Coronavirus: Air India Flight Lands in Wuhan, MEA Thanks China
Catch all the live updates on the coronavirus outbreak in China here.
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Catch all the live updates on the coronavirus outbreak in China here.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar thanked his Chinese counterpart on Friday, 31 January for cooperation extended by the Chinese government for the departure of Indian students and professionals from Wuhan.
The Air India special flight which departed on Friday from Delhi for Wuhan (China) for the evacuation of Indians has landed.
The Indian Army has set up a quarantine facility in Haryana’s Manesar for 300 students being brought back from coronavirus-hit Wuhan in China on Friday.
At the facility, students can be monitored by a qualified team of doctors and staff members.
- India’s first confirmed case of novel coronavirus has been reported in Kerala
- Five patients, four men and a woman, have been admitted at Delhi’s Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital for suspected coronavirus infection
- The epicentre of the outbreak is Wuhan in China
- The virus is novel, meaning it has never before been encountered in humans
Kerala Govt Instructs Procedure to All Private Hospitals in Wake of Positive Case
The Kerala state government on Friday gave direction to all private hospitals in the state regarding the arrangements to be made in the wake of a positive case of Coronavirus.
Elaborate instructions were given on the need for following the treatment protocol, of relaying information to the control rooms, how to isolate patients who develop symptoms, etc. They were all really cooperative. Procedure is applicable for all districts, not solely Thrissur.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) will be conducting training for the Health department staff.
Air India Special Flight to Wuhan for Evacuating Indians Landed
The Air India special flight which departed today from Delhi for Wuhan (China) for the evacuation of Indians has landed.
Air India’s Boeing 747 aircraft departed from Delhi at 12:30 pm to evacuate Indian nationals from China, officials told news agency PTI.
Five doctors from the Health Ministry will be on board the aircraft, Air India CMD said.
The government has reached out to over 600 Indians living in China's Hubei province, the epicentre of the novel coronavirus outbreak, to ascertain their willingness to be brought back to India.
All Ports on Constant Vigil to Prevent Coronovirus Spread: Shipping Ministry
All Indian shipping ports have been asked to scan people disembarking from ships to prevent spreading of the deadly coronavirus through sea route, a senior official said on Friday, reported PTI.
"India has already issued advisories and put processes in place on coronavirus. The situation is monitored closely at the top level," said Satinder Pal Singh, joint secretary in the shipping ministry.
“In the wake of spread of the virus, the government has asked all ports to scan everyone who disembarks from ships,” he said.
China-Return Student Reports Self to Cuttack Hospital
China-returned medical student hailing from Odisha's Kandhamal district on Friday referred to the SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack after he developed cold and cough, an initial symptom of the new coronavirus (nCoV), official sources said.
The student, who was studying MBBS in China, returned to Odisha on 11 January before the outbreak of the deadly virus and was suffering from cold and cough since.
ITBP Creates 600-Bedded Facility in South Delhi
Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has prepared a 600-bed facility in Delhi to quarantine and provide basic medical care to those suspected to have been affected by coronavirus, a senior official said on Friday.
The facility is operational in an ITBP camp in south-west Delhi's Chhawla area, its spokesperson Vivek Kumar Pandey said.
A team of doctors will be present at the facility, which has about 600 beds and has been prepared in the wake of the cornovirus outbreak, he said.
600-bed facility created by ITBP in Delhi to quarantine and provide basic medical care to those suspected to have been affected by coronavirus.
Army Sets Up Quarantine Facility for 300 in Manesar
ndian Army has set up a facility near Manesar, Haryana, on Friday to quarantine of approximately 300 Indian students who will be arriving from Wuhan, China. At the facility, students can be monitored for a duration of weeks by a qualified team of doctors and staff members.
“The procedure of screening and quarantine will comprise two steps, the first one being screening at airport followed by quarantine at Manesar and if any individual is suspected to be infected, he/she will be shifted to isolation ward at Base Hospital, Delhi Cantonment,” army officials said.
First Two Coronavirus Cases Confirmed in the UK
Two people in the UK have tested positive for novel coronavirus, health officials told AFP on Friday, 31 January.
The UK's Department for Health stressed that the National Health Service (NHS) is "well-prepared" to deal with the virus, which originated in Wuhan in China and has claimed 213 lives there.
“We can confirm that two patients in England, who are members of the same family, have tested positive for coronavirus,” said Chris Whitty, the UK's Chief Medical Officer.
Another Special Flight May Depart for China to Evacuate Indians
Another special flight may depart from Delhi airport on Saturday to evacuate Indians from Wuhan, an Air India spokesperson told PTI.
Nations Should Avoid 'Overreaction' on Coronavirus, Says China
As the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak a global health emergency, China has said all countries should behave in a "responsible" manner and avoid overreaction that may result in more negative spillover effects, PTI reports.
The WHO said there had been 98 cases in 18 other countries, but no deaths. Most international cases are in people who had been to the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the epidemic.
"We are still at a very critical stage in fighting the coronavirus. International solidarity is extremely important and for that purpose all countries should behave in an appropriate and responsible manner,” China's Ambassador to the UN Zhang Jun said on Thursday.
China to Send Charter Flights to Bring Back Residents of Virus-Hit Wuhan From Abroad
China will send charter flights to bring home residents of coronavirus-hit Hubei province, especially capital Wuhan, from abroad, the Foreign Ministry announced on Friday, PTI reported.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying in a brief statement said citizens from Hubei province will be brought back in view of "practical difficulties" they were facing abroad.
The move followed Chinese officials' announcement that about five million people from Hubei province and capital Wuhan, the epicentre of coronavirus, have travelled out of the region before the province was officially closed on January 23.
These people are reported to have travelled within China and abroad to avail the weeklong holidays of the Chinese New Year and the ongoing Spring Festival.
Kerala Coronavirus Patient Shifted to Thrissur Medical College
Health authorities in Kerala on Friday shifted a female student, who has been tested positive for the novel coronavirus, from the the general hospital to the Government Medical College here, official sources told PTI.
The medical college student from Wuhan University was shifted to an isolation ward set up in the Medical College Hospital in the early hours on Friday, they said.
The patient had been kept in an isolation ward of the general hospital here since she approached the doctors with symptoms of novel coronavirus.
Air India Special Flight to Wuhan for Evacuating Indians to Depart Today
An Air India special flight will depart today from Delhi for Wuhan (China) for the evacuation of Indians.
Air India’s Boeing 747 aircraft to depart from Delhi at 12.30 pm to evacuate Indian nationals from China, officials told news agency PTI.
Five doctors from the Health Ministry will be on board the aircraft, Air India CMD said.
The government has reached out to over 600 Indians living in China's Hubei province, the epicentre of the novel coronavirus outbreak, to ascertain their willingness to be brought back to India.
Coronavirus Scare Puts Chennai Port on High Alert
A review meeting headed by Additional Secretary, Ministry of Shipping, was held on Thursday, 30 JAnuary via video conferencing, where all major port officials in India, maritime state governments and officials from the health ministry, took stock of preventive care and SOPs to be followed in case of an emergency.
Since 17 January port officials have been screening ships coming from China.
US Tells Its Citizens 'Do Not Travel' to China Because of Coronavirus
The United States told its citizens on Thursday, 30 January, "do not travel" to China, raising its advisory status to the highest level of alert because of the coronavirus epidemic.
In issuing a level four warning -- up from urging Americans to "reconsider" travel to China -- the State Department said it was acting after the World Health Organization declared the epidemic, which originated in the city of Wuhan in Hubei province, an international emergency, reports news agency PTI.
Coronavirus Death Toll in China Rises to 213, Confirmed Cases Climb to 9,692
The death toll in China's novel coronavirus outbreak has climbed to 213 with the number of confirmed cases totalling to 9,692, China's national authorities announced on Friday.
