Coronavirus News Updates LIVE: PM Modi to Address Nation at 8 PM on 19 March

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation on 19 March 2020 at 8 PM, during which he will talk about issues relating to COVID-19 and the efforts to combat it.The Ministry of Human Resource Development has directed the CBSE and all educational institutions in the country to postpone exams till 31 March in view of the coronavirus outbreak.Two tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Pune and Ratnagiri on Wednesday,18 March, reported ANI. The two patients who travel histories to Philippines and Dubai. The latest cases raise the state total to 45.On Wednesday, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in India reached 151, according to the Health Ministry data.The novel coronavirus shows no signs of stopping as the number of confirmed cases worldwide surpassed 200,000 on Wednesday. Of those, 8,000 have died, 82,032 have recovered, and 112,203 are still open, according to the John Hopkins Resource Center.Total cases in India stand at 151MEA advises Indians abroad to stay put and reduce all non-essential travelThe National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) advises its member restaurants to shut operations till 31 March China gives go-ahead to begin human trials for an experimental coronavirus vaccineThe global death toll from COVID-19 has crossed 8,000(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)The first Indian Army jawan, from Ladakh Scouts, has tested positive for COVID-19, ANI reported, quoting Army sources.The jawan’s father has a travel history to Iran. He is being treated while his family, including his sister and his wife, have been put in quarantine. His father has also tested positive.The European Union has imposed an entry ban for 30 days in the wake of the pandemic, AFP news agency reports, quoting German Chancellor Angela Merkel.A 67-year-old woman tested positive for coronavirus, taking the total number of cases in Karnataka to 11, state Health Minister B Sriramulu said, according to ANI.Hotels in Pune to remain closed till 20 March, reports ANI. President of the Pune Restaurants and Hoteliers Association said,“Police requested us to halt operations, it’s also our moral duty. There are 850 hotels in the city, in which around 25,000 people work.”G Shetty, President of Pune Restaurants & Hoteliers AssociationA hundred people have died from the new coronavirus in the United States, according to an AFP count using figures provided by state and county websites and officials.The greatest number is in Washington state, in the country's northwest, where there were 50 deaths, followed by New York with 12 and California with 11.Turkey has confirmed its first novel coronavirus-related death as the number of cases in the country rose to 98, AFP reported. Health Minister Fahrettin Koca told a televised press conference on Tuesday“Today, I lost my first patient in our fight against coronavirus.”Fahrettin Koca, Health Minister, TurkeyKoca added that the victim was an 89-year-old man who contracted the virus from an employee with connections to China.Australia ordered its citizens on Wednesday to halt all overseas travel in an unprecedented move designed to choke off the spread of the coronavirus epidemic, AFP reported.Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced at a press conference what he called an "indefinite ban" on foreign travel alongside a crackdown on indoor gatherings in Australia of more than 100 people.China has given the go-ahead for researchers to begin human trials of an experimental coronavirus vaccine in the race to halt the pandemic that has killed more than 7,000 people worldwide, Reuters reported.Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, 18 March, had a phone conversation with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, and emphasised the need for coordinated efforts to address the coronavirus outbreak, PTI reported.During the conversation, PM Modi mentioned India's recent initiative, the video conference of SAARC countries to discuss the virus, a statement from the Prime Minster's Office said.The two leaders agreed that a similar exercise at the level of G20 leaders, under the aegis of Saudi Arabia as the Chair of G20, would be useful at a global scale.One more person has tested positive for coronavirus in Maharashtra’s Pune on Wednesday, 18 March, ANI reported.“The person has travel history to France and Netherlands. Total number of positive cases reaches 18 in Pune and 42 in Maharashtra.”Naval Kishore Ram, District Magistrate, Pune DMK President MK Stalin appealed to the people of Tamil Nadu to stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.He released a video, saying, "Of all the diseases that has plagued our world, corona has created a sense of panic."Stalin advised that if anyone has symptoms like a cough, cold, or sore throat, s/he should head to the nearest hospital and seek treatment immediately. Urging people to be hygienic, he said,“People should not think they can treat themselves at home and be alright.” MK Stalin, DMK PresidentThe total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in India rose to 147, comprising 122 Indian nationals and 25 foreign nationals, on Wednesday, 18 March, according to the Health Ministry.MoS Finance Anurag Thakur said in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, 18 March that India’s economy is vulnerable to the coronavirus pandemic but the latest data on trade suggests no adverse impact on economy.“As is true for the world at large, India’s near-term macroeconomic outlook is also vulnerable to disruption of trade with China and second-round effects arising from expected slowdown in global growth. However, the latest available data on trade and indicators of domestic output doesn’t suggest any adverse impact on economy.”Anurag Thakur, MoS, Finance The BJP has decided not to hold any protest or demonstration for one month, in view of COVID-19, PTI reported quoting BJP President JP Nadda.“No public gatherings will be held by BJP. If we have to convey anything, senior party leaders will do so in the form of memorandums.”JP Nadda, BJP PresidentAll parks and gardens of Nagpur Metropolitan Region Development Authority (NMRDA) in Maharashtra have been closed till 31 March, ANI reported.The State government had earlier issued an order that all tiger reserves, sanctuaries and national parks will remain closed till 31 March, in the wake of coronavirus.The Supreme Court has taked suo motu cognisance of non-availability of mid-day meals for children due to the closure of schools in the light of coronavirus, ANI reported.A Bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde has issued notices to all state governments and union territories.A group of venture capitalists and start-ups have appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take decisive action and impose strict lock-downs and impose Section 144 (to ban large gatherings) across key cities this week to combat COVID-19.