According to the WHO’s latest situation report, as of March 12:
Global cases: 1,25,048
Deaths: 4,613
Cases in China: 80,981
Deaths in China: 3,173
Cases outside China: 44,067
Deaths outside China: 1,440
Total countries affected: 117
Four new countries affected
Four new countries or territories have reported cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, according to WHO’s situation report. These are French Polynesia, Turkey, Honduras and Côte d’Ivoire.
Sudan has announced its first coronavirus-related death. The victim had recently traveled to the United Arab Emirates, according to the Sudanese health ministry.
Unconfirmed reports have said that Brazil president Jair Bolsonaro has tested positive for coronavirus, after his aide who was spotted with Donald Trump earlier reportedly contracted the disease.
Results of the coronavirus test for the delegation that traveled with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro to the United States are not yet ready, his son Eduardo Bolsonaro said on Twitter on Friday.
Eduardo’s tweet came after a columnist for the Rio de Janeiro daily O Dia reported that the president’s first test had been positive.
India’s cases rise to 81
The number of novel coronavirus cases on Friday rose to 81, which include 16 Italians and one Canadian, Health Ministry officials said.
Addressing reporters, officials said coronavirus is not a health emergency and that there is no need to panic.
Officials said so far, India has evacuated 1,031 people, including from Maldives, US, Madagascar and China.
Read the full story here.
Supreme court to only hear urgent matters
With the spread of the coronavirus in mind, the Supreme Court of India has decided to hear only urgent matters from March 16.
A notification issued by the apex court on March 13 stated that the decision has been taken following the advisories issued by the government of India and after taking into account the view of public health experts.
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Epidemic Act invoked
The Andhra Pradesh government on Friday decided to implement the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, as a precautionary measure to curb the possible spread of the novel virus. The decision follows a directive from the Union Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba to all states to invoke the provisions of the Act.
After 17 positive cases of Coronavirus were confirmed in the state, the Maharashtra government too invoked the Epidemic Diseases Act in its five cities. With this, the state has declared the coronavirus as an epidemic in five metropolitan cities, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray took this decision on the floor of state assembly today and announced that gyms, cinema halls, swimming pools will be closed down from Friday night onwards in these cities until 31 March.
The 123-year-old Act has been invoked in four cities where the cases have been detected.
Thackeray announced that schools in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad areas will remain shut till further orders but the SSC exams in those schools will continue as per schedule though.
“Apart from the 10th and 12th exams we are closing schools in Pimpri Chinchwad and Pune till further notice.”
-CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray pic.twitter.com/gZsTMeh6pK— Office of Uddhav Thackeray (@OfficeofUT) March 13, 2020
There are now ten confirmed coronavirus patients in Pune, three each in Mumbai and Nagpur, and one in Thane.
State govts announce measures
Several Indian state governments have announced measures to combat the spread of the disease.
The Uttar Pradesh government on Friday declared closure of all schools and colleges where examinations are not going on till March 22 in view of coronavirus scare and asserted that all precautions are being taken to check the spread of the disease.
All universities will be closed for a week in Karnataka, chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa has announced. The state has also announced the shutdown of malls, theatres, and commercial establishments.
The Bihar government on Friday announced closure of all schools, colleges, coaching institutes, zoos and public parks till March 31 as well.
Rajasthan announces relief for hospitality industry
The Rajasthan legislative assembly passed the state budget by a voice vote on Friday with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announcing a 10-per cent reduction in excise duty for hotels and restaurants in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak hitting their business and the tourism industry.
JNU suspends classes till March 31
The Jawaharlal Nehru University on Friday ordered suspension of classes with immediate effect till March 31 due to the coronavirus outbreak. However, routine office work will remain unaffected.
“In view of the situation arising out of coronavirus (COVID-19), it is hereby notified that all lectures, class presentations and examinations at JNU are suspended until March 31 with immediate effect,” the varsity’s Registrar Pramod Kumar said.
Conducting any event such as seminars/conferences/workshops in the campus during this period that require gathering of people should be postponed, he said.
Visva-Bharati asks students to vacate rooms
The Visva-Bharati university on Tuesday directed all students, except foreign nationals, to immediately vacate their hostel rooms in wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
The varsity also announced that all classes will be suspended till March 31.
Man tests positive at Army’s Manesar quarantine facility
A man who returned from Italy this week and was lodged at the Army’s quarantine facility in Manesar, Haryana has tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease, Army sources said on Friday.
According to the medical protocol, he has been shifted to an isolation facility at the Safdarjung Hospital here for further medical examination and recovery.
“One individual (male) who had returned from Italy on March 11 has been tested positive. The individual was employed in one of the restaurants in Italy since last 14 years,” sources said.
Also read: Coronavirus and India: An FAQ of What We Know So Far
The man was among the 83 people who returned from Italy on Wednesday. The group was moved to the Army’s quarantine facility at Manesar.
BCCI under pressure, IPL postponed
The under-pressure BCCI on Friday suspended the start of this year’s IPL from March 29 to April 15 in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused massive upheaval across the globe.
“The Board of Control for Cricket in India has decided to suspend IPL 2020 till 15th April 2020, as a precautionary measure against the ongoing Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) situation,” the BCCI said in a statement.
This came hours after Delhi government said it will not allow any sporting activity in the national capital due to the health crisis. Delhi is home to the Delhi Capitals IPL franchise.
India-South Africa ODI cancelled
The two remaining ODIs between India and South Africa in Lucknow and Kolkata were on Friday called off owing to the COVID-19 threat as the country’s sports calendar continued to go haywire because of the global pandemic.
“With the IPL being postponed, it only made sense that at this point of time, this series is also called off. The country is facing a serious pandemic,” a top BCCI official told PTI.
The first ODI between the two sides in Dharamshala was washed out. Both the sides had reached Lucknow on Friday.