Total Coronavirus Cases In India At 107, Two Deaths Confirmed
The number of novel coronavirus cases in the country rose to 107 on Sunday, with 12 fresh cases in Maharashtra, the Union Health Ministry said.
The number of cases include two persons who died in Delhi and Karnataka.
While a 76-year-old man from Kalaburagi who had recently returned from Saudi Arabia died on Thursday, a 68-year-old woman in Delhi who had tested positive for coronavirus passed away at the Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital on Friday night.
Delhi has reported seven positive cases and Uttar Pradesh 11 so far. Karnataka has six coronavirus patients while Maharashtra 31,Ladakh three and Jammu and Kashmir 2. Telangana reported three cases.
Besides, Rajasthan also reported two cases. Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab have reported one case each.
PM Modi Addresses SAARC Video Conference, Proposes Covid Emergency Fund
Addressing leaders of SAARC nations today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for collective effort to fight the virus. “We have to fight this battle together, and we have to win it together. Our neighbourhood collaboration should be a model for the world”, he said.
Modi also proposed setting up an emergency fund for tackling the virus.
“I propose we create a COVID-19 Emergency Fund. This could be based on voluntary contributions from all of us. India can start with an initial offer of $10 million for this fund”, he said.
He also suggested creating a common research platform to control the virus.
“Looking ahead, we could create a common Research Platform, to coordinate research on controlling epidemic diseases within our South Asian region. The Indian Council of Medical Research can offer help coordinating such an exercise”, he said.
20 Passengers Including U.K. National Test Positive At Kochi Airport
Twenty Dubai-bound passengers were detained at the airport shortly before takeoff after a UK national among them tested positive for novel coronavirus.
This takes the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Kerala to 20 so far.
At least 289 passengers of the Dubai-bound Emirates flight were offloaded at the airport here after the U.K. person was found to be infected by the coronavirus.
SAARC Media Briefing On Coronavirus Cancelled
A special media briefing by the Foreign Secretary on video conference between SAARC leaders on the Coronavirus pandemic scheduled for today has been cancelled.
The conference will be telecasted live on the MEA YouTube channel.
218 Indians Evacuated From Italy Sent To ITBP Quarantine
A total of 218 Indians, mostly students, brought here from Italy on Sunday have been taken to an ITBP quarantine facility in south-west Delhi's Chhawla area, officials said. The Air India flight from Milan landed around 9.45 am at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. Out of the total Indian nationals in this group, 211 are students.
One More Tests Positive For COVID-19 In Maharashtra, Tally Rises To 32
A 59-year-old woman tested positive for coronavirus in Aurangabad city of Maharashtra today, a state health official said.
The woman had travelled to Russia and Kazakhstan. She has been quarantined at Dhoot Hospital in Aurangabad.
MEA Sets Up Special Cell
The Ministry of External Affairs has pulled out all stops to ensure the safety of Indians abroad and set up a special cell to coordinate the issues related with the response to the coronavirus.
Additional Secretary Dammu Ravi has been appointed as the point person for
coordinating the response to COVID-19. He has four other officers and
staff to support him.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla are personally monitoring the situation.
Mumbai Municipal Corporation Setting Up Lab At KEM Hospital
The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai will set up a laboratory for testing of Covid-19 at KEM Hospital, Parel, it said in a press note today. The facility will be functional within one week.
Besides, another quarantine facility has been set up at Seven Hills Hospital in Andheri with 300 beds. Three medical teams of 2 medical officers and 2 health workers each will be available throughout the day.
- A total of 320 suspected patients have been admitted at Kasturba hospital in Mumbai. Of these, 258 have been tested negative.
- Nine patients have tested positive so far, of which 5 are in Mumbai. Four new cases tested positive today, three of which are not in the city currently.
- Eight high-risk contacts have also been isolated at Hinduja Hospital and their swab samples have been sent to Kasturba lab. They were found to be negative but remain under quarantine without any symptoms.
