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

Gautam Buddh Nagar, Bengaluru, Telangana Report New Cases

Noida and Telangana reported one new case each while Bengaluru reported two new cases on March 18, 2020. All four cases are imported cases with travel histories

The Noida patient returned from Indonesia raising the state's total to 18. Earlier in the day, a junior doctor at KGMU, Lucknow tested positive. 

The Telangana case returned from the United Kingdom taking the state's total to 6.

Two new cases, a 56-year-old male who returned from the USA and a 25-year-old female who returned from Spain have tested positive in Bengaluru taking the state's total to 13. 

Maharashtra To Have Four More Labs

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope stated that four new laboratories will come up in the state to ease the load on the three laboratories in Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur. 

KEM, JJ and Haffkines in Mumbai, as well as BJ in Pune will be starting testing soon. 

Junior Doctor In Lucknow Tests Positive

A junior doctor treating coronavirus patients has tested positive at King George's Medical University, Lucknow. The doctor is stable and there is nothing to worry said the incharge of the hospital's isolation ward, Dr. Sudhir Singh.

Sri Lanka Shuts Markets

After Philippines, Sri Lanka has become the next country to shut its stock markets owing to the rising number of cases of COVID-19. 

Special Flight To Malaysia

Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar announced on Tuesday evening that Air Asia flights were approved to fly between Kuala Lumpur airport to Delhi and Visakhapatnam, after many who are stranded in the country reached out for help.

This comes after India stopped all air travel from Malaysia.

NPPA Asks Manufactures To Provide Information On Masks, Sanitisers

The Central Government has pulled up manufacturers and importers of surgical and protective masks, gloves as well as hand sanitisers for not submitting information on stock availability and Maximum Retail Price of their products, in the light of the Covid-19 outbreak.

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) on March 17, warned these companies that non-compliance of its order to provide these details will lead to levying of penalties under the Drug Price Control Order 2013 and the Essential Commodities Act 1955. NPPA also warned that this may lead to “search and seizure” as well as prosecution for defaulting companies.

The pricing watchdog has now directed all manufacturers and importer to submit these details by 6 pm on March 18.

Maharashtra Sets Strict Vigil Around Fake News

Maharashtra Cyber Police has warned of strict action against rumour-mongers who spread misleading and unverified information on social media regarding COVID-19, an official said on Wednesday. According to the official, police have stepped up online surveillance to identify senders of such fake news and other content.

Wimbledon organisers are still planning to play the Grand Slam this year, despite the coronavirus chaos that led the French Open to be pushed back until September.

Maharashtra Case Count Reaches 42

A 28-year-old Pune woman with travel history to France and the Netherlands has tested positive for COVID-19 taking Maharashtra's count of confirmed cases to 42.

Maharashtra has the highest number of cases of COVID-19 with one death in Mumbai. 

India's Cases Rise To 147

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare confirmed 147 cases in India as of March 18, 2020. 

The Ministry recorded new cases in Delhi, Kerala, Haryana, Maharashtra, Union Territory of Ladakh, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.