The novel coronavirus or COVID-19 that has hit the whole world since December 2019 continues to spread rapidly across countries affecting the international economy and scrambling the health facilities to hold the current situation. Governments are gearing up to make the most ofthe usage of existing infrastructure to enclose the virus that has resulted the death of more than 7,000 people.

• A 34-year-old soldier has tested positive for the coronavirus infection in Leh, is the 1st case in Indian Army with the total number of 147 cases in India. The positive coronavirus cases include 24 foreign citizens and 3 people who died in Delhi, Karnataka and Maharashtra. 14 people are discharged or recovered, according to the health ministrys data.
• An official on Wednesday said that students of 1st – 8th classes of all government primary schools in Uttar Pradesh will be promoted without appearing in examinations due to the coronavirus outbreak. All schools have been closed till 2nd April. Also, competitive and other examinations are postponed till 2nd April 2020.
• A 28-year-old Pune woman has been tested positive for COVID-19 as she has travel history to France and Netherlands. The number of COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra has rose up to 42. District Collector Naval Kishore Ram had confirmed that the woman returned to India on 15th March and was hospitalized on 17th March.
• According to a study conducted by the researchers of National Institutes of Health, and Princeton University CDC and UCLA, the novel COVID-19 or coronavirus infectious particles can stay stable in air and remain on solid surfaces from several hours to days.

Source: The Times of India