99 fresh cases of the novel coronavirus were reported on Monday as the infections tally rose to 498 and the casualty count jumped to nine, reports quoted citing health ministry bulletin. Kerala registered the most new cases, 28, while Maharashtra was close behind with 23. Kolkata and Maharashtra registered one casualty each on Monday, a 68-year-old Philippines citizen passed away in Mumbai. He had at first tested positive, and was under treatment at the Kasturba Hospital. He was later shifted to a private hospital, and it was reported that he was close to recovery. “His was a case of diabetes mellitus, asthma and heart disease, and he was admitted to the Kasturba hospital on March 13. He had developed acute renal failure and respiratory distress,” the Mumbai civic body said. However, it is not clear whether his death has been chalked out to the COVID-19 infection yet.
Restrictions and lockdowns have been issued in almost all states now. Punjab, on Monday, became the first in the country to impose curfew in the entire state with no relaxations, and only exempted essential services to prevent the infection, while Maharshtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said curfew will be imposed in the entire state from Monday midnight as the fight against coronavirus has reached a "turning point".
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also asked state governments to ensure that rules and regulations of the coronavirus lockdown are enforced as he noted that many people are not taking the measure seriously.
"Many people are still not taking the lockdown seriously. Please save yourself, save your family, follow the instructions seriously. I request state governments to ensure rules and laws are followed," he said in a tweet in Hindi.
Stepping up its efforts to tackle the unprecedented situation arising out of the coronavirus breakout, the aviation ministry announced that no domestic commercial passenger flight would be allowed to operate in the country from March 25 onward. India has already banned international flights for a week from Sunday.
Delhi, Jharkhand, and Nagaland declared a state-wide lockdown while similar curbs were announced in a number of districts in Bihar, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Several states, including Kerala, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, had earlier imposed a partial or complete lockdown. The UT administration in Chandigarh also announced imposition of curfew from the midnight.
Those living in 80 districts across the country, including in the national capital, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai have been placed under travel and movement restrictions with authorities suspending all passenger train and inter-state bus services till March 31.
The Centre has issued directions to state governments, asking them to take legal action against those who are found violating the lockdown orders.
"States have been asked to strictly enforce the lockdown in the areas where it has been announced. Legal action will be taken against violators," tweeted the Press Information Bureau, government's communication wing.