Four Including Peruvian National Admitted In Kolkata Isolation Ward
A Peruvian national and three Indians including a nine-month-old child have been admitted to an isolation ward of a government hospital here with symptoms of novel coronavirus, a senior official of the state health department said on Saturday.
The 27-year-old man from Peru has been admitted to the isolation ward of the Beliaghata ID Hospital and his blood and swab samples have been sent for examination, the official said.
The man has a history of asthma and bronchitis and is down with fever and cough, both symptoms of novel coronavirus, he said.
Two Indians, who had travelled to Mayapur, the headquarters of the ISKCON during the Holi festival last week, have been kept under watch at the same ward, the official said.
"One of the two recently returned from Saudi Arabia and complained of fever and cold. Their blood samples and swabs have been collected," he added.
The nine-month-old child, who has a history of travelling from Kuwait, is also undergoing treatment at the isolation ward, the official added.
Meanwhile, all the five people including an Italian couple and a Thai national, who were admitted to the isolation ward, were discharged from the Beliaghata ID Hospital after testing negative for novel coronavirus, he added.
Four Admitted In Nagpur Hospital Return Home Without Informing Authorities
Four persons admitted to a government-run hospital here for suspected coronavirus infection, returned home without informing the authorities, police said on Saturday. The incident occurred late Friday night, they said.
According to police, the four persons were later traced and asked to return to the hospital. Their test results are awaited.
"Four persons, including two women, had come to the Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH) on Friday morning to give their blood samples for suspected coronavirus infection. They were kept in the isolation ward. However, at night they left the hospital without informing the authorities," a police official said.
"We later traced them and contacted them on phone. They have been asked to return to the hospital. They told us that they were annoyed over the delay in getting the test results and also over sharing the toilet with coronavirus positive patients admitted in the hospital," he added.
Source: PTI
Infosys Evacuates Building In Bengaluru After Employee Comes In
Infosys in Bengaluru has evacuated one of its satellite office buildings following reports of its employee coming in contact with a suspected coronavirus patient.
The development comes after the Karnataka government advised IT and other professionals working in air-conditioned places to work from home for time being, for about a week, to prevent the spread of the virus.
An internal communication from the office here read, "We have received information about a situation of a team member from the IIPM building, who may have been in proximity to an individual with suspected COVID-19."
"We have evacuated the IIPM building as a precautionary measure," a company official told PTI on Saturday adding the place was being sanitised. The Infosys management has requested its employees to stay calm as it was only to ensure that they were "cautious and better prepared."
Three of the six confirmed coronavirus patients in Karnataka are working in the IT sector.
Source: PTI
Covid-19 Patient Dies In Delhi
A 69-year-old female, who had tested positive for coronavirus infection, has died in Delhi, Health Ministry and Delhi government officials said.
The government said that her death was caused by a combination of hypertension and diabetes. She was initially asymptomatic but developed a fever and cough. After that, her condition worsened with the development of pneumonia and she started having respiratory fluctuations, the government said.
Masks, Hand Sanitizers Declared Essential Commodities
The government on Friday declared masks, including the N95 variant, and hand sanitisers as ‘essential commodities’ in the wake of the coronavirus scare leading to shortages and black marketing of these items.
- This is to ensure these items are available at reasonable prices and to crack down on hoarders and black marketeers.
- These will remain under the essential category till June 30.
Bihar Closes Schools, Colleges
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.
An announcement to this effect was made here by Chief Secretary Deepak Kumar shortly after a high-level meeting to discuss measures to prevent the spread of the disease in the state was chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
The Chief Minister, however, made it clear that candidates appearing for their CBSE exams will be allowed to do so and that all necessary steps are being taken to ensure that those venturing out in public places do not catch the contagion.
Maharashtra Declares Epidemic
The Maharashtra government has invoked the Epidemic Disease Act with effect from midnight as cases in the state rose to 17, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced.
- Public schools in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad will be shut till further notice.
- Avoid going to malls, restaurants and other public places, the chief minister said.
- He also requested all private companies to give the employees work from home option wherever possible.
- Gyms, swimming pools and theatres will be shut from midnight till further notice in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.
