Coronavirus News: With several new cases of Coronavirus being reported from across the country, several cities have announced virtual lockdown to stop the spread of the deadly infection. Metro services in Delhi, Metro, Bengaluru will not be available on Sunday, March 22 – the day PM Modi has called for Janata Curfew. Jaipur Metro has stopped services till Sunday with immediate effect. The Maharashtra government on Thursday announced closure of offices and shops in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur till March 31. Shops selling essential commodities will only remain open in these cities. Train services across the country would remain curtailed on Sunday. A number of passenger trains have been cancelled. The number of Coronavirus case continues to jump in India as the government has stepped up preventive measures to prevent the virus from creating more damage to the Indian economy and society. As of today, there are as many as 236 cases reported in the country out of which 32 are foreign nationals while the rest of them are Indians. Indian health officials and doctors have been able to cure 19 people who were infected with the COVID-19 but could not save the lives of 4 people.
Prime Minister Modi on Thursday addressed the nation in a bid to bring calmness to the people of India amid the increasing rage from the Coronavirus. He urged the countrymen to go for a self-imposed curfew- Janata Curfew to bring about isolation in our society, which is very much essential part of containment against the Coronavirus.
The government has also announced that no commercial international flights will be allowed to land in India from Sunday, March 22 for a week as cases of Coronavirus continue to rise in the country.
In developments today, the University Grants Council (UGC) asked universities to postpone exams till March 31. Also, CBSE, ICSE board class 10,12 exams have been postponed till March 31. In view of the COVID-19 outbreak, Sebi has given a 45-day extension to companies for filing Q4 results — this is a month-long grace for filing FY20 results due to coronavirus pandemic.
Financial Express Online brings you the latest updates on Coronavirus in India, LIVE. Stay tuned:
Bollywood singer Kanika Kapoor, who has been tested positive for coronavirus, was booked for negligence by the Lucknow Police. Kapoor had attended a party in Lucknow earlier this week after returning from foreign. The party was also attended by several top politicians including former Rajasthan CM Vasudhara Raje, who has now gone into self-quarantine. Reports say Kanika Kapoor hid her travel details from the authorities.
IndiGo says it will operate only 60 per cent of its domestic flights on Sunday when ‘Janta curfew’ is in force. The airline said that due to reduction in demand, it is trimming its domestic flights by 25 per cent for now.
GoAir has said that it is voluntarily suspending all flights on March 22 when ‘Janta curfew’ will be in force. “GoAir will voluntarily suspend all flights on Sunday, March 22, in support of the Janta Curfew proposed by the Honorable Prime Minister,” the airline said in a statement.
With 627 new deaths, the toll has now crossed 4,000 in Italy, reports news agency AFP. The country is now the worst affected from the endemic. China, where the infection first surfaced in December last year, has reported over 3,000 deaths.
Total number of Coronavirus positive cases in Delhi touched 20 on Friday, health officials said. The Delhi government has closed several popular markets and other shopping areas apart from closing all schools and other educational institutions to control the spread of Coronavirus. Delhi Metro services will not be available on Sunday, March 22.
Number of positive Coronavirus cases in India has reached 236, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said on Friday evening. In Maharashtra, cities such as Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune have been put under a virtual curfew with offices, shops being asked to remain close. In Delhi, Metro services will not be available on Sunday, March 22 – the day when PM Modi has asked people to follow ‘janata curfew’ from 7 am to 9 pm.
With Coronavirus cases showing no signs for slowing down, Italy is likely to impose more restrictions on people who are already facing complete lockdown since last several days. “In the next 24 to 48 hours, new restrictions are possible,” AFP quoted Italy’s minister of regional affairs Francesco Boccia, as saying. Death toll in the country has 3,405 which is more that China, the country where Coronavirus first surfaced.
Delhi’s Jamia Millia Islamia has asked students to vacate hostels by Monday morning. The university administration said in a notification that the order will remain enforced till March 31, however, it may be extended till April. All teachers have been asked to work from home and provide study materials to students.
Jordan will impose a round-the-clock curfew from Saturday morning until further notice to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus in the country, the government announced, news agency AFP reported. The kingdom has reported 69 cases of the COVID-19 disease. There has been no deaths so far.
Varanasi’s Kashi Vishwanath Temple will remain closed for devotes from Saturday till March 24, in the wake of Coronavirus outbreak. Routine prayers by priests would continue, Kaushal Raj Sharma, Varanasi District Magistrate said.
The number of Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra climbed to 52 after four more people tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Friday, Of the fresh cases, two are from Mumbai, while Pune and its neighbouring Pimpri Chinchwad account for one each, news agency PTI quoted state health department officials, as saying.
Madhya Pradesh sees first Covid-19 cases. Four people have been tested positive for novel coronavirus in Jabalpur, reports news agency PTI.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday interacted with CMs of all states via video conferencing to discuss measures to control the spread of Coronavirus. Underlining that the next 3-4 weeks were crucial in the fight against the infection, PM said the most important measure for containment is ‘social distancing’. PM said that threat of the pandemic is common for all states and underscored the need for Centre and all States to work together.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has cancelled all Services Selection Board (SSB) interviews for selecting officers planned from March 23 onwards at Air Force Selection Boards till further orders. Fresh dates would be intimated in due course of time, the IAF said.
