NEW DELHI: After three new confirmed cases of coronavirus have been reported from Delhi, Telangana and Rajasthan, the government has initiated a massive quarantine drive to stall the outbreak of the novel virus. Schools have been shut, hundreds of people have been quarantined and isolation wards have been set up in various hospitals across the country to deal with the cases of the virus. Here is a look at the key developments in the last 24 hours on the spread of the coronavirus —

Prime Minister Narendra Modi to skip Holi Milan

"Experts across the world have advised to reduce mass gatherings to avoid the spread of COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. Hence, this year I have decided not to participate in any Holi Milan programme," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.

15 out of 21 quarantined at Delhi's ITBP facility, test +ve for coronavirus

15 out of 21 quarantined at ITBP facility in Delhi, have tested positive for coronavirus. 21 Italian tourists and 3 Indian tour operators have been sent to an ITBP quarantine facility in Delhi on Tuesday for suspected coronavirus exposure. These foreigners, 13 women and 8 men were in the group where an Italian and his wife tested positive in Jaipur.

5 Delhi-NCR schools shut as precaution

The coronavirus scare grew in Delhi-NCR on Tuesday, with two private schools being shut in Noida. Three other branches of one of these schools — one in south Delhi and two in Gurgaon — also advanced their spring breaks as a precaution.

The Shriram Millennium School, Noida, where two children of the Delhi resident (who tested positive for Covid-19) study, said it would close till Friday. Several other schools also announced similar measures.

At least 70 people who came in contact with the Covid-19 patient, including six from Agra and 44 who attended a birthday party thrown by him, are under watch.

Many Delhi schools have issued advisories to parents, requesting them to keep their wards at home if they show respiratory symptoms such as cold and cough.

Six who came in contact with coronavirus infected Delhi man test negative

Six people from Noida who had been put under observation for suspected Coronavirus infection after they attended a birthday party hosted by an infected Delhi resident, have tested negative for the virus on Wednesday morning. However, District Magistrate BN Singh said that these will be put under home quarantine for the next 14 days.

36 of Hyderabad techie’s contacts show symptoms of coronavirus

At least 36 of the 88 people that the software professional from Hyderabad came in contact with after returning from Dubai are showing some symptoms of Covid-19, said Telangana government officials. The 24-year-old had travelled from Dubai to Bengaluru on February 20 and later came to Hyderabad. His samples had tested positive on Monday.

Meanwhile, another software employee who works at the same firm as the 24-year-old who contracted the virus, arrived on Monday night from Bengaluru. She has also been taken to Gandhi Hospital. Another woman who had recently visited the United States is among the suspected cases.

Karnataka puts 71 under watch; schools on alert

With details of the Bengaluru links of the Covid-19-positive patient from Hyderabad emerging, schools from southeast Bengaluru asked parents to send students with masks and hand sanitizers or keep them at home if they had fever. Medical shops in Bengaluru reported panic buying of masks and hand sanitizers.

The authorities tracked down 71 people who had come in contact with the Hyderabad man and put them under surveillance.

According to Telangana officials, at least 36 of the 88 people who came in contact with the techie are showing some symptoms of Covid-19.

Visas to nationals of 4 more countries on hold

India has suspended both regular (sticker) and e-visas granted to nationals of Italy, Iran, South Korea, and Japan on or before March 3, 2020. Those who are yet to enter India have been asked not to do so. And if they must come to India for any pressing reason, they should request for a fresh visa, according to a fresh set of "travel and visa restrictions" issued by the Indian Bureau of Immigration on Tuesday.

Don’t panic, says PM after review meet

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday reviewed the country’s preparedness to tackle a possible Covid-19 outbreak and told people not to panic. “Different ministries and states are working together, from screening people arriving in India to providing prompt medical attention,” he tweeted. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also discussed the issue of Covid-19 management in Delhi with chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Delhi Govt Says Ready With Isolation Wards

"The government was taking all possible steps to keep the city safe," Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain said. "Isolation wards are being readied in 25 hospitals, including 19 government-run and six private hospitals," he added.

"As many as 3.5-lakh N95 masks were being arranged. We have over 8,000 separation kits for staff treating coronavirus patients," he told media.

Meanwhile, in Ghaziabad, the health department sent two samples of residents, who have recently returned from Iran, for coronavirus testing. One person is suffering from cough and cold.

Fed makes emergency rate cuts; markets continue to tumble

In an extraordinary attempt to contain the coronavirus’ economic fallout, the Federal Reserve, the central banking system of the US, slashed interest rates on Tuesday as policymakers unanimously approved their biggest one-time cut — and first emergency rate move — since the depths of the 2008 financial crisis. The S&P 500 fell about 2.8%, undoing some of Monday’s 4.6% surge. The yield on 10-year Treasury notes dipped below 1%.

World Bank announces up to $12 billion in immediate funds for coronavirus

The World Bank on Tuesday announced an initial $12 billion in immediate funds to assist countries grappling with the health and economic impacts of the coronavirus virus outbreak that has spread quickly from China to some 80 countries.

World Bank President David Malpass said there were still "many unknowns" about the fast-spreading virus and "much more" aid might be required, but he declined to elaborate.

China reports fall in new virus cases for third day, 38 more deaths

China on Wednesday reported 38 more deaths from the new coronavirus but a fall in fresh cases for a third consecutive day. The death toll nationwide is now 2,981, with more than 80,200 people infected in total. There were 115 new cases in central Hubei province — the epicentre where the virus first emerged in December last year — and only four elsewhere in the country.

