Coronavirus outbreak: Argentina confirms first coronavirus case

The spread of the coronavirus could force weak airlines to merge with competitors, the head of Air France-KLM and the A4E association of European airlines said Tuesday. "There are quite a few weak carriers around the world," Benjamin Smith said at the association's annual meeting. "I believe this will accelerate consolidation." Read more

Sales of hand sanitiser in Britain have more than tripled as nervous customers sought to protect themselves from coronavirus, data showed Tuesday. Hand sanitiser sales surged 255 per cent in the four weeks to 23 February compared with the same period a year earlier, retail research company Kantar said in a statement. Liquid soap sales increased seven per cent and household cleaning products leapt ten per cent over the same period, Kantar added.

A New York City school says it will be closed on Tuesday after a suspected case of coronavirus was detected in its community, the SAR Academy and SAR High School said in a statement. The school said the closure was a precautionary measure and that it was in touch with the New York City Department of Health and following their guidelines. "At this time it important to remain calm," the statement said, urging people to follow a series of precautionary measures.

The wife of the Italian tourist found to have been infected with coronavirus also tested positive for the virus here on Tuesday and her samples are being sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune for another test, an official said. Read more

Health ministry sources said these foreigners, 13 women and eight men, were in the same group of which an Italian and his wife have tested positive in Rajasthan capital Jaipur. Read more

DGCA to airlines: Ground handling staff entering international flights should have disposable protective gears like surgical masks, gloves

Group of Seven finance officials said on Tuesday they would take all possible steps to safeguard the global economy from the spreading coronavirus outbreak, with Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda promising a "good message". On a conference call, the group of rich nations' finance ministers and central bank governors pledged actions including fiscal measures where appropriate to support the global economy, Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso said. He said the desirable policy response would vary from country to country.

With the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) virus spreading to more countries and two more confirmed cases reported in India, the seaport and airport here have been put under high alert, officials said on Tuesday. Dakshina Kannada district is particularly under surveillance as three confirmed cases of coronavirus were reported from neighbouring Kerala earlier.

Twitter staff across the world were asked to work from home starting Monday in an effort to stop the spread of the deadly new coronavirus epidemic. At the same time, thousands of staff at Google's European headquarters in Ireland were told to stay away for the day after one employee reported flu-like symptoms. The outbreak has spread across the world since emerging in central China late last year, killing more than 3,100 people, infecting over 90,000, and prompting a wave of travel restrictions.

The Chief Medical Officer of Lucknow Narendra Agarwal on Tuesday said that passengers coming from various countries are being screened and helpdesk has been set up at the international airport as part of measures to prevent the spread of Coronavirus. Speaking to ANI he said, "We are screening passengers coming from various countries and a 24x7 helpdesk has also been set up at the international airport."

The CISF has provided medical kits containing hand sanitisers, gloves and masks to all its personnel deployed to guard 62 civil airports in the country in view of the coronavirus scare, officials said on Tuesday. Read more

The Haryana Police on Tuesday directed its field units to take immediate action to safeguard on-duty personnel from potential coronavirus infection by providing them masks, gloves and hand sanitisers.

The U-16 boys, currently the U-15 SAFF Champions, were slated to depart on March 5 to play two friendlies against Tajikistan, the AFC U-16 Championship runners-up. "Please note that as directed by the government of the Republic of Tajikistan due to the situation around the coronavirus, the citizens of 35 countries including India cannot visit Tajikistan," Tajikistan Football Federation said in an official mail to All India Football Federation (AIFF).