Coronavirus: India records 315 positive cases till Saturday night

The number of coronavirus positive cases in the world is rising in alarming numbers with a total of 2,72,351 reports of infections while the death toll reaches 11,310. Italy reported another huge spike in fatalities which have now crossed 4,000. In the past 24 hours, the country recorded 627 deaths taking its total to 4,032, as per officials. Italy's COVID-19 death toll overtook that of China which has reported 3,139 deaths. 

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday imposed a lockdown, he instructed all public institutions and places of gathering to shut their doors due to the coronavirus outbreak, which has already afflicted more than 3,200 people and killed over 160.

In India, the confirmed cases as on March 20, 2020 at 11:30 pm was at 236  including foreign nationals, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

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21 March 2020

23:37 IST

Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayansamy: Section 144 to be imposed in Puducherry from March 23 to March 31. Buyers can purchase from 7 am to 9 am in the morning and 6 pm to 9 pm in the evening.

23:26 IST

We have more than 3,000 people who have returned from foreign countries. They are advised for home quarantine. A majority of them belong to the following Districts of Khurdha, Cuttack, Ganjam, Kendrapada, Angul, the towns of Puri, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Balasore, Jajpur road and Jajpur town, Bhadrak. Hence in the first phase, we are going for a near-complete lockdown in all these areas from 7 A.M. on Sunday till 9 pm of March 29: Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik.

23:26 IST

Total number of coronavirus cases in national capital rises to 27: Delhi Health Department

23:25 IST

From midhnight of March 22, general people will not be allowed to travel in Mumbai local trains. Those are working for essential services, they will be only allowed to travel. The ID cards will be also checked at every stations

23:19 IST

From midnight of March 22, general people will not be allowed to travel in Mumbai local trains. Those who are working for essential services, they will be only allowed to travel. The ID cards will be also checked at every station.

23:18 IST

World death toll over 12,700. Almost 2,000 died in last 24 hours. Italy reported 793 deaths.

22:49 IST

Coronavirus COVID-19 test in private labs could cost up to Rs 4500

22:11 IST

Rajasthan Locked down till March 31 amid COVID-19 scare.

21:15 IST

Government launches chatbot on WhatsApp to create awareness about coronavirus, curb misinformation

20:48 IST

Fourth case of COVID-19 reported in West Bengal. A male aged 57 year old, a resident of Dum Dum was admitted to AMRI, tested positive. He has shifted to the isolation ward of Beleghata ID & BG hospital.

19:50 IST

Shivraj Singh Chouhan meets Madhya Pradesh governor Lalji Tandon.

19:42 IST

22 rebel Cong MLAs, whose resignation led to fall of Kamal Nath govt, join BJP.

19:03 IST

Madras HC judge Justice S M Subramaniam donates one-month salary to CM's relief fund in Tamil Nadu to help unorganised sector workers affected by shutdown over coronavirus pandemic.

19:02 IST

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation: Metro services will remain closed from 10 am to 4 pm on Monday (March 23, 2020). Metro services will again resume from 4:00 PM from all lines & will continue till 8:00 PM. Parking at the Metro stations will also remain closed on Monday.

19:02 IST

Pakistan suspends all international flights as coronavirus cases jump to 625 in the country.

18:19 IST

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani: If Coronavirus positive cases kept increasing in the state, then isolated infection control hospitals will be made in Rajkot, Baroda, Ahmedabad & Surat to fight it. These hospitals will be ready in 2-3 days. There are a total of 13 positive cases.

18:16 IST

No entry of outsiders till April 2 in Ayodhya, District administration issues advisory.

18:08 IST

Vasundhara Raje, BJP leader: After conducting a #Covid19 test, I’m happy to inform you that the results came back negative. However, as a preventive measure, my son and I will continue to be in isolation for 15 days. A lot of you checked up on me and I appreciate your concern. I want to thank you for your prayers & good wishes. They are what keep me going.

17:20 IST

Samajwadi Party MPs will not go to Parliament from Monday (March 23, 2020), SP takes the decision amid coronavirus fear.

17:02 IST

111 labs across the country will be functional from today, says Health Ministry.

16:27 IST

The transport authorities have stopped making new driving licenses till further notice amid COVID-19 scare. The step has been taken so that people don't gather.

16:23 IST

Delhi's Karkardooma Court sends suspended AAP councillor, Tahir Hussain, to 10-days judicial custody, in a case related to violence in northeast Delhi.

16:23 IST

West Bengal government orders shutting down of all restaurants, bars, pubs, nightclubs, amusement parks, museums and zoos till March 31 in wake of coronavirus pandemic.

15:42 IST

Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal appears before ED in connection with money laundering probe against Yes Bank promoter Rana Kapoor and his family members: Officials.

15:34 IST

Coronavirus: Autos, taxis to remain off roads in Delhi during Sunday's 'Janata Curfew'.

15:31 IST

First positive case of coronavirus reported in Moradabad. A 19-year girl who was studying in France had come to India 5 days ago.

14:45 IST

Massive clashes erupted inside Kolkata's Dum Dum Jail. Inmates allegedly vandalised jail premises, attacked jail officers, tried torching jail property. Stone pelting has begun. Barrackpore CP Manoj Verma and other senior officials are inside the jail to bring the situation under control. Three fire tenders at the spot to douse the fire.

