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Wed, 01 April 2020
Germany extends curbs on public life to April 19
Timeline Refresh
23:52 CWC to meet on Thursday to discuss issues related to COVID-19
The Congress Working Committee will meet on Thursday through video conferencing to discuss the situation arising due to the threat posed by COVID-19 and measures taken to contain the disease.
The Congress Working Committee virtual meeting is likely to discuss the response of the government to the emerging situation and assess the progress on tasks given by the party leadership to state units.
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and party leader Rahul Gandhi have written letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on COVID 19 and given their suggestions.
Sonia Gandhi, who will chair the meeting, wrote to the PM on Wednesday urging him to initiate action for release of advance payment to MGNREGA workers due to lockdown, saying nearly eight crore rural workers in the country need support from the government during the 21-day lockdown.
She said the government may consider immediate advance payment of wages for 21 days to registered and active MGNREGA workers due to lost wages.
Sources said the CWC, which is the highest decision-making body of the Congress, will adopt a resolution on issues related to COVID 19 and the government's response to it.
The CWC will also discuss the economic impact of coronavirus outbreak.
-- ANI
23:28 Germany extends curbs on public life to April 19
Germany will extend its current restrictions on public life to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus by two weeks until April 19, Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday.
"We assessed the situation today and confirmed that the restrictions... will be valid up to and including April 19. We will reassess the situation on the Tuesday after Easter," Merkel said in a telephone conference following a video meeting with regional state premiers.
German authorities on March 22 ordered restaurants shut and banned gatherings of more than two people to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The restrictions were initially slated to last two weeks, but will now be extended until April 19, to coincide with the end of the Easter school holidays.
The latest figures recorded 67,366 confirmed cases in Germany on Wednesday, a jump of more than 5,000 on the previous day.
23:21 2 doctors hurt in stone pelting during coronavirus tracking
-- PTI
Two women doctors were injured on Wednesday in Indore when a team of health officials was pelted with stones while they were trying to trace a person who had come into contact with a COVID-19 patient earlier, police said.
The incident occurred in Taat Patti Bakhal area when the team of five was trying to find out the whereabouts of the person.
A woman doctor said they were rescued by police personnel.
"The moment we started enquiring about that particular person' health, people started protesting and later some of them hurled stones. We were saved by police personnel," she said.
Meanwhile, terming the incident as very unfortunate, Indore chief medical and health officer Dr Pravin Jadia assured that the medical personnel were working to protect people from the coronavirus infection but they were pelted with stones.
"Two women doctors suffered injuries on their legs in the incident. They somehow protected themselves by hiding inside the vehicle of tehsildar,"the CMHO said.
-- PTI
23:00 Covid-19 patient in Mumbai's Dharavi dies
The 57-year-old man residing in Dharavi in Mumbai, who tested positive earlier for coronavirus, has passed away. He had symptoms like fever, cough, respiratory issues and also had co-morbid condition of renal failure.
Meanwhile, seven members of his family have been put in quarantine. Authorities have sealed the building where he resides and started providing food and other necessities to the residents as they cant come out of the building. His contact history is being traced.
Dharavi is a densely populated area in Mumbai with over 15 lakh people, spread over 613 hectares. Caution is being taken that the cases dont spread in the area, an official statement said.
22:38 Follow social distancing while celebrating Ram Navami: Kovind tells countrymen
President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday asked citizens to follow social distancing and other guidelines issued by the government during Ram Navami celebrations to defeat the coronavirus pandemic.
In a message to the nation on the eve of Ram Navami, he extended his greetings and best wishes to fellow citizens.
"Ram Navami, celebrated as the birth anniversary of Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram, is also an occasion for our toiling farmers to celebrate new crops," Kovind said.
"Shri Ram's ideal life gives us the message of virtue, tolerance, warmth and harmony.
"We should sincerely follow these eternal values in the course of our duty, he said.
The president asked all citizens to resolve to follow Lord Rama's ideals and build a glorious nation.
"Also, follow all government guidelines including social distancing while celebrating the festival to combat and defeat the pandemic of COVID-19," Kovind said.
India has reported 1,637 cases of COVID-19 so far, according to the Union Health Ministry.
-- PTI
22:06 COVID-19: Italy sees drop in death toll
Italy says it has seen a drop in the number of fatalities, raising hopes that the infection curve is starting to plateau.
At a daily news conference, officials said 727 had died on Tuesday, down from 812 the day before. It takes the total number of deaths to 13,155.
