In Mumbai, a 64-year-old coronavirus patient has died in a hospital counting the total death to three in India. On Tuesday, Kerala reported a fresh coronavirus cases that has alarmed the state authorities. According to Ministry of Health, the total number of confirmed novel COVID-19 cases in India has reached 125. The Union Health Ministry reported that fresh COVID-19 cases were from Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh and Kerala. The government has imposed fresh travel bans on the entry of passengers from the EU countries and the UK from 18th March.

The coronavirus virus infection has affected around 1.5 lakh people worldwide. The death count has increased sharply in Italy which is the worst-affected country by the novel COVID-19 after China. Also, Iran is affected severely as the death count in the country has crossed 700, with almost 14,000 confirmed cases.

Henk Bekedam, World Health Organization representative to India on meeting with ICMR said that they have a very good research capacity in India and especially at ICMR & Dept. of Health & Research. India would continue to be part of the research community as they have been able to identify the virus.

On Tuesday, the government banned passengers travelling from Afghanistan, Malaysia and Philippines to India till 31st March, with immediate effect.

Mumbai’s financial hub has instructed their offices to provide non-essential facilities to reduce operation at 50% staffing levels. Mumbai has allowed hospitals and airport authorities to stamp the wrists of people who are instructed to self-isolate with indelible ink that reads "Home Quarantined".

Another two people on Tuesday were tested positive for COVID-19 in Noida. The authorities have quarantined their whole family.

The Delhi government has lined up 3 hotels in the city as "Home Quarantine" for the suspected coronavirus cases. These hotels are for the people who are dissatisfied with the facilities offered at the hospitals or the isolation wards. They can pay and get shifted to a hotel for getting the necessary treatment. The hotels that are tied as the quarantine of isolation facilities are Ibis, Red Fox Hotel and Lemon Tree, and special arrangements are made as per government instructions.

On Tuesday, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued guidelines for using of masks by public to protect themselves against contracting and preventing the coronavirus infection.

Source: The Times of India