COVID-19: Kejriwal Bans Gatherings of 50+ People Till 31 March

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal briefed the media on Monday, 16 March, on the steps taken by the government to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus in the capital, including banning the gatherings of more than 50 people in the capital until 31 March, and introducing portable handwash stations in public places.A youth who returned from Italy tested positive for coronavirus in Odisha in the state's first case, reported local media station OTV.On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a video conference of all SAARC member countries, proposed to create an emergency fund based on voluntary contributions by members. He announced that India would initially contribute 10 million USD.Maharashtra's coronavirus cases climbed to 33 on Sunday with a 59-year-old woman and a man becoming the latest. Maharashtra tops the country in number of cases.110 confirmed COVID-19 cases in India, according to Health MinistryUS Federal Reserve slashed interest rate to nearly zero on MondayNew case confirmed in Telangana on Sunday, taking state total to 3Global death toll crosses 6,000Delhi, West Bengal, Punjab, Bihar, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra among states with shuttered schools and colleges till 31 MarchTo read all stories on coronavirus, click here.The Delhi High Court on Monday said it will issue more directions about precautions to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, reported PTI.The court observed this when an advocate mentioned before a bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar that the photocopy shops and cash counters in the complex should accept also digital payments.Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has directed divisional managers and municipal commissioners to install portable handwash stations in various parts of Delhi to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus in the capital, reported ANI.The novel coronavirus death toll in China rose to 3,213 with 14 new fatalities, while the imported cases climbed to 123 after 12 new infections were reported, prompting Beijing to make 14-day quarantine in special facilities compulsory for foreigners returning to the country, reported PTI.Sixteen new infections of the novel coronavirus on the Chinese mainland were reported in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of infections to 80,860, the health officials said.Ukrainian-born actor-model Olga Kurylenko has revealed that she has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, reported AFP.The actor, best known for starring in 2008's James Bond film "Quantum of Solace" and 2013's sci-fi movie "Oblivion", took to Instagram on Sunday to share her diagnosis.Kurylenko, 40, said she had been ill for "almost a week".The Pakistan and Bangladesh cricket boards on Monday decided to postpone the upcoming One-Day International and Test in Karachi indefinitely amid the COVID-19 pandemic which has derailed sporting calendars globally, reported PTI.Bangladesh were due to arrive in Karachi on 29 March to play an ODI on 1 April and the second ICC World Test Championship Test from 9-5 April."The two boards will now work together to identify a future opportunity to complete the ICC World Test Championship commitment," the PCB said in a statement.In the wake of an Indian Forest Services trainee testing poisitve in Uttarakhand, The Forest Research Institute, Dehradun announced that it will close its doors for "all kinds of visits" till 31 March, reports LiveMint.New York on Sunday ordered all its bars and restaurants to close except for take-outs, in the latest dramatic shutdown as authorities worldwide struggle to tackle the coronavirus outbreak, reported AFP."I will sign an Executive Order limiting restaurants, bars and cafes to food take-out and delivery," city mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement, calling for "a wartime mentality.""Nightclubs, movie theaters, small theater houses, and concert venues must all close." New York has already banned gatherings of more than 500 people, including in Broadway theatres.Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday held a video conference with division managers, sub-divisional managers , municipal commissioners along with Cabinet ministers and senior officer to asses the steps taken by the Delhi government to curb the spread of COVID-19.Bihar’s Assembly Budget session was curtailed on Monday amid rising cases of novel coronavirus cases in the country, reported PTI.According to Speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, no sittings will be held after today.The Peace Corps is telling its volunteers around the world that it is suspending all operations globally and evacuating all volunteers in light of the spread of the novel coronavirus, reported AP.In an open letter to volunteers posted Sunday on its website, the federal agency's director, Jody Olsen, says the decision follows recent evacuations in China and Mongolia due to the outbreak.Olsen says that with evacuations now underway at other posts and travel becoming more challenging by the day, the agency decided to expand the suspension and evacuations.Amusement park operator Wonderla Holidays on Monday said it has decided to temporarily close its Hyderabad park from 15-21 March due to the rising of COVID-19 scare in Telangana, reported PTI."In view of the emerging situation in the state of Telangana, consequent to the reported coronavirus cases, the company has decided to temporarily close the Hyderabad park from 15-21 March, 2020," it said in a filing to BSE.Lawyers, litigants and media personnel were thermal-screened in the Supreme Court on Monday amid the novel coronavirus scare, reported PTI.The top court, which has taken several precautionary measures in wake of the pandemic has allowed only restricted entry of lawyers, litigants and journalists in the courtroom.Three people of the 236 who were evacuated from Iran on Sunday were checked for the novel coronavirus and the tests were found to be negative, reported PTI, quoting officials.Only three people were checked as they were showing some symptoms."Preliminary screening of the people was undertaken at the airport upon arrival. Thereafter, they were moved to the Army Wellness Centre at Jaisalmer," Defence Spokesperson Colonel Sombit Ghosh said.In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the functioning of the Karnataka High Court (HC) is being restricted to only urgent matter, according to a statement by the HC.Visitors to the HC and members of the staff will also be subjected to thermal screening from 17 March.Investor wealth worth Rs 6.25 lakh crore was wiped off in early morning trade on Monday as markets witnessed yet another sell-off, with the BSE benchmark plunging 2,182.41 points as Covid-19 scare continued to hit sentiment, reported PTI.The market capitalisation of BSE-listed companies dropped by Rs 6,25,501.8 crore to Rs 1,23,00,741.02 crore