Coronavirus LIVE: One Indian who tested positive for coronavirus has died in Iran, first death in Mexico

One Indian who tested positive for coronavirus has died in Iran, says Ministry of External Affairs official.

States have been asked to enforce work from home for the private sector, except for emergency and essential services.

Telangana CM KC Rao: 18 checkpoints have been established to monitor people entering from neighboring states.

Government advised citizens above 65 to stay at home unless they are public representatives or doctors or government employees. People have been advised to keep children below 10 at home.

Indian High Commission in Singapore: Over 90 Indian transit passengers stranded in Singapore due to travel restrictions in India are on their way home. Quick response from Indian Government to permit them to return; High Commission officers at airport to assist them coronavirus.

Russia on Thursday reported its first coronavirus fatality - an elderly woman at a hospital.

Russia's coronavirus monitoring centre confirmed the death of the 79-year-old woman, who had tested positive after being taken to hospital last Friday, the BBC reported.

The woman, who died of pneumonia in intensive care, had other severe health conditions, including type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease.

Authorities in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday announced closure of Tirumala's famous Balaji temple for devotees as part of the precautionary measures to contain spread of Covid-19.

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which manages the affairs of India's richest temple, shut down the ghat road leading towards hill shrine. Devotees heading towards the temple were turned back.

The move was taken hours after a devotee from Maharashtra showed suspected symptoms of Covid-19 and was sent to a hospital in Tirupati.

With 24 positive COVID-19 cases reported and over 26,000 people in isolation either at home or in hospital, the otherwise happy-go-lucky Kerala population has gone into a shell.

Across the state, the otherwise bustling bus and railway stations, markets, shops, hotels, malls and small time eateries, things are no different as it's an uneasy lull everywhere.

While the Kerala government last week came out with advisories to close down all educational institutions, various professional bodies -- dentists and architecture have now followed suit and have asked their members to down their shutters, for the time being till March 31.

After 49 tested positive for COVID-19 in Maharashtra, the Uddhav Thackeray government now braces for another estimated 40,000 travellers arriving by flights from many of the affected countries to the international airports in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur over the next two weeks, official sources indicated here on Thursday.

There are over two dozen incoming flights daily, averaging around 200 passengers per flight from the badly-hit Gulf nations and other affected countries to these three major cities.

Chief Minister Thackeray said on Thursday the state is fully prepared to handle these incoming flights while Pune Divisional Commissioner Deepak Mhaisekar informed that all passengers arriving from Dubai from Friday would be compulsorily picked up for quarantine at the airport itself.

Spain on Thursday announced that deaths from the novel coronavirus had jumped by nearly 30 per cent over the past 24 hours to 767.

The number of people who have contracted the disease has meanwhile grown by around 25 percent to 17,147, according to health ministry figures, bringing Spain's tally near that of Iran, the world's third most affected country after China and Italy.

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 is expected to rise significantly in the coming days as testing for the virus becomes more readily available in the country of around 46 million people.

N-95 masks are available in adequate quantity in the country, says Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry.

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) on Thursday postponed its key recruitment examinations as a preventive measure to check the spread of novel coronavirus.

"As a precautionary measure, in view of the emergent situation due to COVID-19, it has been decided by the Commission, in the larger public interest, to postpone the ongoing Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination (Tier-I), 2O19 with effect from March 20, 2020," it said in an order.

Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry: N-95 masks are available in adequate quantity in the country

Government of Himachal Pradesh: Entry of both domestic and foreign tourists in the state is banned till further orders.

Vistara to temporarily suspend international operations from 23rd March to 15th April.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal: 20 or more people will not be allowed to gather at any place for social, cultural, religious, academics, seminars, conferences purposes in the state. Earlier, 50 or more people were not allowed to gather.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal: We have decided to close restaurants in Delhi till March 31. Eating at restaurants will be prohibited but take away of foods or delivery of food will continue.