Hubei province, the epicentre of the outbreak, reported 5,806 confirmed cases, including 204 deaths, official media reported.
Coronavirus Outbreak: Kerala Health Minister Holds High-Level Meeting
After India’s first confirmed case of novel coronavirus was reported in Kerala, the state’s Health Minister KK Shailaja held a high-level meeting at Thrissur Medical College.
“The patient is stable. She may be shifted to Thrissur Medical College from Thrissur General hospital today,” ANI quoted Shailaja as saying.
Shailaja said another person has been admitted to Thrissur General Hospital with symptoms of coronavirus, adding that 15 persons are under surveillance in the state. “Of these, 9 are in isolation wards and rest are being monitored at home,” she said.
Italy Suspends All China Flights Over Coronavirus
Italy has suspends all China flights after coronavirus cases were confirmed, AFP news agency quoted Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte as saying.
WHO Declares International Emergency Over Coronavirus
World Health Organisation on Thursday, 30 January, declared international emergency over the deadly coronavirus, according to AFP.
"Our greatest concern is the potential for the virus to spread to countries with weaker health systems," WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said as he declared a "public health emergency of international concern".
"This is not a vote of no confidence in China," he said, emphasising repeatedly that the measure was intended to help other countries less able to cope and praising the Chinese government for taking swift action to tackle the outbreak.
Five More Patients Admitted at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital
Five more patients, four men and a woman, have been admitted at Delhi’s Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital for suspected coronavirus case. They have been kept at isolation ward of the hospital. They had returned from China, reports ANI.
Pak Not to Evacuate Its Citizens From Wuhan; Show 'Solidarity' With China: Official
Pakistan government has decided not to evacuate its citizens from the coronavirus-hit Wuhan city to show "solidarity" with its all-weather ally, a senior official announced on Thursday though four Pakistani nationals have contracted the deadly disease in China.
There were up to 800 Pakistanis studying in various universities in Wuhan – a city of 11 million people which has been quarantined by the Chinese authorities in an effort to stem the spread of the deadly virus that has killed 170 people and infected nearly 8,000 others.
Cabinet Secretary Reviews the Preparedness for Coronavirus
In the light of the coronavirus outbreak in China, the Cabinet Secretary on Thursday reviewed preparedness with Ministries of Health & Family Welfare, External Affairs, Defence, Home Affairs, Civil Aviation, Information & Broadcasting, Labour & Employment, and Shipping, reports ANI.
The Cabinet Secretary has stressed upon the need for 14 days’ home isolation for all those who have returned from China.All those who have come from China after 15 January 2020 will be tested as there is an incubation period for the virus.
Six labs will start functioning from Thursday: (1) NIV Bengaluru Unit, (2) Victoria Hospital Campus, KR Road, Fort, Bengaluru (3), AIIMS, New Delhi (4), NCDC, Delhi (5) Kasturba Hospital for infectious diseases, Mumbai (8) NIV – Kerala Unit.
Six more labs will start function by 31 January: (1) ICMR – NICED, Kolkata (2) GMC, Secunderabad (3) KGMU, Lucknow (4) SMS, Jaipur (5) IGGMC, Nagpur (6) KIPMR, Chennai.
The Ministry on High Alert Amid Coronavirus Outbreak
The Ministry is on high alert amid the Coronavirus outbreak, taking all necessary precautionary measures against it. Directives have been issued by the Ministry for thorough screening of vessels, seafarers & passengers entering all major&minor ports in India.
78 People Who Returned From China Under House Quarantine in TN
The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday said 78 people who had arrived from coronavirus-hit China were under "house quarantine" and being monitored but asserted no positive case of the deadly virus has been detected in the state so far.
State Health and Family Welfare Minister C Vijayabaskar also said there was no need for any panic as preventive measures had been put in place and the government was paying more attention after one person tested positive for the virus in neighbouring Kerala.
"Public Health Department doctors are in touch with all the 78 on a daily basis. Nobody is affected, none of them is in a hospital. They are in their homes. They are in house quarantine," the Minister told reporters here.
Doctors' Body Warns of Possible Spread of Coronavirus to Kashmir Valley
A doctors' body on Thursday warned that there was a potential threat of novel coronavirus spreading to Kashmir as tourists from around the world visit the valley, reports PTI.
President of the Doctors Association of Kashmir (DAK) Suhail Naik said China is located near India and there were chances of coronavirus reaching the valley as it is a tourist destination.
"Many countries have direct air travel with Kashmir. So the coronavirus may come to Kashmir by that way and we have to take care before it is too late," he said.
Naik said no case of coronavirus has been reported in the valley yet.
Rajasthan to Identify, Examine All Travellers From China
The Rajasthan government on Thursday said it will identify all travellers arriving in the state from China and get them examined in view of the novel coronavirus outbreak, reports PTI.
Additional Chief Secretary (Medical and Health) Rohit Kumar Singh gave this information during a video conference with the Union Health Ministry.
Singh said instructions have been given to identify all passengers coming from China to Rajasthan and to get information about those staying in various hotels with the help of police department.
He said 18 passengers from China arrived in Rajasthan in January and two of them with initial coronavirus-like symptoms were screened and examined.
“Out of these, the test report of one patient admitted in the isolation ward in Jaipur was negative and blood sample of another suspect have been sent to a Pune laboratory. Both the suspected patients are healthy,” he said.
First Batch of Indian to Be Airlifted from Wuhan
According to the Indian embassy in Beijing, the first batch of its citizens from China's coronavirus-hit Wuhan city will be airlifted on Friday, 30 January.
The Indian Embassy in a note circulated through social media on Thursday said that preparations are on to evacuate them from the virus-hit region.
"We are preparing for air evacuation from Wuhan tomorrow in the evening. This flight will carry those Indian nationals who are in and around Wuhan and have conveyed consent for their evacuation," the note said.
"There will be another flight subsequently which will carry those who are from other parts of Hubei province," it added.
China-India Maintaining Close Communication on First Coronavirus Case in India: Chinese Embassy
According to the Chinese Embassy in India, the embassy and India have maintained close communication with Indian govt and are timely briefed on the development of the epidemic and China’s efforts in epidemic prevention and control.
“Chinese side pays close attention to the report of the emergence of one confirmed case of pneumonia caused by in India & will cooperate with the Indian side to jointly strengthen the epidemic prevention & control,” said Counselor Ji Rong, a spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in India.
“We also hope Indian side could continue to render understanding and support to China’s efforts in epidemic prevention and control,” he added.
600 Indians Living in Coronavirus-Hit Hubei Province Contacted: MEA
The Ministry of External Affairs has contacted over 600 Indian living in Hubei province in China and is awaiting confirmation from Chinese authorities on evacuation procedures, reports PTI.
“We have asked Indians in China's Hubei Province whether they want to return to India,” said Raeveesh Kumar, MEA spokesperson.
“We do not have any confirmation about any Indian being affected by coronavirus,” he added.
North Korea Says It Has Intensified Efforts to Block Virus
North Korea is intensifying efforts to prevent the spread of a new virus from China into the isolated country by blocking tourists, reducing flights and mobilizing more screening efforts, a health official said Thursday.
Kim Dong Gun, a director from the North's Health Ministry, told The Associated Press the North has taken “strong preventative measures so as not to allow this virus come into our homeland.”
Kim said the country's anti-epidemic headquarters has strengthened inspections at borders, harbors and airports, while health workers are “exerting all their efforts to find out, segregate and cure any patients and any suspected patients.”
North Korea has yet to report any illnesses from the new type of coronavirus.
China Orders Increased Food Production Over Virus Price Rises
China ordered its farmers to ramp up food production Thursday following days of rising prices, with agricultural supplies disrupted by a deadly viral outbreak, reports AFP.
The government in Beijing has taken extraordinary steps to combat the spread of the new coronavirus, restricting transport across the country and effectively locking down more than 50 million people in Hubei province, the epicentre of the disease.
