NEW DELHI : The number of coronavirus cases in India has now shot up to 28. Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan today announced that out of 21 Italian nationals, 16 of them have been found positive for coronavirus . They have been sent to Indo-Tibetan Border Police's (ITBP) quarantine facility in Chhawla.

Besides, six family members of the Delhi man who was infected with coronavirus have also been tested positive for the virus that has killed more than 3,000 people globally so far. "On conducting contact tracing of the person tested positive in Delhi, we came to know that he infected 6 members of his family who are in Agra. All 6 members tested positive for coronavirus," Vardhan said.

Out of the 28 positive coronavirus cases in India, 16 are Italians. A 69-year-old Italian tourist was found infected in Jaipur yesterday and now his wife and 14 other tourists and and Indian driver who traveled with them have also been found positive. Their samples were sent to National Institute of Immunology (NIV), Pune.

As the tourist group travelled to different places in Rajasthan from February 21 to 28, the state government has placed seven districts on high alert.

Breakup of coronavirus cases in India:

Delhi: 1

Agra: 6 (Relatives of the Delhi patient)

Telangana: 1 (Bengaluru techie)

Kerala: 3 (All of them have recovered)

Jaipur: 17 (16 Italians and an Indian driver)

In the meantime, six people from Noida, including three children, whose samples were taken to check for coronavirus infection have tested negative. These Noida residents had attended a party thrown by the Delhi patient recently and were kept under medical supervision as part of a precautionary measure.

To control the spread of the deadly virus in India, the government has now started universal screening of all passengers from incoming international flights at airports.

Global deaths due to coronavirus outbreak rose above 3,000 with the new count in China mainland rising to 2,912. The deadly virus, that originated in China late last year, continues to spread around the world and has infected more than 80,000 people.

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