Covid-19 Highlights: Virus would kill fewer than massive recession, says Trump

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said that the state will give ₹5,000 to construction workers for their livelihood as the poor sjould not suffer and help should be offered to those in distress.

CM @ArvindKejriwal sets up 5-member committee of doctors to prepare action plan within 24 hours on possibilities of stage 3 community transmission of #coronavirus.

This is aimed to evaluate the preparedness of Delhi to tackle #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/DbHyJBLZde

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) March 24, 2020

A Canadian, who landed a home stay option in Kalina here through an online portal, was left stranded after members of that residential society refused him entry in view of the novel coronavirus outbreak and its infamy as one being spread by those coming from abroad, reports PTI.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) tweeted that Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has set up a 5 member committee of doctors to prepare action plan within 24 hours on possibilities of stage 3 community transmission of coronavirus.

CM @ArvindKejriwal sets up 5-member committee of doctors to prepare action plan within 24 hours on possibilities of stage 3 community transmission of #coronavirus.

This is aimed to evaluate the preparedness of Delhi to tackle #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/DbHyJBLZde

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) March 24, 2020

The Himachal Pradesh government on Tuesday imposed an indefinite statewide curfew to combat coronavirus after it was found that many people defied the lockdown orders, reports PTI.

South Africa's coronavirus cases leapt again to 554 on Tuesday, the most of any country in Africa, as its 57 million people rushed to prepare for a lockdown that begins Thursday, reports AP.

Iran on Tuesday announced 122 new deaths from the novel coronavirus, raising the official toll to 1,934 in one of the world's worst hit countries. Health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said a record 1,762 new cases have been confirmed in Iran over the past 24 hours and 24,811 people are now known to have been infected, reports AFP.

Cases of the coronavirus infection (Covid-19) crossed the 500 mark on Tuesday, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said, adding that so far nine people have died in the country due to the disease with flu-like symptoms.

Maharashtra is on top of the table with 97 cases. There have been two deaths in the western state, which, like many other regions in India, is under complete lockdown to stop the fast-spreading, deadly Covid-19 disease. Kerala follows Maharashtra with 95 cases.

The executive director of the World Health Organisation, Michael Ryan, said India, the world's second most populous country, has a tremendous capacity to deal with the coronavirus outbreak as it has the experience of eradicating the small-pox and polio through targeted public intervention, reports PTI.

United States President Donald Trump in wake of the coronavirus pandemic tweeted that the government is doing its best to get equipment in the country and work is beginning in 4 hospitals in New York

The World market for face masks and ventilators is Crazy. We are helping the states to get equipment, but it is not easy. Just got 400 Ventilators for @NYCMayor Bill de Blasio. Work beginning on 4 hospitals in New York! Millions of different type items coming!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 24, 2020

Thailand's government agreed Tuesday to declare an emergency to take stricter measures to control the coronavirus outbreak that has infected hundreds of people in the Southeast Asian country. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said his Cabinet agreed to put a one-month state of emergency into effect on Thursday, reports AP.

The Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha secretariats have been shut completely in view of the coronavirus outbreak and no one will be allowed to attend office.

While the Rajya Sabha Secretariat has been shut till Friday, the Lok Sabha Secretariat will be closed till March 31, reports PTI.

Over a billion people, or about 90 per cent of the Indian population, reside in areas under lockdown as the government has imposed unprecedented measures, including stringent travel restrictions, to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease Covid-19, according to government data. All districts in more than 30 states and Union Territories (UTs) have completely shut down as of Tuesday afternoon, barring the delivery of essential services. This means people in 560 districts are confined to their homes.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said regulators and her ministry are monitoring developments and volatility in stock markets.

She said the developments on stock markets are monitored thrice a day, reports PTI.

To help small companies facing the threat of defaults due to coronavirus-related lockdown, the government on Tuesday raised the threshold that would trigger insolvency proceedings to ₹1 crore from current ₹1 lakh.

This raising of the threshold will help small and medium enterprises, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, reports PTI.

American actor Leonardo DiCaprio and girlfriend Camila Morrone are self-quarantining together at the 'Inception' actor's Los Angeles home amid the coronavirus outbreak.