Coronavirus death toll hits 767 in Spain, 30 percent jump in 24 hours: AFP

India reports fourth novel Coronavirus death, patient was from Punjab: Union Health Ministry

Haryana: All farmers, vegetable markets shall remain closed till March 31 to avoid large gatherings in view of Coronavirus, says Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board in its order.

Both the Central Railway and Western Railway have decided to suspend the services of air-conditioned local trains in Mumbai from Friday in view of the coronavirus outbreak.

A WR spokesperson said that AC locals would be canceled till further notice. Ordinary train services would replace them, he said.

A CR spokesperson said AC local services on Thane- Vashi-Panvel trans-Harbour corridor will be suspended till March-end.

The WR operates 12 AC services between Churchgate and Virar, which are often crowded during peak hours.

The CR operates 16 services of AC local on trans- Harbour corridor every day.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel: Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed in Raipur and all other municipal corporation areas in the state to prohibit large gatherings in order to contain spread of Coronavirus.

SpiceJet: We are forced to temporarily suspend majority of our international operations from March 21 till April 30. We will resume the suspended flights as soon as the situation normalises.

Chhattisgarh Govt: Entry of the transport buses coming from other states in Chhattisgarh has been restricted with immediate effect. Operation of all passenger vehicles with All India Tourist Permit has also been stopped till further orders.

Uttarakhand: All hotels in Nainital will remain closed from March 21 to March 31, says Praveen Sharma, executive member of Northern India Hotels & Restaurant Association

All sports organizations and their affiliate units are advised against holding any sports events including competitions or selection trials till April 15,2020: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director-General Balram Bhargava:We did random sampling study of community transmission of about 820 samples from 50 sites.They have come negative.We will scale it up.According to this study community spread has not happened

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav: We have cancelled all party programmes for now including Cycle Yatra on March 23. The party programmes will now be held starting April 22. I appeal to party workers to remain home & connected through phones with others.

IndiGo CEO Ronojoy Dutta announced on Thursday that the airline was instituting pay cuts for senior employees and he would himself take the highest cut of 25 per cent amid the novel coronavirus pandemic that has hit the aviation industry hard.

"With the precipitous drop in revenues, the very survival of the airline industry is now at stake," Dutta said in his email to employees. "We have to pay careful attention to our cash flow so that we do not run out of cash." "With a great deal of reluctance and a deep sense of regret, we are therefore instituting pay cuts for all employees, excluding Bands A and B, starting April 1, 2020," the chief executive officer said.

Band A and B are the lowest brackets in salary class, where most of the employees are.

"I am personally taking a 25 per cent pay cut, SVPs (senior vice presidents) and above are taking 20 per cent, VPs (vice presidents) and cockpit crew are taking a 15 per cent pay cut, AVPs (assistant vice presidents), Bands D along with cabin crew will take 10 per cent and Band Cs five per cent," Dutta noted.

The CEO said he knew how hard it was for families to take a cut in "take-home pay".

Rate of platform tickets at Hubli, Belagavi and Ballari stations increased to Rs 50 till 31st March, to control crowding at platforms: Public Relations Officer (PRO), South Western Railway.

Coronavirus outbreak: IndiGo CEO Ronojoy Dutta announces pay cut for most employees, will himself take 25 per cent cut in salary

Authorities in Kashmir on Thursday quarantined 78 people, who arrived here from Leh in Ladakh union territory, for suspected novel coronavirus infection, officials said.

The two-week quarantine has been made mandatory for all persons coming to Kashmir from Ladakh.

"Seventy-eight passengers arriving from Leh have been quarantined at a designated facility on the outskirts of Srinagar. Medical and logistics teams have been deployed," Srinagar Deputy Commissioner Shahid Iqbal Chaudhary said in a tweet.

The officer requested the families of those quarantined to not visit the facility as it was not allowed.

"We will take care (of them)," he added.

The authorities on Wednesday placed 81 people who returned from Leh by an Air India Flight in isolation.

