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NEW DELHI: The number of coronavirus cases in India has risen to 223, with Maharashtra reporting the highest tally followed by Kerala.So far, four persons have died in the country, one eachMaharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka and Punjab. 23 patients have been discharged.Maharashtra has reported the maximum number of cases at 49, while Uttar Pradesh has recorded 23 cases including one foreigner (of them, 9 have been discharged). Delhi has so far reported 16 positive cases (one died, five have been discharged).Karnataka reported 15 coronavirus patients (one death, one discharged). Ladakh has reported 10 cases while Jammu and Kashmir four. Telangana has reported 8 cases (nine cured). Of Rajasthan's 17 cases including that of two foreigners, three have been discharged. Tamil Nadu has reported three cases, while Andhra Pradesh has reported three cases. Punjab reported three cases, out of which one patient died.Odhisha reported its second case.Haryana has 17 cases, including fourteen foreigners, while Uttarakhand has reported three cases.According to the ministry's data, 23 people have been discharged so far, including the three Kerala patients.As a precaution, more and more states have been ordering closure of public places, including schools, cinema halls and malls, till month-end. Courts have restricted their sittings, companies introduced the work-from-home option for employees and film bodies deferring off shootings of films and shows.In view of rising cases, India has suspended all visas, except a few categories such as diplomatic and employment, till April 15. The government has also "strongly advised" Indians to avoid all non-essential travel abroad. Visa-free travel facility granted to Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card holders is also kept in abeyance till April 15.All incoming travellers, including Indian nationals, arriving from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, France, Spain and Germany after February 15 will be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days, the statement said.As the infection continued to spread its tentacles in the country, state governments and Union territories took a number of preventive measures. Kerala and Delhi have shut down schools and cinema halls to prevent mass gatherings.As preventive measures, the Jammu and Kashmir administration ordered closure of primary schools and aganwadi centres and shutting down of cinema halls across the region till 31 March, while the Karnataka government issued temporary regulation which asked all government and private hospitals to have flu corners for screening of suspected cases of COVID-19.According to the regulation, no person/institution shall use print or electronic media to spread mis-information on COVID-19 without prior permission of the Department of Health & Family Welfare.If a person is found indulging in any such activity, they will be punished, it said. The Karnataka government also started a campaign called 'Namaste over Handshake' that encourages people to greet in the traditional Indian style, to tackle the spread of the virus.As the cases of the infection continued to swell with over 2,40,000 confirmed cases reported globally so far out of which almost 10,000 people have succumbed to the virus, India prohibited entry of any international cruise ship, crew or passenger with a travel history to coronavirus-hit countries post February 1, 2020 to its major ports till March 31.To prevent the spread of the deadly virus, the Ministry of Shipping said it will allow only such international cruise ships which had intimated their call to ports by January 1, 2020.The government said international cruise ships will be allowed only at ports having thermal screening facilities for passengers and crew members.