Coronavirus Outbreak LIVE Updates: Repeat samples of three people, admitted at Pune's Naidu Hospital, have tested negative for COVID-19. They will be discharged from the hospital following due process, ANI reported.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced a total lockdown in the country for three weeks from midnight in a bid to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. A lockdown in most of the country was already in place till 31 March, and Modi's announcement extended it everywhere and for two more weeks after this month.

He also said the man had a medical history of prolonged illness with "uncontrolled diabetes". On Tuesday, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the state rose to 18 after six more people, including three woman, tested positive for coronavirus.

A 54-year-old man infected with coronavirus died at a hospital here in the early hours of Wednesday, the first death recorded in Tamil Nadu due to the contagion, state Health Minister C Vijayabaskar said.

The Council also noted that there were a number of underserved areas facing acute shortage of doctors. In order to mitigate the problem, it approved the hiring of retired doctors against available vacancies for one year for emergency services in underserved areas, the spokesman said.

He said the meeting decided to declare the GMC Jammu as a dedicated COVID-19 hospital for Jammu province and asked the Administrative Secretary Health Department and the Principal of the GMC to ensure that the hospital is readied for the purpose by Wednesday evening.

The decision was taken by the Administrative Council, headed by Lt Governor GC Murmu, at a meeting convened to review the steps being taken to contain the spread of the coronavirus in the Union Territory, an official spokesman said.

The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Tuesday declared the Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu, as dedicated COVID-19 hospital and approved the hiring of retired doctors for emergency services in underserved areas.

According to Worldometer, a website that compiles COVID-19 cases, nearly 10,000 new coronavirus cases were reported across the country on Tuesday alone taking the total to around 54,000 while the number of fatalities surged by 150 in a day bringing its total to about 700.

With millions of Americans under lockdown, the National Guard, as well as the armed forces, were pressed into service in several states such as New York which saw at least 53 deaths and about 5,000 new cases on Tuesday. New York has so far reported more than 25,000 COVID-19 cases and 210 fatalities.

The number of coronavirus cases in the United States jumped by nearly 10,000 while about 150 Americans died in a day even as President Donald Trump hoped to reopen the country's economy by Easter, 12 April.

He added that no positive case of coronavirus has so far been reported in Assam.

The chief minister appealed to people of the state to remain indoors as social distancing and avoidance of mass gathering are the significant precautionary measures in the absence of any standard treatment for COVID-19.

He also urged personnel associated with essential services like civil and police administration, banks, and fire brigade to carry out their duties responsibly in this hour of crisis.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday said the state's health department is fully prepared to deal with any eventuality in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The treatment protocol recommended by the ICMR-constituted National Task Force for Covid-19 has been approved by the Drug Controller General of India (DGCI) for restricted use in emergency situations.

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director General Balram Bhargava had on Monday recommended the use of hydroxychloroquine for treating healthcare workers handling suspected or confirmed coronavirus cases and also the asymptomatic household contacts of the lab-confirmed cases.

Amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, the government on Wednesday banned export of anti-malarial drug hydroxycloroquine, with immediate effect to ensure sufficient availability of the medicine in the domestic market.

These officials have also been asked to submit their Action Taken Report on a daily basis.

Invoking the Delhi Epidemics Diseases, COVID-19 Regulations, it said the district magistrates, zonal deputy commissioners of municipal corporations and the deputy commissioner of police are "directed to take strict penal action against such landlords and house owners under the relevant provisions of law".

According to a government notification, such behaviour "not only strikes at the root of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic but also tantamount to obstruction of duty of essential services".

The government on Wednesday gave power to zonal Deputy Commissioners to take "strict penal action" against landlords who have been forcing doctors and paramedical staff, engaged in fighting the novel coronavirus, to vacate their rented premises.

Flipkart’s move came after rival Amazon India said on Tuesday it will halt orders for non-essential products in India to prioritize customers’ critical needs, and focus on supplying essentials.

Walmart Inc’s Flipkart has suspended services, a notice on the Indian e-commerce firm’s website said on Wednesday, as India began a 21-day lockdown to fight the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, reports Reuters.

The Arab world's most populous country, Egypt, as well as Syria, a country ravaged by nine years of war, became the latest countries to impose nightly curfews starting this week.

As the coronavirus pandemic sweeps across the Middle East, countries have sought to slow the increase of cases by limiting the movements of hundreds of millions of people.

Libya has recorded its first confirmed case of the coronavirus, the UN-backed government announced on Tuesday, stoking concern that an outbreak could overwhelm the war-torn country's already weakened health care system.

"Others will conduct their namaz prayers at their houses," he said adding that it is only an emergency measure in view of the present situation. As of now, arrangements will be in force to hold the Shab e Barat festival on 9 April and the decision will be reviewed afterwards, Yahia said.

While regular namaz and other religious practices should continue with 4-5 people, entry of others into mosques will have to be restricted, Chairman of Bengal Imams Association Mohammed Yahia said in a statement.

With the coronavirus outbreak triggering lockdown across the country, an organisation of Imams of West Bengal on Tuesday asked authorities of mosques to restrict the entry of people to prevent large gatherings and conducting prayers with very few devotees.

