COVID-19: Himachal Reports 1st Death, Cases in India at 467
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A 69-year-old Tibetan refugee, who died at a hospital in Tanda in Himachal Pradesh on Monday, 23 March, has been tested positive for COVID-19. He returned from the United States on 15 March, reported ANI, quoting RD Dhiman, State Additional Chief Secretary (Health).
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Monday reported that the total number of positive cases in India rose to 471. However, the Union Health Ministry has reported 467 cases.
The Supreme Court also passed an order stating that the limitation period - essentially the time limit within which cases or appeals can be filed - has been suspended indefinitely in light of the coronavirus crisis.
The Civil Aviation Ministry on Monday announced that domestic commercial airlines shall cease operations from 24 March midnight till 31 March.
The Government of India has asked states to strictly enforce lockdown, saying that legal action will be taken against violators.
The total number of coronavirus cases across the globe stands at at least 3,50,000 according to AFP.
- 30 states and union territories in India have been locked down
- The Punjab and Maharashtra governments on Monday imposed a curfew to stop the spread of coronavirus
- The Supreme Court on Monday said that it will not hold hearings in person till further orders
- PM Modi said the ‘Janata Curfew’ was just the beginning of a long battle, even as he lauded the people for their overwhelming response
- Cases in India stand at 467, death toll at 9
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More Than 100 Coronavirus Deaths in the US in 24 Hours
More than 100 coronavirus deaths in the United States in 24 hours, reports AFP news agency quoting Johns Hopkins tracker.
US Senate Fails to Advance Trillion-Dollar Rescue Package
A trillion-dollar Senate proposal to rescue the reeling US economy crashed to defeat on Sunday, 22 March, after receiving zero support from Democrats, who said the Republican proposal failed to sufficiently help millions of Americans devastated by the coronavirus crisis, AFP reported.
The bill, which proposed up to $2 trillion in funding for American families, thousands of shuttered or suffering businesses and the nation's critically under-equipped hospitals, failed by a 47-47 vote when it needed 60 to pass, despite intense negotiations between Republicans, Democrats and President Donald Trump's administration.
France Coronavirus Death Toll Jumps 112 to 674: Official
The number of people killed in France by the coronavirus outbreak has increased by another 112 to a total of 674, the top French health official said on Sunday, according to AFP.
The rise in the death toll was identical to that of the previous day. "The virus kills and it is continuing to kill," said top French health official Jerome Salomon as he announced the new numbers at a daily briefing.
Gatherings of More Than 2 to be Banned in Germany
Gatherings of more than two people are to be banned in Germany in a bid to stop the spread of COVID-19. Some exceptions will be allowed, including for families living under the same roof, AFP reports.
Canada Will Not Send Athletes to Tokyo Olympics
Canada won't be sending teams to the Olympics this year.
"While we recognise the inherent complexities around a postponement, nothing is more important than the health and safety of our athletes and the world community," the committee said in a statement.
Postponing Olympics a Possibility, Says Abe
Speaking to lawmakers on Monday, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said postponing the 2020 Summer Olympics is a possibility.
This is the first time Abe has changed his staunch public position that the Olympics will start 24 July as scheduled, CNN reported.
Harvey Weinstein Tests Positive for Coronavirus in Prison: Union Official
Former movie producer Harvey Weinstein, who is serving a prison sentence for sexual assault and rape, has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the head of the state corrections officers union, Reuters reports.
Weinstein has been placed in isolation at Wende Correctional Facility, said Michael Powers, president of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association.
Emirates Reverses Decision to Suspend All Passenger Flights
Dubai carrier Emirates reversed on Sunday its decision to suspend all passenger flights, shortly after it said it would halt operations from 25 March amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, AFP reported.
The airline said it "received requests from governments and customers to support the repatriation of travellers" and will continue to operate passenger flights to 13 destinations, down from its usual 159.
Tamil Nadu Reports Two More Cases
Two fresh positive cases have been reported in Tamil Nadu. A 64-year-old woman who traveled from California is under isolation at Stanley Medical College, while a 43-year-old man, who returned from Dubai, is under isolation at Tirunelveli Medical College.
Both the patients are stable.
IAS Officers of Punjab Cadre to Contribute One Day's Salary to CM's Relief Fund
The government of Punjab has announced that to help those whose livelihoods have been affected as a result of lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus, all IAS officers of Punjab cadre shall contribute a day's salary to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, ANI reported on Monday, 23 March.