Underlining that there is ‘insurmountable’ dip in revenues, Air India announced on Friday evening that it has cut allowances of all employees, except cabin crew, by 10 per cent for 3 months starting March, news agency PTI reported. | READ MORE HERE
On-board catering services in mail or express trains to be closed until further advice. Food plazas, refreshment rooms, Jan aahars, and cell kitchens will also be closed Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC) announced on Friday evening.
No passenger trains will run from midnight Sunday, March 22 till 10:00 PM on the same day, Indian Railways has announced. PM Modi has called for Janata Curfew on March 22 with an aim to break the chain of Coronavirus infection. | READ MORE HERE
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to the US Secretary of Defence, Dr. Mark T. Esper on Friday evening. “We exchanged views on the grave situation arising out of COVID19 pandemic and expressed confidence that through open communication and mutual support, world can overcome the pandemic,” news agency ANI quoted Rajnath, as saying.
Two COVID19 positive cases have been confirmed from Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said.
With an aim to create awareness over Coronavirus,the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has decided to start a helpline for students. The facility is available on 1800 11 8004 from 8 AM to 8 PM, initially up to March 31.
Noida metro and city bus services to be suspended on March 22, Sunday, says Ritu Maheshwari, Noida Authority CEO. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed people to observe Janata Curfew on Sunday to fight Coronavirus.
Lucknow’s Taj Hotel will remain closed till further orders: city District Magistrate said on Friday evening. Singer Kanika Kapoor who has tested positive for COVID-19 had attended a party in the hotel. The party was also attended by former Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje and several other top politicians.
Twelve more persons have tested positive for COVID19 in Kerala – 5 in Ernakulam, 6 in Kasaragod and 1 in Palakkad. There are total 40 Coronavirus positive cases in the state, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.
In wake of the ‘Janata Curfew’ on March 22, Bengaluru Metro has decided to keep its services closed on Sunday. Delhi Metro services will also not be available on the say, whikle Jaipur Metro has stopped its services till March 22 with immediate effect.
Paytm employee at Gurgaon office, who was diagnosed with Coronavirus, has recovered and discharged from hospital. He has been prescribed self-quarantine for next 14 days, the company said in a tweet.
Hours after the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation announced that there will be no services in the city on Sunday, March 22, the Jaipur Metro also suspended its services till March 22 to control the spread of Coronavirus.
Stressing that the economy is facing a tough time in the wake of Coronavirus outbreak, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has written to PM Narendra Modi seeking a fiscal stimulus of Rs 2 lakh crore besides a slew of tax cuts and reduction in interest rates to combat effects. Business is going to see a huge amount of disruption, CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee said | READ MORE HERE
Five United Kingdom nationals who were in isolation ward at a hospital in Kochi have tested positive for Coronavirus, says Kerala Minister V S Sunil Kumar
Till now, 5 individuals have been tested positive for COVID19 in Chandigarh. First case is of a young female (who had returned from England), who was found positive yesterday. Further, three individuals (including her mother, brother & cook) who came in contact with the patient have also been tested positive. A new case of a woman who was earlier admitted in PGI (returned from UK) has also been tested positive: Manoj Parida, Adviser to Administrator Department of Public Relations, Chandigarh. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh Government has decided to sanitize Lucknow, Noida and Kanpur as precautionary measure against Coronavirus (ANI)
Chief Minister’s Office: CM Yogi Adityanath has appealed to postpone all religious, spiritual, social, cultural, and auspicious programmes till 2nd April in the state. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh Health Minister Jai Pratap Singh self-isolates himself; he was in the party that was also attended by singer Kanika Kapoor who has tested positive for Coronavirus. (ANI)
In view of COVID19, Union Public Service Commission has deferred the Personality Tests (Interviews) of the candidates of Civil Services (Main) Exam 2019 scheduled from 23 March to 3rd April, 2020 until further orders. New dates will be informed to the candidates in due course. (ANI)
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has written to National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development (NABARD) Chairman saying, “I request that urgent proactive steps be taken by NABARD to help the states, including Kerala by means of special revival package in view of COVID19”. (ANI)
Manipur Government: In view of Coronavirus, Ema markets and temporary markets at Imphal city will remain closed from 21st March till 25th March. Main Ema markets in Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Bishnupur, Kakching and Jiribam will also remain closed during this period. (ANI)
One more COVID19 positive case confirmed in Hyderabad, total number of positive cases reach 17 in the state. The person has travel history to London: Telangana Health Ministry (ANI)
TMC MP Derek O’Brien in self-quarantine, sources say he was sitting beside BJP MP Dushyant Singh who attended singer Kanika’s Kapoor’s party. (PTI)
IndiGo has been forced to ground 30 planes in its fleet of 258 aircraft following the government’s decision to bar international flights for a week as part of measures to deal with the coronavirus outbreak, a source said on Friday. IndiGo operates to 24 international destinations across airports in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, South Asia, China and Turkey. After the temporary suspension of all international operations for a week from March 22 announced by the government, IndiGo has grounded as many as 30 aircraft in its fleet. Most of these planes were deployed on overseas routes,” the airline source told PTI.
The total number of positive cases of COVID19 in India now stands at 223 (including 32 foreigners), 4 deaths (1 each) in Delhi, Karnataka, Punjab and Maharashtra: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (ANI)