India cases rise to 271; pneumonia patients to be tested

Thermal screening of passengers being conducted in the wake of deadly coronavirus, at a bus stand, in Kozhikode | Photo: PTI

The Covid-19 pandemic has claimed over 10,000 lives worldwide, most of them in Europe and Asia. Italy is the worst affected with 4000 fatalities, followed by China, the initial epicentre of the outbreak. In India, the total number of deaths stands at 4, while the number of infections reported is 271.

Responding to the rapid spread of the coronavirus and the PM's call for 'Janata Curfew', the Delhi government decided to shut Metro services on Sunday, March 22, even as the total number of cases in the Capital rose to 14.

Maharashtra, which has the highest number of cases, is under partial lock down, with shops, establishments and offices in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur ordered to remain shut till March 31 by the Uddhav Thackeray-led state government. Essential services such as groceries, milk centres, pharmacies and banks are exempt from the restrictions which come into effect today midnight. All government offices in the state will function with 25 per cent attendance and local trains and buses will continue to operate as usual in Mumbai.