India records 5th coronavirus death, students stranded in Italy flown back to Delhi

As per the Union Health Ministry website, there are 296 active coronavirus cases in the country. Read to know the measures taken by the government to avoid community transmission (stage 3) of coronavirus infection.

By: Longjam Dineshwori | | Updated: March 22, 2020 12:17 pm

About 80 per cent of the people will experience cold-like fever and will recover.

India recorded another coronavirus death today amid unprecedented shutdown ‘Janta Curfew’ to curb the spread of virus. As per media reports, a 63-year-old man passed away after due to the novel coronavirus in Maharashtra. This is the second death case in Maharashtra and the fifth one in India. The man was admitted to the HN Reliance Hospital in Mumbai on March 21. The Ministry of Health and Family welfare has also confirmed the report.

Indian students still stranded in Kuala Lampur

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has urged the Centre to help bring back Indian students stranded in Kuala Lumpur. Around 250 are stranded at the Kuala Lumpur airport due to the cancellation of flights to India.

In a letter to External Affairs minister S Jaishankar, Vijayan sought the Centre’s immediate intervention to help the students and ensure their safe return.

India tightens preventive measures

As per the Union Health Ministry website, there are 296 active coronavirus cases in the country. India saw 65 new cases on Saturday. With the number of positive cases surging across the country, the central and state governments are leaving no stones unturned to facilitate conditions for social distancing.

India is observing an unprecedented shutdown ‘Janta Curfew’ today to curb the spread of novel coronavirus cases in the country. To avoid community transmission (stage 3) of coronavirus infection, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has revised its strategy for testing people for the COVID-19 virus.

The revised guidelines say all hospitalized patients with severe acute respiratory illness, shortness of breath and having fever and cough will now have to go for COVID-19 testing.

It also encourages private labs for free or subsidized testing in this hour national public health of emergency.

Meanwhile, Punjab has joined the list of states like Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Bihar, which have announced either a complete or partial lockdown. The Punjab government announced that it will enforce lockdown till 31 March.