The ministry said while it was imperative to successfully implement the notified lockdown/restrictions, it was also necessary to ensure the unhindered operations of manufacturing, processing, transportation, distribution, storage, trade/commerce and logistics related to all services/establishments and commodities required for the delivery of essential services, which have been exempted under the various prohibitory orders.

In a communication to chief secretaries and DGPs of all states, the Union Home Ministry said all states and UTs should actively enforce social distancing and isolation for COVID-19 through lockdown and prohibitory measures with exemptions for supply chain and transportation of essential goods and services in and out of the state.

The Centre has asked the state governments to ensure unhindered operation of essential services and their seamless availability for the general public during the 21-day lockdown period announced to deal with the coronavirus outbreak.

He said, "In case your society wants a vendor to come to the society, please send an email on vegetables.mulund@gmail.com or WhatsApp the letter on 9223450050 from the society addressing it to MLA Mihir Kotecha, with a name and number of the contact person in the building. Also mention the time slot convenient to the society."

Despite the complete lockdown announced by the government, long queues of vehicles and crowds was seen at all across Mumbai and Thane as people scramble to stock up supplies due to panic buying on late Tuesday night. To prevent panic buying, Mulund MLA Mihir Kotecha has told people he will set up vegetable Stalls in societies with 100 or more flats so that people don’t have to go out in the market.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended this wishes on Wednesday which marked New Year celebrations in various states across India. He noted in view of the current situation in the country which is fighting against the coronavirus outbreak, the celebrations "might not be the same this year."

"BSE day to operations @BSEIndia will continue," the bourse's MD and CEO Ashishkumar Chauhan said in a tweet. All capital and debt market services notified by markets regulator Sebi would be exempted from the lockdown, as per the government notification

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown as part of efforts to curb spreading of coronavirus infections. An NSE spokesperson said operations would be normal at the exchange on Wednesday.

As per the Maharashtra Health Department on Tuesday, six more people have tested positive for coronavirus in the state, taking the total count in the state on Tuesday to 107.

Two persons, who were tested positive for COVID-19 two weeks ago, have now tested negative for the deadly infection, an official said on Wednesday. Both the patients, who were the first two positive cases of Maharashtra, will be discharged on Wednesday.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday called for Maharashtra Chief Minister's Office to help Kerala truck drivers stranded in Bhiwandi without food, water or toilet facilities who were returning from Gujarat after delivering fruits and vegetable. "Could Maharashtra government kindly instruct police to allow them to go to Kerala?" he tweeted.

She made her comment as she retweeted a press release by the OYO, which said that the start-up is "opening the doors to its hotels" and offering free stays to doctors, nurses and other medical first responders who are helping in the fight against Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Ivanka Trump, the senior advisor to President Donald Trump, has lauded an initiative by Ritesh Agarwal-founded Indian start-up OYO Hotels to offer free stays to doctors, nurses in the US helping in the fight against the novel coronavirus, describing the gesture as "impactful acts of benevolence".

Another person test positive for coronavirus in Patna's Nalanda Medical College and Hospital, taking the total number of cases to 4 in Bihar. The 29-year-old man had returned to Patna from Gujarat's Bhavnagar. His travel history would be thoroughly checked by the administration, Ajay Sinha, Nodal Officer, Nalanda Medical College and Hospital told ANI.

"This is as per the state government's plan to convert the entire hospital, which has 2,200 beds, into an isolation and treatment centre for persons suspected to be infected with the coronavirus," he said.

"From Tuesday, we have started discharging patients who are in better condition from Medical College Hospital, Kolkata. We have also stopped admitting new patients, especially those who are pregnant and are referring them to other hospitals.

The West Bengal government has started discharging patients from a state-run hospital and stopped admitting new ones to the institute to convert the entire facility into an isolation and treatment centre for people suspected to be infected with coronavirus, a senior health official said on Wednesday.

China on Wednesday said that no new domestically transmitted case was reported on the Chinese mainland on Tuesday.

While Hubei and Wuhan have not reported any new COVID-19 case, four people died in the city taking the death toll in China to 3,281, the National Health Commission (NHC) said.

China on Tuesday decided to lift the three-month lockdown on more than 56 million people in the central Hubei province. However, the prolonged lockdown of Hubei's capital Wuhan will end on April 8, lifting the mass quarantine over the city with a population of over 11 million.

Wuhan, the epicentre of the novel coronavirus pandemic, on Wednesday resumed bus services within the city for the first time since the nine-week lockdown even as 47 new imported cases were reported from the country, threatening the second wave of infections.

RIL, Cipla, Tech Mahindra, Bajaj Finance, Hindalco, Gail and Wipro are among major gainers, while losers are IndusInd Bank, Axis Bank, L&T and Maruti Suzuki in the initial trade.

Sensex is up 353.09 points or 1.32 percent at 27027.12, and the Nifty up 97.55 points or 1.25% at 7898.60 as markets opened on Wednesday. About 243 shares have advanced, 348 shares declined, and 35 shares are unchanged.

New Zealand’s Director-General of Health, Dr Ashley Bloomfield, said at a news conference that the number of cases will continue to rise for at least 10 days before a turnaround.

New Zealand on Wednesday reported 47 new confirmed cases of coronavirus and three probable cases, ahead of the country heading into a complete lockdown at midnight.

