China Coronavirus Toll Rises to 630, Total Cases Cross 30,000
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The death tool in China novel coronavirus outbreak went up to 630 with 73 mortalities on Thursday, Chinese Health Officials said on Friday, 7 February. Total confirmed cases have gone past 30,000, reports AFP.
All 645 Indian evacuees from China’s Wuhan have tested negative for coronavirus, the Health Ministry said on Thursday, 6 February, adding that no new case has been reported.
Foreigners who have been to China on or after 15 January are not allowed to enter India from any air, land or seaport, including Indo-Nepal, Indo-Bhutan, Indo-Bangladesh or Indo-Myanmar land borders, Immigration officials said on Wednesday.
- The Kerala government on Monday declared coronavirus a ‘state disaster’ after the third person tested positive for the virus
The Union Health Ministry issued a travel advisory informing the public to refrain from travelling to China
- Over 650 Indians have been evacuvated from Wuhan
- The Indian Army has set up a quarantine facility in Haryana’s Manesar for the students brought back
- The virus is novel, meaning it has never been encountered before in humans
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All Ports on Vigil to Prevent Coronovirus Spread: Shipping Ministry
All Indian shipping ports have been asked to scan the people disembarking from ships to prevent spreading of the deadly coronavirus through sea route, a senior official said on Friday, reported PTI.
“India has already issued advisories and put processes in place on coronavirus. The situation is monitored closely at the top level,” said Satinder Pal Singh, joint secretary in the Shipping Ministry.
“In the wake of spread of the virus, the government has asked all ports to scan everyone who disembarks from ships,” he said.
Air India Special Flight to Wuhan for Evacuating Indians Landed
The Air India special flight, which departed on Friday from Delhi for Wuhan (China) for the evacuation of Indians has landed.
Air India’s Boeing 747 aircraft departed from Delhi at 12:30 pm to evacuate Indian nationals from China, officials told news agency PTI.
Five doctors from Health Ministry will be on board the aircraft, Air India CMD said. The government has reached out to over 600 Indians living in China's Hubei province, the epicentre of the novel coronavirus outbreak, to ascertain their willingness to be brought back to India.
Kerala Govt Instructs Procedure to All Private Hospitals in Wake of Positive Case
The Kerala state government, on Friday, gave directions to all private hospitals in the state regarding the arrangements to be made in the wake of a positive case of Coronavirus.
Elaborate instructions were given on the need for following the treatment protocol, of relaying information to the control rooms, how to isolate patients who develop symptoms and so on and so forth. Procedure is applicable for all districts, not solely Thrissur.
Indian Medical Association (IMA) will be conducting training for Health Department staff.
Nine Under-Observation Patients Test Negative for Coronavirus in Maharashtra
Samples of nine out of the 12 people kept under observation in government-run hospitals in Maharashtra for possible exposure to coronavirus have tested negative, a senior health department official said on Friday.
State authorities also said that 26 of the Indian nationals which are being evacuated from Wuhan in China are from Maharashtra.
So far the state has not reported any confirmed case of coronavirus infection.
First Batch of Indian Passengers Board Special Air India Flight from Wuhan
First batch of Indian passengers board the special Air India flight from Wuhan in China.
Air India Flight With 324 Indians Takes off From Wuhan for Delhi
The special Air India flight took off from the Wuhan airport in the early hours of Saturday for Delhi, evacuating 324 Indian nationals from China as the neighbouring country continued to deal with the outbreak of novel coronavirus, officials said.
“With 324 passengers, special flight has taken off for India from Wuhan. It may reach Delhi at 7:30 am," PTI quoted Air India spokesperson as saying.
There are five doctors from Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital and one paramedical staff on board, said the Air India spokesperson.
Trump Bans Foreign Nationals Who Traveled to China From Entering the US
Foreign nationals who travelled to China in the past two weeks have been banned entry to United States, reports AFP news agency.
China Virus Death Toll Rises to 258 With 45 New Fatalities
The number of confirmed deaths from China's coronavirus outbreak has risen to 258, as authorities in hardest-hit Hubei province on Saturday, 1 February, reported 45 new fatalities, according to AFP.
In its daily update, the provincial health commission also said newly confirmed cases of infection in Hubei continued to grow at a steady pace, with 1,347.
China Coronavirus: Death Toll Rises to 259, Infections Surge 12000
The death toll from the novel coronavirus outbreak in China has risen to 259 with total confirmed cases surging to 11,791 amid stepped up efforts by a number of countries to evacuate their nationals from Hubei province, the epicentre of the virus, officials said on Saturday, 1 February, according to PTI.
Chinese health authorities have announced that the death toll has risen to 259 with total confirmed cases increasing to 11,791, the biggest increase since China began reporting the spread of the virulent virus on 21 January.
Air India Special Flight With 324 Indians Lands in Delhi
Air India special flight carrying 324 Indians that took off from Wuhan (China) lands in Delhi.
Another Flight to Evacuate Indians from Wuhan To Leave From Delhi at 12:50 PM
India has begun preparations to airlift the remaining Indians from China, hours after evacuating 324 Indian nationals from the coronavirus-hit Wuhan city as the death toll from the deadly disease rose to 259 in the country, reported PTI.
A special Air India plane carrying 211 students, 110 working professionals and three minors from Wuhan reached Delhi around 7.30 am.
