Covid-19 update: Over 1 lakh cases worldwide, India count 60 Minister tests positive in UK, Japan secures borders, Germany shuts down opera houses

TT and Agencies, 11.03.20, New Delhi: A pneumonia of unknown cause was first detected in Wuhan, China and reported to the WHO Country Office in China on 31 December 2019. Little did the world know then that humanity was headed for a pandemic of global proportions.

Soon after, the disease spread and the outbreak was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on January 30, 2020. On February 11, 2020, WHO announced a name for the new coronavirus disease: COVID-19.

As per latest WHO statistics, there are 118,223 confirmed cases at present, with 4,291 deaths across 114 countries, areas or territories.

In India, the total number of novel coronavirus cases touched 60 on Wednesday, the Union health ministry said. This includes 16 Italian nationals.

Two fresh cases were reported from Delhi and Rajasthan. An 85-year-old man in Jaipur tested positive for the disease, a state government official said. The man had returned from Dubai last month.

According to the health ministry, five cases of COVID-19 have been reported from the national capital so far. A total of nine persons were diagnosed with coronavirus infection in Uttar Pradesh till Wednesday.

Karnataka has reported four confirmed cases of COVID-19. Both Maharashtra and Ladakh have recorded two cases each. The health ministry has confirmed that Rajasthan, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab have reported one case each.

Kerala which reported the first confirmed case of coronavirus in the country, has witnessed 12 cases so far. All those currently undergoing treatment are showing signs of recovery, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan has informed.

China, Italy hit hard

Police officers and soldiers check passengers leaving from Milan main train station, Italy, Monday, March 9, 2020. AP

While China remains the worst affected, Italy has also been hit hard with more than 9,000 cases and 463 deaths reported, mostly in the north. The number of cases jumped significantly in the past few days.

On Monday, the Italian government announced extraordinary measures to contain the virus that first spread there in late February. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte declared all of Italy a "red zone" — meaning people should stay home except for work and other emergencies.

Public gatherings have been banned and freedom of movement sharply curtailed. All domestic sporting events in the country have been suspended until April.

In Iran, cleaners work on trains, buses

Workers disinfect the shrine of the Shiite Saint Imam Abdulazim to help prevent the spread of the new coronavirus in Shahr-e-Ray, south of Tehran, Iran, Saturday, March, 7, 2020.

AP

Iran has reported more than 8,000 cases and nearly 300 deaths from COVID-19.

Public gatherings, including Friday prayers in Tehran and other major cities, have been canceled. Schools have been closed and crews of cleaners have been dispatched to disinfect trains, buses and gathering places, as NPR's Peter Kenyon has reported.

On Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Zavad Jarif tweeted that "Strict preventive measures — including screening of air travelers at departure gates — are being implemented."

A few days earlier, he had pleaded for supplies for Iran, including masks, ventilators, test kits, and protective wear, blaming U.S. sanctions for endangering Iranians.

New cases decline in South Korea

South Korean army soldiers prepare to spray disinfectant as a precaution against a new coronavirus on a street in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, March 9, 2020. AP

South Korea has seen more than 7,500 cases and more than 50 deaths. The country's largest outbreak is in the city of Daegu, which accounts for more than three-quarters of cases.

South Korea, where the number of new cases has been on the decline, has been a model of coronavirus testing. It has 50 drive-through screening clinics where people can get a medical exam and have a sample taken in just 10 minutes. Health workers are processing up to 15,000 tests every day.

Those in cities have been encouraged to stay home, some offices have closed, and many events have been postponed. Schools are closed until March 22.

South Korea is also subsidising small-and medium-sized business owners so they can provide flexible work hours to employees who have children home from school, ABC News reports. Kindergartens and elementary schools are required to operate "emergency child care" for those whose parents are working.

Spain bans large gatherings

A closed school in Rivas Vaciamadrid, Spain, Wednesday, March 11, 2020. AP

Spain has reported more than 1,600 cases and 35 deaths related to coronavirus.

Authorities in regions with the most cases — Madrid, Basque Country and La Rioja — have ordered the closure of all schools, universities and daycare centers for two weeks. Flights between Spain and Italy have been suspended and large gatherings cancelled in the three regions.

Soccer matches for Spain's La Liga will be played before empty stadiums for the next two weeks.

Spanish health minister Salvador Illa encouraged companies to reduce working hours and travel and to support remote work.

Rugby tourney put off in France

Women arrive at a Coronavirus checking center in a Mulhouse hospital, eastern France, Monday March 9, 2020. AP

France has had more than 1,400 cases and at least 30 deaths.

The country announced a nationwide ban on gatherings of more than 1,000 people, with exemptions for things like public transit. The Paris Marathon and a Six Nations rugby match against Ireland have both been postponed until October.

The government has placed additional restrictions on four zones with clusters of coronavirus cases: "Morbihan in Brittany, Haute-Savoie in eastern France near the Swiss border and the départements of Oise and Haut-Rhin in north east France. In these places there is a ban on all public gatherings including markets, community groups and church services," The Local France reported.

President Emmanuel Macron has advised citizens nationwide against visiting older people, to avoid spreading the disease to those most vulnerable.

Schools are closed in the zones Oise and Haut-Rhin. Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer said last week that France doesn't want to take a blanket approach to closing schools.

No performances in German opera houses

People line up in front of a new set up test and information centre for the new coronavirus at the district Prenzlauer Berg in Berlin, Germany, Monday, March 9, 2020. AP

Germany has had more than 1,200 confirmed cases and two deaths.