Karnataka Shuts Malls, Pubs And Night Clubs
A day after the country's first coronavirus-related death was reported from Kalaburagi in Karnataka, the State government on Friday leapt into action announcing lock-down of malls, cinema theatres, pubs and night clubs for a week.
The Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa also issued instructions to stop all kinds of exhibitions, summer camps, conferences, fairs, marriage, sports and engagement events and birthday parties state-wide for a week from Saturday.
“We will close all universities for a week in the entire State,” he told a press conference.
Sangeeta Reddy On India's Preparedness For Coronavirus
- Even if the private sector doesn't carry out tests, companies can contribute trained professionals to help collect samples
- Private sector has already identified the beds that can be given to the government to help with treatment
- The mechanism is already in place to for the private sector to contribute, if the scenario escalates
- Private sector is equipped and ready, but the government hasn't given the authorisation yet
- The government authorisation can happen literally in minutes
- Detailed steps of how the private sector can contribute are being discussed with the government
“Right now, we have been told that they government will pay for the treatment; plus insurance will cover the costs.”
- Confident that the government will come out with a clear policy
- Only ventilatory care or advanced care, which is happening to less than 20 percent of people who are positive, is costly
- Pharma companies say they have adequate supplies for the next 3-6 months
- If the scenario stretches beyond that, we will have a challenge on our hands
- Bigger problem is the shortage of masks and hand sanitizers
Ameera Shah On India's Preparedness For Coronavirus
- South Korea's large scale testing helped reduce the mortality rates
- India should go the same way as South Korea; we will be in a much better shape
- Fear of being quarantined in government hospitals preventing many people from getting tested
- Government should partner with private labs to ramp up efforts against Covid-19
- Too soon for governments to get validated testing kits for Covid-19
- Have to use standardized U.S. FDA approved kits in the meantime
- Around 7 companies are producing kits to test for Covid-19 which are available in India
- If India engages the private sector quickly, we will be able to carry out sufficient number of tests
- The more India delays roping in the private sector, the resource crunch will get worse
- Government has expressed intent to partner with private diagnostic companies
- But government hasn't yet gotten to details of lab standards, kits etc
- Private sector infrastructure is ready; need government approval to get started
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw On India's Preparedness For Coronavirus
- Indian government has rapidly responded to the coronavirus threat
- Indian government has taken good preemptive steps, unlike countries like Italy
- Must also be in a state of preparedness so that the virus spread doesn't catch us off-guard
- Need to have capacity w.r.t. diagnostic centres, nursing homes
- 20 percent of Covid-19 patients need hospitalisation, many nations don't have enough ICU beds
- Government should reach out to private hospitals & diagnostic centres
- Will need to screen a larger population to be ahead of this crisis
- Will need to make sure that government is a state of preparedness w.r.t. stockpiling drugs and vaccines
- Must use this pandemic to introspect and look at how we plan for such outbreaks
- Biotech companies have capability to provide rapid screening & then send patients to labs for confirmatory tests
- Biotech companies can quickly increase the capacity for rapid screening facilities
- Controls such as export restrictions, that are put in place in times of such epidemics, are a huge challenge for the industry
- Extremely important for private sector & government to work closely & not put in place some knee-jerk restrictions
Watch | Is India Prepared For Cororavirus? BQ's Menaka Doshi Chats With Kiran Mazumdar Shaw & Sangita Reddy
Goa Government To Issue Circular To Hotels, Industries
Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Friday said the government will issue a circular asking hotels and industries to take preventive measures in the wake of the coronavirus scare.
No positive case of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been reported so far in Goa, which receives a large number of tourists, including those from abroad, every year.
Speaking to reporters here, Rane said the circular to be issued to hotels and industries will be on the lines of the directives given by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to prevent spread of the viral infection.
Source: PTI
First Death From Coronavirus In India
A 76-year-old from Kalaburagi, Karnataka is now confirmed to have died after being infected from the novel coronavirus. State officials are taking all measures to trace the patient’s contacts. Telangana government has also been informed as he had visited a hospital there.
