Pak health minister to take part in SAARC members video conference on COVID-19

Health Ministry: Government has brought 42,296 passengers under community surveillance, out of which 2,559 were symptomatic and 522 hospitalized including 17 foreign nationals.

Health Ministry: Contact tracing of these cases is being actively pursued. So far, this has led to identification of more than 4000 contacts who have been put under surveillance.

Anil Malik, MHA: Indo-Bangladesh passenger buses/trains to remain suspended till 15th April. Along Indo-Nepal border 4 check posts will remain operational. For Bhutan and Nepal nationals visa-free entry to continue.

India has evacuated 1,031 persons, including from Maldives, US, Madagascar and China: Health Ministry officials

Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry: Till now, there are 81 confirmed cases in India, out of which 64 are Indians, 16 Italians and 1 Canadian national

Border Haats in North-east remain suspended: Health Ministry.

81 confirmed cases of coronavirus in India: Health Ministry

In India, 78 people have been tested positive for coronavirus.

The Bihar government on Friday announced closure of all schools, colleges, coaching institutes, zoos and public parks till March 31 as a precautionary measure against coronavirus pandemic.

Iran reports 85 new virus deaths, taking the total number to 514.

The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked international airlines to consider waiving ticket cancellation and reschedule charges or look at providing any other incentive, amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The world table tennis body suspended "all activities" until the end of April on Friday, joining a long list of sporting casualties of the new coronavirus outbreak.

A senior Australian politician tested positive for the new coronavirus and entered hospital quarantine on Friday, days after returning from a meeting in Washington attended by US Attorney General William Barr.

PM Modi asked his SAARC counterparts to devise a strategy to take on the coronavirus pandemic which has affected over 100 countries across the globe. PM Modi in a tweet asked SAARC leaders to come together and try every possible means to contain the outbreak in South Asia which is home to a significant portion of the planet.

I would like to propose that the leadership of SAARC nations chalk out a strong strategy to fight Coronavirus.

We could discuss, via video conferencing, ways to keep our citizens healthy.

Together, we can set an example to the world, and contribute to a healthier planet.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 13, 2020

Australia's home affairs minister Peter Dutton said he tested positive for coronavirus on Friday.

"This morning I woke up with a temperature and sore throat. I immediately contacted the Queensland Department of Health and was subsequently tested for COVID-19. I was advised by Queensland Health this afternoon that the test had returned positive," he said in a statement issued by his office.

"I feel fine and will provide an update in due course."