Arvind Kejriwal Tweets on Delhi Lockdown
As Delhi entered a lockdown on Monday, CM Arvind Kejriwal took to Twitter to provide encouragement to citizens.
Total Number of Positive Cases in Maharashtra at 89
The total number of COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra rose to 89 with 15 more coronavirus positive cases reported in the last 24 hours, officials said on Monday.
Of the new cases, 14 are in Mumbai and one in Pune, they said.
Total Number of Positive Cases in India at 390: Health Ministry
The health ministry on Monday said that the number of COVID-19 cases in India has risen to 390, with 359 out of these being active cases.
Uber, Ola to Suspend Services in Delhi From 23 March Till 31 March
Services of Ola and Uber will not be available in Delhi till 31 March amid the lockdown announced by the state government to contain the spread of coronavirus.
Philippines Citizen Who Initially Tested Positive, but Became Negative, Passes Away
A 68-year-old Philippines citizen, who initially tested positive for COVID-19 but recovered, passed away on in Mumbai on Sunday, according to ANI. He was reportedly shifted from Kasturba hospital to a private hospital and had developed acute renal failure and respiratory distress, the Public Health Department said, according to ANI.
Shiv Sena MPs to Abstain From Parliament Over COVID-19
Shiv Sena MPs will not take part in proceedings of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, due to coronavirus, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut has said, according to ANI.
Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu has called a meeting of various party leaders later today for stock-taking of the situation and duration of the House session.
Case Against Delhi Man Who Called Manipur Woman 'Corona', Spat on Her
Delhi Police has registered a case under section 509 of the Indian Penal Code against a man who allegedly spat on a woman belonging to Manipur and called her "Corona" in Vijay Nagar area of north Delhi on Sunday night, ANI reports.
Anti-CAA Protest in Lucknow Suspended Amid Coronavirus Scare
Women protestors staging a round-the-clock sit-in at the historic clock tower in Lucknow against the CAA and the NRC have suspended their dharna in view of the coronavirus scare.
The woman protestors have submitted a letter to the police commissioner, saying they were suspending their 66-day-long protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the proposed nationwide National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR) temporarily in view of the outbreak, PTI reported.
They added that they would be back after the lockdown enforced by the government ends.
Delhi Budget to be Presented in Assembly Today
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said on Monday that despite the lockdown in Delhi, the Delhi Budget would be presented in the Assembly today as it is necessary to do so because without passing the budget, the government will not be able to spend money from 1 April.
Please Follow Instructions, Save Yourself and Family: PM Modi
PM Modi took to Twitter on Monday to remind people to follow instructions and take the lockdown seriously.
Indian Markets Tank on Coronavirus Scare
Sensex on Monday, 23 March, tanked 10 percent to the hit the lower circuit limit, halting trading for 45 minutes, as markets crashed once again amid concerns over the coronavirus outbreak. Nifty, meanwhile, was down by 842 points at 7,903.
At the opening on Monday, Sensex had nosedived 2,718 points to 27,197, while Nifty tanked 720 points to 8,024, as large parts of India were placed under lockdown to curb the spread of the highly contagious virus, which has infected at least 396 people across the country.
All the constituents of the Nifty and Sensex had opened with losses, as did all the sectoral indices.
27 Positive Cases in Karnataka
Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramalu on Monday said that there are 27 positive coronavirus cases in the state. He added that one hospital in every district is dedicated to COVID-19 treatment and that the state has placed an order for 1000 ventilators. The minister also said that the government has already taken measures to purchase 10 lakh masks and five lakhs of Personal Protective Equipment.
29 Positive Cases in Gujarat
Eleven new coronavirus cases have been reported in Gujarat, taking the total number of those infected by the deadly virus in the state to 29, the state health department said on Monday, according to PTI.
Among the new patients, five are males and six females. Of these, five cases are of local transmission and six patients have history of recent visits to countries like Saudi Arabia, France, Sri Lanka and the UK, it said.
30 Cases in Delhi, Situation Under Control: Kejriwal
Arvind Kejriwal said on Monday that there are 30 cases in Delhi, adding that the situation was currently under control in the national capital.
Centre Asks States to Strictly Enforce Lockdown
The Government of India asks states to strictly enforce lockdown, says legal action will be taken against violators.
Total Number of Positive Cases at 415: ICMR
The Indian Council of Medical Research on Monday pegged the total number of positive coronavirus cases in the country at 415. The medical body said that the number of positive cases has increased by 19 since yesterday, according to ANI.
