The number of confirmed cases in India mounted to 30 after a middle-aged man from Ghaziabad local tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday. The figure had taken a jump yesterday with a group of 15 Italian tourists testing positive for the virus at the ITBP’ Chhawla quarantine facility in Delhi.

The National Institute of Virology, Pune, confirmed that the person, with the travel history of Iran, was found to be COVID-19 positive.

The growing numbers have raised the spectre of the flu-like illness, which has spread to over 80 countries, infecting over 95,300 people worldwide and leaving more than 3,200 dead.

The Delhi government instructed not to open of all primary schools till March 31. “As a precautionary measure to prevent the possibility of spread of COVID-19 amongst our children, Delhi Government has directed the immediate closure of all primary schools,” Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister Manish Sisodia said.

The Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan updated the Parliament on Thursday over the measures taken by the government to contain the disease, Greater Kashmir reported.

“As on March 4, at least 28,529 persons were brought under community surveillance and are being monitored. The Prime Minister is personally monitoring the situation,” Mr Vardhan said.

“In addition to visa restrictions already in place, passengers travelling from and having visited Italy or Republic of Korea and desirous of entering India will need a certificate of having tested negative for COVID-19 from the designated laboratories authorized by the health authorities of these countries,” he said in his statement.