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Coronavirus live updates: Italy death toll shoots up by 133 to 366

The death toll in coronavirus and number of those infected from the virus around the world continued to rise. The global death toll has risen past 3,400 and tens of thousands have been infected with COVID-19.

By Anubha Rohatgi | Updated: Mar 08, 2020 23:08 IST
Coronavirus live updates: Italy death toll shoots up by 133 to 366
People wait at the Termini train station in Rome, Sunday, March 8, 2020. Italy announced a sweeping quarantine early Sunday for its northern regions.

With the Union health ministry confirming five new cases of novel coronavirus in Kerala on Sunday, the total number of those testing positive for the virus in India went up to 39.. Authorities have also decided to have dedicated aero bridges at airports for flights from USA, Spain and France in view of the rising number of cases of COVID-19 in these countries. This is in addition to the 12 countries already identified by the government earlier.

Meanwhile, the number of novel coronavirus cases in the world stood at 105,836, including 3,595 deaths, across 95 countries and territories on Sunday, according to a report compiled by AFP from official sources.

Iran reported 49 new deaths on Sunday, taking the total number of fatalities to 194. Italy, with the most number of deaths outside China, put a vast swathe of the norther region under lock down, cutting off over 15 million people from the rest of the country to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Bangladesh confirmed its first three cases of novel coronavirus.

Here are the live updates on coronavirus:

07:50 PM IST

Saudi Arabia locks down Qatif province to prevent coronavirus spread

Saudi Arabia said on Sunday imposed a temporary lockdown on the eastern Qatif province to prevent the spread of coronavirus after 11 people there were infected. The province is home to a large Shia Muslim population in the kingdom.

All the individuals who had been diagnosed with the disease in the kingdom have either been to Iran or interacted with people who visited the Islamic Republic, home to major Shi'ite holy sites.

The Saudi interior ministry said in a statement that no one would be allowed to enter or exit Qatif and that work at all public and private sectors in the province had been suspended with the exception of institutions providing necessary services.

07:48 PM IST

Those who came in contact with infected TN man under home surveillance: Official

Tamil Nadu's health secretary said on Sunday that 27 people who came in contact with the coronavirus case in the state have been placed under home surveillance. Beela Rajesh said steps were being taken to set up more testing facilities in places including Theni, for the coronavirus, reports PTI.

The infected person, who was admitted to the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, was stable and under treatment, she said.

07:26 PM IST

'No need to be afraid, just take precautions': Yogi Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has asked people to not be afraid of the new coronavirus as the government has made adequate arrangements to contain its spread. He asked them to take precautions "because prevention is better than cure".

"There is panic in the world over coronavirus but there is no need to be afraid of it. Just take precautions because prevention is better than cure," Adityanath said at a public meeting during the 'Mukhyamantri Arogya Mela' at primary health centre in Kushinagar district, reports PTI.

07:03 PM IST

Condition of Italian tourist, wife improving: Official

The condition of a coronavirus-hit Italian couple admitted at Jaipur's SMS Hospital for treatment is improving, a senior official said on Sunday.

“The Italian man has no fever now and his condition is constantly improving. His blood count has become normal with decreased pneumonia symptoms, requiring much less oxygen (support),” additional chief secretary (Medical and Health) Rohit Kumar Singh was quoted by PTI.

Singh said considering the improvement in conditions of the Italian man, he is likely to be fully recovered and discharged from the hospital in next seven to ten days. “His wife, who too was found corona-positive, is much better now,” he said.

The Italian man was tested positive in tests for coronavirus afflictions on March 2, while his wife too was tested positive a day later.

06:48 PM IST

Bangladesh confirms its first three COVID-19 cases

Bangladesh on Sunday confirmed its first three cases of coronavirus. The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) director Meerjady Sabrina told reporters that the affected people were aged between 20 and 35 and included two people who returned home from Italy recently.

The other one was a family member of one of the travellers, she said.

"They are in stable condition and are being treated in a hospital," Sabrina said.

06:45 PM IST

Over 15 mn under lock down in north Italy amid coronavirus scare

Italy ordered a virtual lock down across a swathe of its wealthy north on Sunday, including the financial capital Milan, in a drastic new attempt to try to contain a rapidly growing outbreak of coronavirus.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte signed off on plans that strictly limit movement in and out of the north, including Venice and the financial capital Milan, for nearly a month, reports AFP.

According to the news agency, over 15 million people in northern Italy - about a quarter of the country's population - woke on Sunday to find themselves cut off from the rest of the country, after the government imposed strict measures to slow the epidemic.

