00:41 March 05
Maharashtra govt says no need to use mask for general public
The Maharashtra government issued a statement saying that except the medical staff treating the infection or those who have come in contact with patients, others need not use face masks. For those with other existing health conditions the use of a mask may create unintended complications, it said.
"General population can use folded cotton handkerchiefs for self-protection which can be reused by keeping in bleach solution or hot water for half hour followed by the thorough washing," it added.
00:38 March 05
956 under observation in Haryana, says health dept
A statement from the Haryana Health Department said that 956 people are under observation in the state, of whom 938 with travel history to affected countries are not showing any symptoms of the disease.
"18 passengers with travel history from affected countries in various districts like Ambala, Faridabad, Gurugram, Hisar, Kaithal, Karnal, Panchkula, Rohtak and Sirsa were admitted of which 14 have been discharged as their result is negative for ncOv, however they are still under surveillance at home as per protocol," read the statement.
00:35 March 05
Patients in Bengaluru hospital tested negative
The test results of all patients admitted in isolation wards at Bengaluru's Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases have come negative.
17:46 March 04
17:03 March 04
Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) on Wednesday said 16 out of 24 people who were shifted to its quarantine facility in Chhawla have tested positive for Coronavirus.
ITBP Spokesperson, Vivek Pandey said: "16 out of 24 people who were shifted to ITBP quarantine facility have tested positive for Coronavirus. These people have been put in isolation. They are being monitored and their treatment is on."
"The situation is under control and there is no need to panic. We are taking action as per the Health Ministry guidelines on dealing with COVID-19," he added.
Yesterday, 24 people including three Indians and 21 Italian nationals residing in a hotel in South Delhi were shifted to the ITBP quarantine facility.
ITBP further said that no fresh symptoms of Coronavirus were seen in 112 people who had earlier been brought into the quarantine facility in Chhawla.
"Today is the 7th day of those people. The second test of them has been conducted and if no symptoms are seen, we will release them," Pandey said.
Earlier today the Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan had said that there were 28 confirmed cases of Coronavirus in the country.
Global deaths due to Coronavirus outbreak has crossed 3,000. The deadly virus, that originated in China late last year, continues to spread around the world and has infected more than 90,000 people.
16:45 March 04
A man who recently came from Dubai was reportedly found to be a suspect of coronavirus. The patient has been quarantined.
16:09 March 04
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said that a state-level task force has been formed, which includes all relevant agencies and corporations, to deal with the Coronavirus situation in the national capital.
The task force will be headed by the Chief Minister.
Talking about the preparedness against the virus, Kejriwal said, "All people that are coming from foreign countries are being thermally scanned. And if any symptoms are found, then that passenger is shifted to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. Till now 1,16,589 passengers have been screened at the airport."
15:25 March 04
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Wednesday said that six members of a same family got Coronavirus infection from their relative who came from Italy recently.
"The Delhi person who came from Italy visited his family at Agra from where the family members also got infected," said Dr Harsh Vardhan after a high level meeting with officials from Health Ministry and Delhi government.
He said that 16 Italian tourists who had been in Rajasthan recently were also declared Coronavirus positive.
Dr Vardhan said that India till date have registered 28 Covid-19 positive cases.
Giving breakup of the cases, Vardhan said that one persons hails from Delhi, 6 from Agra, one in Telangana, 16 Italian tourists and one driver (Indian) accompanying the Italian tourists.
He said that till date more than 5,89000 passengers have been screened at airports.
15:17 March 04
Department of Information & Public Relations, Government of Jammu and Kashmir has established dedicated 24x7 data control Centres at Srinagar and Jammu to receive information of travellers coming from Coronavirus affected countries.
Two passengers with travel history to Italy/South Korea identified; symptomatic passenger shifted to GMC Jammu for quarantine sample testing, asymptomatic passenger instructed for home quarantine as per protocol.
14:20 March 04
At present, total 5 persons are admitted in the isolation wards of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases in Bengaluru. Samples have been collected. Reports will be received later today.
14:18 March 04
"A state-level task force has been constituted to control the situation arising due to CoronaVirus. It will be chaired by me. It includes members from several agencies, departments & corporations. Each member has been assigned a role," says Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.
13:49 March 04
Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's example, BJP president J P Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said they will not celebrate Holi or hold any Holi Milan function in view of the coronavirus outbreak.Countries across the world are making efforts to contain the spread of the disease, Nadda said on Twitter about an hour after the prime minister's announcement. Shah appealed to all to desist from celebrating Holi.