The number of coronavirus cases reached 562 in India, with active cases stand at 512, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday. This includes 40 cured/discharged patients and 9 deaths.

"This move ó made in retaliation for recent expulsions by the United States government ó is one that we would protest under any circumstances," they wrote.

The letter posted online on Tuesday referred to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, saying the expulsions threaten access to information at a time when it is needed most. It was signed by the publishers of The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal.

The publishers of three major American newspapers have written an open letter asking China to reverse its recent decision to expel many of their correspondents working in the country.

The ministry said that in the wake of the orders issued under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 (for lockdown), there were possibilities of rumour-mongering, including those about a shortage of food and other essential services and commodities.

In a communication to chief secretaries and DGPs of all states, the ministry asked them to take action to allay apprehensions and maintain peace and tranquillity, and inform people about the availability of food, medicine and other essential commodities.

In the wake of the 21-day lockdown period, the Union Home Ministry has asked state governments to check the spread of rumours about the shortage of food and other essential commodities.

A 33-year-old resident of Pilibhit has been tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday. "He doesn't have any travel history, it is a confirmed case of contact transmission," Dr Sudhir Singh, King George's Medical University, Lucknow told ANI.

They were flown in from Iran, which has been severely affected by the deadly infection. The Army, in coordination with the Rajasthan state medical authorities and civil administration, has made adequate medical and administrative arrangements to ensure a comfortable stay for the evacuees and provide prophylactic medical support, he said.

A batch of 277 people evacuated from the coronavirus-hit Iran arrived at the Jodhpur airport in Rajasthan on Wednesday early morning, a defence spokesperson said. He said preliminary screening of the evacuees, mostly pilgrims, was conducted at the airport upon arrival and thereafter they were taken to the Army Wellness Facility set up at the Jodhpur Military Station.

The Sensex fell 191.60 points to 0.72 percent to 26,482.43 and the Nifty was down 49.40 points or 0.63 percent to 7,751.65 at 10 AM. About 435 shares have advanced, 699 shares declined, and 63 shares are unchanged.

The Home Ministry on Wednesday clarified that the second death reported in Delhi was COVID-19 negative. Ten deaths so far have been reported from Maharashtra (two), Bihar, Karnataka, Gujarat, Punjab, Delhi, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Himachal Pradesh. According to the data, the number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 512 while 41 people have been cured/discharged or migrated. The figure includes 43 foreign nationals, the Health Ministry said.

Alibaba-backed online grocer BigBasket said its services had been impacted. “We are working with the local authorities for the passes and permits that allow movement of personnel and vehicles involved,” BigBasket said in a statement. The company also said it was booked for the next seven days in almost all the cities it operated in, highlighting stockpiling by customers.

Earlier, six positive coronavirus cases were reported from Jabalpur and one each from Bhopal, Gwalior and Shivpuri. Meanwhile, curfew has also been imposed in Ujjain city of Madhya Pradesh in view of the coronavirus crisis.

The five COVID-19 patients in Indore include a woman from neighbouring Ujjain while others are residents of Indore,Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr Anusuya Gawli said.

Five persons admitted in different hospitals of Indore have tested positive for the coronavirus, taking the number of COVID-19 cases in Madhya​ Pradesh to 14, health officials said on Wednesday. None of the patients in Indore have a history of travel to abroad.

"I would, therefore, urge the industry for empathy with its workforce, vital to its functioning, and ensure that these workers continue to be treated on duty and paid accordingly," the ministry said in its letter.

This has also affected economic activity and it is possible that private security agencies may be impacted due to closure of shops, malls and other establishments. "This is the time for the private security industry to adopt a humane approach and protect its workers and staff members from lay-offs and consequent decrease in earnings.

In a letter to the Central Association of Private Security Industry, CII, FICCI and ASSOCHAM and others, the Home Ministry said India was facing an unprecedented situation arising out of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Union Home Ministry has asked private security agencies not to lay off guards or deduct their salaries during the 21-day lockdown period announced to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

In an attempt to stem the spread of coronavirus in India, Prime Minister Modi on Tuesday announced a nationwide lockdown for three weeks.

The number of coronavirus cases in India stood at 562 on Wednesday with nine COVID-19 deaths reported so far, according to Health Ministry data.

Globally, the death toll from the coronavirus has risen to 18,915 with more than 422,900 cases reported in over 165 countries and territories, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

The UN has expressed solidarity with India in its fight against coronavirus, with a top official at the world body's health agency praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 21-day nationwide lockdown as a "comprehensive and robust" response to the raging COVID-19 pandemic.

The home ministry had recently said the preparation for the Census 2021 and updation of the NPR were at its peak and will begin from 1 April. The ministry said this after a conference of the Directors of the Census Operations on status of preparatory work around Census 2021 and NPR updation.

Due to the prevailing situation, the NPR and Census exercises have been deferred till further orders, a senior home ministry official said.

The exercise to update the National Population Register (NPR) and the first phase of the Census-2021 have been deferred indefinitely due to the 21-day lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, officials said on Tuesday. The two exercises were supposed to be carried out from 1 April to 30 September.

Ten more cases were detected in the state on Tuesday, and eight were confirmed late on Monday night.

