Coronavirus LIVE: France reports three more deaths, taking total toll to seven

China on Thursday reported 31 more deaths from the new coronavirus epidemic, taking the country’s overall toll past 3,000, with the number of new infections slightly increasing. At least 3,012 people have now died nationwide in the outbreak that first emerged in the central city of Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, in December. Most of the deaths -- 2,305 -- and cases have been recorded in Wuhan, which has been under an unprecedented lockdown along with the rest of Hubei since late January.

The overall number of confirmed infections has gone up to 80,409.

Italy closed all schools and universities and barred fans from all sporting events for the next few weeks, as governments trying to curb the spread of the coronavirus around the world resorted to increasingly sweeping measures that transformed the way people work, shop, pray and amuse themselves.

With the virus present in more than 80 countries, Saudi Arabia barred citizens from making the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, Iran canceled Friday prayers for a second week, and leader after leader pleaded with citizens to put an end to that traditional symbol of mutual trust, the handshake.

More than 3,000 have been infected and at least 107 have died, the most of any country outside China, where the illness began.

Health ministry technocrats and bureaucrats, including joint secretaries, have been sent to the ground to review states’ preparedness, and offer support for course correction, if needed. All state health secretaries connect through video-conferencing every day to review preparedness and identify gaps, if any.

A person with travel history to Italy had come to us 3 days back, complaining of cold and cough. He was kept in isolation ward, Dr Viresh Bhushan, Sirsa (Haryana) deputy civil surgeon was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

"His sample was taken and sent for test. The results came in yesterday, it turned out to be negative."

The doctor said that three samples have been tested so far, all negative.

A media report is doing the rounds on social media which stated that a pomeranian has been diagnosed with coronavirus after getting infected by its owner in Hong Kong, according to to news agency IANS.

The post was shared on Twitter by one of the leading media outlets in China with the caption, "World's 1st pet dog infected with #COVID19 has been confirmed in #HongKong, a Pomeranian tested 'weak positive' three times, local health official said Wed, raising concerns of human-to-animal transmission."

The authorities have quarantined the pet dog after its nasal and oral samples tested "weak positive" three times for the virus, a media report said.

The global spread of the novel coronavirus has crushed hopes for stronger growth this year and will hold 2020 global output gains to their slowest pace since the 2008-2009 financial crisis, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on Wednesday. The IMF now expects 2020 world growth to be below the 2.9% rate for 2019, and revised forecasts will be issued in the coming weeks, Georgieva told a news briefing. Trade wars pushed global growth last year to the lowest rate since a 0.7% contraction in 2009.

All international passengers entering India will be screened at airports for the novel coronavirus outbreak (Covid-19), the government announced on Wednesday.