtra Government: It has been decided that offices will continue on a day-to-day basis, accounting for 50% of the workforce. Besides, it has been suggested to try to operate 50% passenger capacity of the public transport system including rail, buses & metro.
Over 39,000 people screened across Assam as part of measures to prevent coronavirus spread: Health and Family Welfare Department
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Staff Council seeks suspension of breathalyser tests for train operators amid coronavirus scare; DMRC says no chance of infection as all precautions taken during such health examinations
Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik's sister in home isolation on return from abroad.
Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Mukund Naravane today visited Jaisalmer and reviewed Indian Army Wellness Centre there to tackle challenges presented by COVID-19. 118 men and 171 women evacuated from Iran are undergoing mandatory quarantine period at this facility.
In view of the current situation, GoAir has been forced to terminate the contracts of expat pilots which is in line with the reduced international capacity.
Discussed measures with Delhi CM. Deliberated social distancing measures which can be encouraged in govt offices, public transport, public places. Meeting with CM and senior officers to be held tomorrow to review the status: Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal
With departure of 185 pilgrims from Jeddah to Mumbai through a special Indigo aircraft, the final phase of evacuation of 3035 Indian pilgrims culminated today: Indian Consulate General in Jeddah(Saudi Arabia).
With departure of 185 pilgrims from Jeddah to Mumbai through a special Indigo aircraft, the final phase of evacuation of 3035 Indian pilgrims culminated today: Indian Consulate General in Jeddah(Saudi Arabia) #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/uuiCebYNvY
— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2020
We are temporarily suspending our international operations from March 20 to March 31. We have also temporarily adjusted domestic capacity for March & April in view of reduced demand. Customers booked on the affected flights will be fully refunded: Vistara
Uttarakhand govt issues order to allow govt employees to work from home. The order reads, "Only employees whose presence in offices is very necessary shall be called to office". The order will be effective from March 19 to March 25.
National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) writes to District Magistrate of South East Delhi and asks them to take necessary action in view of Centre and State's advisories. NCPCR has asked for a report within 3 days.
Northern Railway: Rate of platform tickets will be increased from Rs 10 to Rs 50 from tomorrow to April 30 on all 12 A1 & A class stations of Firozpur Division including Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Amritsar, Ludhiana & Jammu Tawi to prevent the spread of Coronavirus.
A political leader in Goa has been tested positive for novel coronavirus.
Chennai reports second positive case for COVID-19. The patient hails from Delhi, is in isolation & stable. He is under the observation of expert team: Tamil Nadu Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar
As per govt guidelines, Mimi Chakraborty will be home quarantined for 14 days as she returned from London today: Anirban Bhattacharya, Press Secretary of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mimi Chakraborty
More than 60 per cent train tickets cancelled in March this year in view of coronavirus, railway officials inform Parliament panel
Indian Army has issued advisory to all commands regarding COVID-19. All wargames and conferences are hereby postponed till further orders. All training activities to be postponed or cancelled, in view of the current circumstances.
Two more test positive in Karnataka, after Noida; number of cases in India climbs to 151
Nepal Government announces closure of cinema halls, cultural centers, stadium, sports grounds, health clubs, museums, swimming pools and other places of recreational activities, till 30th April, in wake of possible COVID-19 infection.
4 persons suspected to have COVID-19 who had flown down from Germany&were heading to Surat, were deboarded from Garib Rath train in Palghar today. They had 'home quarantine stamp' on their hands, still they were defying the protocol: Chief Public Relation Officer, Western Railway
India confirms that there are at present 276 CoronaVirus infected Indians abroad. 255 in Iran, 12 in UAE, 5 in Italy, One each in Sri Lanka, Hong Kong SAR, Kuwait, and Rwanda.
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, adding that further details would be shared later.
The Telangana government on Saturday announced a number of measures, including the closure of all educational institutions, coaching centres and summer campstill March 31, to prevent the spread of the virus in the state. Board exams, however, would be held as per schedule.
All non-emergency leaves of paramilitary personnel should be "cancelled" to minimise the risk of contracting coronavirus during travel, and they should get into "battle mode" to combat the pandemic, a government order says. (PTI)
Pakistan and the World Bank are in talks for loans up to USD 200 million to enhance capacity of the country's public hospitals and laboratories to control the spread of coronavirus, media report says. (PTI)
Coronavirus is not artificially made, but the product of natural evolution, a new study says. (PTI)
The National Restaurant Association of India asks all members to shut down restaurants till March 31 or till such time when no new cases are reported. (PTI)
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Rajasthan High Court will function for only two hours a day till March 31, and take up matters that require urgent hearing during which the accused will be exempted from appearing in person before the judges. (PTI)
Students of classes one to eight of all government primary schools in UP will get promoted without having to appear in examinations in view of the coronavirus outbreak, official says. (PTI)
The novel coronavirus, responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, can be stable for several hours to days in aerosols and on surfaces, according to a new study. (PTI)
"Black Widow", starring Scarlett Johansson, has been pulled by Marvel Studios in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. (PTI)
The World Bank announces increasing to USD14 billion the amount of fast-track financing to assist companies and countries in their efforts against COVID-19 pandemic. (PTI)
2 more Covid-19 cases have been registered in Bengaluru today, taking the total infected cases to 13. A 56-year-old male, resident of Bengaluru returned from USA on 6th March while another 25-year-old female had returned from Spain: B Sriramulu, Karnataka Health Minister
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra has been closed from today. Operations of all inter state buses, both incoming and outgoing from J&K, are banned from today: Department of Information and Public Relations, Government of Jammu & Kashmir
Fourth positive case of Coronavirus found in Noida. According to CMO Gautam Buddh Nagar, a person with a travel history to Indonesia has tested positive for coronavirus.