The latest cases are from Sangli district, where five members of a family in Islampur tested coronavirus positive, the officials said on Wednesday."We are checking if the five have a recent travel history within India or outside," an official said.

Maharashtra reported five new coronavirus cases since Tuesday night, taking the number of cases in the state to 112, the highest in the country so far, officials said.

With this, total number of cases in Ahmedabad is 14, Surat and Vadodara-seven each, Gandhinagar-six, Rajkot-three and Kutch-one, she said.

On Wednesday morning, one new case each was reported from Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara, principal secretary (health) Jayanti Ravi told reporters. Out of the three new cases, one patient has history of travel to Dubai, while the two others are cases of local transmission of the viral infection, she said.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Gujarat has gone up to 38 as three more people tested positive for the coronavirus on Wednesday, a health department official said.

The government has strengthened the surveillance and control measures against the virus, he said. "Out of 183 samples in Chhattisgarh examined till Monday, only one was found positive," he said.

Only one COVID-19 case has been reported in the state so far. The 24-year-old woman, who tested positive for the deadly virus on 18 March, is recovering well while undergoing treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Raipur, the official said.

The coronavirus test results of 49 people in Chhattisgarh are awaited and strict surveillance is being maintained all over the state to check the spread of the viral infection, a health official said on Wednesday.

Though milk was delivered at people's doorstep in most parts of the state, they were allowed to visit neighbourhood shops for buying vegetables and other items of daily needs, as per initial reports.

In many parts of the state, the curfew was relaxed from 6 am to 9 am for buying milk, vegetables and fruits and then from 8 am to 11 am for purchasing groceries and medicines, they said.

The curfew clamped in Punjab to check the spread of coronavirus was relaxed on Wednesday to let people buy essential commodities, officials said.

By Tuesday evening, 362 samples were sent for coronavirus test from Gautam Buddh Nagar, of which 11 have resulted positive and 259 negative. Results for 93 samples were awaited, according to health department data.

Two men were hospitalised at Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) in Greater Noida when they tested positive for coronavirus. They underwent another test after 14 days and the result of that is negative. Now one more test will be done on them in 48 hours and if they again test negative for it then they will be discharged,î Chief Medical Officer Anurag Bhargava told PTI.

Gautam Buddh Nagar in Uttar Pradesh has so far recorded 11 positive cases of coronavirus, of which one person has already been discharged after treatment, district health officials said.

The latest samples of two coronavirus patients, taken after 14 days in isolation at a hospital in Nodia, were negative for COVID-19 and they could be discharged if the same result is seen in the final test to be done in two days, officials said on Wednesday.

After a call with International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the 24 July 24-9 August event would be rescheduled for the summer of 2021 at the latest as proof of victory over the coronavirus.

It was the first time in the Olympics’ 124-year history that they had been postponed, though they were cancelled outright several times during the two 20th century World Wars.

Japan and the Olympics movement decided on Tuesday to delay this year’s Tokyo Games into 2021 as the coronavirus crisis obliterated the world’s last major imminent sporting event.

The couple and their daughter were part of a 40-member tourist group that returned to Mumbai from Dubai on March 1.

"Their first samples after 14 days of isolation period tested negative on Monday. The repeat samples were sent in next 24 hours on Tuesday and in that also, the couple tested negative," an official from the Pune civic body's health department said.

A Pune-based couple, who were the first coronavirus patients in Maharashtra, have now twice tested negative for the deadly coronavirus and are set to be discharged from hospital on Wednesday, Livemint reported.

Four new Coronavirus positive cases have been reported in the state today. Two of the four positive persons are members of the medical staff in Bhilwara. Total number of cases in the state rise to 36.

Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat announces in assembl today that health officials, Police personnel, mediapersons, doctors and medical staff working at government hospitals will be provided with free medical insurance,

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a meeting of the Union Cabinet at 3 pm today to analyse COVID-19 threat in India as the count crossed 500 today. The prime minister will also review the response of the first day of an unprecedented nationwide lockdown. The government is also expected to finalise a economic package to cushion the blow the pandemic has dealt to the economy,

Uddhav Thackeray addressed the people of Maharshtra via social media on the occassion of Gudi Padwa. "We have sufficient stock of essential commodities like vegetables, rice & other items of daily use, so there is no need to worry. All shops selling essential goods are open too. We will celebrate Gudi Padwa once we tackle this crisis," he said.

We will keep speaking to district administrations to ensure essentials like milk, food are provided to citizens, Initial there was lack of clarity. But guidelines are very clear on e-commerce and kirana stores. We will make sure the supply chain is not broken. Warehouses and cold storages will be allowed to function so that supply chain is not broken

Home Secretary Amitabh Kant told CNN-News18 that the Home Ministry guildelines are absolutely clear, with resoect to allowing essential services. I have spoken personally to chief secretaries to make sure supply chain of essentials is not broken. I have no doubt in mind that the situation will improve and day to day essentials will be provided to citizens

The Election Commission has allowed the use of indelible ink to stamp people, who have been advised to stay under quarantine.

Adhering to the 21-day nationwide shutdown, the Mata Vaishni Devi Trust has decided to keep the temple closed for pilgrims to beat coronavirus, despite the start of auspicious period of Chaitra Navratri.