“We look forward to operating another flight to evacuate remaining Indian nationals, who have consented to leave Hubei Province for the time being,” the Indian Embassy said in a tweet on Saturday, 1 February.
2 More Suspected Cases of Coronavirus Admitted to Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital
2 more people suspected of coronavirus have been admitted to Delhi's Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, reported ANI.
Total 8 suspected cases of coronavirus are admitted at the hospital. The samples of the two people have been sent for testing.
Evacuated Indians Taken To ITBP Camp For Medical Observation
A total of 104 of the 324 Indians, who arrived in Air India special flight from Wuhan in China at Delhi Airport on Saturday, have been taken from the airport to Indo-Tibetan Border Police camp for medical observation.
Sri Lankan Students Evacuated From Wuhan to Remain Under Quarantine
At least 33 Sri Lankan students, who were evacuated on Saturday from the coronavirus-hit Wuhan, will remain under quarantine for two weeks, health officials said.
The death toll from coronavirus outbreak in China rose to 259 on Saturday with total confirmed cases surging to 11,791 amid stepped up efforts by a number of countries to evacuate their nationals from Hubei province, the epicentre of the virus.
Air India's Second Special Flight Departs for Wuhan
Air India's second special flight departs for Wuhan from Delhi airport to evacuate Indians.
Government Holds Video Conference to Review Process of Screening Passengers
On Saturday, Health Secretary and Family Welfare Department had a video conference to review process of screening passengers from different countries, ANI reported.
Apart from passengers from China and Hong Kong, passengers coming on flights from Singapore and Thailand shall also be universally screened.
UK Government Pulls Staff, Families From China as Virus Spreads
Britain on Saturday, 1 February, said it was temporarily withdrawing some staff and their families from its diplomatic sites in China, as Beijing struggles to contain the nationwide new coronavirus epidemic, AFP reported.
The decision, which follows a similar move by the United States this week, came as the death toll from the outbreak soared to 259 and the total number of cases neared 12,000 within China.
The SARS-like virus has also begun to spread around the world, with more than 100 infections reported in more than 20 countries.
Indigo to Suspend Flights on Kolkata-Guangzhou Route
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, private airline IndiGo on Saturday, 1 February, said that it will suspend flights on Kolkata-Guangzhou route from 6 to 25 February.
“We understand that these measures will cause inconvenience to our customers and we will be refunding the full amount to the impacted passengers,” Indigo said.
Six Indians in China Stopped from Boarding Special Flight to India Due to High Fever
Six Indians stranded at the coronavirus-hit Wuhan city were stopped from boarding the first special Air India flight to India due to high fever, officials said on Saturday, 1 February, PTI reported.
The first flight left early Saturday with 324 stranded Indians mostly students from Wuhan.
The six students may have to undergo tests to determine whether they have symptoms of the coronavirus.
Ahead of the evacuation, the Indian Embassy had informed the Indians that they will be tested before the flight and undergo 14 day quarantine after reaching India.
Three Arrested in Kerala for Spreading False Information on Coronavirus
Three people have been arrested in Kerala for spreading false information in the social media on the novel Coronavirus, Health minister KK Shailaja said on Saturday, 1 February.
They had put out false news about those who had travelled from coronavirus affected countries and are under home surveillance, she told the reporters.
Doctors of ITBP Monitoring 104 Indians Citizens Who Returned from China's Wuhan
A total of 104 Indians including 87 females, 10 males and 7 children reached India on Saturday, 1 February, to Chhawla facility of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and are being looked after by the expert team of Doctors.
“Periodical checkups being done as per medical protocol. All tests are negative till now. Food, bed and other basic requirements are catered. Sufficient amount of medicines are also kept at the centre,” ITBP said in a statement.
Four isolation beds have also been kept ready in case any such situation arises, it added.
India Airlifts 323 More Citizens, 7 Maldivians From China's Virus-Hit Wuhan
India on Sunday, 2 February, airlifted a second batch of 323 stranded Indians and seven Maldivian citizens from China's coronavirus-hit Wuhan city, taking the total number of people evacuated to 654, officials said.
Air India's jumbo B747 made two flights to Wuhan city - the ground zero of the coronavirus epidemic that has killed 304 people and infected 14,380 others.
"The 2nd #AirIndia flight from #Wuhan has just taken off for #Delhi with 323 Indian citizens on board. 7 Maldives citizens are also being evacuated. Grateful once again to @MFA_China and local authorities all across #Hubei for their assistance," Indian Ambassador to China Vikram Misri tweeted.
"Want to thank my team at @EOIBeijing which mounted a non-stop almost 96-hour long operation to coordinate a complex airlift under challenging circumstances for us, the passengers and local authorities in #Hubei and #Wuhan," he said in another tweet.
Maldives Foreign Minister Thanks PM Modi, EAM Jaishankar For Airlifting 7 Malidivians From Wuhan
Foreign Minister of Maldives, Abdulla Shahid thanked Indian PM Narendra Modi and EAM S Jaishankar for airlifting 7 Maldivians from virus-hit Wuhan. He said, “Seven Maldivians in Wuhan are on their way to Delhi on special Air India flight. Upon arrival, they'll be housed in Delhi for a period of quarantine. Deep gratitude to PM Narendra Modi and EAM Dr. Jaishankar.”
