Coronavirus In India: The first three cases of virus in India were reported from Kerala. (File)
The total number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in India now stands at 56, with six fresh cases of coronavirus reported in Kerala and three in Karnataka. Other cases that were reported on Monday include one each in Bengaluru, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Punjab and two in Pune. Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan held a meeting with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal to take stock of the situation.
The central government has stepped up measures amid rise in the number of coronavirus cases. This morning, 58 Indians were airlifted from Iran, one of the worst affected in the world by the outbreak, as the central government started evacuating hundreds of citizens stuck in the country.
The government has decided not to let any foreign cruise ship to dock at Indian ports, news agency ANI reported. The government had suspended visas and e-visas granted on or before March 3 to people travelling from Italy, Iran, South Korea and Japan, effective immediately, after a surge in cases of coronavirus or COVID-19 in these countries.
The global number of deaths from the new coronavirus passed 4,000 on Tuesday, according to AFP figures, as China reported 17 new deaths. The virus has spread to over 100 countries with more than 110,000 cases of infection.
Here are the Updates on Coronavirus Outbreak:
3,534 passengers screened for coronavirus today in DelhiAs many as 3,534 passengers from affected countries were screened for coronavirus on Tuesday.
A person from southeast Delhi was found to be a contact of a case, found positive in Leh, according to a health bulletin by the Delhi government.
He was contacted and found asymptomatic.
Till date, 1,53,417 passengers from COVID-19 affected countries have been screened at the Delhi airport.
A letter has been issued from the Department of Health to the State Disaster Management Authority and the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board regarding the setting up of quarantine centres for asymptomatic suspect corona virus infected persons, the bulletin said.
Nepal Airlines suspends Doha flights amid coronavirus concerns
Nepal Airlines, the country's national flag carrier, has temporarily suspended the flights to and from Qatar's capital city of Doha as part of the preventive measure to contain the spread of novel coronavirus.
In a series of tweets, the airline said that the suspension will come into effect from Tuesday until further notice. The airlines will refund ticket fees to those who have already booked the tickets.
"Nepal Airlines has temporarily suspended the flights to/from Doha effective from 10 March 2020 till further notice. As a preventive measure due to spread of CoronaVirus COVID -19," Nepal Airline tweeted.
"Passengers who have tickets for flights on 26 Falgun, 2076 and onwards can refund the tickets without paying any extra charges and date change charge up to two times for the sector is waived off. Nepal Airlines is sorry for the inconvenience caused to the passengers due to the cancellation of Flights," the following tweets read.
Coronavirus: Airlines operating on international sector to ensure availability of self-declaration forms, says DGCA
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) stated that all airlines operating on the international sector are advised again to ensure availability of sufficient number of self-declaration forms and get them filled before disembarkation amid coronavirus scare.
In a circular issued to all the airlines, DGCA said that it has come to the knowledge that some airlines are not ensuring the availability of self-declaration forms leading to long queues at arrival points.
"This has been viewed very seriously by this office. All airlines operating on the international sector, therefore, are advised again to ensure the availability of a sufficient number of self-declaration form(s) as specified by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and get them filled in duplicate before disembarkation," the civil aviation watchdog said.
"All airlines shall also ensure an in-flight announcement in flights coming to India in this regard," it added.
DGCA directed all airlines to strictly adhere to the instructions and intimate action taken in the matter.
2 more admitted to Bengal hospital with coronavirus-like symptomsTwo more persons were admitted to an isolation ward in a state-run hospital with fever and cough -- symptoms associated with the novel coronavirus -- a senior health department official said.
Both have travel histories to coronavirus-hit countries -- Indonesia and Malaysia -- and were admitted to Beliaghata ID Hospital, he said.
Blood samples and throat swabs of the latest suspects have been collected and test reports are expected by evening, the official said.
Air carriers operating "ghost flights" amid coronavirus turbulence
Several international airlines are now operating 'ghost flights' with more and more air travellers cancelling their plans owing to the new coronavirus outbreak.
Virgin Atlantic is operating near-empty flights in order to "retain take-off and landing slots at major airports such as Heathrow", reports the BBC.
Under the European law, air carriers like Delta, American Airlines, and Southwest pay top dollars to secure prime spots at busy airports but they risk losing to a competitor if they don't use the slots at least 80 per cent of the time.
To maintain this 80 per cent requirement, airlines are forced to fly empty with little or no passengers on board.
Spain suspends air traffic from Italy over coronavirus
The Spanish government said Tuesday it was suspending all air traffic from Italy for two weeks over coronavirus fears, the official state bulletin said.
"The measure applies to all direct flights from airports in Italy to Spain," it said in a measure which would come into force at midnight (2300 GMT) and remain in force until March 25.
The only exceptions to the ban are government aircraft as well as planes carrying medical or humanitarian aid, it said.
The move came as Italy ordered a national lockdown to try and curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus epidemic that has so far infected more than 9,000 people, killing 463.
Spain itself has also seen a spike in cases in the last 24 hours, with 1,622 infections and 35 deaths.