A journalist from Bhopal, who had also attended Kamal Nath's last press conference as chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, has tested positive for coronavirus, say reports. Following this, almost all Journalists in the city have been asked to stay in quarantine now.

The Indian Railways has extended the cancellation of all passenger trains and suburban trains till 2400 hours of 14 April, 2020.

The Government of India has suspended data collection for updation of the National Population Register and the first phase of Census 2021. The exercise will remain suspended until further orders, ANI reported.

The nationwide tally of COVID-19 patients touched 1,037 with 413 cases in Sindh; 115 in Balochistan; 296 in Punjab; 117 in K-P; 80 in Gilgit-Baltistan; 15 in Islamabad; and one in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, The Express Tribune reported.

Pakistan has suspended all domestic flight operations until 2 April to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus after the country reported over 1,000 cases and seven deaths from the COVID-19 infection, authorities said on Wednesday.

Bacow said he's not sure how he and his wife contracted the virus, but said "far fewer people crossed our paths recently than is usually the case" as they both began working from home on 14 March."

Harvard President Lawrence S. Bacow said he and his wife have tested positive for coronavirus. "We started experiencing symptoms on Sunday—first coughs then fevers, chills, and muscle aches—and contacted our doctors on Monday," he said in a statement to the Harvard community Tuesday. "We were tested yesterday and just received the results a few minutes ago."

Spain has now the world's second highest tally of coronavirus deaths after a 738 spike was recorded Wednesday, the highest so far in one day. With 3,434, Spain surpassed China's 3,285 and has more than half of Italy's 6,820.Official figures show that 2,696 people have now died in the country and close to 40,000 are infected.

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution on Wednesday issued a notification regulating the price of surgical masks, which is a crucial protective gear against the coronavirus infection. The price is to be not more than Rs 16, the notification said.

People on Wednesday practiced social distancing in various parts of India, including Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the nation on Tuesday had appealed to people to maintain social distancing to combat COVID-19.

While IndiGo said that the reimbursement for the cancelled flights will be kept in the form of a 'credit shell' and can be used for booking flights before 30 September 2020, SpiceJet said that the credit amount must be exhausted before 28 February.

Commercial airlines IndiGo and SpiceJet on Wednesday issued statements saying that all their operations were cancelled till 14 April, in view of the 21-day complete lockdown ordered by the Centre to tackle the spread of coronavirus.

"If anybody wants to know more can call 0755-2704201 for further details," the statement said.

The Madhya Pradesh government said that a journalist who attended former chief minister Kamal Nath's press conference on 20 March has tested positive for coronavirus and advised all other attendees to "immediately" self-quarantine and stay away from their family members.

"Preliminary findings suggest they were close contacts of Srinagar patient who tested positive yesterday. All 5 reported to have participated together in religious event. Total 8 Positive cases in Kashmir now," a report by News18 Urdu said.

Reports on Wednesday said that four more people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in the Kashmir Valley. Reportedly, all the patients are from the Bandipora district.

"Today is the first day of Navratri, you all must be busy in performing rituals and offering prayers, but still you took out time for this interaction, I'm grateful to all of you. I pray to Goddess Shailputri to give us the strength to fight country's battle against coronavirus. As the MP of Varanasi, I should have been among you in times like these. But you know the things which are going on in Delhi. Despite being busy here, I've been taking regular updates about Varanasi from my colleagues," he was quoted as saying.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday spoke to citizens of Varanasi via video conferencing, a day after he announced the Centre's plan of a complete lockdown to tackle the coronavirus spread. He is the representative of the Varanasi constituency in the Parliament.

The Centre has formed a help desk in collaboration with WhatsApp to seek correct information about the novel coronavirus, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a video conference with the citizens of Varanasi on Wednesday. "If you have access to WhatsApp, you can use the number 9013151515 for the purpose. If you write 'Namaste' on this WhatsApp number, either in English or in Hindi, then you will get an immediate response," he said.

"In a memo to top Justice Department leaders, law enforcement agency chiefs and US Attorneys across the country, Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen said prosecutors and investigators could come across cases of “purposeful exposure and infection of others with COVID-19," the report said.

The US Justice Department was quoted by Politico as saying that the people who are "intentionally spreading" the novel coronavirus could face charges under the US' federal terrorism laws.

He also appealed for help towards the underprivileged. "Everyone must strive to help at least nine people during nine days of Navratri."

Narendra Modi, noting reports of doctors facing discrimination because of treating coronavirus patients in several parts of the country, said that he is very pained with discriminatory behaviour against the staff of essential services. Warning against discrimination, he said that "people in white coats and doctors are like God right now, they are protecting us".

"I appeal to all the citizens, if you notice any incident where professionals, such as doctors and nurses, are ill-treated then you should take an initiative to make such people (those who are ill-treating healthcare professionals) understand that they are wrong. I have told Home Ministry and DGPs to take strict action against those who are not supporting or not co-operating with doctors, nurses & other professionals who are serving us in this critical time," Narendra Modi said in his address to the citizens of Varanasi on Wednesday.

"Scientists in India and across the world are working on a cure, work is going on rapidly. If someone recommends you a medicine then kindly talk to your doctor first. Take medicine only after consulting a doctor."