India's Second Coronavirus Case Reported in Kerala
India’s second confirmed case of coronavirus has been detected in Kerala. The patient, with a travel history to China, has been kept in isolation in the hospital; is stable and is being closely monitored, reported ANI.
Philippines Reports First Virus Death Outside China: WHO
The Philippines has reported the first death outside China from the coronavirus that has killed over 300 and spread to other countries, the World Health Organization said Sunday, 2 Feb.
Coronavirus Outbreak: 2nd Air India Flight With 323 Citizens Lands in Delhi
Air India 2nd special flight from China's Wuhan lands at Delhi airport with 323 Indian nationals, reports PTI.
Maldives President Thanks PM Modi For Evacuating 7 Maldivians From Coronavirus-Hit Wuhan
Maldives President Ibrahim Mohammed Solih thanked PM Narendra Modi and EAM S Jaishankar “for expeditiously evacuating the 7 Maldivians residing in Wuhan, China. This gesture is a fine example of the outstanding friendship and camaraderie between our two countries.”
Kerala Health Minister Issues Advisory After Second Confirmed Coronavirus Case
After a second confirmed case of Coronavirus was reported in Kerala, state Health Minister insisted that those in home quarantine should not go out without informing the health department. “Though 14 days is the incubation period, to ensure more safety, we have asked people to be in quarantine for 28 days.”
“If any functions like weddings are fixed in the families of such persons, such programs should be postponed without any excuse. There is no great loss in postponing a wedding, but hundreds of people come for functions like this. We are a densely populated state and if the disease spreads, it will become tough for us,” she said.
India Suspends e-Visa Facility For Chinese, Foreigners Residing in China
India on Sunday, 2 February temporarily suspended e-visa facility for Chinese travellers and foreigners residing in China in view of the virulent coronavirus that has killed more than 300 people, infected 14,562 others and spread to 25 countries, including India, the US and the UK.
“Due to certain current developments, travel to India on e-visas stands temporarily suspended with immediate effect," the Indian Embassy announced.
“This applies to holders of Chinese passports and applicants of other nationalities residing in the People's Republic of China. Holders of already issued e-visas may note that these are no longer valid," the announcement said.
“All those who have a compelling reason to visit India may contact the Embassy of India in Beijing or the Indian consulates in Shanghai or Guangzhou, as well as the Indian Visa Application Centres in these cities," it said.
#NeighbourhoodFirst, Tweets EAM Jaishankar After India Evacuates 7 Maldivians
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in a tweet on Sunday, "7 Maldivians brought back with 323 Indians from Wuhan on the second @airindiain flight today. #NeighbourhoodFirst at work again."
Tweet Shows Pakistani Student in Wuhan Watching Indian Counterparts Being Evacuated
A video shared on Twitter shows a Pakistani students watching Indian students being evacuated from coronavirus-hit Wuhan district in China. Pakistan has said that they will not evacuate Pakistani students in Wuhan, leading to cries for help from students stuck in the district.
300 People Evacuated from China Being Looked After by Expert Team of ITBP Doctors
A total of 300 people including 200 males, and 100 females including children reached this morning to Chhawla facility of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) from China. They are looked after by the expert team of ITBP Doctors.
With this, the total number of quarantine persons at ITBP Chhawla is 404 out of total 656 people reached New Delhi since Saturday. 1 February.
Periodical checkups being done as per medical protocol. All tests are negative till now. Food, bed and other basic requirements are catered. Sufficient amount of medicines are also kept at the centre.
4 isolation beds are also kept ready in case of any situation arises.
Surveillance System Along Bangladesh Border in West Bengal
The West Bengal health department, in the wake of the growing coronavirus threat, has put in place a surveillance mechanism in Hili, Petrapole and Gede areas along the India-Bangladesh border, a senior official said.
People entering the country from Bangladesh would be screened at these important checkpoints, as some among them might have visited China in the recent past, he said.
"We need to keep an eye on those entering India through these borders. Among them, there could be some who have recently travelled to China. We must conduct a medical test on them, before allowing them entry,” the official said, reports PTI.
We Take Care of Our People: Jaishankar on Evacuations from China
Speaking at the Tamils Association Programme in New Delhi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar appreciated the government's efforts at evacuating more than 600 Indian from coronavirus-hit Wuhan in China, reports ANI. He said, "I can say with great pride that under this government, we have developed a system by which any Indian in trouble, anywhere in the world, we look after them. We are there for them. People today go out with confidence that if something will happen, their government will be there to back them."
8 Passengers Who Travelled With Coronavirus-Affected Kerala Student Identified: WB Govt
The West Bengal Health Department on Sunday, 2 February traced eight passengers who had travelled in the same flight as that of the coronavirus-affected Kerala resident and landed at the airport here on 23 January, a senior official said, reports PTI.
“While two passengers, who had landed at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport on 23 January, were identified as residents of Asansol and Odisha, details of the other six were also traced on Sunday,” said Ajay Kumar Chakraborty, WB Director of Health Services said.
“Three passengers of that flight, who were sitting either in the front or the back four seats of the coronavirus affected-Kerala man, were identified as Chinese nationals,” he said.
"All the eight persons have been identified. The three Chinese have returned to their country and the Delhi resident has also gone back home," Chakraborty told PTI.
