Seven people who recently returned to the Purulia district in West Bengal from the southern city Chennai were advised to self-isolate themselves for a fortnight. The group have built platforms and moved beds into the branches of a tree, to keep their families and neighbours safe. India has reported 979 cases and 25 deaths. Mr Modi has appealed for contributions to a new charitable fund to help the government battle coronavirus and the economic consequences of the pandemic. Elsewhere in India, authorities in the northern state of Punjab have quarantined around 40,000 residents from 20 villages following a coronavirus outbreak linked to just one man – dubbed a super-spreader.

Source: Daily Mirror March 29, 2020 13:47 UTC