Coronavirus India Updates: Jammu Sees First Positive Case, Total At 41

Thirty-one laboratories across India have been designated for coronavirus testing in India. Thirteen are already active, while the rest will become active by March 6.

A 63-year-old woman tested positive for coronavirus here, making her 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

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

The Arunachal Pradesh government has decided to temporarily suspend issuing Protected Area Permits (PAPs) to foreigners to check the spread of coronavirus, officials said on Sunday.
Foreigners require PAPs to enter the state that shares a border with China.
Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar directed all PAP issuing authorities to suspend the issue of permits till further orders, they said.

Five more people from Kerala have tested positive for coronavirus, Health minister, K K Shailaja said on Sunday. All the five hail from Pathnamthitta district. While three of them had returned from Italy on February 29, two others were their relatives, the minister said. All the five have been isolated in Pathnamathitta general hospital and are under observation. Their tests were confirmed on Saturday night.

Three more positive cases— two from Ladakh with travel history from Iran and one from Tamil Nadu with travel history from Oman have been found positive, ANI reported quoting Sanjeeva Kumar, special secretary (Health), Union Health Ministry.

Kuwait on Saturday suspended operations of all flights to and from India and six other countries in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

The General Administration of Civil Administration has issued a circular to airlines operating at Kuwait International Airport in this regard.

The watchdog has decided to suspend ‘all flights to and from Bangladesh, the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt, for one week,’ it said in a release.

The suspension is part of measures taken to stem spreading of coronavirus, as per the release, which was posted on the regulator’ Twitter handle.

Source: PTI

One suspected Covid19 case has been confirmed as positive, Sanjeeva Kumar, special secretary of Health in the Union Health Ministry department, told ANI. This takes the total number of cases in India to 31.

The patient has is a resident of Uttam Nagar in New Delhi and has a travel history of Thailand and Malaysia. The patient is stable and being monitored.

The Delhi government has ordered immediate closure of primary schools in the national capital till March 31 to contain the spread of the coronavirus, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said on Thursday.

All Delhi government, aided, private and schools run by civic bodies will remain shut, said Sisodia, who also holds the education portfolio.

The India-European Union summit which was slated to be held later this month will now be rescheduled in view of the coronavirus outbreak, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday.

India and EU decided to reschedule Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Brussels in view of the advice by health authorities in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.

He also said no case of any Indian being affected by coronavirus in Iran has emerged.

Read more here.

One more case of novel coronavirus was reported in Ghaziabad in the national capital region, taking the total number in the country to 30 so far, official sources said on Thursday.

The patient is a middle-aged man with a recent travel history to Iran, they said.

Amid rising cases of coronavirus, the Union Health Ministry on Thursday asked states to form rapid response teams at district, block and village levels, stating cases of community transmission have been observed.

As of now, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country stands at 30, including 16 Italian tourists. The figure includes the first three cases reported from Kerala last month who have already been discharged following recovery.

Five people who came in contact with a coronavirus patient who works in Gurgaon and lives in west Delhi have been tested and quarantined int heir residence till their results come in, Delhi government health officials said on Thursday.

The Paytm employee, who tested positive for the contagious disease with flu like symptoms on Wednesday, came in touch with 91 people in Gurgaon, an official said, citing his counterpart in the suburban town.

Delhi government health officials are also coordinating with their counterparts in Noida to ascertain the number of people he came in contact with.

The patient is a resident of Uttam Nagar, the official said.

Officials in Gurugram have come up with a list of 91 people the patient was in touch with and the task team is coordinating with officials from Noida and Connaught Place, the two other places where he had come in contact with people, the official added.

Source: PTI

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 DV Sadananda Gowda said.

"There is no shortage of any APIs in the country. We have sufficient APIs (active pharmaceutical ingredients) and medicines in the country," he said.

Gowda was addressing the 5th international exhibition and conference on pharmaceutical and medical industry organised by Department of Pharmaceuticals, Gujarat government and industry chamber Ficci here.

For another three months there is no shortage for undertaking production in the pharma sector, he added.

