Coronavirus Updates: 'Do namaste, instead of handshake', advises Israeli PM
In India, the number of coronavirus cases rose to 28 on Wednesday, up from six a day earlier. Suspecting the emergence of cluster cases of the virus, the government has stepped up the level of preparedness against COVID-19.
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Traders of south Delhi market put up banners on coronavirus
- 07:32 PM IST
No final decision to close Italy schools over virus: education minister
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Coronavirus has spread to nearly all Iran provinces, says President Rouhani
- 06:57 PM IST
Italy to shut down schools till mid-March
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Saudi suspends 'umrah' pilgrimage over coronavirus fears
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HRD ministry directs CBSE to spread awareness among students against coronavirus
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Rashtrapati Bhavan not to hold traditional Holi gatherings
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Iran cancels Friday prayers in major cities amid COVID-19 outbreak
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Japan's Takeda Pharma says it is developing coronavirus drug
- 05:40 PM IST
First coronavirus case in EU agency in Brussels
- 05:34 PM IST
Markets recoil as coronavirus cases spike in India
- 05:34 PM IST
Tokyo Olympics not to be cancelled due to coronavirus
- 05:05 PM IST
92 dead amid 2,922 cases of the new coronavirus in Iran
- 04:40 PM IST
Germany bans exports of medical protective gear
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Iran reports 586 new infections since Tuesday
The number of new cases of coronavirus infections in India on Wednesday rose to 28, said Union health minister Harsh Vardhan. With the numbers rising, India will now screen passengers from all countries as a precautionary measure against COVID-19. New Delhi had earlier put passengers from 12 countries under the scanner.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday announced that he will not participate in any Holi milan events in the wake of coronavirus scare. He cited experts’ advice against mass gatherings to contain the spread of disease.
Meanwhile, China has seen a slight drop in new cases of the virus that has affected tens of thousands of people. Authorities in China reported 119 new cases, a drop from 125 the day before. Another 38 deaths from COVID-19 were announced, bringing mainland China's total in the outbreak to 2,981.
Till date, more than 3,000 people have died from coronavirus and over 90,000 have been infected worldwide.
Here are the latest updates:
Traders of south Delhi market put up banners on coronavirus
Traders' association of Delhi's Sarojini Nagar Market is planning to procure masks and distribute them to customers when they come to shop, reports PTI.
Ashok Randhawa, president of the Sarojini Nagar mini market traders' association, said they will also put up banners in the market informing people about various precautions to be taken in the wake of the current situation.
No final decision to close Italy schools over virus: education minister
Italy has not yet decided whether to close schools and universities over the novel coronavirus, Education Minister Lucia Azzolina said Tuesday, after ANSA and other Italian agencies said they will be shut until mid-March.
Coronavirus has spread to nearly all Iran provinces, says President Rouhani
Novel coronavirus has affected almost all of Iran's provinces but the country will get through the outbreak with a "minimum" number of deaths, President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday.
"This disease is a widespread disease," he said during a cabinet meeting, according to the official presidency website.
Italy to shut down schools till mid-March
Italy will shut down schools across the country until mid-March to curb the spread of the coronavirus epidemic, reports Bloomberg quoting newswire Ansa.
The closure, which starts Thursday, is aimed at tackling the outbreak of the highly contagious disease, which has killed 79 people in the country and crippled the rich northern regions.
Saudi suspends 'umrah' pilgrimage over coronavirus fears
Saudi Arabia on Wednesday suspended the year-round "umrah" pilgrimage over fears of the new coronavirus spreading to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, the interior ministry said, reports AFP.
The Gulf state has decided "to suspend umrah temporarily for citizens and residents in the kingdom", the ministry said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency. They were also barred from "visits to the Prophet's mosque in Medina", according to a foreign ministry tweet.
HRD ministry directs CBSE to spread awareness among students against coronavirus
HRD Ministry directs Chief Secretaries of states, CBSE to spread awareness among students on basic protective measures against coronavirus: PTI
Rashtrapati Bhavan not to hold traditional Holi gatherings
The President of India will not hold the traditional Holi gatherings this year. "With alertness and safeguards, we all can help contain the outbreak of COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. In a precautionary measure, the Rashtrapati Bhavan will not hold the traditional Holi gatherings," a tweet posted on the official handle of the President said on Wednesday evening.
With alertness and safeguards, we all can help contain the outbreak of COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. In a precautionary measure, the Rashtrapati Bhavan will not hold the traditional Holi gatherings.
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) March 4, 2020
Iran cancels Friday prayers in major cities amid COVID-19 outbreak
Friday prayers in Iran have been canceled across all provincial capitals amid the country's growing coronavirus outbreak, news agency Associated Press reported quoting state television. Friday is the main congregational day of prayer in Islam, and traditionally an important event for Iran's clerical rulers.
The report Wednesday comes as Tehran and other areas cancelled Friday prayers last week over the outbreak.
Japan's Takeda Pharma says it is developing coronavirus drug
Japan's Takeda Pharmaceutical Company said on Wednesday it was developing a drug for high-risk patients infected with the new coronavirus, joining several other drugmakers seeking to develop a treatment for an illness that has killed over 3,000 people.
The Japanese firm said it was working on a plasma-derived therapy which had previously been shown to be effective in treatment of severe acute viral respiratory infections.
First coronavirus case in EU agency in Brussels
An European Union official working in the bloc's Brussels administration has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, a spokeswoman told AFP on Wednesday, confirming a report from the Euractiv news site.
"We have confirmation of the case," Dana Spinant said. According to Euractiv, the male official worked at the European Defence Agency and had recently returned from Italy.
Markets recoil as coronavirus cases spike in India
Equity benchmark Sensex on Wednesday resumed its downward spiral and ended 214 points lower after a highly volatile session as concerns over rising cases of coronavirus in India kept domestic investors on the edge.
After gyrating over 945 points during the day, the 30-share index settled 214.22 points or 0.55 per cent lower at 38,409.48.
The broader NSE Nifty closed 52.30 points or 0.46 per cent down at 11,251.
Tokyo Olympics not to be cancelled due to coronavirus
The president of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics organising committee denied speculations on Wednesday that the games might be cancelled due to deepening concern about the coronavirus outbreak, declaring that was not an option.
"I am totally not considering this," Yoshiro Mori told reporters at a briefing when asked about a possible cancellation.
92 dead amid 2,922 cases of the new coronavirus in Iran
Iran says the new coronavirus has killed 92 people amid 2,922 confirmed cases across the Islamic Republic. Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour announced the new figures at a news conference Wednesday in Tehran.
There are now over 3,140 cases of the new virus across the Mideast. Of those outside Iran in the region, most link back to the Islamic Republic.
Germany bans exports of medical protective gear
Germany's interior ministry on Wednesday said it had banned exports of medical protection gear such as masks and gloves to ensure that health workers in the country have enough to deal with the coronavirus outbreak, reports AFP.
Germany's interior ministry said in a statement that it had published a decree in the Federal Gazette outlawing "the export abroad of medical protective gear (masks, gloves, protective suits, etc.)".
Exceptions can be made, it added, for instance as part of "international aid missions".
First published: Mar 04, 2020 14:30 IST