But officials said some local initiatives, such as roadblocks to stop travel between provinces, had also obstructed produce supply chains.
"This has caused vegetables and other products... to be unable to leave the villages and reach cities, as well as difficulty in replenishing the feed for livestock and poultry in time," the agriculture, transport and public security ministries said in a joint statement.
Kazakhstan Detains Two for Spreading Coronavirus Rumours
Two ambulance drivers were detained for spreading rumours about a coronavirus infection in Kazakhstan, a Central Asian country that borders China, Kazakh police said Thursday.
The two men were detained on suspicion of "spreading false information about an illness from the coronavirus," said Sergei Neznayev, a spokesman for police in the region surrounding Kazakhstan's largest city Almaty.
"They heard something somewhere and began to spread the information" via the WhatsApp messenger services,” Neznayev told AFP.
Neznayev said the rumours had been "checked and disproven" during the course of the investigation.
Russia to Shut Border With China Over Coronavirus: PM
Russia said on Thursday it was closing its border with China to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.
Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin told a government meeting that the order had been signed "to take measures to close the border (with China) in the Far East," Russian news agencies reported.
Central Team to Visit Maharashtra to Review Coronavirus Preparedness
With at least 10 persons quarantined in three hospitals across Maharashtra for possible exposure to novel coronavirus, a central health department team is likely to visit the state soon to take a review of the preparedness for prevention and management of the disease, an official told PTI on Thursday.
At least 27 persons are under observation in the state and as a precautionary measure 10 of them have been quarantined – six at Kasturba Hospital in Mumbai, three at Pune's Naidu Hospital and another at a hospital in Nanded.
"All the suspected coronavirus patients will continue to be kept under observation for at least 28 days," the official told PTI, adding that the number of such cases is likely to go up.
India’s First Confirmed Coronavirus Case Reported in Kerala
India’s first confirmed case of novel coronavirus has been reported in Kerala as a student who returned from Wuhan University in China tested positive. The student is a girl who is studying MBBS at Wuhan University
20 samples had been sent for tests out of which one was found to be positive. “Travelers who are returning from China should report to the Health Department. The department has directed home quarantine for those who are returning from China,” said KK Shailaja, Kerala Health Minister.
“We have directed all hospitals, including private hospitals, to monitor patients coming with similar symptoms. The health department is all set to isolate patients and start treatment,” she added.
The patient is stable and is being closely monitored, reports ANI.
3 More Japanese Test Positive for Coronavirus, 11 Confirmed Cases in Total
Three Japanese evacuated from the epicentre of a deadly novel coronavirus outbreak have tested positive for the illness, the government said on Thursday as it faced criticism for the country's minimal quarantine measures.
The new cases were announced as a second evacuation flight from Wuhan landed in Tokyo, and the government confirmed a second case of apparent person-to-person transmission of the virus in Japan.
But while returnees praised the government's effort to bring them home quickly, there has been criticism of Japan's decision to allow the arrivals to "self-quarantine," with two people on the first flight even refusing to be tested for the virus.
Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said there were now 11 confirmed cases in Japan.
3 Suspected Coronavirus Cases in Delhi Found to Be Negative
Smriti Tiwari, spokesperson of Delhi’s Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, has said that the three suspected Coronavirus cases have been found to be negative. All 3 patients have been discharged today, she told ANI.
Air India Pilots Union Sounds Caution on Wuhan Evacuation Flights
With Air India preparing to operate flights to evacuate Indians from Wuhan in the wake of the coronavirus epidemic, a pilots' union of the carrier has said the airline cannot afford any mistakes and risk spreading the infection, PTI reported.
In a letter to Air India chief Ashwani Lohani, the Indian Pilots' Guild (IPG) said the mission would be quite different from usual rescue and relief efforts, and presents new challenges as well as obstacles to overcome.
"... due to the long incubation period of this virus, post mission support for all personnel and equipment involved in this mission is crucial well after the completion of a flight," it said.
Tibet Reports First Confirmed Case of Coronavirus
Tibet on Thursday, 30 January, reported its first confirmed case of novel coronavirus, local health authorities said, according to ANI.
The 34-year old patient, surnamed Zhang from the city of Suizhou, had arrived in Lhasa by train from Wuhan on 24 January and was hospitalised the next day, the Xinhua news agency reported.
China Coronavirus Death Toll Rises to 170
The nationwide death toll from China's coronavirus epidemic has jumped to 170 with 38 more fatalities reported mainly from the worst-affected central Hubei province, the government said on Thursday, 30 January while confirming more than 1,700 new infections.
The coronavirus outbreak began in Wuhan, capital of China's Hubei province, in December 2019 and has now spread across the globe.
Coronavirus Death Toll in China Rises to 169
The number of confirmed deaths from China's viral epidemic has risen to 169, the government said on Thursday, 30 January, as hard-hit Hubei province reported 37 new fatalities, according to AFP.
Hubei, the epicentre of a contagion that is causing mounting global fear, also reported 1,032 new confirmed cases of infection.
WHO Warns World to 'Take Action' Over Coronavirus
The World Health Organization on Wednesday warned all governments to "take action" over the SARS-like virus spreading from China that has killed 132 people and infected around 6,000 others, AFP reported.
The WHO called an urgent meeting for Thursday over whether the viral epidemic should be declared a global health emergency, a designation that can increase international coordination.
In Geneva, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the organisation "deeply regrets" its reports last week that referred to the global risk of the outbreak as "moderate" instead of "high".
5 People in France Confirmed to Have Coronavirus
The daughter of a Chinese tourist who is seriously ill in a Paris hospital has become the fifth person in France to be confirmed with the coronavirus, officials said, according to AFP.
Her 80-year-old father was the fourth confirmed case in France of the new coronavirus that has killed more than 100 people since it emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December.
Health Minister Agnes Buzyn said a first plane was due to fly Wednesday evening to Wuhan, the epicentre in China, to repatriate 200 French people stranded there.
WHO Calls New Emergency Talks on Coronavirus
The World Health Organisation chief has called new emergency talks on Thursday on China’s coronavirus.
“The whole world needs to take action on the China virus,” the WHO said.
Lufthansa Scraps All China Flights Over Virus
Germany's flagship carrier Lufthansa said on Wednesday that it was cancelling all its mainland China flights over the coronavirus until 9 February, including those run by subsidiaries Swiss and Austrian Airlines.
Each of the carriers will fly to their respective destinations in China "one last time" to give passengers and crew "the opportunity to return to Germany, Switzerland and Austria", the Lufthansa group – one of Europe's largest airline companies – said in a statement, reported AFP.
Air India to Cut Frequency of Delhi-Hong Kong-Delhi Flights
Air India has decided to cut the frequency of Delhi-Hong Kong-Delhi flights to three days only from 31 January to 14 February. Between these days, a maximum of seven flights may operate from Delhi and Hong Kong, Air India spokesperson said.
Coronavirus: India Asks China For Permission to Operate 2 Flights
India has requested the Chinese government for permission to operate two flights to bring back its nationals from the Hubei province, which has been reeling under the coronavirus outbreak.
“The Indian Embassy in Beijing is in touch with Chinese authorities on the ground to work out necessary logistics,” the MEA said on Wednesday.
Jet Lands in US With Americans From China Outbreak Zone
An airplane evacuating as many as 240 Americans from a Chinese city at the center of a virus outbreak has landed in the US.
The US government chartered the plane to fly out diplomats from the US Consulate in Wuhan, where the latest coronavirus outbreak started, and other US citizens, reported the Associated Press.
The plane is making a refueling stop in Alaska, where it landed on Tuesday night, before flying on to southern California.
Air India Suspending Flights on Delhi-Shanghai Route
Air India said on Wednesday that it is suspending its flights on the Delhi-Shanghai route from 31 January to 14 February.
