Authorities suspend all passenger trains and inter-state bus services
The death toll due to the novel coronavirus pandemic rose to seven in the country, including the first casualties from Bihar and Gujarat, and the number of COVID-19 cases rose to 360 as fresh cases were reported from various parts of the country on Sunday.
Authorities suspended all passenger trains and inter-state bus services till March 31 in unprecedented steps to contain the spread of the infection.
Gujarat, Bihar and Maharahstra reported a death each on Sunday, while four deaths were earlier reported from Karnataka, Delhi, Maharashtra and Punjab, the Union Health Ministry said.
The total number of active COVID-19 cases across the country stands at 329 so far, and 24 people have been cured/discharged/migrated, while seven have died, taking total number of cases to 360, including 41 foreign nationals, the Health Ministry said.
A 38-year-old man with a kidney ailment and recent travel history to Qatar died at AIIMS-Patna and a 67-year-old man died at a hospital in Surat in Gujarat, state officials said, but the Union Health Ministry was yet to confirm the deaths.
Another death was reported from Mumbai of a 63-year-old man.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that his government was placing the national capital under a lock down from 6 am on March 23 and will continue till midnight March 31. Essential services will continue, Kejriwal said.
Several states, including Maharashtra, Kerala, Haryana, UP, Uttarakhand and West Bengal, announced partial or complete lockdown for varying periods. Nagaland said it will impose an indefinite lockdown from midnight Sunday.