Andhra Pradesh Records First Case
One new case has been found in Andhra Pradesh, the first positive case in the state, according to the health ministry’s live tracker.
Delhi Declares Covid-19 As Epidemic
Delhi has declared coronavirus as an epidemic and shut all schools, colleges and cinema halls till March 31.
Delhi became the second state or union territory in India to declare coronavirus as an epidemic. Earlier in the day, Haryana health minister had announced that the same.
Everyone At Risk Is Being Tested: Indian Council of Medical Research
- There's no evidence that we are missing any coronavirus-related deaths.
- Our network of surveillance & contact tracing is strong, everyone who's at risk is getting tested.
- Generally, viruses find it difficult to survive higher temperature; but we don't have any evidence.
Delhi Traffic Police Gives Instructions About Coronavirus For Safety Of Its Personnel, Motorists
The Delhi Traffic Police has issued instructions regarding coronavirus for the safety of its personnel and motorists, officials said on Thursday.
They have been provided extra straws to be used with breath analysers during the alcohol test.
"The Delhi Traffic Police personnel have been provided extra masks, straws and hand gloves. They have been asked to wash their hands if possible or use gloves. They have been instructed not to interact without mask especially during alcometer test," Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) NS Bundela said.
Every individual gets separate straw, which is disposable, for alcometer, they said.
Source: PTI
Wagah Retreat Ceremony Suspended Due To Coronavirus
Eateries and small traders here are feeling the pinch as the famous beating retreat ceremony at the Attari-Wagah border has been suspended due to the coronavirus scare, stemming the flow of tourists to the area.
It has also hit the hotel and tourism industry in the holy city.
Each day, nearly 50,000 tourists used to visit the border, mainly to catch a glimpse of the beating retreat ceremony, which has been suspended till further orders.
Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Shivdullar Singh Dhillon said, "The retreat ceremony was stopped due to the increasing fear of coronavirus and the decision to suspend the event was taken keeping public health in view. The ban on public entry will continue till further orders."
Source: PTI
No Need To Create Panic, Says Health Secretary
No need to create panic, said Lav Agarwal, joint secretary at the Health Ministry, adding that only people who need to be tested should be tested.
- Only those with travel history, contact history or are symptomatic need to be tested
- 1 lakh testing kits available; additional kits have been ordered
- Do not see a need to include private sector testing facilities at this point of time
- Already collaborating with private sector health providers; they are supporting with isolation beds etc., in cases of need.
- Over 1,500 contacts, of the 73 positive coronavirus patients, are being traced and monitored.
- So far, we have not had any cases of community transmission in India.
- As of now, primarily focusing on international travelers.
- Strengthening point-of-entry surveillance.
- Focus is also on community screening of international passengers.
- Thermal screening is only the starting point; medical professionals also conduct risk profiling.
Nearly 35,000 People Under Community Surveillance In India: Health Minister
Nearly 30,000 to 35,000 people under community surveillance in India, said Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, in Lok Sabha today. “Even now, despite this being such a big task, activities are being coordinated at 51 laboratories across the country and collection centres at 56 locations,” he said.
- Have followed all medical protocols when bringing back Indians stranded abroad
- Things are under control; we need everyone's cooperation to discourage public gatherings.
Apex Court Refuses Urgent Hearing On Plea To Postpone IPL Amid Coronavirus Scare
The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to accord urgent hearing on a plea seeking postponement of Indian Premier League-2020 amid the coronavirus scare.
A vacation bench of justices UU Lalit and Aniruddha Bose told the petitioner that he could mention the matter for urgent listing before the regular bench on March 16 when the apex court will re-open after the Holi break.
"This is not a matter which cannot await till re-opening of the court. You can mention it before the regular court on March 16," the bench told advocate Mohan Babu Agarwal, who has filed the petition.
Agarwal told the bench that IPL-2020 is scheduled to start from March 29 but no safety measures have been declared to prevent the spread of coronavirus during the matches, which are likely to witness over 40,000 spectators.
