India: Death toll touches 9, Positive cases rises to 467, Lockdown in 19 states

March 23: India witnessed a record a jump in the total number of COVID-19 cases on Monday. The death toll in India among coronavirus-positive patients today rose to nine, after a Tibetan died in a hospital in Himachal Pradesh. Overall, 467 people in the country have been infected by the virus.Nineteen states and Union territories went under lockdown as the country recorded its ninth death linked to the highly contagious coronavirus. In the last 24 hours, 75 persons tested positive in India.

Worldwide -15,433 people have died. As reports of infection came in from all the key states, the Centre tightened its clampdown with a ban on domestic flights and warned of legal action against rule-breakers. In the Indian context, a total of 467 cases were reported, out of which 424 are active cases, whereas are recovered cases. Nine persons have died in India so far.

The country registered 75 fresh cases of the virus today, which pushed the total to 467. Of this, 41 are foreign nationals and nine persons died. The deaths were reported from Gujarat, Bihar, Karnataka, Delhi, Maharashtra, Punjab, Bengal and Himachal Pradesh.

In the global context, the total number of coronavirus affected persons is 3,59,001, out of which 2,42,923 are active cases whereas, 1,00,645 of them have recovered till now. On Saturday evening, the total number of corona related death stands at 15,433.

The countries which have been badly affected are:

• China (mainland): 81,093
• Italy: 59,138
• USA: 40,627
• Spain: 33,089
• Germany: 27,546
• Iran: 23,049
• France: 16,689
• South Korea: 8,961
• Switzerland: 8,249
• United Kingdom: 5,703
• Netherlands: 4,768
• Austria: 4,097
• Belgium: 3,743
• Norway: 2,561
• Portugal: 2,060
• Sweden: 2,038

There are many more countries which have coronavirus patients. The figures in the sub-continent including India is increasingly in an alarming way. The Centre has issued directions to state governments, asking them to take legal action against those who are found violating the lockdown orders. The centre  today banned domestic flights. Airlines have to plan operations so as to land at their destination before 11.59 pm on Tuesday, the government said. Only cargo flights will be allowed.

China applauded India’s aid during Beijing’s battle against Coronavirus on Monday and has confirmed to assist India and share its experience in handling the COVID-19 outbreak and preventing the spread of the deadly virus. In his media briefing here, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China is extending assistance and aid to local governments in 19 countries which have extended assistance to it when the coronavirus outbreak struck the country.

As part of its move to contain the spread of misinformation on social media, the government has warned that no person, institution or organisation, will use print, electronic or social media, for dissemination of any information without ascertaining the facts.