Coronavirus live updates: PM urges people not to rush to villages, avoid crowding trains, buses

The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country amounted to 521 on Saturday, the health authority said.

The Prime Minister told the pharma companies that this is the time to boost production. The pharma companies have assured the PM that India has enough supplies for all essential pharma commodities and there is no reason to worry. Chemists and pharma companies assured the PM that they will work on this crisis with the government to ensure that supply chains remain working 24/7.

The Bihar government on Saturday ordered shutting down of bus services, restaurants and banquet halls across the state till March 31 to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus, officials said. However, home delivery and take home services of restaurants will remain functional, a health department order said.

"After conducting a Covid-19 test, I’m happy to inform you that the results came back negative. However, as a preventive measure, my son and I will continue to be in isolation for 15 days," the ex-CM tweeted.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday announced complete lockdown in 5 districts and 8 major towns, including state capital Bhubaneswar to prevent transmission of coronavirus. Emergency services will not be affected in the restrictions. Naveen said these are the districts were more than 70% of total 3200 foreign returnees belong to.

Health ministry joint secretary Lav Agarwal told reporters that guidelines for coronavirus tests have been revised, directing that asymptomatic direct, high-risk contacts of confirmed cases should be tested once between day 5 and day 14 of coming in contact with an infected person.

Streets, squares and highways were deserted in large parts of the world Saturday as curfews and lockdowns multiplied in the face of a rapidly advancing virus that is severely straining many health systems. Read more