In the wake of novel coronavirus spread in the country, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday announced that all cinema halls will be closed till March 31 in the national capital.
The schools and colleges whose examinations are completed will also be closed till same date.
With two new cases of novel Coronavirus or Covid-19 reported in Mumbai and eight other cases from Pune, the total number of epidemic virus reached to 10 in Maharashtra and nationally to 68.
Following are updates on Coronavirus around the world
- China has cancelled permits for Mount Everest expedition ahead of the spring climbing season on the world’s highest peak.
- Last year’s traffic-clogged spring window saw a record 885 people summit Everest, 644 of them from Nepal and 241 from the northern flank in Tibet.
- The Nepal side remains open for now although some expedition operators have seen cancellations and climbers have been asked to submit a 14-day travel history and medical reports.
- The Kerala Assembly on Thursday passed a unanimous resolution against the Centre’s circular barring the return of Indians from coronavirus-hit countries such as Italy unless they produce a certificate that proves they have tested negative for the infection. The resolution moved by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the circular was “inhuman” and was akin to “cruelly abandoning” the expatriate Indians.
- World champion Lewis Hamilton Thursday said he was “very surprised” that the Australian Grand Prix was going ahead during a coronavirus pandemic, as more Formula One staff were isolated and teams limited contact with fans.
- The season-opening race in Melbourne is set to proceed as planned this weekend despite mounting fears about the spread of the disease.
- Scientists in Israel are expected to announce in the coming days that they have completed development of a vaccine for the new coronavirus COVID-19, according to a media report here.
- Israeli daily Ha’aretz, quoting medical sources, reported on Thursday that scientists at the Israel’s Institute for Biological Research, supervised by the Prime Minister’s office, have recently had a significant breakthrough in understanding the biological mechanism and qualities of the virus, including better diagnostic capability, production of antibodies for those who already have the virus and development of a vaccine.
- Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday sought cooperation from Lok Sabha members to deal with the coronavirus outbreak and asked them to increase awareness about it in their respective constituencies. The minister said some members have expressed apprehensions about screening lapses at airports. He said it was not the case that people screened at airports have not got affected by this virus as symptoms may appear after some days.
- The coronavirus pandemic could deal a crippling blow to the Indian travel and tourism industry, specially with the government suspending all visas, with the economic impact being assessed to run into thousands of crores of rupees.
- According to industry chamber CII, this is the one of the worst crises ever to hit the Indian tourism industry impacting all its geographical segments – inbound, outbound and domestic, almost all tourism verticals – leisure , adventure, heritage, MICE, cruise, corporate and niche segments.
- A 35-year-old Indian-origin doctor from Canada, who came to visit her relatives here, has been tested positive for novel coronavirus (COVID-19) at the KGMU and her samples have been sent to Pune’s National Institute of Virology for reconfirmation, a senior doctor said on Thursday.
- Indian Customs has barred passengers arriving from 15 nations, including China, the US, Italy and South Korea, from entering duty-free shopping area at the Delhi airport in wake of the coronavirus pandemic
- Coronavirus outbreak is a matter of “great concern” and the government’s initial focus is to bring back Indian pilgrims stranded in Iran, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday.
- Speaking on the situation arising out of the spread of the coronavirus, he said around 6,000 Indians are stranded in Iran, including 1,100 pilgrims from Maharashtra and Jammu and Kashmir.
- The Haryana government on Thursday declared the contagious coronavirus infection an epidemic.
- According to the state Health Department, 44 samples of suspected cases were sent for tests till Wednesday.
- Out of these, 38 were found negative for coronavirus while reports of six people — four from Gurgaon and two from Panchkula — were awaited.
- The Sports ministry has asked all national federations, including the BCCI, to follow the Health Ministry’s advisory and avoid large gatherings in sports events keeping in mind the novel coronavirus pandemic.
- A spectator who attended the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final between India and Australia here on March 8 has tested positive for novel coronavirus, the Melbourne Cricket Ground said on Wednesday but insisted that the risk of him infecting others was low.