New Delhi, Mar 17 (IANS): Union Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur has said that people should not panic on the issue of coronavirus and take precautions instead.

The MoS Finance also said that the Prime Minister has asked all the MPs to create awareness when they find time and on weekends.

"Need to take precaution and not panic," said Anurag Thakur.

The Government has already issued certain guidelines on the issue of spread of COVID-19, the government on Monday prohibited the entry of passengers from the European countries and Turkey as a precautionary measure from March 18 to 31. The government also announced to expand the minimum quarantine for people travelling to India from the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait.

He said the decision will come into effect from March 18 12:00 GMT, at the port of first departure.

He also said that the government has prohibited the entry of passengers from member countries of the European Union, the European Free Trade Association, Turkey and the UK to India with effect from March 18.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country rose to 126 with Odisha reporting its first COVID-19 patient and new cases in Karnataka, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir and Kerala.

The government has taken several steps to contain the virus, including suspension of all visas to India till April 15, after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.