NEW DELHI: The number of coronavirus cases touched 114 in the country on Monday after fresh cases were reported from several states, including Odisha as the government imposed fresh travel restrictions, prohibiting entry of passengers from the EU countries and the UK from March 18.

The country is slowly moving towards a complete shutdown as governments across the states ordered the closure of schools, colleges, malls, cinema halls and dissuade people from attending large public gatherings.

Here is a look at all the latest development on the outbreak of coronavirus in India and around the world —

'Test every suspected case' of COVID-19: WHO

The World Health Organization on Monday called for countries to test every suspected case of COVID-19, as the rest of the world registered more cases and deaths in the pandemic than China.

"You cannot fight a fire blindfolded," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters in Geneva, saying the WHO recommended that countries "Test, test, test. Test every suspected case."

"In the past week, we have seen a rapid escalation of cases of COVID-19," he said, describing the pandemic as "the defining global health crisis of our time."

Three new cases in Kerala, monitoring strengthened

Three more people have tested positive for coronavirus in Kerala on Monday, taking the number of affected cases to 24, as the government decided to strengthen surveillance by monitoring all passengers reaching the state, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.

While two people tested positive in Malappuram, one positive case was from Kasaragod district.

"The total number of people under surveillance are 12,740, of whom 270 are in hospitals and the rest under home quarantine," he said.

Italy reports 349 new virus deaths

Italy on Monday reported 349 new deaths from the novel coronavirus, taking its total since last month to 2,158, the most after China.

The number of official COVID-19 fatalities has more than doubled since Thursday, when Italy's toll topped 1,000 for the first time. Italy now has 27,980 infections, compared to 15,113 four days ago.

India bars travellers from UK, EU, Turkey from March 18

India has temporarily barred entry of travellers from United Kingdom, European Union, Turkey and European Free Trade Association from Wednesday (March 18).

In addition, those either coming from or transiting through UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait will need to be quarantined for at least two weeks.

Both these additional measures are temporary and will be in force till March 31, when it will be reviewed, in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus, the government said.

MEA launches helplines for those seeking assistance

The ministry of external affairs has launched helplines for those seeking assistance in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

The MEA has set up a special cell to coordinate with Indians living abroad on issues related with the response to the pandemic that has claimed more than 5,000 lives worldwide.

"All hands on deck! @MEAIndia's helplines for COVID-19 Control Centre are open. Control Room: 1800118797 (toll free), +91- 11- 23012113, +91- 11- 23014104, +91- 11- 23017905," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

He also shared a fax number -- +91- 011-23018158 -- and an email address -- covid19@mea.gov.in -- for those wanting to reach out to the ministry in connection with issues related to the outbreak.

Number of coronavirus cases rises to 114

The number of coronavirus cases in India has risen to 114 with one new case each in Ladakh, Odisha, Jammu and Kashmir, and Kerala, health ministry officials said on Monday.

The number includes 13 people who have been discharged after they recovered and two fatalities, they said.

Iran reports 129 new virus deaths, taking total to 853

Iran said on Monday that the novel coronavirus had killed 129 more people, a new record high for a single day in one of the world's worst-hit countries.

"Our plea is that everyone take this virus seriously and in no way attempt to travel to any province," health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said in a televised news conference.

The latest deaths bring the overall toll to 853 fatalities since February 19, when the government announced Iran's first two deaths from the COVID-19 disease.

McDonald's, Domino's Pizza introduce contactless delivery

McDonald's and Domino's Pizza have introduced contactless delivery, with state governments taking measures to avoid gathering of people in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Westlife Development, owner and operator of of McDonald's restaurants in west and southern India, on Monday said it has launched contactless delivery to ensure food reaches customers without being touched by bare hands and delivered safe with adequate social distancing measures.

Similarly, Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd (JFL), the licensee for Domino's Pizza in India said it has introduced zero-contact delivery all 1,325 restaurants of Domino's Pizza in India.

In a regulatory filing, Westlife Development said it has provided riders with sanitizers to sanitise hands before and after each delivery and has instructed them to sanitise delivery bags every two hours of use.

