The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged all countries to fight the Novel Coronavirus as figures show about 17 times as many new infections outside China as in it. The virus has infected nearly 98,000 people and killed over 3,300.
India is on high alert for Coronavirus outbreak after the country reported 31 positive cases of of the virus, including 16 Italian tourists. In view of the outbreak, all primary schools -- both government and private --were ordered to remain shut from March 6 to March 31.
The Healthy Ministry has announced that all international passengers will henceforth be screened at airports for the disease. Earlier, travellers from only 12 countries were being screened at the airports.
Among other COVID-19 cases in India, one is a 45-year-old man from Delhi's Mayur Vihar and six are his relatives from Agra whom he recently visited. They are all being treated at the Safdarjung hospital.
A 24-year-old man from Hyderabad has also tested positive for coronavirus and has been isolated. Besides, 16 members of a tourist group from Italy and their Indian driver have been found infected with the virus.
While an Italian man and his wife are being treated at Jaipur's SMS Hospital, 14 members of the group and their Indian driver have been admitted at the Medanta Hospital in Gurugram.
Globally, the virus has killed 3,282, statistics from the World Health Organisation showed.
New infections and deaths have been declining in recent weeks in China due to draconian quarantine measures. The virus has spread to at least 70 countries including Italy, Iran, US, Saudi Arabia, claiming hundreds of lives.
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March 6, 2020
1:42PM: The first flight from Iran will carry around 300 swabs (samples) of Indians suspected of having coronavirus; the flight is likely to land tonight, said a government official.
12:40PM: A 13-member group of tourists from Iran have been quarantined at a hotel in Amritsar and have been asked to not go out till their medical examination is completed. They reached Amritsar on Thursday night, an official said.
12:15PM: A Delhi man with a travel history to Thailand and Malaysia has tested positive for coronavirus, taking the total number of confirmed cases in India to 31, health ministry officials said. This is the third confirmed case in the national capital.
11:25AM: Isolation wards have been set up in Srinagar in view of Coronavirus outbreak.
11:20AM: Union Minister of State for Shipping, and Chemical and Fertilizers, Mansukh Mandaviya said that the government has imposed short term restrictions on some active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) with regards to coronavirus preparedness.
Mandaviya said, "To avoid shortage of medicines in the country, suggestions have been made by a Task Force. A permanent group of ministers keeps reviewing that. We export as well as import APIs (active pharmaceutical ingredients) and intermediates. In the case of some APIs, a crisis may occur in the country in the future, if they are exported. We have imposed short-term restrictions on such APIs with regard to coronavirus."
11:00AM: Bhutan has reported its first case of the coronavirus after a US tourist tested positive, the country's prime minister said.
10:30AM: Japan is cancelling an annual ceremony marking the anniversary of a deadly tsunami and nuclear disaster as the country steps up efforts to curb the new coronavirus, officials said Friday.
For the past eight years, the prime minister, lawmakers, and family members who lost loved ones in the disaster have attended the nationally televised ceremony.
9:05 AM: Pakistan's sixth coronavirus case was reported in Karachi. In a statement on Thursday, the Sindh health department said the 69-year-old patient has a travel historyto Iran and had returned to Pakistan on February 25, reports Dawn news.
9:00AM: The World Health Organization (WHO) said that it had registered 2,241 new confirmed cases of coronavirus worldwide within the past 24 hours, with 84 people having died, which brought the total death toll to 3,282.
The whole number of people, who were diagnosed with COVID-19, has reached 95,333, including 80,565 people in China.
8:30AM: Hossein Sheikholeslam, Iran's former ambassador to Syria, died of COVID-19 on Thursday.
8:00AM: Iran will operate special flights between Tehran and New Delhi for evacuating the nationals of both countries stranded due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. Iran will also send an empty flight to New Delhi on Friday to take back the Iranian nationals from India.
Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education announced on Thursday that the death toll from the novel coronavirus rose to 107, up from 92 on Wednesday
March 5, 2020
8:22PM: Hand Sanitizer Makers See 10-folds Jump In Sales | Hand sanitizer makers have seen up to 10-fold jump in demand, as the number of coronavirus cases in India is on the rise. The companies have increased the production amid reports of non-availability of hand sanitizers in the market.
8:00PM: Singapore Reports Five More Coronavirus Cases | Five new cases of coronavirus have been reported in Singapore, taking the total number of people infected by the deadly virus to 117 in the country.
6:30PM: South Africa reports first coronavirus case | South Africa has confirmed its first case of the novel coronavirus, a 38-year-old male who travelled to Italy, the country's health ministry announced.
6:04PM: India's total number of positive cases of coronavirus has now reached 30 after a person in Ghaziabad tested positive.
4:37PM: PM Modi's trip to Brussels has been cancelled as the India-EU summit has been postponed. "As far as India-EU Summit is concerned which PM Modi had to attend, the health authorities of both the countries suggested that travelling must not take place at present. So, it has been decided that Summit will be rescheduled on a mutually convenient date," MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.
4:27PM: In view of Coronavirus, From tomorrow, all primary schools -- both government & private -- will remain shut till March 31, says Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.
4:08PM: To prevent coronavirus spread, 16,076 crew, passengers aboard 452 ships from China were not allowed to disembark at Indian ports. Officials also said that crew, seafarers having travel history to coronavirus-hit countries will be barred from embarking at Indian ports.
3:00PM: In addition to Visa restrictions already in place, passengers travelling from/having visited Italy or Republic of Korea and desirous of entering India will need a certificate of having tested negative for coronavirus from the designated laboratories authorized by the health authorities of these countries.
2:15PM: Rahul Gandhi takes a jibe at the government, likens its assurance on coronavirus to Titanic captain telling passengers not to panic.
1:45PM: Next 8 days are crucial and we have to remain cautious, says Uddhav Thackeray on coronavirus situation in Maharashtra. "I Pray Coronavirus gets burnt in Holi fire," said Thackeray.
1:20pm: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar says the government is working on the logistics for the return of Indians stranded in Iran.
12:35PM: Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Kumar Gupta has written to the Rajya Sabha Chairman, urging to put in place preventive measures for detection of Coronavirus infection within the Parliament House complex.
12:30PM: Over 240 isolation wards have been created across Uttarakhand and 50- ICU beds are ready in AIIMS Rishikesh in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, officials said.
12:10PM: Navneet Ravi Rana, an independent member from Maharashtra, on Thursday asked a question in Lok Sabha wearing a mask.
11:30AM: As on 4th March, a total of 28529 persons were brought under community surveillance and are being monitored, Vardhan added.
11:28AM: Health Minister Vardhan says India is in touch with Iran with regard to the wellbeing of the students trapped there amid the virus outbreak and will carry out necessary evacuation.
11:18AM: "India initiated required preparedness and action since 17th January, much before advice of the WHO," says Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, adding that so far 29 people have been infected by the virus.
10:50AM: Thousands are stranded on a cruise ship called Grand Princess off the California coast after passengers and crew members on board developed symptoms of coronavirus infection.
A 71-year-old man who had been aboard the same vessel during its previous voyage to Mexico died after contracting the COVID-19 illness, becoming the first fatal case in California, California Governor Gavin Newsom said.
10:10AM: Health officials in Vizag have sent to the hospital three persons of a family who returned from Malaysia and Singapore, and two others from Baharain. Nodal officer for coronavirus in Vizag, Pardhasaradhi, said, samples of the five persons have been sent for tests while they are kept under observation.
10:00AM: Health authorities in Hong Kong have confirmed that a pet dog belonging to a coronavirus affected patient had contracted the virus. Experts called it a "low-level infection" that was likely to be the first reported case of human-to-animal transmission of the disease.
9:35AM: The trade impact of the coronavirus epidemic for India is estimated to be about 348 million dollars and the country figures among the top 15 economies most affected as slowdown of manufacturing in China disrupts world trade, according to a UN report.