DMK, Allies Announce Boycott of TN Assembly Session
Tamil Nadu's main opposition DMK and its allies Congress and Indian Union Muslim League on Monday said that they will boycott the ongoing Assembly session considering people's safety and to facilitate the stay of MLAs in their respective constituencies, according to PTI.
Leader of Opposition and DMK president M K Stalin in a letter to Speaker P Dhanapal said the session was being held contravening the government's campaign of social distancing to combat the spread of coronavirus.
DMK whip R Sakkarapani, Congress legislature party leader K R Ramasamy and IUML MLA K A M Muhammed Abbubacker told reporters at the Secretariat that their parties will boycott the session scheduled till 31 March.
No Community Transmission in India: Rajesh Tope
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Monday said that there was no community transmission in India.
“I want to make it very clear that we have not entered the community spread phase,” he said, according to ANI.
Delhi HC Suspends Breath Analyser Test of Air Traffic Controllers
Delhi High Court suspends the current Breath Analyzer Test of Air Traffic controllers till 27 March, in view of COVID-19, ANI reports.
Adityanath Appeals to People to Remain at Home
Total Number of Positive Cases in Chandigarh at 7
Total number of positive cases of coronavirus in Chandigarh now stands at seven, the UT’s administration has said. All seven patients are in stable condition, it added, according to ANI.
No More In-Person Hearings in SC Till Further Orders
Supreme Court will not hold hearings in person till further orders. Urgent matters will be taken up by the apex court via video conferencing and lawyers may appear from their own offices. Lawyers chambers in the SC will be sealed at 5PM on Tuesday, Bar & Bench reports.
Will Grant Special Parole to Convicts to Decongest Prisons, Delhi Govt Tells HC
The AAP government told the Delhi High Court on Monday that it had decided to decongest its prisons to check the spread of coronavirus by providing convicts with the options of special parole and furlough, PTI reported.
The Delhi government told a bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Subramonium Prasad that it was going to amend its prison rules to provide the options of special parole and furlough.
Home Quarantine-Stamped People to Be Arrested If Found in Public Places in Bengaluru
Amid rising coronavirus cases, Bengaluru city Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao said on Monday those subjected to home quarantine stamping would be arrested if they were found to visit public places.
Arunachal Pradesh Orders Lockdown From Monday Evening Till 31 March
The Arunachal Pradesh government has announced a lockdown in the state from Monday evening till 31 March in view of the coronavirus outbreak, officials said, according to PTI.
All essential services will be allowed during the period, according to a notification issued by Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar on Sunday night.
Himachal Pradesh to Enter Lockdown From Today
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur on Monday announced that there will be complete lockdown in the state with effect from today till further orders, in wake of coronavirus.
Odisha HC Suspends Hearings Till 31 March
Odisha HC suspends hearings till 31 March starting today. Only urgent matters can be mentioned before the Deputy Registrar through WhatsApp message or video call.
DGCA Issues Social Distancing Measures for Airlines, Airport Operators
Goa Govt Extends 'Janata Curfew'; Industry Delegation Meets CM
Goa witnessed a total shut down for the second consecutive day on Monday as the state government extended the 'Janata Curfew' to contain the spread of coronavirus.
A delegation of various industrial bodies in Goa met Chief Minister Pramod Sawant at his residence on Monday, urging him to allow the industry work with 20 percent workforce, PTI reported.
Sawant on Sunday announced that the 'Janata curfew' will remain in force till the intervening night of 25-26 March.
SC on Overcrowding in Prisons
The SC on Monday asked each state to constitute a High Power Committee headed by chairman of state legal service authority to determine which class of prisoners can be released on parole or on interim bail for such period as may be thought appropriate.
PM Modi Interacts With Media Heads
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is interacting with media representatives through video conferencing, over COVID19.
Hong Kong Bans All Non-Resident Arrivals
Hong Kong will ban all non-residents from entering the financial hub from Wednesday, its leader said Monday, as it tries to halt a recent spike in virus infections from people returning from abroad.
"From midnight of March 25, all non-Hong Kong residents flying in from overseas will not be allowed into the city," Chief Executive Carrie Lam said, adding the order would be in place for at least two weeks, according to AFP.
Kerala HC to Remain Closed Till 8 April
Kerala High Court will remain closed till 8 April in the wake of coronavirus. Sittings will be held on Tuesdays and Fridays to consider emergency cases. Cases which affect individual freedom, habeas corpus petitions and bail pleas will be considered only on these days, ANI reports.
