Coronavirus Highlights: Italy reports 475 new virus deaths, highest one-day toll of any nation

Political leaders "underestimated" the magnitude of the danger posed by the coronavirus, the president of the European Commission admitted Wednesday, as the EU shut its borders.

"I think that all of us who are not experts initially underestimated the coronavirus," Ursula von der Leyen told Germany's Bild newspaper in an interview published Wednesday.

"But now it is clear that this is a virus that will keep us busy for a long time yet."

"We understand that measures that seemed drastic two or three weeks ago, need to be taken now," she added.

Taiwan will ban entry for many foreigners as part of coronavirus prevention measures, excluding resident permit holders, diplomats and migrant workers, the government said on Wednesday, as it battles a rise in imported cases.

Ladakh reports two more positive cases of coronavirus positive LadakhRigzin Samphel, Commissioner Secretary, Ladakh, said on Wednesday, "We have received results of 34 samples, out of these 2 tested positive. They are relatives of the earlier positive cases and were under quarantine. They are in isolation ward now."

With this, the total positive cases in Ladakh has risen to 8.

The White House ordered the federal US government to maximize the use of teleworking and minimize face-to-face interactions, emulating moves by major employers across the globe to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Actor Amitabh Bachchan shared a tweet on coronavirus in which he spoke about Maharashtra's decision to stamp the hands of people asked to undergo self-quarantine with indelible ink, so as to prevent them from coming in contact with other people.

"Stamping started on hands with voter ink, in Mumbai .. keep safe , be cautious , remain isolated if detected ..", read the actor's tweet.

T 3473 - Stamping started on hands with voter ink, in Mumbai .. keep safe , be cautious , remain isolated if detected .. pic.twitter.com/t71b5ehZ2H

— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) March 17, 2020

Vice President and Chairman of Rajya Sabha M Venkaiah Naidu got his temperature checked with the help of thermometer gun, before entering his office as part of precautionary measures being undertaken to contain the spread of Coronavirus, reports news agency ANI.

Supreme Court takes suo motu cognisance of non-availability of mid-day meals for children due to the closure of schools in the light of Coronavirus. A Bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde on Wednesday issued notices to all state governments and union territories: ANI

Indonesian police have ordered retailers to ration purchases of staple foods to contain panic buying amid a spike in coronavirus cases in the Southeast Asian country, while the president weighed up a cut in fuel prices to reflect tumbling oil prices, reports Reuters.

Indonesians have been stocking up on basic necessities, as well as medical supplies, since President Joko Widodo announced the first confirmed cases of the disease in the world's fourth most populous country on March 2.

A US court has ordered a 60-day stay of an execution scheduled for Wednesday in Texas because of the novel coronavirus, reports AFP.

A Texas court rejected John Hummel's appeals arguments on Monday, but in the end still granted him relief.

"We have also determined that the execution should be stayed in light of the current health crisis and the enormous resources needed to address the execution," the ruling said.

Hummel, 44, was sentenced to the death penalty for the 2009 killings of his pregnant wife, their five-year-old daughter and his father-in-law.

He was scheduled to receive a lethal injection at a prison in Huntsville, Texas.

Two of the four coronavirus patients who have been cured of the disease were discharged by the SMS hospital in Jaipur on Tuesday evening, reports HT Correspondent. The two are a 70-year-old Italian woman and an 85-year-old Jaipur resident.

SMS hospital medical superintendent Dr DS Meena said while the Italian woman has been discharged, her husband, who is also cured of the coronavirus infection, is still in ICU due to a lung infection.

The Italian couple were part of a tourist group that was visiting Rajasthan last month when they tested positive for the coronavirus and were under treatment

Wuhan city in China, the epicentre of novel coronavirus outbreak, reported a single confirmed case for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, health officials said on Wednesday.

Wuhan had reported a single confirmed case on Monday as China began phased withdrawal of thousands of medical personnel deployed in the hard-hit Hubei province.

The Srikalahasti temple authorities in Andhra Pradesh's Chittoor have appealed to devotees to restrict their tours in view of Coronavirus. Children below 12 yrs and senior citizens are advised to avoid visit. All paid services are cancelled. 'Laghu darsanam'(brief darsan) is allowed: ANI

BJP president JP Nadda says, "No public gatherings will be held by BJP; if we have to convey anything, senior party leaders will do so in form of memorandums."

He added that all BJP units have been asked to spread awareness about coronavirus and dos and don'ts.

BJP decides not to hold any protest or demonstration for one month in view of coronavirus, says party president JP Nadda: PTI

A 34-year-old soldier of Indian Army posted in Leh has tested positive for Covid-19, reports HT Correspondent. He is the case of coronavirus infection in the army.

The soldier's father reported positive on March 6 after his return from a pilgrimage in Iran on Feb 27. The soldier, a resident of Chuchot village in Ladakh, was quarantined on March 7 and found to be positive on March 16. He has been admitted to SNM Heart Foundation in Leh where his wife and two children are also quarantined.