The number of novel coronavirus cases in India rose to 151 on Wednesday after 14 more were reported from various parts of the country, according to the Health Ministry.
The cases include 25 foreign nationals and the three persons who died in Delhi, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Over 5,700 people, who had come in contact with these positive cases, are under rigorous surveillance, the Ministry said.
Delhi has so far reported ten positive cases which include one foreigner, while Uttar Pradesh has recorded 16 cases, including one foreigner.
Maharashtra has 42 cases, including three foreigners, while Kerala has recorded 27 cases which include two foreign nationals.
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Karnataka has 11 coronavirus patients. The number of cases in Ladakh rose to eight and Jammu and Kashmir three. Telangana has reported six cases which include two foreigners.
Rajasthan has also reported four cases including that of two foreigners. Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Uttarakhand and Punjab have reported one case each and Tamil Nadu two.
In Haryana, there are 17 cases, which include fourteen foreigners.
According to the ministry's data, 14 people have been discharged so far, including the three patients from Kerala who were discharged last month.
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The Centre on Tuesday deputed 30 officers in the rank of Joint Secretary and above to states so that they can effectively deal with the outbreak of coronavirus.
Meanwhile, the cabinet secretary held a review meeting of officials concerned from various ministries and departments here on Tuesday.
During the meeting, the secretary emphasised on the implementation of social distancing measures as detailed by guidelines of Ministry of Health, an official statement said.
"Social distancing would have a major impact in limiting the spread of the disease," he said as he reviewed the preparedness of various states for quarantine facilities, hospital management and awareness campaigns.
Union health secretary has also written to the secretaries of all ministries and departments requesting them to implement the various guidelines and advisories that have been issued and are applicable to them and the organisations under them.
Schools, colleges and other public spaces have been closed in several northern states including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Delhi. In the latest development, Gurugram, which falls under Delhi NCR, also closed shopping malls, bars, cinema halls, gyms and other spaces.
Southern states have gone in for a near lockdown while monitoring and surveillance have been increased. State governments have even asked their citizens to avoid mass gatherings, thus seeking to bring into effect the much-needed social distancing, a key to stem the spread of the virus.
Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana have announced a lockdown of educational institutions, malls and other places that attract people in large numbers, even as
some of them have been reporting an increase in positive cases.
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Karnataka, the only southern state to report the death of a COVID-19 affected 76-year-old man, initiated a lockdown immediately after the fatality, the first in the country, last week.
Tamil Nadu, with two positive cases, has stepped up monitoring and is implementing strict surveillance measures in borders, besides railway stations. Chief Minister K Palaniswami had announced a lockdown, ordering the closure of all educational institutions and places thronged by the public in large numbers.
Andhra Pradesh also followed similar suit.