UN economists also announced a likely USD 50 billion drop in the worldwide manufacturing exports in February alone due to the damage to the global economy caused by the novel coronavirus.
9:30AM: Medanta Hospital in Gurugram has taken in 14 Italians who have coronavirus infection.
"We've received, at the special request of the government, the 14 Italian nationals ( who were lodged at ITBP's Chhawla camp) asymptomatic persons suspected to have COVID-19. They are housed on a completely separate floor, in an isolated quarantine floor," the hopsutal said.
9:15AM: The Haryana government has postponed the Gurugram marathon amid scare of novel coronavirus rapidly spreading in Delhi-NCR.
8:10AM: The death toll in the United States from the new coronavirus has risen to 11. On the other hand, Britain has confirmed 36 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the country's total number of infections to 87 in its biggest day-on-day increase so far.
8:00AM: The Ministry of Home Affairs has said that full medical check-up and scanning is being carried out at all land ports and check-up is also ongoing at Dera Baba Nanak and Attari in the wake of deadly coronavirus outbreak.
"Full medical check-up points have been set up at Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) at Petrapole and Agartala. Training with NDRF organized at Attari, Dera Baba Nanak, Petrapole and Agartala ICPs," an MHA spokesperson said in a tweet.
March 4, 2020
7:28PM: Italy has not yet decided whether to close schools and universities over the novel coronavirus, Education Minister Lucia Azzolina said on Tuesday, after ANSA and other Italian agencies said they will be shut until mid-March.
7:06PM: Italy is closing all schools and universities from Thursday until mid-March to help curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, Ansa and other Italian news agencies cited government sources as saying
6:58PM: Paytm issues advisory to its employees, says one team member tested positive for coronavirus upon his return from Italy. The advisory says the organization will shut its offices in NCR for two days -- March 5 and March 6 -- for sanitization.
6:50PM: HRD Ministry directs Chief Secretaries of all states and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to spread awareness among students on basic protective measures against coronavirus
6:29PM: With alertness and safeguards, we all can help contain the outbreak of COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. In a precautionary measure, the Rashtrapati Bhavan will not hold the traditional Holi gatherings, tweets Rashtrapati Bhavan
6:22PM: Saudi suspends 'umrah' pilgrimage over coronavirus fears, reports news agency AFP
6:00PM: Friday prayers in Iran have been canceled across all provincial capitals amid the country's growing coronavirus outbreak, state television said
5:50 PM: Three schools in the national capital and adjoining areas have announced holiday for students and staff as a precautionary measure to prevent spread of coronavirus, while two schools advanced their spring break .
5:40PM: The World Health Organization has asked countries in its South-East Asia region to strengthen preparedness for all possible scenarios and ensure early containment measures.
5:10PM: Two samples from Telangana have been sent to Pune for confirmation on COVID-19, 45 others test negative
5:05PM: First coronavirus case in EU offices in Brussels, reports news agency AFP quoyting official
5:00PM: Iran says the new coronavirus has killed 92 people amid 2,922 confirmed cases across the Islamic Republic.
4:00PM: Poland announces its first case of coronavirus while adding that nearly 70 people were being tested for the disease.
3:39PM: Seventeen Indians have been infected with coronavirus abroad, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. Responding to a question in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said 16 cases were reported from Japan on the cruise ship and one from the UAE.
3:35PM: Govt proactively engaged in dealing with coronavirus, PM monitoring situation everyday: Union Minister Prakash Javadekar
3:34PM: Over 6 lakh people screened at 21 airports for coronavirus: Union Minister Prakash Javadekar
2:27PM: Iraq confirms first death from novel coronavirus: news agency AFP quoting official
2:19 PM: Kejriwal says coronavirus testing lab will be set up at Lady Hardinge Hospital and also in LNJP Hospital, if necessary.
2:15 PM: 'No need to panic. There is no need to shut down the schools in Delhi as of now," says Kejriwal.