Source: PTI
India Suspends All Existing Visas Till April 15
India has suspended all existing visas, except diplomatic, official, United Nations or international organizations, employment, project visas, till April 15, 2020. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on March 13, 2020 at the port of departure.
The decisions were taken at a high-level meeting of the group of ministers led by health minister Harsh Vardhan.
Other decisions include:
- Visa-free travel facility granted to overseas citizens of India suspended till April 15.
- Any foreign national intending to travel to India will have to contact the nearest Indian Mission.
- All incoming travellers having visited China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, France, Spain and Germany after Feb. 15 shall be quarantined for at least 14 days.
- International traffic through land borders will be restricted to designated check posts with screening facilities.
Two New Cases Confirmed In Mumbai
Two persons from Mumbai on Wednesday tested positive for coronavirus, taking the number of such cases in Maharashtra to seven, health officials said.
The two, who are the first coronavirus positive cases from Mumbai, had come in close contact with two Pune residents who had returned from Dubai recently and tested positive for coronavirus, the officials said.
A statement by the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme of the Public Health Department, Maharashtra said an “aggressive contact tracing activity” is in progress after two Dubai returnees from Pune were found positive for positive coronavirus two days ago.
“On Wednesday, two close contacts of these persons from Mumbai were found positive. Both are co-passengers of the index cases and part of the Dubai tour group,” it said.
“Till Wednesday, 1,38,968 travelers from 1195 flights have been screened at Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur international airports. As per the new guidelines from central government, travelers coming from all countries are being screened at international airports,” it said.
The Bureau of Immigration is regularly providing a list of all passengers coming from high-risk countries like Iran, Italy and South Korea for necessary follow up, it said.
All travellers who have come after Feb. 21 from these three countries are being followed by Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme functionaries, it said.
“From Jan. 18 till date 349 symptomatic travelers have been isolated in identified isolation facilities. Till today 312 of these samples have been found negative while 7 were found positive. At present 18 travelers are still in hospital at Pune while 15 at Mumbai,” it said.
Suspected cases have also been isolated at Nagpur and Pimpri Chinchwad, the statement said.
“To increase surge capacity and for future preparedness, the state has established isolation wards in all district hospitals and government medical colleges. As of today, the state has 502 isolation beds available,” it said.
“All international travellers are being screened at airports and all symptomatic travellers are referred to identified isolation wards. Asymptomatic travellers coming from 12 countries (China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Nepal, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Iran and Italy) are being referred to IDSP for regular follow up for 14 days,” it said.
Till Wednesday, of the 635 travellers, 370 have completed their follow-up of 14 days, it said.
Apart from Mumbai, Pune and Thane travellers are also being monitored in Gadchiroli, Nanded, Buldhana, Yavatmal, Nagpur, Wardha, Sangli, Ahmednagar, Amaravati, Palghar, Jalgaon, Chandrapur and Satara districts, it said.
Total Confirmed Coronavirus Cases In India Reaches 60
The number of confirmed cases of novel coronavirus in the country has risen to 60, with two fresh positive cases with one each from Delhi and Rajasthan being reported, the health ministry said on Wednesday.
The figure includes five positive cases reported in Delhi and nine persons who were diagnosed with the infection in Uttar Pradesh till Wednesday morning. The total number of 60 confirmed cases includes 16 Italians, the ministry said.
Karnataka and Maharashtra have reported four and two confirmed cases of COVID-19 respectively. Ladakh has recorded two positive cases.
Rajasthan, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab have reported one case each, the ministry said.
Kerala has till now reported nine cases which includes the three patients who were discharged last month following recovery.
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, who spoke to a few COVID-19 patients admitted at Medanta and Safdarjung hospitals through video calls on Tuesday, said all the people infected by the disease were stable and showing signs of recovery.
According to the protocol currently followed, a suspected case is tested at least twice before it is confirmed as 'positive'.
