COV cases rise to 107; India airlifts 445 people from Italy, Iran
News agencies reported that Mumbai Police have issued an order prohibiting tours involving a group of people travelling together to a foreign or domestic destination by private operators
The ministry of health and family affairs on Sunday said that confirmed COVID-19 cases in India have risen to 107 so far.
India on Sunday airlifted 445 people who were stuck in two countries after the outbreak of the Covid 19 pandemic.
A special Air India aircraft flew in from Milan, Italy, to Delhi early in the morning carrying 211 Indian students and seven compassionate cases.
“211 students & 7 compassionate cases departed by AI flight #Milan. All those who helped us through this difficult situation, special thanks to @airindiain team & Italian authorities. Consulate will continue to ensure the welfare of all Indians in northern #Italy,” Indian consulate in Milan tweeted.
Another 234 Indians, stranded in Iran, arrived in Delhi by a Mahan Air flight early morning. They were flown to an army quarantine facility in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer in two Air India flights.
Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishanker tweeted that the group included 131 students and 103 pilgrims.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Sunday that the total number of positive Covid 19 cases have increased to 107.
Maharashtra has the maximum number of cases at 32, followed by Kerala at 22 and Uttar Pradesh at 11. Out of the 107 cases, 17 are foreign nationals.
News agencies reported that Mumbai Police have issued an order prohibiting tours involving a group of people travelling together to a foreign or domestic destination by private operators.
Three suspected coronavirus patients who were quarantined left a government hospital in Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar district on Saturday evening without informing anybody, the police said.
By late night, however, two of them returned to the Ahmednagar district civil hospital. Search was on for the third patient.
Assam Chief Secretary Sanjay Krishna on Sunday issued an order to close all schools, colleges, universities, gyms, swimming pools and cinema halls till March 29. However, he mentioned that all examinations except that of state and CBSE boards, have been postponed in view of coronavirus.
The order read: “All school, colleges, universities, gyms, swimming pools and cinema halls will remain closed in the state till March 29.
“All examinations, except that of state & CBSE boards, have been postponed in view of coronavirus.”
India has already declared coronavirus a disaster, the Centre has also declared masks and hand sanitizers as essential commodities under Essential Commodities Act up to June 30, 2020.
Under the Essential Commodities Act, states can ask manufacturers to enhance their production capacity of these items, to make the supply chain smooth.
Union Minister of State for Health Ashwini Choubey said the government has issued an advisory asking civil hospitals and medical colleges to set up isolation wards.
“We are trying our best to contain the spread of coronavirus which has spread to 12 states,” said the minister.
Ahead of the his video conference with other SAARC nations to chalk out a plan to combat the deadly coronavirus, Prime Minister has said that the coming together of SAARC leaders will lead to effective outcomes and benefit citizens in the fight against COVID-19.
In a late night tweet on Saturday, PM Modi said that the members of SAARC nationa, through a video conferencing at 5.00 pm, will discuss about a strategy to combat coronavirus in the region.
“Timely action for a healthier planet. Tomorrow at 5 PM, leaders of SAARC nations will discuss, via conferencing, a roadmap to fight the challenge of COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. I am confident that our coming together will lead to effective outcomes and benefit our citizen,” Modi said in a tweet.
Earlier, PM Modi announced that no minister in his government will travel abroad in the coming days “to break the chain of spread” and also nudged fellow countrymen to “avoid non-essential travel”. He further advised people to “avoid large gatherings” and not to panic.
Union Minister of State for Health Ashwini Choubey said the government has issued an advisory asking civil hospitals and medical colleges to set up isolation wards.