Health

New Delhi, Mar 22 (PTI) The total number of novel coronavirus cases in India rose to 341 on Sunday after fresh cases were reported from various parts of the country, the Union Health Ministry said.

The total includes 41 foreign nationals and five deaths, the latest being reported from Maharashtra, taking the death toll in the state to two.

Mumbai, Mar 22 (PTI) Mumbai, also knows as the city that never sleeps, finally braces for a virtual lockdown as local train services will stop from Sunday midnight till March 31 in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus.

However, BEST bus services will continue in the metropolis to facilitate movement of staff of the essential services, a state government official said.

ISTANBUL, Mar 22 (NNN-ANADOLU) – Turkey stepped up COVID-19 testing as the number of infected cases increased exponentially in recent days.

Turkey carried out more than 10,000 tests for COVID-19 so far, the country’s Health Minister, Fahrettin Koca, announced, voicing hope to increase the number of tests per day.

So far, Turkey announced 21 dead and 947 cases.

Turkey’s efforts to step up tests came, amid World Health Organisation Head, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus’ call for all countries to be able to test all suspected cases, earlier this week.

ROME, Mar 22 (NNN-XINHUA) – Italy reported 6,557 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, raising the total to 53,578, since the pandemic first broke out in its north on Feb 21, according to the latest data, provided by the Civil Protection Department, managing the COVID-19 emergency.

A further 793 people died in the past 24 hours, taking the country’s death toll to 4,825. The number of active virus infections increased to 42,681, not counting recoveries and fatalities.

21 Mar 2020; MEMO: Tunisia’s president on Friday ordered a general lockdown, limiting citizens’ free movement in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus, reports Reuters.

The North African country, which has already shut down cafes, restaurants, and mosques, has so far reported 54 confirmed cases of coronavirus and one death.

New York, Mar 21 (AFP/PTI) New York and Illinois followed California Friday in locking down to stem the coronavirus pandemic as President Donald Trump declared the United States was already "winning" the war despite a rapid rise in confirmed cases and deaths.

New Delhi, Mar 20 (PTI) Jamia Millia Islamia has directed its students to vacate hostels by Monday in view of the novel coronavirus outbreak but has exempted those from abroad.

All the teaching staff of the various faculties and department have been asked to work from their homes and have been directed to provide reading materials etc. for the assignment of each unit on time, the varsity said.

Mumbai, Mar 21 (PTI) Commercial establishments, corporate firms and manufacturing units in neighbouring Navi Mumbai will remain closed till further orders to promote social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic, an official said.

Data centres, IT service providers will operate with only 10 per cent staff, while banks, insurance companies and internet service providers will function with essential staff only, he said.

RIO DE JANEIRO, Mar 21 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) – The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Brazil increased by 45 percent in one day, reaching 904 including 11 deaths, the Health Ministry announced.

Sao Paulo state becomes the most infected state in Brazil, with 396 confirmed cases, including two deaths. Rio de Janeiro comes in second with 109 cases and nine deaths, followed by the Federal District, where the capital Brasilia is located, with 87 confirmed cases.

KATHMANDU, Mar 21 (NNN-XINHUA) – Nepali Prime Minister, KP Sharma Oli, on Friday, announced a number of prohibitive measures, including suspension of incoming international flights to Nepal, and long-distance transport operation, amid COVID-19 outbreak.

In an address to the nation on Friday evening, the prime minister announced that, all incoming international flights to Nepal will be suspended, from tomorrow: Mar 22 to Mar 31, and all long-haul transportation services have also been halted from Mar 23.