Tamil Nadu Gets Testing Facility for Coronavirus
A testing facility for the detection of novel coronavirus was unveiled at a premier state-run institute here on Sunday as over 800 people are under observation in homes and hospitals in Tamil Nadu, reports PTI.
The testing facility was inaugurated at the King Institute of Preventive Medicine by state Health Minister C Vijayabaskar who said five blood samples have been received at the institute from the health authorities.
Besides, four specimens had already been dispatched to the National Institute of Virology, Pune, for diagnosis, he said, adding the results will be available in 48 hours after the receipt of samples.
"All of them (whose blood specimen have been collected) are clinically normal (does not exhibit symptom presently)," he said.
China Virus Toll Rises to 360 With 56 New Fatalities: Govt
The number of confirmed deaths from China's coronavirus outbreak rose to 360, exceeding the country's death toll from the 2002-03 SARS outbreak, after authorities in Hubei province reported 56 new fatalities on Monday, 3 February, reports AFP.
In its daily update, figures from the health commission in Hubei, which has been hit hardest by the virus, also showed a sharp increase in confirmed infections with 2,103 new cases.
Coronavirus: 361 Dead in China, Cases Soars to Over 17,200
The death toll in China's coronavirus epidemic soared to 361 with 57 deaths on Sunday alone while the number of confirmed cases climbed to 17,205, Chinese health officials announced on Monday.
China's National Health Commission in its daily report on Monday said that 2,829 new cases of coronavirus were reported nationwide on 2 February, taking the total number of infection to 17,205.
Among Sunday's deaths, 56 were reported from Hubei Province, the epicentre of the virus outbreak, and one from southwest China's Chongqing, the commission said.
The overall confirmed cases on the Chinese mainland reached 17,205 by the end of Sunday.
Third Person Tests Positive in Kerala’s Kasargod
A third person has tested positive for coronavirus in Kerala’s Kasargod, said state Health Minister KK Shailaja, on Monday, 3 February. She added that the person is stable and had recently returned from Wuhan.
Stranded Pakistanis Start Arriving Home from Coronavirus-Hit China
Some of the Pakistani nationals stranded in coronavirus-hit China started arriving home as Islamabad on Monday, 3 February, allowed two Chinese flights to land there, a day after it received special medical kits from Beijing to detect the deadly virus cases, PTI reported.
Pakistan suspended flights from China from 31 January till 2 February, a day after the World Health Organisation declared the outbreak of the virus as a global health emergency.
One of the flights, CZ6007, carried 69 passengers, including 57 Pakistanis and 12 Chinese.
China-Returned Medical Student Admitted in Odisha, Coronavirus Suspected
In the second suspected case of coronavirus in Odisha, a woman pursuing medical studies in China has been admitted in a government hospital in Cuttack, PTI reported.
The woman was admitted at SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, on Sunday with fever, a symptom associated with novel coronavirus, officials said.
Along with her husband, she had come to Odisha from Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus (nCoV) outbreak on 19 January to attend a marriage function.
She was lodged in a separate ward of the hospital, an official said, adding her condition is stable.
180 Nepalis in China Demand Early Evacuation as Coronavirus Death Toll Rises
A total of 180 Nepalis, mostly students, living in China have approached the country's embassy in Beijing, demanding their immediate evacuation as they fear contracting the novel coronavirus that has claimed over 360 lives and infected thousands of people.
“A total of 180 Nepali nationals, mostly students, currently living in 17 cities in China, including Wuhan of Hubei, have registered their names with the embassy, expressing their desire to return home," Sushil Kumar Lamsal, deputy chief of mission at the Nepali Embassy in Beijing, was quoted as saying by The Kathmandu Post.
Hong Kong Shuts Most China Crossings Over Virus as Medics Strike
Hong Kong announced it is closing all but two land crossings with the Chinese mainland on Monday to slow the spread of a deadly new coronavirus as medics staged strikes calling for the border to be completely sealed, AFP reported.
The semi-autonomous financial centre has 15 confirmed cases of the disease, most brought from the mainland where the epidemic began and has thus far killed more than 360 people.
On Monday afternoon, city leader Carrie Lam said all land crossings would be closed at midnight except for two bridges, the first connecting Hong Kong to Shenzhen and the second linking it with Zhuhai and casino hub Macau.
Australia's Coronavirus Evacuees Head for Island Quarantine
A flight carrying evacuees from the epicentre of the deadly China virus outbreak landed in Australia late on Monday ahead of a 14-day quarantine at a notorious offshore immigration detention centre, AFP reported.
The Qantas charter flight carrying 243 passengers, including 89 children, touched down at an Air Force base near the remote Western Australian town of Exmouth.
Situation Regarding Coronavirus Outbreak in India Reviewed
Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr PK Mishra on Monday reviewed the situation regarding coronavirus in the country and the arrangements for the approximately 600 evacuees, according to ANI.
NSA Ajit Doval, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, CDS Gen Bipin Rawat and others attended the meeting.
Union Health Ministry Issues Travel Advisory for China
Union Health Ministry on Monday, 3 February, issued a travel advisory informing the public to refrain from travelling to China, ANI reported.
The advisory added that anyone with a history of travel to China since 15 January could be quarantined.