“The virus does not discriminate on the basis nationality – early, strong and decisive action is key to containment. Impose Section 144 and strict lockdown (citizens stay at home) across major cities for two weeks starting March 20, 2020.”Abhiraj Singh Bhal, Co-founder of Urban Company “While containment activities must continue, we might need a lot more, sooner rather than later,” the Powerpoint presentation further said.The total number of confirmed cases rose to eight in Ladakh, as two more tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Wednesday, 18 March, ANI reported.“We have received results of 34 samples. Out of these, two tested positive. They are relatives of the earlier positive cases and were under quarantine. They are in isolation wards now.”Rigzin Samphel, Commissioner Secretary, LadakhIn view of the coronavirus outbreak, IIT Bombay has announced virtual shutdown of its Powai campus till 31 March. All students have been asked to vacate hostels by 20 March, ANI reported.A junior doctor has tested positive for coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow on Wednesday, 18 March, ANI reported.“The doctor was treating coronavirus patients. The doctor is stable and there is nothing to worry about.”Dr Sudhir SinghThe Delhi High Court on Wednesday, 18 March, said it will consider the petition seeking court's direction to issue a direction for practice, stipulating that video conferencing be allowed for advocates and also allow courts to function in the wake of coronavirus outbreak, ANI reported.The National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) that represents the interests of over 500,000 restaurants in the country has advised its member restaurants to shut their eateries, bars, pubs, cafes starting tomorrow till 31 March in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.The NRAI committee announced the decision on Tuesday, 17 March after consulting various chapter members.The Indian Army has quarantined all the soldiers and colleagues of the Ladakh Scouts jawan who has tested positive for coronavirus in Ladakh, reported ANI quoting army sources.The jawan was attached to the Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre in Leh.BJP MP Suresh Prabhu has put himself in isolation at his residence for the next 14 days as a precautionary measure, even after testing negative for COVID-19 following his return from Saudi Arabia, ANI reported.Prabhu had returned to Delhi from Saudi Arabia on 13 March after attending the second Sherpas meeting.Students of classes one to eight of all government primary schools in Uttar Pradesh will get promoted without having to appear in examinations in view of the coronavirus outbreak, an official said on Wednesday, 18 March, according to PTI.Examinations in primary schools were scheduled between 23 and 28 March.Hearings through video conferencing in some cases may commence from next week, Delhi High Court said amid the coronavirus outbreak, according to PTI.A Norwegian man has tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Goa, PTI reported, quoting Health Minister Vishwajit Rane. This is Goa's first reported case.The Indian Army has postponed all Services Selection Board (SSB) batches commencing from 20 March on wards till further orders in view of COVID-19 outbreak, ANI reported.669 corporation parks in Chennai have been temporarily shut till 31 March 31 to prevent large gathering in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.After the first confirmed case of coronavirus was reported in Goa on Wednesday, the state Health Mininster Vishwajit Rane said it “hoax news” made to the concerned nodal officer and “there’s no reason to panic,” ANI reported.“Information was received by Dr Edwin of Goa Medical College, but it's hoax news and people should not be doing it,” Rane said.Another person, with a travel history to Indonesia, has tested positive for coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh’s Noida, ANI reported quoting Chief Medical Officer of Gautam Buddh Nagar.This is the fourth positive case in Gautam Buddh Nagar.Two more coronavirus cases have been registered in Bengaluru on Wednesday, 18 March, taking the total infected cases to 13, ANI reported quoting state Health Minister B Sriramulu.“56-year-old male, a resident of Bengaluru returned from USA on 6 March. Another person, a 25-year-old female, has returned from Spain.”B Sriramulu, Karnataka Health Minister ISKCON Temples (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) at Rajajinagar and Kanakpura Road in Bengaluru have been closed for public from Wednesday, 18 March, till further notice, ANI reported.The Ministry of External Affairs in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, 18 March, said India has confirmed that there are 276 coronavirus infected Indians abroad – 255 in Iran, 12 in UAE, five in Italy, one each in Sri Lanka, Hong Kong SAR, Kuwait, and Rwanda.Sixth positive case of coronavirus has been confirmed in Telangana on Wednesday, 18 March, ANI reported quoting Telangana Health Ministry.The patient has travel history to the United Kingdom and is admitted to an isolation ward of a government hospital.The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has directed board examination centres on Wednesday to ensure sitting arrangement with adequate distance between students to contain the coronavirus spread, reported PTI."It shall be responsibility of examination centres to ensure that candidates for board exams are seated at distance of one metre from one another. For wherever the size of room doesn't permit that, the examinees can be split into other rooms."The exam invigilators should wear masks or cover face with handkerchiefs during exams," CBSE Controller of Exams Sanyam Bhardwaj said in an advisory.Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday said a strict advisory is being issued to all states to take action after some incidents of racial remarks against people belonging to the North East in some parts of the country were reported in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy on Wednesday announced closure of all bars in the union territory as part of steps to prevent spread of coronavirus, reported PTI.While bars have been ordered to remain closed from Thursday till the month-end, wholesale and retail sales of liquor would however, be permitted.The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday announced a USD 6.5 billion package for its developing member countries to fight the coronavirus pandemic, reported AFP.The initial package has been announced to address the immediate needs of developing member countries (DMCs) as they respond to the Covid-19 pandemic, ADB said in a statement."This pandemic has become a major global crisis. It requires forceful action at national, regional, and global levels," ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa said.The Goa Forward Party (GFP) on Wednesday demanded that borders of the coastal state be sealed except for essential commodities to stop spread of novel coronavirus, reported PTI.GFP chief Vijai Sardesai also demanded that upcoming elections to Zilla Panchayats be deferred indefinitely amid coronavirus scare."The Goa government has already suggested measures including social distancing to ensure that coronavirus does not spread in the state. I appeal to the state government to seal off our boundaries. If we do that we will prevent people coming to the state and infecting Goans," he said.Roche Diagnostics, a private company got Food and Drug Administration (FDA) emergency approval to conduct COVID19 Diagnostic test test by Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), reported ANI, quoting health officials.BioMerieux Diagnostics, another private company, has also DCGI. It will take 7 days to get approved as officials are making assessment. Once approved, it can conduct the confirmatory test of COVID-19.Four passengers were deboarded from coach number G4 & G5 of 12216 Garib Rath on Wednesday at Palghar station when the TTEs and their co-passengers raised an alarm after seeing seeing a stamp on their hand. The stamp indicated that the passengers were mandated to a home quarantine of 14 days.The four passengers have a travel history to Germany and were headed to Surat.“They were taken to a govt hospital in Palghar and had undergone checking at the airport. They were handed over to the district medical authorities,” said Western Railway officials.A few senior West Bengal government officials, including Home Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay, were asked to stay at home after they came in contact with an officer whose son tested positive for coronavirus, sources said on Wednesday, reported PTI.The officials came in contact on Monday with a woman officer of the home department whose son tested positive for coronavirus after returning from the UK. They have been asked not to come to office till further instructions, sources told PTI.West Bengal reported its first case on Tuesday, after an 18-year-old who traveled from the United Kingdom tested positive for COVID-19.Oman Air Chief Operating Officer Mark Breen has tested positive for COVID-19. Therefore, all colleagues who have interacted with him are quarantined for 14 days, reported ANI, quoting Oman Air sources.German carmaker BMW said on Wednesday that it would close European and South African factories accounting for half its output for a month, matching other car giants stricken by coronavirus containment measures, reported PTI.Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday tweeted stating the “India is going to pay an extremely heavy price of our governments inability to act decisively.”A BJP activist has been arrested for organising a cow urine consumption event in Kolkata, claiming that it will protect people from coronavirus or cure those already infected, leading to a civic volunteer falling ill after drinking it, police said on Wednesday, reported PTi.According to police officials, 40-year-old Narayan Chatterjee, a local party worker of Jorasakho area in North Kolkata, had on Monday organised a cow-worship programme at a cowshed and distributed cow urine.The New Delhi Municipal Council is sanitising major temples, churches and gurudwaras in the national capital in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, reported PTI."Though the government has directed that not more than 50 people should gather at any place to ensure there is no community transmission, we don't want to take risks with these frequently visited places," a senior NDMC official said.Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Wednesday held a review meeting on containment and management of the coronavirus, directing that teams be deputed to regularly inspect and monitor quarantine facilities for ensuring necessary amenities are being provided, reported PTI.The Indian Army is postponing all wargames and conferences till further orders amid the coronavirus spread in the country. All training activities are being postponed or cancelled, in view of the current circumstances, reported ANI, quoting Army sources.As per Indian Army advisory, the leave granting authorities have been told to grant leave only on essential or compassionate grounds till the situation improves.The army has also asked the command units across the country to regulate entry into canteens and essential item stores in shopping complexes. All non-essential stores have been asked to be shut down.he Assam government on Wednesday stopped issuing passes to visitors for entering the state secretariat to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus, reported PTI.As a preventive measure to restrict gatherings in public places and offices, it has been decided not to issue any visitor's pass, including e-pass till 31 March, an order issued by Secretariat Administration Department's Commissioner and Secretary M Angamuthu said.A 103-year-old woman in Iran has recovered after being infected with the new coronavirus, state media reported, despite overwhelming evidence the elderly are most at risk from the disease, reported AFP.The unnamed woman had been hospitalised in the central city of Semnan for about a week, reported IRNA news agency .But she was "discharged after making a complete recovery",, reported IRNAm quoting Navid Danayi, Head of Semnan University of Medical Sciences.The International Olympic Committee acknowledged on Wednesday that there is no "ideal" solution to staging this summer's Tokyo Olympics as the deadly novel coronavirus pandemic swept the globe. reported AFP."This is an exceptional situation which requires exceptional solutions," an IOC spokesperson said after criticism from top athletes that they were being forced to take health risks should the games go ahead as scheduled."The IOC is committed to finding a solution with the least negative impact for the athletes, while protecting the integrity of the competition and the athletes' health,” the spokesperson added.Iran on Tuesday, reported 147 new deaths due the novel coronavirus outbreak in the country, raising the death toll to 1,135, reported AFP.Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa announced that Rs 200 crore have been earmarked by the state cabinet to combat spread of the novel coronavirus in state, reported PTI.Northern Railway has increased platform ticket price from Rs 10 to Rs 50 from 19 March to 30 April on all 12 A1 and A class stations of Firozpur Division including Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Amritsar, Ludhiana and Jammu Tawi to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, reported ANI.Spain on Tuesday confirmed nearly 2,000 new cases of COVID-19, sending the total spiraling past 13,500, with 558 deaths, reported AFP, quoting government sourcesA case was registered on Wednesday against the owner of a furniture shop at Bhiwandi in Thane district for issuing a misleading advertisement which claimed that mattresses sold at his shop cure the coronavirus, reported PTi.On 13 March, he allegedly published an advertisement in a Gujarati newspaper that the novel coronavirus can be cured or prevented by sleeping on a special kind of mattress which he sold.The Pakistan Cricket Board on Wednesday said around 100 people, including players, associated with the now-suspended Pakistan Super League have undergone COVID-19 tests, reported PTI.PSL was postponed on Tuesday after the country's Cricket Board revealed that a foreign player showed symptoms with former captain-turned-commentator Ramiz Raja revealing that it was England's Alex Hales. Hales later said he has gone into self-isolation due to fever and persistent dry cough after returning home.India's fastest woman Dutee Chand is wary of missing out of the Olympics after she was deprived of her training-cum-competition stint in Germany due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected her plans to qualify for the Olympics, reported AFP.The 24-year-old Dutee was to train and take part in Olympic qualifying events in Germany from March 2 but despite getting the visa and sponsorship, she could not make it there as Europe has now turned into an epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak.In the wake of rising cases of novel coronavirus in Maharashtra, the government has decided to discontinue computerised learning licence tests at Regional Transport Offices (RTO) for the time being, reported PTI.In a circular issued on Tuesday, state Transport Commissioner also asked the RTOs to stop holding camps at the tehsil level where a large number of people gather for driving licence and vehicle fitness tests.Tamil Nadu Health and Family Welfare Minister C Vijaya Baskar on Wednesday appealed to people not to take up travel to neighbouring states unless necessary as part of measures to control the spread of coronavirus, reported PTI.The Meghalaya government on Wednesday decided to shut tourist spots in the state as part of its measures to prevent any possible transmission and outbreak of novel coronavirus, reported PTI."All tourist spots in the state of Meghalaya including parks and recreational areas are hereby advised to close till March 31," the order said.Ravindra Thakre, District Collector of Nagpur announced that liquor shops, restaurants and paan shops will remain closed from today till 31 March.Naval Kishore Ram, District Magistrate of Pune on Wednesday also passed an order to close all liquor serving establishments, including beer bars, in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad till 31 March.West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday announced that state government employees will be leaving their offices an hour early from 19 March to avoid crowding in public transport after an officials’s son, who travelled from the United Kingdom and was tested positive for COVID-19 in Kolkata on Tuesday.“It is wrong to say that a case of coronavirus has been reported from Kolkata. It is the person who came from United Kingdom. I do not know how he was checked at the international airport,” said the CM.North Korean leader Kim Jong Un acknowledged that his country lacks modern medical facilities and called for urgent improvements, state media said Wednesday, in a rare assessment of the North's health care system that comes amid worries about the coronavirus in the impoverished country, reported AP.Outside experts say a coronavirus epidemic in the North could be devastating due its chronic lack of medical supplies and outdated health care infrastructure.Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Wednesday that he will self-isolate for five days after his recent trip to China as a precautionary measure to limit the spread of the deadly coronavirus that has infected 249 people in the country, reported PTI.Qureshi was part of the delegation of President Arif Alvi who visited China this week to express solidarity and seek cooperation in different sectors, especially defeating COVID-19 in Pakistan.All Indian airlines will report significant losses in the first quarter of this year and may initially ground around 150 planes as the shock from the coronavirus pandemic will be "far deeper and much longer", according to a report, reported PTI.Coronavirus deaths in Europe have exceeded the toll in Asia for the first time, an AFP tally of official data showed Wednesday.By 11:00 GMT, Europe counted at least 3,421 deaths, compared with 3,384 for Asia, where China was the initial epicentre of a pandemic which has infected more than 194,000 people globally and killed 7,873.Italy has the most fatalities in Europe with 2,503.India provided 15 tonnes of medical supplies to coronavirus-hit China comprising masks, gloves and other emergency medical equipment at a cost of about Rs 2.11 crore, the government informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, reported PTI.In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said the medical supplies included one lakh surgical masks, five lakh pairs of surgical gloves, 75 pieces of infusion pumps, 30 pieces of enteral feeding pumps, 21 pieces of defibrillator and 4,000 pieces of N-95 masks.To strengthen ongoing measures to prevent and contain the spread of COVID-19 in Andhra Pradesh, the state government on Wednesday decided to close all educational institutions with immediate effect, reported ANI, quoting, PV Ramesh, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister.Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer statue, which last year saw almost 2 million visitors, closed at day-end Tuesday and won't reopen for at least a week, reported AP.To contain the virus' spread, Brazil's Chico Mendes Institute on Tuesday ordered the closure of all national parks it oversees, including the one that's home to the Christ.In view of some countries seeking mandatory certificate stating that the passengers are COVID-19 negative, the Kerala state government directed all foreign travellers in the state to contact the COVID-19 district cell which will ensure their sample test for coronavirus.The testing laboratory will issue them certificate which will enable them to fly to their respective nations.Eastern Railway has temporarily increased platform ticket price from Rs 10 to Rs 50 on the following stations Bhubaneswar, Cuttak, Puri, Bhadrak, Brahmapur, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam Road, Rayagada, Sambalpur to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.A Delhi government employee association on Wednesday met Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and demanded closure of all government offices for a week in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, reported PTI.In its memorandum, the association said, "The precaution taken by the Maharashtra government should be adopted by the Delhi government by closing all its offices for seven days."Bus services between Indore in Madhya Pradesh and cities in Maharashtra would be suspended from 21 to 31 March in view of the coronavirus outbreak, a government order said on Wednesday, reported PTI.A day after banning the entry of foreign tourists to the Valley, Jammu and Kashmir administration on Wednesday suspended the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage and all interstate bus services to the Union territory in a bid to stem the spread of coronavirus.All shopping malls, gyms, spas and swimming pools to be shut in Bihar till 31 March in wake of coronavirus, reported PTI, quoting officials.Vistara Airlines on Wednesday announced in a statement that it is suspending all its international operations from 20 to 31 March, reported PTI, quoting sources.The airline also announced that it has "temporarily adjusted" domestic flights for March and April in view of reduced demand.With COVID-19 cases reaching 13 with two more people testing postie, the Karnataka government on Wednesday extended the lockdown announced last week to 31 March as it stepped up efforts to combat the spread of the disease which has already claimed a life in the State, reported PTI.Senior railway officials on Wednesday informed a parliamentary panel that more than 60 per cent tickets were cancelled in March this year due to coronavirus, even as the panel came down hard on the Railway Board chairman for a "shoddy presentation", reported PTI, quoting sources.The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Pakistan on Wednesday rose to 250 as fresh cases emerged in Sindh, Islamabad and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provinces with majority of them linked to pilgrims coming from Iran, reported PTI.Four new cases emerged in Islamabad, nine new cases in Sindh while the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government reported three new cases.Nepal on Wednesday banned large gatherings and closed down public places such as movie theatres, cultural centres, gymnasiums, night clubs, swimming pools, stadiums and museums until the end of April in response to the fast-spreading coronavirus pandemic, reported PTI.More than 850 million young people, or nearly half the world's student population, are barred from their school and university grounds because of the coronavirus pandemic, UNESCO said Wednesday, reported AFP.Calling it an "unprecedented challenge" for education, UNESCO said schools had been closed in 102 countries, with partial closures in 11 more -- and there would be more closures.Sri Lanka on Wednesday imposed a curfew in the Western coastal areas - identified as one of the hotspots where the deadly coronavirus was at risk of spreading, reported AFP.Senior police spokesman Ajith Rohana said that areas of Puttalam district in the northwestern region will be under a police curfew from 4.30 pm this afternoon (local time) until further notice.Entry of litigants and visitors to the precincts of High Court of Karnataka, principal bench at Bengaluru and benches at Dharwad and Kalaburagi, and all court precincts in Bengaluru and all courts and Tribunals in Kalaburagi will not be allowed from 19 March, according to a statement by the court.Rajasthan High Court on Wednesday postponed municipal elections in the state for six weeks, in wake of the novel coronavirus outbreak.Uttarakhand govt on Wednesday issued an order to allow government employees to work from home. The order will be effective from 19 to 25 March, reported ANI.The order does not apply to employees of health, police, transport, food and water supply, electricity and sanitation departments."Only employees whose presence in offices is very necessary shall be called to office,” the order read. The order will be effective from 19 to 25 March.Two days after the Indian government stated that passengers coming from UAE from 18 March onward would be quarantined for 14 days compulsorily, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways on Wednesday announced a reduction in its flights to India.The airline said it would be conducting triple-daily flights on the Abu Dhabi-Delhi route instead of four flights in a day from 19 to 28 March .South Africa on Wednesday recorded its highest 24-hour increase in coronavirus infections to date, with 31 new cases taking the country's tally up to 116, the government announced.Tamil Nadu Health Minister C Vijayabaskar announced on Wednesday, 18 March a second positive case of COVID-19 in the state. The patient hails from Delhi and is currently in isolation and is reported stable.A group of Indians who want to enter Indian territory are stuck at Wagah Border due to technical and legal issues, reported ANI, quoting government sources.“Bureau of Immigration can't allow them to enter. These Indians had reached Pakistan via Dubai. Government is exploring all options to help them,” the source said.A 68-year-old woman tested positive for coronavirus in Mumbai on Wednesday, an official of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said, reported PTI.With this, the number of coronavirus positive cases in the state has gone up to 43, the official said."The woman, who tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday, is a close contact of the US-returned person, who was found infected two days ago," Daksha Shah, deputy director of BMC said.This has taken the number of COVID-19 cases in Mumbai to eight, the official said.Eighty-one passengers of an Air India Leh-Srinagar flight were quarantined on their arrival on Wednesday, reported PTi, quoting officials.“The flight was then diverted back to Leh where it dropped the remaining 25 passengers,” they said."A Srinagar-bound Air India flight was returned this morning. Eighty-one passengers have been quarantined in Srinagar, while 25 were deboarded in Leh," said Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Shahid Iqbal Chaudhary.Stand-up comic and late night show host Trevor Noah's "Loud and Clear" tour to India has been postponed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, his global team announced on Wednesday.Former Nigeria international John Obi Mikel has quit Turkish football club Trabzonspor, the team said, after the former Chelsea midfielder said he did not want to play as the new coronavirus spread worldwide.He criticised the Turkish Football Federation's (TFF) move to let Super League matches continue without spectators, unlike in other countries where games have been suspended.Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday appealed to religious organisations and dera heads to not allow gathering of 50 or more people to check the coronavirus spread, reported PTI.With departure of 185 pilgrims from Jeddah to Mumbai through a special Indigo aircraft, the final phase of evacuation of 3035 Indian pilgrims culminated today, reported ANI, quoting the Indian Consulate General in Saudi Arabia.Bangladesh on Wednesday reported its first death due to the novel coronavirus pandemic while four new infections were detected, taking the number of cases in the country to 14, a senior health official said.The 70-year-old man was suffering from diabetes, kidney ailments and hypertension and had contracted the virus after meeting an overseas returnee."The patient had been in intensive care where he died," Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) director Meerjady Sabrina Flora told reporters.The health official also confirmed the detection of four more COVID-19 cases, taking the total tally in the country to 14.The Bombay High Court on Wednesday sought a reply from the government over alleged lack of facilities including the internet at hospitals in Nagpur, Yavatmal and Akola districts of Maharashtra where several suspected coronavirus patients have been quarantined.Citing a newspaper report, the court said some of the patients had admitted themselves to quarantine as a precautionary measure, but they are not able to continue their office work as no internet is available at the hospitals.The judges issued a notice to the secretary of the state health department and the hospitals seeking their response, and posted the matter for further hearing on 23 March.Seven Indian nationals, who were quarantined as primary contacts of a coronavirus case in Bhutan, have been tested negative, an Indian embassy official said on Wednesday.The Ministry of Human Resource Development will launch e-classes on Swayam Prabha DTH channels for school students in view of coronavirus outbreak, Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said on Wednesday.Indian low-cost airline GoAir on Wednesday announced that in view of the current situation, it has been forced to terminate the contracts of expat pilots which is in line with the reduced international capacity, reported ANI.On Tuesday, the airline announced in a statement that it is suspending all its international operations and will be sending its employees on leave without pay on a rotational basis amid limited operations due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.In view of the outbreak of novel coronavirus, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital have decided to cancel all elective surgeries in the hospital with immediate effect, until further orders, reported ANI.US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced on Twitter that US will be closing the Northern Border with Canada to non-essential traffic.Israel on Wednesday condemned as "deplorable" and "unacceptable" the brutal racist attack on an Indian-origin Jew by two persons who called the victim a "Chinese" and yelled 'Corona! Corona" in Tiberias city, reported PTI."The brutal attack on Am-Shalem Singson is deplorable and I condemn it in the strongest sense. This act of violence is totally unacceptable," Deputy Director General at Israel's Foreign Ministry Gilad Cohen tweeted."To our Indian friends: This is not the Israeli way! I wish a speedy and full recovery," Cohen said.A batch of 195 Indians stranded in the coronavirus-hit Iran was brought back by a special plane on Wednesday evening, reported PTI, quoting an official.“They landed at Rajasthan's Jaisalmer airport and were shifted to an Army's wellness facility after screening,” defence spokesperson Col Sombit Ghosh said."All quarantined persons are stable and are making full use of the facilities available in the wellness facility," he added.India has evacuated its 405 citizens, including students, stranded at Kuala Lumpur airport in Malaysia due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Indian High Commission said on Wednesday, reported PTI.On Tuesday, the Indian government approved AirAsia flights for Delhi and Vizag to help the stranded Indians.Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Wednesday that around 10 coronavirus testing facilities will be set up in the state in the coming days.Currently, three testing facilities are functioning in Maharashtra, the minister said."Ten more testing centres will be set up in the state in the coming days. In fact, one lab started functioning in Mumbai's KEM Hospital from today," Tope said in a press conference."Each one of the 13 labs will test 180 to 250 samples everyday, but the National Institute of Virology (NIV) will validate their test results," he said.In view of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus outbreak, All India Institute Of Medical Sciences is requesting the public to postpone non-urgent appointments, reported ANI.In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said these are difficult times, but the national capital will overcome it as everyone is working hard to contain the deadly disease.A man was arrested in Talcher town in Odisha's Angul district on Wednesday for allegedly spreading fake news on novel coronavirus, police said, reported PTI.The 25-year-old accused, who hails from Vikrampur in Colliery police station area, was arrested after his post claiming that a man from Banarpal area in the district had died of novel coronavirus infection in New Delhi was found to be fake, a police officer said.The accused was produced before a court which remanded him to 14 days in judicial custody, rejecting his bail plea.An unnamed Ottawa Senators player has become the first National Hockey League player to test positive for the coronavirus COVID-19, the club announced.The player is in isolation after displaying mild symptoms, the Senators said in a posting on their website on Tuesday."The Ottawa Senators are in the process of notifying anyone who has had known close contact with the athlete and are working with our team doctors and public health officials," the club said in a statement."As a result of this positive case, all members of the Ottawa Senators are requested to remain isolated, to monitor their health and seek advice from our team medical staff."The COVID-19 pandemic will significantly increase global unemployment, pushing up to nearly 25 million more people out of work, the United Nations said on Wednesday, reported AFP."The