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

MEA COVID-19 Control Room Open

The Ministry of External Affairs has begun a COVID-19 Control room to effectively assist in the smooth functioning of COVID-19 surveillance. 

European Union, Turkey and UK Nationals Prohibited Entry To India Till March 31

Expanding compulsory quarantine for a minimum period of 14 days for passengers coming from/transiting through UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on 18th March 2020 at the port of first departure.

Travel of passengers from member countries of the European Union, the European Free Trade Association, Turkey and United Kingdom to India is prohibited with effect from 18th March 2020. No airline shall board a passenger from these nations to India with effect from 1200 GMT on 18th March 2020. The airline shall enforce this at the port of initial departure.

Both these instructions are temporary measures and shall be in force till 31st March 2020 and will be reviewed subsequently. 

WB Defers Elections

The West Bengal State Election Comission on Monday announced that the statewide municipal elections will be deferred due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus. In an all-party meeting that was convened on March 16, Saurabh Das, state election commissioner, said that the 'situation will be reviewed after 15 days and the election schedule will be decided thereafter.'

Temples Shut Doors

Mumbai's Siddhivinayak temple and Tuljapur's Tulja Bhavani temples have decided to shut darshan for devotees owing to the spread of COVID-19.

While in Madhya Pradesh, devotees will not be allowed to attend 'Bhasmarti' at Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain till March 31.

India's Cases Rise To 114

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reported 4 new cases on March 16, 2020. 

The Ministry has recorded one new case each in Kerala, Odisha, Jammu and Kashmir, and Union Territory of Ladakh

RBI Steps In To Counter COVID-19 Impact

The RBI Governor in a press conference on Monday announced new measures to provide liquidity to the market, keeping into account the effect of the COVID-19 on the economy. He stopped short of announcing a rate cut, which is being carried out by central banks around the world.

He also stated that the moratorium on Yes Bank would be lifted on March 18, assured depositors of the safety of their deposits with the bank and called the rescue a first of its kind public-private partnership to rescue a private bank.

Meghalaya is included in the list of states that have announced the shutting of their schools and colleges till Mach 31. 

The list of states are:

Meghalaya,Delhi, Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka- March 22, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Bihar, Odisha, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir,  Telangana, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal,  Assam, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh - till March 22

India Actively Evacuates Residents From Italy And Iran

India is actively evacuating Indians from the COVID-19 struck centres of Iran and Italy. 

A total of 218 Indians, mostly students from Milan, landed at around 9.45 AM on March 15 at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) and were taken to an ITBP quarantine facility in south-west Delhi's Chhawla area.

A total of 389 Indians have been evacuated from Iran in four batches. On March 16, a batch of 53 Indians as well as a batch of over 230 Indian (134 students and 101 pilgrims) evacuated on March 15 were taken to a quarantine facility built in Jaisalmer. 

Earlier, India also evacuated 55 and 48 Indians from Iran. 

AIIMS Says Less Personal Equipment For Doctors

Delhi AIIMS Resident Doctors’ Association writes to AIIMS director, complaining about 'inadequate availability of personal protective equipment in AIIMS'. The letter reads, "We urge you to ensure PPE availability round the clock for safety of doctors&nursing staff", reported news wire agency, ANI.

Personal protective equipment includes masks and gloves for staff attending to patients. 

Municipal Coroporations Stepping Up Preparadness Against COVID-19

Mumbai, Meerut and Kolkata Corporations are stepping up their fight agaonst COVID-19 by carrying out preventive activities and advertisements. 

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has asked all licenced hoarding owners in Mumbai to display messages till March 25, starting from Monday, on fighting the novel coronavirus outbreak. The directive was issued by BMC Commissioner Praveen Pardeshi under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897. Those disobeying the directive will have their hoarding licences cancelled, the directive warned. Mumbai has around 1,200 licences.

The Meerut Municipal Corporation has installed water tankers, containing chlorine, in various areas of the city for the purpose of washing hands only.

While in Kolkata, state officials were provided hand sanitisers, outside the state secretariat, ahead of the administrative meeting to be chaired by CM Mamata Banerjee.