Live Coronavirus Updates | Return to Srinagar after woman tested positive

The number of COVID-19 cases tested positive in India exceeded 170 on Wednesday. There are more than 150 active cases, including the first reported in Chandigarh and another in the Kashmir valley.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of March 18, there were 207,860 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 8,657 deaths in 166 countries.

COVID-19 | Interactive map of confirmed coronavirus cases in India

We discovered developments related to the coronavirus pandemic as it unfolded. Here are answers from experts on your questions about the virus, a list of state hotlines and a map of confirmed cases in India.

The new national 24/7 telephone support numbers are 1075 and 1800-112-545 and 011-23978046. Email: [email protected]

Here are the updates:

12:15 p.m.

Borders imposed on Srinagar after detection of the first case

On March 19, the administration of Srinagar imposed restrictions on the movement of residents and stopped public transport, one day after a 65-year-old woman was detected as the first person to test positive for COVID- 19 in the Kashmir region.

These restrictions saw the installation of accordion wires on the main roads leading to Srinagars Khanyar, the region where the patient is from. Many parts of the Lal Chowk shopping center have also experienced traffic regulation through a massive deployment of security personnel.

Residents said they were facing a lockdown because security forces did not allow them to move freely

11:20 a.m.

Northern Railways' Ferozepur Division Suspends Several Rail Services

The canceled trains are Delhi Sarai Rohilla and Pathankot (March 18 to March 30); New Delhi to Ferozepur Cantt and Ferozepur to New Delhi (from March 20 to March 29); and Jabalpur in Atari (March 21 to March 28); Attari-Jabalpur (March 22-29); Weekly express Jabalpur-Attari (March 24-31); Weekly express Attari-Jabalpur (from March 25 to April 1).

11:05 a.m.

ISC and ICSE exams scheduled between March 19 and March 31 postponed. The revised dates will be announced later, said a press release from the Indian Schools Certification Exams Board.

11:00 am | Andhra Pradesh

Second positive case in Andhra Pradesh

A second positive case has been reported in the state, this time in the district of Prakasm. According to a bulletin issued by her Thursday morning, a person belonging to Prakasam was tested positive, among the 13 identified in the neighborhood showing COVID symptoms.

Special Chief Secretary KS Jawahar Reddy said in the latest bulletin that so far 883 people have been identified for observation, 254 have completed observation, three are isolated at home and four are admitted to observation hospital. Of the 109 samples tested to date, two have become positive and the results of 13 samples are expected.

10.45 am | Karnataka

Another positive case in Karnataka

Another positive case was reported in Karnataka. The new case is the first from Kodagu. With that, the total number of confirmed cases in Karnataka touched 15, including the person who succumbed to the disease.

While the Department of Public Health has yet to reveal more details about the case, Health Minister B. Sriramulu tweeted Thursday morning that the person had returned from Saudi Arabia and was now quarantined in a designated isolated establishment.

10 a.m. | Chandigarh

Chandigarh Reports First Confirmed Case

The first confirmed case of COVID-19 has been reported in Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana. The patient's condition is stable, however, said a senior official on March 19.

A 23-year-old woman recently returned from the UK has tested positive for COVID-19, B.S. Chavan, senior director of the Government Medical College and Area 32 hospital here, said The Hindu.

10 a.m. | Mumbai

Railways cancel 84 additional trains; 155 trains canceled until March 31

The railroads have canceled 84 additional trains, which will not operate between March 20 and March 31 due to the coronavirus and low occupancy, officials said.

With this, the total number of canceled trains rose to 155.

The national carrier had canceled about 99 trains on Wednesday evening.

All passengers with tickets on these trains are informed individually, said the official.

– PTI

9:30 am | China

No new cases of domestic coronavirus for the first time, according to China

For the first time after the deadly coronavirus erupted about three months ago in Wuhan, China said that no new domestic cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed, including in the epicenter of the virus, while even eight other deaths have been reported, bringing the death toll in the country to 3,245.

The National Health Commission of China (NHC), in its daily report, said that no new cases of the new nationally transmitted coronavirus disease had been reported on the Chinese mainland on Wednesday.

Kerala

Keralas temple festivals get lean, cut celebrations

The temple festivals in the state have taken a dark note. The characteristic gaiety and razzmatazz that mark such celebrations have given way to constant caution to contain the epidemic of COVID-19.

The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which manages around 1,200 temples, has taken the lead in observing the protocol established by the government. The council issued a circular to the temple advisory committees, which mainly included residents from each locality, to suspend all cultural programs and mass festivals held until the festival returned to normal.

Delhi

Ministry wants restrictions on public transportation

The Department of Road Transport and Highways has advised all states and territories in the Union to take the necessary measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 by restricting public transport. Refunds can be given for advance bookings to passengers, a ministry statement said on March 18.

United States

The first member of the American Congress is positive

US representative Mario Diaz-Balart said on March 18 that he had tested positive for COVID-19, becoming the first member of Congress known to have contracted the virus.

Diaz-Balart, a Republican from Florida, said in a statement that he had self-quarantined in Washington since Friday and had not returned home to South Florida because conditions preexisting of his wife put her in danger exceptionally high.

Also read: Data | COVID-19 is the deadliest for the elderly

Delhi

Modi will address the nation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will speak to the nation on the evening of March 19 on the situation resulting from the coronavirus epidemic and efforts to combat it, said the office of the Prime Minister.

PM Shri @narendramodi will speak to the nation on March 19, 2020 at 8:00 p.m. during which he will speak on COVID-19 issues and efforts to combat it, PMO tweeted.

Delhi

CBSE postpones class exams 10 and 12 until March 31

The Central Board of Secondary Education has postponed the current exams from class 10, 12 until March 31 due to the coronavirus epidemic.

All CBSE exams underway in India and abroad are postponed until March 31 and will be postponed thereafter … after an assessment of the situation, said CBSE secretary Anurag Tripathi.

All ongoing evaluation work will be suspended during the period, he added.

The announcement of the CBSE came after a directive from the Department of Human Resources Development that exams are important, but the safety of students and teachers is just as important.

HRD Ministrys NTA postpones JEE for IIT and engineering school admissions

The joint admission exam (JEE-Main) for admission to IITs and engineering schools has been postponed due to coronavirus, according to the National Test Agency ( NTA) from the Department of Human Resources. The exam was scheduled earlier from April 5 to 11.

The JEE-Main exam has been postponed. The new date will be decided in accordance with the jury exam schedule and other contests to ensure that there is no conflict, said a senior NTA official.

Jammu and Kashmir

Kashmir registers first case of coronavirus: authorities

On March 18, the Kashmir Valley registered its first positive case of new coronavirus in Srinagar, said the mayor of the municipality of Srinagar, Junaid Azim Mattu. I was informed a short time ago that #Srinagar had its first positive case for # Covid2019. It is a congested area in the interiors of the city. We need to be transparent in conveying the severity of the challenge and also seek serious action and responsible behavior, said Mattu in a series of tweets.