2:14 PM: Italian cases are being shifted to Safdarjung hospital, says Kejriwal.
2:11 PM: The patient infected in Delhi had 88 interactions, informed Delhi CM.
2:10 PM: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal says, "We will have to deal with the Coronavirus at an emergency level".
1:30Pm: The Rajasthan government has issued directions to the collectors and chief medical health officers of Jhunjhunu, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur and Jaipur districts to take public health measures in the places visited by the group of Italian tourists that has tested positive for the virus.
1:15PM: "Holi is a very important festival for we Indians but in the wake of Coronavirus, i have decided not to participate in any Holi Milan celebration this year. I also appeal everyone to avoid public gatherings and take a good care of yourself & your family," tweets Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
12:55PM: A meeting of a group of Union Ministers on Coronavirus to be held today at Nirman Bhawan
12:49PM: Till now, there have been 28 positive cases of Coronavirus in India: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan
12:46PM: Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, PK Mishra to chair a meeting at 12.30 pm today to review preparedness for dealing with Coronavirus situation in the country, report news agency ANI
12:44PM: 14 out of 21 Italian nationals have found positive for coronavirus. They have been sent to at Indo-Tibetan Border Police's (ITBP) quarantine facility in Chhawla: Union Health Minister
12:43PM: On conducting contact tracing of the person tested positive in Delhi, we came to know that he infected 6 members of his family who are in Agra. All 6 members tested positive for CoronaVirus: Union Health Minister
12:42PM: We have requested all hospitals in Delhi to develop good quality isolation wards, in order to stay prepared if more cases of CoronaVirus are suspected in the national capital: Union Health Minister
12:41PM: All international passengers to be screened for coronavirus symptoms: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan
12:40PM: BJP president J P Nadda says he will not celebrate Holi or hold any Holi Milan function in view of the coronavirus outbreak. "The world is battling COVID-19 Novel Corona Virus. The countries & medical fraternity are jointly making efforts to contain its spread. Keeping this in mind, this year, I will neither celebrate Holi nor organise Holi Milan. Stay safe, Stay Healthy," Nadda tweeted.
11:41 AM: Experts across the world have advised to reduce mass gatherings to avoid the spread of Coronavirus. Hence, this year I have decided not to participate in any Holi Milan programme.
10:58 AM: Coronavirus has hit Amazon's headquarters in Seattle and the e-commerce giant has confirmed that an employee has been tested positive.
10:42 AM: 15 out of 21 Italian tourists, who were at the ITBP quarantine centre in New Delhi, test positive for coronavirus, DD News quoted sources as saying.
10:39 AM: Authorities have confirmed more than 92,000 cases of the virus worldwide of which more than 80,000 are in China. More than 3,000 people have died globally, the vast majority in China.
10:36 AM: The World Bank has committed $12 billion in aid for developing countries grappling with the spread of the coronavirus.
10:16 AM: Seeking to allay fear among the citizens in the wake of Coronavirus scare, Karnataka Health Minister B Srirumulu on Wednesday made an appeal to the people not to pay heed to rumours spreading on social media.
9:38 AM: The coronavirus infections showed signs of receding in China with 38 new fatalities, taking the total number of casualties to 2,981, Chinese health officials have said.
9:27 AM: Six people, including three children, whose samples were taken in Noida for suspected coronavirus have tested negative, officials said on Wednesday. However, District Magistrate BN Singh said that they will be quarantined for 14 days.
8:50 AM: COVID-19 outbreak continues to claim more American lives, taking the US death toll to nine and spreading across major urban areas including New York.
8:45 AM: South Korea reported 142 more novel coronavirus cases Wednesday, a significantly lower increase than the day before, taking its total to 5,328 -- the largest in the world outside China.
8:15 AM: Jammu and Kashmir has been put on alert to deal with any threat emerging due to coronavirus, even though no positive case has been found in the Union Territory, officials said.