The country's health minister encouraged cancelling events that draw more than 1,000 people. A number of states have done just that. The southern state of Bavaria, for example, has already banned events of more than 1,000 people, and recommended pulling the plug on events with more than 500.

The city of Berlin has called off performances at all opera houses, state theaters and concert halls.

Germany's soccer top league, the Bundesliga, announced that for the first time ever, a number of its matches will take place with no fans in attendance.

United States

A patient is loaded into an ambulance, Tuesday, March 10, 2020, at the Life Care Center in Kirkland, Wash., near Seattle. AP

The U.S. has some 700 confirmed cases, and at least 29 people have died. Cases have been found in 37 states and the District of Columbia.

The federal government has not announced significant nationwide measures to contain the spread of the virus, beyond restricting travelers from certain countries from entering the U.S. Restrictions or containment measures have mostly come from state and local authorities.

On Tuesday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a "containment area" with a one-mile radius in New Rochelle, in suburban Westchester County. The National Guard has been deployed to the containment area to deliver food to homes and help with cleaning of public spaces. All schools, churches, community centers within that radius will be closed and large gatherings banned, measures that are set to last for two weeks starting Thursday.

California's Santa Clara County has banned all gatherings of more than 1,000 people. County officials warn that violators could face a shutdown by police, as well as possible fines or arrest. The policy will upend conferences and concerts; the NHL's San Jose Sharks may play behind closed doors.

Some schools have been closed in areas where cases have been identified or there is concern of exposure. On Tuesday, Georgia's Fulton County Schools — which oversees Atlanta's public schools — became the largest school district so far to close, after an employee tested positive for the virus.

A growing number of colleges and universities across the U.S. have canceled in-person classes.

After new anxiety was spawned due to the arrival of a cruise ship, and the sending away of another on Monday, President Trump said that he will ask Congress to pass a payroll tax cut and relief for hourly wage earners, in order to assist workers who may be squeezed financially by the coronavirus outbreak.

"We are going to take care of and have been taking care of the American public and the American economy," Trump said.

Japan watches its borders

A woman wearing a mask walks past a Japanese flag Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in Tokyo. AP

Japan has reported at least 530 cases and nine deaths.

On Monday, Japan put into place tougher border control measures that essentially ban travelers from China and South Korea until the end of the month. Visas for people who haven't yet arrived in Japan have been invalidated; people who have already arrived from those countries, whether they are Japanese or foreign nationals, are being asked to undergo a 14-day quarantine.

South Korea reacted to the announcement with similar measures for travelers from Japan. Japan has not yet imposed similar restrictions on travelers from Italy.

But the situation in Japan might be worsening. Health authorities are warning local governments to prepare for a surge in cases. The health minister says the epidemic in Japan is entering a new phase, which suggests that the country will need to take tougher measures.

United Kingdom

Racegoers use hand sanitiser to keep their hands clean on day one of the Cheltenham Horse Racing Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse, England, Tuesday March 10, 2020.

AP

UK Health Minister and Conservative MP Nadine Dorries has been diagnosed with coronavirus.

A total of 373 cases has been reported in the UK. Of these, there have been 324 cases in England, 27 in Scotland, 16 in Northern Ireland and six in Wales.

An additional nine cases confirmed in Wales on Tuesday evening bring its total to 15.

There are 91 in London, with the next highest infected area being south-east, with 51 cases. A total of six people have succumbed to the disease till date.

Airlines have cut thousands of flights, including to and from Italy, after the country was put on lockdown. General physicians (GP) are warning routine appointments at surgeries may have to stop as the number of coronavirus cases rises. The British Medical Association said routine monitoring of long-term health conditions might have to stop to enable GPs to "focus on the sickest patients".

Earlier, England's deputy chief medical officer defended the decision to delay closing schools and introducing other stringent measures, saying experts were assessing new cases hourly.

Singapore

Passengers of the Costa Fortuna cruise ship are seen with their luggages as they waited to board buses at the Marina Bay Cruise Center Singapore on Tuesday, March 10, 2020.

AP

Six more cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in Singapore, while 12 are in critical condition and in intensive care, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Tuesday. This brings the total number of cases in Saingapore to 166, of which 93 have fully recovered and been discharged from hospital.

Unlike a number of other countries that are witnessing coronavirus cases in travellers from China, Singapore is concerned with more human-to-human transmissions of the novel coronavirus.

The first such transmission of the novel coronavirus in Singapore was confirmed on 4 February, in four people that had contact with travellers from Mainland China. The transmission cases have since then been increasing and found in people who neither had a travel history to China nor did come in direct close contact with people who recently arrived from China.

Majority of those tested positive for novel coronavirus in Singapore have no recent travel history to China, raising an alarm over further potential increase in transmitted cases.

A number of human-to-human transmissions were identified at clusters linked to places of worship such as the Grace Assembly of God. The Singaporean government is identifying such transmission clusters and attempting to minimise further spread of the disease.

Three of the latest cases - 161, 164 and 166 - are linked to the dinner at Safra Jurong's Joy Garden restaurant on Feb 15. The Safra Jurong cluster remains the largest locally, with 39 cases.

The Singapore government’s response to the virus outbreak has received praise from the WHO. The government has completely On Tuesday, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said “Singapore is a good example of an all-of-government approach” in tackling the outbreak.

With the new coronavirus now spreading globally, countries around the world must be prepared for the economic aftermath of the outbreak to last at least a year, Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said on Wednesday.

“The genie’s out of the bottle,” Balakrishnan told CNBC’s “Squawk Box Asia,” adding that the disease had “exploded” after it spread beyond Asia to countries such as Iran, Italy and the U.S.