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Rashtrapati Bhavan closed from tmrw

Representative photo.

New Delhi (NVI): In the view of the rapid spread of coronavirus disease, Rashtrapati Bhavan closed all the public visits from tomorrow. 

“As a precautionary measure against the spread of Covid-19 novel Coronavirus, the Rashtrapati Bhavan will remain closed for exploratory tour visits from tomorrow, March 13, till further notice,” the Rashtrapati Bhavan said in a communiqué here.

 The Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum Complex (RBMC) and the Change of Guard ceremony will also remain closed for the public till further notice, the statement added. 

J&K: 2 youths prevented from joining militancy, says Police

Kashmir terror attack
Representational Image

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): Two youths from south Kashmir have been prevented from joining militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, the police said today.

The duo, hailing from Tral and Awantipora areas, was planning to join militant ranks, they said. 

“Acting on a specific input, police in Awantipora were able to prevent two youth from joining the militant ranks. These youths had been indoctrinated and were influenced by the false narratives,” said a spokesman.

Awantipora police counselled the youth in presence of their family members thereby preventing them from joining the militant ranks, the spokesman said adding that both the youths were handed over to their family members.

Last month, Jammu and Kashmir police had arrested a class 10 student and prevented him from joining militancy in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.

COVID-19: PM urges people not to panic, avoid non-essential travel

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today urged people not to panic due to coronavirus scare and rather focus on taking precautions to combat the spread of the pandemic in the country. He also urged people to avoid all non-essential travel while adding that no ministers of the Central Government will travel abroad in the upcoming days, as a precautionary measure.

The Prime Minister expressed his concern on the matter via Twitter even as the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Health Ministry held separate media briefings on the outbreak.

“The Government is fully vigilant about the situation due to COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. Across ministries & states, multiple steps have been proactively taken to ensure safety of all. These steps are wide-ranging, from suspension of Visas to augmenting healthcare capacities,” he tweeted.

The PM also urged people to avoid large gatherings. “Say No to Panic, Say Yes to Precautions. No Minister of the Central Government will travel abroad in the upcoming days. I urge our countrymen to also avoid non-essential travel. We can break the chain of spread and ensure safety of all by avoiding large gatherings,” he said in another tweet.

As per the latest data released by the Health Ministry, 73 coronavirus cases have been reported in the country. With COVID-19 been declared as pandemic by WHO now, India has suspended all visas, except a few categories such as diplomatic and employment, till April 15.

Cinema halls, schools, colleges to remain shut in Delhi till Mar 31: CM

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

New Delhi (NVI): All cinema halls in Delhi will remain shut till March 31 as a measure to prevent coronavirus from spreading, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said today. Schools and colleges where exams are not being held will also remain closed, he said.

Moreover, the Delhi CM also added that as a precautionary measure to control coronavirus spread, all the public places in Delhi will be disinfected. Vacant flats owned by Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board will be used for quarantine purpose, he told mediapersons here.

Meanwhile, the number of people affected by coronavirus in the country has risen to 73, with Kerala having the highest number of cases at 17.

In the wake of the deadly outbreak, India has suspended all visas, except a few categories such as diplomatic and employment, till April 15.

COVID-19: Sensex crashes 2,919 points

New Delhi (NVI): A day after WHO termed coronavirus as Pandemic, Indian equity markets went on a free-fall as Sensex slumped 2,919 points and Nifty ended at 9,590 points, suffering their biggest single-day selloff.

Sensex tanked 2,919 points or 8.18 per cent to close 32,778; while NSE Nifty plummetted 868 points or 8.30 to settle at 9,590.

Today’s fall in the markets has further hurt investor sentiment amid coronavirus scare that has taken a toll on the world economy.

The rupee also suffered due to the situation as it plunged 82 paise to 74.35 against US dollar in early trade.

Oil prices also extended losses, with crude benchmark trading at $32.14 per barrel, down 2.5%.

COVID-19 may cost world economy up to USD 2 trillion: UNDP

New Delhi (NVI): Coronavirus is not just a global health emergency, it’s a development emergency as it could cost the world economy up to USD 2 trillion and affect Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has said.

“It’s estimated that the epidemic could cost the world economy US$2 trillion. Epidemics can be reversed, but only with the highest level of political commitment,” UNDP said in a statement.

Coronavirus has shocked the world with the agility and speed of its spread. Since it emerged in humans in China late last year, it has raced around the globe, killing more than four thousand people, sickening more than 1,13,000, and prompting travel bans and lockdowns.

WHO has asked the international community for US$675 million to fight the virus and the United Nations has dedicated US$15 million to fund essential activities such as monitoring the spread of the virus, investigating cases and supporting national laboratories, it said.

International gatherings and sports events have been cancelled, more than 290 million children are not in school, and markets are reeling. In some countries, tourism, a vital occupation for many, has virtually stopped and we are seeing famous cultural landmarks as never before—almost empty, the UNDP said in its report.

Medical team being sent to Italy to test Indians: Jaishankar in LS

New Delhi (NVI): As the number of coronavirus patients in India rose to 73, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told Lok Sabha today that COVID-19 outbreak is a “matter of concern” and needs to be responded to responsibly.

The Foreign Minister also said that a medical team is being sent to Italy to test Indians for the viral infection. Those testing negative will be allowed to travel, he said while briefing the lower House of the Parliament on the latest coronavirus situation.