The Union Health Ministry has strongly urged people to refrain from travelling to China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, Japan, France, Spain and Germany and advised them to avoid non-essential travel abroad in view of the coronavirus outbreak
Source: PTI
Visas To National Of France, Germany, Spain Suspended
Amid rising cases of the COVID-19 pandemic globally, India on Tuesday barred entry of the nationals of three more countries—France, Germany and Spain—suspending the regular as well as e-visas granted to them till date.
“All regular (sticker) Visas/e-Visas granted to nationals of France, Germany and Spain and issued on or before March 11 and who have not yet entered India stand suspended with immediate effect,” said a Bureau of Immigration notification issued late Tuesday night.
Regular visas, including e-visas, granted to all foreign nationals who have travel history to these countries on or after Feb. 1 and who have not yet entered India also stand suspended, it said.
Issuing a travel advisory, the health ministry also called for passengers with travel history to China, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Japan, Italy, Thailand, Singapore, Iran, Malaysia, France, Spain and Germany to undergo self-imposed quarantine for a period of 14 days from the date of their arrival, and their employers to facilitate work-from-home for such employees during this period.
India had already suspended visas granted to the nationals of Italy, Iran, South Korea, Japan and China.
Source: PTI
Delhi High Court Seeks Centre, Delhi Government Stand On PIL For Adequate Measures To Combat Coronavirus
The Delhi High Court Wednesday sought the stand of the Centre and the Delhi government on a public interest litigation seeking proper and adequate measures to combat coronavirus.
A bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar issued notice to the Ministry of Health and the Delhi government seeking their replies on the PIL filed by an advocate.
The petition, by lawyer Triveni Potekar, seeks directions to the Centre and the Delhi government to make available important and relevant information on access to and availability of medical facilities for testing and treatment for the coronavirus disease.
According to the Union health ministry, there are 50 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country.
Source: PTI
Five People Test Positive In Maharashtra
Five people have been tested positive for coronavirus in Maharashtra out the 304 samples that have been collected, ANI reported quoting Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope.
“A total of 304 samples have been collected out of which 289 samples were found negative and five positive while results of 10 samples are awaited,” Tope was quoted to the statement by ANI.
India Has 50 Active Cases Of Coronavirus Till Now
A total of 50 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported in India, a statement from the government showed on Tuesday.
After the 44 positive cases declared on Monday, three positive cases were reported from Bengaluru with travel history to the U.S. via Dubai. One more from the city had travel history from the U.S. via London’s Heathrow airport.
- Two positive cases were detected in Pune with travel history from Dubai.
- Three of the total cases (earlier cases from Kerala) have been discharged.
- Of these 50 active coronavirus cases, 34 are Indian nationals and 16 are Italians.
Two deaths reported from Murshidabad and Ladakh on Monday were not due to the Covid-19, the government said.
To date, more than 1,400 persons who came in contact with the infected have been put under surveillance. 404 Indians who came in contact with the U.S. citizen who tested positive for Covid-19 in Bhutan have been identified and put under surveillance in Assam.
The first batch of 58 evacuees from Iran arrived on Tuesday with 25 men, 31 women and two children on board. The IAF C-17 flight arrived at 9:27 am. All the evacuees are monitored and clinically stable at present.
Karnataka Confirms Four Positive Cases In State
Four positive cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Karnataka, ANI reported, quoting the state's Health Minister B Sriramulu.
Sriramulu said that their family members of the have been isolated separately and that they are being monitored.
Air India, Ai Express Offer Free Rescheduling Of Tickets
Air India and Air India Express on Monday said passengers can reschedule their tickets free of cost for new bookings made during a certain period of time in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.
The national carrier said one free change of travel date would be permitted for new bookings made till March 31.
“In view of coronavirus situation and travel advisory issued, one free change permitted for pax to postpone any international or domestic bookings on AI network to all existing bookings with travel date till 30th April ‘20,” Air India said in a tweet.
Tickets must be re-issued on or before May 31. In case of re-routing, applicable difference of fare would be charged, it added.
Air India Express, the budget arm of the national carrier, said free date change would be available to fresh bookings made between March 12-31.