8:10 AM: Amid renewed surveillance and control measures by the state government and a city-based employee testing positive for coronavirus in Hyderabad, no positive case has been recorded in Karnataka, an official said.
7:53 AM: In a bid to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) on Tuesday undertook a sanitisation drive in the area where the techie who tested positive for the virus stayed.
7:49 AM: An International Women's Day programme organised by India at the UN has been cancelled as world organisations curtail meetings to protect against the COVID-19 threat.
7:40 AM: The World Health Organization has registered over 1,700 new cases of novel coronavirus infection outside of China while the total number of infected people have exceeded 10,000.
March 4, 2020
7:29PM: Coronavirus could see fifth of UK staff off work: UK Government
Up to one fifth of employees could be off work in Britain when the coronavirus outbreak peaks, the government said Tuesday as it outlined a new action plan. Britain so far has 39 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned this was "highly likely" to increase.
7:26PM: 21 Italian tourists, 3 Indians sent to ITBP quarantine centre in Delhi
Twenty-one Italian tourists and three Indian tour operators have been sent to an ITBP quarantine facility in Delhi. Health Ministry sources said these foreigners, 13 women and eight men, were in the same group of which an Italian and his wife have tested positive in Jaipur.
7:23PM: Adequate hand sanitising facilities should be there at multiple locations in airports for staff and passengers, says DGCA
7:18PM: Ground handling staff entering international flights should have disposable protective gears like surgical masks, gloves: DGCA to airlines
7:08PM: DGCA asks all airlines to ensure that aircraft arriving from South Korea, Japan and Italy are subjected to disinfection process
6:53PM: Italian tourist's wife tests positive for coronavirus at Jaipur hospital, sample sent to Pune for confirmation: Rajasthan health department
6:45PM: Chinese President Xi Jinping calls for international collaboration to find cure, vaccine to halt coronavirus
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for international cooperation to develop a cure and vaccine to halt the COVID-19 on its tracks. Public health security is a common challenge faced by the humanity, and all the countries should join hands to cope with it, Xi said during an inspection to research institutes in Beijing on Monday, calling on countries to share research data and jointly work out response strategies, official media reported.
6:34PM: In a statement, G7 says it is ready to use 'all appropriate policy tools' against coronavirus risk
5:43PM: 4 crew members, who were with coronavirus-infected passenger on Feb 20 Dubai-Bengaluru flight, under home observation since Mar 2: IndiGo
5:26PM: Italian tourist in Jaipur tests positive for coronavirus. The first sample collected from the tourist on Saturday had tested negative, but his condition deteriorated and a second sample was collected, which tested positive on Monday.
5:23PM: It's important to take precautions, says Deputy CM Manish Sisodia
5:22PM: 25 designated hospitals to tackle coronavirus cases
5:20PM: Do not panic, says Satyendar Jain
5:19PM: Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain briefs media on coronavirus
4:52PM: Air India asks passengers, who travelled on Feb 25 with person who tested positive for coronavirus, to follow Health Ministry protocol
4:51PM: Government authorities recently confirmed that an individual who dined at La Piazza restaurant at Hyatt Regency Delhi on February 28, has been diagnosed with COVID-19. All colleagues who were present at restaurant on February 28 have been asked to self-quarantine for 14 days. The restaurant has also started to conduct daily temperature checks for all colleagues and contractors when they enter and exit the building, reports news agency ANI
4:46PM: Iran Reports 11 New Coronavirus Deaths, Total Now 77 | Iran has announced that 11 more people had died from the new coronavirus yesterday, bringing the Islamic republic's overall death toll to 77.
3:19PM: French officials have closed about 120 schools in areas that have reported the largest numbers of coronavirus infections, and more could be shuttered in the coming days, Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer said Tuesday. Both primary and secondary schools have been shut in the Oise department north of Paris, where the main cluster of French cases has emerged, and where two people who have died of the virus lived.
