An unprecedented shutdown commenced across the country on Sunday morning on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal for a 'Janata curfew' to help check the spread of coronavirus.

While doctors, nurses, public health professionals and other frontline workers struggle to contain the spread of the coronavirus outbreak in India, complicating their efforts are fake, unverified forwards on WhatsApp. The latest misinformation doing the rounds claims that the ‘Janata Curfew’, a self-imposed 14-hour stay-at-home announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, would stop the virus spread in one day. Specifically, the fake news wrongly claims that the life of the coronavirus is “only 12 hours” at one place and thus, with a 14-hour curfew in place on Sunday, March 22, India would emerge ‘virus-free’. 

Mangaluru: All inter-state border points between Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka and neighbouring Kasaragod in Kerala have been sealed with immediate effect as part of preventive measures against coronavirus, DK district-in-charge minister Kota Srinivas Poojary said on Saturday.

Colombo: The coronavirus scare triggered a riot in a Sri Lankan jail on Saturday, leading to a gunfight which left one inmate killed and five others injured, officials said.

Shimla: A 64-year-old woman who tested positive for coronavirus in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district was on Saturday booked for allegedly flouting norms and spreading the disease, police said.

Bagalkot: In the wake of the spread of Corona Virus in the state, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister, Govind Karjol on Saturday added that legal action will be initiated against organisation of mass prayers anywhere in the state, going against the orders of the state government.

Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada District Qazi, Thwaqa Ahmed Musliyaar on Saturday called on people to offer prayers at home in the wake of spread of Corona Virus abiding by the directives and request from the District Administration.