COVID-19 LIVE: 32 cases confirmed in India after Gurugram employee tests positive

23:02 March 06

COVID-19: 469 under home quarantine in K'taka, no positive case

Amid no positive coronavirus cases, the Karnataka Health and Family Welfare department is observing eight people in hospital and 469 people under home quarantine across the state, an official said on Friday.

"We are observing 469 people for coronavirus symptoms right in their homes, however, there is no positive case in the state," state Health Department's Information Education and Communication (IEC) Special Officer Suresh Shastri told IANS.

The five people under isolated observation at Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases has risen to eight by Friday.

As many as 296 samples of symptomatic persons sent from the state for coronavirus testing reported negative.

Across the state, 72,542 passengers have been thermal-screened for the virus till now at Kempegowda International Airport in the city and Mangaluru International Airport.

Another 5,147 passengers were also checked for the virus at Karwar and Mangaluru seaports.

On Friday, 11 people completed the mandatory 28-day observation period while a total of 236 people also underwent the same.

Karnataka is screening all international passengers and the state health department has raised the capacity of coronavirus 104 helpline to 10 lines for each shift.

"Meeting with mall owners association has been held, chaired by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner B.H. Anil Kumar regarding precautions and support for raising awareness on COVID-19," said an official statement.

Karnataka government has also issued instructions to display coronavirus awareness messages at all Gram Panchayats.

22:57 March 06

All three suspected corana-hit HP natives test negative: Official

All three Himachal Pradesh natives who underwent medical examination for suspected coronavirus afflictions have been tested negative, a state health official said Friday.

The samples of two COVID 19-hit suspects from Palampur and one from Bilaspur were sent to a Delhi laboratory, which has found them having no affliction, he added.

The Bilaspur suspect was admitted to an isolation ward in Shimla's Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), while the two from Palampur were kept under observation at Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College Hospital in Kangra's Tanda.

The state government, meanwhile on Friday as a precautionary measure against the spread of the virus, advised its employees not to use biometric machines for registering their attendance till March 31.

A total of 218 people were kept under observation for 28 days at their homes in the state with 190 people of them already having completed the mandatory surveillance period, the health official said.

Those who visited any of the virus hit, high-risk countries before February 10 may contact at toll free number 104 to provide information about their travel and coronavirus, he added. 

19:43 March 06

Gurugram MNC employee found Coronavirus positive

Gurugram: The coronavirus scare deepened here with another MNC employee being found positive for the disease, officials said on Friday.

Chief Medical Officer B.K. Rajora said that the patient, a 29-year-old man had returned from Thailand and Malaysia last month.

18:51 March 06

Govt in talks with Iran to bring back Indians; Iranian flight to bring 300 swabs
The government is in discussions with Iranian authorities and a ferry flight, carrying around 300 swabs of Indians suspected of having coronavirus infection, from Tehran is to land in the national capital on Friday, according to officials.

The flight, to be operated by Iran's Mahan Air, would not have any passengers and Iranians in India would be taken back in the return flight.

There are around 2,000 Indians in Iran, one of the countries which has been severely affected by the coronavirus outbreak. A similar number of Indians are also there in the Persian Gulf country.

Civil Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola on Friday said the first flight from Iran would be carrying the swabs.

"We are monitoring the situation on a daily basis, hourly basis... it will be a ferry flight coming with swabs," Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said at a press conference here.

As the government looks at another initiative to bring back Indians in coronavirus-hit countries, Kharola said while Indians come here, it should be made sure that they are in a healthy condition.

The health ministry is planning to set up advanced testing facilities in Iran itself. Before they board the flight, a test can be done for these passengers, he added.

A team of medical experts has reached Iran and it would be setting up a basic medical testing facility there.

"Another option is that we are trying to collect the samples, swabs... on the first flight that comes to India, these swabs will be brought. They will be tested in India and within a day.... the results will be known," Kharola noted.

