Coronavirus LIVE: 69 year old woman dies of Coronavirus in Delhi, second death in India

As of today, 81 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country. Of these, 3 from Kerala were treated and discharged. In addition, 7 more from Safdarjung have also recovered, says Health Ministry

69-year-old woman who tested positive for coronavirus infection dies in Delhi: Health Ministry and Delhi government officials

Ministry of Consumer Affairs and Public distribution: In view of Coronavirus, masks (2-ply and 3-ply surgical masks, N95 masks) and sanitizers have been declared Essential Commodities temporarily.

Rajasthan Assembly Speaker C P Joshi on Friday adjourned the House till March 26 in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

As soon as the House passed Finance Bill and Appropriation Bill by voice vote, Joshi announced the adjournment.

"As you all know that the entire country is worried about coronavirus. The Centre has issued an advisory in this regard and the chief minister has also highlighted the matter. Keeping (this) in view, the House is adjourned till March 26," the speaker said.

The number of coronavirus cases in the country rose to 81 on Friday. This includes a 76-year-old man from Karnataka who became the country's first coronavirus fatality and 17 foreign nationals, Health Ministry officials said.

Cases of the infection have been reported from at least 11 states and territories, including Delhi, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Kerala, where three patients were discharged last month after they recovered.

Coronavirus infections in Spain soared to more than 4,200 on Friday, as the number of deaths rose by some 50 percent to 120, the health ministry said.

As of 1200 GMT, there were 4,209 cases in Spain, up from 3,004 on Thursday evening, when the number of deaths had stood at 84.

Ukraine on Friday reported its first death from the coronavirus as authorities said the country was closing its borders to foreigners in a bid to keep the pandemic at bay.

"A woman who was diagnosed with the coronavirus yesterday... has died," Ukraine's deputy health minister Viktor Lyashko told reporters. The ex-Soviet country, which has a population of 42 million, has so far reported three confirmed cases of the coronavirus

Punjab Govt: All government & private colleges and universities will remain closed till March 31 in the state as precautionary measures to prevent the spread of Coronavirus pandemic.

Kenya and Ethiopia on Friday announced their first confirmed cases of Ccoronavirus, as East Africa, which has so far been unscathed by the global pandemic, scaled up emergency measures to contain its spread

Ukraine to close borders to foreigners over Coronavirus, reported NDTV

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope clarifies that malls and theaters will remain open.

BCCI Sources: India vs South Africa ODI matches in Lucknow and Kolkata called off in view of Coronavirus

Supreme Court: No persons except lawyers who are going to act in the matter either for argument or for making oral submissions or to assist along with one litigant only, shall be permitted in the court room.

Malls, gyms, cinema halls, swimming pools to remain closed in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad and Nagpur from 12 midnight: Maharashtra CM in Assembly

Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry on invocation of Epidemic Act by the Centre: It is important to understand that it is not a health emergency. We are trying to support initiative taken by the state in terms of managing the situation.

Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary Health Ministry: If masks are sold at exorbitant prices then States can take action as per law. If need be we will take drastic action on abnormal increase in price of masks.

Rubina Ali, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation: Air India would be taking flight to Milan (Italy) to bring back Indians stranded there. The flight would take off tomorrow afternoon and would be landing on Sunday morning at Delhi Airport.

Health Ministry: Government has brought 42,296 passengers under community surveillance, out of which 2,559 were symptomatic and 522 hospitalized including 17 foreign nationals.

Delhi High Court has decided to postpone the Delhi Higher Judicial Service (Mains) Examination-2019 to prevent and control Coronavirus pandemic. The examinations were scheduled to be held on March 14 and March 15.

Anil Malik, MHA: Indo-Bangladesh passenger buses/trains to remain suspended till 15th April. Along Indo-Nepal border 4 check posts will remain operational. For Bhutan and Nepal nationals visa-free entry to continue.

Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry: Till now, there are 81 confirmed cases in India, out of which 64 are Indians, 16 Italians and 1 Canadian national

Several states across India went into battle mode to contain the spread of COVID-19, shutting down schools, theatres and colleges, and many public events, including the IPL, were postponed as the Union Health ministry on Friday put the number of cases at 75.

The tally of 75, one more since Thursday night, includes a 76-year-old man from Karnataka who became the country's first coronavirus fatality, Health Ministry officials said.

The English Premier League suspended all fixtures until April 4 on Friday after a spate of coronavirus cases, including Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi.

"Following a meeting of shareholders today, it was unanimously decided to suspend the Premier League with the intention of returning on 4 April, subject to medical advice and conditions at the time," the Premier League said in a statement.

Iran announced Friday that the new coronavirus has claimed another 85 lives, the highest single-day death toll in one of the world's worst affected countries.

"Sadly, 85 people infected with the COVID-19 disease have died in the past 24 hours", bringing to 514 the overall number of deaths in Iran, health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said in a televised news conference.

A flight carrying 44 Indians evacuated from the coronavirus-affected Iran arrived here from Tehran on Friday afternoon, officials said.

Amid reports of shortening the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Friday said there is no question of curtailing the session.

"There is no question of curtailing the Budget Session. The session will not be curtailed," Joshi told PTI.

The Budget Session started on January 31 and then it went on recess on February 11. It resumed on March 2 and will conclude on April 3.

All schools and colleges in Karnataka's Kalaburagi's city have been shut for a week a day after an old man's death was confirmed to be due to coronavirus disease, an official said on Friday.

More than 700 people working in a leather company in Greater Noida have been put under surveillance after a Delhi-based director of the firm tested positive for novel coronavirus, officials said on Friday.

The 46-year-old man had recently travelled to Italy, Switzerland before returning to India, Gautam Buddh Nagar Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Anurag Bhargava said.

When the man, who lives in Delhi, returned home he felt weakness and consulted doctors who tested him positive for coronavirus. However, he kept visiting the company since returning from abroad because of which all 707 employees of the company have been put on surveillance," Bhargava told reporters.

"His family members and children are already under surveillance," Bhargava said, adding that the company is also being sanitised under the watch of experts.

He said the Health Department is in touch with the people under surveillance and anybody showing any symptoms for the novel virus will be tested.

"The man who has tested positive would sit in his office only during visits to the company so the chances of him contacting many people are less and hence employees are only on surveillance," he added.

The CMO said so far nobody has shown any symptoms for coronavirus in Gautam Buddh Nagar and advised people to exercise utmost precaution.

People with cough, fever, cold or lethargy should consult medical experts and put themselves in self-isolation in order to not spread it further, he said.

The man, who lives in West Delhi's Janakpuri area, had tested positive on March 11.

More than 1,30,000 cases of the novel coronavirus have been recorded in 116 countries and territories, killing at least 4,900 people.

The number of coronavirus patients in the country is 75, including the death of a 76-year-old man in Karnataka, the Union Health Ministry said on Friday.

The under-pressure BCCI on Friday suspended the start of this year's IPL from March 29 to April 15 in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused massive upheaval across the globe.

"The Board of Control for Cricket in India has decided to suspend IPL 2020 till 15th April 2020, as a precautionary measure against the ongoing Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) situation," the BCCI said in a statement.

This came hours after Delhi government said it will not allow any sporting activity in the national capital due to the health crisis. Delhi is home to the Delhi Capitals IPL franchise.

India has more than 70 positive coronavirus cases so far and recorded its first COVID-19 death on Thursday in Karnataka.

"The BCCI is concerned and sensitive about all its stakeholders, and public health in general, and it is taking all necessary steps to ensure that, all people related to IPL including fans have a safe cricketing experience," the Board stated.

The Board said it will work closely with the central government to tackle the situation.

The IPL is set to be a closed-door affair owing to the global crisis, which has caused close to 5,000 deaths.

Several sporting events internationally and in India have been postponed or cancelled due to the travel restrictions that the spread of the virus has triggered all across.