In terms of flight arrivals, Italy is the third largest market for Spain, with more than 106,000 flights arriving in 2019 carrying some 16 million passengers and accounting for around 9.0 percent of Spain's international traffic, the bulletin said.
It made no mention of flights to Italy.
Coronavirus: 7 people put under home isolation in Jammu And Kashmir's SambaFour people with travel history to coronavirus-hit countries and three more who had a guest from Italy stay with them have been put under home quarantine in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba district, officials said on Tuesday.
Two persons each in Vijaypur and Swankha areas and three in Samba area of the district have been put under home isolation setup and Health Department teams visit them twice a day to monitor their health, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Samba, Dr Rajinder Samyal told reporters.
He said while the three people in Samba were put under surveillance because a guest from Italy had stayed at their house, the others have travel history to coronavirus-hit countries.
They are healthy and so far have not exhibited any signs of the infection, Dr Rajinder Samyal said.
At least 669 people are being monitored in Jammu and Kashmir for symptoms of COVID-19, while one patient has tested positive for the disease.
Ryanair cancels all Italy flights until April 8 amid coronavirus scare
Ryanair is to cancel all its Italian flights until April 8 after the government ordered the whole country locked down over the coronavirus, the Irish no-frills airline announced Tuesday.
From Wednesday, it will cancel all Italian domestic flights and then suspend its international services from Friday until early next month, Ryanair said in a statement.
"Ryanair today announced the suspension of its full flight schedule to/from and within Italy, following the decision of the Italian government to 'lock down' the entire country to contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus," the statement said.
The announcement came shortly after Norwegian Air Shuttle said it would cancel "approximately 3,000" of all its flights from mid-March to mid-June -- representing 15 percent of its capacity for the period as the coronavirus outbreak hits travel worldwide.
British Airways meanwhile has also cancelled flights to Italy.
The widespread cancellations come after Italy imposed unprecedented nationwide restrictions on its 60 million people to control the deadly coronavirus, as China signalled major progress in its battle against the global epidemic.
"No need to panic": NCP's Nawab Malik after 2 cases of coronavirus reported in Pune
As Pune confirms two positive coronavirus cases, Maharashtra cabinet minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik on Tuesday appealed to the people of Maharashtra to not to panic and to take appropriate preventive measures.
"Two people have been tested positive for coronavirus in Pune and Maharashtra Government is taking appropriate steps. People have to take some kind of preventive measures but they do not need to panic, I appeal to them. They need to stay alert," Mr Malik told ANI.
"All the arrangements have been made. Isolation wards have also been set up at different places and a lot of information is being given to the general public as well," he added.
Coronavirus crisis: Dubai-returned Nashik woman, mother quarantinedA 23-year-old woman and her 54-year-old mother were admitted in an isolation ward in the district civil hospital in Nashik in Maharashtra on Tuesday for suspected exposure to novel coronavirus, health officials said.
The woman had gone to Dubai on February 27 and returned to Nashik on March 3 and was quarantined after she complained of throat pain, cold and cough, while her mother was admitted as the two were together at home over the past one week, a doctor said.
Their samples have been sent for testing to National Institute of Virology in Pune and reports are expected by Wednesday, he added.
Norwegian Air cancels 3,000 flights March-June over coronavirusLow-cost airline Norwegian Air Shuttle said Tuesday it would cancel "approximately 3,000 flights" mid-March to mid-June representing 15 per cent of the airline's capacity for the period as the coronavirus outbreak hits travel.
"The past week, Norwegian has experienced reduced demand on future bookings. The company will cancel about 3,000 flights to meet the change in demand. The cancellations represent approximately 15 per cent of the total capacity for the period mid-March to mid-June," the company said in a statement, adding that the cancellations would affect the airline''s entire network.
8 samples tested negative; no new cases of coronavirus in Tamil NaduSamples of eight people for suspected coronavirus have tested negative, Tamil Nadu Health Minister C Vijayabhaskar said on Tuesday.
The samples belong to those who travelled with the affected man, currently undergoing treatment at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital and his family members.
The wife of state's first coronavirus patient has already tested negative, while the affected patient, a 45-year-old man was "out of danger".
China to ease travel curbs within locked-down Hubei province: news agency AFP quoting an official
JustIn: 6 more confirmed cases of Corona Virus in Kerala, 12 confirmed cases since Sunday
The Indian citizens who have returned from Iran will be quarantined at Hindon. IAF has activated necessary medical protocols and has put required facilities in place to provide fellow citizens with adequate care and support: news agency ANI quoting Indian Air Force
Iran Temporarily Releases 70,000 Prisoners As Coronavirus Cases Surge
Iran has temporarily freed about 70,000 prisoners to combat the spread of the coronavirus in jails, the head of the judiciary said on Monday, as officials reported hundreds of new infections and dozens more deaths across the country.
Iran has reported 595 new infections and 43 new deaths within the past 24 hours. This takes total cases of coronavirus to 7,161, with 237 deaths, the health ministry spokesman said.
