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Agencies

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday ordered the country’s 1.3 billion population to follow a one-day curfew to combat the coronavirus pandemic, and to “only get out of home if essential” in coming weeks.
Modi said in an address to the nation that the curfew would be on Sunday from 7am to 9pm to test the giant country’s ability to take tough measures against what he called a growing crisis.
The measure would be “in the interest of the country to follow and prepare us for future challenges,” Modi said, adding that the government was taking steps to ensure there was no shortage of essential commodities.
India has reported 173 positive virus cases and four deaths.




Authorities earlier announced that all incoming international flights to India would be banned for one week starting on Sunday. All citizens above 65 and children under 10 were advised to “remain at home”.
Authorities also blocked roads to seal in Muslim-majority Kashmir after the insurgency-torn region reported its first coronavirus case, as several other parts of the country imposed restrictions on public gatherings in attempts to prevent its spread.
Most schools, entertainment facilities and tourist attractions have already been closed across India, the world’s second-most populous country after China.
India could be next coronavirus hotspot with ‘avalanche’ of cases
States were directed by the national government to enforce work-from-home policies in the private sector, apart from those in emergency or essential services. Some government employees are set to stagger their shifts and alternate working in the office.
Online retailers said they were struggling to keep up with demand as consumers stockpiled supplies.
“We are seeing unprecedented order volumes in all cities in India,” said Hari Menon, chief executive of online grocery retailer BigBasket.


The measures come on a day when Australia and New Zealand said they are both banning non-residents from entering the country, following similar announcement by Taiwan.
Indian airlines including Vistara, an affiliate of Singapore Airlines and Go Airlines India, have already suspended all overseas flights, and budget carrier SpiceJet has withdrawn most international services.
Densely populated South Asia has been slow to be hit by coronavirus compared to elsewhere in the world. But new cases in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka are all accelerating, with the total across the region topping 700. Six people have died of the disease in the region.
China ‘still at risk of second wave of coronavirus cases’
Authorities worry that these countries could be especially at risk should the virus begin to spread locally, due to poor health facilities and infrastructure. Pakistan has closed its border with India near Lahore for two weeks, given the spread of the new coronavirus.
New Delhi has already suspended the visas of all incoming tourists and barred passengers of flights from the European Union, the European Free Trade Association, Turkey and Britain. Travellers from several countries are also subject to a 14-day quarantine when they arrive in India.
The Taj Mahal and other monuments have been closed to visitors.


The federal health ministry advised hospitals to avoid admission of non-urgent cases and minimise elective surgeries to hospital-related infections.
“There is no question of community transmission in this country,” said Lav Agarwal, a joint secretary in the health ministry. “These words unnecessarily create a scare in the minds of the people.”
There has been concern that the infections in India, a country of 1.3 billion people, may be higher as the government has so far carried out limited tests.
Since February, some 12,513 tests have been conducted, accounting for about an average of nine tests per million people. This compares with about 25,000 tests conducted in the United States, 134,000 in Italy, and 274,000 in South Korea, which has been lauded for its aggressive testing policy.
India has set up 72 coronavirus testing facilities across the nation, mainly in the cities which have an international airport. By the end of this week, 49 more labs are set to open, with the government bearing all costs of testing.
However, only individuals with a recent travel history to a coronavirus-affected location, those suffering from severe symptoms, or people who have come in direct contact with confirmed patients are allowed to take the tests.
Reporting by AFP, Reuters and Bloomberg

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Coronavirus pandemic

Coronavirus: Indian PM Narendra Modi orders one-day curfew to ‘prepare for future challenges’

An Indian man watches Prime Minister Narendra Modi address the nation. Photo: AP

Amid coronavirus pandemic, India faces another danger

A person wears protective mask as he walks in front of the closed shopping centre in Bangalore, India. Photo: EPA

epa08292004 Employees of Srinagar Municipal Corporation after spraying disinfection as a precautionary measure against COVID-19 outside Jamia Masjid or Grand Mosque in Srinagar, India, 13 March 2020. The government has ordered closure of all public and private education institutes across Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory as a precaution against the novel Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak. So far India has reported 75 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus. EPA-EFE/FAROOQ KHAN

epaselect epa08293541 Indian doctors screen patients as the precautionary measure for Coronavirus COVID19 at a separate Coronavirus screening section in Nehru Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital in New Delhi, India, 14 March 2020. To stringent measures in regard to international travel, all existing visas issued to nationals of any country except those issued to diplomats, officials, UN/International organizations, employment, project visas stand suspended until 15 April 2020 and all incoming travelers including Indian nationals, arriving from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, France, Spain, and Germany after 15 February 2020 shall be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days in view of 81 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in India and the advisory will come into effect at 12:00 hours GMT on 13 March, at the port of departure. EPA-EFE/RAJAT GUPTA

Coronavirus: doctors slam India’s limited testing as fears of community spread grow

People wait at a Mumbai train station wearing protective masks on March 17, 2020. Photo: AP

India has set up a few dozen coronavirus testing facilities across the nation. Photo: dpa

India closes Taj Mahal, other tourist sites as it steps up measures to control coronavirus

Visitors wearing face masks as a preventive measure against the Covid-19 coronavirus have their picture taken outside Taj Mahal in Agra, India, following its temporary closure. Photo: AFP

A security official checks the temperature of a visitor as a precaution against the new coronavirus at the Parliament House in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, March 17, 2020. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms. For some, it can cause more severe illness, especially in older adults and people with existing health problems. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

A general view shows the deserted Juhu beach in Mumbai on March 17, 2020. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP)

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Asia

South Asia


Most schools, entertainment facilities and tourist attractions have already been closed across India
Authorities also blocked roads to seal in Muslim-majority Kashmir after the region reported its first coronavirus case



Authorities also blocked roads to seal in Muslim-majority Kashmir after the insurgency-torn region reported its first coronavirus case.
