Coronavirus Outbreak Latest Updates:White House conducting temperature checks

The White House announced Saturday that it is now conducting temperature checks on anyone who is in close contact with President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.

The move is being taken out of an abundance of caution in response to the coronavirus outbreak, said Judd Deere, a White House spokesman.

In view of the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus, the Swaminarayan sect has announced that it will close all its temples globally and suspend routine activities until further notice as part of its efforts to protect the health of volunteers, visitors and local communities.

COVID-19, which has been declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation, has claimed over 5,000 lives, including 41 in the US, and infected more than 134,000 people globally.

The deadly coronavirus can also spread through eyes, said, ophthalmologists.

Dr V Rajalingam, Superintendent, Government Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital, said that Coronavirus is transmitted through droplets from the infected person.

“Whenever a person affected by coronavirus sneezes or coughs in front of others and if the droplets go into another person’s eye then the eye will wash away the droplets through tear secretion. The tear including the droplets will enter into the nose through lacrimal sac of the eye and then that person can get infected with Coronavirus,” said Dr V Rajalingam.

While medical practitioners across the world have said there is no cure as such for coronavirus, Swami Chakrapani, who claims to be president of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha, claimed that cow urine is the “only cure” for COVID-19 and requested global leaders to consume the “miracle liquid” and lead by example in the fight against the contagious viral disease.

Swimming pools in Noida and Greater Noida will remain closed till April 15 as a precautionary measure to check the coronavirus threat, officials said on Saturday.

The restriction is applicable on private and public use of swimming pools in schools, colleges, hotels and residential societies, the district administration said in an order.

As the number of coronavirus cases in India continues to rise, the medical fraternity across urged people to not panic and keep taking precautions to tackle the threat.

KK Aggarwal, Former President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), recommended the use of ‘Namaste’, to decrease the transmission rate of the coronavirus.

The death toll from coronavirus infections in Iran rose on Saturday to 611, state TV said, citing a health ministry official who put the total number of those diagnosed with the disease at 12,729.

Iran, one of the countries most affected by the pandemic outside China, reported on Friday a death toll of 514 and a total of 11,364 infections.

Coronavirus positive cases in India rise to 84, confirms Health Ministry: PTI

China’s President Xi Jinping sent his condolences to South Korea, Iran and Italy in three separate statements. Xi said he would partner these countries and help them curb the effects of the outbreak.

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh announced on Friday that the BAA (Boston Athletic Association) has decided to postpone the 42.2-kilometer Boston Marathon which was scheduled to be held on April 20.

Saudi Arabia will halt all international flights to and from the Gulf nation in a bid to contain the outbreak. Neighbouring country Iran has seen the worst of the outbreaks as covid-19 has infected more than 11,000 and killed more than 500.

The Chappell-Hadlee ODI between Australia and New Zealand was canned with two games remaining due to the coronavirus outbreak. If the tournament were to continue then the Kiwi team would be quarantined in for two-weeks as per New Zealand government's latest order.

The state department for health and family welfare Punjab said that it cannot trace 335 people who travelled to 335 coronavirus-hit countries, says ANI. It also added that a total of 6011 passengers have been traced till Friday.

US House of Representatives led by Nancy Pelosi passed a bill to contain the coronavirus outbreak in the United States by a majority of 343-40.

Tihar Jail in New Delhi has set up an isolation ward to contain the coronavirus outbreak. No inmates have displayed any symptoms so far, says ANI

Tihar Jail official: An isolation ward has been set up at the jail. All inmates have been checked & not displayed symptoms, new inmates are being screened & will be kept in different wards for 3 days. Around 17,500 inmates are lodged at the jail currently. #COVID19 #Delhi pic.twitter.com/qDLlyVtjXb

— ANI (@ANI) March 14, 2020