'Working Hard to Ensure Smooth Evacuation of Citizens from Hubei': Indian Embassy
Air India Advises Cockpit, Cabin Crew to Wear N95 Masks
Air India on Wednesday advised all its cockpit and cabin crew, who travel to south-east Asian cities, to wear N95 masks in light of the Coronavirus outbreak in China, the airline’s spokesperson said.
IndiGo Suspends Flights on Delhi-Chengdu and Bengaluru-Hong Kong Routes
IndiGo airlines said on Wednesday that due to the novel coronavirus outbreak in China, it has decided to suspend its flights on the Bengaluru-Hong Kong route from 1 February onwards and on the Delhi-Chengdu route from 1 February to 20 February.
The low-cost carrier said that for now, it will continue to operate the Kolkata-Guangzhou flight which it is “monitoring on a daily basis”, reported PTI.
“Due to China travel restrictions, we have seen a high number of cancellations from China on our Delhi-Chengdu route and vice versa. Therefore, we are suspending our flights between Delhi and Chengdu from 01 February 2020 until 20 February 2020. We are also suspending our Bengaluru-Hong Kong flight effective 01 February 2020,” the airline said in a statement.
Homeopathy Effective in Prevention of Novel Coronavirus Infections: AYUSH Ministry
The AYUSH ministry on today issued a health advisory and recommended that homeopathic and unani medicines could be effective in the prevention of novel coronavirus (nCoV) infections.
The advisory was issued following a meeting on Tuesday of the scientific advisory board of the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) under the Ministry of AYUSH to discuss ways and means for prevention of the nCoV infection through homoeopathy, the ministry said in a statement, reports PTI.
No Coronavirus Reported Yet: Madurai Hospital in TN
In Tamil Nadu, government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai has opened a new isolation ward. Dr Sangumani, Dean said, “No case for coronavirus has been reported so far. We have opened this ward as a precautionary measure and for welfare of patients,” reported ANI.
Jet Evacuates Americans From China Outbreak Zone
An airplane that a federal official said was evacuating as many as 240 Americans from a Chinese city at the center of a virus outbreak departed today has landed in the US.
The US government chartered the plane to fly out diplomats from the US Consulate in Wuhan, where the latest coronavirus outbreak started, and other US citizens. The plane is making a refueling stop in Alaska before flying on to Southern California, the US Embassy in China has said, reported AP.
Japanese Evacuated From Wuhan Describe Fear in Virus Epicentre
Japanese citizens evacuated from Wuhan, the epicentre of a deadly virus outbreak, described an atmosphere of confusion and fear in the Chinese city and expressed relief as they arrived in Tokyo today.
A total of 206 Japanese citizens landed at Tokyo's Haneda airport today morning, with health professionals carrying out checks on board and at the airport, but no mandatory quarantine was planned, reported AFP.
Nine Under Watch in Maha for Suspected Coronavirus Infection
A 49-year-old resident of Mumbai has become the ninth person in Maharashtra to be kept under observation for possible exposure to novel Coronavirus, a health official said today.
The man had returned on 21 January from Wuhan, believed to be the epicentre of the deadly virus, he said, reported PTI.
Crews of Ships Screened at Kolkata Dock System
In West Bengal, crews of different ships being screened for coronavirus at Kolkata Dock System (KDS), reported ANI.
British Airways Suspends China Flights Over Coronavirus
British Airways on Wednesday said it has suspended all its flights to and from China owing to the deadly coronavirus, reported AFP.
“We have suspended all flights to and from mainland China with immediate effect following advice from the (UK) Foreign Office against all but essential travel,” BA said in a brief statement.
“We apologise to customers for the inconvenience, but the safety of our customers and crew is always our priority,” it added.
After Initial Signs of Coronavirus, Jaipur Man Tests Negative
A man who was found with symptoms of coronavirus in Jaipur has been tested negative for the virus infection on today.
“The test report of the patient, who is admitted at SMS hospital in Jaipur, is negative,” a spokesperson of the health department said, reported PTI.
Medical Officers Deployed at Airport, Moreh to Screen Visitors in Manipur
The Manipur Health department has deployed medical officers in Indo-Myanmar border towns of Moreh and Behiang and also at the Imphal airport to screen visitors for symptoms of the coronavirus, an official said, reports PTI.
Additional Director (Public Health) L Arke said that precautionary measures to have been taken ever since the Centre's issued guidelines on coronavirus.
Medical officers have been deployed at Imphal Airport, Moreh, Jiribam town which borders Silchar in Assam, Mao which is the entry point to the state from Nagaland and Behiang in Churachandpur district, he said.
UAE Announces 1st Case of Coronavirus in Family From Wuhan: Report
UAE has announced the first case of new coronavirus, in family from Wuhan, reports AFP.
4 Japanese Evacuees From Wuhan Taken to Hospital With Fevers
Japanese officials said that four evacuees on a flight from the Chinese city of Wuhan have a cough and fever.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government confirmed their condition after the flight of 206 evacuees arrived today morning to a Tokyo airport. Passengers on the flight were wearing masks and underwent temperature checks before boarding and on the plane. Plans were made for all of the evacuees to be treated and quarantined depending on their test results, reported AP.
Confirmed Infections Soar to Nearly 6,000 in China
The deadly coronavirus continues to wreak havoc in China with 25 new fatalities reported from central Hubei province, taking the death toll to 132 and the confirmed infection cases to nearly 6,000, as health experts warned that the epidemic may reach its peak in the next 10 days resulting in large-scale casualties.
The Chinese health authorities announced on today that 5,974 confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus had been reported in 31 provincial-level regions by Tuesday, reports PTI.
Hong Kong Tanks at Reopen on Virus Fear but Most of Asia Bounces
Hong Kong stocks plunged today as investors in the city returned from their Lunar New Year break to a global panic over the deadly coronavirus, though most other Asian markets were lifted by bargain-buying after recent losses, reported AFP.
Aus Scientists First to Grow Novel Coronavirus Outside China
For the first time, the novel coronavirus has been grown from a cell culture outside China, a "significant breakthrough" that may help combat the deadly virus which has claimed over 130 lives and infected thousands, Australian scientists said today, reports PTI.
The researchers from the University of Melbourne and the Royal Melbourne Hospital said the advance will allow accurate investigation and diagnosis of the virus globally.
China Coronavirus Death Toll Mounts to 131
The number of confirmed deaths from China's viral outbreak has risen to 131, with authorities in central Hubei province on Wednesday, 29 January, reporting 25 new fatalities and 840 new cases, AFP reported.
The latest figures from Hubei, the epicentre of the contagion, would put the nationwide total of confirmed infections at more than 5,300, based on figures previously released by the central government.
US Developing Vaccine Against Deadly China Virus: Officials
The United States said on Tuesday it was developing a vaccine against a deadly virus that originated in China, and urged Beijing to step up its cooperation with international health authorities.
The US government is keen to place its own teams on the ground to review the raw data and learn more about the pathogen, which has so far claimed more than 100 lives.
"We have already started at the NIH and with many of our collaborators on the developing of a vaccine," National Institutes for Health (NIH) official Anthony Fauci told reporters.
US Developing Vaccine Against Coronavirus
The US is developing a vaccine against the deadly China virus, officials were quoted by AFP as saying on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the European Commission has said that EU citizens will be airlifted out of the virus-hit city in China.
WHO Does Not Recommend Evacuation of Nationals: Chief
The World Health Organisation (WHO) chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on Tuesday assured Beijing all necessary help to contain the coronavirus outbreak as he asked the global community to remain calm and not to overreact in the wake of the epidemic.
Ghebreyesus, who is visiting Beijing for talks with Chinese officials on the crisis, appreciated China's efforts in curbing the spread of pneumonia, reported PTI.
During his meeting with Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Ghebreyesus said the WHO and the international community speak highly of and fully affirm the decisive measures the Chinese government has taken, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
He said the WHO does not recommend the evacuation of nationals, and called on the international community to remain calm and not overreact. The WHO is confident in China's epidemic prevention and control ability, he said.