In an address to the people Varanasi on Wednesday, Modi said, "You should not attempt to treat Coronavirus infection on your own. Stay at your home, do things only after consulting a doctor. Call them up, ask them, tell them your ailments. We will have to note that no vaccine has been developed for it so far, anywhere in the world."

Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday reported its first coronavirus death, a woman who succumbed to viral infection, an official was quoted by PTI as saying.

Chef Floyd Cardoz of the Bombay Canteen and O Pedro restaurants passed away after testing positive for the coronavirus, reports said on Wednesday. Reportedly, the 59-year-old had flown from New York City to Bombay for a Bombay Canteen celebratory dinner and all guests were informed after he tested positive for the infection.

Dr Naresh Trehan, Chairman and MD of Medanta, said that the 21-day nationwide lockdown is necessary because "Indians are not disciplined".

A high-level meeting of the Group of Ministers (GoM) on coronavirus was held at Nirman Bhawan on Wednesday under the leadership of Health Minister Harsh Vardhan. The GoM detailed the deliberation on the prevention and management of COVID-19 in the meeting, ANI reported.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said that in the last 24 hours, five new coronavirus cases have been reported in Delhi. "One of them has foreign travel history. Now, the total number of cases rises to 35 in Delhi," he said.

He added, "It is government's responsibility that essential services are provided to all. For people who are working during the lockdown, and have government IDs, they will be allowed to move in the city if they show their IDs. Private hospital and media IDs will also work."

"People who buy from their local grocery shops — located in their neighborhood or colonies, don't need curfew passes. People don't need any pass for walking up to their local grocery shops. You can buy vegetables, medicines, milk&other things from your local grocery shops," he said.

Arvind Kejriwal said that in the duration of the 21-day complete lockdown to tackle the coronavirus, people involved in essential services will be issued an e-pass "You can reach out to us at 1031 to avail the e-pass," he said.

Arvind Kejriwal said, "Some landlords are threatening to evict doctors/nurses from their houses. They're saying they'll (medical perosnnel) spread the coronavirus. It won't be tolerated. God forbid, if someone gets infected from your house then they, and no one else, will come to your rescue.."

The Karnataka government said that fifty-one coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the state till Wednesday, including 10 new cases in the last 24 hours, ANI reported. Out of these cases, three people have been cured/discharged, while one has died due to the virus.

The total number of coronavirus positive cases have risen to 606 in India (including 553 active cases, 42 cured/discharged people and 10 deaths), the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Wednesday.

Health ministry joint secretary Lav Agarwal told CNN-News18 that no community transmission of the novel coronavirus has been reported in India yet. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a nationwide 21-day complete lockdown on Tuesday.

The Shahdara sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) said, "All those who visited or were present at the Mohalla Clinic in the Mohanpuri area of Maujpur in Delhi between 12 March to 18 March are directed to home quarantine for 15 days, after a confirmed coronavirus positive case was reported from the clinic.

"There's a medicine, Hydroxychloroquine. It can only be given to 2 particular cases for use as prophylaxis, healthcare workers, dealing with suspected/confirmed cases, and the first contacts of confirmed cases. No one else should use this," Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry said.

IndiaSpend reported , "Another death due to COVID-19 has been reported in Maharashtra, increasing the state’s tally to three and country’s to ten. Total COVID19 cases in India have reached 606 as of 25 March​."

"We are in contact with the Indian government to emphasize the need for hotels to continue to lodge US citizens. US Mission to India continues to work with the US Department of State and airline companies to arrange flights from India to US, for our citizens. Once these flights are arranged, we will work with the Indian government to arrange to the greatest extent possible safe passage to airports for US citizens," the statement said.

The US Embassy in India said that the US government is working with the Indian government to take back its citizens who are still in India.

The first two COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra were discharged from hospital after their full recovery from the disease, as confirmed by 2 successive negative samples during follow-up period, the state public health department said.

"We're taking their support to ensure that we can get production through these indigenous buyers also. We have even contacted DRDO & BEL and we are taking support of all such agencies to see that we have sufficient availability in India."

"We prohibited export of masks-PPEs as early as 31 Jan. We've also started analysing the technical guidelines with respect to what type of PPEs can be put to use based on the type of virus. We've started analysing the suppliers available in India.

In its daily briefing, the health ministry said on Wednesday, "As far as personal protective equipment (PPE) and masks are concerned, most of these have some imported components. There had been disruption in import of certain components required for PPEs-masks. Govt has been aware of situation from the time cases started happening in other parts of world.

Punya Salila Srivastava, joint secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday said, "Helplines have been set up to address the challenges being faced by people for transportation, so that goods can reach the destination. We're also working with e-commerce companies and states/UTs, if people want to get supplies through e-commerce."

"Till now 147 FIRs has been registered for quarantine break," the governemnt said.

One more coronavirus positive case has been reported in Rajkot, the Gujarat government said. A total of 39 positive cases have been reported in Gujarat so far: ​

The IndiGo airline on Wednesday offered the Centre its aircraft and crew to transport medicine, equipment, relief material across country, PTI reported.

