Bolsonaro's test results awaited
A 68-yr-old woman from West Delhi died on March 13, 2020 — the second death in India due to the novel coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19).
Her son was in Switzerland and Italy in February 5-22, 2020 and returned on February 23 and developed COVID-19 symptoms a day later. Both, mother and son, were admitted to Ram Manohar Lohiya hospital on March 7. They tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus on March 9.
The Union health ministry said the deceased suffered from comorbidities hypertension and diabetes.
More cases
Three more cases cropped up in Maharastra on March 13 evening — one in Pune and the rest in Nagpur. The new patients all have travel history to the United States.
In Kerala, two more tested positive for the virus in Kerala, taking the state’s infection tally to 22. Of them, the first three to be infected in the intial phase of the outbreak have been cured.
India's total patient count on March 13 evening was 88. As many as 10 have been cured.
An employee of a leather manufacturing company in Uttar Pradesh's Noida was infected with coronavirus, according to a state medical officer on March 13, 2020. The company's all 700-odd employees have been put under home quarantine.
A Google India employee from Karnataka, too, has been tested positive for the virus, according to a media report. The report said the software engineer returned from Greece in the first week of March.
A 76-year-old man who died March 10 in Karnataka's Kalaburagi district in Karnataka was infected, doctors said. That takes India’s count of the infected to 78. Several states are rolling out containment plans while the Centre has already cancelled all visas to enter the country, barring diplomatic and official ones.
States' measures
At least three states — Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Bihar — announced closure of schools and other educational institutes and theatres until March 31. No cases have been reported from in these states.
The Karnataka government also made a similar announcement. Six positive cases have been reported there as well as the first death in the outbreak in India.
The Kerala government has already taken such measures.
In Haryana, five districts — Faridabad, Gurgaon, Jhajjar, Rohtak and Sonepat — were directed by the state government to shut schools.
Reining in
After more than a week of reports emerging of black marketing of surgical masks, hand sanitsers and gloves, the National Pharmaceutical Authority of India on March 13 invoked the Disaster Management Act to ensure regulation of prices of these products.
Using provisions of the Act, the NPPA directed all state governments to take necessary steps to ensure availability at prices not exceeding the maximum retail price and take punitive actions against those violating the order.
Corona footprint
The total number of countries affected by the COVID-19 outbreak increased to 131, according to the Johns Hopkins University, on March 13.
UK PM says more should be prepared to lose loved ones
The outbreak may have infected 10,000 people in the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said March 12.
He called it the worst public health crisis Britain has faced in a generation and said more people should be prepared to “lose loved ones before their time”.
Bolsonaro tested
Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro has been tested for the virus (SARS-CoV-2), international news agency AFP reported, quoting his son Eduardo.
The premier's press secretary Fabio Wajngarten has already been tested positive, only two days after he met United States President Donald Trump.
Wuhan sees single-digit new cases for second day
China’s Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, reported five new cases on March 13, the second day in a row the city's tally was less than 10.
South Korea reports more recoveries
In South Korea, recoveries outnumbered fresh cases by 67 on March 13, unprecedented figures that raised hopes the outbreak may be easing in the country, the second-most affected from the virus.
Testing is 'No. 1 issue' for US
The US faces a steeper challenge than some countries to combat the spread of the virus because of what a top health official described as a “failing” of the healthcare system in a country known for its advanced medical care.
Few cases so far in Africa
In Africa, only Algeria, Egypt and South Africa reported more than a handful of cases. Many of those sick in Egypt were foreign tourists on a Nile River cruise. Public health experts, however, predict the continent’s luck will not last, given the virus’ highly contagious nature, Africa’s connections with other parts of the world and sharp cuts in US aid to improve public health systems across the continent.
Kenya confirms first case
Kenya announced its first confirmed case of coronavirus on March 13, saying a woman who returned from the US tested positive for the cirus in capital Nairobi.
Five new cases in Thailand
Thailand’s public health ministry said the country had five new cases on March 13. The new cases took the total infections in the country to 75 since January. 34 patients who recovered were discharged from hospital.
France shuts schools
Schools were shut in France — the country with the second-most number of cases in Europe after Italy. There were 2,284 confirmed cases in the country.
Belgium activates emergency measures
The Belgian National Security Council decided to take far-reaching measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus, declaring a state of emergency across the country.
Spain: Catalonia puts four towns under quarantine
Four towns in Spain's northeastern autonomous region of Catalonia were put under quarantine because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Australia prepares for shutdowns
Schools and universities prepared for shutdowns as Australia’s top medical association said the government will “almost certainly” have to go ahead with widespread closure of educational institutions.
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