DGCA Approves Air India Flight to Wuhan for Evacuation
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has approved an Air India flight to Wuhan for the evacuation of Indian citizens from the city.
'Screening of Passengers Extended to 20 Airports': Health Ministry
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Tuesday that it is regularly reviewing the situation arising out of the novel coronavirus outbreak in China.
“The screening of passengers with travel history from China has been extended to 13 more airports, taking the total to 20 [sic],” the ministry said.
'Trying to Evacuate People From Wuhan by Sending a Plane': EAM Jaishankar
Speaking on the coronavirus outbreak on Tuesday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the Indian Embassy is in contact with the Chinese government over the issue.
“We are trying to evacuate people, most of whom are students, from Wuhan city by sending a plane. Efforts are on. I can assure you that government of India is working on it and very soon, some solution will be found,” he was quoted as saying.
Coronavirus: Preparations Begin for Evacuating Indians From Hubei
India has begun preparations for the evacuation of Indian nationals affected by the situation arising from the coronavirus outbreak in China's Hubei Province, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Tuesday.
MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said the Indian Embassy in Beijing is in touch with the Chinese government, authorities and nationals on the matter.
Hong Kong to Shut Football Pitches and Museums in Virus Fight
Hong Kong said Tuesday it was closing a range of public facilities from sports centres to campsites in a bid to curb the spread of a SARS-like virus that has left more than 100 dead across China, reports AFP.
All recreational facilities will be temporarily shut from Wednesday to "avoid people gathering", authorities said.
The financial hub has declared the novel coronavirus a public "emergency" and on Saturday announced ramped-up measures to reduce the risk of more infections.
Eight people in Hong Kong are known to be suffering from the illness. Of those, six arrived via a newly built high-speed train line that connects the city to the Chinese mainland.
Pak to Convene High-Level Meet to Discuss Preventive Measures Against Coronavirus
Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed to convene a high-level inter-ministerial meeting to discuss preventive measures against the deadly coronavirus and formulate a comprehensive strategy to tackle the threat, reported PTI.
The deadly novel virus, which causes pneumonia-like illness, has already killed 106 people and infected more than 4,515 others in China.
The high-level meeting would be chaired by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Zafar Mirza, according to the Prime Minister's office.
Khan directed that the outcome of the meeting along with firm recommendations shall be furnished to his office within one week, Dawn news reported.
Mother-Son Duo Hospitalised in Madhya Pradesh
A woman and her son, who recently returned from Wuhan in China, were admitted in hospital in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain for possible exposure to novel Coronavirus, prompting the state government to step up vigil, reports PTI.
According to officials of the Health department, the duo included the medical student who had returned to India from Wuhan, suspected to be the epicentre of the virus, and his mother who lives in Ujjain.
Pak Students Stuck in China's Wuhan Request Govt for Their Immediate Evacuation
A group of Pakistani students stuck in the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus, has requested the Imran Khan government to make efforts to rescue them from the Hubei province of China, according to a media report, PTI reports.
Hafsah Tayab, one of the students stuck in the city of Wuhan, spoke to Geo News and confirmed that other countries are planning to get their citizens out of the city through airplanes.
"Embassies of other countries (excluding Pakistan) are rescuing their citizens. There are over 500 Pakistani students in Wuhan. If even one of them gets affected, the others will be in danger," she was quoted as saying by the report on Monday.
China Urges Citizens to Delay Foreign Travel Over Virus Fears
China on Tuesday urged its citizens to postpone trips abroad as the country expands a massive effort to contain a viral outbreak that has killed more than 100 people nationwide, reports PTI.
The recommendation to delay non-essential travel was issued "in order to protect the health and safety of Chinese and foreign people", the National Immigration Administration said in a statement.
"Reducing people's cross-border movement helps to prevent and control outbreaks," the agency added.
Authorities had already suspended domestic and overseas Chinese group tours as part of nationwide efforts to combat the coronavirus outbreak, which has infected more than 4,500 people across the country.
Six Persons Under Observation in Mumbai and Pune
A man was hospitalised in Pune on suspicion of possible exposure to the novel coronavirus during his recent visit to China, taking the total number of such admissions to six in Maharashtra so far, a senior official said on Tuesday.
The man was admitted in the isolation ward of the Naidu Hospital on Monday night for the symptoms similar to the novel coronavirus infection, Dr Pradeep Awate, Maharashtra state Disease Surveillance Officer, told PTI.
First Suspected Case of Novel Coronavirus in Punjab, Haryana Region
A 28-year-old Mohali resident, who returned from China recently, has been admitted to the isolation ward of PGIMER in Chandigarh after showing novel coronavirus-like symptoms, an official said on Tuesday, reports PTI.
This is the first suspected case of novel coronavirus in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh region.
3 Persons Under Observation in Delhi For Possible Coronavirus Exposure
Three persons are under observation at the isolation ward of RML Hospital in New Delhi for possible exposure to novel coronavirus, officials told PTI.
China Delays Restart of Schools, Universities Over Coronavirus
China has decided to delay the restart of schools and universities over coronavirus concerns, an official said, according to AFP.
Sri Lanka Suspends Visa on Arrival for Chinese Citizens After 1st Case of Coronavirus
Sri Lanka suspended its policy of granting visa on arrival for Chinese travellers on Tuesday, a day after the health authorities detected the country's first coronavirus infection, reports PTI.
Sudath Suraweera, the chief epidemiologist of the country's health ministry, said on Monday that a 40-year-old Chinese woman was found positive for the virus.
Following the first detection of the coronavirus case, the Sri Lankan health authorities ordered the suspension of the on-arrival visa policy for the Chinese nationals.
Travellers from China must apply for a visa via the online portal, the authorities said.
Coronavirus Death Toll Soars to 106 in China, 1,300 New Cases Confirmed
The death toll from a coronavirus outbreak in China has soared to 106 while nearly 1,300 new cases have been confirmed, authorities said on Tuesday, 28 January, according to AFP.
The health commission in central Hubei province, the epicentre of the epidemic, said 24 more people had died from the virus and 1,291 more people were infected, raising the total number of confirmed cases to more than 4,000 nationwide.
First Case of Coronavirus Confirmed in Germany
The first case of the deadly coronavirus spreading in China has been confirmed in Germany's southern Bavaria region, the Bavarian health ministry said Monday, according to AFP.
'Reconsider Travel' to China Over Virus: US State Department
The US State Department has encouraged Americans to "reconsider" any plans to travel to China amid a deadly outbreak of a coronavirus that originated in the city of Wuhan.
The State Department also issued a stern warning for its citizens not to travel to Hubei province, where Wuhan is located. So far, 82 people have died as a result of the virus, all of them in China.
(Source: AFP)
Coronavirus Outbreak: 3,756 Passengers Screened at Mumbai International Airport Till 26 Jan
3,756 passengers have been screened at the Mumbai International Airport till 26 January, the Maharashtra government said, according to ANI.
So far four persons suspected with coronavirus have been admitted to Mumbai's Kasturba hospital, while two have been admitted to Pune's Naidu hospital, it added.
UP CM Holds Meeting With State Health Officials on Coronavirus
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held a meeting with state health department officials on the deadly coronavirus on Monday, 27 January.
Adityanath directed the officials to set up ten-bed isolation ward in every district hospital and medical college in the state, ANI reported.
Sri Lanka Confirms 1st Case of Coronavirus, a Chinese Tourist
Sri Lankan health authorities on Monday said the country has its first confirmed case of a person infected with the coronavirus from China, Associated Press reported.
The patient is a Chinese woman in her 40s who arrived in Sri Lanka last week as a tourist from China's Hubei province, said Dr Sudath Samaraweera, chief epidemiologist of the country's health ministry.
