The number of novel coronaviruscases in India rose to 151 on Wednesday after 14 fresh cases were reported from various parts of the country, according to the Health Ministry. The cases include 25 foreign nationals -- 17 from Italy, 3 from Philippines, one each belonging to Canada, United Kingdom, Indonesia and Singapore. The figure also includes three deaths reported from Delhi, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government has decided to keep government offices functional with 50 per cent attendance and reduce passenger load on public transport services, including suburban trains, by 50 per cent as part of efforts to enforce social distancing and contain spread of the coronavirus.
The government informed the Lok Sabha that 276 Indians have been infected with coronavirus abroad, including 255 in Iran, 12 in UAE and five in Italy. Globally, the number of cases has reached over 208,348, and there have been over 8,272 reported deaths across 157 countries.
ALSO READ: Coronavirus: Govt issues advisory on social distancing to contain outbreak
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09:32 PM
Reliance initiates work from home protocol; to man critical services with minimum workforce
Reliance Industries Ltd, India's most valuable company, has initiated work from home for all its staff in wake of the outbreak of coronavirus but will keep open consumer-facing businesses of hospital, retail stores and telecom connectivity by manning them with a small workforce.
The oil-to-telecom conglomerate initiated a work from home protocol for all its employees across the country and overseas in response to the evolving coronavirus situation. This protocol will be effective until March 31.
It, however, will maintain minimum strength at the workplace to ensure business continuity.
09:27 PM
One more tests positive for coronavirus in Noida, police ban mass gatherings
A Noida resident who recently returned from Indonesia has tested positive for coronavirus, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases to four here, Gautam Buddh Nagar health officials said on Wednesday.
As the administration and local authorities ramped up efforts to prevent the virus from spreading further, the Noida police invoked Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) to prohibit mass gatherings like social or political congregations, trade fairs and rallies etc till April 5.
09:27 PM
Roche Diagnostics India first private firm to get COVID-19 test approval
Roche Diagnostics India has received the license from the country's drug regulator DCGI for its 'cobas SARS CoV-2' diagnostic test kit, making it the first private firm to get permission to conduct coronavirus tests.
The development comes after the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) permitted accredited private labs to conduct tests for COVID-19 to enhance capacity for diagnosis and detection of novel coronavirus amid rising cases in the country.
According to a senior official, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has given test license to the Roche Diagnostics India following successful completion of the evaluation of their testing kits.
09:26 PM
Consider refund of fare for advance booking to curb travel: Centre to states
To restrict travel by people through public transport, the Centre on Wednesday asked states to consider refund of fare to passengers for advance bookings done by them.
The states and UTs have been requested to minimise transport numbers among the people, and also if it is not unavoidable, refund of fare may be considered against advance bookings, the Road Transport and Highways Ministry said in a release.
"Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has urged all the States and Union Territories to take necessary steps for containing novel coronavirus - COVID 19 in the means of public transport," the release said.
09:10 PM
Staff to be thermal screened; no convening meetings: TN govt
As part of measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus, Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday said it has ordered thermal screening for all its employees across the state and advised against convening meetings and appealed to people to avoid visiting government offices.
Continuing with the instructions already issued like social distancing to thwart the pathogen's dispersion, Tamil state chief secretary K Shanmugam, in a communique to top authorities including department heads and district collectors, advised strict compliance with the new directions like thermal screening.
09:09 PM
NEWSALERT
Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad to remain closed from March 19 till March 29 in view of coronavirus threat.
09:09 PM
No need to cancel or reschedule ticket, redeem it anytime in next one year: GoAir
Amid coronavirus pandemic, GoAir on Wednesday announced that the passengers who booked their tickets between March 1 and April 15 this year need not cancel or reschedule right now as they can redeem the ticket price on any fresh booking done in next one year.
"If a customer cannot or chooses not to travel, they can simply not show up for the flight and GoAir will protect the PNR for a period of one year," the airline stated in its press release.
"The passenger can contact GoAir at any time over the next one year to redeem this ticket on any GoAir flight on any date between 15th April, 2020 and 15th April, 2021 with no charges being levied (fare difference may be applicable)," it added.
09:08 PM
Coronavirus: FHRAI asks members to follow govt guidelines rigorously
Apex hospitality industry body Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations Of India (FHRAI) on Wednesday asked its members to adhere to the instructions issued by government authorities on containing the spread of novel coronavirus. It advised the members to maintain stringent checks and hygiene standards, FHRAI said in a statement, adding it does not advocate shutting down of restaurants unless there is any specific directive from local authorities in this regard.
09:08 PM
AAP asks Centre to give financial help to Delhi traders hit due to coronavirus
An AAP member of Rajya Sabha on Wednesday requested the Centre to provide fiscal stimulus to micro and small traders in the national capital to prevent them from shutting as the coronavirus scare spreads.
Raising the issue during a discussion on working of the MSME Ministry in the Upper House of Parliament, AAP leader Sushil Kumar Gupta said businessmen in Delhi were already affected due to ceiling and demonetisation, and the current outbreak of coronavirus has further impacted them.
09:08 PM
Coronavirus scare: South Korean quarantined in Assam hotel
A South Korean has been quarantined in his hotel room in Assam's Dhemaji district in the wake of the novel coronavirus outbreak, officials said on Wednesday.