in the opening trade.The drop in investor wealth was led by extremely weak market sentiment, where the BSE Sensex witnessed another plunge after staging a strong comeback on Friday.The Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee on Monday reported that it has kept one foreigner and eight Indian students under a 14-day isolation period for displaying COVID-19 symptoms, reported ANI.The government has not issued any order to shut down colleges in Chennai. However many private institutes have decided to issue holiday.SRM Institute of Science and Technology, the Central University of Tamil Nadu, National Institute of Technology, Trichy, Vels Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced StudiesVellore Institute of Technology have closed their campuses and instructed students and faculty members to return to their hometowns.They have also declared holidays till 31 March. IIT-Madras however, has decided to continue daily classes and examsIn view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the functioning of the Patna High Court is being restricted to only urgent matters, reported ANI.The US Federal Reserve took emergency action on Sunday, 15 March, and slashed its benchmark interest rate by a full percentage point to nearly zero and announced it would purchase more Treasury securities to encourage lending in an effort to offset the impact of the novel coronavirus outbreak, AP reported.A youth who returned from Italy tested positive for coronavirus in Odisha. It is the first case in state, reports OTV.The daughter of the 76-year-old man from Karnataka’s Kalaburagi who died due to COVID-19 has also tested positive for the virus, said Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner B Sharat. This takes Karnataka's total of confirmed cases to seven, reported The Indian Express.53 Indians – 52 students and a teacher – were evacuated from the cities of Tehran and Shiraz in Iran and arrived at Jaisalmer airport today. They were later moved to the Army Wellness Centre in the city, following preliminary screening, reported ANI.US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar have held a discussion on the coronavirus crisis over the phone, the State Department said in Washington, according to PTI.During the call, the two top diplomats discussed ways in which India and the United States could cooperate to address this global challenge, State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said on Sunday.South Africa has announced a National State of Disaster over the coronavirus crisis as the number of people infected by the disease in the country reached 61, PTI reported.President Cyril Ramaphosa made the announcement in a live national television broadcast on Sunday."We have decided to establish a national command council and will meet three times a week to coordinate all aspects of this emergency response," Ramaphosa said.Lebanon has urged people to stay at home for two weeks and prepared to close its main airport to stem a novel coronavirus outbreak that has killed three people in the country, AFP reported.The COVID-19 virus has officially infected 99 people in the Mediterranean nation.According to the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, three people from Rajasthan are now novel coronavirus-free. The total number of patients now free of COVID-19 is 13.The US Federal Reserve took emergency action on Sunday, 15 March, and slashed its benchmark interest rate by a full percentage point to nearly zero and announced it would purchase more Treasury securities to encourage lending to try to offset the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, AP reported.A suspected COVID-19 patient escaped from Darbhanga Medical College & Hospital in Bihar on Saturday, ANI reported."Patient escaped while he was being taken to the isolation ward. We have informed police & district administration," Rajeev Ranjan, Medical Superintendent told the news agency.France reports 29 more coronavirus deaths, biggest one-day jump, reported AFP, quoting a minister.Italy hit a one-day record on Sunday, 15 March, with 368 new coronavirus deaths, reported AFP, quoting official data.All cinema halls in Noida, Greater Noida to stay closed till 31 March in view of coronavirus threat, said District magistrate on Sunday, PTI reported.The number of people infected by novel coronavirus in Maharashtra climbed to 33 on Sunday, 15 March, with a 59-year-old woman and a man becoming the latest COVID-19 cases in the state, which tops the list in the country.While the woman who was admitted in a hospital in Aurangabad had a travel history to Russia and Kazakhstan, the man from Pimpri-Chinchwad township in Pune had travelled to Japan and Dubai before his return on 3 March, officials said.According to Health department, 95 new cases of suspected coronavirus were quarantined at various hospitals in the state on Sunday.Samples of 66 people sent for testing for suspected exposure to novel coronavirus in Chhattisgarh have returned negative, while reports of six are awaited, a senior health official said on Sunday, 15 March, PTI reported.No person has tested positive for novel coronavirus in the state as yet."Till Sunday, samples of 79 people were sent for testing. While 66 have returned negative, reports are awaited for six. Seven samples were rejected by the nodal laboratory as they do not fit the criteria of suspected patients as per the guidelines of the Indian Council of Medical Research," he said.The samples are being tested at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Raipur, he added.The Punjab government has allowed the technical institutes and industrial training centres to hold their examinations as per the original schedule, two days after announcing closure of all educational establishments till 31 March over the novel coronavirus pandemic.The technical education department has revised the old order to clarify that the examinations in the universities/engineering colleges/polytechnic colleges/industrial training institutes would be held as per the earlier schedule."Earlier, the Punjab government had decided to close all technical educational institutes in the state till 31 March as precautionary measures to prevent spreading of coronavirus. But on Sunday, this order has been partially amended," an official spokesperson said in a statement.As a precautionary measure against the threat of the coronavirus spread, the Lucknow district administration on Sunday, 15 March, ordered forthwith closure of cinema halls, multiplexes, clubs, discos, swimming pools and gyms.These facilities will remain closed till 31 March, Lucknow District Magistrate Abhishek Prakash said in an order, issued on Sunday."All the owners, managers and coordinators of cinema halls, multiplexes, clubs, discos, swimming pools and gyms in the district have been directed to close them with immediate effect till 31 March," the order said.The Trinamool Congress on Sunday, 15 March, said it will appeal to the West Bengal State Election Commission for deferring