Authorities in India have placed at least 75 districts across the country under stringent lockdown after cases of Coronavirus were detected from those areas, as the world’s second-most populous nation stepped up measures to halt the spread of the pandemic.

“State governments will issue orders allowing only essential services to operate in about 75 districts with confirmed COVID-19 cases or casualties,” said a home ministry official in New Delhi on Sunday.

The raft of state shutdowns came during a 14-hour voluntary curfew that Prime Minister Narendra Modi said would test India’s ability to fight the pandemic.

“This is the start of a long fight,” Modi tweeted as the curfew came to an end, during which people came out onto their balconies and stood near open windows to clap, clang metal vessels and ring bells to cheer emergency workers battling the spread of the Coronavirus.

“The people of this country have announced it today that we can take on and defeat as big a challenge as possible if we decide.”

New Delhi’s borders sealed

Normally bustling streets in the capital New Delhi and financial hub of Mumbai were mostly deserted as many people stayed indoors.

A growing number of states and territories, including the capital New Delhi, banned all activity except for essential services.

New Delhi, with a population of almost 20 million, will seal its land borders from early Monday, and close shops and private sector offices until March 31.

“We have learnt this from the world that the less you venture outside, the less you come in contact with the world that much we can save ourselves,” Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal told reporters.

Other states imposed partial or full lockdowns, with many closing borders, restricting movement and halting most public transport. Some, like West Bengal with a population of more than 90 million, locked down major cities but not rural areas.

Indian Railways, which carries more than 25 million commuters a day, cancelled all passenger train services until March 31.

Incoming international flights were already barred for a week, while schools, entertainment facilities and monuments such as the iconic Taj Mahal have been closed.

India has registered 417 cases of Coronavirus, with seven deaths, according to the latest numbers reported by media.

By Bukola Olasanmi

Oyo state has recorded its first case of coronavirus, bringing the total number of COVID-19 patients in Nigeria to 23.
In a statement on Sunday morning, Seyi Makinde, the governor, said public health officials are collaborating with the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan’s team on the case.
1) The COVID-19 confirmation test for the suspected case at Bodija has come back POSITIVE. The result was released at 17:35 PM of March 21, 2020. Oyo State Public Health Officials are collaborating with the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan’s team on the case.
2. A follow up on the Ekiti COVID-19 case revealed that the deceased was picked up directly from Lagos Airport to a private apartment in Ona Ara Local Government Area.
The Health Authorities have contacted the family concerned and the community has been alerted for intensified contact tracing and self-isolation of identified close contacts.
The information given that he stayed in some hotels in Ibadan has been found to be false.
3. Another returnee from Texas, USA, has also been identified at Oluyole Local Government Area. She has been kept in self-isolation with close monitoring by the State Epidemiological Team. All recent returnees are again urged to identify themselves to Ministry Officials and self-isolate for 14 days.
4. We have released funds for:
a. Activation of Emergency Operation Centre at the Ministry of Health.
b. Establishment of Diagnostic Centre for screening of Coronavirus and other related infectious diseases to be stationed at the UCH, Ibadan.
c. Equipping of the newly designated Oyo State Infectious Disease Centre at Olodo that has the capacity for over 100 cases.
Oyo State Ministry of Health Helplines: 08038210122/ 08023229267/ 08073431342.

Presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Church Worldwide also known as Winners Chapel, David Oyedepo, has asked his members to abide by every government preventive measures in order to check the spread of Coronavirus.

Oyedepo made the call in his Sunday sermon monitored by Television Nigerian on the church’s YouTube page.

He said, “What we are doing is to ensure that the plague doesn’t spread. This has never happened in my lifetime that nations are shutting their doors against each other.

“The world is at war with an invisible enemy and we must pray. Schools are being shut down, people are entering buses where everyone is breathing on everyone, every market in Africa is an open market. Can we test everybody taking a bus? Only God can rescue the world at this time.

“We are a law abiding congregation and must follow measures being put in place to contain the spread.”

He added that the church was working on programmes to enable localised congregation instead of mass gatherings on service days.

Two convents, one in Rome and one in a town nearby the capital city, have been isolated as the majority of religious sisters in the communities tested positive for COVID-19.

According to Italian news agency ANSA, 59 sisters have tested positive for coronavirus between the two communities and are being isolated within their convents.

In Grottaferrata, a town on the outskirts of the metropolitan area of Rome, the religious community of the Daughters of San Camillo have had 40 sisters test positive for COVID-19, one of whom has been hospitalized. There are around 50 sisters living at the convent.

Two convents, one in Rome and one in a town nearby the capital city, have been isolated as the majority of religious sisters in the communities tested positive for COVID-19.

According to Italian news agency ANSA, 59 sisters have tested positive for coronavirus between the two communities and are being isolated within their convents.

In Grottaferrata, a town on the outskirts of the metropolitan area of Rome, the religious community of the Daughters of San Camillo have had 40 sisters test positive for COVID-19, one of whom has been hospitalized. There are around 50 sisters living at the convent.

Mother Maria Ortensia Turati of the Little Missionary Sisters of Charity died March 16 at a hospital in Tortona. She was 89. And on March 15, Sister Maria Caterina Cafasso, 82, of the Mater Dei Province, died.

Bishop Derio Olivero of the Diocese of Pinerolo recently tested positive for COVID-19.

The bishop, age 59, was admitted to the hospital March 19. He is the second Italian bishop known to have had coronavirus.

Bishop Antonio Napolioni of Cremona was hospitalized in early March for COVID-19, but was released early this week to finish recovering under home quarantine.

As of March 19, the Italian dioceses around Milan had reported the deaths of 30 priests during the coronavirus outbreak, with at least 28 due to COVID-19.