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Coronavirus Live: Indian Embassy in US issues advisory on travel to India

The number of people infected with the coronavirus topped 116,000 across the world as the outbreak spreads to more countries, causing greater economic damage.

By Anubha Rohatgi | Updated: Mar 12, 2020 04:44 IST
Coronavirus Live: Indian Embassy in US issues advisory on travel to India
Passengers of Air India's Milan-Delhi flight were screened for coronavirus at Delhi's IGI airport. (ANI / Twitter)

Countries across the globe are amping up efforts to deal with the ever-increasing cases of novel coronavirus as the global death toll climbed over 4,000 and the infected with the virus topped 116,000, according to Reuters. In India, the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 rose to 60 on Wednesday with two fresh cases - one each from Delhi and Rajasthan- being reported.

In Italy, the country with most fatalities after China, infections topped 10,000 as that nation attempts a nationwide lockdown. As US cases neared the 1,000 mark, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said some parts of the country are now beyond containment efforts.

British junior health minister Nadine Dorries has tested positive for coronavirus and is self-isolating.


Here are LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak:

01:45 PM IST

Confirmed cases in India go up to 60: PTI

Total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in India stands at 60, says Union Health Ministry: PTI.

01:34 PM IST

Moldova closes schools, universities to prevent virus spread

Moldova closed all its kindergartens, schools, colleges and universities for two weeks from Wednesday in a bid to stop the spread of the coronavirus, state health officials said. A day earlier, it banned all foreigners from flying in from areas affected by the virus.

Moldova and reported three cases of coronavirus so far, but no deaths.

01:34 PM IST

Shipping ministry issues SOP for intl cruise ships

The Ministry of Shipping has issued Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to handle Coronavirus (Covid-19) for International Cruise Ships at major ports in the country. Some of the SOPs are:

- Only those international cruise ships which had planned and intimated their call to an Indian Port not later than January 1, 2020 will be allowed to call on such port.

-Any international cruise ship or any member of its crew or any passenger therein having a travel history of visiting any of the Covid-19 affected countries since 1st Feb, 2020 will not be permitted to enter any Indian port till 31st March, 2020.

-International cruise ships will be allowed only on the ports having thermal screening facilities for passenger and crew.

01:34 PM IST

South Korea stocks hit over 4-yr low as COVID-19 cases jump

South Korean shares ended at a more than four-year low on Wednesday, as new local coronavirus cases jumped and investors doubted whether Asian markets would benefit from Washington's stimulus package to tackle the coronavirus outbreak. The won closed flat, while the benchmark bond yield rose, reports Reuters.

The country reported 242 new virus cases as of early Wednesday, reversing 11 days of slowing infections and bringing the national tally to 7,755. Total death toll from the virus was 60.

The benchmark KOSPI ended down 54.66 points, or 2.78%, at 1,908.27, the lowest close since Feb. 17, 2016. The index has fallen 13.2% so far this year.

01:11 PM IST

Bank of England cuts key interest rate to 0.25% due to coronavirus

The Bank of England cut its key interest rate by 0.5 % to 0.25% on Wednesday, as an emergency measure in response to the outbreak of COVID-19.

The central bank said the move would “help support businesses and consumer confidence at a difficult time.”

It said the effect of the new coronavirus on the British economy could be significant, with activity likely to “weaken materially” in the coming months.

The bank said in a statement that the rate cut was part of a " comprehensive and timely package of measures to help U.K. businesses and households bridge across the economic disruption that is likely to be associated with COVID-19.”

"These measures will help to keep firms in business and people in jobs and help prevent a temporary disruption from causing longer-lasting economic harm,” it said.

Britain has confirmed 373 cases of COVID-19, and six deaths.

01:10 PM IST

US Defense Secretary's Asia trip postponed

The Pentagon on Tuesday announced that US Defence Secretary Mark Esper's trip to Central and South Asia has been postponed in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.

"Out of an abundance of caution, the secretary of defense has decided to postpone his travel to India, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan until a later date to remain in the US to help manage the Department of Defence (DoD) response to coronavirus," Pentagon press secretary Alyssa Farah tweeted.

01:05 PM IST

Suspected coronavirus case in Karnataka dies: Govt

A 76-year-old man suspected to be infected with coronavirus dies in Karnataka's Kalaburagi: PTI quotes state government

12:57 PM IST

Number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in India go up to 52

The number of confirmed cases of novel coronavirus in the country has risen to 52, with two fresh positive cases -- one each from Delhi and Rajasthan -- being reported, the health ministry said on Wednesday.

12:49 PM IST

Rajasthan man tests, who returned from Dubai, tests positive

An 85-year-old man who returned from Dubai to Jaipur on February 28 has tested positive for coronavirus, a top Rajasthan government official said Wednesday. He is the first local to test positive in Rajasthan. The total number of coronavirus patients in the state has now gone up to three.

Read full story here

12:37 PM IST

Customs screen passengers of Air India Milan-Delhi flight

The Air India flight from Milan to Delhi that was taken to the isolation bay at Delhi's IGI Airport, came without COVID-19 screening, reports ANI. Indian Customs has completed all formalities of screening the passengers and their goods at the isolation bay at Delhi airport.

12:21 PM IST

US varsities suspend regular classes, switch to online teaching

At least a dozen colleges and universities across the United States, including schools in the University of California, have cancelled in-person classes and switched to teaching their courses online as the battle against the novel coronavirus in the United States intensifies, reports ANI.

The cancellations have been focused on states hardest hit by Covid-19 cases, including California, New York and Washington state.

12:15 PM IST

China to allow some firms to return to work in coronavirus-epicentre Wuhan

Some companies in Wuhan, the Chinese city which is the epicentre of coronavirus, are to be allowed to return to work, provincial officials said Wednesday, reports AFP.

Businesses involved in providing daily necessities can resume work and production immediately, as can those that are key to "global industrial chains" after getting approval, said the Hubei provincial government.

Other companies are expected to resume production only after March 20.

12:10 PM IST

Tokyo Disney parks extend closure until early April over coronavirus

The Tokyo Disney will remain closed through April over the coronavirus outbreak scare, reports AFP.

Oriental Land, the operator of Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea said Wednesday the openings of new zones and attractions, scheduled for April 15, will be pushed back to mid-May, as the government calls on the public to avoid unnecessary outings and crowded places.

12:08 PM IST

Adidas warns of big coronavirus hit to China sales

German sportswear makers Adidas expects to lose up to 1 billion euros of sales in the first quarter in greater China due to the coronavirus and while business is picking up again there it is now being hit in Japan and South Korea, reports Reuters.

Adidas forecast currency-neutral sales to increase between 6% and 8% for the full year and for its operating margin to rise between 10.5% and 11.8%, but said the outlook did not include any impact from the coronavirus outbreak.

12:07 PM IST

Indonesia records first death from coronavirus

Indonesia on Wednesday reported its first death, a 53-year-old woman, from coronavirus. The woman - a foreign national - had already been in critical condition when she was admitted to a hospital, said Achmad Yurianto, the health ministry official.

Yurianto said her home country's embassy was aware of her death and would arrange to have her body repatriated.


First published: Mar 11, 2020 05:33 IST