Further, the advisory said that e-Visa facility for Chinese passport holders has been temporarily suspended, e-Visa already issued to Chinese nationals is also temporarily invalid and the facility for submitting the application online for the physical visa from China is suspended.
China Opens 1,000-Bed Hospital, Begins Trials for New Drug
China on Monday opened a 1,000-bed hospital built in record nine days in Wuhan city, the epicentre of the coronavirus, and started clinical trials for a drug to treat the virulent virus, AFP reported.
A noted Chinese health expert Zhong Nanshan said that based on the fresh evidence, the novel coronavirus which is spreading rapidly in China and the world may reach its peak in the next 10 to 14 days, contrary to earlier estimates of climaxing sooner.
This means that the cases would drastically increase in the next two weeks before slowing down.
Kerala CM Declares Coronavirus as a State Disaster
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has declared Coronavirus as a state disaster, according to ANI.
Three people have been tested positive for the deadly virus in the state so far.
Another Suspected Case of Coronavirus Reported in Uttarakhand
A China-returned student was on Monday admitted to AIIMS, Rishikesh for showing symptoms of coronavirus infection.
The 24-year-old woman was doing internship from the University of Traditional Medicine, Nonchang state in China, hospital PRO Harish Thapliyal said.
She was kept at the isolation ward of the hospital after she complained of a sore throat, dry cough and headache, he said. Her blood samples have been sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune, the official said.
China Leadership Admits 'Shortcomings' in Virus Response
China's top leadership on Monday admitted "shortcomings and difficulties" in its response to the coronavirus outbreak and the government said it "urgently" needed medical supplies to battle the outbreak which has killed more than 360 people, AFP reported.
The comments came as 57 new deaths were confirmed Monday, the single-biggest daily increase since the virus was detected late last year in the central city of Wuhan, where it is believed to have jumped from animals at a market into humans.
Blood Samples of Suspected Coronavirus Patients Sent for Testing in Jaipur
Blood samples of four suspected coronavirus patients were sent to Jaipur's SMS Medical College for testing on Monday, 3 February.
Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Rohit Kumar Singh said six people, one each from Jaipur, Sikar and Ajmer, and three from Jhalawar had approached the Health Department for screening.
Four of them showed symptoms of coronavirus, he said, adding that they had been admitted to hospitals. The officer further said the Heath Department had screened 4,495 passengers at the Jaipur airport for coronavirus so far.
The microbiology department lab at the SMS Medical College has so far tested six samples, all of them negative for the coronavirus infection.
WHO Team to Investigate Outbreak in China
A WHO-led international team of experts could go to China as early as this week to investigate the coronavirus outbreak, as agreed between WHO (World Health Organisation) chief & Chinese President Xi Jinping, and could include US experts, a WHO spokesman said on Monday, 3 February, reports ANI.
China Virus Death Toll Rises to 425
The number of confirmed deaths from China's coronavirus outbreak spiked to 425, after authorities in Hubei province reported 64 new fatalities Tuesday, 4 February.
In its daily update, figures from the health commission in Hubei, which has been hit hardest by the virus, also showed a sharp increase in confirmed infections with 2,345 new cases to 20,438.
Man with Virus Symptoms Admitted to Karnataka Hospital
A man, who returned from China on Saturday, 18 January, was admitted to Karnataka Institute of Medical Science Hospital in Hubli on 3 February after he complained of fever, cough, weakness, headache, reports ANI.
"He's under observation and is stable. We sent his sample to Pune, "said the director of the hospital.
'Coronavirus a Blow for the Tourism Industry': Kerala Minister
Kerala Minister Kadakampally Surendran in the state Assembly said that the tourism industry is suffering because of the Coronavirus outbreak, ANI reported.
“Hotel bookings were full for February-March. But after Coronavirus reports, bookings have been cancelled.Kerala Tourism suffered during outbreak of Nipa virus and also during floods. This is another blow for the tourism industry,” he said.
Air India to Suspend Flights to Hong Kong After 7 February
In view of novel coronavirus, Air India has decided to suspend its flights to Hong Kong after flying AI 314 on 7 February 2020, reports ANI.
Visas No Longer Valid For Passengers From China, Says MHA
The Indian Government has said that existing visas are “no longer valid” for passengers from China, reports NDTV.
“All airlines are informed not to take on board any passenger from china including chinese or other foreign nationals... for any destination in India.” the MHA’s Bureau of Immigration said in a notification.
Japan Quarantines 3,700 on Cruise Ship Over New Coronavirus
Japan has quarantined a cruise ship carrying 3,711 people and was testing those onboard for the new coronavirus Tuesday after a former passenger was diagnosed with the illness in Hong Kong, according to AFP.
Eight people on the vessel, which arrived in Yokohama Bay on Monday, have symptoms such as fever, top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said.
Television footage showed several quarantine officers boarding the Diamond Princess on Monday evening to check all 2,666 passengers and 1,045 crew.
The move comes after an 80-year-old passenger who disembarked on 25 January in Hong Kong tested positive for the virus, which has killed 425 people in China.
Singapore Announces First Local Coronavirus Transmissions
Singapore on Tuesday, 4 February, announced the first local transmissions of the deadly coronavirus from China, AFP reported.
The Ministry of Health said it had found six additional cases, four of them involving human-to-human transmission in Singapore, bringing the total infections to 24 in the city-state.