Canada Confirms First Virus Case, Second Is 'Presumptive'
Canadian health authorities on Monday confirmed the country's first case of a deadly coronavirus that originated in China, and said the patient's wife had also tested positive, AFP reported.
The woman's case is still listed as "presumptive," pending final confirmation by a national lab in Winnipeg, officials said.
Nearly 20 people are being monitored.
Britain Tells Travellers From China Virus City to Self-Isolate
Around 1,500 people who came to Britain from the Chinese epicentre of the coronavirus epidemic in the past two weeks must put themselves in isolation, the UK health minister said on Monday, according to AFP.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said authorities "cannot be 100 percent certain" that the virus cannot spread from a person who exhibits no flu-like symptoms.
"From today, we are therefore asking anyone in the UK who has returned from Wuhan in the last 14 days to self-isolate," Hancock told a parliamentary hearing.
UN Health Chief Visits China to Help With Virus Containment
The director-general of the World Health Organisation has flown to China to meet with government officials and health experts trying to contain the spread of a deadly virus that has killed 82 people in China and infected 2,750.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of WHO, said the UN health agency wants “to understand the latest developments and strengthen our partnership with China in providing further protection against the outbreak.”
Last week, WHO held off on declaring the virus a global health emergency.
It said China had taken very strong measures — including locking down cities that are home to 50 million people — that the agency hoped would be effective in containing the virus and "short in duration".
Chinese Premier Visits Virus Epicentre Wuhan
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Monday visited Wuhan, the first such trip by a top leader to the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak to boost the morale of millions of beleaguered people and medical staff.
Beijing Reports Its 1st Death From Coronavirus
Beijing authorities on Monday reported the Chinese capital's first death from the coronavirus.
The victim was a 50-year-old man who had visited the central city of Wuhan on 8 January and developed a fever after returning to Beijing seven days later, the city's health commission said.
He died on Monday of respiratory failure, reported AFP.
Coronavirus: 3,756 Air Passengers Screened in Mumbai in 9 Days
As many as 3,756 passengers arriving from China have been screened for the coronavirus at the international airport in Mumbai since 18 January, but no confirmed case of the deadly disease has been found so far in the city, a health department official said on Monday.
Of these, five passengers complained of cough and fever, symptoms found in coronavirus patients, and their blood samples were sent for examination to the Pune-based National Institute of Virology (NIV), he said.
Samples of three of them were found to be negative for the virus, while the report of the two others is expected on Tuesday, said the official from the Maharashtra government's health department, reported PTI.
Coronavirus: MEA To Ask China for Evacuation of Indians From Wuhan
The Cabinet Secretary on Monday reviewed the situation arising out of outbreak of coronavirus in China, with officials saying that the External Affairs Ministry will make a request to Chinese authorities for evacuation of Indians from Wuhan.
“The meeting on coronavirus decides that steps may be taken to prepare for possible evacuation of Indians from Wuhan,” officials were quoted by PTI as saying.
The shipping ministry will also initiate screening of people at international ports having traffic from China, they added.
The meeting was attended by secretaries in the ministries of Health, External Affairs, Civil Aviation, Labour, Defence, I&B, among others.
Airlift Indian Nationals Stranded in Wuhan: Kerala CM Writes to PM Modi
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the coronavirus outbreak in the Wuhan province of China.
In his letter, Vijayan said that he was informed of the “grave” situation in Wuhan, and requested PM Modi to “consider operating a special flight to Wuhan/a nearby functional airport and airlift the Indian nationals stranded there and bring them back to India.”
4 Under Observation on Suspicion of Coronavirus Infection in Hyderabad
Four people, who flew down from China, have been put under observation on suspicion of coronavirus infection at the Government Fever Hospital in Hyderabad.
The superintendent at the hospital, Dr Shankar, was quoted by ANI as saying, “We have put them in the isolation ward. No symptoms like fever, throat pain or breathing problems have been found.”
4 Chinese Among 5 Under Observation for Suspected Coronavirus in Pakistan
At least five persons, including four Chinese nationals, have been put under observation in Pakistan for suspected coronavirus infection, according to a media report cited by PTI.
Air India 747 On Standby to Evacuate Indian Students from Wuhan
Air India Boeing 747 is on standby for the evacuation of Indians from China’s Wuhan due to scare of coronavirus. The carrier is waiting for government’s decision, said a senior official, speaking to ANI.
Coronavirus: Mumbai Man in Hospital for Possible Exposure
In the fourth such incident in Mumbai, a 36-year-old man has been admitted in the isolation ward of a civic-run hospital on suspicion of possible exposure to the novel coronavirus, officials said on Monday, 27 January.
The man, a resident of Tardeo in south Mumbai, is currently kept under observation at Kasturba Hospital in the city, they said.
Three persons were last week admitted in the hospital for possible exposure to the virus strain, after screening of passengers was done at the Mumbai international airport.
All the three were hospitalised as precaution, officials had said on January 25.
As of 24 January, some 2,700 passengers had undergone thermal screening at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport here since 19 January after an outbreak of a new coronavirus was reported in China's Wuhan city.
Coronavirus: Dalai Lama’s Official Residence to Be Shut Down
Potala Palace in Tibet, the official residence of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, will be shut down from Monday until further notice as part of nationwide efforts in China to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus, officials said on Sunday, 26 January.
The SARS-like virus has spread to all provinces except Tibet and has claimed 56 lives so far with confirmed cases of viral affliction reaching nearly 2000.
Don't Have Coronavirus: Woman Admitted in Patna Hospital
Ekta Kumari, who was brought to Patna Medical College and Hospital after she allegedly showed Coronavirus symptoms, said that she does not have the virus.
"Nothing has happened to me. I was released by the airport authorities. My body temperature is around 98 F. I don't have cough. Is this the arrangement in Bihar," she asked.
WHO Director to Visit China
Director General of World Health Organisation Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus will reach China today to review the tackling of coronavirus.
Bengaluru Passengers Who Visited China Scanned for Coronavirus
The Airport Health Organisation of the Indian government said that no passengers who visited China in the last 14 days have tested positive for Coronavirus. A total of 392 passengers underwent thermal scanner screening over the last two days.
Bihar Girl Shows Symptoms of Corona, Admitted to Hospital
A woman, who recently returned from China, was admitted to ICU at a hospital in Chapra after she showed symptoms similar to that of Coronavirus. She will now be admitted in Patna government hospital, reported ANI.
Coronavirus: Goa Govt to Form Special Task Force
The Goa government has decided to form a special task force to monitor cases, if any, of coronavirus in the tourist state.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Sunday said that people arriving in Goa from the virus-affected regions outside India would be closely monitored.
"I have given instructions to form a special task force to monitor any cases of coronavirus in Goa. All the activities, including people arriving from the virus-affected regions, would be closely monitored and reported to the state Chief Secretary," Rane told reporters.
The task force will work as per the guidelines laid down by the Union Ministry of Health, he added.
China Extends New Year Holiday Over Virus Fears
China extends New Year holiday to 2 February over virus fears, an official to AFP.
Coronavirus Outbreak: Death Toll Rises to 80 in China
The death toll from coronavirus outbreak in China has risen to 80 as the hard-hit epicentre province of Hubei suffered 24 new fatalities, news agency AFP reported on Monday, 27 January, adding that the total confirmed cases nationwide rose to 2,744.
5 Confirmed Cases of Coronavirus in US: United States Health Agency
United States health agency has reported five confirmed cases of coronavirus in the US, according to AFP news agency.
Suspected Case of Coronavirus Reported in Rajasthan
A suspected case of coronavirus has been reported in Rajasthan, following which the patient has been kept in isolation, state Health Minister Raghu Sharma said on Sunday, 26 January, according to PTI.
He said a doctor, who returned to India after completing the MBBS course in China, was kept in isolation at the SMS Hospital in Jaipur on the suspicion of being affected by coronavirus.
Directions were given to conduct a screening of all the family members of the patient, he added.
