New Delhi : The number of coronavirus positive cases in the world is rising in alarming numbers with a total of 2,72,351 reports of infections while the death toll reaches 11,310. Italy reported another huge spike in fatalities which have now crossed 4,000. In the past 24 hours, the country recorded 627 deaths taking its total to 4,032, as per officials. Italy’s COVID-19 death toll overtook that of China which has reported 3,139 deaths.
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday imposed a lockdown, he instructed all public institutions and places of gathering to shut their doors due to the coronavirus outbreak, which has already afflicted more than 3,200 people and killed over 160.
In India, the confirmed cases as on March 20, 2020 at 11:30 pm was at 236 including foreign nationals, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
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The Ministry of Railways in a tweet urged people to not travel on passenger and long distance trains unless absolutely necessary. In a series of tweets it also mentioned cases of people who were travelling while in quarantine.
Praveen Khandelwal Secretary General of Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) in a press release said: “All major wholesale and retail markets in Delhi will be closed for the next three days from March 21 for the prevention of spread of coronavirus. Nearly 15 lakh small and big shops will remain closed in Delhi. Business of about Rs 500 crore will be affected today due to trade bandh. As many as 7 crore traders across the country will participate in Janta Curfew tomorrow. Nearly 40 crore of their employees to stay at home during that time. Traders ask Finance Minister to provide Corona Cash Loans to keep supply chain effective.”
Jabalpur placed under lockdown after four coronavirus positve cases come to light. The lockdown will be imposed on March 21 and 22. Essential items like grocery and medicines will be available.
A total of 271 individuals have been confirmed positive. As many as 15,701 samples from 14,811 individuals have been tested for COVID-19 at 10 am on March 21, 2020.
Three new COVID-19 cases reported in Ladakh, two from Leh and one case from Kargil, taking the total to 13.
The number of positive coronavirus cases in Maharashtra jumps to 63 with 11 new cases being reported, 10 from Mumbai and one from Pune. Of the 11, 8 had returned from abroad and three come in contact with them. Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope appeals to people to ‘practice social distancing to prevent the spread of coronavirus’.
Another coronavirus infection confirmed in Noida from Supertech Cape Town at Sector 74. DM BN Singh has ordered the sealing of the appartment complex, vehicle movement is banned from March 21 to 23. People living in flats there have been advised to stay at home.
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announces payment of Rs 1000 to more than 35 lakh daily wage labourers and small cart owners/ rickshaw pullers in the state to tide over losses.
Third case of COVID-19 reported in West Bengal. A 23-year-old MBA student had returned from Scotland yesterday. She had shown symptoms of coronavirus and was admitted to the Beleghata ID&BG hospital. She has tested positive for Covid-19. She returned to Kolkata via Mumbai from Scotland yesterday. Her family members have been asked to go into home quarantine.
The Health Ministry on Saturday issued an advisory saying no hospital should turn away any suspected COVID-19 patient. It also announced free medical treatment to the medical staff who get COVID-19 infection while administering treatment.
Coronavirus infections in India:
Total cases – 258
Recovered – 23
Deaths – 4
Worst affected states: Maharashtra – 49
Kerala – 33
Delhi – 25
A member of US Vice President Mike Pence`s office has tested positive for the coronavirus but neither President Donald Trump nor Pence have had close contact with the individual, Pence`s press secretary Katie Miller said in a statement on Friday, reported Reuters.
Miller said Pence`s office was notified on Friday evening about the positive test. The statement did not name the individual. “Further contact tracing is being conducted in accordance with CDC guidelines,” she said, referring to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pence is leading the White House task force formed to combat the outbreak.
Passengers may kindly note that as precautionary measure against coronavirus, further six trains have been cancelled up to March 31, 2020, the Western Railway informed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday appreciated the leaders of Nepal and Bhutan for the monetary contributions made by the two nations to the COVID-19 Emergency Fund proposed by PM Modi. Nepal has committed NPR 100 million to the SAARC emergency fund which was created to help combat the coronavirus pandemic in the region, while Bhutan Prime Minister Dr Lotay Thsering has decided to contribute $100,000 to the fund.
In Europe, which is fast becoming the epicentre after China, Switzerland has begun emerging as another area of concern. Health Minister Alain Berset Friday warned that the country “had its back to the wall” and sought co-operation from every single citizen follow the announced restrictions. Groups of five or more are banned, everyone must stay at home except to shop or work in essential services. In a population of 8.57 million, Switzerland has seen 4,840 cases and 43 deaths. With all shops, schools, and restaurants closed, the government has announced a $40 bn package to support businesses and workers, including apprentices and part-timers.
Amid growing concern over coronavirus outbreak in the country, Indigo on Friday announced that it has reduced its domestic schedule for next few weeks. Issuing a statement Indigo said, ”IndiGo, India’s largest airline, has reduced its domestic schedule to match market demand over the next few weeks.” Meanwhile the airline company also informed that on Sunday that is the day to observe Janata Curfew in India as announced by PM Narendra Modi, Indigo will be operating 60% of its domestic schedule to meet urgent requirement of people.
Bureau Report
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