"Our government has taken all initiatives to ensure that as far as our country is concerned the coronavirus should be stopped, and there is no hazard as far as this issue is concerned," Gowda reiterated.

Coronavirus is a challenge and "we should make all efforts that need to be taken..., " he added.

On Tuesday, India, the world's largest maker of generic drugs, restricted the export of common medicines such as paracetamol and 25 other pharmaceutical ingredients and drugs made from them, as it looks to prevent shortages amid concerns of the coronavirus outbreak turning into a pandemic.

Besides over-the-counter painkiller and fever reducer paracetamol, drugs restricted for exports included common antibiotics metronidazole, and those used to treat bacterial and other infections as well as Vitamin B1 and B12 ingredients.

Source: PTI

The Sikkim government has said that over 4.06 lakh passengers arriving in the state have been screened so far for coronavirus infection, but no positive case has been detected.

A total of 69,734 vehicles have been stopped for checking at Utteray, Ramman, Rangpo, Reshi and Melli checkposts and 4,06,993 passengers screened for symptoms of coronavirus, but no positive case has been found in Sikkim till date, a statement issued by the state health department said.

However, 14 passengers have reported their "travel history connected with China and Nepal".

Though no passenger has been detected with symptoms of coronavirus or referred as suspects or quarantined, four have been kept under observation as a precautionary measure, the statement said on Wednesday.

Health and family welfare secretary-cum-director general Pempa T Bhutia has asked all district magistrates to take steps to deal with any situation in the wake of reports of outbreak of the disease in different parts of the country.

Source: PTI

Additional counters, doctors, medical equipment and modified forms in pre-immigration area of airports will be arranged as part of coronavirus screening, an official said on Wednesday.

After the Centre’s announcement that all international passengers arriving in India would henceforth be screened, Aviation Secretary PS Kharola held a four-hour long meeting with officials from various departments and airports.

He directed them to have additional counters, doctors, medical equipment and modified forms in pre-immigration area, the official said.

The modified forms will be filled with a duplicate copy -- one copy will remain with airport health authorities and other with the immigration department.

Kharola said sufficient manpower must be arranged with the help of respective state governments, immigration departments and the Airports Authority of India.

Through the 21 international airports in the country, a total of 25.15 lakh people arrived in India in March last year, according to the data by aviation regulator DGCA.

This means, around 83,000 passengers came to India daily on international flights.

While the number of international passengers landing in India has decreased significantly since the coronavirus outbreak, there are still thousands of passengers coming to India everyday from abroad.

A Paytm employee in Gurugram has tested positive for novel coronavirus, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.

It said the employee had recently returned from a vacation in Italy, one of the worst-hit countries from coronavirus. Paytm has advised all its employees to work from home for the next couple of days while the Gurugram unit gets sanitised, according to the statement.

This takes the total toll of infected in India to 29.

Read full story here.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said efforts are on to check and screen 88 people who came in contact with the Delhi man who tested positive for coronavirus.

A taskforce headed by him has been formed to tackle the situation emerging from the coronavirus infection and there is no need to panic, he said at a press conference.

The taskforce will comprise all concerned stakeholders.

A coronavirus testing lab will be set up at the Lady Hardinge Hospital and also at the LNJP Hospital if necessary, Kejriwal said.

There is no shortage of masks, the chief minister added.

Municipal corporations in Delhi are contacting and screening tourists from four countries where most cases of the infection have come to light. The screening is being done at hotels and guesthouses in the city, he said.

Isolation wards in 19 government and six private hospitals are being readied in case of need, Kejriwal stated.

Source: PTI

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• Fed's 50 basis points rate cut looks like a bit of a failed experiment, at least on day 1.

Read the full story here.

The total number of people tested positive for coronavirus in India has risen to 28, of which three people from Kerala have been cured, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said today in a briefing.

The cases include one in Delhi, six in Agra, 16 Italian tourists and their Indian driver, one in Telangana and three in Kerala (now cured).