the upcoming civic polls in view of the COVID-19 crisis, PTI reported."Elections will come and go but politics must take a back seat when society is faced with such a threat," it said in a statement issued late in the evening.The All India Trinamool Congress will appeal to the State Election Commission of West Bengal to defer the upcoming municipal/corporation elections in light of the COVID-19 crisis, it said.The Army, which is running coronavirus quarantine facilities, has told a parliamentary panel that all necessary steps are being taken to safeguard the troops from the infection, including examining all meat products supplied to them.In its response to the Standing Committee on Defence, the Army said most of the meat products used by the troops were frozen.It also told the panel about steps such as setting up quarantine facilities in Manesar and Jaisalmer for civilians to contain the spread of the virus.So far, the Army has established such facilities in Suratgadh, Deolali, Jodhpur, Kolkata and Chennai. Most of the Indians brought back from coronavirus-hit countries are kept at the quarantine facilities maintained by the Army.The public relations officer of the Pune Municipal Corporation informed that it has formed 125 teams having 30 members in each team, to survey the situation and educate people about coronavirus, ANI reported.“The teams will start their work from tomorrow, they will be visiting the houses in the most affected areas,” he added.Kerala Minister AC Moideen said that the state government has decided to impose restrictions on large gatherings in Guruvayur and Kodungallur temples in Thrissur district as precautionary measure against coornavirus, ANI reported.“People will be allowed only in limited numbers,” he added.Amid the coronavirus outbreak, Kalaburagi Deputy commissioner B Sharat said that gatherings including local markets, village fairs, festival in the district have been banned as precautionary measure against the spread of the virus until further orders, ANI reported.A 23-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly cheating a woman trader on the pretext of supplying masks in view of the novel coronavirus outbreak, Wadala TT police said on Sunday, 15 March, PTI reported.Namrata Manocha placed an order through an online mart for 1.60 lakh masks which she wanted to export to her clients in Oman and France and gave Rs 4 lakh as advance to Abrar Mushtaque Bodle (23) whose firm claimed to supply such masks, an official said."However, after transferring Rs 4 lakh on 5 March, she found the GST and ISO certificates furnished by Bodle were fake. Manocha realised the man had advertised on the online mart to cheat people," he added.Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan reviewed on Sunday, 15 March, the status of actions taken by the states and Union Territories for prevention and containment of coronavirus and directed officials to scale up the capacity of the round-the-clock control room helpline in view of increased volume of queries.According to a health ministry statement, Vardhan was apprised of the emerging international and national status of COVID-19 at the meeting as he took stock of the status and preparedness of the states and UTs in terms of quarantine facilities, isolation wards, adequacy of personal protective equipment and other items.He reviewed in great detail the steps taken by the states to foster 'social distancing' in great detail and advised them to maintain hygiene and cleanliness in hospitals, and adhere to all laid down protocols for containment and management of the disease, the ministry said.Two Nigerians, who entered the country from Bangladesh, have been admitted to an isolation ward of a hospital here for coronavirus-related tests, police said on Sunday, 15 March, PTI reported.During a routine check, the two Guwahati-bound foreigners were taken into custody by police personnel of the Churaibari outpost near Assam-Tripura border and sent to Karimganj Civil Hospital for necessary tests, a senior officer said.They had entered India from the neighbouring country on Saturday, Churaibari outpost in-charge Mintu Seal said.The number of confirmed novel coronavirus cases from Pune in Maharashtra has risen to 16 so far, a senior official said on Sunday, 15 March, PTI reported.District Collector Naval Kishore Ram said the latest patient to have found positive to the infection had a travel history of Japan."The person was admitted in Naidu Hospital here on 14 March. The result of his swab sample, which was sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), has returned positive," he said, adding that the person is undergoing treatment and is in stable condition.Maharashtra has reported 32 COVID-19 cases so far, which is the highest in the country.Taking precautionary measures amid coronavirus outbreak, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) has adjourned all its scheduled hearings in March.However, urgent matters, which require immediate attention could be mentioned before the acting Chairperson Justice Bansi Lal Bhat, a notice by the appellate tribunal said.Lisiting out the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Uttar Pradesh, Directorate of Health Services, Uttar Pradesh said that a total of 13 people have tested positive for the novel coornavirus: eight are from Agra, two from Ghaziabad, one from Noida and two from Lucknow.Five people were booked in Satara in Maharashtra for violating social distancing rules in place to tackle the coronavirus outbreak by organising a religious event on 13 March in which over 5,000 people participated, police said on Sunday, 15 March, PTI reported.These five are members of the 'Bavdhan Yatra Sanyojan Samiti' that organises the 'Bavdhan Yatra' in Wai in Satara, some 230 kilometers from the metropolis."Despite an order by the collector banning such gatherings in view of the novel coronavirus outbreak, they went ahead and organised the yatra in which over 5,000 people from different parts of the state took part," Satara Superintendent of Police Tejaswini Satpute told PTI.Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina on Sunday, 15 march, announced a month-long 'Jana Jagaran Abhiyaan' (public awareness campaign) against coronavirus in the Union Territory from 20 March."The sensitization programme against the coronavirus will be kick started at the district level on 20 March and will be taken to the block level," Raina said chairing a meeting of office-bearers of the party.Karnataka Commissioner Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike said that all marriage functions pre-booked in marriage halls, hotels and so on prior to issue of the circular dated 13 March shall be allowed to be conducted subject to the condition that gathering in function doesn't exceed 100 people, ANI reported.A 46-year-old person from Telangana tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday, 15 March, taking the total number of cases to three in the state, health department officials said, PTI reported.The person has a travel history to Netherlands, ANI reported.On Saturday, the state reported the second COVID-19 positive case, with the samples of a person who travelled to Italy testing positive.The first positive case of a 24-year-old techie, who was thefirst confirmed case in Telangana, was discharged from the state-run Gandhi hospital here on Friday night following his recovery.As part of its efforts to counter the threat posed by coronavirus, the authorities in Jammu on Sunday, 15 March, came out with another set of directives including imposition of ban on conferences, rallies and protests till 31 March as a precautionary measure, PTI reported.The order issued by District Disaster Management Authority Chairperson and District Magistrate, Jammu, Sushma Chauhan also asked people not to organise any social, religious or ritualistic event at any public, community or religious place involving a gathering of more than four people during the same period.The Jammu and Kashmir government closed all educational institutions, multiplexes, cinema halls, shopping malls, gymnasiums, swimming pools and recreational clubs last week.Amid the coronavirus outbreak, according to sources, India has evacuated 766 people from China, 124 from Japan, 336 from Iran and 218 from Italy, till now, ANI reported.The Ministry of Home Affairs has ordered that movements through immigration land check posts at India-Bangladesh borders will remain suspended from 12 am on 15 March till further orders, ANI reported.People are being screened in West Bengal’s Fulbari at India-Bangladesh border before their movement across it.Dawar Battalion of Snow Leopard Brigade has airlifted more than 160 stranded civilians including four critical patients from Army helipad at Dawar and Sonarwain in Gurez valley in Jammu and Kashmir, ANI reported.The University of Hyderabad has suspended all academic activities, including classes and examinations, with immediate effect until 31 March, in view of coronavirus. All students have been advised to return to their homes and take adequate precautions. ANI reported.The University of Hyderabad has also decided that all events such as conferences, seminars, workshops, meetings, and cultural activities stand cancelled, until further notice.Belur Math, the headquarters of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, in Howrah in West Bengal will remain closed from Sunday, 15 March until further notice, in view of coronavirus, ANI reported,The Haryana government on Sunday, 15 March, shut all schools, cinema halls and clubs in the state till 31 March as a measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection, PTI reported.Haryana's Home and Health Minister Anil Vij said a ban had also been imposed on holding political, cultural and social gatherings or sports events that attract a crowd of more than 200 people with immediate effect.Both government and private schools across the state will remain closed till 31 March, Vij said, adding that the decision was taken after a Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar held a meeting with senior officials including those from the health department.However, students will appear for their board/annual/assessment examinations as per schedule, Vij said.A trainee Indian Forest Service officer has been tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Uttarakhand.“He has a travel history to Spain. 25 samples were sent for test, reports of 18 have come and 17 have tested negative,” Uttarakhand Additional Health Secretary Yugal Kishore Pant told ANI.The Rajasthan High Court on Sunday, 15 March, asked all lower courts in the state to take all possible precautions against the spread of deadly coronavirus, including the legal and technological steps to avoid overcrowding in court premises, PTI reported.The principal bench of the high court at Jodhpur here issued a detailed advisory to all subordinate courts in the state to curb crowding within the court premises.Among the legal measures to avoid overcrowding, the high court also asked the lower courts' judges to favourably consider the plea for exemption from personal appearance by accused, complainant and witnesses.Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has issued an advisory to NRIs/ foreigners and other visitors not to visit the Shrine for 28 days after landing in India as a precautionary measure against coronavirus, ANI reported.The domestic visitors having symptoms like cough, heavy fever and breathing problems are also advised to reschedule or postpone their visit to the Holy Shrine, the advisory added.Individuals and RWAs in Noida and Greater Noida can make use of a dedicated email id and a 24x7 telephonic helpline for their queries related to preventing the spread of coronavirus or to inform the administration about the steps they are taking for the same, officials said on Sunday, 15 March, PTI reported.The Gautam Buddh Nagar administration has launched a dedicated email id – dmgbncorona@gmail.com – a day after opening a similar 24-hour telephonic helpline – 0120 2569 901 – to respond to queries related to the contagious novel virus threat, the officials said.The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Sunday, 15 March, said 2,157 people -- travellers and persons in contact with suspected coronavirus cases -- have been put under surveillance in the union territory.According to the daily media bulletin on novel coronavirus, 1829 persons are under home quarantine and 29 persons are in hospital quarantine while 131 persons are under home surveillance.It said 101 samples have been sent for testing, of which 87 tested negative.Only two cases have tested positive so far while reports of 12 cases are awaited till date, the bulletin added.One more person was on Sunday, 15 March, admitted in the Nashik civil hospital for suspected exposure to novel coronavirus, health officials said, PTI reported.A 30-year-old man from Kalwan taluka in the district had gone to Dubai on 5 March and returned on 7 March, and was admitted after he complained of throat pain, they said."With this, the number of patients receiving treatment at the hospital at present has gone up to five," an official said.Earlier, four patients were receiving treatment in the isolation ward of the hospital.A government school teacher was arrested in Odishas Kalahandi district on Sunday, 15 March, for allegedly spreading misinformation about novel coronavirus, police said.Bindu Mahanand, who works in Dudkel primary school, had allegedly posted a message on popular mobile application WhatsApp claiming that an infected man had returned from Bengaluru and confined himself to his house at Khaliakani village in Golamunda block.Following this, police and block officials visited the village in Golmunda area to verify the claim made by the teacher, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Dharmagarh, Laxmi Narayan Panda said.The information was found to be false following which the police registered a case against Mahanand and arrested him, the SDPO said.A spike in deaths from the coronavirus in Spain has pushed the global toll past 6,000, according to an AFP tally compiled from official sources.The worldwide death toll rose to 6,036, with 159,844 infections after 105 died in Spain.While China remains the country with the most deaths with 3,199, the pandemic is now spreading more rapidly in Europe, with 1,907 deaths in the continent's worst-hit country Italy.One member of the family of the 76-year-old man from Karnataka’s Kalaburagi, who died due to COVID-19 has tested positive for the virus, said Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner B Sharat, ANI reported. This makes the total count of confirmed cases of the virus to seven.Meanwhile, in Kerala, the confirmed cases stand at 21 with two new cases reported including one UK national and a doctor, who returned from abroad, Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja told ANI.