NEW DELHI: The number of Covid-19 cases in India rose by two to 43 on Sunday, when a three-year-old in Kerala and a 63-year-old woman in Kashmir tested positive for the novel coronavirus. On Sunday, five people from Kerala – a couple and their son who returned from Italy on February 29 and their two relatives – also tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Among the 43 persons found positive for Covid-19 in India, 16 are Italian nationals who were touring Rajasthan.
Here are the latest updates of coronavirus outbreak in India and around the world —
States asked to form rapid action team: Harsh Vardhan
In a press conference, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan informed that states have been asked to form early rapid action team to deal with coronavirus. The minister also asked states to strengthen laboratories and manpower to effectively deal with coronavirus.
Total 40 active cases in the country
As of today, there are 43 total cases (three positive cases from Kerala which are now discharged), out of which 40 are active cases of COVID-19 in the country. Four new cases of COVID-19 have been reported since yesterday’s update – One from Ernakulum, Kerala, one from Delhi, one from Uttar Pradesh and one from Jammu. 43 samples have tested positive out of the 3,003 sampes tested for COVID-19 with 2,694 havinf returned negative results.
First confirmed coronavirus case in J&K
A 63-year-old woman tested positive for coronavirus here, making her the first confirmed case in Jammu and Kashmir. The woman, who had a travel history to Iran, was among two patients who were declared "high viral load cases" by the administration on the weekend. They are undergoing treatment at the isolation ward of the Government Medical College hospital and are in a stable condition.
Three-year-old child in Kerala tests positive
On Monday morning, a three-year-old child who recently travelled to Italy tested positive for coronavirus. The child has been kept in isolation ward at Ernakulam Medical College.
Coronavirus outbreak: Complete coverage
Kerala family refused to cooperate, attended functions
Kerala health minister KK Shailaja said the state has been put on high alert. Shailaja said the Kerala couple, in their 50s, and their son (24) did not report at the airport health desk or any other health centre. Their travel history became known only on March 6, when one of their relatives came to a hospital with a fever.
"Due to the couple and their son’s irresponsible behaviour, two of their relatives have also got the virus now. We have learnt that they attended several functions after their return to Ranni (a small village in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala) where they live,” Shailaja said.
The couple and their son even refused to cooperate with health officials, following which they were forcibly admitted to the isolation ward of the Pathanamthitta general hospital.
Read our coronavirus live blog for all the latest news and updates
Nation on alert, hundreds quarantined
In Assam, at least 400 people have been quarantined after they came in contact with an American tourist who tested positive for the virus in Bhutan after travelling through the state recently. In Tamil Nadu, 27 people who came into contact with a 45-year-old coronavirus patient in Tamil Nadu have been placed under surveillance. In Maharashtra, 258 have been discharged, while 15 others are under observation. A total of 52 laboratories have been made functional for testing samples across India. 8,74,708 air passengers have been screened and put on surveillance so far with 1,921 passengers being identified as symptomatic.
West Bengal patient tests negative
Special secretary (health) also clarified that the patient from Murshidabad, West Bengal was tested negative for the virus and hence, so far no death has been reported due to COVID-19 in the country.
Delhi government announces host of measures
As the threat of novel coronavirus grows, the Delhi government has decided to get DTC and cluster buses, metro trains and hospitals disinfected every day as a precautionary measure.
The CM has also requested a ban on travel to countries badly affected by the virus. The state government has earmarked 168 beds in 25 hospitals — 19 government and six private — for Covid-19 patients. Kejriwal also appealed to employers to give paid leaves to all those quarantined so that their livelihood is not affected.
Twenty-five hospitals have facilities where people can submit their samples if they develop the symptoms of coronavirus. The government has deployed 40 doctors at the airport to screen passengers.
The state government has also announced a 24x7 state-level helpline. The numbers are 011-22307145, 011-22300012 and 22300036.
AIIMS to be a nodal centre for Covid-19 treatment in India
The health ministry has asked AIIMS to designate part of the new emergency wing at its trauma facility, Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre, for setting up of isolation beds for acute management of Covid-19 patients.
This isolation facility will have the capacity to admit about 20 patients at a given point of time. Officials said the patients will be triaged here, following which they will be transferred to National Cancer Institute (NCI) in Jhajjar.
Health experts advise people against playing Holi
In the backdrop of the novel coronavirus outbreak, health experts have advised people against mass gathering for celebrating Holi so as to contain the spread of the deadly virus.
AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria said that it is advisable not to play Holi to avoid the spread of the viral respiratory infection.
Mangaluru port denies entry to cruise vessel MSC LIRICA
Amid coronavirus scare in the country, cruise vessel MSC LIRICA was denied entry by New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT), in line with the order issued by the centre on Friday.
