The coronavirus has infected thousands of people around the world
Highlights
- The Delhi patient is stable and being monitored, sources said
- Government advises states to avoid or postpone mass gatherings
- Army issues instructions to prepare for emergency coronavirus response
A person who has travelled to Thailand and Malaysia has tested positive for the contagious Novel Coronavirus in Delhi, taking the total number of cases in India to 31. The patient is stable and being monitored, sources said. The government has advised state governments to avoid or postpone mass gatherings, where the chances of contracting the coronavirus are high. The Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19 was first detected at a seafood market in China's Wuhan. It quickly spread from there.
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"One more suspect has tested positive for COVID-19. The COVID-19 confirmed case has a travel history of Thailand and Malaysia. The patient is in hospital quarantine and stable. There are now 31 confirmed cases in the country. This includes 16 Italian nationals," the Health Ministry said in a statement.
"Experts across the world have advised to reduce mass gatherings to avoid spread of COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus disease... It is advised that mass gatherings may be avoided of possible be postponed till the disease spread is contained," the Health Ministry said.
The Army headquarters has issued instructions to prepare for emergency response in tackling COVID-19. The latest advisory include instructions for actions at military stations, Army formations and service hospitals. Local military authorities will "exercise suitable control to avoid/postpone all non-essential mass gathering like festivals, welfare activities and public gatherings till situation improves", the Army said.
A day-long national-level training programme on COVID-19 has also been organised by the Health Ministry jointly with the World Health Organisation (WHO). The training programme is being attended by 280 health officials from all states and hospitals of the railways, defence and paramilitary forces.
Amid rising cases, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cancelled his visit to Brussels for an India-European Union (EU) summit, which will be rescheduled.
Fourteen of 16 infected Italian tourists are quarantined in Delhi. They were a part of a group of 23 Italians that travelled to Rajasthan last month. One of them - currently in Jaipur - tested positive on Tuesday; his wife also tested positive. This is the biggest group in the country to be infected with the coronavirus.
All primary schools in Delhi will be closed till March 31 as a precaution against the spread of the coronavirus, the government said on Thursday. All Delhi government, aided and private schools will be shut immediately, Education Minister Manish Sisodia.
India's neighbour Bhutan reported its first case of the coronavirus after a US tourist tested positive. Eight Indian nationals who were on the flight to Bhutan have also been quarantined, news agency AFP reported.
The equity benchmark Sensex fell over 1,400 points in opening session today, led by massive selloff in global stocks as volatility peaked amid concerns over the coronavirus outbreak.
A fast spreading coronavirus outbreak could knock $211 billion off the combined economies of the Asia-Pacific, with Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia among the most exposed, S&P Global Ratings said today.
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