Coronavirus live updates: India confirms first death whereas France closes schools

The first death has been reported due to coronavirus in India.

Officials say that the first death happened after a 76-year-old man had arrived a Saudi Arabia on 29th February. The man belonged to the southern state of Karnataka and had stayed in Saudi Arabia for a month.

Health Minister in India said that people who came in contact with that man were being placed in isolation and were traced.

Health ministry confirms that there are 73 cases of coronavirus in India.

Officials informed that the man was tested at the airport when he came back from Saudi Arabia. But he did not show symptoms at that time.

He was taken to the hospital when he felt difficulty in breathing.

On the other hand, France has decided to shut down schools, nurseries, and universities from Monday to avoid the spread of the virus.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced the decision in a televised address.

However, he also said that France would provide assistance for businesses and would involve

European partners on a major package to relaunch the economy, “whatever it costs.”

According to the international news agency Reuters, Macron said, “This epidemic ..is the gravest public health crisis that France has known in a century,”

“Despite the efforts to slow it down, the virus continues to spread and is accelerating.”

“That’s our priority. That is why we must continue to gain time,”

“From Monday, until further notice, nurseries, schools, middle schools, high schools, universities, will be closed. For a simple reason: Our children and young people, according to our scientists, are the ones that spread the virus the quickest, even if they have no symptoms.”