Odisha reports first coronavirus case

The first confirmed case of novel coronavirus in Odisha was reported on Monday after a researcher who recently returned from Italy tested positive for it, a senior official said.

The 33-year-old man is being treated at Capital Hospital, the official said.

"His condition is stable and he is not showing any other complications," said Subroto Bagchi, the state government's chief spokesperson on COVID-19.

Covid-19 cases to be discharged only after 2 negative tests in 24 hours: Govt

The government has issued a discharge policy for Covid-19 cases under which a positive case shall be managed as per protocol and discharged after only two samples test negative within 24 hours and there’s evidence of chest radiographic clearance and viral clearance in respiratory samples.

Time to collaborate, not grow apart: PM Modi to Saarc

Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered a collaborative approach to dealing with Covid-19 in South Asia with shared data, expertise and a fund to which India will make an initial contribution of $10 million even as Pakistan sought to muddy waters by raising Kashmir at a conversation of Saarc leaders over video conference on Sunday.

Chairing the unique video-conference of Saarc heads of government, Modi suggested a fund; rapid response teams of Indian doctors, specialists and testing gear for use by Saarc nations; online training for emergency response staff of participating nations; and video-conferences by doctors for distance diagnosis.

Hockey India postpones all junior, sub-junior national championships

Hockey India on Monday postponed all its junior and sub-junior national championships, which were scheduled to start from April 10, in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, hoping to resume by the end of next month should the situation improve.

"Keeping in mind the safety of the players, Hockey India has taken a decision to postpone the annual National Championships for Junior, Sub-Junior Men and Women categories," Hockey India President Mohd Mushtaque Ahmad said in a statement.

Australian PM lauds Modi's G-20 link-up effort to combat COVID-19, promises all support

PM Scott Morrison has lauded and promised his support to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi's efforts to organise a link-up among G-20 leaders to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

"And one of the things I should mention that I spoke to Prime Minister Johnson is when it comes to the G20, I'm also aware that Prime Minister Modi is keen to organise a link-up between all the G-20 leaders. I think that's, I think that's a commendable initiative. Australia obviously supports that. I've communicated that," Morrison said.

Fourth batch of 53 Indians arrive in India from Iran, says Jaishankar

External affairs minister S Jaishankar on early Monday said that the fourth batch of 53 Indians has arrived in India from Tehran and Shiraz in Iran. Out of the 53 Indians, 52 are students and one is a teacher. With this, a total of 389 Indians have returned to India from Iran.

Pompeo, Jaishankar discuss Covid-19 developments over phone

US secretary of state Michael Pompeo held a 'productive' conversation with India's external affairs minister S Jaishankar over the phone to discuss ways the two countries can cooperate to address the challenges arising due to global outbreak of coronavirus.

"Productive conversation with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on ways the US and India can collaborate to fight the global coronavirus outbreak," Pompeo tweeted.

Malls, cinemas, clubs closed in NCR as UP and Haryana tighten curbs

Several states ordered the closure of educational institutions, and others imposed a virtual lockdown by extending restrictions to other public places like cinema halls, malls, gyms and swimming pools.

The most populous state in the country, Uttar Pradesh, directed indefinite closure of all multiplexes, cinemas, clubs and gymnasiums in 10 districts, including state capital Lucknow, and Noida and Ghaziabad in NCR.

Infected Brit, 17 others leave Munnar resort, stopped at Kochi airport

A British national who had tested positive for Covid-19 was among a group of 18, all from the UK, that was stopped from boarding an Emirates flight to Dubai at Kochi airport on Sunday morning following an alert from Munnar about the tourists allegedly fleeing the resort where they had been quarantined since Wednesday.

China industrial output contracts for first time in decades

China's industrial production, retail sales and investment all contracted in the first two months of the year after the coronavirus epidemic wreaked havoc on the economy, official data showed Monday. Industrial production for January and February shrank 13.5 per cent, the first contraction since the early 1990s.

US moves nearer to shutdown amid coronavirus fears

Officials across the country curtailed many elements of American life to fight the coronavirus outbreak on Sunday, with health officials recommending that groups of 50 or more don't get together and a government expert saying a 14-day national shutdown may be needed.



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