Coronavirus LIVE: India likely to airlift its citizens from Wuhan on Feb 26

The number of coronavirus-related deaths in China rose to 2,592 on Monday, while the total number of confirmed cases on the mainland is now 77,150

7:51 PM

Venice carnival, fashion week canceled to contain virus

Venice Carnival will end early and Milan’s Fashion Week will have limited access after authorities canceled all public events in both cities in a bid to contain a surge in cases of the coronavirus in northern Italy. The two iconic events have drawn hundreds of thousands of visitors to the cities and coincided with an outbreak of the virus in surrounding regions. 

7:29 PM

Hope India will review coronavirus epidemic in an objective manner: China

China on Monday hoped that India will review the situation arising out of the coronavirus epidemic in the country in an "objective and rational" manner and resume bilateral trade and movement of people. The remarks by Chinese Embassy Spokesperson Ji Rong came following claims by Chinese charity organisations and certain medical institutes that New Delhi has restricted export of medical products to China following the coronavirus epidemic in that country.

7:25 PM

Coronavirus China's biggest health emergency, says Xi; toll climbs to 2,442

President Xi, who attended a meeting here to double efforts in coordinating the prevention and control of the COVID-19 outbreak, said the epidemic "has the fastest transmission, widest range of infection and has been the most difficult to prevent and control". In comments reported by state broadcaster CCTV, Xi said, "This is a crisis for us and it is a big test." He called the epidemic China's "largest public health emergency". READ MORE HERE

6:17 PM

81 of 83 in Maha isolation wards test negative

The Maharashtra government on Sunday said that 81 out of 83 people admitted in isolation wards for suspected exposure to the novel coronavirus have tested negative. While 80 of them have been discharged, three others continue to be hospitalised. "Out of the 83 persons, 81 have tested negative for the coronavirus infection. Of these 80 have been discharged. Three persons are under observation in Mumbai's Kasturba Hospital," a state health department official said on Sunday.

5:34 PM

Iran's enemies tried to use coronavirus to impact vote - Khamenei

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Sunday Iran's enemies tried to put people off voting in Friday's parliamentary election by exaggerating the threat of the new coronavirus but that participation had been good. The final results announced by the Interior Ministry on state TV showed hardline loyalists close to Khamenei gained 30 seats for Tehran, with former commander of the elite Revolutionary Guards, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, topping the list.

5:24 PM

Pakistan shuts border with Iran to counter coronavirus

Pakistan on Sunday said that it has declared a medical emergency and temporarily closed its border with Iran to counter the threat of coronavirus from across the border. Iran has so far witnessed eight deaths and 43 cases of infection due to the novel coronavirus. The deadly disease, which initially broke out in China, has caused 2,442 deaths and infected 76,936 people in 31 provincial-level regions of the Communist nation.

5:19 PM

Coronavirus is communist China's "biggest health emergency"

China's President Xi Jinping on Sunday said that Coronavirus is the communist China's "biggest health emergency". 

5:07 PM

Doctor succumbs to coronavirus in China

A 29-year-old female doctor died on Sunday after contracting the coronavirus while treating patients at a hospital in China's worst-hit Wuhan city, taking the death toll of the medical staff to 10, according to a media report. Xia Sisi, a gastroenterology physician got infected while working at the Union Jiangbei Hospital of Wuhan in Hubei province, the epicentre of the virus. She was hospitalised on January 19 and later transferred to Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University on February 7 after her condition worsened.

4:26 PM

Italy coronavirus cases now surpass 100, up from 79

The number of coronavirus cases in Italy has risen to over 100, the president of the northern Lombardy region said on Sunday. Attilio Fontana told SkyTG24 television there were "more than 100 cases" in the country overall and 89 cases in Lombardy alone, the capital of which is Milan. On Saturday, authorities had said there were 79 cases in Italy, but that number has continued to grow.

3:39 PM

Iran says in total 43 infected with coronavirus, 8 dead

Iran confirmed 15 new cases of the new coronavirus, Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said on state TV on Sunday, adding that the death toll has reached eight in the country. "So far, we have 43 infected cases and the death toll is eight," said Kianush Jahanpur. 

3:23 PM

Quarantine questioned as Japan woman tests positive after leaving ship

Japan on Sunday confirmed the first case of a former Japanese passenger of a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship testing positive for the disease after initially receiving a clean bill of health. More than 20 foreigners evacuated from the ship have also tested positive after returning home. The cases raise questions about the effectiveness of the quarantine on board the ship and fears for the nearly 1,000 former passengers allowed to move freely around Japan.

 

3:13 PM

AC prices to go up by 5 pc due to customs duty hike, rise in logistics cost

Season for air-condition sales is going to start soon, and the sector is bracing for a hike of up to 5 per cent, amid combined impact of customs duty hike on compressors and increased logistics costs due to Coronavirus outbreak in China, which is the main supplier. “There is a shortage due to Coronavirus and in order to keep the production up, we are airlifting the critical components from China. There is also an increase in customs duty on compressors and others,” Blue Star Managing Director B Thiagarajan told PTI.

2:15 PM

South Korea raises coronavirus alert level to 'highest'

South Korea is raising its alert level on the new coronavirus to the "highest", President Moon Jae-in said Sunday, in the face of a sudden spike in the number of infections. "The COVID-19 incident faces a grave turning point," Moon said following a government meeting on the virus. "The government will raise the alert level to the highest level."

11:09 AM

Inter Milan game among three postponed over coronavirus fears in Italy

Italian authorities have ordered the postponement of three Serie A football matches on Sunday over coronavirus fears in northern Italy.

The matches between title-chasing Inter Milan and Sampdoria, Atalanta against Sassuolo and Hellas Verona versus Cagliari have been pushed back to avoid the spread of the virus with 79 confirmed cases in an outbreak that has claimed two lives in the country.

11:07 AM

China delaying permission to India to send IAF plane to Wuhan

China is "deliberately delaying" permission for an Indian Air Force plane to coronavirus-hit Wuhan to supply relief materials and bring back more Indians from the city, official sources said on Saturday.