UN, an ‘ally’ in Kenya in fight against COVID-19: a UN Resident Coordinator blog

Mar 20, 2020, at 08:51 am

New York/IBNS: The United Nations is working closely with the Kenyan Government to help prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus or COVID-19. By Siddharth Chatterjee, United Nations Resident Coordinator to Kenya.

UN body underscores priority of health, safety during ‘unprecedented’ COVID-19 challenges

Mar 20, 2020, at 08:35 am

New York/IBNS: Confronted with widespread human, social, and economic ramifications surrounding COVID-19, the President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) stressed the priority of ensuring “the health and safety of people”.

Preventing discrimination against people with disabilities in COVID-19 response

Mar 20, 2020, at 07:14 am

New York/IBNS: Unless Governments and communities take action, discrimination against people with disabilities could increase during the COVID-19 pandemic, an expert with the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned.

COVID-19: First positive case reported in Chhattisgarh

Mar 19, 2020, at 02:20 pm

Raipur/UNI: Chhattisgarh which has so far remained safe zone with regards to COVID-19 (Coronavirus) infection, reported first positive case of Coronavirus as a young woman who returned from London tested positive.

Coronavirus scare : Assam government shuts down all liquor bars, beauty parlors, salon night club

Mar 19, 2020, at 01:54 pm

Guwahati/IBNS: Amid Coronavirus (COVID-19) scare, the Assam government has ordered closure of all liquor bar, country liquor bar, night club, beauty parlors, salon (unisex) in the state with immediate effect.

Still ‘early days’ to assess COVID-19 impact on women, children – UNICEF official

Mar 19, 2020, at 01:24 pm

New York/IBNS: Shortly after the outbreak of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19), UNICEF was among the first United Nations agencies to step up and deliver much-needed medical supplies including masks to China. 

UN health chief announces global ‘solidarity trial’ to jumpstart search for COVID-19 treatment

Mar 19, 2020, at 01:20 pm

New York/IBNS: Just 60 days after the genetic sequence of COVID-19 was shared by China, the first vaccine trial has begun, the UN health chief said on Wednesday, calling it “an incredible achievement” and urging the world to maintain “the same spirit of solidarity” that has helped fight Ebola.

Total positive Coronavirus cases in India rise to 184, all board examinations postponed

Mar 19, 2020, at 12:03 pm

New Delhi/IBNS: Amid the lockdown in various cities, the total positive Novel Coronavirus cases including the cured and deaths in India rose to 184 on Thursday.

Beijing reports 21 imported COVID-19 cases

Mar 19, 2020, at 10:04 am

Beijing/Xinhua/UNI: Beijing reported 21 newly confirmed cases of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from other countries Wednesday, the municipal health commission said Thursday.

Number of people infected with novel coronavirus globally exceeds 191,000 - WHO

Mar 19, 2020, at 09:54 am

Moscow/Sputnik/UNI: Over 15,100 people have gotten infected with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) globally over the past day, bringing the total number of confirmed cases above 191,100, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in its new coronavirus situation report.

Italy registers 35,713 cumulative coronavirus cases

Mar 19, 2020, at 09:46 am

Rome/Xinhua/UNI: The coronavirus epidemic has claimed 2,978 victims in Italy as of Wednesday evening, with the cumulative coronavirus cases reaching 35,713 since the epidemic broke out on Feb. 21, according to new data released by the Civil Protection Department.

Chile declares state of catastrophe over COVID-19

Mar 19, 2020, at 09:40 am

Santiago/Xinhua/UNI: Chilean President Sebastian Pinera declared a 90-day state of catastrophe to step up the government's action to combat the COVID-19 epidemic that has so far infected 238 people.

Turkey registers second death from coronavirus - Health Minister

Mar 19, 2020, at 09:35 am

Ankara/Sputnik/UNI:  The second death from the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been registered in Turkey, the total number of infected people nearly doubled over the past 24 hours to 191, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Wednesday.

Kolkata: Covid-19 infected youth's parents, drivers test negative for novel coronavirus

Mar 18, 2020, at 09:45 pm

Kolkata/IBNS: West Bengal's first and so far only Covid-19 infected youth's father, mother and two drivers, who came in contact with him, tested negative for novel coronavirus, officials confirmed on Wednesday late evening.

Special Action Group reviews COVID-19 related steps undertaken in Nagaland

Mar 18, 2020, at 08:24 pm

Guwahati/IBNS: A meeting of the Special Action Group (SAG) on Covid-19 was held under the chairmanship of Nagaland Home Commissioner, Abhijit Sinha IAS to review the various activities in connection with the impending pandemic at his Office Chamber on Wednesday.