Lawyers Chambers in Delhi HC to be Closed Till 31 March
All lawyer chambers in Delhi High Court to be closed from today evening till 31 March, in view of coronavirus, ANI reports.
Curfew Imposed in Ludhiana Till 31 March
Curfew to be imposed in Ludhiana from 2pm today till 31 March, medical emergency cases exempted, Ludhiana Police said on Monday, according to ANI.
Punjab CM Announces Full Curfew in State
Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh announces full curfew in the state with no relaxations, essential service exempted.
Mamata Writes to Modi, Appeals for All Flights to be Stopped From Landing in WB
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee writes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealing to him to stop all flights from landing in West Bengal with immediate effect.
Railways Extends Duration of Stay in Retiring Room Till Normal Services Resume
Railways extends duration of stay in retiring room till normal services resume; station masters to fix time limit, officials said on Monday, according to PTI.
OPD Services in All AIIMS to Remain Closed Till Further Orders
All OPD services in All India Institute of Medical Sciences and all centres to remain closed till further orders, ANI reports.
FIR Against 40 People in Ahmedabad for Gathering on 22 March
An FIR has been filed against 40 people from Ahmedabad’s Khadia area who had gathered outside their house on 22 March as Section 144 of CrPC is imposed in Ahmedabad, Ashish Bhatia, Commissioner of Police, Ahmedabad told ANI on Monday.
IGL Shuts Nearly Two-Third of CNG Stations in NCT of Delhi
Indraprastha Gas Limited shuts nearly two-third of CNG stations in national capital territory as vehicles go off-road due to coronavirus lockdown, PTI reports.
Pondicherry to Enter Lockdown
Pondicherry will go under lockdown from 9pm today till 31 March.
Parliament to be Adjourned Sine Die on Monday: Report
Both Houses of Parliament will be adjourned sine die on Monday after passage of Finance Bill, PTI reports, quoting sources.
First Doctor Dies From Coronavirus in Pak
A 26-year-old Pakistani doctor has become the country's first medic to die after contracting the novel coronavirus while treating the COVID-19 patients in Gilgit region of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, officials said on Monday, according to PTI.
Usma Riaz was treating the patients who recently returned from Iraq and Iran.
PM Modi Thanks Nations for Contributions to SAARC COVID-19 Emergency Fund
Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanks the leaders of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan for their contribution towards SAARC COVID19 Emergency Fund.
Delhi HC Suspends Functioning of Itself, District Courts Till 4 April
Delhi High Court suspends its functioning as well as of district courts till 4 April in view of coronavirus. In case of any fresh matter of extreme urgency, the Registrar/Joint Registrar can be contacted telephonically and hearing of such matters would be through video conferencing, the High Court said.
Lok Sabha Adjourned Amid COVID-19 Fears
Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on Monday, earlier than scheduled, amid the COVID-19 outbreak. It was originally supposed to continue till 3 April.
Section 144 to be Imposed in TN From 6PM Tomorrow Till 31 March
Section 144 will be imposed in Tamil Nadu from 6PM on Tuesday till 31 March, it was announced in the Assembly today. Shops selling milk, vegetables, provisions, mutton, chicken and fish will continue to function. However, commercial complexes won't be open. Government offices that are deemed necessary and essential will function.
All private establishments have been instructed to let their employees work from home.
Raj Govt Restricts Assembly of Five or More People
Rajasthan Health Minister Raghu Sharma on Monday said the government has imposed prohibitory orders restricting assembly of five or more people to prevent the spread of coronavirus, reported PTI.
He said that people can be booked under Indian Penal Code section 188 (disobedience of order) if they are found violating the order.
Labour Ministry Issues Advisory to Private/Public Enterprises
The Ministry of Labour & Employment issued an advisory on Monday to all the employers of Public/Private establishments to not cut salaries or resort to employee layoffs amid the coronavirus outbreak in the country, reported PTI
Rahul Targets Modi Govt Over 'Delay' in Banning Export of Ventilators, Masks
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the "delay" in the government's decision to ban the export of essentials life-saving equipment like ventilators and surgical masks amid coronavirus outbreak.
"Respected Prime Minister, WHO's advice 1. Ventilator 2. Surgical Mask, why did the Indian government allow the export of all these things till March 19, instead of keeping sufficient stock? Which kind of forces have encouraged these games? Isn't this a criminal conspiracy?" asked Gandhi.
