The government said it has started screening passengers on all incoming flights from abroad.
One more person tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday, taking the number of affected persons to 30. The figure had taken a jump from Wednesday with a group of 14 Italian tourists testing positive for the virus. The rising number of cases has pushed the Delhi government to shut the primary schools till March 31. A similar decision is likely for the secondary section once the exams are over, the government has hinted. Prime Minister Narendra Modi postponed his next week's visit to Brussels, Belgium for the India-European Union summit. The foreign ministry said both nations agreed to this in view of the outbreak. The global trade association of airlines, the International Air Transport Association or IATA said depending on how the #coronavirus spreads, airline industry could face up to $113 billion in lost revenues this year.
One more case of coronavirus was reported in Ghaziabad in the National Capital Region, reported news agency Press Trust of India. Reports say the patient is from Chattisgarh.
The Delhi government has suspended the biometric attendance system in its offices, autonomous bodies, and municipal corporations. The Manipur government has also suspended the biometric attendance system.
IATA said airline share prices have fallen nearly 25% since the coronavirus outbreak started, which is "21 percentage points greater than the decline that occurred at a similar point during the SARS crisis of 2003".
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today tweeted: The Health Minister saying that the Indian Govt has the #coronavirus crisis under control, is like the Capt of the Titanic telling passengers not to panic as his ship was unsinkable. It's time the Govt made public an action plan backed by solid resources to tackle this crisis".
Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said India is in touch with Iran on possible evacuation of Indian pilgrims and students stranded there. Hundreds of Indians, including fishermen and students, are stranded in Iran where coronavirus is spreading fast. Nearly 1,000 people have been infected in Iran and more than 100 are dead.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said an Indian medical team will reach Iran and that authorities are working on the logistics for the return of the Indians.
Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers DV Sadananda Gowda said there is no shortage of raw ingredients or medicines as the centre has taken various initiatives to tackle the challenge posed by the outbreak.
Two people, who had a travel history to coronavirus-hit Italy and South Korea, fled from a Jammu-based government hospital's isolation ward, but were brought back, news agency Press Trust of India reported, quoting officials.
In Palestine, the Church of Nativity, believed to mark the birthplace of Jesus Christ has been temporarily closed because of the outbreak.
The Archery Association of India (AAI) on Thursday withdrew its team from the upcoming Asia Cup world ranking tournament in Bangkok owing to the coronavirus threat.
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