Coronavirus LIVE Update: India's Cases Rise To 59,92,532; 94,503 Dead

Cases Rise In Maharashtra

With new cases in Mumbai and Ahmednagar, COVID-19 cases have been on a rise in Maharashtra.

The wife of the patient who was first admitted to Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai and later transferred to Kasturba and with travel history to Dubai tested positive on March 13 as reported by PTI. 

Ahmednagar district officials confirmed the first case in the district. A man with travel history to Dubai tested positive in the district. 

68 Year Old Dies In India

A 68-year-old woman who had tested positive for COVID-19 at Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital succumbed to the virus on March 13, 2020 making her the second confirmed Coronavirus death in India. She was also suffering from diabetes and hypertension. 

The woman was in contact with her son who had travel history to Switzerland and Italy and had returned on February 23. Both developed symptoms of fever and were admitted to the hospital on March 7, 2020. Their samples were collected on the 8th and they tested positive on March 9. 

The government is actively tracing the people who came in contact with the woman. 

PIB Calls Out Fake Health Ministry Notification

The Press Information Bureau of India has fact checked a fake notification circulating in the name of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare suggesting that the government is declaring holidays between March 14 and March 21, 2020 in the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Sikkim and Uttar Pradesh. 

The PIB release states that the notification suggesting the 'clarification regarding declaration of holidays for the states' has not been issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. 

The fake notification suggests that this leave is mandatory for all schools, colleges, educational institutes, work place which has more than 10 employees at a time, and all the statuatory and local bodies of the state. It also states that if this order is breached, a fine of Rs. 5000 will be levied per day. 

This notification comes in the wake of many state governments shutting down theatres, gyms, schools, and colleges. 

As for Maharashtra, CM Uddhav Thackeray announced in the assembly on March 13,2020 that gyms, theatres, cinema halls, pools will be shut in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Thane, Navi Mumbai and Pimpri Chinchwad and schools and colleges are shut in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad till the end of March. The Maharashtra government has also put out a statement suggesting that this notification is false. 

India has confirmed 81 positive cases of COVID-19 with one person who died on March 13, 2020. 

Gyms, Cinema Halls, Swimming Pools To Be Shut In Mumbai, Pune

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in a press conference on March 13, 2020, announced that all gyms, cinema halls, swimming pools will remain closed from tonight till March 31 in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Nagpur, and Pimpri Chinchwad until March 30, 2020. Thackeray further said that schools and colleges in Pune and Pimpri to be closed. 

Thackeray also requested citizens to avoid unnecessary traveling by trains and buses and to avoid going to malls, restaurants and hotels.  

Global Death Toll Crosses 5000

According to Worldometers, the total number of deaths has crossed 5,080 as of March 13, 2020. The total number of positive COVID-19 cases currently stands at 138,156 and around 70,716 have recovered. Currently, there are 62,360 infected patients by Coronavirus.

Ministry Confirms 81 Cases

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has confirmed 81 positive cases of COVID-19 as of March 13, 2020. Kerala has 19 of these cases while Maharashtra and Haryana have 14, Uttar Pradesh has 11, Delhi has 6, Karnataka has 6 with one death, Rajasthan and Ladakh have 3 each, while Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu reported one case each.

The Joint Secretary of Health stated that one more person has recovered at Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi.

Man Returned From Itlay Tests Positive At Army's Manesar Quarantine Center

A man who returned from Italy was tested positive for coronavirus at the Indian Army's quarantine facility in Manesar reported ANI.  The individual had returned from Italy on March 11, 2020, and was tested positive. He was employed in one of the restaurants in Italy for the last 14 years, Indian Army said reported ANI.

Bihar Govt Orders Closure Of Schools, Public Parks

Bihar government on March 13, 2020, announced the closure of all schools, colleges, coaching institutes, zoos, and public parks till March 31, 2020 as a precautionary measure against coronavirus in the state reported PTI.

Three New Positive Cases In Maharashtra

One more person has been found positive for COVID-19 in Pune, and two people tested positive in Nagpur taking the total number of COVID-19 cases to 17 as reported by the Maharashtra state ministry.

The 17 cases are as follows - Pune: 10, Mumbai: 3, Nagpur: 3, Thane 1.  

BCCI Postpones IPL till April 15

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on March 13, 2020, postponed the Indian Premier League (IPL) till 15th April 2020, as a precautionary measure against the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.