Iran Death Toll Rises to 1,812
Iran on Monday reported 127 new COVID-19 deaths, bringing its death toll to 1,812 amid 23,049 confirmed cases, reported AFP.
Telangana Reports 3 New COVID-19 Cases
Three new positive coronavirus case were reported in Telangana taking the total of those infected to 30, the government said on Monday, reported PTI.
The three include one with travel history to France and another to London, according to a media bulletin on coronavirus.
The third person is a resident of Karimnagar who came in contact with the 10-member group of Indonesians which tested positive for the virus.
Arunachal Pradesh Invokes Epidemic Act
The Arunachal Pradesh state government on Monday invoked the Epidemic Act and announced a ‘complete safety restriction’ of the state from 5 pm, 23 March till midnight of 31 March. All essential services shall be exempted, reported ANI, quoting Pema Khandu, Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh.
Nigeria Reports First COVID-19 Death
Nigeria on Monday reported its first death from coronavirus as confirmed cases of infections in Africa's most populous nation climbed further, reported AFP.
"The 1st COVID-19 death in Nigeria has been recorded," the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control wrote on Twitter.
He had underlying medical conditions -- multiple myeloma & diabetes & was undergoing chemotherapy."
Bhima Koregaon Commission Postpones Its Proceeding Till Further Notice
The Bhima Koregaon Commission was supposed to submit its 7th status report, but in a letter written to the Chief Secretary the commission has shown inability to submit the report in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The commission says that if an extension of 6 months is given, it intends to examine 40-50 more witnesses including police, and other state witnesses, prominent politicians.
Those With Quarantine Stamps Found Outside Will Be Arrested: Bengaluru Top Cop
The Bengaluru police commissioner on Monday said that those subjected to home-quarantine stamping will be arrested if they are found in public places, reported PTI.
Global COVID-19 Death Toll Crosses 15,000
Deaths from the novel coronavirus pandemic have crossed 15,000 across the globe, according to an AFP tally on Monday from official figures.
A total of 15,189 deaths have been recorded, the majority in Europe with 9,197 fatalities.
Italy is the hardest-hit country with 5,476 deaths, followed by China where the virus first emerged last year with 3,270, and Spain with 2,182.
Haryana Extends Lockdown to Entire State in the Wake of COVID-19 Outbreak
A day after putting seven districts of the state under lockdown, the Haryana government on Monday decided to extend the anti-coronavirus preventive measure to the remaining 15 districts of the state, reported PTI.
The lockdown for the new districts would be effective from 24 March midnight i.e. night intervening Monday and Tuesday.
Govt Suspends Domestic Air Travel From 25 March
No domestic commercial passenger flight would be allowed to operate in the country from 25 March onward, the Union Civil Aviation Ministry said in a statement on Monday in order to restrict travel amid the coronavirus pandemic.
"The operations of domestic schedule commercial airlines shall cease with effect from the midnight that is 23.59 hours IST (Indian Standard Time) on 24 March 2020," a ministry spokesperson said.
"Airlines have to plan operations so as to land at their destinations before 23.59 hours on 24 March 2020," the spokesperson added.
However, the spokesperson clarified that the restrictions would not apply to cargo flights.
Spain Death Toll Crosses 2,000
The novel coronavirus death toll in Spain surged to 2,182 after 462 people died within 24 hours, the health ministry said on Monday, reported AFP.
Reliance Sets up India's 1st Dedicated COVID-19 Hospital
Reliance Industries on Monday said it will pay contract and temporary workers wages even in case of no work due to coronavirus outbreak, set up India's first dedicated Covid-19 hospital in Mumbai, ramp up face-mask production capacity and provide free meals and fuel to deal with the crisis, reported PTI.
People Were Not Listening: Maha CM Imposes Statewide Curfew
Uddhav Thackeray, Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Monday announced a statewide curfew, stating that district borders will be sealed, no inter-district transportation will be allowed. All essential services to function and their transportation also allowed but with restrictions, reported ANI.
Assam to Be Under Lockdown From 6 PM on 24 March Till 31 March
Assam will be under lockdown from 6 pm on 24 March till 31 March in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic, reported PTI, quoting Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
One Mores Tests Positive for COVID-19 in Dehradun
One more person, who is under observation at Dehradun's Doon Hospital, tested positive for COVID-19. Three trainee officers of Indian Forest Services were earlier tested positive, reported PTI, quoting, Pankaj Pandey, Secy Medical, Health and Medical Education Dept, Uttarakhand, reported ANI.