"This will be rolled out in a day or two. Every department will have some doctors who will resolve the health related issues of the follow-up patients. All health services personnel — doctors, nursing officers, OT technicians, administrative staff, have been working 24/7. Some are monitoring patients in Jhajjar, some are making preparations to look after COVID patients for which we've done several rehearsals," he added.

Director of AIIMS in Delhi said that the institute is going to start a "tele-consultation facility". "Our follow-up patients can consult doctors through telephone. Several patients had appointments which are now cancelled. Chronic patients can consult doctors through this facility."

Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot on Wednesday shared a "valuable recommendation" as a measure to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday said, "Kerala has taken extensive measures to ensure that no one will starve during lockdown. Will be implemented through Local Self Governments, ward-level committees and volunteers."

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday refuted reports of the restoration of 4G services in Jammu and Kashmir. The statement said, "Neither the Ministry of Home Affairs nor the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has issued any such orders. The news report is not true."

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Wednesday criticised the government over its denial of restoring 4G internet services in Jammu and Kashmir.

Reports said that the Noida Police has been directed that the online delivery services Grofers, Milk Basket, Zomato, Big Basket, Harvest Gold, Easy Day, and Spencer will be allowed to operate their services in Uttar Pradesh's Noida.

Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor Girish Chandra Murmu on Wednesday directed the Labour and Employment department to release Rs 1,000 to each of 3.50 lakh workers registered with Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board for purchase of ration during the 21 days lockdown period.

Repeat samples of three people, admitted at Pune's Naidu Hospital, have tested negative for COVID-19. They will be discharged from the hospital following due process, ANI reported.

India Today reported that an 85-year-old woman has passed away due to the coronavirus in Gujarat, and that she had a travel history abroad.

Two coronavirus positive cases were reported in Telangana on Wednesday, taking total positive cases in the state to 41. The first case, a woman in Hyderabad, is the family/primary contact of a positive case. The second case, a 3-year-old boy, has a travel history to Saudi Arabia, the Telangana government said.

Spain deputy prime minister Carmen Calvo reportedly tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday. "She had tested negative in previous tests, the statement said, but doctors didn't think those provided conclusive data. Calvo is receiving medical treatment and progressing favorably, the statement said. She's in quarantine at a hospital," CNN reported.

"The Chancellor's second coronavirus test was negative. She continues to work from home and there she will be tested again at the beginning of next week,'' the spokesperson confirmed.

German chancellor Angela Merkel has tested negative for the novel coronavirus in a second test, CNN reported on Wednesday.

A total of 25,144 samples from 24,254 people have been tested for the novel coronavirus, the Indian Council of Medical Research said on Wednesday. Of which, 581 people have tested positive.

If you are going to restore our 4G then please just go ahead & do it. Stop messing with our heads with these “orders” “fake orders” & “denials”. Why should we be made to feel like beggars for restoration of basic services the rest of the nation take for granted?

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Wednesday criticised the government over its denial of restoring 4G internet services in Jammu and Kashmir.

Reports said that the Noida Police has been directed that the online delivery services Grofers, Milk Basket, Zomato, Big Basket, Harvest Gold, Easy Day, and Spencer will be allowed to operate their services in Uttar Pradesh's Noida.

Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor Girish Chandra Murmu on Wednesday directed the Labour and Employment department to release Rs 1,000 to each of 3.50 lakh workers registered with Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board for purchase of ration during the 21 days lockdown period.

Repeat samples of three people, admitted at Pune's Naidu Hospital, have tested negative for COVID-19. They will be discharged from the hospital following due process, ANI reported.

India Today reported that an 85-year-old woman has passed away due to the coronavirus in Gujarat, and that she had a travel history abroad.

Two coronavirus positive cases were reported in Telangana on Wednesday, taking total positive cases in the state to 41. The first case, a woman in Hyderabad, is the family/primary contact of a positive case. The second case, a 3-year-old boy, has a travel history to Saudi Arabia, the Telangana government said.

Spain deputy prime minister Carmen Calvo reportedly tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday. "She had tested negative in previous tests, the statement said, but doctors didn't think those provided conclusive data. Calvo is receiving medical treatment and progressing favorably, the statement said. She's in quarantine at a hospital," CNN reported.

"The Chancellor's second coronavirus test was negative. She continues to work from home and there she will be tested again at the beginning of next week,'' the spokesperson confirmed.

German chancellor Angela Merkel has tested negative for the novel coronavirus in a second test, CNN reported on Wednesday.

A total of 25,144 samples from 24,254 people have been tested for the novel coronavirus, the Indian Council of Medical Research said on Wednesday. Of which, 581 people have tested positive.

"In view of COVID19, it has been ordered to temporarily suspend the collection of toll at all toll plaza across India. This will not only reduce inconvenience to the supply of emergency services but also save critical time," Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways said on Wednesday.

Coronavirus Outbreak LATEST Updates: Repeat samples of three people, admitted at Pune's Naidu Hospital, have tested negative for COVID-19. They will be discharged from the hospital following due process, ANI reported.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday refuted reports of the restoration of 4G services in Jammu and Kashmir. The statement said, "Neither the Ministry of Home Affairs nor the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has issued any such orders. The news report is not true."