A railway museum in Mumbai has been closed for public viewing in the backdrop of the coronavirus situation, officials said on Friday.

The Heritage Museum at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in south Mumbai would remain closed for public viewing this month as a preventive measure, they said.

Of the 14 coronavirus positive cases in Maharashtra so far, three are from Mumbai.

Sri Lanka on Friday temporarily banned entry of people coming from Iran, Italy and South Korea as a precaution against the rapidly spreading coronavirus pandemic.

The travel ban will be in effect for two weeks, starting from tomorrow, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said.

"All airlines are strongly advised not to carry passengers during these two weeks to Sri Lanka from Italy, Iran or South Korea," a senior CAA official said.

The island nation has so far reported two COVID-19 cases.

As part of measures to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus, the Education Ministry on Thursday announced the closure of all schools across the country till April 20.

The government has also temporarily stopped the visa on arrival policy applicable for 48 countries, including India, and also appealed to the public to avoid non-essential foreign travel.

All Sri Lankan nationals arriving from Italy, South Korea and China are being sent to quarantine centres set up in the eastern province.

The deadly viral strain that first originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December last year has so far claimed over 4,920 lives and infected more than 126,000 people across 116 countries and territories, prompting a wave of travel restrictions across the globe.

Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council: All sports/coaching activities in all the sports centers of Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council of Jammu province will remain off with effect from March 13 till further order.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi: I would like to propose that the leadership of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) nations chalk out a strong strategy to fight Coronavirus. We could discuss, via video conferencing, ways to keep our citizens healthy.

Office of the Registrar, Jamia Millia Islamia: Face to face/group interaction or gathering of the students to be avoided till 31st March, 2020. Internal assessments to be given online and examinations to be conducted as per the schedule.

Kerala assembly adjourned sine die in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic Assembly was scheduled to continue till April 8, 2020.

The Delhi government's refusal to allow any IPL matches in the city owing to the COVID-19 pandemic has added to the BCCI's woes with the Board now looking for alternate venues in "willing" states to conduct a closed-door edition.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Friday said that the national capital will not have any sporting events for a month to contain the spread of the deadly infection that has sent the world into turmoil with close to 5,000 deaths so far.

The IPL is due to start on March 29 in Mumbai and Delhi's first game was to be on March 30.

"All sports gatherings will be banned, including the IPL, in wake of the coronavirus threat," Sisodia said.

The BCCI responded by listing the alternate venues that could play host. Delhi is home to the Delhi Capital IPL franchise.

"Lucknow has been wanting to host IPL matches for a while now. If it's a closed door tournament, it really doesn't matter where it is played," a BCCI source told PTI.

Before Delhi, Karnataka has also expressed its unwillingness to host IPL matches, while Maharashtra have banned the sale of tickets.

Delhi government's decision to ban all sports activities due to the novel coronavirus pandemic has raised fresh doubts over the fate of India Open badminton, a crucial event in the Tokyo Olympics qualification cycle.

The USD 400,000 Super 500 event was supposed to be held without any spectators to avoid spreading the deadly disease.

"We will go by what the government decides. It is not in our hand. We have to follow the government's decisions. Currently there is no clarity on the visa process of the foreign players and on top of it now the Delhi govt has come up with this directive," a Badminton Association of India (BAI) official told PTI.

The BAI and the Badminton World Federation (BWF) had issued a joint statement on Wednesday, informing that the event will be held inside closed doors due to the coronavirus outbreak.

However, the government on Wednesday night issued a revised travel advisory, suspending all existing visas, except diplomatic and employment, till April 15.

The Sports ministry on Thursday asked all national federations, including the cricket board, to follow the Health Ministry's advisory and avoid large gatherings in sports events.

Given the circumstances, the BAI has sought clarity from the sports, health and external affairs ministries regarding the visa process of the foreign players.

“Today our country along with many countries of the world is in the grip of the coronavirus pandemic. As responsible citizens we can prevent the spread of this disease by taking some small precautions. Come let’s defeat this epidemic together,” says Priyanka Gandhi

The Jawaharlal Nehru University on Friday ordered suspension of classes with immediate effect till March 31 due to the coronavirus outbreak.