Nearly 100 Indian travellers, arriving from the Philippines and Malaysia, are stranded at Singapore's Changi Airport and are unable to get back home due to the travel restrictions imposed by India in response to the fast-spreading coronavirus pandemic, the Indian High Commission said here on Thursday.

The Commission said it was working out arrangements to put the 97 stranded Indians on a flight back to India.

Most of these Indian passengers arrived from the Philippines and Malaysia, the Indian High Commission said.

Due to Singapore's own travel restrictions on visitors coming from or through ASEAN region, these passengers cannot enter Singapore, it said.

"We have worked with the Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Civil Aviation to facilitate the return of these Indians back home," India's High Commissioner to Singapore Jawed Ashraf told PTI on Thursday.

"We are also working with Air India, Singapore Airlines and Changi Airport to get the stranded passengers flight back to India and lend support during their stay in transit," Ashraf said.

Officials at the High Commission are at the Changi Airport assisting the 97 passengers with arrangements for food, freshening up and any other assistance needed in the airport transit area.

Most of the passengers had travelled through Malaysia and faced stringent arrival and departure procedures both in India and Malaysia.

Government-owned Air India may cut salary of employees by 5 per cent amid its growing financial woes particularly in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, which has nearly grounded its entire international operations, sources said.

The reduction will be across the board, they say.

The loss-making airline, which is in the process of a second attempt of privatization after failing to get a single buyer nearly two years ago, has already taken some steps such as reduced flying allowances to cabin crew besides withdrawing entertainment allowance to executive pilots, among others.

“Air India is considering a 5 per cent pay cut to its employees as it faces huge financial crisis due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, which has brought almost its entire international operations save the US, Canada and a few other markets, to the ground," a source told PTI.

According to another source, privy to the development, the carrier has also decided to take off from flying its over 100  reemployed pilots on contract as part of various cost cutting measures.

Air India spokesperson was not available for comments.

On Tuesday, the airline issued a circular stating that it is  withdrawing entertainment allowance to executive pilots. It also said that all cabin crew including on contract rostered for flying duties from April 1 will have revised layover allowance of USD 100 for 30 hours and after that USD 4 for every additional hour.

Covid-19: Gurgaon shuts down malls till March 31, reported The Indian Express

Gujarat: Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad closed for visitors till March 29, in wake of Coronavirus

Health authorities in Rajasthan's Alwar district have issued a notice to a doctor couple, who are suspected to have been infected by the novel coronavirus, for travelling abroad without approval and resuming work after their return ignoring the advisory and protocol, officials said.

The couple, an eye surgeon and his gynaecologist wife, work at the state-run Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital in Alwar and were on leave from March 2-12 for "urgent work".

"The couple did not inform that they travelled abroad during the leave duration. A notice has been served to give explanation," said Sunil Chauhan, the principal medical officer of the hospital.

Officials said the couple visited Singapore and conducted surgery after resuming duty.

Chauhan said the couple are among the coronavirus suspects who had a history of travelling abroad.

They are now under home isolation.

Their swab samples have been taken for testing and the report is awaited.

Coronavirus outbreak: Part of exchange programme, four Noida students stranded in Poland, reported The Indian Express

The chorus for restoration of high-speed 4G internet services on mobile phones in Jammu and Kashmir has grown following the detection of the first case of coronavirus in the valley.

Several people, including Srinagar Mayor Junaid Mattu and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti's daughter Iltija Mufti, have called for the restoration of the services to help raise awareness about the virus.

"World's battling coronavirus but J&K admin still unrelenting & refuses to lift inhuman ban on 4G. In times of COVID pandemic, access to Internet & info is a necessity not a privilege. Are Kashmiri lives so cheap? (sic)," Iltija wrote on her mother's Twitter handle.

"Urge all Delhiites to work from home as far as possible," tweeted Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the wake of Coronavirus pandemic.

Total number of positive cases reaches 49 in Maharashtra: Rajesh Tope, State Minister of Public Health and Family Welfare

Amid the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus, Punjab government has decided to ban all public transport with effect from March 21, to stop the spread of the virus, reported The Indian Express.