Key Highlights:

• Have urged Delhi government to ensure all hospitals have proper facilities for isolation at earliest.
• Delhi patient found to have infected six relatives in Agra who have tested positive.
• Will now universally screen all passengers from all inbound overseas flights.
• Have isolated Italian group of 24 tourists who entered in mid-Feb, where one case was positive.
• Total 16 Italians from that tourist group have now tested positive; and one Indian driver.
• With information available at this moment, total of 28 cases found, of which three have been cured
• Three patients from Kerala have been cured.
• Now have 34 laboratories for testing.
• No restrictions on sending children to school.
• Have screened 5.89 lakh at airports, 15,000 at sea ports, 10 lakh at borders

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he has decided not to participate in any 'Holi Milan' programme as experts have advised to reduce mass gatherings to avoid the spread of coronavirus.

"Experts across the world have advised to reduce mass gatherings to avoid the spread of COVID19 Novel Coronavirus. Hence this year, I have decided not to participate in any 'Holi milan' programme," the PM tweeted.

This year, Holi is on March 10.

Seeking to allay fear among the citizens in the wake of Coronavirus scare, Karnataka Health Minister B Srirumulu on Wednesday made an appeal to the people not to pay heed to rumours spreading on social media.

In a series of tweets, Sriramulu assured people that the government has taken adequate measures to ensure that the disease does not spread further.

"Don't lend your ears to rumours about the Coronavirus in the social media. Rely only on the authentic information," he tweeted. The minister's tweet came as Bengaluru reported the first case, after a techie from the city with a travel history to Dubai and interaction with Hongkong-based people there, was admitted to a hospital in Hyderabad.

As panic gripped the city, Sriramulu said the apartment where the software engineer was staying has been sanitised.

Besides, his 25 colleagues have been identified.

One of them has been admitted to the hospital as a precautionary measure and his blood sample has been sent for lab test.

"So far 40,207 people have been screened at the International airport. 251 blood tests have been done, of which 238 were found negative, while the rest of the reports are yet to come," Sriramulu tweeted.

The health department said three people have been admitted to the isolation ward at the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases.

Meanwhile, a parent appealed to people not to panic about the Coronavirus in the techie's apartment, where his son too resides.

"My son is from the same apartment.To update everyone, there is absolutely nothing wrong here. It was more of panic on social media that created this," he said in a message.

He said that the man who is in Telengana and tested positive stayed in this building on Feb. 21.

"His roommate was taken to hospital and has tested negative," he said.

It is been two weeks since the incident. The virus can survive only for 48 hours under optimal conditions, he noted.

"Everyone in this building is safe. Please educate yourself. Refrain from spreading panic and misinformation." he added.

Six people, including three children, whose samples were taken in Noida for suspected coronavirus have tested negative, officials said on Wednesday.

The six have, however, been kept self-quarantined at their home for the next 14 days and if symptoms for COVID-19 develop, they would be retested, the officials said.

Among those whose samples were taken on Tuesday were a couple and their 12-year-old son, and a woman and her two children, aged 12 and five, according to Noida health department sources.  These six had come in contact with a Delhi-based man who has tested positive for the coronavirus during a party thrown by him.

"On the Coronavirus issue, samples taken from six contacts in Noida have tested negative but they will need to be under home quarantine for next 14 days and if symptoms develop, can be retested again," District Magistrate BN Singh said in a statement.

He added that the government and the administration were monitoring the situation, stressing there was no need to panic.

"Administration has not given any school closure order," Singh said.

Source: PTI

India on Tuesday reported one fresh case of the novel coronavirus, taking the number of people who have tested positive for the respiratory illness in the country to six.

The patient, who is an Italian tourist in Jaipur, is in isolation and is stable, according to a health ministry press release.

On Monday, the government had said that two new coronavirus cases were detected in Delhi and Telangana. The three previous patients, who were from Kerala, were discharged from state-based hospitals following recovery.

The Delhi High Court Tuesday sought the Centre's response on a plea by parents of Indian students stranded in Iran due to coronavirus outbreak for evacuating them.

Justice IS Mehta issued notice to ministries of home, external affairs, health and aviation and asked them to file a status report on the steps being taken by them to evacuate the students.