As of Now No Indian Affected by Coronavirus Outbreak in China: MEA
The External Affairs Ministry on Sunday, 26 January said that as of now no Indian in China has been affected by the coronavirus outbreak and the embassy in Beijing is in close touch with all Indians, including university students, in Wuhan and elsewhere in Hubei province.
The death toll in the deadly new coronavirus in China rose to 56 on Sunday with confirmed cases of viral affliction reaching 2,008, including 23 from aborad.
The pneumonia outbreak was first reported in Wuhan City, central China's Hubei Province, in December 2019. The city of 11 million has been in quarantine since Thursday -- with nobody allowed to leave as the government tries to contain its spread.
Health Ministry: 29,707 Passengers Screened, No Case of Coronavirus Found so Far
Ministry of Health said that a total of 29,707 passengers from 137 flights have been screened. 4,359 passengers of 22 flights were screened on Sunday, 26 January. No case of coronarvirus has been found so far.
India Examining 'All Options' to Provide Relief to Indians Stuck in Wuhan
India is examining "all options" in consultations with China to provide relief to over 250 stuck Indians, mostly students, in Wuhan, the epicentre of the fast spreading coronavirus.
The death toll in the deadly new coronavirus in China rose to 56 on Sunday, 26 January with confirmed cases of viral affliction reaching 2,008, including 23 from aborad, Chinese health authorities said.
India opened a third hotline in view of "large number" of phone calls from the Indians who are mostly students, the Indian Embassy in Beijing said.
"In view of the large number of calls received in the two hotline numbers set up by @EOIBeijing in connection with the outbreak of coronavirus infection, @EOIBeijing has decided to open a third hotline number +8618610952903," the Embassy said in a tweet.
The other two hotline numbers are 8618612083629 and 8618612083617, the Embassy said.
The Embassy has also said it is “examining all options” and holding consultations with China to provide relief to the Indians holed up in Wuhan.
Canada Hospital Says It Has Confirmed Case of Deadly Virus
A Toronto hospital said Saturday, 25 January, it has a confirmed case of the deadly virus from China, Canada’s first. Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre said it is caring for a patient who has a confirmed case of the novel coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China.
Officials said the man is his 50s and recently flew from Wuhan, China to Guangzhou, China and then on to Toronto on 23 January.
“He really wasn’t in Toronto very long. He wasn’t feeling well. I think he was at home and the people that live with him are in self isolation,” said Dr Barbara Yaffe, Ontario’s Associated Chief Medical Officer.
The outbreak of the new virus originated in China, where it has killed 56 people, and has spread worldwide. Australia, Malaysia, France, Japan and the US have reported cases.
In Canada, while the case has been confirmed by a test in Toronto, officials said it has yet to complete separate testing by the federal government’s National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases in Winnipeg. The illness will officially be fully confirmed once it completes that testing.
Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, said they are 95 per cent sure it is the virus. “This is the first presumptive confirmed case,” said Williams.
Hong Kong Disneyland Closing Over China Virus Fears
Hong Kong's Disneyland announced it was shutting its doors on Sunday, 26 January, until further notice over the deadly virus outbreak in central China, a day after city authorities classified the crisis as an emergency, AFP reported.
The park said it was taking the step to protect "the health and safety of our guests and cast members" and said refunds would be given. Ocean Park, a rival amusement park on Hong Kong's main island, said it was also closing its doors.
On Saturday, 25 January, Hong Kong classified the outbreak as an "emergency" -- the city's highest warning tier -- and announced ramped-up measures to reduce the risk of further infections. A series of public events, including a Lunar New Year gala and next month's marathon have also been cancelled.
The closure of Disneyland and Ocean Park will pile fresh misery on Hong Kong's tourism, leisure and retail industries which have already been battered by more than seven months of often-violent pro-democracy protests.
Shanghai's Disneyland also closed from Saturday in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Japan Will Evacuate Nationals From China Virus City: Japan PM Abe
Japan will evacuate all its nationals from China's quarantined city of Wuhan, the epicentre of a deadly virus, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Sunday, 26 January.
"We have decided to send back all (Japanese citizens in Wuhan) to Japan if they wish so, by every means including a chartered flight," Abe said to reporters, as per PTI.
"We are coordinating with the Chinese government at various levels, and we will accelerate the process to realise a swift implementation" of the evacuation from Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province in central China, Abe said.
Earlier, a foreign ministry official told AFP that 430 Japanese were in Hubei province.
The move comes as several other countries are arranging plans to evacuate their personnel and citizens.
Jharkhand Health Department Issues 'Advisory' for Coronavirus
The Jharkhand Health Department has issued an advisory to all districts and health institutions in the state to stay alert and report any suspected case of Coronavirus.
The department has sent 'reporting formats' issued by the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) to all the districts and health institutions to report any suspected case of Coronavirus, an official release said.
The advisory also asked them to continuously monitor any suspected case of Coronavirus for 28 days, said an official release quoting Principal Secretary (Health) Nitin Madan Kulkarni.
US to Evacuate Citizens From Coronavirus Epicentre in China
The United States is arranging a flight to evacuate personnel and American citizens trapped at the epicentre of a deadly virus in central China, the US State Department said on Sunday.
The flight will leave on Tuesday from the city of Wuhan and take people to San Francisco, the department said in an email to Americans in China, warning that there would be limited space for private citizens.
"This capacity is extremely limited and if there is insufficient ability to transport everyone who expresses interest, priority will be given to individuals at greater risk from coronavirus," the department said.
France plans to evacuate its citizens stuck in Hubei by bus.
Canada Reports First 'Presumptive' Coronavirus Case
Canada's first "presumptive" case of a new coronavirus has been detected in a man who returned to Toronto from the Chinese city where the virus first appeared, health officials announced Saturday.
"We have the first presumptive case confirmed of this novel coronavirus here" in Toronto, Eileen de Villa, head of the city's public health agency, said at a press conference.
The patient, a man in his 50s, had been staying in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak of the virus, which first appeared in December.
He returned to Canada on 22 January and was admitted to a hospital in Toronto the next day, said Barbara Yaffe, deputy chief medical officer for the province of Ontario.
Death Toll in China Rises to 56
Death toll from virus outbreak in China rises to 56 with a total of 1,975 cases reported.
Hong Kong Declares Virus Emergency
Hong Kong has declared the outbreak of a new virus an emergency and will close primary and secondary schools for two more weeks after the Lunar New Year holiday. City leader Carrie Lam also announced Saturday that trains and flights from the city of Wuhan would be blocked.
Chinese Doctor Becomes 1st Medical Casualty to Coronavirus: Report
A doctor from China's Hubei province, the epicentre of the fast-spreading coronavirus, died on Saturday reportedly due to the deadly disease, becoming the first medical professional to have fallen victim to it, according to a media report.
Liang Wudong, 62, a surgeon at Xinhua Hospital in the province, died at 7am (local time) on Saturday.
Outbreak Casts Pall Over Chinese New Year as Deaths Surpass 40
With Chinese authorities afraid that public gatherings will hasten the spread of the virus, the outbreak put a damper on Lunar New Year. Temples locked their doors, Beijing's Forbidden City, Shanghai Disneyland and other major tourist destinations closed, and people canceled restaurant reservations ahead of the holiday, normally a time of family reunions, sightseeing trips, fireworks displays and other festivities in the country of 1.4 billion people.
Read the full report here.
Public Health Alert Raised to the Highest Level in China
22 provinces and municipalities of China, covering more than 1.1 billion people, have raised a major emergency public health alert to the highest level. Northeast China’s Heilongjiang and Central China’s Henan are the latest to raise the level, reports Global Times.
Coronavirus Explained: All You Need to Know About the Outbreak
The new strain of coronavirus that originated from Wuhan, China has reached eight other countries, namely Japan, Taiwan, Macau, Singapore, South Korea, US, Vietnam and Thailand — raising the number of cases to 830 with 26 deaths.
