Lucknow, March 19: An employee of HCL Technologies who lives in Noida has contracted coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, taking the total number of cases to five in the district. The employee travelled to London and has been in self-isolation since his return. "Our office is following all government and health advisory protocols," HCL Technologies said in a statement on Thursday. Coronavirus Outbreak in India: COVID-19 Cases Rise to 169, PM Narendra Modi to Address Nation at 8 PM.

On Wednesday, a 31-year-old man who returned from Indonesia tested positive for coronavirus. "The sample of this person, who lives in Sector 41 of Noida, was taken four days ago and he has tested positive for coronavirus. He has been admitted to the Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) in Greater Noida for treatment," Chief Medical Officer Anurag Bhargava said in a statement.

On Tuesday, two persons, residents of Noida’s Sector 78 and Sector 100, who recently returned from France, had tested positive for coronavirus, according to officials. They said a resident of Delhi had earlier tested positive for coronavirus in Noida. Using its powers under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the Noida police on Wednesday prohibited mass gatherings in the district.

"In view of the situation, all social, political, cultural, religious, sports-related events and trade programmes, rallies and demonstrations are being banned till April 5,” Additional Commissioner of Police, Law and Order, Ashutosh Dwivedi, told PTI. "Any information related to any person infected with coronavirus must not be withheld and health officials or hospitals should be informed immediately. Failure to do so would invite legal action under IPC Sections 188, 269 and 270," Dwivedi added.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 19, 2020 12:37 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).