"The world is battling COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. The countries & medical fraternity are jointly making efforts to contain its spread. Keeping this in mind, this year, I will neither celebrate Holi nor organise Holi Milan. Stay safe, Stay Healthy," Nadda tweeted.
Shah urged people to avoid public gatherings.
Modi earlier said he has decided not to participate in any Holi Milan programme as experts have advised that mass gatherings must be reduced to avoid the spread of coronavirus.
13:39 March 04
After a spike in the positive cases of coronavirus, the Rajasthan government on Wednesday issued directions to the Collectors and Chief Medical Health Officers of Jhunjhunu, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur and Jaipur districts to take public health measures in the places visited by the group of Italian tourists.
The group, that include the couple that has tested positive for the virus, travelled in these districts from February 21 to 28 and the officials have been asked to disinfect the rooms and the bus in which the group travelled from the time they arrived at IGI airport in New Delhi to the hotels they had stayed in across the state.
The bus driver and cleaner will be home quarantined for 14 days.
Additional Chief Secretary, Medical and Health, Rohit Kumar Singh said that the officials have been asked to get detailed addresses of all who have stayed in these rooms and to do follow-up for health status and advice them for home quarantine for a total of 14 days.
Tourist guides, helpers and hotel staff who had served or came in close contact with the group in any manner will also be home quarantined, he added.
Rooms will be disinfected with a solution of 1 percent sodium hypochlorite while total mopping of all areas, handles, chairs, tables, etc. will also be done, the senior official said.
13:37 March 04
At least 25 people suspected of Coronavirus are admitted at Safdarjung hospital. 4 suspected cases of Coronavirus are kept in isolation at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia hospital.
13:34 March 04
On being questioned about rumours of increase in the prices of N95 masks, Harsh Vardhan said that if people are taking advantage and misusing this time, then they should be labeled as "black sheep" and a mechanism to punish them should be implemented.
13:32 March 04
Health Minister Harsh Vradhan has said that there are a total of 28 COVID-19 (Coronavirus) cases in India; 1 in Delhi, 6 in Agra, 16 Italian tourists and their Indian driver, 1 in Telangana and 3 in Kerala.
Harsh Vardhann said he met with Delhi's health minister, corporation officials and urged them to augment facilities of isolation wards in hospitals.
He added that the 6 novel Coronavirus cases in Agra are relatives of Delhi-based man who tested positive earlier.
12:51 March 04
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has revealed that till now, there have been 28 positive cases of Coronavirus in India. He further said that from now on, all flights and passengers will be part of universal screening, not just the 12 countries which had been listed earlier.
12:38 March 04
Hyderabad Metro Rail sprayed disinfectant at stations & inside metro coaches. The state government has also issued public advisories as part of an awareness campaign.
12:35 March 04
We have requested all hospitals in Delhi to develop good quality isolation wards, in order to stay prepared if more cases of CoronaVirus are suspected in the national capital, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan in said during a meeting with Delhi govt officials
12:29 March 04
While welcoming participants at an event here, Army Chief General M M Naravane on Wednesday expressed concern towards Coronavirus outbreak and said he hoped it is a "virus-free seminar".
"A very welcome to all participants and delegates especially those who travelled from abroad and far-flung parts of the country. We look forward to your perspective and views on the subject of great contemporary interest and I also hope that we have a virus-free seminar," said General Naravane.
He was speaking at the Indian Army's internal seminar with the theme 'changing characteristics of land warfare and its impact on the military'.
The comments of the Army chief came after the Union Health Ministry on Tuesday confirmed six positive cases of the deadly Coronavirus (COVID-19) in India.
12:27 March 04
Government is seized of all the steps to be taken to contain the spread of coronavirus and is in touch with all concerned departments to take further measures, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Wednesday.
Speaking to the media outside the Parliament, the Minister said that two high-level committees are monitoring the situation on daily basis and fully geared up to take appropriate measures.
The Minister said that passengers coming from virus-hit countries are being properly screened and those suspected to have been in contact with infected passenger have been tracked and quarantined.
12:05 March 04
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope has said that no positive case of CoronaVirus has been detected in Maharashtra till now. He advised people not to spread or believe in rumours. He further said that as of now, no anti-viral drug is available. Isolation wards have been set up in every district and 10 extra beds have been placed in every hospital.