"In view of coronavirus, Central Government has decided that no cruise ship from any foreign destination will be allowed to call on Indian ports with immediate effect till 31 March. Hence, it'll not allow Cruise vessel MSC LIRICA to enter port tomorrow," the port authority said in a statement on Friday.
Tokyo stocks down more than 6% at break
Tokyo stocks plunged more than six per cent at the break on Monday on fears over the new coronavirus and haemorrhaging oil prices that sent the dollar down against the yen.
Saudi Arabia locks down province, halts travel with 9 nations over coronavirus
Saudi Arabia imposed on Sunday a temporary lockdown on its eastern oil-producing province of Qatif, home to most of its 15 coronavirus infections, and suspended schools and universities nationwide. Four new cases, including an American arrival who visited Italy and the Philippines, took the tally to 15 on Monday, as the kingdom suspended travel with nine nations, from neighbouring United Arab Emirates to Bahrain, Kuwait, and Egypt.
Indian Wells tennis postponed after coronavirus confirmed
The BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, set to begin this week, has been postponed after a case of coronavirus was confirmed in the Coachella Valley.
Italy coronavirus death toll shoots up by 133 in a day
Italy's death toll from the new coronavirus shot up by 133 to 366 Sunday while the number of infections rose by a single-day record of 1,492 to hit 7,375.
Italy locks down most of its wealthy north to fight coronavirus
Italy's government early Sunday took the extraordinary step of locking down much of the country’s north, restricting the movement for about a quarter of the population (16 million) in regions that serve as the country’s economic engine.
The move represents the most sweeping effort outside China to stop the spread of the coronavirus and is tantamount to sacrificing the Italian economy in the short term to save it from the ravages of the virus in the long term.
88% of people with Covid-19 had a fever: WHO
According to a recent WHO study, based on the assessment of Covid-19 outbreak in China, 88% of people with Covid19 had a fever. Dry cough was seen in about 68% cases, followed by fatigue (38%), sputum production (33%), shortness of breath (19%), sore throat (14%) and headache in about 14% cases among others.
The report also said deaths happen mostly in patients with co-morbidities such as cardiovascular diseases (13.2%), diabetes (9.2%), hypertension (8.4%), chronic respiratory disease (8%) and cancer (7.6%). The WHO report also says only about 2% of patients aged 18 years and under suffered from Covid-19, reflecting the relatively low attack rate in this group. Deaths are also very uncommon among younger patients and most deaths involved elderly people with co-morbidities, according to WHO experts.
Here are the latest updates of coronavirus outbreak in India and around the world —
States asked to form rapid action team: Harsh Vardhan
In a press conference, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan informed that states have been asked to form early rapid action team to deal with coronavirus. The minister also asked states to strengthen laboratories and manpower to effectively deal with coronavirus.
Total 40 active cases in the country
As of today, there are 43 total cases (three positive cases from Kerala which are now discharged), out of which 40 are active cases of COVID-19 in the country. Four new cases of COVID-19 have been reported since yesterday’s update – One from Ernakulum, Kerala, one from Delhi, one from Uttar Pradesh and one from Jammu. 43 samples have tested positive out of the 3,003 sampes tested for COVID-19 with 2,694 havinf returned negative results.
First confirmed coronavirus case in J&K
A 63-year-old woman tested positive for coronavirus here, making her the first confirmed case in Jammu and Kashmir. The woman, who had a travel history to Iran, was among two patients who were declared "high viral load cases" by the administration on the weekend. They are undergoing treatment at the isolation ward of the Government Medical College hospital and are in a stable condition.
Three-year-old child in Kerala tests positive
On Monday morning, a three-year-old child who recently travelled to Italy tested positive for coronavirus. The child has been kept in isolation ward at Ernakulam Medical College.
Coronavirus outbreak: Complete coverage
Kerala family refused to cooperate, attended functions
Kerala health minister KK Shailaja said the state has been put on high alert. Shailaja said the Kerala couple, in their 50s, and their son (24) did not report at the airport health desk or any other health centre. Their travel history became known only on March 6, when one of their relatives came to a hospital with a fever.
"Due to the couple and their son’s irresponsible behaviour, two of their relatives have also got the virus now. We have learnt that they attended several functions after their return to Ranni (a small village in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala) where they live,” Shailaja said.
The couple and their son even refused to cooperate with health officials, following which they were forcibly admitted to the isolation ward of the Pathanamthitta general hospital.