It flies to 13 international destinations, mostly in the Gulf region.
“In view of the uncertain travel situation due to COVID-19, free date change will be permitted up to three days prior to the flight departure, for all new bookings effected between March 12, 2020 to March 31, 2020, for travel up to April 30, 2020,” Air India Express said in a statement.
Cancellation charges would be levied by both the airlines in case a customer cancels a ticket.
Many countries have imposed travel restrictions, amid the outbreak of coronavirus, which has claimed thousands of lives.
The carrier operates over 660 flights every week to 12 destinations in Gulf countries, including Dubai and Bahrain, besides Singapore. It also has around eight domestic connections per week.
Following the coronavirus outbreak, the airline has reduced the number of its flights to Singapore and has suspended services to Kuwait, an airline official said.
The official also said flights to Doha are likely to be cancelled as the Gulf nation has banned entry of people from India and 13 other countries due to coronavirus scare.
Among other countries, Saudi Arabia has also put in place travel restrictions. Passengers holding Umrah visa and tourist visa have been barred from travelling to Saudi Arabia.
On Sunday, GoAir said it would not charge any fee on cancellation or rescheduling of tickets booked till April 30. This would be applicable for all bookings made between March 8 and April 30, and for the travel period between March 8 and September 30.
The zero cancellation and rebooking fee offer can be availed if done up to 14 days before departure, GoAir had said.
SpiceJet has also decided not to charge change fee on existing bookings made for travel between March 12-31.
It would also be applicable on new bookings for travel between the same period, according to a tweet from the airline.
Fare difference, if any, would be applicable, it added.
AirAsia India has extended free rescheduling of tickets for all travel till March 31 on existing and new bookings. The travel can be rescheduled to any date, as per a tweet.
On Saturday, IndiGo announced waiving of rescheduling charges on tickets booked between March 12 and March 31 for its domestic and international flights.
Source: PTI
Two People Test Positive In Pune
Two people from Pune in Maharashtra tested positive for novel coronavirus infection on Monday evening, a health official said.
Samples of a man and a woman having a history of travelling to Dubai tested positive in the evening, said Dr Ramchandra Hankare, Chief Health Officer, Pune Municipal Corporation.
Both of them are currently admitted at the civic-run Naidu Hospital, he added.
Source: PTI
Karnataka Reports First Case As IT Professional Tests Positive
A software engineer, who returned here from the U.S. recently, has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, becoming the first COVID-19 patient in Karnataka, state Medical Education Minister Dr. K Sudhakar said on Monday.
“Tests were done twice and on both the occasions it was confirmed that he had COVID-19,” he told reporters.
The man had come from Austin in the U.S. along with his wife and daughter on March 1. After going to a private hospital upon noticing symptoms, he had voluntarily approached the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases on March 8, he said.
The man has been kept under strict medical supervision at the RGICD, the minister said adding his family members and a colleague have been placed under quarantine at the hospital.
The engineer’s driver and the latter’s wife and two children had been put under home quarantine, he said.
The state health department has identified 2,606 people with whom the family had primary and secondary contacts since the time they landed, health department officials said.
They included 60 passengers on the flight.
“Those who were sitting next to him on the plane and were sitting three rows in the front and three rows in the back have also been quarantined,” an official said.
The officials said he had been to office on March 2 and March 3.
On March 4, he did not go to the office and on March 5 went to a private hospital. On March 8 he approached the RGICD on his own where he was quarantined," the officials said.
Source: PTI
New Case Reported In Punjab
One more new case has been reported in Punjab taking the total number of confirmed Covid-19 infections in the country to 44.
- As many as 11,913 cases are under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme community followup
- 404 Indian contacts of the U.S. citizen tested positive in Bhutan have been identified and put under surveillance in Assam.
- Cabinet Secretary did a video conference with chief secretaries of all states and union territories about preparedness to tackle the virus.
- Over 9.41 lakh international passengers from 8,827 flights have been screened at airports till now with 54 passengers being referred to hospitals.
- There are 286 doctors, 160 nurses and 295 paramedics stationed at airports across the country.
