The total number of novel coronavirus cases in India rose to 166 today after a record number of fresh cases reported from the various parts of the country. Maharashtra is the worst affected state with the maximum number of cases. According to the data released by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total tally includes 141 Indian nationals and 25 foreigners.

Three persons infected with the novel coronavirus have died so far. A 76-year-old man from Kalaburgi was the first casualty of COVID-19 infection in the country. A 68-year-old woman in Delhi and a 64-year-old man from Mumbai were the other deceased.

Maharashtra recorded 45 cases till today, the highest in the country. Kerala has 27 positive coronavirus patients. Three fresh cases from Noida in last two days took the total number of confirmed patients in Uttar Pradesh to 16. Delhi has confirmed 12 cases with COVID-19 infection while the tally stands at 17 in Haryana. The number of coronavirus patients has risen to 4 in Jammu & Kashmir. Rajasthan has recorded seven cases so far while Karnataka has 14 COVID-19 patients. Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Odisha and West Bengal reported have confirmed one case each.

Indian Army reported its first case of coronavirus after a 34-year-old soldier of Ladakh Scout regiment tested positive for the infection.

A total of 15 patients have been discharged so far, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said today.

In the wake of coronavirus outbreak, India temporarily banned entry of passengers from 36 countries. Passengers travelling from 11 countries will be mandatorily quarantined, the home ministry said on Wednesday.

"No airline will bring any passenger from Australia, Belgium, Bulgeria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom effective 12 GMT March 12 at Port of departure," a home ministry spokesperson said.

State governments also ramped up efforts to prevent the virus from spreading further. Noida police invoked Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) to prohibit mass gatherings in the area. Pune hotel and restaurant association has decided to close down all 850 hotels in the city till March 20.

Indian Railways cancelled more than 150 trains till March 31 as the total number of cases in the country rises.

The head of the World Health Organization on Wednesday said the new coronavirus was an "enemy against humanity", as the number of people infected in the pandemic soared past 200,000 worldwide.

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