Aviation regulator DGCA's chief Arun Kumar said 300 swabs are expected to be come in the Mahan Air flight. Based on the outcome of the tests, those passengers who test negative would be allowed to come to the country later, he added.

Many of the Indians currently in Iran are pilgrims, he said.

 Last month, India suspended flights from Iran in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Iranian carriers were operating three flights a week to both elhi and Mumbai.

"We will allow temporarily Iran to bring in their flights and when they go back, they will be evacuating their people stranded here (India)," Kharola said.

The government has already evacuated hundreds of Indians from Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, as well as many who onboard on a coronavirus-hit cruise ship docked off Yokohama in Japan. 

17:25 March 06

Southwest Delhi DM orders govt, pvt hospitals to reserve 10 pc beds for COVID-19 patients

All government and private hospitals in southwest Delhi have been directed to reserve 10 per cent beds for coronavirus patients, according to an official order issued on Friday.

Southwest Delhi District Magistrate Rahul Singh on Friday issued the order, asking all government and private hospitals to create such facility for COVID-19 patients.

"As you are aware that there is an emergency situation of COVID-19 in Delhi. Therefore, all government and private hospitals need to create the facility of isolation beds for COVID-19 patients, that is 10 per cent of the total bed capacity of all government and private hospitals under SWD," the order stated.
 

16:48 March 06

Coronavirus effect: SAI to suspend biometric attendance across all its centres

Alarmed by the rising cases of novel Coronavirus outbreak, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) is set to suspend biometric attendance at its centres across the country.

"The Coronavirus is taking a gigantic shape. In a day or two, we will come out with an order to temporarily suspend biometric attendance for our employees in all our centres," a top SAI official told PTI.

"It is one of the precautionary measures we are taking to control the spread of the deadly disease."

The SAI centre in Gandhinagar on Friday conducted a workshop on Coronavirus for its officials and athletes.

"The SAI Gandhinagar held a one-and-half hour sensitisation session for its staff and athletes where in-house medical staff explained about the Coronavirus, how it spreads and how to avoid getting infected," the official said.

 "The doctor also told the athletes and staff not to panic. Such camps will also be conducted in other SAI centres across the country." 

16:24 March 06

Coronavirus: CAPFs 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, officials said on Friday.

These forces deployed for rendering a variety of internal security tasks and border guarding duties have issued directives to cancel events to collectively celebrate the festival of colours at all their locations across the country.

The CAPFs comprise the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the Border Security Force (BSF), the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) force and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). They function under the command of the Union home ministry.

"It is desirable to avoid mass public gatherings and congregations and no Holi 'milan' event will be held in view of the threat posed by coronavirus," read an official communication sent by CRPF headquarters to its field offices on Thursday.

Holi will be celebrated on March 10.

This is the third straight year that these forces will not be celebrating Holi on an official level.

In 2018, the celebrations were called off after 25 CRPF personnel were killed in a Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district and last year, the festivities were shelved in order to express solidarity with the 40 CRPF personnel who were killed in the Pulwama terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.

16:20 March 06

COVID-19: Govt to ask pvt airlines to waive cancellation fee

The Civil Aviation Ministry will ask private airlines to give cancellation fee relief to passengers in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.

National carrier Air India has already waived off cancellation fees.

Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that the government will give suitable recommendations to private airlines for providing relief in cancellation and refunds.

"I am very happy to tell you that Air India has already waived cancellation charges. You know, Air India, is a little more subject to our persuasion. All the others are private sector carriers. All I can tell you that we will be making suitable recommendations to the private sector carriers," Puri said here at a press conference.

The spread of deadly coronavirus has severely affected the travel and tourism sector with people cancelling their trips in the wake of rising fear. While flights on South East Asian routes connecting cities such as Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Seoul have seen sharp fall in passenger load, other international flights have also started witnessing poor bookings.

An airline executive said that flights to Gulf and Middle East have seen cancellations as well as 10-15 per cent dip in advance bookings.