World Currently 'Not in a Pandemic' of China Virus: WHO
The World Health Organisation on Tuesday, 4 February, said that the outbreak of the deadly novel coronavirus, which has spread from China to two dozen countries, does not yet constitute a “pandemic,” according to AFP.
“Currently we are not in a pandemic,” head of WHO's Global Infectious Hazard Preparedness division Sylvie Briand told reporters in Geneva.
5 Isolated at Quarantine Camp in Manesar Test Negative for Coronavirus
The five individuals who were isolated at the quarantine camp in Haryana’s Manesar, as they showed symptoms of cough and cold, have been tested negative for coronavirus, ANI quoted the Indian Army as saying.
2 Students Under Home Quarantine Leave for Gulf Without Informing Authorities
Two students, who came from China and were under home quarantine in Kerala, have left for the Gulf, disregarding the health authorities’ directions to refrain from travelling during the novel coronavirus's incubation period, PTI reported.
Kozhikode district medical officer Dr V Jayasree said the two had come to the state on 15 January and were studying in China. They left two days ago.
China Coronavirus Outbreak Turns More Virulent as Death Toll Soars to 426
China's coronavirus outbreak showed no signs of abating as the death toll rose sharply to 426 with more than 20,000 confirmed cases, amid a shocking report of Chinese officials silencing a doctor in Wuhan who first reported the presence of the deadly virus in December last year, AFP reported.
The total number of cases soared to 20,522 raising concerns over its increasing virulence, China's National Health Commission reported on Tuesday.
'Total of 2,421 People Put Under Observation': Kerala Health Minister
A total of 2,421 people have been put under observation, including 100 people in quarantine facilities in Kerala, the state’s Health Minister KK Shailaja said on Tuesday.
“People who have returned from China should not go out of their homes for 28 days,” Shailaja added.
World Has 'Window of Opportunity' to Halt Virus Spread: WHO Chief
The dramatic measures taken by China to rein in the deadly novel coronavirus outbreak have prevented significant spread abroad, providing a "window of opportunity" to halt transmission, the World Health Organization said on Tuesday, AFP reported.
“The chance was there because of the strong measures China is taking at the epicentre... Let's not miss this window of opportunity,” WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a technical briefing on the virus to the UN agency's executive board.
Two Families Kept Under Observation in Kanpur for Suspected Case of Coronavirus
Two families have been kept under observation in isolation ward of Kanpur District Hospital by the Health Department for suspected cases of coronavirus. Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Shailendra Tiwari said both families are stable, reports ANI.
Hong Kong Reports First Death From Coronavirus Outbreak
On Tuesday, 4 February, Hong Kong, which has 15 confirmed cases, reported its first coronavirus death. Macao reported eight cases and Taiwan ten, reports PTI.
The total number of cases has soared to 20,522 raising concerns over its increasing virulence, China's National Health Commission reported on Tuesday.
Monday saw 64 deaths with 3,235 new confirmed cases mostly in Hubei province, from where India evacuated 647 of its citizens during the weekend.
Brazil to Evacuate Citizens Stuck in Wuhan
In a change of course, Brazil will send two planes to evacuate its citizens stranded in Wuhan, China by the deadly new coronavirus outbreak, the government said Tuesday, 4 February, reports AFP.
President Jair Bolsonaro had said last week that "diplomatic, budgetary and legal obstacles" prevented his government from evacuating the roughly 40 Brazilians stuck in the city at the heart of the outbreak.
But his government has now decided to bring them home, after all: it will dispatch two presidential planes Wednesday to fetch them, the defense and foreign ministers told a news conference.
China Virus Death Toll Rises to 490
The number of confirmed deaths from China's coronavirus outbreak rose to at least 490, after authorities in Hubei province reported 65 new fatalities Wednesday, 5 February, reports AFP.
In its daily update, figures from the health commission in Hubei, which has been hit hardest by the virus, also showed a jump in confirmed infections with 3,156 new cases.
Belgium Reports First Case From Coronavirus Outbreak
Belgium reported its first case of the coronavirus, found in one of the nine citizens who were repatriated from Wuhan over the weekend on Wednesday, 5 February, reported Associated Press.
The Belgian Health Ministry said the infected individual was in good health and didn't show any symptoms of the disease. The person was taken to a special hospital for further care while the others remained under observation.
10 Passengers Tested Positive on Japanese Cruise Ship
At least 10 passengers on a cruise ship that Japan quarantined tested positive for the new coronavirus, public broadcaster NHK and other Japanese media reported on Wednesday, 5 February, citing the health ministry, reported AFP.
Japan has quarantined the vessel carrying 3,711 people and was testing those onboard for the virus after a former passenger was diagnosed with the illness in Hong Kong.
Suspected Case of Coronavirus Admitted in Hisar Civil Hospital
A suspected case of coronavirus has been admitted to isolation ward of Hisar's Civil Hospital on Wednesday, 5 February
"He returned from China on Saturday, 1 February and called us up on Monday after experiencing fever and sore throat. His samples have been taken and results are awaited,” said Hospital's Nodal Officer.
Cong MP From Kerala Demands Fiscal Incentive to Deal With Coronavirus
A Congress member from Kerala on Wednesday demanded a special incentive for the state where three cases of coronavirus have been detected, in the Lok Sabha, according to PTI.