The railways on Thursday cancelled 84 trains, which will not operate between March 20 and March 31, taking the number of trains cancelled in view of low occupancy and coronavirus pandemic to 155, officials said.

Railway officials said the trains were identified on Wednesday night and the decision would be effective from March 20 to March 31.

Maharashtra: Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai to remain closed till further orders, in wake of Coronavirus

2012 Delhi gang-rape case: A Delhi Court reserves the order on plea of convicts seeking stay on execution due to pendency of various applications in different legal forums. All four convicts are to be hanged tomorrow at 5:30 am.

Mumbai’s Dabbawalas suspended delivery till March 31 in the wake of Novel Coronavirus, reported NDTV

The upscale Sunder Nagar market in South Delhi has been closed till March 31 in view of the coronavirus outbreak, the traders' body said on Thursday, becoming the first market to shut down in the capital due to the disease which has left a person dead and sickened 10 people in the city.

"Under the current situation, we felt that it would be best to close down the market keeping in mind the safety of our members, traders, staff and also our clients who are mostly foreigners," said Komal Jain, president, Sunder Nagar Market Traders Association.

"We will remain closed till 31st of March and review the situation closer to the date," he said.

This is the first time in its 80-year history that the market, known for jewellery, handicraft and restaurants, has been shut voluntarily, he added.

All tourist places in Meghalaya to remain closed till 31st March and there is a possibility that this may be extended up to 15th April. All tourist places in Meghalaya to remain closed till 31st March and there is a possibility that this may be extended up to 15th April. All tourists are requested to re-schedule their travel plans: Director, Information & Public Relations, Meghalaya.

The Delhi government on Thursday ordered closure of all government and private schools in the national capital for teaching and non- teaching staff till March 31 in view of coronavirus.

So far, the schools were closed for students and exams were going on.

"All exams have been postponed till March 31. The schools will be closed for teaching and non-teaching staff as well," the Directorate of Education (DOE) said.

"Teachers will be required to do evaluation work from home for annual examination, while the evaluation for board exams has been suspended by CBSE," the department added.

Six Singapore-returned passengers with 'home quarantine' stamp on their hands were de-boarded from the Gujarat-bound Saurashtra Express at Borivali station in Mumbai on Thursday morning, an official said.

The six passengers were travelling to Vadodara from Mumbai Central, a spokesperson of the Western Railway said.

The incident occurred a day after four Germany- returned passengers with 'home quarantine' stamp on their hands wereforced to de-board from Garib Rath Express at Palghar station after their co-passengers raised an alarm.

Chilling at home after coming back from a coronavirus-forced "hotel arrest" in Pakistan, South African pacer Dale Steyn feels it's a pity that sporting events are being cancelled en masse due to the crisis as "if you take sport away, then I don't know really what we have."

Steyn, who returned from Pakistan due to the virus outbreak, said it's indescribable how the situation changed in a matter of hours. He was playing for Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League which was suspended on the day of its semifinal clashes.

168 individuals have been confirmed positive in India among the possibly infected cases and contacts of known positive cases.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Thursday announced that the country's borders will be closed to any visitors except citizens and residents due to the coronavirus pandemic.

128 people have been home quarantined, in order to control the spread of Coronavirus: Health Department, Uttarakhand

Actors Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal have postponed their wedding to later half of the year amid the coronavirus pandemic, the spokesperson for the couple announced on Thursday.

Richa and Ali were scheduled to tie the knot in April, with reportedly many of their guests flying in from the US and Europe for the ceremony.

"Given the current scenario and the unfortunate turn of events owing to the COVID-19 pandemic globally, Ali Fazal and Richa Chadha have decided to postpone their wedding functions to the later half of 2020 tentatively.

"They wish for everyone to be healthy and safe and at no cost would want their friends, families and well wishers to be affected," the spokesperson for the actors said in a statement.

The number of novel coronavirus cases in India rose to 169 on Thursday.