"The overall network is affected. Gradually, it is affecting every sector. Domestic routes have seen least severe impact," he said.

International Air Transport Association (IATA) Director General and CEO Alexandre de Juniac on March 5 said that the turn of events as a result of COVID-19 is almost without precedent.

"In a little over two months, the industry's prospects in much of the world have taken a dramatic turn for the worse. It is unclear how the virus will develop, but whether we see the impact contained to a few markets and a $63 billion revenue loss, or a broader impact leading to a $113 billion loss of revenue, this is a crisis," he said.

15:26 March 06

Avoid large gatherings on campus in view of coronavirus outbreak: UGC to universities

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has directed universities to avoid any large gathering in view of the coronavirus outbreak and advised that students and staff members with travel history to the virus-affected countries be quarantined at home for 14 days.

"Avoid large gatherings on campus. Any student or staff with travel history to any COVID-19 affected country or in contact with such persons in last 28 days should be monitored and home quarantined for 14 days," UGC Secretary Rajnish Jain has said in a communication to Vice Chancellors of all universities.

The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in India stood at 31 on Friday.

 
 

15:12 March 06

COVID-19: Updates on coronavirus crisis around the world

New Delhi: Here are the latest updates on the coronavirus crisis in India and other parts of the world on Friday.
                    
1:49 p.m:Coronavirus threat impacts the schedule of the 20th edition of the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) and the Lotus Makeup India Fashion Week (LMIFW), which now stand postponed.
          
1:38 p.m:First flight from Iran will carry around 300 swabs of Indians suspected of having coronavirus and the flight is likely to land tonight, official says.
                    
1:00 p.m:No positive cases of the novel coronavirus have been reported in Andhra Pradesh, the state Medical and Health Department says. 
          
12:40 p.m:The coronavirus outbreak has affected Olympic preparations, but India's top athletes like P V Sindhu and Bajrang Punia say they are optimistic about the event.
          
12:24 p.m:A 13-member group of tourists from Iran have been quarantined at a hotel in Amritsar and have been asked to not go out till their medical examination is completed, an official said.
          
12:20 p.m:The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has directed chemists to sell coronavirus kits only on doctors' prescription, official says.
          
12:18 p.m:The CISF has postponed its anniversary parade and related celebrations scheduled for next week across the country, due to the coronavirus outbreak, officials say.
         
12:02 p.m:The Indian Premier League (IPL) is "very much on schedule," BCCI President Sourav Ganguly says, asserting that all measures will be in place to tackle the coronavirus threat.

15:11 March 06

Corona guide for air travellers: Where, how & what

The rapid spread of COVID-19 across the globe has thrown movement of lakhs of travellers off gear. This has not only impacted pleasure trips of tourists but also business travel resulting in monetary losses worth millions.

In wake of numerous advisories against travel, the travel industry, particularly the aviation sector, has also get badly impacted. Not only traffic on their once popular routes have plummeted but several have to cancel flights to destinations in China and few other South and East Asian countries to prevent becoming carrier of the contagious virus.

According to MakeMyTrip flight bookings for Southeast Asian countries have been significantly impacted but sectors in But US and Europe are only seeing a marginal dip.

More than 95,000 people in 86 countries have been infected with the virus and more than 3,200 people have died. In India so far 31 persons have tested positive for the virus.

15:08 March 06

CAPF cancels 'Holi Milan' amid Coronavirus outbreak

CAPF cancels 'Holi Milan' amid Coronavirus outbreak

New Delhi:In view of Coronavirus outbreak, all Central armed police forces have cancelled their 'Holi Milan' programmes as a preventive measure.  

Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has postponed it's Raising Day as well which was to be held next week.

15:01 March 06

COVID-19: Union Health Minister holds review meeting with states

New Delhi:Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Friday held review meeting with states over preparedness for Coronavirus. 