An Army officer attached to the College of Military Engineering in Pune has been asked to self-quarantine after he showed symptoms of flu, PTI reported quoting sources said on Wednesday. The wife of another officer at the institute has also been asked to self-quarantine. Both of them are yet to be tested for coronavirus.
The number of novel coronavirus cases in Mumbai remained constant and no new case was recorded on Wednesday morning, a senior civic official told PTI. Additional Municipal Commissioner Suresh Kakani said the number of COVID-19 cases remained constant in the metropolis with no fresh case being detected till 11 am. Until now, 15 COVID-19 cases have been found in Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). All these cases are being treated at the civic-run Kasturba Hospital in Chinchpokli.
A junior doctor has tested positive for coronavirus in Lucknow's KGMU hospital. The doctor was treating coronavirus patientsAccording to the in-charge of the KGMU isolation ward Dr Sudhir Singh, the doctor is stable and there is nothing to worry about.
Indian Army has quarantined all the soldiers and colleagues of the Ladakh Scouts jawan who has tested positive for COVID-19 in Ladakh, according to army sources. The jawan was attached to the Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre in Leh.
Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu got his temperature checked with the help of thermometer gun, before entering his office.
Delhi: Vice President and Chairman of Rajya Sabha M Venkaiah Naidu got his temperature checked with the help of thermometer gun, before entering his office as part of precautionary measures being undertaken to contain the spread of #Coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/iTh0900usV
— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2020
Supreme Court takes suo motu cognisance of non-availability of mid-day meals for children due to the closure of schools in the light of coronavirus. A Bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde issues notices to all state governments and union territories.
According to the Health Ministry, over 5,700 people who had come in contact with these positive cases are under rigorous surveillance.
The BJP has decided not to hold any protest or demonstration for a month in view of the coronavirus outbreak, party president J P Nadda said on Wednesday. The party will not holding public gatherings, he said adding if they have to convey anything, senior party leaders will do so through memorandums.
"All party units have been asked to spread awareness about coronavirus and their dos and don'ts," Nadda said.
The BJP president's statement came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a parliamentary party meeting of the BJP asked MPs to spread awareness among the people in small groups about coronavirus and suggested that they should refrain from launching any mass agitation till April 15. (PTI)
The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in India rises to 147 (122 Indian nationals and 25 foreign nationals), ANI reports quoting the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: Total number of confirmed #COVID19 cases in India rises to 147 - comprising 122 Indian nationals and 25 foreign nationals (as on 18.03.2020 at 09:00 AM) pic.twitter.com/Lzw64idp5F
— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2020
The Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru is being sanitised with the spraying of disinfectants, as a precautionary measure against the coronavirus outbreak.
Karnataka: Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru being sanitised with the spraying of disinfectants, as a precautionary measure against #Coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/QuPDPYN51y
— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2020
Delhi: Temperature of people are being checked with the help of thermometer gun at Parliament Gate as precautionary measure to contain the spread of coronavirus.
Delhi: Temperature of people are being checked with the help of thermometer gun at Parliament Gate as precautionary measure to contain the spread of #Coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/RT4cmHdLCd
— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2020
BJP MP Suresh Prabhu has kept himself under isolation at his residence for the next 14 days, as a precautionary measure even after testing negative, following his return from a recent visit to Saudi Arabia to attend Second Sherpas' Meeting on 10th March 2020, reports ANI.
A 34-year-old Indian Army soldier has been tested positive for coronavirus making it a first COVID-19 case in the military. News Nation has learnt that the armyman's father was evacuated from Iran on February 29. The soldier, a local resident of Chuchot village in the Leh district, was on leave from February 25 to March 1st. He had rejoined his unit on March 2nd. The soldier was helping his family during the quarantine period and was staying at Chuchot village. The father reported positive for COVID-19 on March 6 and he was isolated at SNM Hospital. The soldier was also quarantined on March 7 and detected to be positive on March 16 and was isolated at SNM Hospital. His sister, wife and two children are also quarantined at SNM Heart Foundation.
One more person has tested positive for Coronavirus in Pune. The person has travel history to France and Netherlands. Total number of positive cases reaches 18 in Pune and 42 in Maharashtra, according to DM Naval Kishore Ram.
Government has banned all official or private international travel by the government staff with an immediate effect. The applies to all even those officials whose plans were earlier approved, said reports.
China has given the go-ahead for researchers to begin human safety tests of an experimental coronavirus vaccine in the race to develop a shot against the Covid-19 epidemic that has killed more than 7,000 people worldwide: Reuters
Indian Embassy in Italy is are doing all that is possible to support and assist more than Indian students there. Their swab tests have been taken over the weekend & reports are awaited. "We are doing all that is possible within our limited resources, despite the current lock-down, to support & assist more than 300 Indian students in Rome & nearby areas. Their swab tests have been taken over the weekend & reports are awaited," it said.
External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar met immigration, health, security, and airport officials of Delhi Airport on Tuesday night.
External Affairs Minister (EAM), Dr. S. Jaishankar met immigration, health, security, and airport officials of Delhi Airport tonight. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/R7P457QFzJ
— ANI (@ANI) March 17, 2020
Indian Railways cancelled 95 trains on Tuesday in view of the coronavirus outbreak. It has also issued a set of guidelines for its catering staff stating no employee having fever, cough, runny nose or difficulty in breathing should be deployed in the business of food handling on Indian Railways.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has said that there was no sign of community transmission of the novel coronavirus in India so far. It concluded so after conducting its second round of testing using 500 samples of patients admitted for respiratory illnesses between March 1-March 15.
