Coronavirus outbreak LIVE Updates: South Korean army soldiers spray disinfectant as a precaution against the coronavirus on a street in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, March 5, 2020. (AP Photo)
Coronavirus outbreak LIVE Updates: The novel coronavirus is now in over 75 countries with over 94,000 cases confirmed worldwide, says WHO. Mainland China reported 139 new confirmed cases on Wednesday, reversing three straight days of declines, because of a spike in new infections in Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak. South Korea’s total number of novel coronavirus cases — the largest outside China approached 6,000 while the death toll in the United States rose to 11.
Meanwhile, the coronavirus cases in India stand at 29 including — 16 Italian tourists and their driver, three in Kerala (who have recovered), one in Hyderabad, two in Delhi and six in Agra.
The 16 Italian tourists and their Indian driver who tested positive of the virus- came in contact with at least 215 people across six districts of Rajasthan, of which samples of 93 people have been collected; 51 have tested negative, while the remaining test reports are awaited, said the State Health Minister Raghu Sharma. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has designated Safdarjung Hospital and RML Hospital in Delhi as nodal centres for treatment. While over 100 beds have been earmarked at Safdarjung, more than 30 beds have been set aside at RML Hospital.
People with symptoms queue outside a Novel Coronavirus facilitation centre at the RML hospital in New Delhi on wednesday. Express Photo by Tashi Tobgyal New Delhi 040320
Highlights
According to Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist at the World Health Organisation (WHO), there is no reason to panic — 29 cases in a country the size of India is not worrying. " People cannot put their lives on hold, nor is it necessary. Celebrate Holi, but maybe you should not celebrate it with thousands of people. Celebrate with close family and friends, avoid big gatherings as far as possible." On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and many other leaders decided to cancel any 'Holi Milan' events keeping in mind the outbreak of Coronavirus
Vardhan claimed that India initiated required preparedness and action since 17th January, much before the advice of the WHO.
Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan in Rajya Sabha makes a statement on Coronavirus. "I am daily reviewing the situation. A Group of Ministers is also monitoring the situation."
The pet dog of a coronavirus patient in Hong Kong has been confirmed to be infected with the virus, marking what’s likely the first known instance of human-to-animal transmission. Tests confirmed the virus in the pet’s nasal and oral cavities, “which indicates a low-level of infection,” reported Bloomberg.
Meanwhile, at least two weeks after a stowaway cat aboard a Chinese vessel created a flutter in Chennai, the feline has found itself in the limelight again. Dr Rashmi Gokhale, the manager of veterinary services for PETA India, wrote a letter to the Chief Commissioner of Customs at Chennai, seeking the fostering of the cat which was found inside a container aboard a Chinese vessel on February 17. The cat was discovered by port authorities at Chennai during a routine inspection by the Commissionerate of Customs.
The coronavirus cases in India stand at 29 including — 16 Italian tourists and their driver, three in Kerala (who have recovered), one in Hyderabad, two in Delhi and six in Agra. In Delhi, a total of 4,421 passengers travelling from China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Nepal, Indonesia, Malaysia, Iran and Italy were screened at the airport on Wednesday. Of these, 10 symptomatic passengers were sent to hospital.
The group of 23 Italian tourists — 16 of them and their Indian driver have now tested positive for coronavirus — came in contact with at least 215 people across six districts of Rajasthan, State Health Minister Raghu Sharma told the Assembly on Wednesday. In a statement, the Hospital PRO said: “We've received, at the special request of the government, the 14 Italian nationals ( who were lodged at ITBP's Chhawla camp) asymptomatic persons suspected to have COVID-19. They are housed on a completely separate floor, in an isolated quarantine floor.”
On a day that saw the highest single-day surge so far — 23 new cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), including 15 Italian tourists — the government announced Wednesday that all passengers arriving in India would have to undergo thermal screening at international airports and sea-ports. The total number of cases detected across the country has now risen to 29, including three in Kerala who were discharged last month. Read more
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