A 72-year-old man infected with novel coronavirus died in Punjab on Thursday, taking the total number of deaths in India due to the deadly virus to four, the Union Health Ministry said.
Officials said the septuagenarian had returned from Germany via Italy a fortnight ago. He was admitted to a hospital after severe chest pain and was found to be positive for COVID-19.
Meanwhile, the total number of coronavirus cases in India reached 169 after 18 fresh cases were reported from various parts of the country on Thursday. Chhattisgarh and Chandigarh reported their first COVID 19 case on Thursday.
Given the gravity of the situation, most of the states and Uts have imposed restrictions, inching towards partial shutdown in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus.
The Centre has allowed 50 per cent of its employees to work from home besides staggering working hours for its staff. It also directed the Heads of Departments (HoDs) to ensure that 50 per cent of Group B and C employees are required to attend office every day and the remaining 50 per cent staff is instructed to work from home.
While the Indian Railways decided to suspend all concessional tickets except for patients, students and those in the Divyangjan category from the midnight of March 20 till further notice to discourage unnecessary travel, IndiGo announced pay cuts for senior employees, including of its CEO who would take the highest cut of 25 per cent amid the novel coronavirus pandemic that has hit the aviation industry hard.
The total tally of 169 include 25 foreign nationals -- 17 from Italy, 3 from the Philippines, two from the UK, one each belonging to Canada, Indonesia and Singapore.
The figure also includes four deaths reported from Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Punjab so far.
With inputs from PTI