This is due to coronavirus. The courts have been closed due to COVID-19 outbreak, hence bail hearing has been deferred. Plus all inmates have been asking for masks and sanitisers.

14:23 IST

West Bengal Higher Secondary Board Examination has been postponed till April 15 in wake of coronavirus outbreak, state education minister Partha Chatterjee informed.

13:35 IST

The Ministry of Railways in a tweet urged people to not travel on passenger and long distance trains unless absolutely necessary. In a series of tweets it also mentioned cases of people who were travelling while in quarantine.

Such cases are being found on Railways. Public is requested not to travel on passenger and long distance trains unless absolutely necessary. Be safe and keep others safe.

— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) March 21, 2020

13:28 IST

Praveen Khandelwal Secretary General of Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) in a press release said: "All major wholesale and retail markets in Delhi will be closed for the next three days from March 21 for the prevention of spread of coronavirus. Nearly 15 lakh small and big shops will remain closed in Delhi. Business of about Rs 500 crore will be affected today due to trade bandh. As many as 7 crore traders across the country will participate in Janta Curfew tomorrow. Nearly 40 crore of their employees to stay at home during that time. Traders ask Finance Minister  to provide Corona Cash Loans to keep supply chain effective."

13:09 IST

Jabalpur placed under lockdown after four coronavirus positve cases come to light. The lockdown will be imposed on March 21 and 22. Essential items like grocery and medicines will be available.

13:00 IST

A total of 271 individuals have been confirmed positive. As many as 15,701 samples from 14,811 individuals have been tested for COVID-19 at 10 am on March 21, 2020.

12:44 IST

Three new COVID-19 cases reported in Ladakh, two from Leh and one case from Kargil, taking the total to 13. 

11:30 IST

The number of positive coronavirus cases in Maharashtra jumps to 63 with 11 new cases being reported, 10 from Mumbai and one from Pune. Of the 11, 8 had returned from abroad and three come in contact with them. Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope appeals to people to 'practice social distancing to prevent the spread of coronavirus'.

11:13 IST

Another coronavirus infection confirmed in Noida from Supertech Cape Town at Sector 74. DM BN Singh has ordered the sealing of the appartment complex, vehicle movement is banned from March 21 to 23. People living in flats there have been advised to stay at home.

11:07 IST

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announces payment of Rs 1000 to more than 35 lakh daily wage labourers and small cart owners/ rickshaw pullers in the state to tide over losses.

10:53 IST

Third case of COVID-19 reported in West Bengal. A 23-year-old MBA student had returned from Scotland yesterday. She had shown symptoms of coronavirus and was admitted to the Beleghata ID&BG hospital. She has tested positive for Covid-19. She returned to Kolkata via Mumbai from Scotland yesterday. Her family members have been asked to go into home quarantine.

10:41 IST

The Health Ministry on Saturday issued an advisory saying no hospital should turn away any suspected COVID-19 patient. It also announced free medical treatment to the medical staff who get COVID-19 infection while administering treatment.

10:21 IST

Coronavirus infections in India:
Total cases - 258 
Recovered - 23
Deaths - 4

Worst affected states: Maharashtra - 49
Kerala - 33
Delhi - 25

09:00 IST

A member of US Vice President Mike Pence`s office has tested positive for the coronavirus but neither President Donald Trump nor Pence have had close contact with the individual, Pence`s press secretary Katie Miller said in a statement on Friday, reported Reuters.

Miller said Pence`s office was notified on Friday evening about the positive test. The statement did not name the individual. "Further contact tracing is being conducted in accordance with CDC guidelines," she said, referring to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pence is leading the White House task force formed to combat the outbreak.

08:45 IST

Passengers may kindly note that as precautionary measure against coronavirus, further six trains have been cancelled up to March 31, 2020, the Western Railway informed.

Passengers may kindly note that as precautionary measure against #coronavirus, further six more trains have been cancelled up to 31st March, 2020. The details are given as under :- pic.twitter.com/MimEden4O7

— Western Railway (@WesternRly) March 20, 2020

07:28 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday appreciated the leaders of Nepal and Bhutan for the monetary contributions made by the two nations to the COVID-19 Emergency Fund proposed by PM Modi. Nepal has committed NPR 100 million to the SAARC emergency fund which was created to help combat the coronavirus pandemic in the region, while Bhutan Prime Minister Dr Lotay Thsering has decided to contribute $100,000 to the fund.

07:03 IST

In Europe, which is fast becoming the epicentre after China, Switzerland has begun emerging as another area of concern. Health Minister Alain Berset Friday warned that the country "had its back to the wall" and sought co-operation from every single citizen follow the announced restrictions. Groups of five or more are banned, everyone must stay at home except to shop or work in essential services. In a population of 8.57 million, Switzerland has seen 4,840 cases and 43 deaths. With all shops, schools, and restaurants closed, the government has announced a $40 bn package to support businesses and workers, including apprentices and part-timers.

06:59 IST

Amid growing concern over coronavirus outbreak in the country, Indigo on Friday announced that it has reduced its domestic schedule for next few weeks. Issuing a statement Indigo said, ''IndiGo, India’s largest airline, has reduced its domestic schedule to match market demand over the next few weeks.'' Meanwhile the airline company also informed that on Sunday that is the day to observe Janata Curfew in India as announced by PM Narendra Modi, Indigo will be operating 60% of its domestic schedule to meet urgent requirement of people.