Director of AIIMS in Delhi said that the institute is going to start a "tele-consultation facility". "Our follow-up patients can consult doctors through telephone. Several patients had appointments which are now cancelled. Chronic patients can consult doctors through this facility."

"This will be rolled out in a day or two. Every department will have some doctors who will resolve the health related issues of the follow-up patients. All health services personnel — doctors, nursing officers, OT technicians, administrative staff, have been working 24/7. Some are monitoring patients in Jhajjar, some are making preparations to look after COVID patients for which we've done several rehearsals," he added.

The first two COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra were discharged from hospital after their full recovery from the disease, as confirmed by 2 successive negative samples during follow-up period, the state public health department said.

The total number of coronavirus positive cases have risen to 606 in India (including 553 active cases, 42 cured/discharged people and 10 deaths), the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Wednesday.

Narendra Modi, noting reports of doctors facing discrimination because of treating coronavirus patients in several parts of the country, said that he is very pained with discriminatory behaviour against the staff of essential services. Warning against discrimination, he said that "people in white coats and doctors are like God right now, they are protecting us". He also appealed for help towards the underprivileged. "Everyone must strive to help at least nine people during nine days of Navratri."

Reports on Wednesday said that four more people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in the Kashmir Valley. Reportedly, all the patients are from the Bandipora district.

"Preliminary findings suggest they were close contacts of Srinagar patient who tested positive yesterday. All 5 reported to have participated together in religious event. Total 8 Positive cases in Kashmir now," a report by News18 Urdu said.

The Madhya Pradesh government said that a journalist who attended former chief minister Kamal Nath's press conference on 20 March has tested positive for coronavirus and advised all other attendees to "immediately" self-quarantine and stay away from their family members.

"If anybody wants to know more can call 0755-2704201 for further details," the statement said.

The Government of India has suspended data collection for updation of the National Population Register and the first phase of Census 2021. The exercise will remain suspended until further orders, ANI reported.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged the people not to panic about the availability of essential commodities during the 21-day nationwide lockdown. Further, a helpline number 011-23469536 to reach the police commissioner's office has been announced for use by those facing any non-cooperation from the cops.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Gujarat has gone up to 38 as three more people tested positive for the coronavirus on Wednesday, a health department official said. With this, the total number of cases in Ahmedabad is 14, Surat and Vadodara-seven each, Gandhinagar-six, Rajkot-three, and Kutch-one.

The exercise to update the National Population Register (NPR) and the first phase of the Census-2021 have been deferred indefinitely due to the 21-day lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Meanwhile, Maharashtra reported five new coronavirus cases since Tuesday night, taking the number of cases in the state to 112, the highest in the country so far, officials said.

Five persons admitted in different hospitals of Indore have tested positive for the coronavirus, taking the number of COVID-19 cases in Madhya​ Pradesh to 14, health officials said on Wednesday. None of the patients in Indore have a history of travel abroad.

A 33-year-old resident of Pilibhit has been tested positive for coronaVirus on Wednesday. "He doesn't have any travel history, it is a confirmed case of contact transmission," Dr Sudhir Singh, King George's Medical University, Lucknow told ANI. The number of coronavirus cases reached 562 in India, with active cases stand at 512, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday. This includes 40 cured/discharged patients and 9 deaths.

Another person test positive for coronavirus in Patna's Nalanda Medical College and Hospital, taking the total number of cases to 4 in Bihar. While the government, amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, banned the export of anti-malarial drug hydroxycloroquine, with immediate effect to ensure sufficient availability of the medicine in the domestic market.

The Centre has asked the state governments to ensure unhindered operation of essential services and their seamless availability for the general public during the 21-day lockdown period announced to deal with the coronavirus outbreak.

A nationwide lockdown for 21 days announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi came into effect from Tuesday midnight. He asserted that social distancing is the only way out for the country in its decisive battle against the coronavirus.

In his second address to the nation on the pandemic raging across much of the world with the number of infections rising in India, Modi made a fervent appeal to the countrymen not to cross the 'lakshman rekha' of their homes in the next three weeks.

Any negligence in these 21 days will "push the country and your families by 21 years", he said underlining the massive danger the coronavirus poses.

The experience of countries, which have been able to contain the virus to some extent and experts' views have made it clear that social distancing caused by a lockdown is the only way to break the cycle of the infection, he said.

This is the only ray of light, he asserted. "To save India, to save every Indian, there will be a complete ban on people from stepping outside their houses from 12 midnight today," he said.

"Lockdown is being imposed on every state, union territory, district, village, mohalla and street," he added.

The lockdown will be like "curfew" and more stringent than the 'janata curfew', which the country had observed on Sunday, he said, adding it will have an economic cost but saving people's lives is of the paramount interest to his government.

A lockdown in most of the country was already in place till 31 March, and Modi's announcement extended it everywhere and for two more weeks after this month.

Modi folded his hands a few times to emphasise his request to citizens to adhere to his call, saying it is applicable to everyone from the prime minister to a citizen in a village.

Even countries like Italy, France and the US with world class infrastructure have been left helpless due to the spread of the disease despite their relentless efforts, he said, emphasising the gravity of the situation.

Some people suffer from this wrong mindset that only infected persons need to follow social distancing, he said, warning that such a view can endanger lives of others and their families.