India goes into a full lockdown after 538 confirmed cases: 37 recovered and 9 dead

• The Ministry of Health data shows that the country now has 538 infected people; out of which 37 recovered and nine died.
  
• Delhi Police registered 1,012 cases in different areas of the national capital on the first day of the lockdown.
  
• The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday denies claims made on social media that Covid-19 could be airborne.

A total of 30 states and Union Territories covering 548 districts go on a complete lockdown after the country enters the third and critical phase of the pandemic.

The Ministry of Health data shows that the country now has 538 infected people; out of which 37 recovered and nine died.

Of the 434 active cases, 451 were Indians while 41 are foreigners.

Manipur woman tests corona positive, first in NE India

Manipur reported its first case of coronavirus as a 23-year-old woman who returned from the United Kingdom tested positive, making it the first case in the northeast, an official said on Tuesday.

According to the officials of Manipur's Health and Family Welfare Department, the woman is now undergoing treatment at the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) in Imphal.

Delhi Police registers over 1,000 cases against lockdown violators

Delhi Police registered 1,012 cases in different areas of the national capital on the first day of the lockdown implemented to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus.

"These criminal cases were registered under Section 188 of the IPC and Sections 65 and 66 of the Delhi Police Act," said Delhi Police.

India shuts all checkpoints at air, sea, land, rail, river ports

All integrated check posts (ICPs) at all airports, seaports, land ports, rail ports, and river ports are closed down.

"In continuation of restrictions and advisories the undersigned is directed to convey the orders of Central government to stop all incoming passenger traffic on all 107 Immigration Check Posts which includes all Airport ICPs, all seaport ICPs, all land port ICPs, all rail port ICPs and all river port ICPs in view of the spread of COVID-10," said a government memorandum issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Gujarat goes on full lockdown

Shocked by the quick rise in the number of infected people to 30, the Gujarat government has decided to go for stringent lockdown-like measures in the entire state from Tuesday till March 31.

The Directorate General of Police (DGP) Gujarat, Shivanand Jha, said, "To curb the possible spread of the virus among people, we are going for a lockdown in the entire state. Even in these locked down areas, essential commodities will be allowed to be available for the public."

Late on Monday (March 23), the state home department issued a notification under the provisions of 'The Indian Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897' and 'The Gujarat Epidemic Diseases COVID-19 Regulation 2020'.

Rajasthan bans private vehicles

After the total number of Coronavirus patients in Rajasthan went up to 32 with four new positive cases, two from Pratapgarh and two from Jodhpur, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announced a ban on all private vehicles from Tuesday.

"To save lives from #coronavirus infection, we have taken the decision to ban all private vehicles on roads from tomorrow. Only vehicles related to essential services and those in exempted services would be allowed. State highway tolls will also be closed from 12 o'clock midnight," he tweeted.

Delhi borders sealed, 'curfew passes' to be issued

The order issued from Delhi Police Headquarters said that those working in private institutions in Delhi would be mandatorily required to take a 'curfew-pass'. The nearest district DCP office will issue the curfew pass. While those entering Delhi (Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Noida) outside the national capital border, the curfew pass will have to be issued by the Police DCP office of their nearest Delhi district.

The order to this effect was issued by the Delhi Police Commissioner at around 8.45 pm on Monday night. Those living in Gurugram-Manesar (Haryana) will have to contact the DCP office in the South West district of Nelson Mandela Road in Vasant Vihar area of Delhi for curfew pass.

No reports of Covid-19's airborne spread: WHO

The World Health Organisation (WHO) denied the claims made on social media that the Covid-19 could be airborne.

In a statement, Poonam Khetrapal Singh, regional director, WHO (Southeast Asia), said "Airborne spread has not been reported for Covid-19. Based on the information and on our experience with other coronaviruses, Covid-19 appears to spread mostly through respiratory droplets, for instance, produced when a sick person coughs, and close contact."

"This is why the WHO recommends maintaining hand and respiratory hygiene."

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