The number of novel coronavirus cases in the country rose to 137 on Tuesday after fresh cases were reported from several states, the Union health ministry said on Tuesday, adding that these included 22 foreign nationals and three persons who died in Delhi, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
The number also includes three patients who were discharged last month after they recovered from the contagious infection with flu-like symptoms.
According to the ministry's data, 13 people have been discharged so far, including three Kerala patients.
An earlier statewise break-up of Covid-9 cases
- Maharashtra 39, including 3 foreigners
- Kerala: 24, including 2 foreign nationals
- Haryana: 15, including 14 foreigners
- Uttar Pradesh: 13, including one foreigner
- Karnataka: 8
- Delhi: 7
- Ladakh: 4
- Rajasthan: 4, including 2 foreigners
- Telangana: 4
- Jammu and Kashmir: 3
- Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Odisha, Uttarakhand: 1 each
Three persons infected with the virus have died so far. On Tuesday, a 64-year-old man from Mumbai with a travel history to Dubai died of the novel coronavirus.
While a 76-year-old man from Kalaburagi who returned from Saudi Arabia died on Tuesday last, a 68-year-old woman in Delhi who had tested positive for coronavirus passed away at the Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital on Friday night.
Kendriya Vidyalayas, private schools to announce results online; no parent-teacher meetings
Kendriya Vidyalaya institutions in the national capital and several private schools have decided to announce annual results online rather than holding parent-teacher meetings for the purpose. “Parents will be given results this year through email and WhatsApp. Any discussion or query about their ward’s performance can be pursued with teachers telephonically or after the schools reopen,” a senior Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) official said.
Several private schools in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) are also resorting to alternative measures. Mount Carmel School in Dwarka has sent advisory to parents that results will be issued online. “I will get to access my ward’s result online as this will also help in reducing human contact which is an advisable thing to do considering the crisis,” a parent said.
Amity International Schools in Delhi-NCR have already announced their results online.
No community transmission so far
Amid rising coronavirus cases in India, the government has said no community transmission of the virus has been observed and there have only been a few cases of local transmission so far.
With the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaring Covid-19 a pandemic, a health ministry official said over 52,000 people who had come in contact with the 125 positive cases had been identified through contact tracing and were under vigorous surveillance.
He said all essential facilities like community surveillance, quarantine, isolation wards, adequate personal protective equipment (PPEs), trained manpower, rapid response teams are being strengthened further in all states and Union territories.
Social distancing measures
With positive cases of Covid-19 showing an increase, the government has proposed a set of social distancing measures to be in force till March 31.
“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,” Lav Aggarwal, the joint secretary in the ministry, said on Monday.
“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,” he had said.
Both these instructions are temporary measures and shall be in force till March 31 2020 and will be reviewed subsequently, he had said.