He stressed on the importance of keeping the testing and quarantine facilities, isolation wards, labs, in active readiness.

15:01 March 06

COVID-19: LS issues advisory for MPs 

New Delhi:Lok Sabha issues advisory for Members of Parliament (MPs) and visitors, over CoronaVirus outbreak.

14:55 March 06

Delhi cold conducive for COVID-19, south India at 'low risk'

Delhi cold conducive for COVID-19, south India at 'low risk'

New Delhi: Despite some doctors claiming that weather has no or little role to play in the new coronavirus (COVID-19) spread in India especially in the northern parts of the country, top health experts on Friday emphasised that the present weather in Delhi and NCR is conducive for the spread of the deadly virus.

Delhi is not going to see any substantial increase in the temperature any time soon, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), and low temperature generally facilitates the spread of coronavirus as we have seen in other colder countries - resulting in over 3,000 people being killed and close to 1 lakh people being infected.

"The environment plays an important role in determining the survivability and spreadability of the virus. Coronavirus tend to grow more in low temperature and humidity," said Dr Rajesh Chawla, Senior Consultant, Respiratory and Critical Care, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in New Delhi.

14:54 March 06

No positive coronavirus case in AP, says govt

Amravati:No positive cases of the novel coronavirus have been reported in Andhra Pradesh, the state Medical and Health Department said on Friday.

Of the 24 samples that were sent for examination, 20 tested negative while result of the remaining four was awaited, it said. 

14:20 March 06

No coronavirus case in Jammu and Kashmir

There were no confirmed coronavirus cases in Jammu and Kashmir, a health official said on Friday, but advised the public to remain cautious.

Shafqat Khan, Nodal Officer, coronavirus control Jammu and Kashmir, said that 230 samples were collected from across the Union Territory, of which 27 were sent for testing to Delhi.

But all the 230 sample were found to be negative, Khan said.

14:18 March 06

Amid coronavirus scare, govt asks people to avoid mass

The Union Health Ministry has asked people to avoid mass gathering till coronavirus spread is contained. 

The ministry also asked all state governments to guide the organisers on precautions if any mass gathering is organised. 

The number of coronavirus cases in the country is 31.

13:23 March 06

IIFA Award postponed due to coronavirus outbreak

International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) awards postponed amid coronovirus outbreak.

The IIFA statement read,"With due regard to the growing concerns around the spread of the COVID-19 virus and, after consulting the Madhya Pradesh government, it has been decided to postpone the event (originally scheduled at the end of March) to a later date."

12:47 March 06

Three more isolation facilities to come up in Goa

The Goa government is in the process of creating three more quarantine facilities for people suspected of coronavirus infection, state Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said on Friday.

"We are creating additional isolation wards in various hospitals to deal with suspect cases," Rane said even as one British and one Nepali national were among the four persons currently quarantined as suspect cases in Goa Medical College.

These 10-bed isolation facilities will be set up in government health centres in Chicalim and Margao in South Goa district, and one in Sanquelim in North Goa district.

12:35 March 06

13 Iranian tourists quarantined at Amritsar hotel

Amritsar:A 13-member group of tourists from Iran have been quarantined at a hotel in Amritsar and have been asked to not go out till their medical examination is completed, an official said.

They reached Amritsar on Thursday night, the official added.

They have been quarantined at their hotel rooms, Amritsar Civil Surgeon Prabhdeep Kaur said.

We are conducting a proper medical examination, she said adding that they have been asked to not leave the hotel till their medical examination gets over as a precautionary measure.

After the medical examination,Vikas Heera, SDM says, "None of the 13 people have symptoms for Coronavirus. They all are healthy. They have been isolated as a precautionary measure."

12:23 March 06

Toddler among 16 more quarantined in Rajasthan

Italians visited 6 Rajasthan districts, came in contact with 215

Bikaner:Rajasthan remains one of the most affected state with 16 new patients quarantined, including a two-year-old who came from Dubai. Taking the total quarantines to 47.