India Yamaha Motor Shuts Shop in Wake of Coronavirus
Two-wheeler major India Yamaha motor, a subsidiary of Japan-headquartered Yamaha, on Monday said it was suspending operations at its facilities in the country in view of coronavirus outbreak, reported PTI.
The company said it has taken preventive counter- measure of suspending its manufacturing operations at its facilities in Chennai, Surajpur (Uttar Pradesh) and Faridabad (Haryana) till 31 March 2020.
One More Tests Positive for COVID-19 in Gujarat
One more person in Gujarat tests positive for COVID-19, raising the total number of positive cases in the state rises to 30, reported PTI, quoting Health & Family Welfare Department, Government of Gujarat.
West Bengal Reports First COVID-19 Death
A 57-year-old male patient who tested positive for COVID-19 in West Bengal succumbed to the disease on Monday, 23 March. The partient was the fourth patient who tested positive in the state.
Punjab CM Imposes Statewide Curfew
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday announced a full curfew in the state with no relaxations, stating that essential service will be exempted and strict action will be taken against any violation of the curfew, reported ANI.
Kerala CM Imposes Lockdown
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced on Monday a complete lockdown in the state. All borders in the state to remain closed, operations of all public transport to cease. All places of worship to also remain closed.
Chandigarh Imposes Curfew in the Wake of COVID-19 Outbreak
Chandigarh Administrator V P Singh Badnore on Monday announced that a curfew will remain in place in Chandigarh from 23 March midnight till further orders. People engaged in essential services will only be allowed curfew passes.
28 More Test Positive for COVID-19 in Kerala
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced twenty eight positive cases in the state on Monday, taking the number of those undergoing treatment to 91, the highest in the country, reported PTI.
Gambhir Offers Rs 50 Lakh for Delhi Govt Hospitals Treating COVID-19 Patients
BJP MP Gautam Gambhir on Monday offered to release Rs 50 lakh from his MPLADS fund for equipment to treat coronavirus patients in Delhi government hospitals, reported PTI.
HC Asks Delhi Govt to Set up Health Facility at Eidgah Camp
The Delhi High Court on Monday directed the AAP government to set up a health facility at the riot victim relief camp at Eidgah in the northeast district of the national capital to prevent spread of coronavirus there, reported PTI.
A bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Subramonium Prasad ordered the Delhi government to ensure that a team of doctors and public health officials visit the camp within 48 hours with sufficient medicines and equipment.
The court also directed that adequate number of sanitation workers with equipment be deputed at the camp for maintaining hygiene in the area and to avoid spread of any infection or contagious disease.
Ride Sharing Services, Rickshaw to Stop in K'taka From 24 March
The Karnataka Government on Monday announced all public and private passenger transport services including Ola, Uber, taxi and autorickshaws shall be stopped from 24 March in Bangalore Urban, Bangalore Rural, Kalaburagi, Chikkaballapur, Mysuru, Madikeri, Dharwad, Mangaluru and Belagavi where restrictions are in place, reported ANI.
Pakistan's Coronavirus Cases Rise to 803; Sindh Minister Tests Positive
Pakistan said on Monday that the total number of coronavirus cases in the country rose to 803, even as the Army scrambled to put together all resources to tackle the infection which has claimed more than 15,000 lives worldwide, reported PTI.
Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani in a video message on Monday confirmed that he had tested positive for coronavirus and was now in isolation at his home.
Singapore Reports Highest Single Day Increase, Total Cases Cross 500
Singapore on Monday reported 54 new cases of the novel coronavirus, the highest single day increase, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases to 509, reported AFP, quoting health officials.
Out of the 54 new cases, 48 people have travel history to Europe, North America and ASEAN.
Cases in Maharashtra Rise to 89
Maharashtra continued to report highest single-day cases with 15 people testing positive for the novel coronavirus in the state in the last 24 hours, taking the total to 89.
Of these 11 are from Mumbai, three from Thane, Vasai- Virar and Navi Mumbai, all part of the commercial capital's metropolitan region, and one from Pune, according to an official statement.
Suspected COVID-19 Patient Dies in HP's Kangra
A 24-year-old woman who recently travelled from the USA and showed possible symptoms of coronavirus died at a private hospital in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra, a senior state health official said on Monday.
