According to the WHO’s latest situation report, published on March 8, 2020:
- Global incidence of COVID-19: 105,586
- Total deaths: 3,584
- China incidence of COVID-19: 80,859
- Deaths in China: 3,100
- The Hindu reported on March 9 that a three-year-old child had tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the new SARS-CoV-2 virus
- The child had landed in Kochi from Italy via the UAE – both countries with significant case load, especially Italy – on March 7
- The child is currently hospitalised in Ernakulam Medical College and blood samples have been sent to a lab in Alappuzha for tests
- Karnataka’s education ministry has ordered all LKG, UKG and pre-primary schools in the Bengaluru area to shut until further orders
- Deccan Herald reported the state government issued a circular on Sunday night signed by the commissioner for health and family welfare
- The holidays have been declared in an effort to contain the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, cases of which have been reported in Karnataka’s neighbouring states
- The government of Qatar had previously imposed flight restrictions to and from Italy, which has thus far reported 5,883 cases of COVID-19 and 234 deaths, the worst in Europe
- On March 8, Qatar extended the restrictions to Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria and Thailand
- A statement issued by the Qatari government read, “This step comes in line with the State of Qatar’s efforts to take all necessary preventive measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus.”
Two more cases reported in Hong Kong
On March 8, Hong Kong reported that two more people who travelled to India have tested positive for the coronavirus infection. So far, five coronavirus cases have been reported from a group of tourists who travelled to India. As of March 8, there have been 114 confirmed cases in Hong Kong, of whom three have died and 59 have been discharged.
In order to prevent and control the disease, the health declaration measures at the time of entry at Hong Kong International Airport were extended from just flights inbound from mainland China to all inbound flights from March 8. The Hong Kong health department also recommended its citizens to consider delaying outbound travel plans.
Man tested for coronavirus flees from Mangaluru hospital
A man admitted to the isolation ward at a hospital in Mangaluru has fled. The man, who flew in from Dubai on Sunday and was was tested for Covid-19 infection, was admitted to the Wenlock District Hospital after he was screened at the Mangaluru international airport.
According to The News Minute, the man did not exhibit symptoms of the coronavirus except for a mild temperature. He refused to undergo the throat swab procedure to test himself for the infection and ‘escaped’ Wenlock District Hospital at 9 pm on Sunday. “He has given in writing that he does not want to be tested at a government hospital and that he intends to get himself tested at a private facility,” an official told the website.
Telangana budget has zero allocations for epidemic control schemes
The Telangana government, in the state budget presented on Sunday, has not made any allocations to the Epidemic Control Schemes and their related supplies and materials. This has been the case for the past three years, according to the New Indian Express.
During this period, the state has battled a massive dengue epidemic in 2019-20, with more than 9,000 people affected. The state has also reported one positive coronavirus infection and is taking measures to control its spread.
Three-year-old tests positive
Primary schools on holiday in Bengaluru
Oman imposes flight restrictions
This is a developing story and is being updated.