India so far has reported 30 confirmed cases of a novel coronavirus. Delhi state government on Thursday ordered closure of primary schools till March 31.
As per health ministry advisory, people should avoid mass gatherings, along with formal hugs and handshakes. Meanwhile, those with travel history to coronavirus-affected countries in the past 28 days are being screened, while few have been quarantined at home.
Coronavirus updates March 5 | As it happened
11:40 pm: Britain reports its first Coronavirus death
11:20 pm: 6th patient reported in Pakistan
10:04 pm: Iran to send empty flight to Delhi on Friday to take back Iranian citizens back. Another flight will arrive on the day after tomorrow to take equipment for Indians stranded in Iran.
9:20 pm: 3 test negative in Maharashtra, reports of 13 awaited.
7:42 pm: The Mughal Gardens will be closed from March 7 in a bid to avoid any large gatherings in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, ANI reports.
7:11 pm: Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Thursday reviewed the screening of people coming from neighbouring countries through land borders in view of the coronavirus. He held a video conference with officials from different states and security agencies to take stock of the country's overall preparedness to deal with the outbreak.
6:35 pm: Hoardings with WHO guidelines on coronavirus to come up along Mumbai roads, outside schools, says city's Municipal commissioner
4:30 pm: Primary schools in Delhi to be shut till March 31, says Delhi government
3:45 pm: Middle-aged man in Ghaziabad tested positive for coronavirus infection
02:13 pm: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has sent a personal letter to South Korean President Moon Jae-in condoling the deaths due to the novel coronavirus in the neighbouring state
02:05 pm: Researchers including one of Indian-origin are developing a coronavirus app that would soon enable people to get an at-home risk assessment based on how they feel and where they have been in about a minute, and direct those deemed at risk to the nearest definitive testing facility
01:59 pm: The Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry has asked all states and union territories to undertake a massive awareness campaign on novel coronavirus (COVID-19) among students across the country
01:46 pm: The government on Thursday asserted that there is no shortage of raw ingredients or medicines in the country as it has taken various initiatives to tackle the challenge posed by the coronavirus outbreak. All initiatives are also being taken to ensure that there is no impact of the disease in India, Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers D V Sadananda Gowda said.
01:31 pm: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday asked people not to panic over the coronavirus situation in state, adding the next eight days are crucial and people need to remain cautious. Making a statement in the Legislative Assembly, Thackeray also informed the House that the state government is taking all steps for prevention of the "coronavirus epidemic". In Maharashtra, of the 167 travelers quarantined since
January upon landing at the Mumbai airport, only nine are currently admitted to isolation wards. The state has not reported any confirmed case of virus infection.
01:17 pm: Health Minister saying govt has coronavirus crisis under control, is like Titanic captain telling passengers not to panic. It's time govt made public an action plan backed by solid resources to tackle 'coronavirus crisis', says Rahul Gandhi
12:59 pm: Update for Indians stranded in Iran and for their families - Our medical team for screening arrives in Iran today. Hope to establish first clinic at Qom by evening. Screening process will start immediately. Working on logistics of return with Iranian authorities, says EAM S Jaishankar
12:21 pm: Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Kumar Gupta writes to Rajya Sabha Chairman, urging to put in place preventive measures including provision of a thermal scanner within Parliament House complex
12:15 pm: 21st Asian Security Conference scheduled to be held in Delhi on March 12 and13 has been postponed, due to the prevailing situation with regard to coronavirus
12:00 pm: Sale of meat, semi-cooked meat and fish has been banned in open areas in the district to ensure that coronavirus does not transmit through meat. Hotels and restaurants have been asked to ensure cleanliness and hygiene, says Lucknow District Magistrate Abhishek Prakash
11:23 am: Sufficient isolation beds have been made available at various centers across the country to manage the outbreak of coronavirus, says Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan
11:19 am: I am daily reviewing the situation. A Group of Ministers is also monitoring the situation, says Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan
11:18 am: Indian nationals are advised to avoid non-essential travel to China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, Iran, Italy, and other coronavirus-affected nations, says Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan
11:17 am: Till 4th March, there have been 29 positive cases of Coronavirus in India, says Health Minister
11:16 am: India initiated required preparedness and action since 17th January, much before advice of the WHO, says Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan
11:15 am: Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan addresses the Rajya Sabha over coronavirus outbreak
10:38 am: Delhi: Two security staff at the Parliament seen wearing disposable glove and mask
10:36 am: The 14 Italians, who have tested positive for coronavirus, have been shifted to the Medanta Hospital in Gurgaon from an ITBP quarantine centre. The hospital issued a statement on Thursday morning, saying these patients are housed on a completely separate floor, which has been quarantined and has no contact with the rest of the hospital.
10:20 am: The Karnataka government has advised city-based companies to allow their employees to work from home if they have flu-like symptoms. "Those employees having flu-like symptoms may be allowed to work from home with the advice of standard hand hygiene and cough etiquette," the Health Department said in its advisory. The advisory asked people to avoid non-essential travel to COVID-19 affected countries and refrain from travel to China, Iran, Republic of Korea, Italy and Japan.
10:19 am: 3 of a family who returned from Malaysia and Singapore, along with 2 others from Bahrain have been sent to the hospital and have been kept under observation by the officials from the medical and health department, Vizag
10:16 am: Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan to make a statement in Lok Sabha at 12 Noon and in Rajya Sabha 2 pm today
09:40 am: We've received, at the special request of the government, the 14 Italian nationals ( who were lodged at ITBP's Chhawla camp) asymptomatic persons suspected to have COVID-19. They are housed on a completely separate floor, in an isolated quarantine floor, says Medanta Hospital PRO
08:13 am: Suspected coronavirus patient locks himself inside his apartment in Greater Noida highrise, Uttar Pradesh
07:42 am: N-95 masks have been provided to every headquarter in all districts. I have also directed that information about coronavirus be disseminated through cinema halls, TV channels, newspapers. Everything is under control, says Dr. Amita Upreti, DG, health services, Uttarakhand
07:39 am: Doctors posted at Indo-Nepal border are working 24/7. Strict monitoring being done especially for Champawat, Pithoragarh, Udham Singh Nagar dist. We always had buffer stock of medicines but now we have extra buffer stock for 2.5-3 months, says Dr Amita Upreti, DG (health), Uttarakhand
07:36 am: We've received 4 patients so far -- 2 of them had travelled to Indonesia, 1 to Bahrain and 1 to China. Their blood samples have been sent for tests. They were showing symptoms like throat pain and body ache. But we have kept them under observation as the protocol permits. If they are tested negative they will be sent to home isolation, says Dr. Vivek Kashyap, superintendent, RIMS hospital, Ranchi
07:31 am: Medical store owners and people in the city say that the price of masks has increased
07:29 am: Hand sanitisers have disappeared from the market. We have given order for it but it has become increasingly difficult to get them. Masks which were earlier sold for Rs 50-60 are now being sold at Rs 100-150. It is being sold even in black, says Shubham, a medical store owner
07:04 am: A cruise ship returning to California is being held offshore until people on board are screened. A man who died Wednesday is thought to have caught the virus on that ship last month
06:45 am: 3 samples from Haryana's Sirsa test negative
06:43 am: NCPCR issues advisory to prevent spread of infection among school children
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