However, routine office work will remain unaffected, the university said as it urged all officers, faculty members and staff to be present on their duty.

Chairperson of Infosys Foundation, Sudha Murty has urged the Karnataka government to take steps to shut malls and theatres, saying the coronavirus multiplies in air-conditioned areas.

In a letter to the government, she said preventive measures should be taken to control the spread of coronovirus before it gets worse.

Murty, who also leads the State government-constituted Karnataka Tourism Task Force, said she has discussed the current situation with Chairman and Executive Director of Narayana Health, Devi Prasad Shetty.

She suggested closure of all schools and colleges with immediate effect, malls, theatres and "all air-conditioned areas where the virus multiplies", and allow only essential services like pharmacy, grocery and petrol bunks.

We have decided to ban any sports activity where people will gather in huge numbers like IPL. Social distancing is important to curb the breakout of Coronavirus, said Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia

The Patna Medical College and Hospital here has cancelled the leave of all its doctors and other staff in view of the coronavirus scare across the country.

A Delhi resident working in Uttar Pradesh's Noida has tested positive for novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Chief Medical Officer said on Friday.

The number of coronavirus patients in the country is 75, including the death of a 76-year-old man in Karnataka, the Union Health Ministry said on Friday.

The man from Kalaburagi had recently returned from Saudi Arabia.

"His sample has been confirmed for #COVID19", Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu said on Thursday.

Delhi has reported six positive cases and Uttar Pradesh 10 so far. Karnataka has five coronavirus patients, Maharashtra 11 and Ladakh three.

Besides, Rajasthan, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab have reported one case each. Kerala has recorded 17 cases, including three patients who were discharged last month after they recovered from the contagious infection with flu-like symptoms.

The total number of 75 confirmed cases includes 17 foreigners -- 16 Italian tourists and a Canadian, the ministry officials said.

Amid rising coronavirus cases in India, the government on Thursday asked people not to panic, saying no community transmission of the virus has been observed and there has only been a few cases of local transmission so far.

Asserting that the safety and welfare of its citizens abroad have always been a priority for India, the government said three flights will be sent to Iran to bring back Indians from Iran.

With the novel coronavirus being declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation, Health Ministry officials said around 1,500 people who came in contact with the 75 infected people were under rigorous observation while over 30,000 people across the country under community surveillance.

"India presently has around 1 lakh testing kits. More testing kits have been ordered and they are in procurement," the official said.

Australia women's limited overs tour of South Africa, starting on March 22, was on Friday suspended due to the dreaded novel coronavirus pandemic, Cricket Australia said.

Australia were scheduled to play six matches including three ODIs and as many T20s starting in Durban.

"Australia's three-match One-Day International and three-match Twenty20 International Qantas tour of South Africa has been suspended until further notice," CA said in a media statement.

The ODI matches were due to be played in Durban (March 22), Pietermaritzburg (March 25) and East London (March 28) and the T20Is were scheduled in East London (March 31) and Benoni (April 3 and 4).

Dispelling rumours that animals spread novel coronovirus (COVID-19), former Union Minister and animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi on Friday made it clear that animals cannot transmit the infectious disease and many government and private departments were creating panic by disseminating false information.

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.

In its circular on March 9, the Union health ministry had directed that all mass functions, including seminars and conferences, be cancelled in the wake of coronavirus cases being reported from different parts of the country.

All agencies, including those with the government, need to be proactive and take preventive action for the sake of people's health, Rane said.

The state government has set up isolation wards at Goa Medical College and Hospital, Cottage Hospital at Chicalim (South Goa), TB Hospital in Margao (South Goa) and Primary Health Centre at Sankhalim (North Goa) to deal with suspected cases.

Three locals have been quarantined citing possible exposure to the coronavirus, while 36 people are under home observation in the coastal state, which has not reported a single positive case of the virus so far, officials have said.