The pandemic has led to the cancellation of various events, award functions, interviews and shooting schedules in the country. To contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, film bodies in India decided to put shootings of films, TV shows and web series on hold till March 31.

Australia's ODI skipper Aaron Finch has said that his country's cricketers risk getting a massive financial jolt if the IPL and their home season are halted by the COVID-19 pandemic but they have to accept the situation as "we're all in this together".

Cricket Australia has already said that it may review the NOCs given to the players for IPL and now the government has imposed unprecedented travel restrictions, which are likely to jeopardise the Australian players' participation in the postponed T20 league. The event which was to start on March 29, has now been set for April 15.

Health authorities in Telangana on Thursday sounded high-alert in Karimnagar after eight Indonesian citizens who had come to the town were tested positive for COVID-19.

Australian flag carrier Qantas announced on Thursday that it has halted all international flights and temporarily cut two thirds of its workforce, in an effort to endure mass travel disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Asian equities took another beating Thursday while the dollar surged as a European Central Bank plan to spend more than USD 800 billion to buy bonds failed to instil optimism in traders that the world is heading for a virus-fuelled economic catastrophe.

In what one analyst said could be a "game changer" for the coronavirus-wracked eurozone, the ECB's so-called Pandemic Emergency Purchase Programme aims to give financial markets some much-needed liquidity as investors pull the plug on markets.

It said the 750-billion-euro (USD 820-billion) programme was temporary and will be halted when the coronavirus crisis is judged to be over "but in any case not before the end of the year".

CISCE postpones all ICSE and ISC exams for year 2020 to be conducted between march 19 to march 31

The England and Wales cricket Board has discussed "contingency plans" to save the upcoming county season amid the rapidly-growing COVID-19 pandemic and suspended all recreational cricket, including pre-season friendlies and training.

According to a report in 'ESPNCricinfo', the ECB had a video call with county chief executives to discuss ways to ensure that the event's April 12 start can be stuck to.

The meeting will resume on Thursday "to make decisions about inevitable postponements and cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic which is certain to have a significant effect on the shape of the English home season".

According to the report, measures such as scaling down the championship, have it behind closed doors and shrinking the duration were discussed during the call. The county season runs till September.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ECB said "it is with sadness and reluctance that we recommend that all forms of recreational cricket are for now suspended." "This extends to training, pre-season friendlies and any associated cricket activity," it added.

The second positive case of coronavirus was on Thursday reported in Andhra Pradesh, taking the total to two.

A person who returned to the state from England on March 15 tested positive for the deadly virus, the state Health Department has said.

"The youngster has been admitted to an isolation ward in RIMS at Ongole and his condition is stable," the department said in a release.

The youngster, who left London on March 12, reached Ongole on March 15 and was admitted to the government hospital after he complained of fever, cough and cold.

His blood sample was sent to the virology lab in Tirupati where it tested positive.

On March 12, another person who returned to his native Nellore from Italy was the first confirmed case of coronavirus in AP.

He is currently in isolation in the government hospital in Nellore.

According to Special Chief Secretary (Health) K S Jawahar Reddy, the department has said the blood sample of the first confirmed case in the state would be tested again after the end of the 14-day period and discharged.

Of the total 109 samples sent for examination, 94 tested negative.

While two were positive, result of the remaining 13 was awaited, he added.

The next two weeks are crucial for India as we enter a phase of exponential Coronavirus transmission. Social distancing and washing of hands can play a major role in containing the virus and saving lives. Let’s all be conscientious and careful for each others’ sake, says Priyanka Gandhi

Authorities in Srinagar on Thursday announced restrictions in parts of the city including Khanyar area where the first positive case of coronavirus in Kashmir has been detected.  The area within 300 metre radius from the house of the 67-year-old COVID-19 patient in Khanyar locality has been sealed, officials said.

