New Delhi: 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:
Mar 10, 2020 22:06 (IST)
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.
Mar 10, 2020 22:06 (IST)
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.
Mar 10, 2020 20:53 (IST)
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.
Mar 10, 2020 19:25 (IST)
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.
Mar 10, 2020 18:55 (IST)
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.
Mar 10, 2020 18:54 (IST)
"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.
Mar 10, 2020 14:11 (IST)
China to ease travel curbs within locked-down Hubei province: news agency AFP quoting an official
Mar 10, 2020 12:37 (IST)
JustIn: 6 more confirmed cases of Corona Virus in Kerala, 12 confirmed cases since Sunday
Mar 10, 2020 12:05 (IST)
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
Mar 10, 2020 11:29 (IST)
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.
Mar 10, 2020 11:28 (IST)
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.