A separate facility has been set up in case any of the swab samples of suspected cases comes out positive, they said.

The Unacademy Road Safety World Series, featuring cricket legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara and others, has been postponed due to the ongoing concerns over coronavirus.

Google confirmed on Friday that an employee of its Bengaluru office has been diagnosed with COVID-19.

"The employee has been on quarantine since then, and we have asked colleagues who were in close contact with the employee to quarantine themselves and monitor their health," the company said in a statement.

Karnataka Health Department officials said on Thursday the 26-year old man -- the Google employee --, who had returned from Greece, has tested positive for coronavirus.

The patient who hails from Mumbai has been admitted and isolated at a hospital and his condition is stable, a department media bulletin had said.

"All (his) primary contacts have been traced and are asymptomatic," it said.

He had travelled from Greece to Mumbai on March 6, and came by flight to Bengaluru on March 8.

He had been to office here on March 9, during which he is said to have spoken to four of his close friends and gone back home within a few hours.

"He was hospitalised the same day. One brother of his is staying with him in Bengaluru..parents and wife are in Mumbai," sources said.

The total number of confirmed coronavirus positive cases in Karnataka is six, including the Google employee, and the 76-year old man from Kalaburagi who passed away on Tuesday night.

China on Friday reported seven more fatalities due to the novel coronavirus infection, taking the death toll to 3,176, while the new confirmed cases were just eight, as the disease continued to abate across the country, including in its epicentre Wuhan.

China's National Health Commission (NHC) said it received reports of the seven deaths from the Chinese mainland on Thursday. While six people died in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, one died in Shandong province.

The eight new confirmed cases were also from the Chinese mainland, it said.

Meanwhile, 33 new suspected cases were reported in the country, taking the total number to 147, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

I will keep repeating this. The coronavirus is a huge problem. Ignoring the problem is a non solution. The Indian economy will be destroyed if strong action is not taken. The government is in a stupor, says Rahul Gandhi

The CRPF on Friday postponed its raising day celebrations planned to be held next week in view of the coronavirus outbreak.

The 3.25 lakh central force was supposed to hold the main ceremonial parade and display of martial skills with the involvement of thousands of troops at its officers academy campus in Gurgaon on March 19 to mark its 81st raising day.

"Conforming to precautionary advisory to break the spread of COVID-19, all CRPF programs in connection with CRPF raising day and passing out parade of 51st batch DAGOs (directly appointed gazetted officers) have been postponed," the force said in a statement.

"CRPF has joined the national response against COVID-19 by gearing up its medical facilities," it said.

Australian fast bowler Kane Richardson has been tested for the novel coronavirus after he reported illness and will miss the first ODI against New Zealand on Friday.

The right-arm pacer, who returned with the Australian team from South Africa earlier this week, informed the medical staff of a sore throat on Thursday and was tested for the virus, though the results of the test are awaited.

"Our medical staff are treating this as a typical throat infection but we are following Australian Government protocols that require us to keep Kane away from other members of the squad and perform the appropriate tests given he has returned from international travel in the last 14 days," a Cricket Australia spokesperson was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

A Philippine diplomat in New York has tested positive for the new coronavirus in the first recorded case at United Nations headquarters in the city, diplomatic sources said.

The diplomat, who had last visited the UN on Monday, showed symptoms of flu the following day and saw a doctor.

"She got the call today that she tested positive for COVID-19," said a letter from the Philippines mission on Thursday.

"As of today, the Philippine mission is in lockdown, and all personnel are instructed to self-quarantine," said the letter obtained by AFP.

The diplomat works at the UN General Assembly's Sixth Committee, which deals with legal matters.

About 3,000 people are employed at the towering riverfront UN headquarters. Numerous other diplomats from the 193 UN member countries come and go between their own missions in the area and the Manhattan UN complex.

The Philippines has confirmed 52 cases of COVID-19 illness. There have been more than 1,600 cases in the United States.

All Catholic churches across Rome have been closed to stem the spread of a coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 1,000 people across Italy.