The South Korean had come to Dhemaji town on March 11 to inaugurate a Korean therapy centre, district officials said.
His swab and blood samples have been sent for test, they said.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government has decided to keep government offices functional with 50 per cent attendance and reduce passenger load on public transport services, including suburban trains, by 50 per cent as part of efforts to enforce social distancing and contain spread of the coronavirus.
The government informed the Lok Sabha that 276 Indians have been infected with coronavirus abroad, including 255 in Iran, 12 in UAE and five in Italy. Globally, the number of cases has reached over 208,348, and there have been over 8,272 reported deaths across 157 countries.
ALSO READ: Coronavirus: Govt issues advisory on social distancing to contain outbreak
CATCH ALL THE LIVE UPDATES
Auto Refresh
09:32 PM
Reliance initiates work from home protocol; to man critical services with minimum workforce
Reliance Industries Ltd, India's most valuable company, has initiated work from home for all its staff in wake of the outbreak of coronavirus but will keep open consumer-facing businesses of hospital, retail stores and telecom connectivity by manning them with a small workforce.
The oil-to-telecom conglomerate initiated a work from home protocol for all its employees across the country and overseas in response to the evolving coronavirus situation. This protocol will be effective until March 31.
It, however, will maintain minimum strength at the workplace to ensure business continuity.
09:27 PM
One more tests positive for coronavirus in Noida, police ban mass gatherings
A Noida resident who recently returned from Indonesia has tested positive for coronavirus, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases to four here, Gautam Buddh Nagar health officials said on Wednesday.
As the administration and local authorities ramped up efforts to prevent the virus from spreading further, the Noida police invoked Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) to prohibit mass gatherings like social or political congregations, trade fairs and rallies etc till April 5.
09:27 PM
Roche Diagnostics India first private firm to get COVID-19 test approval
Roche Diagnostics India has received the license from the country's drug regulator DCGI for its 'cobas SARS CoV-2' diagnostic test kit, making it the first private firm to get permission to conduct coronavirus tests.
The development comes after the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) permitted accredited private labs to conduct tests for COVID-19 to enhance capacity for diagnosis and detection of novel coronavirus amid rising cases in the country.
According to a senior official, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has given test license to the Roche Diagnostics India following successful completion of the evaluation of their testing kits.
09:26 PM
Consider refund of fare for advance booking to curb travel: Centre to states
To restrict travel by people through public transport, the Centre on Wednesday asked states to consider refund of fare to passengers for advance bookings done by them.
The states and UTs have been requested to minimise transport numbers among the people, and also if it is not unavoidable, refund of fare may be considered against advance bookings, the Road Transport and Highways Ministry said in a release.
"Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has urged all the States and Union Territories to take necessary steps for containing novel coronavirus - COVID 19 in the means of public transport," the release said.
09:10 PM
Staff to be thermal screened; no convening meetings: TN govt
As part of measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus, Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday said it has ordered thermal screening for all its employees across the state and advised against convening meetings and appealed to people to avoid visiting government offices.
Continuing with the instructions already issued like social distancing to thwart the pathogen's dispersion, Tamil state chief secretary K Shanmugam, in a communique to top authorities including department heads and district collectors, advised strict compliance with the new directions like thermal screening.
09:09 PM
NEWSALERT
Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad to remain closed from March 19 till March 29 in view of coronavirus threat.
09:09 PM
No need to cancel or reschedule ticket, redeem it anytime in next one year: GoAir
Amid coronavirus pandemic, GoAir on Wednesday announced that the passengers who booked their tickets between March 1 and April 15 this year need not cancel or reschedule right now as they can redeem the ticket price on any fresh booking done in next one year.
"If a customer cannot or chooses not to travel, they can simply not show up for the flight and GoAir will protect the PNR for a period of one year," the airline stated in its press release.
"The passenger can contact GoAir at any time over the next one year to redeem this ticket on any GoAir flight on any date between 15th April, 2020 and 15th April, 2021 with no charges being levied (fare difference may be applicable)," it added.
09:08 PM
Coronavirus: FHRAI asks members to follow govt guidelines rigorously
Apex hospitality industry body Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations Of India (FHRAI) on Wednesday asked its members to adhere to the instructions issued by government authorities on containing the spread of novel coronavirus. It advised the members to maintain stringent checks and hygiene standards, FHRAI said in a statement, adding it does not advocate shutting down of restaurants unless there is any specific directive from local authorities in this regard.
09:08 PM
AAP asks Centre to give financial help to Delhi traders hit due to coronavirus
An AAP member of Rajya Sabha on Wednesday requested the Centre to provide fiscal stimulus to micro and small traders in the national capital to prevent them from shutting as the coronavirus scare spreads.
Raising the issue during a discussion on working of the MSME Ministry in the Upper House of Parliament, AAP leader Sushil Kumar Gupta said businessmen in Delhi were already affected due to ceiling and demonetisation, and the current outbreak of coronavirus has further impacted them.
09:08 PM
Coronavirus scare: South Korean quarantined in Assam hotel
A South Korean has been quarantined in his hotel room in Assam's Dhemaji district in the wake of the novel coronavirus outbreak, officials said on Wednesday.
The South Korean had come to Dhemaji town on March 11 to inaugurate a Korean therapy centre, district officials said.
His swab and blood samples have been sent for test, they said.
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