“Of the two new positive cases, the UK national has been admitted to a hospital in Kochi and the doctor is in isolation ward in Thiruvananthapuram,” she added.In order to spread the novel coronavirus, thermal scanners will be used to screen people at public offices including Vidhana Soudha, High Court, Vikasa Soudha in Bengaluru.Spain has reported 2,000 more coronavirus cases and more than 100 deaths in 24 hours, AFP reported.At the SAARC video conference over coronavirus, Pakistan raised the issue of Kashmir and said that all the restrictions should be lifted in Jammu & Kashmir to deal with the coronavirus threat.Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Sunday, 15 March, called on Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan at the Raj Bhavan in Vijayawada and complained against the State Election Commissioner's "arbitrary" postponement of the polls to rural and urban local bodies, PTI reported.The chief minister took strong exception to the decision of State Election Commissioner N Ramesh Kumar to put off the upcoming elections for six weeks in view of the spread of coronavirus.The Chief Minister rushed to the Raj Bhavan for an unscheduled meeting with the Governor a couple of hours after the SEC announced its decision to put off the local bodies elections."What authority does the SEC have to order these transfers? Why should we have an elected government and the Chief Minister? Let the SEC run the government," Jagan said angrily.The Calcutta High Court and all subordinate courts in West Bengal and Andaman and Nicobar will hear only urgent matters from Tuesday to avoid mass gatherings in view of the coronavirus outbreak, an official said on Sunday, 15 March.In a notification, Calcutta HC registrar general Rai Chattopadhyay said no adverse orders will be passed on matters where parties are found absent till the situation persists.This will apply even to matters listed for 16 March, Chattopadhyay said.Prime Minister Narendra Modi at video conference of all SAARC member countries over coronavirus proposed to create an emergency fund which could be based on voluntary contributions from all the countries.“I propose we create a COVID-19 Emergency Fund. This could be based on voluntary contributions from all of us. India can start with an initial offer of 10 million US dollars,” he said.Maldivian President Ibrahim Solih has welcomes PM Modi's suggestion of setting up COVID-19 Emergency Fund.Zafar Mirza, state minister of health of Pakistan saud that the country shares common concern over the extent to which the novel coronavirus could affect South Asia.While speaking at the SAARC video conference, he said, “All our countries have confirmed cases. There is no room for any complacency. While hoping for the best we have to be prepared for the worst.”Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, while addressing the SAARC video conference said that “collective wisdom and efforts” are required to devise a sound and robust strategy to fight the spread of novel coronavirus.Bhutan Prime Minister M Lotay Tshering, too, acknowledged that all the countries need to come together to fight the spread of novel coronavirus.While speaking at the SAARC video conference over coronavirus, he said, “I think it is very timely and would like to thank PM Modi for his excellent leadership to bring all of us together because togetherness is required at all times but when the world is fighting one common disease, it is very important to leave behind our differences.”While addressing the SAARC leaders, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that the government has kept four new hospitals to deal with coronavirus patients. She further said that while no local case has been reported, two new imported cases from Europe were reported.“Makeshift hospitals also at bay if needed. All third world countries need to collaborate to fight the pandemic. We have to collaborate our expertise resources if required. It is extremely important to establish institution to handle such medical emergency, if such emergencies arise. Bangladesh will be happy to host such institution,” she mentioned.Sixteen people with a travel history abroad have been home quarantined in Kalaburagi district, Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu said in Bengaluru on Sunday, 15 March, PTI reported.The minister said that he was visiting hospitals on the directions of Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa after India's first COVID-19 death was reported from the district."I am visiting hospitals and seeing how the isolation wards are maintained.There are 16 people in Kalaburagi who had returned from abroad. They have been home quarantined for 14 days. We are closely monitoring them," he told reporters in Kalaburagi.At the video conference of all SAARC member countries over coronavirus, President of Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that the country’s economy has taken a severe blow due to the coronavirus pandemic.“Our economy was just recovering, our exports are also adversely affected, therefore I strongly recommend SAARC countries to form a mechanism for our economies to tide over this period. Ministerial level groups should be formed,” he mentioned.The Sri Lankan government has taken the necessary steps for those returning to the country by putting them in a 13-day quarantine in selected quarantine centres, he added.Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the video conference of all SAARC member countries over coronavirus said that there are 13 confirmed cases and no death has been reported yet.“Dispersed islands make it easier for us to isolate communities, whenever someone is ill. But it is costly to transport the person to the capital for intensive medical care,” he said.He backed the coordinated approach to deal with COVID-19 and said that no country can deal with the situation alone.Ashraf Ghani, president of Afghanistan, while sharing his views on the need for a common cooperative framework, proposed a tele-medicine to combat the novel coronavirus.Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing the SAARC leaders urged the need to be vigilant amid the coronavirus pandemic.Detailing India’s measures to combat the spread of the virus, he said, “Prepare, but don’t panic” has been our guiding mantra. We started screening entry into India from mid-January itself, while also gradually increasing restrictions on travel.”He further mentioned that the government has ramped up the capacity by training the medical staff across the country.“We evacuated nearly 1400 Indians from different countries. We also similarly helped some of the citizens of our neighborhood countries,” he added.Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses SAARC leaders to chalk out a plan to combat the novel coronavirus pandemic.The Puducherry government on Sunday, 15 March, declared holiday for all pre KG and primary schools in the Union Territory until further orders as part of precautionary steps to contain spread of coronavirus.Education Minister R Kamalakannan told reporters that the pre-KG and primary schools would remain closed from tomorrow until further orders.Mahe region, an enclave of Puducherry in Kerala, has already declared holiday for the pre KG and primary schools.Iran announced on Sunday, 15 March, that the novel coronavirus has killed 113 more people, the highest single-day death toll yet in one of the world's worst-affected countries, AFP reported.People "should cancel all travel and stay at home so that we may see the situation improving in the coming days," health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said in a televised conference.All educational institutions including schools, colleges, tuition classes, angnawadi across Gujarat will remain closed from 16-29 March, said Gujarat Chief Secretary Anil Mukim, ANI reported.“No teaching work will be done here but the teaching and non-teaching staff can come. A fine of Rs 500 fine will be imposed on anyone who will be caught spitting in public places.”All the cinema halls and swimming pools in the state will also remain closed in the aforementioned period, he added.France will progressively reduce long-distance train, bus and plane travel on its territory over the coming days in a bid to limit the spread of the coronavirus, the ecology minister said on Sunday, 15 March, AFP reported.The country, which has already shut cafes, restaurants, schools and universities and urged people to limit their movements, will now seek to limit long-distance travel "to the strictly necessary" minister Elisabeth Borne told journalists in Paris.Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday, 14 March, to discuss the state's preparedness to tackle the novel coronavirus outbreak.The telephonic conversation, which took place at 11 am, was centred on the efforts by the state and the Centre to tackle the situation. Thackeray informed the PM about the measures taken by his government, sources said.Ahead of examinations beginning Monday, 16 March, the Lucknow University has directed candidates to maintain distance among themselves in exam halls in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, PTI reported.In an office memorandum issued on Saturday, Controller of Examinations (University of Lucknow) Lt Colonel (retd) AK Mishra also asked students to practice social distancing."At least one metre distance must be maintained between two examinees," he said.The son of the 68-year-old woman from West Delhi who was the second coronavirus casualty in the country, is being treated at the Centre-run Safdarjung Hospital and his condition is stated to be stable, official sources said, PTI reported.The 46-year-old man, a resident of Janakpuri, who was shifted from the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital to Safdarjung Hospital on Friday, 13 March, was shifted to an isolation ward on Saturday from the ICU after his condition improved."He is out of the ICU and his condition is stable. He is not stuck to bed," an official source said.India-Bangladesh passenger train services between Kolkata and cities in the neighbouring country have been suspended from Sunday, 15 March, as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19, on a Union government directive, an Eastern Railway official said, PTI reported.The Eastern Railway said services of Maitree and Bandhan Express trains will remain suspended from 15 March 15 to 15 April or till further orders, whichever is earlier.The services of the two trains have been suspended as precautions being taken to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus, the ER official said.While Maitree Express connects Kolkata with the Bangladesh capital Dhaka, Bandhan Express runs between Kolkata and Khulna city of the neighbouring country.All paramilitary forces, including the CRPF, the ITBP, and the BSF, have been advised to keep ready quarantine camps for COVID-19 suspects as a preparatory measure, Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy said in Hyderabad on Sunday, 15 March.As of now, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) is operating a camp which can house about 500 people near Delhi for the quarantine purpose and the facility has released two batches of people so far.“We have given instructions to all our paramilitary forces across the country to keep the quarantine facilities at their respective areas in case of any requirement. We have identified certain centres also for the camps and they are ready. They can accommodate any number of people as will be required by the Health Ministry,” Reddy told reporters.The Delhi government has ordered all mini buses to be disinfected daily in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the city where seven COVID-19 cases and one death have been reported so far, PTI reported.The government had recently also ordered the agencies concerned to disinfect all DTC and cluster buses in the wake of the outbreak of the virus.The transport department has issued an order directing the owners of mini buses plying in the national capital to wash and disinfect their vehicles every day.In the wake of coronavirus scare, the Mumbai Police on Sunday, 15 March, invoked section 144 of the CrPC to prohibit tour operators from conducting any kind of group tours to foreign or domestic destinations till 31 March, an official said, PTI reported.If any tour operator is found flouting the order, action will be taken against him under IPC 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), the official said."With a view to prevent danger to human life, health or safety, we hereby promulgate an order under Section 144 of the CrPC in the areas under the control of Commissioner of Police, prohibiting the conduct of any business, holiday or other type of tours involving groups of people travelling together to a foreign or domestic destination organised by private tour operators," the police order read.Ten persons have been admitted to the isolation ward of the Beliaghata ID and BG Hospital in Kolkata with novel coronavirus-like symptoms, a senior health department official said on Sunday, 15 