Coronavirus Highlights: Gurgaon Paytm employee tests positive

There are 93,042 confirmed Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and 3,201 deaths reported globally in 67 countries

3:38 PM

Russia bans export of masks, hazmat suits to fight virus

3:36 PM

Sebi internally assessing potential impact of coronavirus on markets: Member

Sebi is "internally assessing" the potential impact of the coronavirus epidemic on the capital markets, its Whole-Time Member S K Mohanty said on Wednesday.

 

He, however, said the Financial Sector Development Council (FSDC), an apex body of regulators formed by the government, is yet to get involved in the discussions.

 

The comments come a day after the action by central banks across the world, including a surprise 50 basis points cut in rates by the US Federal Reserve. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Tuesday also came out with a statement assuring the markets of all help.

"Sebi is aware of coronavirus and the possible impact that it can have on the market. We are taking the necessary steps," Mohanty told reporters here.

3:34 PM

Govt proactively engaged in dealing with coronavirus, PM monitoring situation everyday: Prakash Javadekar

2:44 PM

Coronavirus in West Bengal: Another 345 under lens; 986 in home isolation

As many as 345 people in the state were added to the list of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) suspects and advised to be put in home isolation on Tuesday. So far, there has been no positive case of Covid-19 in the state. West Bengal health department is continuously monitoring 986 persons kept in home isolation, many of them from Kolkata, reports TOI.

2:41 PM

Coronavirus update: Thousands wait for hospital beds in South Korea as coronavirus cases surge

South Korea reported hundreds of new coronavirus cases on Wednesday as many sick people waited for hospital beds in Daegu, the city at the center of the worst outbreak outside China.

 

The new cases bring South Korea’s total to 5,621, with at least 32 deaths, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said.

2:39 PM

Olympics: Rugby sevens Tokyo 2020 test event canceled due to coronavirus concerns

2:37 PM

Coronavirus update: 5 persons are admitted in the isolation wards of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases in Bengaluru

Karnataka: At present, total 5 persons are admitted in the isolation wards of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases in Bengaluru. Samples have been collected. Reports will be received later today.

2:23 PM

COVID-19: Face mask ads banned for misleading claims

Adverts by two companies which made false claims about using face masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus have been banned.

 

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) of Britain ruled the claims by Easy Shopping 4 Home Ltd and Novads OU were in breach of its code, the BBC reported on Wednesday.

 

The adverts were "misleading, irresponsible and likely to cause fear without justifiable reason", it said.

 

Officials have urged more hand-washing to delay the spread of the virus.

 

The rulings were made against adverts by Easy Shopping 4 Home Ltd, which appeared on the Amazon website, and adverts by Novads OU for its Oxybreath Pro mask, which appeared on the Scottish Sun website via the Taboola network and other sites.

2:08 PM

Coronavirus: Harsh Vardhan asks Delhi govt to increase isolation wards

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Wednesday said that he held talks with the Delhi government officials and ministers over the coronavirus situation and appealed them to increase isolation wards in advance so as to stay well-prepared in the case of an outbreak.

 

"We conducted meeting with the Delhi government officers, corporation officials along with ministers of the Delhi government as one case of coronavirus has been reported from Delhi. We held detailed conversation about the developments regarding coronavirus and the steps taken by the government. We have asked the Delhi government to create isolation wards with all facilities, in order to stay prepared," Harsh Vardhan said at a press conference here.

 

 

"Yesterday two cases were reported, one each in Delhi and Telangana. The contact tracing showed that the person from Delhi had come in contact with 66 people. It was found out that he infected six people from his family in Agra," he said.

2:03 PM

25 suspected Coronavirus patients admitted to Safdarjung Hospital, 4 in RML: Health Ministry officials

At least 25 people suspected of coronavirus are admitted to Safdarjung Hospital here in the national capital, said the Health Ministry officials.

 

Four more patients, who have been suspected of Coronavirus, are kept at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, they said.

2:01 PM

Nothing in India, didn't even discuss Coronavirus: Sourav Ganguly after BCCI meet

There is no threat to the Indian Premier League due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, said BCCI President Sourav Ganguly.

 

He also asserted that the South Africa series is on as per schedule and there is no threat.

 

The three-match series is beginning with the first ODI on March 12 at Dharamsala.

 

"Nothing in India. Not even discussed it (Coronovirus)," Ganguly said.

1:59 PM

Coronavirus scare: Indonesia seizes half a million virus masks amid panic buying

Indonesian police seized over half a million face masks from a Jakarta-area warehouse after the country's first confirmed cases of coronavirus sparked panic buying and sent prices for prevention products skyrocketing.

 

Authorities were questioning two people after the Tuesday evening raid at a warehouse in satellite city Tangerang, where nearly 600,000 surgical masks were found.

 

The owners did not have permission to distribute the masks, police said.

 

"Mask prices have skyrocketed everywhere and there are shortages, most likely because hoarders are trying to make money at the public's expense," Jakarta police spokesman Yusri Yunus told AFP Wednesday.

1:55 PM

14 Italians quarantined at ITBP's Chhawla facility record high viral load

Fourteen out of twenty-one Italian nationals who were shifted to Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) quarantine facility for coronavirus screening, have recorded high viral load and are asymptomatic.

 

According to government sources, further tests are underway to examine their conditions.

 

This comes after, 24 people including three Indians and 21 Italian nationals residing in a hotel in South Delhi were shifted to ITBP quarantine facility on Tuesday.

 

Out of 21 Italian nationals, 8 are males and 13 are females and three Indians include one tourist guide, one driver and one helper, said the sources.

 

Upon arrival, an initial screening was done at the facility and their samples sent to AIIMS.

 

Earlier, ITBP had said that no fresh symptoms of coronavirus were seen in 112 people housed at its quarantine facility in Chhawla. READ ON...

1:50 PM

7 districts on high alert after Italian couple tests positive in Jaipur

Rajasthan Additional Chief Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh on Wednesday ordered seven district collectors to follow instructions for disinfecting the bus in which two Italian patients who tested positive for coronavirus travelled from Delhi to the state.

 

District Collectors of Jhunjhunu, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur and Jaipur-I and II are putting all resources together to carry out the order at the earliest.

 

The bus needs to be disinfected, driver and cleaner shall be home quarantined for 14 day, the Additional Chief Secretary said.

1:49 PM

No positive case of coronavirus in Maharashtra till date, says state Health Min Rajesh Tope

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Wednesday said that no positive case of coronavirus has been reported in the state till date.

 

"No positive case of coronavirus in Maharashtra till now. People are advised not to spread or believe in rumours," Tope told reporters here.

 

Speaking about preparation for tackling the situation he added, "We are taking measures and are alert. As of now, no anti-viral drug is available, so precautions must be taken by the people. Isolation wards have been set up in every district and 10 extra beds are placed in every hospital."