One more person tested positive for coronavirus, taking the number of affected persons to 30.
A total of 31 people have tested positive for the coronavirus so far with the latest being a man from Delhi with a recent travel history to Thailand and Malaysia. The figure had taken a jump from Wednesday with a group of 14 Italian tourists testing positive for the virus. Meanwhile, Iran will operate special flights between Tehran and New Delhi for evacuating the passengers stranded due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. "From tomorrow, special flights will start between Iran and India for the stranded passengers. Over 2,000 Indians are stranded in Iran. We can send them back to India only after the proper approval of Indian authority," an official in the Iran Embassy said on Thursday.
The rising number of cases has pushed the Delhi government to shut the primary schools till March 31. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also postponed his next week's visit to Brussels, Belgium for the India-European Union summit.
Meanwhile, US lawmakers have passed an emergency $8.3 billion spending bill to combat the coronavirus as health workers boarded a cruise ship held off the coast of San Francisco to test sick passengers and crew.
Here are the Highlights on coronavirus:
41 people put under home isolation in Mizoram
At least 41 people, who recently returned from foreign countries, have been put under home isolation in Mizoram, as a precautionary measure, and 14,868 persons have been screened for coronavirus.
North Delhi Municipal Corporation setting up special wards for coronavirus cases
In view of the coronavirus outbreak, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) is preparing to set up separate wards for the deadly disease at four hospitals run by it.
The civic body has already set up a separate ward with 14 beds for coronavirus patients at the Bara Hindurao hospital run by it.
Southwest Delhi' government, private hospitals to reserve 10 per cent beds
All government and private hospitals in southwest Delhi have been directed to reserve 10 per cent beds for coronavirus patients.
Southwest Delhi District Magistrate Rahul Singh on Friday issued the
Amid coronavirus scare, Kerala getting ready to celebrate all-women Pongala
As Kerala gets ready for the famous annual all-women "Attukal Pongala," one of the largest religious congregations, on March 9, officials are keeping their fingers crossed in view of the coronavirus scare and Centre's advisory to avoid large gatherings.
The ritual sees thousands of women from all over the state congregating in the state capital to prepare ''pongala'' (sweet offering) as part of the annual festival, PTI reported.
12-member Telangana team visits Kerala to study how to combat coronovirus
To study how to contain the spread of novel coronavirus, a 12-member team from Telangana visited Kerla, ANI reported.
Interacting with the team, Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja said: "Kerala model is being followed by other states too. All states are working together and the country as a whole is fighting the coronavirus. They are sharing our experience. All of India is standing together. Contact tracing and isolation is the most important part."
Anganwadis closed in Delhi
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said anganwadis and government child-care centreshave been closed in view of the coronavirus scare.
Manipur suspends bio-metric attendance for 1 month
The mandatory practice of bio-metric attendance in all Manipur government offices has been suspended for a month as a precautionary measure against the coronavirus outbreak, news agency IANS reported.
Central Armed Police Forces cancel official Holi celebrations
Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) such as the CRPF and the BSF have decided to call off official events to celebrate Holi in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
13 Italian tourists under scanner in Amritsar
A 13-member group of tourists from Italy came under the scanner when they reached Amritsar for being possible carriers of coronavirus, PTI reported.
The authorities had earlier wrongly identified them as Iranians and said they were asked to stay at their hotel rooms.
Health Minister Harsh Vardhan holds video conference with ministers, health secretaries, central ministries to review actions taken so far, and preparedness for future management of coronavirus.
He stressed on the importance of keeping the testing and quarantine facilities, isolation wards, labs, in active readiness.
Training programme on coronavirus organised
A day-long national-level training programme on COVID-19 has also been organised by the Ministry of Health in collaboration 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.
Number of coronavirus cases in India rises to 31
Another person tests positive for coronavirus. He is a resident of Delhi.
The person has a history of travel to Thailand and Malaysia, say officials. The patient is stable and being monitored, they add.
The total number of positive cases now stands at 31.
Isolation wards have been set up in Srinagar
Isolation wards for coronavirus patients have been set up in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar.
Mughal Gardens at Rashtrapati Bhavan closed
Continuing the precautionary measures at Rashtrapati Bhavan in view of COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus, the Mughal Gardens will close for public from Saturday (March 7) to avoid any large gathering of people.
Passengers screened at Dibrugarh Airport
All passengers coming on international flights are being screened at Dibrugarh Airport in Assam. As per directive of the government, all passengers, both Indian and foreign, arriving on international flights, will be required to go through medical screening while entering India.
Coronavirus death count hits 12 in US
The death count from coronavirus in the United States rose to 12 on Thursday with the latest fatality recorded in King County, Washington, and 53 new cases broke out across the country, striking for the first time in Colorado, Tennessee, Texas and San Francisco.
Delhi government suspends biometric attendance system
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.
Passenger airlines could take $100-billion hit due to coronavirus: IATA
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.