Man With Coronavirus-Like Symptoms Admitted To Nashik Hospital
A 68-year-old man with symptoms of coronavirus infection has been admitted to Nashik district civil hospital in Maharashtra, doctors said on Monday.
The person, who hails from Vashi in neighbouring Navi Mumbai township, went to New Zealand on Dec. 29 last year and returned to Mumbai on Feb. 29.
Thereafter, he came to his sister's home at Daraswadi in Chandwad taluka here on March 4. During stay at his sister's place, he complained of restlessness and breathlessness.
He was initially taken to a private hospital and later admitted to the civil hospital around 11 a.m. on Sunday.
The patient is diabetic and hypertensive. He underwent angioplasty a few years ago, a civil hospital doctor said, adding that on admission, he had fever and breathlessness.
He also had severe chest congestion and was diagnosed as primarily suffering from pneumonia and acute respiratory distress, the doctor said.
His swab samples have been sent to the Pune-based National Institute of Virology and the reports are expected on Monday, he said, adding that the patient is feeling much better now.
Meanwhile, another 69-year-old man, who arrived from Dubai and was admitted to the civil hospital here, has been discharged as his coronavirus test reports were negative, the hospital authorities said.
Earlier, three persons, who had come from Italy, Iran and the U.S., were admitted to the civil hospital but as their coronavirus test reports were negative, they have been discharged.
At present, 22 people are under observation at their homes in Nashik, the authorities said.
District civil surgeon Dr. Suresh Jagdale urged citizens to inform the health department about people who have returned to Nashik from abroad.
Source: PTI
Total Number Of Cases In India: 43
The total number of coronavirus cases in India has risen to 43, according to the government of India’s press release.
New Cases Since Sunday:
- Ernakulam, Kerala: 1
- Delhi: 1
- Uttar Pradesh: 1
- Jammu: 1
Coronavirus In India: Fact Sheet
- 3,003 samples tested for Covid-19
- 43 samples tested positive- 8,74,708 international passengers from 8,255 flights screened
- 1,921 passengers identified as symptomatic
- 177 hospitalised
- 33,599 passengers are under observation
- 21,867 passengers have completed observation period
Total Coronavirus Positive At 42, Says Health Secretary Sanjeeva Kumar
First Confirmed Coronavirus Case In J&K, Total Cases At 41
A 63-year-old woman tested positive for coronavirus, making it the first confirmed case in Jammu & Kashmir, officials said on Monday.
The woman, who had a travel history to Iran, was among two patients who were declared "high viral load cases" by the administration on the weekend.
They are undergoing treatment at the isolation ward of the Government Medical College hospital and are in a stable condition, the officials said.
"The test report of the woman patient is positive, while the report of the other patient is still awaited," a Health Department official said.
Source: PTI
Three-Year Old Child Tested Positive
A three-year old child has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, officials said on Monday.
The child and its parents who had reached the Cochin International Airport at 6 a.m. on March 7 from Italy were subjected to thermal screening at the universal surveillance system established, officials said.
Detecting symptoms of coronavirus in the child,they were immediately referred to isolation ward of the Kalamassery Medical College Hospital, they said.
The samples of the child sent for examination at the NiV lab at Alappuzha have tested positive for Coronavirus, they said.
The samples of the parents have also been sent for lab test, the officials added.
Five fresh coronavirus cases, including three who evaded screening on return from Italy, were reported in Kerala, prompting the government on Sunday to sound a renewed alert and warn action against those hiding travel history to affected nations.
Source: PTI
Over the weekend, India saw eight positive cases of the Covid-19 virus which causes a pneumonia-like illness. Two from Ladakh with travel history from Iran and one from Tamil Nadu with travel history from Oman was found positive. Five more people from Kerala tested positive, Health minister, KK Shailaja said on Sunday.
Andhra Pradesh, at the same time, temporarily suspend issuing Protected Area Permits to foreigners.
Global fatalities from the coronavirus reached 3,800 as infections spread to about half of the world’s countries.
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