Second COVID positive case reported in Tamil Nadu: Vijaybaskar

Mar 18, 2020, at 07:25 pm

Chennai/UNI: Tamil Nadu reported the second positive case of Coronavirus, Health Minister Dr C Vijayabaskar confirmed on Wednesday.

Covid19 Scare: Liquor shops, beer bars, restaurants, paan kiosks closed till March 31 in Nagpur

Mar 18, 2020, at 06:52 pm

Nagpur/UNI: In view of the Coronavirus outbreak and to prevent the spread of the virus, all beer bars, liquor shops, restaurants and even ‘paan’ stalls in the city would remain closed till March 31, a press release issued by district collector Ravindra Thakre said here on Wednesday.

Iran reports 1,135 death cases of COVID-19

Mar 18, 2020, at 06:39 pm

Tehran/Xinhua/UNI: Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education on Wednesday announced the death of 1,135 people out of 17,361 infections with the novel coronavirus, according to official IRNA news agency.

Algeria reports 6th death case of COVID-19 as confirmed cases rise to 72

Mar 18, 2020, at 06:36 pm

Algiers/Xinhua/UNI: Algeria's Health Ministry on Wednesday announced the sixth death due to thecoronavirus(COVID-19) as the number of confirmed cases in the country rose to 72, state-run ENTV reported.

Djibouti confirms 1st COVID-19 case

Mar 18, 2020, at 04:53 pm

Addis Ababa/Xinhua/UNI: Djibouti confirmed its first case of COVID-19 on Wednesday, according to Djiboutian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf.

West Bengal's home secretary, his wife moves to home quarantine after meeting Covid-19 infected youth's mother

Mar 18, 2020, at 04:52 pm

Kolkata/IBNS: West Bengal's home secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay, along with his wife Sonali Chakravarti Banerjee, who is the vice-chancellor of the Calcutta University, have moved to home quarantine a day after the home secretary held a meeting at Nabanna with a lady bureaucrat, whose son tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday, reports said.

Number of COVID-19 cases in Austria rises to 1,471

Mar 18, 2020, at 04:51 pm

Vienna/Sputnik/UNI:  The number of confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Austria has increased to 1,471, the Health Ministry announced on Wednesday.

UAE announces 15 new COVID-19 cases, 113 in total

Mar 18, 2020, at 04:47 pm

Dubai/Xinhua: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Wednesday recorded 15 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 113, the Ministry of Health and Prevention said in a statement.

COVID-19: the immune system can fight back, says research

Mar 18, 2020, at 04:01 pm

Melbourne/IBNS: Melbourne researchers have mapped immune responses from one of Australia’s first novel coronavirus (COVID-19) patients, showing the body’s ability to fight the virus and recover from the infection.

Bangladesh reports first COVID19 death

Mar 18, 2020, at 03:59 pm

Dhaka/IBNS: Bangladesh on Wednesday reported first death due to Coronavirus.

Ladakh: 2 more people test positive for coronavirus, bringing total to 8

Mar 18, 2020, at 01:45 pm

Leh/UNI: Two more people have tested positive for coronavirus in Ladakh, taking the total number of cases to eight.

China's Hubei cleared of suspected COVID-19 cases

Mar 18, 2020, at 10:45 am

Wuhan/Xinhua/UNI: Central China's Hubei Province reported zero new suspected case of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) for two consecutive days, the provincial health commission said Wednesday.

Talking to your children about coronavirus: Let them know you’re listening, remind them you care

Mar 18, 2020, at 10:32 am

New York/IBNS: As many adults are overwhelmed and anxious about the coronavirus pandemic, the United Nations shined a light on how children may be feeling and urged parents to have open, supportive discussions to help them cope.

Coronavirus update: humanitarian work must continue, ‘no exceptions’ for bold action in Europe, ensure sufficient medicine stocks

Mar 18, 2020, at 10:30 am

New York/IBNS: UN humanitarian agency issues reminded that millions need humanitarian aid, WHO Europe want countries to take “bold steps” to stop coronavirus, and a UN-backed narcotics body calls for sufficient stocks of medicine to be maintained.

COVID-19: Agencies temporarily suspend refugee resettlement travel

Mar 18, 2020, at 10:29 am

New York/IBNS: A “vital lifeline” for vulnerable families forced to flee their homelands has fallen victim to the COVID-19 pandemic as two UN agencies announced on Tuesday that they are temporarily suspending resettlement travel for refugees.