Two UK nationals have been quarantined in Jodhpur's MDH Hospital. Their samples have been taken as they travelled from Jaipur to Jodhpur.

A German woman, four Italian tourists, one each from Japan and Hong Kong are already in isolation in SMS Hospital.

A two year old who returned from Dubai is the youngest among all to be quarantined in a Bikaner Hospital. He came with her mother and was suffering from cough and cold and fever. Over 300 foreign tourists came to Bikaner on Thursday.

12:21 March 06

Ministry of health issues preventive measures for Coronavirus outbreak

12:16 March 06

Friday prayers for well being of those affected from Coronavirus

Lucknow:Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali has appealed to Imams to pray for well being of those affected with coronavirus during the Friday prayers and also called on people to adhere to doctors advice to prevent the deadly disease.

"Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali, has appealed to Imams Hajrat that they should make aware people regarding coronavirus and also pray for the end of the disease during Friday prayers and for the well being of the affected persons," a statement from the Islamic Centre of India said.

"Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali has also advised people to adhere to precautions advised by doctors regarding the disease," the statement said.

12:11 March 06

Coronavirus: Latest updates on coronavirus crisis around the world

New Delhi: Here are the latest updates on the coronavirus crisis in India and other parts of the world on Friday.

11:49 a.m:Delhi man with travel history to Thailand, Malaysia tests positive for coronavirus infection, increasing confirmed cases in India to 31, health ministry says. 

11:13 a.m: Reserve Bank governor Shaktikanta Das assures that the central bank will take every measure needed to secure the economy against the challenges arising from the coronavirus epidemic. 

11:12 a.m: Pop star Katy Perry and actor Orlando Bloom decide to postpone their wedding in Japan in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.

10:55 a.m:  A Twenty-20 league in Nepal, which was to feature West Indies swashbuckler Chris Gayle among others, postponed due to coronavirus threat, event organisers say. 
          
10:50 a.m:Genetic sequencing tests carried out on the pet dog of a confirmed coronavirus patient in Hong Kong, which could reveal if the virus has mutated or not, official says.

10:06 a.m:Equity benchmark Sensex plummeted over 1,400 points in opening session led by massive selloff in global stocks as volatility peaked amid concerns over coronavirus outbreak.

9:41 a.m:The death toll in China from coronavirus touches 3,042 with 30 new fatalities and confirmed cases rising to 80,552.

11:54 March 06

Health ministry confirms 31st case of coronavirus

New Delhi:A Delhi man with a travel history to Thailand and Malaysia has tested positive for coronavirus, taking the total number of confirmed cases in India to 31, health ministry officials said on Friday.

The latest case is the third in Delhi.

"One suspected COVID19 case has been confirmed as positive. The patient is from Delhi. He has a travel history to Thailand and Malaysia. He is stable and being monitored. The total number of confirmed cases in India now stands at 31," a health ministry official said.

10:53 March 06

Thiruvananthapuram:A medical team has arrived in Thiruvananthapuram's Kerala to examine the Coronavirus outbreak.

The 12-member team has come from Telangana to study the vicious virus outbreak and what are its preventive measures.

The team met Kerala's Health Minister KK Shailaja to discuss the research.

10:49 March 06

One more suspect of Coronavirus in Uttarakhand

Bageshwar:One suspect of coronavirus has been reported in Uttarakhand's Bageshwar district. 

The suspect, who works in a hotel in Hong Kong, returned India on February 23.

The patient has been shifted to isolated ward for for treatment.

10:30 March 06

Isolation wards set up in Srinagar

Srinagar:Isolation wards have been set up in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar over Coronavirus. 

30 positive cases of Coronavirus have been reported across the country till now.

10:30 March 06

Increase in demand for sanitizer, mask in UP's Moradabad

Moradabad:Amid concerns over coronavirus, there is an increase in sale and demand of sanitizers and masks, leading to a shortage of supply of these products here, claimed medical store owners and distributors.