First Coronavirus Death Recorded In Canada
Canada has recorded its first death from the new coronavirus, health officials in the westernmost province of British Columbia announced Monday.
The victim, a man living at an elderly care facility, "was infected with COVID-19 (and) passed away last night," the province's health officer Bonnie Henry told reporters.
The first batch of 58 Indian pilgrims deboard from IAF C-17 Globemaster aircraft which landed at Hindon air force station in Ghaziabad from Tehran, Iran.
The first batch Indians who were evacuated from coronavirus-hit Iran landed in Hindon. Foreign Minister S Jaishankar tweeted this morning saying, "Mission completed. On to the next."
China's Xi Jinping Pays First Visit To Virus Epicentre Wuhan
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Wuhan on Tuesday for his first visit to the epicentre of the country's coronavirus epidemic since the crisis erupted in January.
Xi's unannounced visit comes as unprecedented quarantine measures that have sealed off Wuhan and the rest of central Hubei province since late January appear to have paid off, with new infections dropping dramatically in recent weeks.
China's Xi Jinping pays first visit to Wuhan since virus epidemic: news agency AFP quoting state media
Number Of Deaths In China Hotel Collapse Rises To 20
The number of deaths from the collapse of a hotel used as a coronavirus quarantine facility in eastern China has risen to 20, authorities said Tuesday, with 10 others still feared trapped in the rubble.
Forty-one survivors pulled from the wreckage are injured, the Ministry of Emergency Management said at a press conference Tuesday.
Japan Readies 'State Of Emergency' Coronavirus Measures
Japan's government Tuesday approved draft "state of emergency" measures that would allow authorities to keep people inside and commandeer buildings for hospitals, as Tokyo steps up its fight against coronavirus five months before the Olympics.
If approved by parliament, the draft bill would give Prime Minister Shinzo Abe the power to declare a state of emergency and impose drastic measures but Tokyo stressed that the situation had not yet reached that point.
China Inflation Slips But Stays High On Virus, Food Worries
Consumer inflation in China remained high in February, official data showed Tuesday, as the coronavirus epidemic and soaring food prices took a toll on the economy.
China's consumer price index (CPI) rose 5.2 percent in February from a year ago, according to the National Bureau of Statistics -- down slightly from 5.4 percent the month before, which was the highest point in at least eight years.
American Rock Band Pearl Jam Postpones Tour Over Coronavirus
American rock band Pearl Jam announced late Monday they are postponing the first leg of their North American tour this spring over coronavirus concerns.
"Unfortunately, communing in large groups is a huge part of what we do as a band and the tour we've been busy planning for months is now in jeopardy... We have and will always keep the safety and well-being of our supporters as top priority," frontman Eddie Vedder said in a statement on social media.
South Korea Reports Fewer Than 150 New Coronavirus Cases
South Korea, one of the worst-affected countries in the coronavirus epidemic outside China, on Tuesday reported fewer than 150 new cases for the first time in two weeks.
A total of 131 infections were confirmed on Monday, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said.
Three more people died, it added, taking the number of deaths to 54.
Kerala Stregthens Surveillance After 6 Test Positive For COVID-19, Says State Health Minister
Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja on Monday said that the administration has strengthened surveillance after six persons tested positive for COVID-19.
"We have strengthened the surveillance after 6 positive cases since yesterday. In the state, we have 1116 persons under observation out of whom 976 persons are under home quarantine while 149 persons are in hospitals. This includes people with symptoms as well," Ms Shailaja told reporters.
"In Pathanamthitta, we began the contact tracing at around 6 am. 270 persons are under the primary contact of positive patients. The number of high-risk contacts are 95. 6 people have come to hospitals in Pathanamthitta. The number of secondary contacts is 449," she added.
- The novel coronavirus spreads through contact with respiratory droplets spread during coughing and sneezing, doctors say.
- Besides keeping contact to a minimum with an infected person, the preventive measures include frequent washing of hands and use of hand sanitisers.
- Fresh tissues should be used while sneezing and coughing and then discarded, to ensure the virus does not spread.
- Dr Harsh Vardhan said over 8.74 lakh passengers coming from foreign countries have been screened.
- The government has decided not to let any foreign cruise ship to dock at Indian ports, news agency ANI reported.
- As many as 52 laboratories are now operational across the country for testing COVID-19 virus, the health ministry said.
- An additional 57 laboratories have been provided with Viral Transport Media and swabs for sample collection, it added.
- Mizoram will seal its borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh and ban the entry of foreigners to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus in the state, a top official said on Monday.
- Kindergarten classes in Bengaluru have been closed as a precautionary measure because of the coronavirus cases in the neighbouring states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
- Bengaluru resident, who had recently visited the United States, has been tested positive for coronavirus, which has infected 47 people in India so far.
- Other fresh cases reported today include one each in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Punjab and two in Pune.
- A 63-year-old Jammu woman, who had travelled to Iran, was among two patients who were declared "high viral load cases" by the administration during the weekend.