Central government standing counsel Anurag Ahluwalia, who appeared for the ministries, accepted the notice and said a status report would be filed on the steps being taken.

The court, thereafter, listed the matter for further hearing on March 11.

The petition has also sought directions to Ministry of External Affairs to provide basic medical aid and safety materials like masks and sanitisers to the stranded students till they are evacuated.

The plea said that several universities in Iran decided to close down the colleges and hostel facilities and also cancelled the exams, advising students to return to their countries. However, the Indian student were "shocked and surprised" when they found out that there were no flights to India from Iran, the petition has said.It also said that all efforts to seek help and support from the Indian Embassy in Iran "has failed".

The plea has said that the government had recently arranged special flights to safely evacuate Indian students from China, Japan and Italy and has urged that similar steps be taken for those stranded in Iran.

Source: PTI

India has put under restricted category exports of certain active pharmaceutical ingredients and formulations, including Paracetamol, Vitamin B1 and B12.

Now, export of 26 APIs and formulations require licence from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade. "Export of specified APIs and formulations made from these APIs...is hereby restricted with immediate effect and till further orders, " the DGFT said in the notification.

The news boosted Indian pharma stocks. The NSE Nifty Pharma Index gained as much as 2.6 percent, making it the best sectoral performer for the day.

Read More.

The health ministry today advised Indian citizens are advised to refrain from travel to any COVID-19 affected countries, according to a release posting on their website.

Here are the key highlights:

• All regular visas and e-Visa (including VoA for Japan and South Korea) granted to nationals of Italy, Iran, South Korea, Japan and issued on or before March 3 and who have not yet entered India, stand suspended with immediate effect.
• Regular visas and e-Visa granted to nationals of Peoples Republic of China, issued on or before Feb. 5 were suspended earlier. It shall remain in force.
• Regular visas and e-Visa granted to all foreign nationals who have travelled to Peoples Republic of China, Iran, Italy, South Korea and Japan on or after Feb. 1, and who have not yet entered India stand suspended with immediate effect.
• Those requiring to travel to India due to compelling reasons, may seek fresh visa from nearest Indian Embassy/Consulate.

• Diplomats, officials of UN and other International bodies, OCI cardholders and Aircrew from above countries are exempted from such restriction on entry. However, their medical screening is compulsory.
• Passengers of all international flights entering into India from any port are required to furnish duly filled self declaration form (including personal particulars i.e. phone no. and address in India) and travel history, to Health Officials and Immigration officials at all ports.
• Passengers (foreign and Indian) other than those restricted, arriving directly or indirectly from China, South Korea, Japan, Iran, Italy, Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Nepal, Thailand, Singapore and Taiwan must undergo medical screening at port of entry.

The Reserve Bank of India today said it is monitoring the global and domestic developments around coronavirus continuously and "stands ready" to take appropriate actions to ensure the functioning of financial markets and its stability.

• Globally, financial markets have been experiencing considerable volatility, with the spread of the coronavirus triggering risk-off sentiments and flights to safe haven.
• Spillovers to financial markets in India have largely been contained.
• Growing hopes of coordinated policy action to mitigate a broader fallout to economic activity boosted market sentiment today.
• RBI is monitoring global and domestic developments closely & continuously, and stands ready to take appropriate actions to ensure orderly functioning of financial markets, maintain market confidence and preserve financial stability.

In a tweet, minutes after the health ministry’s update, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted saying he held extensive review regarding India's preparedness and "there's no need to panic."

In an update to yesterday’s press briefing, the India’s Health Ministry said six cases with “high viral load” have been detected during a sample testing in Agra and are now being tested for Coronavirus.

• Six cases with high viral load have been detected during sample testing in Agra. These six came in contact with COVID-19 patient from Delhi, reported yesterday.
• All six have been kept in isolation and their samples are being sent to National Institute of Virology, Pune for confirmation.
• Conducting contact tracing of the persons who have come in contact with these six persons.

This comes a day after Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said that the country has recorded two fresh cases of the novel coronavirus, taking the number of people who have tested positive for the respiratory illness in the country to five.