New victim of Coronavirus reported in NCR, total cases rise to 30

The virus spread took a giant leap after 15 Italian tourists tested positive with the disease while travelling to India's Rajasthan.

In the wake of the rapid outbreak of the disease, the Delhi Government has directed all primary schools to remain shut till March 30.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also postponed his next week's visit to Brussels in Belgium for the India-European Union summit. 

The latest victim was reported in Ghaziabad in the National Capital Region.

Out of 30 infected people, three from Kerala have however recovered.

The other 29 confirmed cases of Coronavirus include 15 Italian nationals who had come for holidaying in Rajasthan, their Indian driver, a Delhi-based man who went to Vienna and his six family members in Agra, one person in Hyderabad who had travelled to Dubai on an assignment. An employee of e-wallet company Paytm tested positive on Wednesday.

The company has already shut its Gurgaon office asking its employees to work from home.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is regularly monitoring the situation.

A group of ministers has been constituted to monitor the situation, he added.

Dr. Vardhan a day ago said all international passengers will be screened at the airports instead of the ones coming from earlier specified 12 countries.

While briefing Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Parliament, Dr. Vardhan said, "We're confronted with new challenges... We have started a containment facility in Agra."

"We are particularly concerned about Indian pilgrims and students stranded in Iran (where the coronavirus cases are high). The Indian government is following up with Iran on their condition."

"The WHO (World Health Organisation) has termed this outbreak as a crucial concern. Though it has not declared it pandemic, it has asked countries to remain alert. Once the person is exposed to the virus, the disease might be infected within one to 14 days."

Coronavirus, which had originated in China's Wuhan late last year, has already spread to over 60 countries with Italy becoming the new hub of the outbreak.

More than 3,000 people have died in China and over 90,000 have been infected with the disease.

The aviation industry is the worst hit as the virus is spreading to other countries through air travel.

The virus spreads by respiratory droplets generated when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The clinical manifestation of the virus are fever, cough and cold and in severe cases difficulty in breathing.