A distributor said, "In the past three to four days the sale of sanitizer is far greater than sold in last the four years. I asked the company for sanitizer, they have said there is a shortage of the product now."

"Other companies are saying that this shortage will be there for the next three days," he said.

Another distributor, Vipul Agarwal from Garg Medical store said, "There will be a crisis of masks, as there is a lot of supply of mask from India to foreign countries. So there will be short of supply here."

"We are supplying traders with a limited product so that they can supply to everyone within their area. We are not distributing in bulk so that the products cannot be exported to other countries," he said.

Anther medical store owner, "There is a shortage of supply of masks and sanitizers. Old stocks have been sold, we have only a few of them left. There is a lot of demand for mask and sanitizers here in the wake of coronavirus cases in the country."

The country's total number of positive cases of coronavirus reached 30 today after a person in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, tested positive.

09:39 March 06

COVID-19: Agra's 5-star hotels to cancel bookings by foreigners

Agra:Five-star hotels in Agra have decided to cancel all room bookings made with them by tourists arriving from countries that reported coronavirus or COVID-19 cases.

The decision comes after the district authorities warned that the hotels would be sealed if any positive case of coronavirus was detected among tourists staying there.
The central government has already announced temporary suspension of visas and e-visas granted on or before Tuesday to visitors from Italy, Iran, South Korea, and Japan. 

An Agra hotel executive, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said on Friday that no hotelier could afford a closure of his business. Hence, he said, it was decided to decline rooms to tourists from these 'high-risk' countries, even if the guests had confirmed reservations. "We will make full refunds to them," the hotel staff said.

Over 1,200 bookings had already been cancelled by tourists in various city hotels due to the COVID-19 scare, he said. 

Around 12 five-star and five-star deluxe properties exist in Agra, where foreign tourists stay during their visit to the city of Taj Mahal.

09:30 March 06

'Havan' in Prayagraj to combat coronavirus

At a time when coronavirus threat is looming large and authorities are pulling all stops to contain its spread, Tirth Purohit community performed "Havan" here on Thursday to combat the deadly virus.

"The youth of Tirth Purohit Samaj conducted Havan to combat with coronavirus. Even the scientists believe that the entire universe gets clean by performing Havan and there is no effect of any kind of virus," said  Tirth Purohit community member, Ankush Sharma.

The total number of positive cases of coronavirus reached 30 on Thursday after a person in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh tested positive. Earlier today, Vardhan confirmed that 29 were tested positive for coronavirus in the country till March 4

09:29 March 06

Coronavirus: Passenger of all international flights being screened at Dibrugarh Airport

Dibrugarh:All passengers coming on international flights are being screened for novel coronavirus at Dibrugarh Airport.

As per the directive of the government of India, all passengers, both Indian and foreign, arriving on international flights will be required to go through medical screening while entering India.

A passenger at the airport, said: "They (airport authorities) asked if we have travelled abroad recently. I have come from Canada two weeks back."

08:29 March 06

Cases of Coronavirus reported across the globe

New Delhi:The WorldHealth Organization (WHO) said that it had registered 2,241 new confirmed cases of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) worldwide within the past 24 hours, with 84 people having died, which brought the total death toll to 3,282. 

COVID-19 was first detected in China's Wuhan in late December and has since spread across the world.

In late January, the WHO declared a global health emergency in light of the epidemic.

08:17 March 06

To avoid shortage of Coronavirus medicines, we export and import APIs: MoS Chemicals

Gandhinagar:MoS Chemicals and Fertilizers, Mansukh Mandaviya, in an event said, "To avoid shortage of medicines in country, suggestions have been made by Task Force. Permanent Group of Minister keep reviewing that. We export as well as import APIs (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient) & Intermediates."

He further added, "In case of some APIs, a crisis may occur in the country in future, if they are exported. We have imposed short term restrictions on such APIs."

