Coronavirus Live Updates: PM Modi Proposes SAARC Countries Create COVID-19 Emergency Fund

The number of coronavirus cases in India rose to 107, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Sunday. It recorded an increase of nine cases across the country even as several states shut down schools, colleges, and public spaces.

So far, two deaths due to the lethal infection have been reported in the country.

India on Saturday brought back 234 of its nationals in the third batch from virus-hit Iran. The government is also flying in 211 Indian students from Italy, which has recorded the most number of fatalities outside of China with 1,441 deaths. 

In the wake of spurt in cases of the COVID-19 across the country, the Central Government on Saturday decided to treat the deadly virus as a "notified disaster".

The coronavirus, which originated in China's Wuhan city in December last year, has so far spread to more than 100 countries, infecting over 1,50,000 people and killing more than 5000.

Catch all live updates here:

8:15 PM: The Haryana government on Sunday shut all schools, cinema halls and clubs in the state till March 31 as a measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection.

Haryana's Home and Health Minister Anil Vij said a ban had also been imposed on holding political, cultural and social gatherings or sports events that attract a crowd of more than 200 people with immediate effect.

8:10 PM The district administration is mulling imposition of the section 144 of CrPC in Pune to check the spread of novel coronavirus, a senior official said.

Addressing reporters, Pune Divisional Commissioner Deepak Mhaisekar said the administration has decided to change the strategy to control the spread of the coronavirus in view of rising cases.

7:12 PM: The West Bengal government has sealed all but one of the state's entry points with neighbouring Bangladesh in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, a senior official said on Sunday.

All entry points to West Bengal from Bangladesh have been sealed except the one at Gede in Nadia district, he said.

7:00 PM: All three old cases of coronavirus-hit patients in Rajasthan have tested negative for infection and been cured, while a 24-year-old youth found having the affliction is undergoing treatment at SMS Hospital, a senior official said on Sunday.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot complimented the SMS Hospital doctors and staffers for successfully treating the three.

6:20 PM: Speaking to SAARC leaders via video conference, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed the countries create a COVID-19 emergency fund; this could be based on voluntary contributions from all of us.

"India can start with an initial offer of USD 10 million for coronavirus emergency fund," he said.

6:03 PM: No nation can afford to be unresponsive to the situation in wake of coronavirus outbreak, says Pakistan PM's Special Assistant on Health Zafar Mirza. 

5:30 PM: Maldivian President Ibrahim Solih backs coordinated approach to deal with COVID-19, says no country can deal with the situation alone.

5:27 PM: "Our people-to-people ties are ancient and our societies are deeply interconnected. Therefore, we must all prepare together, act together and succeed together," PM Modi at video conference of all SAARC.

5:23 PM: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani proposes a common framework for tele-medicine to combat coronavirus.

5:22 PM: India helped some citizens of neighbouring countries by evacuating them from coronavirus-hit nations, says PM Modi.

5:21 PM: We started screening people entering India from mid-January itself, while gradually increasing restrictions on travel, says PM Modi.

5:18 PM: 'Prepare, but don't panic' has been India's guiding mantra in dealing with coronavirus outbreak, says PM Modi.

5:17 PM: Our region has reported less than 150 coronavirus cases, but we need to remain vigilant, PM Modi at SAARC video conference.

5:02 PM: The sample of a 71-year-old man who died on Saturday while under quarantine in Buldhana in Maharashtra for suspected exposure to novel coronavirus has returned negative, a health official said on Sunday.

4:55 PM: The president of Kazakhstan on Sunday declared a nationwide state of emergency to stem the spread of new coronavirus infections, further limiting travel and commerce.

4:38 PM: Calcutta High Court, its subordinate courts to hear only urgent matters from Tuesday to prevent mass gatherings in view of coronavirus scare, sources quoted by PTI said.

4:05PM: Queen Elizabeth II has been shifted out of Buckingham Palace in London to Windsor Castle as the UK plans for isolation measures for people over 70 amid the country's death toll from COVID-19 hitting 21, nearly doubling from 11 within a day.

The 93-year-old monarch and her 98-year-old husband, Prince Philip, are likely to be placed in quarantine at the royal Sandringham Estate in Norfolk in the coming weeks as tougher measures are put in place. 