economic and labour crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic could increase global unemployment by almost 25 million," the International Labour Organisation said as it released a fresh study.A case was registered against two doctors for allegedly selling "medicine" to cure COVID-19 infection in Maharashtra's Palghar district, police said on Wednesday, reported PTI.Dr Sarvar Raje Khan and Dr Subashchandra Yadav from Vasai town allegedly made false claims that they can cure coronavirus with their medicines, Palghar police PRO Hemant Katkar said.While Khan had put up a board outside his clinic announcing availability of preventive medication, Yadav claimed that he can administer an antidote to the virus for Rs 100 per dose, he said.Jammu District Magistrate on Wednesday banned the entry of worshipers, devotees, pilgrims to the places of worship with immediate effect in Jammu till 31 March. The order says, "Religious leaders may, however, continue to follow the norms of prayers", reported ANI.Companies are prohibited from laying off workers and rents are reduced under Italy's economic survival plan for life at the European epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic.Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte hailed his 25-billion-euro ($28-billion) programme as the "Italian model" that the rest of Europe could adopt as it imposes its own painful lockdowns.Italy's 2,503 official COVID-19 deaths account for more than half of those reported outside China.The Supreme Court said on Wednesday that non-availability of mid-day meals to children, as schools in many parts of the country have been shut due to the coronavirus pandemic, should not deprive them of nutritious food.“While dealing with one crisis, the situation may not lead to creation of another crisis as on account of the shutdown of schools and Anganwadis, children as well as lactating and nursing mothers would be deprived of the nutritional food,” the top court said while seeking response of the states and Union Territories.As part of measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus, Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday said it has ordered thermal screening for all its employees across the state and advised against convening meetings and appealed to people to avoid visiting government offices, reported PTI.Continuing with the instructions already issued like social distancing to thwart the pathogen's dispersion, Tamil state chief secretary K Shanmugam, in a communique to top authorities including department heads and district collectors, advised strict compliance with the new directions like thermal screening.The historic Sabarmati Ashram here will remain closed for visitors from March 19 till March 29 in view of the coronavirus threat, the trust managing the complex said on Wednesday."In order to control the spread of Covid-19, a global pandemic declared by the World Health Organisation and to ensure the safety of citizens, the Gandhi Ashram will remain closed for visitors from 19th March 2020 to 29th March, 2020," the Sabarmati Ashram Prevention and Memorial Trust said in a release.A South Korean has been quarantined in his hotel room in Assam's Dhemaji district in the wake of the novel coronavirus outbreak, officials said on Wednesday, reported PTI.“The South Korean had come to Dhemaji town on March 11 to inaugurate a Korean therapy centre,” district officials said.“His swab and blood samples have been sent for test,” they said.The Maharashtra government on Wednesday decided to keep government offices functional with 50 percent attendance and reduce passenger load on public transport services, including suburban trains, by 50 percent as part of efforts to enforce social distancing and contain spread of the coronavirus, reported PTI.Reliance Industries Ltd, India's most valuable company, has initiated work from home for all its staff in wake of the outbreak of coronavirus but will keep open consumer-facing businesses of hospital, retail stores and telecom connectivity by manning them with a small workforce.The oil-to-telecom conglomerate initiated a work from home protocol for all its employees across the country and overseas in response to the evolving coronavirus situation. This protocol will be effective until 31 March.It, however, will maintain minimum strength at the workplace to ensure business continuity.Four more persons have been arrested in Mizoram for allegedly spreading fake news on novel coronavirus, taking the total number of arrests in this regard to 15, police said on Wednesday, reported PTI.Inspector General of Police L H Shanliana told reporters that all the arrests were made between March 10 and 13.He said a fake circular was circulated on Tuesday night appealing Mizos residing in other states to return home within a stipulated time, failing which they would be declared non-Mizo.The Delhi government on Wednesday ordered its six hospitals to start collecting samples for coronavirus test with immediate effect, officials said.The total number of coronavirus cases in Delhi has risen to 10, which includes one foreign national, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday.The Supreme Court on Wednesday decided to further restrict its functioning due to coronavirus pandemic and announced that only five benches will function from Thursday, reported PTI.According to court officials, only urgent cases which have been directed for listing will be taken up for hearing by the benches.In light of coronavirus outbreak, Odisha Film Development Corporation (OFDC) requested all producers, directors and independent filmmakers or their units in the state to stop shooting of films, TV series/shows, web series etc, from 19 March to 31 March, reported ANI.The Saudi G20 Presidency on Wednesday announced that it is communicating with G20 countries to convene an extraordinary virtual G20 Leaders’ Summit next week to advance a coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its human and economic implications, reported ANI.The G20 will act, alongside international organizations, in any way deemed necessary to alleviate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. G20 leaders will put forward a coordinated set of policies to protect people and safeguard the global economy.The Summit will build on the ongoing efforts of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, senior health, trade, and foreign affairs officials, to further develop the precise requirements and actions needed.All social,political,cultural,religious,sports and business gatherings shall be not be allowed in the entire state of Rajasthan and the Gautam Buddh Nagar district.The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Wednesday postponed ongoing class 10, 12 examinations till March 31 in view of the