08:02 March 06

Pvt hospitals, ad agencies, theatre owners meet in Mumbai

In the backdrop of the threat posed by coronavirus a meeting of representatives of private hospitals, ad agencies, and theatre owners was held here on Thursday and it was decided to create awareness among the people, said Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner, Praveen Pardeshi.

"Around 70,000 people from outside, coming to Mumbai were screened, 83 were suspected but they eventually tested negative, results of seven is awaited. Meeting of Mumbai's private hospitals, ad agencies and theatre owners was held. It was decided to create awareness among people," Pardeshi said.

07:49 March 06

11 isolation rooms set up at LNJP hospital, says Delhi Health Minister

New Delhi:Eleven separate isolation rooms have been set up at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) hospital for the coronavirus patients, said Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Thursday.

While the third floor of LNJP Hospital is made an isolation ward to keep suspected patients of coronavirus.

"Delhi government is fully prepared to deal with any kind of situation. We have immediately developed 11 isolated rooms here and if needed, the number of rooms will be increased. So far only two cases have been reported in Delhi, we are able to control this," said Jain.

"We have also set-up wards here to keep the suspected patients," he added.

LNJP Hospital's Dr MS Kishor Singh said that rooms here have been set up as isolation wards and one patient will stay in each room so that nobody is able to come in contact with the person.

"Arrangements have been made to keep the patients separately, away from the crowd. We are prepared for any kind of situation," said Singh.

Dr Kishor further advised everyone to take precautionary measures like maintaining a distance of one meter from the corona-infected people.

"Do not touch your face, nose, and eyes without washing your hands. Do not touch any corona-affected patient. Wash hands for at least 20 seconds with soap or handwash and cover your face while coughing or sneezing,' he added.

The country's total number of positive cases of coronavirus reached 30 on Thursday after a person in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh tested positive. Earlier today, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan confirmed that 29 were tested positive for coronavirus in the country till March 4.

07:34 March 06

Arrangements being made to facilitate return of stranded Indians from Iran: MEA

New Delhi: Arrangements are being made to facilitate the return of stranded Indians from Iran in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak through normal civil aviation channels, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday.

MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said as of now there are no Indians infected with the virus in Iran.

He also said Indian Embassies across the world are on the job wherever there has been an outbreak of coronavirus.

The Indian Embassy in Iran was putting out regular updates and the mission continues to be in touch with all the Indians in that country, including fishermen, he said.

Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said an Indian medical team was reaching Iran to set up its first clinic at Qom by the evening to start screening for coronavirus.

Asked about reports that 495 Iranian tourists in India are untraceable, Kumar said MEA has not received any information about it from the Iranian Embassy.

"The tourists we are talking about have been here before coronavirus outbreak and they can't return as no flights are operating between the two countries at present. They will leave once the flights resume, there should be no panic," he said.

Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said that based on various requests, the Indian Embassy in Iran has reached out to Indian fishermen, including from Kerala, stuck in Kish Island and Assaluyeh.

"All are in good health. Their basic requirements are met. Embassy is in constant touch!" he said on twitter.

Kumar also said the Indians in Iran are being advised to follow the health protocol as given out by the WHO and local authorities.

"Our mission has opened a 24/7 helpline. Arrangements are being made to facilitate the return of stranded Indians from areas of concern through normal civil aviation channels," he said.

"We need good cooperation from Iranian authorities so that an appropriate screening process can be set up before the Indian nationals can be facilitated to take those flights back home," he said.

Asked if India will impose further travel restrictions, Kumar said it is an evolving situation.

On the overall preparedness to tackle the coronavirus issue, Kumar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself is personally taking a lot of interest in the preparedness of India to deal with the situation.

"There is a group of ministers, regular meetings are being held, both Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Health are deeply involved. Our Embassies across the world are on the job wherever you have a certain number of cases. They have opened 24/7 networks for people to connect to them," he said.