3:15PM: Leading Indian-American health policy consultant Seema Verma has been appointed as one of the key members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force constituted by US President Donald Trump
2:39PM: The Health Ministry said six cases with "high-viral load" were detected during sample testing in Agra and these people have been kept in isolation. The six people had come in contact with a 45-year-old patient from Delhi, whose case came to light on Monday, and they include his family members.
2:30 PM: "There is no need to panic. We need to work together, take small yet important measures to ensure self-protection," says PM Modi as he shares measures to prevent the spread of Coronavirus.
He said he had an extensive review regarding preparedness on the COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. "Different ministries and states are working together, from screening people arriving in India to providing prompt medical attention," he added.
2:23 PM: After the first transmission of the deadly coronavirus in Australia, the federal government said it could activate the rarely used biosecurity laws that will give power to the authorities to detain people having the virus and prevent its spread.
On Monday, the first two cases of the community transmission of the coronavirus were confirmed in Australia. Both the cases of transmission occurred in New South Wales (NSW).
2:20 PM: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal calls an urgent meeting with Health Minister Satyendar Jain, officials on government's preparations to deal with coronavirus.
2:18 PM: Union Health Ministry held a meeting with the Rajasthan Health Dept officials over coronavirus. RK Singh, ACS Health said: "All the hotels where the Italian tourist stayed are being sanitized. People who came in contact with the infected person, their samples are taken."
2:01PM: Regular visas/e-visas issued to nationals of Italy, Iran, S Korea, Japan on or before Mar 3, who have not entered India, suspended, says Govt advisory
1:58PM: Hotels and tourists sites in Agra have been instructed to inform the office of the Chief Medical Officer as soon as visitors from Italy, Iran or China arrive, so that they can be screened for coronavirus infection, news agency PTI reported.
1:57PM: Twitter staff across the world were asked to work from home starting Monday in an effort to stop the spread of the virus. "We are strongly encouraging all employees globally to work from home if they're able," Twitter human resources chief Jennifer Christie said in a Monday blog post.
1:20 PM: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Parliament on Tuesday said they discussed the first coronavirus case in the city.
1:17 PM: Another school in Noida has been shut down amid coronavirus scare. Through an email, the school informed parents that the school will be closed till March 9. It also asked parents to take precautions to prevent their children from the virus,
1:15 PM: Exports of certain APIs, formulations including paracetamol put under restricted category amid coronavirus outbreak, said a government notification.
1:06 PM: In the wake of the outbreak of the coronavirus, micro-blogging site Twitter has issued a notice asking its employees across the globe to work from home until any further notice.
12:55 PM: Indian-American Seema Verma has been appointed as one of the key members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force constituted by US President Donald Trump to combat the deadly disease that has claimed six lives in the country and infected over 90 others.
12:38 PM: Saudi Arabia's Health Ministry officials confirmed the first case of coronavirus infection in the country amid growing fears that a surge in the number of those infected in Iran is threatening the whole region.
12:16 PM: The Telangana government on Tuesday reviewed preparedness and measures to check the spread of novel Coronavirus (COVID 19) in the wake of a man from the state testing positive for the virus.
12:07 PM: A school in Noida has been closed over the fears that a man, infected by a coronavirus, attended a birthday party where his children and their schoolmates were also present. The school authorities could not be reached for a comment, but they issued a notification to parents, stating that they would be postponing exams scheduled for Tuesday.
“Due to certain unavoidable circumstances, we will be postponing the exams scheduled for today. The new dates will be communicated shortly. The Board exams will continue as normal. The children of classes 7-11 may come for extra classes if they wish. Class 6 and IGCSE classes continue with the study leave.”
12:04 PM: Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu has called a meeting of top officials of his department on Tuesday following information that the man, who tested positive for novel coronavirus in Telangana had travelled from the city.
12:02 PM: US Vice President Mike Pence has said that the medication for treating coronavirus may be available by this summer or early fall.
12:01 PM: China has reported an increase in cases of the new coronavirus coming from abroad, as the country where the disease first emerged now worries about importing infections.