March, PTI reported.All the 10 persons, who are from across the state, have a history of travelling abroad or coming in contact with foreigners, he said.One of the two admitted persons from the city had travelled to Switzerland in the last week of February, the official said."The other city resident had recently travelled to Darjeeling with a British citizen. After returning from the hill town, he complained of fever and cold," he said.An order has been issued to procure an additional number of 80,56,365 N95 masks and personal protective equipment for healthcare workers, Special Secretary in the Union Ministry of Health, Sanjeeva Kumar said.He further said that the third batch of 236 evacuees from Iran who had arrived earlier today are being quarantined at the Army facility in Jaisalmer. “All are reported to be asymptomatic at present,” he added.Both first and second confirmatory tests for COVID-19 are free for all citizens, he stated. “The country has enough capacity as only 10 percent of the capacity has been utilised per day so far.”Regarding total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country, he said that 107 cases include nine discharged cases and two deaths.“23 new cases have been detected since the last update - 17 from Maharashtra, 2 from Telangana, 1 from Rajasthan and 3 from Kerala,” he said.A 24/7 helpline number has been set up at All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi and the number is 9971876591, ANI reported.On Sunday, 15 March, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said that no new cases of coronavirus were reported on Saturday and Sunday, ANI reported. He further stated that the reported cases are of people who have travelled from abroad.“Government has made all preparation to fight against this. We've asked central government to help in setting up of labs wherever required, shortly we will do it,” he said.Moreover, he said that the government is taking several necessary precautions to prevent the novel coronavirus from spreading. “For the first time shutdown has been declared for a week. People are also cooperating with us, we will take further decision after one week,” he added.Amid the coronavirus outbreak, hotel bookings have been completely cancelled in Japiur, Gajendra Luniwal, Jaipur Hotel Association President told ANI.“100% bookings have been cancelled. Domestic tourists are also not visiting now, it has reached to zero. Hotel industry and its allied services are facing losses,” he said.Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to close Mumbai Zoo (Veer Mata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan And Zoo) till further orders, to prevent the spread of coronavirus, ANI reported.Schools, colleges, libraries, cinema halls and marriage halls will remain shut till further orders in Madhya Pradesh, ANI reported quoting state minister PC Sharma.“50 isolation centres have been set up in the state. We are working on war footing to tackle this,” Sharma added.Chile has quarantined more than 1,300 people aboard two cruise ships after an elderly Briton aboard one of them tested positive for the coronavirus, the health ministry announced on Saturday, 14 March, AFP reported.Both ships are cruising the Chilean fjords in Patagonia.The 85-year-old man showed symptoms of the virus after getting off the Silver Explorer ship in the far southern port of Caleta Tortel, 2,400 kilometers (1,500 miles) from Santiago.The man was later transferred to a hospital in the city of Coyhaique where he tested positive for the virus.A total of 117 people with novel coronavirus-like symptoms have been put in home isolation in Mizoram, a senior health official said on Sunday, according to PTI.Though Mizoram has not yet reported any positive case of coronavirus, 117 people have been home quarantined as a precautionary measure, Health department principal director F Lallianhlira."Even though no positive case has been reported, we have to remain alert," he said.All school, colleges, universities, gyms, swimming pools and cinema halls will remain closed in Assam till 29 March, ANI reported quoting Assam Chief Secretary Sanjay Krishna. All examinations, except that of state and CBSE boards, have been postponed, he added.The Uttarakhand government has declared novel coronavirus an epidemic and shut all multiplexes, cinema halls, degree colleges and technical institutes across the state till 31 March, official sources said, according to PTI.The decision was taken at a meeting of the state council of ministers late on Saturday night.However, medical colleges will remain open, they said.The South Eastern Railway (SER) has opened a 50-bed isolation ward in the Ranchi rail division hospital in view of the novel coronavirus outbreak, PTI reported quoting officials said on Sunday.Apart from the 50-bed isolation ward, a 24/7 emergency team has also been deployed at the hospital, the SER said in a statement.Cleaning workers of the SER are sanitising points of human contact such as doorknobs, washbasins and benches at major railway stations at regular intervals, it said.The Tamil Nadu government on Sunday, 15 March, directed closure of all kintergarden and primary schools till 31 March as it stepped up preventive measures against coronavirus, PTI reported.Chief Minister K Palaniswami also issued order for closure of cinema halls and malls where people gather in large numbers till the month end in the taluks in 16 districts bordering neighbouring Kerala and Karnataka, where the number of COVID-19 cases is on the rise, an official release said.El Salvador's congress has declared a state of emergency and approved a partial suspension of the country's constitution to tackle the coronavirus epidemic, AFP reported.The measures include a restriction on free movement and assembly for a period of 30 days, allowing health officials to ban public gatherings."We have given the government legal mechanisms to deal with this serious health situation," congressional president Mario Ponce said after Saturday's vote.El Salvador has yet to record a confirmed case of the COVID-19 outbreak.The number of coronavirus cases in India has crossed a hundred, with 107 confirmed cases, according to the Health Ministry. This figure includes foreign nationals tested positive in India.A 59-year-old woman tested positive for coronavirus in Maharashtra's Aurangabad on Sunday, PTI reported quoting officials.All 289 passengers of Dubai-bound flight from Kochi were offloaded before take-off on Sunday, 15 March, after one person tested positive for coronavirus, PTI reported quoting airport official.Union Minister of State for Health Ashwini Choubey on Sunday, 15 March, said that the government has issued an advisory asking civil hospitals and medical colleges to set up isolation wards, ANI reported.