The churches will reopen when a broader Italian government crackdown on public gatherings expires on April 3, Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, the papal vicar for Rome, said in a statement.

Catholic faithful have been exempted from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass.

The Vatican had spent days resisting having to take the drastic measure of shuttering places of worship in the overwhelmingly Catholic country.

It closed its museums and even the Saint Peter's Basilica -- parts of its soaring dome designed by Michelangelo -- to tourists as the death toll continued to mount.

Disney has announced that it was closing the Walt Disney World, its flagship theme park resort in Orlando, Florida, for nearly two weeks starting Sunday because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Throughout its nearly 50-year history, Walt Disney World has closed briefly because of looming hurricanes and the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Orlando Sentinal said in a report on Thursday.

In a statement on Thursday night, the company said that in Orlando, the four theme parks will shut down by the end of Sunday, but the hotels and the Disney Springs shopping centre will remain open.

Disney has announced that it was closing the Walt Disney World, its flagship theme park resort in Orlando, Florida, for nearly two weeks starting Sunday because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Throughout its nearly 50-year history, Walt Disney World has closed briefly because of looming hurricanes and the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Orlando Sentinal said in a report on Thursday.

In a statement on Thursday night, the company said that in Orlando, the four theme parks will shut down by the end of Sunday, but the hotels and the Disney Springs shopping centre will remain open.

The Indian Embassy in the US has set up 24-hour helplines to address questions on the recent travel restrictions implemented by New Delhi in a bid to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

India reported its first death due to coronavirus on Thursday as the number of positive cases soared to 74. The deadly virus that originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December last year has claimed over 4,600 lives and infected more than 124,330 people worldwide.

In a statement the embassy said it has set up round-the-clock helpline numbers "for queries and clarifications regarding the recent travel advisory issued by the government of India for travel to India in view of the spread of coronavirus".

Helpline numbers are being operated at the embassy in Washington DC and consulates at Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Houston and San Francisco.

The Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix has been officially cancelled on Friday after a member of the McLaren Racing team was tested positive for the COVID-19, prompting the team to pull out of the event.

In an online statement, the Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC) said that the Formula 1 had made the decision to suspend its activities at the event, which is held at Melbourne's Albert Park, leading to the decision to cancel all together, Xinhua reported.

"In light of this decision and updated advice this morning from the Chief Health Officer of the Victorian Government's Department of Human and Health Services, the Australian Grand Prix Corporation confirms the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix is cancelled immediately," the statement said.

The coronavirus-striken Grand Princess cruise ship will extend its stay at the port of Oakland until Sunday, as more people have tested positive for COVID-19, according to California Governor Gavin Newsom.

It remains unclear how many people have tested positive in addition to the already known 21 positive cases on the ship. As the governor said, "That information is coming in real time," Xinhua reported on Friday.

The cruise ship carrying thousands of passengers docked at the port of Oakland on Monday after being held off at sea for days. As of Thursday noon, 2,042 people had disembarked from the ship.

The wife of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has tested positive for the new coronavirus, his office said late Thursday.

"Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau was tested for COVID-19 today. The test came back positive," the Prime Minister's office said in a statement.

"Following medical advice, she will remain in isolation for the time being. She is feeling well, is taking all the recommended precautions and her symptoms remain mild," it said.

"The Prime Minister is in good health with no symptoms. As a precautionary measure and following the advice of doctors, he will be in isolation for a planned period of 14 days," but will not be tested.

"The Prime Minister will continue to fully assume his duties and will address Canadians tomorrow." Trudeau and his wife had announced earlier Thursday they were self-isolating while she underwent tests for the COVID-19 illness after returning from a speaking engagement.

Gregoire-Trudeau's symptoms, after returning from Britain, had included "a low fever late last night," an earlier statement said. She immediately sought medical advice and testing.

In a tweet sent Thursday afternoon before she tested positive, the Prime Minister had said his wife was feeling better, but echoed the message of caution.

Sources told CTV News earlier on Thursday that the couple's children were not showing symptoms and not being quarantined.