The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Tuesday said that the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in India rose to 140, with Delhi reporting eight cases, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha reporting one case each, Haryana reporting 15 cases, Karnataka reporting 11 cases, Kerala reporting 26 cases, Maharashtra reporting 41 cases, Telangana reporting five cases, union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh reporting three and six cases respectively, and Uttar Pradesh reporting 15 cases.
Mumbai Corporation begins stamping hands of those under home quarantine
From Monday onwards, BMC started putting a stamp on the back of their left hands stating, “Proud to protect Mumbaikars. Home quarantined.” The stamp is made of indelible ink similar to the one used to mark voters and the stamp also has a date until which the person is supposed to be quarantined. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started stamping the hands of those advised to undergo home quarantine for Covid-19 to prevent them from mingling in public.
Maharashtra reports two new COVID-19 cases
Maharashtra, one of the worst-hit states by the spread of the novel coronavirus in India, on Tuesday reported two new cases of the flu-like disease that has claimed more than 5,000 lives worldwide.
The state government said that two people having travel history with the US tested positive in Mumbai and Pune, taking the total cases in the state to 41.
Public transport to remain open in Maharashtra: CM
Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, speaking to the media after a meeting with authorities over measures taken to curb the spread of coronavirus in the state after the first death was reported on Tuesday, said that public transport will not be shut in the state. He also said that government office will not be shut.
“Trains and buses are essential services so we are not stopping them as of now but if people don’t listen to our advice and don’t avoid unnecessary travel, then we will think about that too. Next 15-20 days are very crucial for us,” he said.
GoAir suspends international flights from 17 March to 15 April
The GoAir airlines has suspended its international operations on Monday in view of the spread of the novel coronavirus in the country.
“GoAir is forced to take certain measures — we are temporarily suspending all our international operations, starting 17th March 2020 until 15th April 2020. GoAir has also initiated a short term and temporary rotational leave without pay program that will not only help the company counter the short term reduction in capacity, but will also ensure that a cross section of our employees stay away from the workplace to ensure business continuity. Knowing that this will put a financial burden on the affected employees and having studied what companies have done in other countries to help guide our plans, this decision was not taken lightly,” the statement read.
Indian railway increases platform ticket
An Indian Railways official on Tuesday said that the price of platform tickets has been increased to Rs 50 at about 250 stations in six divisions, Mumbai, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Ratlam, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, till further orders, to ensure crowd control. The Central Railways has increased the price of platform tickets in the Pune, Solapur, and Bhusawal divisions from Rs 10 to Rs 50, the public relations officer (PRO) was quoted as saying by ANI on Tuesday. The move is with the aim to curb crowding on stations as authorities doubled down on efforts to stop the spread of coronavirus in the state.
All govt offices to shut in Maharashtra
The Maharashtra cabinet on Tuesday decided to shut government offices for seven days due to the spread of coronavirus in the country, CNN-News18 reported.
Himachal Pradesh govt shuts religious sites
The Himachal Pradesh department of health and family welfare on Tuesday shut places of religious worship for the public in light of the spread of the novel coronavirus in the country.
“Entry of public at large in places of religious worship shall be stopped till further orders. Rituals as per established practice will be performed and if possible webcasting of the same may be done by management,” the notification was quoted as saying.
Cricket Australia planning to host T20 World Cup as per schedule
Cricket Australia is planning to host the men’s T20 World Cup as per schedule in October despite the COVID-19 pandemic causing a collapse of sports events worldwide.”None of us are experts in this situation obviously, so our hope is that we’re back in very much normal circumstances come October and November when the men’s T20 World Cup is to be played,” CA chief Kevin Roberts was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.The men’s T20 World Cup is slated to begin with the pre-qualifiers from 18-23 October followed by the main 12-team competition from 24 October. The final will be played on 15 November at the MCG.
Rich menu, books to read to make suspected COVID-19 patients comfortable
A rich menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner and supply of books are among steps taken to provide the comfort factor to 17 coronavirus suspect patients, isolated at the Government Medical College Hospital in Kerala.
A separate menu has been prepared for the 15 Indian patients – all Keralites – and the two U.K nationals, said Dr Ganesh Mohan, Resident Medical Officer of the hospital at Kalamassery. While the Indians are served dosa, sambar, two eggs, two oranges, tea and one litre mineral water at 7.30 AM, the Britishers are served toast, omelette without onions, soup and fruit juice.
Fruit juice is served for the Indians at 10.30 am before lunch at 12 noon, which comprise two chappatis, rice, fish fry, thoran (dish of sauteed vegetables) curry, curd and one litre mineral water. The foreign nationals are served pineapple juice at 11 am and toast cheese (if needed) and fruits for lunch at 12 noon.
At 3.30 pm, the Keralites are given tea, biscuits, banana fry and vada. Dinner at 7 pm includes appam, vegetable stew, two bananas and one litre mineral water. The UK nationals are given fruit juice at 4 pm and toasted bread, scrambled eggs and fruits for dinner.