Read our coronavirus live blog for all the latest news and updates
Nation on alert, hundreds quarantined
In Assam, at least 400 people have been quarantined after they came in contact with an American tourist who tested positive for the virus in Bhutan after travelling through the state recently. In Tamil Nadu, 27 people who came into contact with a 45-year-old coronavirus patient in Tamil Nadu have been placed under surveillance. In Maharashtra, 258 have been discharged, while 15 others are under observation. A total of 52 laboratories have been made functional for testing samples across India. 8,74,708 air passengers have been screened and put on surveillance so far with 1,921 passengers being identified as symptomatic.
West Bengal patient tests negative
Special secretary (health) also clarified that the patient from Murshidabad, West Bengal was tested negative for the virus and hence, so far no death has been reported due to COVID-19 in the country.
Delhi government announces host of measures
As the threat of novel coronavirus grows, the Delhi government has decided to get DTC and cluster buses, metro trains and hospitals disinfected every day as a precautionary measure.
The CM has also requested a ban on travel to countries badly affected by the virus. The state government has earmarked 168 beds in 25 hospitals — 19 government and six private — for Covid-19 patients. Kejriwal also appealed to employers to give paid leaves to all those quarantined so that their livelihood is not affected.
Twenty-five hospitals have facilities where people can submit their samples if they develop the symptoms of coronavirus. The government has deployed 40 doctors at the airport to screen passengers.
The state government has also announced a 24x7 state-level helpline. The numbers are 011-22307145, 011-22300012 and 22300036.
AIIMS to be a nodal centre for Covid-19 treatment in India
The health ministry has asked AIIMS to designate part of the new emergency wing at its trauma facility, Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre, for setting up of isolation beds for acute management of Covid-19 patients.
This isolation facility will have the capacity to admit about 20 patients at a given point of time. Officials said the patients will be triaged here, following which they will be transferred to National Cancer Institute (NCI) in Jhajjar.
Health experts advise people against playing Holi
In the backdrop of the novel coronavirus outbreak, health experts have advised people against mass gathering for celebrating Holi so as to contain the spread of the deadly virus.
AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria said that it is advisable not to play Holi to avoid the spread of the viral respiratory infection.
Mangaluru port denies entry to cruise vessel MSC LIRICA
Amid coronavirus scare in the country, cruise vessel MSC LIRICA was denied entry by New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT), in line with the order issued by the centre on Friday.
"In view of coronavirus, Central Government has decided that no cruise ship from any foreign destination will be allowed to call on Indian ports with immediate effect till 31 March. Hence, it'll not allow Cruise vessel MSC LIRICA to enter port tomorrow," the port authority said in a statement on Friday.
Tokyo stocks down more than 6% at break
Tokyo stocks plunged more than six per cent at the break on Monday on fears over the new coronavirus and haemorrhaging oil prices that sent the dollar down against the yen.
Saudi Arabia locks down province, halts travel with 9 nations over coronavirus
Saudi Arabia imposed on Sunday a temporary lockdown on its eastern oil-producing province of Qatif, home to most of its 15 coronavirus infections, and suspended schools and universities nationwide. Four new cases, including an American arrival who visited Italy and the Philippines, took the tally to 15 on Monday, as the kingdom suspended travel with nine nations, from neighbouring United Arab Emirates to Bahrain, Kuwait, and Egypt.
Indian Wells tennis postponed after coronavirus confirmed
The BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, set to begin this week, has been postponed after a case of coronavirus was confirmed in the Coachella Valley.
Italy coronavirus death toll shoots up by 133 in a day
Italy's death toll from the new coronavirus shot up by 133 to 366 Sunday while the number of infections rose by a single-day record of 1,492 to hit 7,375.
Italy locks down most of its wealthy north to fight coronavirus
Italy's government early Sunday took the extraordinary step of locking down much of the country’s north, restricting the movement for about a quarter of the population (16 million) in regions that serve as the country’s economic engine.
The move represents the most sweeping effort outside China to stop the spread of the coronavirus and is tantamount to sacrificing the Italian economy in the short term to save it from the ravages of the virus in the long term.
88% of people with Covid-19 had a fever: WHO
According to a recent WHO study, based on the assessment of Covid-19 outbreak in China, 88% of people with Covid19 had a fever. Dry cough was seen in about 68% cases, followed by fatigue (38%), sputum production (33%), shortness of breath (19%), sore throat (14%) and headache in about 14% cases among others.
The report also said deaths happen mostly in patients with co-morbidities such as cardiovascular diseases (13.2%), diabetes (9.2%), hypertension (8.4%), chronic respiratory disease (8%) and cancer (7.6%). The WHO report also says only about 2% of patients aged 18 years and under suffered from Covid-19, reflecting the relatively low attack rate in this group. Deaths are also very uncommon among younger patients and most deaths involved elderly people with co-morbidities, according to WHO experts.
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