Countries in Asia and elsewhere have begun body temperature checks at airports, railway stations and along highways in hopes of catching people carrying the virus that can spread from human contact. The Chinese authorities have locked several cities, affecting millions of people.
Click here for everything you need to know about the outbreak.
Wuhan Doctor Has Died Due to Coronavirus: Reports
A doctor at Hubei Xinhua Hospital who was battling coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan has died from the virus, reported CNN quoting State-run China Global Television Network.
Australia Confirms First Case of Coronavirus
Australia on Saturday, 25 January, confirmed its first case of the new coronavirus that has claimed 41 lives in China, becoming the latest country in a growing list to be affected by the illness.
The sick man arrived in Melbourne from China a week ago from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak, the government said.
Authorities in Victoria state have followed “strict protocols, including isolating the affected person,” said Professor Brendan Murphy, Australia's chief medical officer.
Coronavirus Death Toll Rises to 41: Chinese Govt
According to the Chinese government, the coronavirus death toll has risen to 41, reports AFP.
France Confirms 3 Cases of Virus From China, 1st in Europe
France on Friday announced three confirmed cases of the deadly new virus from China, the first reported in Europe, and the country's health minister said other new cases will likely follow, Reuters reported.
Health Minister Agnes Buzyn said the sickened people had travelled to China. They were hospitalized, in isolation, two in Paris, the other in the southwestern city of Bordeaux. In part because of Europe's open borders, the minister said she expects more cases.
4 Samples Test Negative in India: ICMR-NIV
The ICMR-National Institute of Virology in Pune informed on Friday that four samples (two from Mumbai, one each from Bengaluru and Hyderabad) have tested negative for Coronavirus. One of the Mumbai patients has tested positive for Rhinovirus, one of the routine common cold virus, the Ministry of Health said, according to ANI.
Nepal Confirms First Case of Coronavirus
Nepal on Friday confirmed the first case of deadly coronavirus in the country, identifying the infected person as a Nepali student who recently returned from the Chinese city of Wuhan, local media reports said, according to PTI.
Coronavirus: Ten Who Returned From China Under Watch in India
Ten people – seven in Kerala, two in Mumbai and one in Hyderabad – who were among the hundreds of passengers who returned from China in the recent days are under observation in hospitals to check for possible exposure to the deadly novel coronavirus, central and state officials said on Friday, according to PTI.
AIIMS Sets Up Isolation Ward for Treating Suspected Novel Coronavirus Infection Cases
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi has set up an isolation ward and kept beds ready for providing treatment to any suspected case of novel coronavirus infection.
Coronavirus: 262 Passengers Screened at Hyderabad Airport, No Cases Found
A total of 262 passengers coming from Hong Kong underwent thermal screening at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad following outbreak of the novel coronavirus in China, officials said on Friday.
No cases were found when screening was done on Thursday, they said.
Coronavirus: Death Toll Rises to 26 in China, 830 Infected
The death toll in China's deadly coronavirus has climbed to 26 with 830 people affected, prompting authorities to lock down four more cities to prevent its spread, officials said on Friday.
China Adds Four More Cities to Transport Ban, 41 Million People Now Affected
China has added four more cities to transport ban, 41 Million have now been affected. China is now rushing to build a new hospital in a staggering 10 days to treat patients at the epicenter of a deadly virus outbreak.
14 People Tested for Coronavirus in UK
A total of 14 people have been tested in the UK for the deadly coronavirus, which has claimed 25 lives in China and the British government has admitted an "increased likelihood" of its spread to the country.
Public Health England, the executive arm of the government's Department for Health, said on Thursday night that five people had tested negative for the virus and nine others await their results.
Beijing Cancels Large-Scale Lunar New Year Events Over Virus Fears
Beijing has canceled mass Lunar New Year celebrations and put nine cities on lockdown in an effort to control the deadly virus, the state media reported.
WHO Declines Coronavirus as Global Health Emergency
The WHO has stopped short of declaring the latest contagious virus a global emergency despite China attempting to quarantine more than 30 million people.
Coronavirus: Two Under Watch in Mumbai; Special Ward Set up
Two persons who returned from China were kept under medical observation in Mumbai for possible exposure to the novel coronavirus which has infected a large number of people in the neighbouring country, a BMC health officer said on Friday.
Jingzhou City Locked Down
Jingzhou has become the ninth Chinese city to go into lockdown due to a deadly virus, bringing the number affected in the country to over 30 million.
China Seals off More Cities, 32 Million People Affected
China has added the ninth city to the transport ban. 32 million people have now been affected.
Death Toll Rises to 25, Eight Cities Locked Down to Prevent Spread
The death toll in China's deadly coronavirus has climbed to 25 with confirmed cases rising sharply to 830, prompting authorities to lock down eight cities to prevent its spread, officials said on Friday.
A total of 1,072 suspected cases have been reported in 20 provincial-level regions, according to the National Health Commission.
Indian Embassy in Beijing Issues Advisory
Indian Embassy in Beijing Cancels Republic Day Ceremony
The Indian embassy in China has cancelled the Republic Day ceremony in view of the coronavirus outbreak which has killed 25 people and infected over 800 others.
The Indian mission on Friday took to social media to announce the cancelation of the celebrations scheduled for 26 January.
China Reports First Death outside Virus Epicentre: Official
Authorities in China reported on Thursday the first death outside of Hubei, the central province where a new SARS-like virus epidemic is believed to have originated.
The health commission in northern Hebei province, which borders Beijing, said in a statement that an 80-year-old man diagnosed with the new virus died on 22 January.
The death in Hebei increases the total death toll in China from the virus to 18.
No Need to Panic: Kerala Health Min
Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja said that the government was closely monitoring the Coronavirus and appealed to people to not panic.
Singapore Confirms First Case of Coronavirus
Singapore confirms first case of coronavirus which has killed 17 people in China, reported AFP.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) said the patient was a 66-year-old man from Wuhan who arrived in Singapore with his family earlier this week.
He was immediately isolated after arriving at a hospital with a fever and cough, and test results later confirmed he was infected with the coronavirus.
Indian Nurse Working in Saudi Tests Positive for Corona
A nurse from Kerala working in Saudi Arabia has tested positive for Coronavirus. Thirty other nurses, all of them from Kerala, have been quarantined and kept under observation at the hospital.
According to reports, the nurse hails from Kottayam’s Ettumanoor in Kerala and was working at the Asir Abha Al Hayat National Hospital in the country.
The incident came to light when one of the nurses reached out to her relatives over the phone. The nurses reportedly were exposed to a Filipino woman at the hospital. The nurses reportedly caught the virus while treating her.
'No Case of Coronavirus in India': Health Ministry
The Union Health Ministry has said no case of novel coronavirus has been detected in India till now. At least 12,828 passengers from 60 flights have been screened, said the ministry, ANI.
China Locks down Two Cities to Curb Virus Outbreak
China locked down two major cities in a province at the centre of a deadly virus outbreak on Thursday, 23 January, banning planes and trains from leaving in an unprecedented move aimed at containing the disease which has already spread to other countries.
The respiratory virus has claimed 17 lives after it emerged from a seafood and animal market in Wuhan, and has since infected hundreds of other people nationwide and been detected as far away as the United States.
Residents in Wuhan, a major port city in central Hubei province with a population of 11 million people, were told on Thursday not to leave "without a special reason", and the order was backed by a transport shutdown.
Trains and planes out of Wuhan were indefinitely suspended, tollways on roads out the city were closed, leading to fear and panic for those who were trapped.
Hours later, authorities in neighbouring Huanggang announced that public transport and train services would be suspended at midnight, while people were told to not leave the city of 7.5 million.
All of Huanggang's cinemas, internet cafes, and the central market will close.
A third city, 1.1 million-population Ezhou, announced the train station had been temporarily closed earlier in the day.
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