During Zero Hour, Ramya Haridas (INC) said although the Kerala government is taking preventive steps, there is a need for more vigilance.
World Bank Calls for Global Effort Against Virus
The World Bank has called for countries to step up programs to fight the new coronavirus outbreak, and said it was considering mobilising its own resources against the disease, according to AFP.
"We are calling on all countries to strengthen their health surveillance and response systems, which is essential to contain the spread of this and any future outbreaks," the institution said in a statement on Monday.
Coronavirus Outbreak: 4 Karnataka Districts Bordering Kerala Put on High Alert
Four Karnataka districts bordering Kerala, Kodagu, Mangaluru, Chamarajanagar and Mysuru, have been put on high alert in the wake of positive coronavirus cases in Kerala, IANS reported.
Acting on state government orders, Kodagu district health officer Mohan said the district health department is undertaking information and education activities in the district about the virus.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka government has ordered that anybody arriving from the 23 coronavirus affected countries must stay in isolation at home for 28 days in a state surveillance bulletin of the Karnataka health and family welfare department on Monday.
Coronavirus Outbreak: 21 J&K Residents Arrive From China, No Positive Case
Twenty-one people arrived to Jammu and Kashmir from coronavirus-hit China this week and they have been kept under home observation, officials said on Wednesday, according to PTI.
No case of coronavirus has been found in the Union Territory so far, the officials added.
As many as 21 persons, seven from Jammu and 14 from Kashmir have arrived in Srinagar and Jammu during the last few days.
Airbus Closes China Plant Due to Coronavirus
Airbus has closed its aircraft production facility in Tianjin, near the Chinese capital Beijing, due to the coronavirus outbreak, the aviation giant said on Wednesday, according to AFP.
“China domestic and worldwide travel restrictions are posing some logistical challenges. The Tianjin Final Assembly Line facility is currently closed,” Airbus said in a statement.
The Tianjin facility, the first of its kind for Airbus outside Europe, is a completion centre for single-aisle A320 aircraft and can also handle the larger A330.
China Claims Drop in Number of New Suspected Coronavirus Cases Even as Toll Soars to 491
China on Wednesday claimed a drop in the number of new suspected cases of coronavirus in the last two days, raising hopes that its strong measures may help to contain the outbreak, even as the death toll rose to nearly 500, PTI reported.
As the death toll rose, Hong Kong announced on Wednesday a mandatory two-week quarantine for all travellers from mainland China to stop more cases of the deadly new coronavirus.
Coronavirus Outbreak: 104 Kept at ITBP Facility Test Negative
A total of 104 people kept at an ITBP facility in Delhi have tested negative for the novel coronavirus, while results for over 300 others are awaited, a force spokesperson said on Wednesday, 5 February, according to PTI.
As many as 406 people have been quarantined at the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) facility in Delhi's Chhawla area since last week after they were brought in two batches from Wuhan in China onboard separate Air India flights.
'India Should Be Cautious About Importing Food, Marine Items From China': Trade Experts
India should be cautious at ports about imports of agri, food and marine products from China amid outbreak of deadly coronavirus in the neighbouring country, PTI quoted trade experts as saying.
The experts said port authorities should follow properly all the protocols related with sanitary standards related to animals.
Mother-Daughter Duo Suspected of Having Coronavirus Admitted to Amritsar Hospital
A mother-daughter duo suspected of suffering from coronavirus was admitted to the isolation ward of a government hospital in Amritsar on Wednesday, according to PTI.
They had arrived in Amritsar from New Zealand via China, officials said.
They had complained of severe pain in their throat after which they were taken to the hospital and their samples were sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune for testing, they said.
Govt Invalidates Existing Visas for Foreigners Travelling From China
In view of the deadly novel coronavirus outbreak in China, the government on Wednesday issued an updated travel advisory, saying the existing visas (including e-visa already issued) are no longer valid for any foreign national travelling from China, according to PTI.
In the travel advisory, the Health Ministry again asked people to refrain from travelling to China in view of the coronavirus outbreak in its Hubei province and said travellers returning from the neighbouring country could be quarantined.
WHO Issues Appeal for $675 Million to Fight Novel Coronavirus
The World Health Organization on Wednesday called for $675 million in donations for a plan to fight the novel coronavirus, mainly through investment in countries considered particularly "at risk", AFP reported.
"Today we're launching a strategic preparedness and response plan.... We're requesting $675 million to fund the plan for the next three months," WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a news conference in Geneva.
"Our message to the international community is invest today or pay more later," Tedros said, adding that the funding appeal was "much less than the bill we will have to pay if we do not invest in preparedness now".
`Don't Believe Misleading Messages About Cure for Coronavirus': Maha Health Minister
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Wednesday appealed people not to believe messages circulating on social media about `cure' for the coronavirus infection, reports PTI.
A message about a concoction of garlic cloves, curry leaves and cow urine, said to be prescribed by doctors and the "health department" for treating the virus infection, is circulating on social media.
"The health department has not issued any such messages. People should not believe such misleading messages and rumors," the minister said.
People Travelling to China Henceforth Will Be Quarantined on Return: DGCA
In view of the deadly novel coronavirus outbreak in China, Aviation regulator DGCA told airlines on Wednesday that any person who will henceforth travel to the country will be quarantined on return, reports PTI.
