8 points: PM appeals for self curfew as India reports 4th COVID-19 death
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the situation in India due to the coronavirus outbreak as ‘not normal’ as the country reported its fourth death due to the infection on Thursday. Meanwhile, the total number of cases shot up to 173 after multiple cases were reported from several states.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the situation in India due to the coronavirus outbreak as ‘not normal’ as the country reported its fourth death due to the infection on Thursday (March 19). Meanwhile, the total number of cases shot up to 173 after multiple cases were reported from several states.
Here are the latest updates from the day:
India reports fourth death
A 72-year-old man, who had a travel history to Germany, in Punjab died due to coronavirus, the health ministry said, making it the fourth coronavirus-related casualty in the country. The patient had co-morbid conditions like diabetes, cardiac ailments, it said.
Indians abroad: 1 dies, 90 evacuated
An Indian citizen, who had tested positive for coronavirus, died in Iran while the other infected citizens are being taken care of by the Iranian government. Meanwhile, India on Thursday evacuated over 90 citizens stranded at Singapore’s Changi Airport due to the travel restrictions imposed by the government back home in response to the pandemic, said the High Commission.
PM Modi appeals for ‘janata curfew’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the situation due to the coronavirus outbreak in the country as “not normal”, and appealed to people to follow ‘janata curfew’ (public or self-curfew) from 7 am till 9 pm on March 22. He also appealed to people to not to go into panic buying to store essential commodities.
No entry international commercial flights
India has announced it will not allow any international commercial passenger aircraft to land from March 22 to March 29. It said the civil aviation ministry must also suspend all concessional travel on trains and flights, except for students, patients and the disabled. It has requested the states to enforce work from home for private sector employees, except for those working in emergency and essential services.
Cancellation of trains
Indian Railways has suspended concessional tickets from midnight of March 20. However, it exempts patients, students and Divyangjan. Southern Railway has, meanwhile, cancelled five long distance and eight passenger trains due to poor turnout of people.
Chhattisgarh, Gujarat report first cases
Chhattisgarh reported its first confirmed case on Thursday after a 24-year-old woman, who had recently returned from UK, has tested positive in state capital Raipur. Meanwhile, two positive cases were also reported from Gujarat, making them the first cases from the state. The two cases were reported Surat and Rajkot.
Wagah-Attari border sealed
Over 10 Hindu and Muslim families were on Thursday stopped from crossing over to Pakistan through the Attari-Wagah check post after India sealed the border due to the coronavirus threat. A senior BSF officer said a notification in this regard was received on Wednesday night after which the border was sealed for 14 days. He said no one will be allowed to cross over from either side.
Tirupati Balaji shrine to be closed
The Lord Venkateswara shrine in Tirumala and all other major temples in Andhra Pradesh will be closed down from Friday (March 20) till March 31. The Vaishno Devi pilgrimage was also suspended from March 18 onwards by the Jammu and Kashmir administration.