4:00PM:  India-Bangladesh passenger train services between Kolkata and cities in the neighbouring country have been suspended from Sunday as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19, on a Union government directive.

3:32PM: Ten persons have been admitted to the isolation ward of the Beliaghata ID and BG Hospital in Kolkata with novel coronavirus-like symptoms.  All the 10 persons, who are from across the state have a history of travelling abroad or coming in contact with foreigners.

3:28PM: Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa says, "We have taken a lot of precautions to prevent coronavirus spread. For the first time shutdown has been declared for a week. People are also cooperating with us, we will take further decision after one week."

3:18PM: Airport PRO said Kochi-Dubai flight departed without the 19 passengers who were in the group of the UK citizen, who tested positive for coronavirus. All the 19 passengers are in the isolation ward at Ernakulam Medical College. 

2:42PM: Madhya Pradesh Minister PC Sharma says, "Schools, colleges, libraries, cinema halls, marriage halls etc. will be shut till further orders. Fifty isolation centres have been set up in the state. We are working on war footing to tackle this."

2:40PM: With an increase in number of coronavirus cases, the Kerala government has launched intensified medical check-up at border areas for people entering the state by rail and road. The government has identified 24 spots for checking in border areas that Kerala share with Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

2:07PM: Elections to rural and urban local bodies in Andhra Pradesh put-off for 6 weeks in view of the spread of coronavirus, says State Election Commission.

1:39PM: A 59-year-old woman has tested positive for coronavirus, she had a travel history to Russia and Kazakhstan. The number of positive cases in the state now rises to 32. 

1:35PM: Assam Chief Secretary Sanjay Krishna says, "All school, colleges, universities, gyms, swimming pools and cinema halls will remain closed in the state till March 29. All examinations, except that of state and CBSE boards, have been postponed in view of coronavirus."

1:29PM: To prevent the spread of coronavirus, Mumbai Police has issued an order prohibiting any tour involving a group of people travelling together to a foreign or domestic destination organised by private tour operators or otherwise using powers under 144 CrPC. Order shall remain in force till March 31.

1:03PM:  A total of 218 Indians, mostly students, brought here from Italy on Sunday have been taken to an ITBP quarantine facility in south-west Delhi's Chhawla area.

12:45PM: Total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases across India has risen to 107 (including foreign nationals), according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Maharashtra reported 12 fresh cases.

12:41PM: Robert Pattinson-starrer "The Batman" has shut down production for two weeks over the coronavirus scare.

12:01 PM: At least 289 passengers of a Dubai-bound flight were offloaded at the airport in Kochi on Sunday shortly before takeoff after the UK national among them tested positive for novel coronavirus, officials said,

11:47 AM:  A 59-year-old woman tests positive for coronavirus in Maharashtra's Aurangabad.

11:46 AM: The Ministry of External Affairs has pulled out all the stops to ensure the safety of Indians abroad and set up a special cell to coordinate the issues related to the response to the pandemic that has claimed more than 5,000 lives worldwide.

11:45 AM: A total of 117 people with novel coronavirus-like symptoms have been put in home isolation in Mizoram, a senior health official said on Sunday.

11:26 AM: Pilgrimage and registration for the Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara in Pakistan will be suspended beginning Sunday midnight in view of the Coronavirus outbreak, the Home Ministry said.

11:00 AM: Chandigarh Administration's Department of Health and Family Welfare on Sunday declared coronavirus an epidemic.

10:55 AM: A total of twelve people have tested positive for coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh so far.

10:40AM: Spain has imposed a near-total nationwide lockdown to fight the spread of coronavirus by banning people from leaving home except to go to work, get medical care or buy food.

10:30AM: A special Air India flight carrying 211 Indian students, who were stuck in Italy after flights were cancelled due to coronavirus outbreak, departed for India on Saturday (local time).

The flight which took off from Milan also has seven compassionate cases.

10:00AM: The wife of Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, his office said.

9:30AM: US President Donald Trump tests negative for coronavirus.

9:00AM: At least 93 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported from India, the Ministry of Health and Family welfare said on its official website on Sunday.

With the number of coronavirus positive cases shooting to 31, Maharashtra has emerged as the worst-hit state in the country. Five new cases were detected in Pimpri-Chinchwad in Pune district, late on Saturday night.