Among Indian airlines, IndiGo and Air India have suspended all of their flights between the two nation. SpiceJet continues to fly on Delhi-Hong Kong route.
(Source: PTI)
Ten More on Cruise Ship off Japan Have New Coronavirus
Ten more people on a cruise ship off Japan have tested positive for the new coronavirus, local media said Thursday, 6 February, raising the number of infections detected on the boat to 20, reports AFP.
Japanese authorities have tested 273 people among the approximately 3,700 passengers and crew on the ship after a man who got off the boat last month in Hong Kong tested positive for the new strain.
China Novel Coronavirus Toll Rises to 563, Total Cases Cross 28,000
The death toll in China's novel coronavirus outbreak went up to 563 as 73 people died on Wednesday, the highest one-day fatalities so far, while total confirmed cases rose sharply to 28,018, Chinese health officials said on Thursday, 6 February.
On Wednesday, 5 February, 73 people died due to the virus and the new confirmed cases of the epidemic went up by 3,694, the country's National Health Commission announced.
Overall 563 people have died in the country due to the virus so far and 28,018 confirmed cases have been reported from 31 provincial-level regions, the Commission said.
Among the deceased, 70 were from Hubei Province and its provincial Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus outbreak.
Visas Issued Before 5 February to Chinese Passport Holders From Anywhere in the World Suspended: Immigration Officials
All visas issued to Chinese passport holders coming from anywhere in the world,including regular (sticker) & e-visa issued before 5 February, have been suspended with immediate effect. Restrictions not applicable to Chinese passport holders of Hong Kong, Macau & Taiwan, ANI quoted Immigration officials as saying.
Foreigners Who've Been to China on or After 15 Jan Not Allowed to Enter India: Immigration Officials
Foreigners who have been to China on or after 15 January are not allowed to enter India from any air, land or seaport, including Indo-Nepal, Indo-Bhutan, Indo-Bangladesh or Indo-Myanmar land borders, ANI quoted Immigration officials as saying.
Kerala: Chinese Youth Seeks Police Help for Hotel Room, Admitted to Hospital
A Chinese youth, who approached the Thiruvananthapuram city police seeking help to get a hotel accommodation, was rushed to an isolation ward of a hospital for observation.
The 25-year-old tourist, who was on a trip to India, reached the state capital on Tuesday, police said.
When all efforts to get a hotel accomodation failed, he approached the city police commissioner's office with a complaint that he was unable to get a room.
Saudi Arabia Bars Citizens, Residents From Travel to China Dubai
Saudi Arabia on Thursday, 6 February barred its citizens and residents of the kingdom from travelling to China amid the new virus outbreak.
The kingdom's General Directorate of Passports said the measure was in response to the new virus believed to have stemmed from central China.
It warned that any residents of the kingdom who violate this order will not allowed to return to Saudi Arabia. It also said that regulatory provisions on travel documents would be applied to citizens who violate the travel ban, without further elaboration. The statement was carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency.
Central Team Reviews Preparedness in Odisha; 26 Under Home Surveillance
A central team on Thursday reviewed Odisha's preparedness to deal with novel coronavirus, as two persons have been quarantined in a hospital and 26 others are under home surveillance in the state with suspected nCov cases, officials said, according to PTI.
The state government has sent blood and swab samples of seven suspected coronavirus patients to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, for examination and five of them have tested negative, Director of Medical Education and Training (DMET) Prof CBK Mohanty said.
All 645 Indian Evacuees From Wuhan Test Negative for Coronavirus
All 645 Indian evacuees from China’s Wuhan have tested negative for coronavirus, the Health Ministry said on Thursday, 6 February, adding that no new case has been reported.
Two Chinese Nationals Admitted to Rajiv Gandhi Hospital, No NCov Symptoms
Two Chinese nationals have been admitted to the isolation ward of the state-run Gandhi Hospital, New Delhi as a precautionary measure after they approached it to be tested for presence of novel coronavirus (nCoV), health officials said on Thursday, 6 February, reports PTI.
Samples of 37 people, which had been tested for the virus so far, were negative, official sources said, adding that test results of 20 others were awaited.
The 20 people were under observation in two different state-run hospitals in the city.
Ships Crews With Chinese Members Banned From Entry: Mumbai Port Trust
Chinese crew members of any ship docking into Mumbai are banned from travelling in the city, according to Sanjay Bhatia, Chairman, Mumbai Port Trust, reported ANI.
“If a ship with any Chinese crew member arrives, then our Public Health Officer (PHO) goes to the ship and checks it. They (crew members) have been banned from going on an excursion, they are not allowed to go to the city,” he said.
He added that a PHO attends to every ship, including ships coming for anchorage, which travelled to China in the past 14-15 days for thermal screening. These ships are also not allowed to dispose off any waste.
Another 41 on Japan Cruise Have New Coronavirus
Another 41 people on board a cruise ship off Japan's coast have tested positive for the new strain of coronavirus, local media including national broadcaster NHK said on Friday, 7 February, reports AFP.
The new cases raise to 61 the number of people on the Diamond Princess so far diagnosed with the new virus, which has killed more than 600 people -- most of them in mainland China where the strain emerged.