“We are trying our best to contain the spread of coronavirus which has spread to 12 states,” Choubey said.Australia on Sunday, 15 March, announced anyone arriving into the country will face mandatory 14-day self-isolation, in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus, according to AFP."We are going to have to get used to some changes in the way we live our lives," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said, adding the measure will come into effect from midnight (1300 GMT Sunday).The local body polls in Andhra Pradesh have been postponed for six weeks in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, state election commissioner N Ramesh Kumar said on Sunday, 15 March, according to ANI. “New dates will be announced once the spread of the virus is contained,” he added.A total of 218 Indians, including 211 students, stranded in coronavirus-hit Italy have arrived in India, PTI reported quoting Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan.Muraleedharan further said all of them will be quarantined for 14 days.Amid the coronavirus outbreak, as a precautionary measure, Karnataka Education Minister S Suresh Kumar has instructed to postpone examinations for 7, 8 and 9 classes until 31 March, ANI reported.In wake of the coronavirus outbreak, as a precautionary measure to contain and control the spread of the disease, the travel and registration for Kartarpur Sahib is being temporarily suspended from 16 March till further orders, ANI reported quoting Ministry of Home Affairs.Roman Catholic Church has issued advisory, urging those who have come in contact with coronavirus patients to not attend public functions, including prayers, ANI reported.The Church also urged priests to purify their hands with water or sanitiser before distribution of Holy Communion.Twelve new coronavirus positive cases have been reported in Singapore, taking the total number of such cases to 212 in the island-nation, according to PTI.Nine out of the 12 new patients were infected while travelling abroad, officials said on Saturday.The latest cases bring the total number of coronavirus-infected patients in Singapore to 212, out of which 105 have fully recovered, the Health Ministry said in its daily update.Fourteen people are in critical condition. Others are stable or showing signs of improvement, it said.China on Sunday, 15 March, reported 16 new imported cases of the coronavirus, the highest in over a week, as domestic cases dwindle in the country, according to AFP.The National Health Commission said infections involving people arriving from overseas were reported in five provinces and cities including Beijing and Shanghai.Only four new domestic cases were detected, all in Hubei province's capital Wuhan, where the virus first emerged in December.United States President Donald Trump has tested negative for the novel coronavirus, PTI quoted White House physician as saying.Trump had taken the coronavirus test on Friday night. The results came out in less than 24 hours."Last night, after an in-depth discussion with the President regarding the COVID-19 test, he elected to proceed. This evening, I received confirmation that the test is negative," Dr Sean Conley, the presidential physician, said in a memorandum to White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham on Saturday.234 Indians stranded in coronavirus-hit Iran have arrived in India, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Sunday, 15 March, PTI reported.The batch comprises 131 students and 103 pilgrims, Jaishankar said.The third batch of Indians from Iran arrived early Sunday. A second batch of 44 Indian pilgrims had arrived from Iran on Friday.The first batch of 58 Indian pilgrims were brought back from Iran on Tuesday.The wife of Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, his office said, according to AFP.The announcement came late Saturday, just hours after he announced a near total lockdown nationwide.Both Begona Gomez and her husband were well, and were at their official residence following the new measures introduced by the health authorities, said a government statement.India suspends land border crossing points with Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar from 15 March and from 16 March with Pakistan, amid COVID-19 outbreak.Indigo Airlines anounced the suspension of some of its flights to Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi with effect from 17 March, 2020 until the travel restrictions are lifted.US President Donald Trump in a press briefing on Saturday, 14 March, announced that there have been at least 50 deaths related to coronavirus in the country.Trump further added that he has tested for COVID-19 and the results will be out in a couple of days. The UK and Ireland are to be added to America's European travel ban over the coronavirus pandemic, Trump also confirmed.The White House will check temperature of all in close contact with US President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, reported news agency AFP.Mysore Palace to remain closed for tourists from 15 to 22 March 2020 due to coronavirus pandemic.All malls in Maharashtra will remain closed till 31 March in the state in view of coronavirus pandemic, announced the state government.A 24-year-old man, who returned from Spain, has tested positive for coronavirus in Rajasthan’s Jaipur on Saturday, 14 March. With this, total number of positive cases of COVID-19 in the state stands at four.The total number of people who tested positive for coronavirus rises to 26 in Maharashtra, confirms state Health Minister Rajesh Tope.Press gallery passes and entry for show around in parliament complex suspended as precautionary measure, said Lok Sabha Secretariat on Saturday, 14 March.The Panjab University on Saturday decided to suspend classes till March 31 in the wake of coronavirus scare.All classes including personal contact programmes in the teaching departments, regional centres, institutes, constituent colleges, affiliated colleges in Punjab as well as Chandigarh shall remain suspended, an official release stated here.The varsity's students and research scholars have been advised to vacate hostels and they may remain stationed in their respective hometowns avoiding any travel, it further stated.All cinema halls and colleges will remain closed in the state till 31 March in view of rising concerns over coronavirus. The state has also declared COVID-19 as an epidemic in the state.All schools in urban areas of Maharashtra – including government and private schools – to remain closed till 31 March. Only exams for class 10th, 12th, and University exams will be held as per schedule coronavirus.The Goa government on Saturday, 14 March, announced closure of educational institutes and public places including casinos, swimming pools and pubs in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak in the country till 31 March.The order will come into force from Sunday, 15 March, midnight.Two persons who had returned from Dubai test positive for coronavirus in Maharashtra's Yavatmal.(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)

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COVID-19: Kejriwal Bans Gatherings of 50+ People Till 31 March

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