Her samples were sent for testing to Tanda's Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College but she died before the arrival of the report, the official said.
No Domestic Flights till 31 March
The Civil Aviation Ministry on Monday, 23 March announced that domestic commercial airlines shall cease operations from 24 March midnight till 31 March.
Corona Impact: AIIMS Shuts Down OPD Services First Time Ever
For the first time in its history, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences here has decided to indefinitely shut down OPD services, including speciality and all new and follow-up registration.
The order will come in to effect from 24 March.
PM to Interact with People in Varanasi on Coronavirus
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with the people of his parliamentary constituency of Varanasi on Wednesday in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.
"I will interact with the people of my constituency of Varanasi on the situation arising out of coronavirus. You can join this conversation through video conferencing at 5 pm on March 25. If you have any suggestion or question, can share it by going to the comment section of the NaMo app," he tweeted.
Kamal Haasan Asks PM to Help Out Workers in Unorganised Sector
Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) chief Kamal Haasan on Monday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure the welfare of workers in the informal sector amidst the coronavirus outbreak, suggesting the government can consider direct cash transfer for them.
Haasan wrote an "open letter" to the Prime Minister, in which he said, "More than 90 percent of our workforce is in the informal sector."
"...they are our construction workers, agriculture and manual labourers, fishermen, MSME workers and so on," he said in the letter uploaded on his official Twitter handle.
Total Cases in Maharashtra at 97
The total number of positive cases in Maharashtra rise up to 97.
9 More Districts in Odisha to be Placed Under Lockdown
The Odisha government intensified its drive against the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic on Monday as it put around 3 crore of the state's 4.5-crore population under a lockdown by extending the restrictions from five to 14 districts.
Tripura CM Announces Lockdown in the Wake of COVID-19 Outbreak
Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb on Monday announced a complete lockdown in the state from 2 PM on 24 March till 31 March in the wake of the novel coronavirus outbreak, reported ANI.
Andhra Govt Starts Door-To-Door Campaign to Trace Foreign Returnees
The Andhra Pradesh government on Monday said it has traced over 10,000 foreign returnees through an innovative door-to-door campaign, out of which 140 of them have shown symptoms of coronavirus, while the rest remain asymptomatic, reported PTI.
To contain the spread of COVID-19, the state government deployed over 2.5 lakh volunteers with the responsibility of screening 50 households each.
Two-Year-Old Among Two Fresh Coronavirus Cases in Punjab
Two more people, including a two-year-old child, were tested positive for coronavirus, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 23 in Punjab, reported PTI, quoting an official.
“The child is the grandson of the Germany-returned Nawanshahr man who died of cardiac arrest last Wednesday,” Civil Surgeon Rajinder Prasad Bhatia told PTI.
ICMR Grants Fast Track Approval for COVID-19 Testing Kits for Commercial Use
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has established a fast-track mechanism for validation of non-US FDA EUA/CE IVD approved kits at ICMR National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune.
ICMR NIV Pune has completed evaluation of 9 non-US FDA EUA/CE IVD kits. Only test kits with 100% concordance among true positive and true negative samples have been recommended for commercial use in India.
Strict Action Against Lockdown Violators, Warns Gujarat CM
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on MOndaypromised strict action against people violating lockdown rules in force to combat the novel coronavirus outbreak, reported PTI
The state has declared partial lockdown in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surat, Vadodara, Kutch, Devbhoomi Dwarka and Rajkot districts.
Tihar Jail Will Release 3,000 in the View of COVID-19 Outbreak
Tihar Jail will release around 3,000 inmates in the next 3-4 days. Of these, 1500 convicts will be released on parole and other 1,500 undertrial prisoners to be released on interim bail, reported ANI.
Movement of Private Vehicles in State to Be Banned: Raj CM
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday said that movement of all private vehicles on roads will be banned rom 24 March. Only vehicles related to essential services and those in exempted services would be allowed. State highway tolls will also be closed from 24 March midnight.
One More Tests Positive for COVID-19 in Bihar
The number of COVID-19 cases in Bihar rose to three on Monday, after a 24-year-old man, with a travel history to the UK, tested positive for the disease at a hospital in Patna, reported PTI, quoting a Health Department official..
SC Suspends Time Limits for Filing Cases
The Supreme Court also passed an order stating that the limitation period - essentially the time limit within which cases or appeals can be filed - has been suspended indefinitely in light of the coronavirus crisis.
