***CORONA VIRUS UPDATES***

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All govt offices to shut in Maharashtra

The Maharashtra cabinet on Tuesday decided to shut government offices for seven days due to the spread of coronavirus in the country, CNN-News18 reported.

 

JUST IN: Maharashtra Cabinet has decided to shut government offices for seven days, except for essential services, reports suggest.

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Indian Railways increase platform ticket price at 250 stations

An Indian Railways official on Tuesday said that the price of platform tickets has been increased to Rs 50 at about 250 stations in six divisions, Mumbai, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Ratlam, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, till further orders, to ensure crowd control.

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Coronavirus in Gujarat LIVE updates | JUST IN: Gujarat has closed the world's tallest statue — the Statue of Unity — for public till March-end amid the coronavirus pandemic.

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ICMR doesn't rule out community transmission of COVID-19 in India

Dr Balram Bhargava, director-general of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) told the press on Tuesday that the panel can't rule out the possibility of community transmission of the novel coronavirus in India, as cases rose to 137 countrywide.

"There are four stages. The third stage is community transmission which we hope we don't have. It would depend on how strongly we close our international borders, in terms of which government has taken very proactive steps. But can't say that community transmission won't happen," he said.

He added, "We have already placed orders for 1 million probes, reagents and primers are unlimited. We have also requested WHO to provide us 1 million probes."

 

ICMR Director General Balram Bhargava: In the process of getting private testing laboratories on board as soon as possible. But their number is limited.

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COVID-19 cases rise to 137 in India

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Tuesday said that the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in India rose to 137, with Delhi reporting eight cases, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha reporting one case each, Haryana reporting 15 cases, Karnataka reporting 11 cases, Kerala reporting 26 cases, Maharashtra reporting 39 cases, Telangana reporting five cases, union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh reporting three and six cases respectively, and Uttar Pradesh reporting 15 cases.

 

Total number of confirmed COVID 2019 cases across India * : 137

(including foreign nationals, as on 17.03.2020 at 05:15 PM)

S. No.	Name of State / UT	Total Confirmed cases (Indian National)	Total Confirmed cases ( Foreign National )	Cured/ Discharged	Death
1	Andhra Pradesh	1	0	0	0
2	Delhi	8	0	2	1
3	Haryana	1	14	0	0
4	Karnataka	11	0	0	1
5	Kerala	24	2	3	0
6	Maharashtra	36	3	0	1
7	Odisha	1	0	0	0
8	Punjab	1	0	0	0
9	Rajasthan	2	2	3	0
10	Tamil Nadu	1	0	0	0
11	Telengana	3	2	1	0
12	Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir	3	0	0	0
13	Union Territory of Ladakh	6	0	0	0
14	Uttar Pradesh	14	1	5	0
15	Uttarakhand	1	0	0	0
Total number of confirmed cases in India		113	24	14	3

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India is currently in stage 2 of coronavirus outbreak: ICMR DG

 

• All asymptomatic patients who have taken international flights in past 14 days should get tested if they develop symptoms, says Balram Bhargava
• 'We appeal to all private laboratories to offer COVID-19 diagnosis free of cost,' says ICMR DG

 

The Director General of Indian Council of Medical Research said India is in stage 2 (local transmission) of coronavirus outbreak.

"There are four stages. third stage is community transmission which we hope we shouldn't have. It would depend on how strongly we close our international borders, in terms of which govt has taken very proactive steps. But can't say that community transmission won't happen," said Balram Bhargava.

"All asymptomatic patients who have taken international flights in past 14 days should get tested if they develop symptoms," said Bhargava.

"We are in the process of engaging private NABL accredited laboratories for carrying out testing of Covid-19 cases," said ICMR DG.

Speaking about the preparedness for the outbreak, Bhargava said, "We have already placed orders for 1 million probes, reagents and primers are unlimited. We have also requested WHO to provide us 1 million probes. We are also operationlising through two high-throughput systems, which are the rapid testing laboratories. They will be operationalised in two locations and they can test upto 1,400 samples per day in those labs. We're operationalising them by the end of this week."

