Coronavirus HIGHLIGHTS: Pakistan is set to close its border with Afghanistan for seven days amid growing fears of the coronavirus spreading after two new cases were reported in the country. (AP/File) Coronavirus HIGHLIGHTS: Pakistan is set to close its border with Afghanistan for seven days amid growing fears of the coronavirus spreading after two new cases were reported in the country. (AP/File)

Coronavirus outbreak HIGHLIGHTS: The Indian embassy is in touch with the Iranian authorities to receive reports of the Indians stuck in Iran due to coronavirus outbreak, the Minister of State for External affairs said on Sunday. The Indian embassy in Tehran issued an advisory for Indians stranded in the Islamic Republic. There are roughly 250 Indian students across Iran, including in Tehran, Shiraz and Kish Island.A number of politicians including senior Congress leader Saif-ud-din-Soz, former finance minister Syed Bukhari and the National Conference MP Masoodi have requested the center for safe return of stranded J&k students stuck in Iran.

Kerala CM in a letter addressed to the External Affairs minister S. Jaishankar urged the government and the Indian embassy in Iran to take necessary measures to arrange the safe return of hundreds of fishermen out of which 60 are from Kerala who are stuck in Iran amid coronavirus outbreak.

Meanwhile, China reported 573 new confirmed coronavirus cases on February 29, up from 427 the previous day and the highest daily increase in a week, the country’s health authority said on Sunday. The number of deaths stood at 35, down from 47 on the previous day, bringing the total death toll in mainland China to 2,870, the National Health Commission said. South Korea reported at least 210 new COVID-19 cases raising the total infected persons in the country to 3736 and Iran’s death toll rose to 54 on Sunday and the number of cases in Pakistan reach four.