12:04 March 04
Independent MP from Maharashtra, Navneet Rana arrives at the Parliament wearing a mask.
11:50 March 04
In a bid to prevent the spread of the deadly Coronavirus, a crew member of a cargo ship was shifted to a hospital in Cuttack on Tuesday after he developed symptoms of fever and sore throat, informed Paradip Port Trust Chairman Rinkesh Roy Reddy today.
Meanwhile, in Kochi 459 passengers of the Italian luxury cruise ship 'Costa Victoria', which was docked in its port, were screened for respitory symptoms and fever on Wednesday.
11:26 March 04
Acting on the Centre's instructions, the Gujarat government, with the help of Airport Authority of India (AAI) has set up special screening desks at the Ahmedabad and Surat international airports for the passengers arriving from abroad, in a move to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the state.
"Basically we are placing thermal scanners to check the arriving passengers from abroad. Besides, we will be screening the arriving passengers through the screening teams comprising medical and paramedical staff," Jayanti Ravi, Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Gujarat told reporters.
"We are carrying out the the entire procedure by coordinating with every agency, like the AAI, the central government, the state government and also the municipal corporations of both the cities. We have even imparted special training to them regarding the virus scare," added Ravi.
According to sources, special desks have been set up at the arrival lounge at the Ahmedabad international airport by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) to screen the arriving international passengers. The passengers are also asked to give a declaration by filling a a form, which requires them to fill in their health status and that they are free of any disease or ailment.
Apart from that, special awareness campaigns, using flash boards at various places at the Ahmedabad airport have been placed depicting the cause and concern regarding the COVID-19 outbreak.
11:25 March 04
Initial reports suggest that all 15 Italian tourists quarantined at ITBP Chawala camp suspected to have Coronavirous. We are waiting for final confirmation: ITBP official.
10:33 March 04
In the backdrop of coronavirus threat, as many as 459 passengers of the Italian luxury cruise ship 'Costa Victoria', which was docked in Kochi, were screened for respiratory symptoms and fever on tuesday.
"A total of 459 passengers disembarked out of which 305 are Indians. All passengers were screened for respiratory symptoms and fever," said Jijo Thomas, PRO, Kochi Port Trust while talking to reporters.
On Monday, a person each from Delhi and Telangana were tested positive for coronavirus. Both the patients are stable and being closely monitored, the ministry of health and family welfare said.
10:15 March 04
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan will hold a meeting with senior officials of the Delhi government on Wednesday to take stock of the preparedness with respect to coronavirus.
Earlier on Tuesday, after a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Delhi CM had said that the Centre-state government will work together to stop the outbreak of the deadly disease.
According to the Ministry, the fresh cases of COVID-19 have been reported from New Delhi, Telangana, and Rajasthan where an Italian national has been found positive with the infection in Jaipur.
09:31 March 04
COVID-19 LIVE updates: Coronavirus cases rise to 29 as Paytm employee tested positive
Gautum Buddh Nagar (Uttar Pradesh): Six people from Noida who had been put under observation for suspected Coronavirus infection after they attended a birthday party hosted by an infected Delhi resident, have tested negative for the virus.
However, District Magistrate BN Singh said that these will be put under home quarantine for the next 14 days.
"Coronavirus samples taken from 6 people in Noida tested negative but they will need to be under home quarantine for the next 14 days and if symptoms develop, they can be retested again. Government and administration are keeping a watch close watch and there is no need to panic," Singh said.
He also added that the district administration has not issued any school closure order.
Earlier, a school in Noida was shut down on Tuesday after the first Coronavirus patient from Delhi was found to have come in contact with several of its students at a birthday party he attended.
Anurag Bhargav, Chief Medical Officer of Gautam Buddh Nagar said, "Several schoolmates of the child of a COVID-19 infected man came into contact with him at a party. We have closed down the school to sanitise it. The infected man is admitted to a hospital in Delhi."
The Union Health Ministry informed on Tuesday that six positive cases of the deadly Coronavirus (COVID-19) have been reported in India so far.
Global deaths due to coronavirus outbreak on Monday rose above 3,000 with the new count in China mainland rising to 2,912. The deadly virus, that originated in China late last year, continues to spread around the world and has infected more than 80,000 people.
ANI