coronavirus outbreak."All ongoing CBSE examinations in India and abroad postponed till 31 March and will be rescheduled thereafter... after an assessment of the situation," CBSE Secretary Anurag Tripathi said."All ongoing evaluation work will be suspended during the period," he added.Spanish football team Alaves confirmed on Wednesday that 15 people from the club have tested positive for coronavirus, including three first-team players, reported AFP.Alaves said seven members of the La Liga club's coaching staff had also tested positive, along with five other employees.Passengers coming/transiting through UAE, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait after 12 GMT on 18 March (port of departure) will be quarantined upon arrival in India for 14 days, reported ANI, quoting Health Ministry sources.Those who have visited China, South Korea, Iran, Italy, Spain, France and Germany on/after 15 February will also be quarantined.Indians coming from South Korea are required to produce negative COVID-19 certificate to come to the country.The Joint Entrance Exam (JEE-Main) for admission to IITs and engineering colleges was postponed on Wednesday in view of coronavirus, according to the HRD Ministry's National Testing Agency (NTA).The exam was earlier scheduled from 5-11 April."The JEE-Main exam has been postponed. The new date will be decided in accordance with the board exams schedule and other competitive exams to ensure there is no clash," a senior NTA official said.Three people have tested positive for positive in Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan on Wednesday., reported ANI.A man suspected of COVID-19 kills himself by jumping off Safdarjung Hospital building in Delhi, reports PTI quoting Delhi Police.The deceased has been identified as Tanveer Singh, he was admitted to hospital today at 9 pm after returning from Sydney, Australia.India has temporarily banned entry of passengers from 36 countries while people travelling from 11 countries will be in mandatory quarantine in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, the Home Ministry said on Wednesday.The ministry also said Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card holders, except from the restricted countries, will be required to obtain fresh visa from the Indian mission and allowed to enter India."No airline will bring any passenger from Australia, Belgium, Bulgeria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom effective 12 GMT March 12 at Port of departure," a home ministry spokesperson said.In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, the district administration on Wednesday ordered private companies to adopt "work from home" policy for their employees and warned of "harsh" action if the directive is ignored.According to the district administration, an order to this effect was issued under the Disaster Management Act and firms not adhering to it will face action under section 188 of the IPC."From tomorrow (19 March), we will have police teams in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad who will physically check private companies in major IT parks and ensure the order is implemented," said District Collector Naval Kishore Ram.He said the district administration will take "harsh" action against companies not adhering to the order.A man suspected of suffering from coronavirus left a Mathura hospital without informing the authorities, an official said on Wednesday.He had returned from Mumbai on 6 March.He was admitted to KD Medical College and went home after his sample was taken and sent to the medical college at Aligarh Medical University for testing, the official said.he Madhya Pradesh government on Wednesday declared the COVID-19 as a notified infectious disease, said an official.Meanwhile, state Chief Secretary M Gopal Reddy talked to officials including the district collector through a video conference on Wednesday to take a stock of COVID-19 monitoring measures, said officialsA total of 104 people have now died from COVID-19 in Britain, the health authorities said on Wednesday, increasing nearly a third from previous figures.Tuesday's update said 71 people had died but the state-run National Health Service said 32 more had died in England after testing positive, with a further death in Scotland.The head of the World Health Organization on Thursday said the new coronavirus is an "enemy against humanity", as the number of people infected in the pandemic soared past 200,000."This coronavirus is presenting us with an unprecedented threat," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told journalists in a virtual news conference, stressing that it was "an unprecedented opportunity to come together as one against a common enemy: an enemy against humanity."Describing himself as a "wartime president", Donald Trump on Wednesday announced that his administration will invoke the Defence Production Act, a move which will gear up the US armed forces to manufacture testing kits and other equipment, including masks and gloves, on a war footing to combat the coronavirus outbreak, reported QAP.The Defence Production Act (DPA) allows the authorities to expedite and expand the supply of resources from the US industrial base to support military, energy, space and homeland security programmes.The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the US surged past 6,500, with 115 deaths.Italy on Wednesday reported 475 new deaths from the novel coronavirus, the highest one-day official toll of any nation since the first case was detected in China late last year, reported AFP.Total deaths in Italy have reached 2,978, more than half of all the cases recorded outside China, while the number of infections reached 35,713.The previous record high of 368 deaths was also recorded in Italy, on Sunday.The Kashmir Valley on Wednesday recorded its first positive case for novel coronavirus in Srinagar, mayor of Srinagar Municipal Corporation Junaid Azim Mattu said.He said it was portent that all residents of Srinagar stay at their homes from Thursday morning and do not venture out unnecessarily.The ICSE board exams for classes 10 and 12 have not been postponed in view of coronavirus outbreak, an official said on Wednesday, reported PTI"The exams have not been postponed and will be held as per schedule as of now," board chief executive and secretary Gerry Arathoon told PTI.Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation on Thursday evening on the situation arising out of coronavirus outbreak and the efforts to combat it, the Prime Minister's Office said on Wednesday.In another tweet, the PMO said Modi chaired a high-level meeting to review the ongoing efforts to contain COVID-19.

BECOME A MEMBER

COVID-19: PM Modi to Address Nation at 8 PM on 19 March

Read all the latest news on coronavirus (COVID-19).