Jaishankar had yesterday informed Rajya Sabha on COVID-19 situation while asserting that the Central Government is committed for safety, security of Indians in Iran. 58 Indian nationals were evacuated from the coronavirus-hit country on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the total number of coronavirus cases reported in India rose to 73, with 13 fresh cases, including 9 from Maharashtra and 1 each from Delhi, Ladakh and Uttar Pradesh, and one foreign national.

While speaking on the pandemic in Lok Sabha today, Jaishankar said that the initial focus of the Government is to bring back Indian pilgrims stranded in Iran. The nature of their residency also increases the risks of exposure to the coronavirus, he said.

“Along with the pilgrims, the Ministry is also in regular contact with the Indian students in Iran,” Jaishankar said.

Jaishankar further informed that around 6,000 Indians are stranded in Iran, including 1,100 pilgrims from Maharashtra and Jammu and Kashmir.

The Union Minister added, “Given the scale of COVID -19 infection and its pressure on Iran’s own resources, a team of six Indian health officials has been deputed to Iran in order to set up testing and sampling facilities there. The first batch of 108 samples were received in India on 7 March. These were tested and 58 Indian pilgrims (25 men, 31 women and 2 children), who tested negative, were repatriated in special IAF C-17 flight on 10 March. ”

Jaishankar had also visited Srinagar earlier this week and met parents of some of the students who are stuck in Iran. He also shared with them in detail the ground situation and sought their understanding.

Jaishankar also spoke about the region where most of the members from fishermen community are located, mostly from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat.

“As a country whose citizens are spread across the world, this is a matter of utmost concern. At the same time, it is absolutely essential that people react responsibly and soberly,” the External Affairs Minister added.

Jaishankar said, “Meanwhile, the situation in Italy is also emerging as a cause of great concern. The Ministry has decided to make provisions for testing primarily for students/compassionate cases in Italy and collect samples for testing.”

“A medical team is being sent to Italy. Those tested negative will be allowed to travel and will be quarantined on arrival in India for 14 days. The challenge is growing by the day in Europe and we will respond accordingly,” Jaishankar said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic with more than 118,000 confirmed cases and 4,291 deaths in 114 countries.

One more person tests positive for coronavirus in Ladakh

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): One more person has tested positive for coronavirus in Ladakh today, taking the total number of reported cases in the Union Territory to three.

Confirming the development, Commissioner Secretary Rigzin Samphel said one more person has been tested positive. His father was already infected with the novel coronavirus.

He said, “We received his reports today and it has come positive.”

“All the persons have been kept in isolation,” Samphel added.

On March 8, an elderly Iran-returned patient died at Sonam Norbu Hospital in Leh after he suffered from some respiratory issues.

Medical Superintendent SN Hospital, Dr Tsering Samphel had said that the patient had recently travelled to Iran and was admitted with complaints of urinary incontinence and respiratory issues.

A 63-year-old woman who recently returned from Iran was tested positive for coronavirus in Jammu.

In Jammu & Kashmir, 1,211 travellers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been put under active surveillance; 150 of these have completed surveillance period of 28 days while as 12 are undergoing hospital quarantine.

64 samples of suspected cases have been sent for testing so far; 28 have reported negative, 01 has tested positive and report of 35 is still awaited.

Goa: Mopa airport gets environ clearance

New Delhi (NVI): Union Minister Prakash Javadekar today gave environmental approval to Greenfield Mopa International Airport in Goa, paving the way for overall development for the region and give boost to tourism in the state.

The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change took to Twitter to confirm the development.

“I am happy to announce that today i have given Environmental approval for Greenfield Mopa International Airport in #Goa. This will pave way for overall development for the region and give boost to tourism in the state,” he wrote on the microblogging site.

Javadekar also tagged Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Goa BJP in his tweet.

Coronavirus now a pandemic; India suspends visas

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): Upping its ante in the face of coronavirus outbreak, India has suspended all visas, except a few categories such as diplomatic and employment, till April 15. The Ministry of Health has confirmed that there are total 73 COVID-19 cases in India, at present.

“All existing visas issued to nationals of any country except those issued to Diplomats, Officials, UN/International organizations, Employment, Project visas stand suspended till April 15, 2020. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on March 13, 2020 at the port of departure of any foreigner for onward journey to India,” the Bureau of Immigration, Home Affairs said in a statement today.

The latest travel advisory by the Government has been announced even as the WHO classified Coronavirus as a pandemic yesterday.

India has imposed stringent travel curbs as the World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic with more than 118,000 confirmed cases and 4,291 deaths in 114 countries.

However, the Bureau of Immigration further stated that visas of all foreigners already in India remain valid. “They may contact the nearest FRRO/FRO through e-FRRO module for extension/conversion of their visa or grant of any consular service if they choose to do so,” it stated.

India’s count of infected people stands at 73 now with no confirmed deaths so far from the disease.

Meanwhile, Italy has tightened its quarantine and the US has imposed a ban on flights to Europe.

Italy now has more than 12,000 confirmed cases and a death toll of 827. Nearly 900 people with the virus in Italy are in intensive care, the WHO said.

The United States has more than 1,000 cases with a total death toll of 30.

With its new cases, South Korea has 7,869 people with the virus, and a total death toll of 66.

Denmark – which has 514 confirmed cases, is to close all schools and universities from Friday. The government also urged the cancellation of events with more than 100 people attending.

Meanwhile, the virus appeared in new countries including Bolivia, Honduras and Turkey, while Indonesia, Bulgaria, Sweden and Greece recorded their first deaths, according to media reports.

Thailand has also reported 11 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, bringing the total number of cases in the Southeast Asian nation to 70, health officials said.

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