He said currently 72 functional ICMR laboratories in govt sector are available for testing and 49 more will be active by month end. "We have also engaged non-ICMR, Ministry of Health, govt laboratories including CSIR, DRDO, DBT, govt medical colleges," he added.

"We appeal to all private laboratories to offer Covid-19 diagnosis free of cost," said Bhargava.

Private NABL accredited laboratories will soon be operationalised, he added.

Speaking to ANI, Dr R. Ganga Ketkar of ICMR said: "We are not averse to include the private sector. We have multiple safeguards in place. The discussions are on. Once it is done we will be proceeding to action. We are not averse to include the private sector in testing. However, we need to have multiple safeguard frames in place."

So far, India has confirmed 126 reported cases of Covid-19 and three people have lost their lives while being treated for the disease.

Last week, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared coronavirus as a pandemic. Globally, over 1,45,000 confirmed cases have been reported and more than 5,400 people have lost their lives due to the disease.

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Coronavirus in India Latest Updates

Maharashtra reports two new COVID-19 cases

Maharashtra, one of the worst-hit states by the spread of the novel coronavirus in India, on Tuesday reported two new cases of the flu-like disease that has claimed more than 5,000 lives worldwide.

The state government said that two people having travel history with the US tested positive in Mumbai and Pune, taking the total cases in the state to 41.

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18:40 (IST)

Public transport to remain open in Maharashtra: CM

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, speaking to the media after a meeting with authorities over measures taken to curb the spread of coronavirus in the state after the first death was reported on Tuesday, said that public transport will not be shut in the state. He also said that government office will not be shut.

"Trains and buses are essential services so we are not stopping them as of now but if people don't listen to our advice and don't avoid unnecessary travel, then we will think about that too. Next 15-20 days are very crucial for us," he said.

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Doctor who treated first COVID-19 victim tests positive in Karnataka

Three people, including a doctor who had treated the country's first coronavirus victim, have tested positive for the infection in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases in Karnataka to ten, PTI reported. The family doctor of the 76-year-old man from Kalaburagi who died last week was among the infected, the Health and Family Welfare Department said in an update on Tuesday.

The 63-year-old doctor had treated the elderly man who died "due to co-morbidity and also tested positive for COVID-19." He is under strict home quarantine, the department said.

Additionally, a 20-year-old woman, a resident of Bengaluru, who returned from the UK, has also tested positive for the virus. 

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One COVID-19 patient critical in Maharashtra

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday said that out of the 40 people who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in the state so far, one patient is in a critical condition.

India Today also quoted him as saying that the patients include 26 men and 14 women.

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Western Railways cancels 35 trips of 10 trains

The Western Railway on Tuesday cancelled 35 trips of 10 trains due to "low occupany" as people are adhering to the social distancing advisory by the government in light of the spread of the novel coronavirus in the country. 

Several Duronto trains are also among those cancelled.

 

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Taj Mahal temporarily shut for 'greater good'

The Uttar Pradesh government said that the Taj Mahal will be temporarily shut for the "greater good of humanity" in light of the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The state tourism handle tweeted: "The Taj Mahal will temporarily shut it doors for the greater good of humanity until the crisis of Covid-19 is over. The symbol of love will be out of bounds for all tourists. Will be reopening soon. After all, love is not what we show, it is also how much we care."

 

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3 hours ago, Kool_SRG said:

Indian Railways increase platform ticket price at 250 stations

An Indian Railways official on Tuesday said that the price of platform tickets has been increased to Rs 50 at about 250 stations in six divisions, Mumbai, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Ratlam, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, till further orders, to ensure crowd control.

deniki ee lamdk lu price lu increase chestunnaru? evarini rly station ki raankiundana?

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Three more people test positive for COVID-19 in Ladakh

Three more people tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Ladakh, making the total cases in the union territory six. Officials announced a slew of prohibitory orders in the Kargil district as a preventive measure.