Added on March 20, 2020 VoV Web Desk

Himachal records first two cases, total India number rises to 223

Decrease Font Size Increase Font Size Text Size Print This Page Send by Email

Himachal Pradesh has witnessed its first two cases of the coronavirus, while a sharp rise was seen in Kerala, where 12 new cases were confirmed positive on Friday, totalling to 40 in the state. The number of cases in Uttar Pradesh is likely to increase after singer Kanika Kapoor tested positive for the virus in Lucknow earlier in the day. She had attended an event in the capital, where several political leaders were present too. Since then, most political leaders have self-quarantined and the District Magistrate has ordered to sanitise Lucknow and its neighbouring city Kanpur.

So far, 223 people have been confirmed positive in India, the Health Ministry said on Friday, while the death toll has reached four. In wake of the rising number of cases in the country, many state governments have put stringent rules in place including shutting down of metro services, food outlets, bars and other public places. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for a ‘Janata curfew’ on Sunday asking people to not step out of homes between 7 am and 9 pm.

Globally, the virus has infected more than 234,000 people and the death toll exceeded 10,000. In Italy, the death toll overtook China’s in a stark illustration of how the outbreak has provided toward Europe and the US. It recorded at least 3,405 deaths, or roughly 150 more than in China. California issued a statewide ‘stay at home” order for its 40 million residents and Washington warned Americans to return home or stay abroad indefinitely, with the number of coronavirus deaths in the country hitting 200. Indian express