This will mean that when calculating whether a case/appeal/petition has been filed too late in a court or tribunal, the court will not consider the time period from 15 March till whenever the coronavirus crisis is deemed to be over.
Merkel Negative in 1st Virus Test; More to Be Done
Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman said Monday that the German leader has tested negative for the new coronavirus, reported AFP.
Spokesman Steffen Seibert told news agency dpa “the result of today's test is negative” but that “further tests will be conducted in the coming days.”
Merkel went into quarantine at home on Sunday evening after being informed that a doctor who had administered a vaccination to her had tested positive for the new coronavirus.
COVID-19 Pandemic 'Accelerating': WHO Chief
The new coronavirus pandemic is clearly "accelerating", the World Health Organisation warned on Monday, but said it was still possible to "change the trajectory" of the outbreak, reporte
"The pandemic is accelerating," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told journalists in a virtual news briefing, saying "it took 67 days from the first reported case to reach the first 100,000 cases, 11 days for the second 100,000 cases and just four days for the third 100,000 cases." But he said that "we are not helpless bystanders. We can change the trajectory of this pandemic."
Telangana DSP's Tests Positive for COVID-19
Telangana Police on Monday registered a case against a Deputy Superintendent of Police and his son who had returned from UK, for not following quarantine protocol. The DSP's son has been tested positive for COVID-19, reported ANI.
There More Tests Positive for COVID-19 in TN
Dr C Vijayabaskar, Tamil Nadu Health Minister on Monday announced three new positive cases of COVID-19 in Tamil Nadu — 25 year-old who had returned from London, 48-year-old had returned from London and 54-year-old resident of Anna Nagar. All three are in isolation and treatment.
IMF Warns Coronavirus Recession Could Be Worse Than 2009
The world economy is facing "severe" economic damage from the coronavirus pandemic that could be even more costly than in 2009 and will require an unprecedented response, reported AFP, quoting IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva.
In comments to finance ministers from the Group of 20 nations, Georgieva called on advanced economies to provide more support to low income countries, and the IMF stands "ready to deploy all our $1 trillion lending capacity." As much of the world faces mass shutdowns, Georgieva warned the outlook for global growth in 2020 "is negative -- a recession at least as bad as during the global financial crisis or worse."
4,329 People Under Observation in J&K Jammu
The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Monday said 4,329 travellers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been put under observation and four people have tested positive for coronavirus so far in the Union Territory, reported PTI.
Govt to Stop Incoming Passengers on All 107 Immigration Posts: MHA
The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a letter to stop all incoming passengers on all 107 immigration check posts, including airports, seaports and land ports in view of the coronavirus outbreak, PTI reported.
Nasscom Asks Member Companies to Prepare for Complete Lockdown
Nasscom asked its member companies to prepare for a complete lockdown and move assets to enable work from home, wherever possible, PTI reported.
Emirates to Temporarily Suspend All Passenger Services From 25 March
As per the UAE government’s directive, Emirates will temporarily suspend all passenger services from 25 March in view of the coronavirus outbreak, ANI reported.
South Africa to Impose 21-Day Lockdown to Curb Coronavirus
South Africa will impose a 21-day lockdown to curb coronavirus, AFP reported quoting the president.
Special Air Asia Flight With 113 Persons from Malaysia Lands in Chennai
A special Air Asia flight landed at the Chennai Airport on Monday, 23 March, after evacuating 113 persons, including one woman, from Malaysia, ANI reported.
All the passengers are being shifted to the Indian Air Force facility at Tambaram Air Force Station near Chennai for quarantine.
France Coronavirus Death Toll Jumps 186 to 860
France coronavirus death toll jumps 186 to 860, reports AFP news agency quoting minister.
255 Persons Arrested in Kolkata for Violating Restriction Order
255 persons have been arrested in Kolkata for violating restriction order and have been prosecuted under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, ANI reported
UK Govt Orders Three-Week Lockdown to Tackle COVID-19
The UK government has ordered a three-week lockdown to tackle coronavirus, AFP reported.
Italy Sees Second Successive Drop in Virus Deaths
Italy on Monday reported a second successive drop in daily deaths and infections from coronavirus that has nevertheless claimed more than 6,000 lives in a month, AFP reported.
The Mediterranean country has now seen its daily fatalities come down from a world record 793 on Saturday to 651 on Sunday and 601 on Monday.
The number of new declared infections fell from 6,557 on Saturday to 4,789 on Monday.