06:19 PM IST

Guwahati Book Fair postponed indefinitely

The 33rd Guwahati Bookfair, scheduled to be held between March 14 and 25, has been put on hold indefinitely over the coronavirus outbreak, organisers said on Sunday. The decision was taken following a central government advisory to avoid organising any event with large number of people, state-run Publication Board Assam said in a statement.

The decision to postpone the event was taken in view of the Central government's advisory to avoid organising any event where a large number of people would be present, state- run Publication Board Assam said in a statement.

06:15 PM IST

Mangaluru port authorities turn away cruise ship

The New Mangalore Port has turned back a cruise ship with a Panama flag following the Centre's advisory in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, news agency PTI quoted officials as saying.

The vessel 'MSC Lirica' was sent back on Saturday as the Union Ministry of Shipping had directed all ports not to allow any cruise ship from foreign destinations to call on Indian ports.

New Mangaluru Port Trust chairman AV Ramana said the ministry has directed all ports to deny entry to cruise ships till March 31.

06:08 PM IST

Vietnam's coronavirus cases jump to 29

Vietnam's number of coronavirus cases jumped to 29 on Sunday from 20 a day earlier, the country's health ministry said.

The new cases confirmed on Sunday include eight foreign tourists arriving in Hanoi on a Vietnam Airlines flight from London on Monday, the ministry said in a statement. There have been no deaths from COVID-19 in the southeast Asian country so far.

06:07 PM IST

Pope Francis live streams Sunday noon Angelus blessing

In a departure from tradition, Pope Francis didn’t appear at the Vatican palazzo window to deliver his Sunday noon Angelus blessing and remarks. Instead, a video of him reading his comments and reciting prayers standing at a lectern near a microphone in the Vatican’s apostolic library was beamed on maxi-screens set up in St. Peter’s Square to the faithful.

The measure, announced a day earlier, was aimed at discouraging crowds from gathering at the square "to avoid dissemination" of the COVID-19 disease.

<p>Pope Francis live streams Sunday noon Angelus blessing</p>
People in face masks walk on St. Peter's Square as Pope Francis delivers his weekly Angelus prayer transmitted via video, due to the coronavirus concerns, in Vatican
05:19 PM IST

NCP chief Sharad Pawar asks govt to help Indians stranded in Iran

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar has urged the government to see that the Indians stranded in Iran in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak there get medical help and general assistance.

"In the wake of the alarming Covid-19 issue, I voiced my concerns to Dr. S. Jaishankar ji, Union Minister of External Affairs regarding more than 40 Indian citizens stranded at Qom city in Iran. They are distressed and in urgent need of medical help and general assistance," Pawar tweeted.

05:10 PM IST

Iran Air suspends all flights to Europe until further notice

Iran Air announced on Sunday the suspension of all its flights to Europe until further notice. The national carrier said in a statement that the decision was taken due to "restrictions" imposed by European authorities for "unknown reasons".

04:57 PM IST

Iran reports 49 new coronavirus deaths, highest single-day toll

Iran reported 49 new deaths from novel coronavirus on Sunday, the highest toll within 24 hours since the start of the outbreak in the Islamic republic, says AFP. With the new count, the total number of those killed by the virus in Iran has risen to 194.


04:57 PM IST

Kerala govt to hold all-women religious event on Monday despite new COVID-19 cases in state

Kerala will hold the "Attukal Pongala", one of the largest all-women religious congregations, on Monday as scheduled. The state government on Sunday decided to go ahead with the celebrations but issued fresh guidelines in the backdrop of five fresh positive coronavirus cases being reported in the state, reports news agency PTI.

Since months of preparations have gone in for the famous festival, it has been decided to go ahead with it, Health Minister K K Shailaja told reporters in the state capital.

04:17 PM IST

Thousands rally in Asia for Women's Day despite virus fears

Thousands took to the streets across Asia for International Women's Day on Sunday even as the coronavirus outbreak forced the cancellation of events in the region, reports news agency AFP.

In China, the epicentre of the epidemic where more than 3,000 people have died from the virus, state broadcaster CCTV highlighted the work of female medical workers on the frontlines in the fight against the virus.

Other countries where rallies were held include Indonesia and Philippines.

Many feminist groups held online campaigns instead of street marches, using hashtags such as #FemaleStrike, #PowerUp and #38InternationalWomensDay to raise awareness of gender inequality.

First published: Mar 08, 2020 06:42 IST