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

34 Laboratories To Be Set Up For Blood Tests For Coronavirus

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India stated that with the existing 15 laboratories actively conducting tests for COVID-19, 19 other laboratories are going to be set up across the country. 

This will assist in testing for 25,000 samples. 

India Announces Universal Screening At Airports

India now announces universal screenings at airports, after announcing screening passengers flying from 12 countries. 

All passengers will be screened at 21 airports, stated Dr. Harsh Vardhan

India's Case Count Rises To 28

Health Minister Dr.Harsh Vardhan in a key meeting with the press stated that India now has 28 confirmed cases of COVID-19. 

The earlier three from Kerala recovered. 

The Delhi resident who tested positive on March 2, 2020 after travelling from Italy came in contact with 86 people and infected 6 people from his family in Agra. 

A Telanagana techie tested positive after returning from Dubai. 

An Italian group of 24 tourists came to India on February 21. At that point of time, India was not screening people returning from Italy. 

From these 24, one couple tested positive in Jaipur and is currently isolated in SMS Hospital, Jaipur. 

The others were isolated at the Indo Tibetan Border Police area in Chhawla, Delhi. From these, 14 nationals have tested positive for the virus.

One Indian national, their driver has also tested positive for the virus. 

Tokyo Olympics Likely To Be Scheduled On Time

Amidst the growing concerns about the ongoing COVID-19, the International Olympics Committee (IOC) Executive Board expressed its full commitment to successful execution of the Tokyo Olympics 2020 taking place between July 24 and August 9, 2020. 

The EB has stated that it is following guidelines prescribed by the World Health Organisation and is going to keep the players updated about the situation of the outbreak. 

Pharmaceutical Department Committee States India Has Coronavirus Drugs Stocks Available For 2-3 Months

Department of Pharmaceuticals has constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Dr. Eshwara Reddy, Joint Drugs Controller, Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) to address the issues of drug security in the country in the context of Novel Coronavirus outbreak in China.

The committee has mentioned that the present stock-in hand of the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) may be sufficient for 2 to 3 months to manufacture formulations and also given certain recommendations. The committee further mentioned that there is no need to panic so far as drug security is concerned.

The department has issued necessary instructions to National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) and State Governments to ensure adequate supply of APIs and formulations at affordable prices in the market and to prevent black-marketing, illegal hoarding, creating artificial shortages in the country.

NPPA has also written to Chief Secretaries of States with copies to Principal Secretaries Health and State Drug Controllers requesting them to closely monitor the production and availability of APIs and formulations to prevent the black marketing and hoarding in their States and UTs as well as to ensure that there is no violation of provisions of Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013. Department of Pharmaceuticals has written to DGFT to restrict exports of 13 API and formulations made using these APIs. These APIs are primarily made in Hubei province of China.

As per the latest available information, most of the Chinese companies manufacturing pharmaceutical ingredients (excluding those in Hubei province) have now resumed operations partially and expected to resume fully by end of March. There are no restrictions on the export of APIs from China.

The Chinese companies are willing to export to India, however logistics sector has not yet resumed operations fully. It is observed from Port offices of CDSCO that APIs are being imported from China. As per the information received from port offices of CDSCO, 56 consignments of APIs are imported during 26th and 27th Feb 2020. Out of 56, 40 consignments are from China and rest are from countries other than China.

Italian National In Jaipur Tests Positive

Speculations about an Italian National testing positive for COVID-19 were rife over social media and news channels on March 2 and 3, 2020. 

The Press Information Bureau confirmed that a patient tested positive for the virus. News organisations have also been stating that the national's wife also tested positive for the virus.  

I & B Ministry issues advisory on Coronavirus to FM and TV channels

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued advisory to all private satellite news TV channels and all private FM radio channels regarding the advisory issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Coronavirus. The advisory seeks assistance and contribution of private TV channels and FM radio channels to reach out to people across the country. All such channels and their associations are requested to give adequate publicity to the Revised Travel Advisory issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Indian Navy’s Milan multilateral naval exercise planned to be held from March 18 in Visakhapatnam may be canceled in view of coronavirus. 30 nations were supposed to attend the event. 

The person in Hyderabad who tested positive for COVID-19 travelled from Dubai to Bengaluru on February 20, 2020 by an Indigo flight. 

Indigo stated that all 4 crew members on the flight have been put under home observation. 

IndiGo statement: The #Coronavirus affected passenger in Hyderabad travelled on IndiGo flight 6E 96 (Dubai-Bangalore) on Feb 20. All 4 cabin crew who operated this flight have been placed on home observation. We're following all prescribed Airport Health Organization guidelines.

— ANI (@ANI) March 3, 2020

The person then travelled to Secunderabad by bus from Bengaluru. 

On February 28, the person with COVID-19 in Delhi was at Hyatt Regency Hotel in Delhi. 

BOOM spoke to Hyatt Regency who stated that they are going to undertake quarantine measures and start screening guests as prevention mechanisms.