Deputy commissioner, Srinagar, Shahid Iqbal Chaudhary said restrictions on the movement and assembly of people was to prevent the spread of the virus.  "The restrictions on public gatherings, assembly and movement in many areas are aimed at avoiding spread of any likely cases," he tweeted and urged people to cooperate.

Two women test positive for coronavirus in Mumbai on Thursday, total cases in Maharashtra now 47

Indian Railways has cancelled 168 trains due to low occupancy in view of COVID19, from 20th March to 31st March

Railways cancel 84 more trains taking total number to 155. Trains to remain cancelled from March 20-31 in view of coronavirus. All passengers having tickets in cancelled trains are being informed about it individually

The United States is suspending routine visa services in most countries because of the coronavirus pandemic, the State Department announced late Wednesday.

It said embassies and consulates in "most countries worldwide... will cancel all routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments as of March 18, 2020." It did not specify which countries would be exempted from the suspension, which was in response to "worldwide challenges" related to the deadly pandemic.

The novel coronavirus cases in India rose to 169 on Thursday after 18 fresh cases were reported from various parts of the country, according to the Health Ministry.

The cases include 25 foreign nationals -- 17 from Italy, 3 from the Philippines, two from the UK, one each belonging to Canada, Indonesia and Singapore.

The figure also includes three deaths reported from Delhi, Karnataka and Maharashtra so far.

"The total number of active COVID 2019 cases across India stands at 151 so far," a health ministry official said, adding that 15 others have been cured/discharged/migrated while three have died.

Delhi has, so far, reported 12 positive cases which includes one foreigner, while Uttar Pradesh has recorded 17 cases, including one foreigner.

Maharashtra has 45 cases, including three foreigners, while Kerala has recorded 27 cases which include two foreign nationals.

Karnataka has 14 coronavirus patients. The number of cases in Ladakh rose to eight and Jammu and Kashmir four. Telangana has reported six cases which include two foreigners.

Rajasthan has also reported seven cases including that of two foreigners. Tamil Nadu has two cases so far.

Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Pondicherry, Chandigarh and Punjab have reported one case each.

In Haryana, there are 17 cases, which include 14 foreigners.

The Food and Drugs Administration personnel raided a hand sanitiser manufacturing unit in suburban Nahur and seized substandard sanitisers worth Rs 25 lakh, officials said.

The sanitisers were manufactured illegally and were being exported without any valid licence and necessary permissions, officials said on Wednesday.

Officials had received specific information about the manufacturing unit, where hand sanitisers were manufactured without proper licence from the FDA, an official said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation on Thursday evening on the situation arising out of coronavirus outbreak and the efforts to combat it, the Prime Minister's Office said on Wednesday.

"PM Shri @narendramodi will address the nation on 19th March 2020 at 8 PM, during which he will talk about issues relating to COVID-19 and the efforts to combat it," the PMO tweeted.

In another tweet, the PMO said Modi chaired a high-level meeting to review the ongoing efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Pakistan President Arif Alvi and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi have tested negative for the novel coronavirus upon their return from China.

Two US lawmakers on Wednesday were confirmed positive of the coronavirus as the number of deaths due to the deadly virus crossed 150 in America, while about 10,000 people have been infected.

Republican Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart from Florida became the first American lawmaker to have tested positive for the coronavirus, a deadly disease for which the health community is struggling to find a vaccine and a treatment.

According to his office, Diaz-Balart developed symptoms, including a fever and a headache, last Saturday and on Wednesday he was notified that he has tested positive for the COVID-19.

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) has said it will temporarily close its trading floors and move to fully electronic trading due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

All-electronic trading will begin on March 23 at the open, the exchange said in a statement on Wednesday, adding the decision to temporarily close the trading floors represents a precautionary step to protect the health and well-being of employees and the floor community in response to COVID-19, Xinhua reported.

"While we are taking the precautionary step of closing the trading floors, we continue to firmly believe the markets should remain open and accessible to investors. All NYSE markets will continue to operate under normal trading hours despite the closure of the trading floors," Stacey Cunningham, president of the NYSE, said in the statement.