There were 2,937 new infections. Italy has recorded more deaths from coronavirus than any other country and the total number of infections stands at about 105,800.
Earlier, Italy announced that it was extending its lockdown, which was due to end on Friday, until 13 April. Italians have been subject to strict stay-at-home measures for the past three weeks.
21:43 1st COVID-19 case from Mumbai's Dharavi slum
A positive case of novel coronavirus has been reported from Dharavi area in Mumbai. The patient, a 56-year-old man, is undergoing treatment at Sion hospital.
Seven of his family have been put in quarantine. Authorities have sealed the building where he resides and started providing food and other necessities to the residents as they cant come out of the building. His contact history is being traced.
Dharavi is a densely populated area in Mumbai with over 15 lakh people, spread over 613 hectares. Caution is being taken that the cases dont spread in the area, an official statement said.
Mumbai has emerged as one of the hotspots for the spread of the deadly Covid-19 in India. While Maharashtra has over 320 positive cases of the virus, Mumbai is responsible for over half of them.
So far, the city's health department has declared the Koliwada area of Worli and the Goregaon suburb as two hotspots in Mumbai.
21:16 Owaisi defends Tablighi Jamaat as cases spike
Defending the Tablighi Jamaat that is being blamed for holding a congregation despite a ban by the government on any public gathering, Hyderabad MP and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday said that a section of media is giving the raging coronavirus crisis a "communal" angle.
Owaisi said, "I condemn that Muslims are being blamed for the situation in the country now. Disease or plague has no religion, but some particular media outlets who blindly defend the government, the BJP and the prime minister, have given coronavirus a religion."
"No country is relating it to religion but some media outlets here are shamelessly doing so. Why did they not close Parliament, which was functioning till March 13? The government has not given answers to so many people who were left like that on roads, the migrants were suffering but they were not concerned about it," he said.
"In Telangana, around six people have died, and the chief minister himself has told they attended the Tablighi Jamaat event. All the people who attended the Nizamuddin Markaz are cooperating with the government in Telangana as well as Andhra Pradesh. We are constantly in touch and they are cooperating with the government," the Hyderabad MP said.
He further said, "People must understand that the event at Markaz Nizamuddin was conducted from March 13 to 15, the fact is on March 13, health minister had stated that coronavirus is not a health scare.
"On March 19, Prime Minister Modi spoke about social distancing. Till then, all the major religious gatherings had continued in the famous temples, and now everything is being blamed on Nizamuddin Markaz."
"COVID-19 started in China. In Italy, there was a football match conducted from where it spread. Nearly 4,000 to 5,000 people were affected but they did not blame the football match. Am I the one who should be blamed? I condemn the act that media is connecting it with religion, the corona is a pandemic, it is a plague," the AIMIM chief said.
-- ANI
20:42 COVID-19: Wimbledon cancelled for first time since WW2
Wimbledon has been cancelled for the first time since World War Two because of the coronavirus pandemic, the All England Club confirms.
The two-week tournament, one of the highlights of the sporting calendar, was due to start on 29 June.
The entire UK grass court season has also been abandoned, including tournaments at Queens, Eastbourne, Nottingham and Birmingham.
There will be no professional tennis anywhere in the UK until at least July 13.
20:37 PM discusses coronavirus situation with Maha CM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday discussed the coronavirus situation in Maharashtra -- which has the highest number of cases in the country -- with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on phone.
Maharashtra has recorded 335 cases of coronavirus so far.
State officials said the prime minister urged Thackerayto step up "tracing, testing and treatment" of the persons who arrived in Mumbai and rest of the state after attending Tablighi Jamaat meet in New Delhi last month.
The congregation in Nizamuddin area of the national capital was later found to have been a hotspot of coronavirus.
The PM will hold a video conference with all the chief ministers on Thursday.
-- PTI
20:09 COVID-19: Guj health staff's retirement deferred by 2 months
Gujarat Health Minister Nitin Patel on Wednesday said retirement of employees of the health and family welfare department will be deferred by two months amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The minister also announced that private medical practitioners would be recruited by government medical colleges and hospitals to maintain the strength of the public healthcare system during the viral outbreak.
Patel said health department employees, who were scheduled to retire on March 31, will continue to work till May 31 in view of the pandemic.
"Employees of sub-health centres, primary health centres, community health centres, district, sub-district and civil hospitals are a big support for us (during coronavirus outbreak). They are working hard and round the clock, by conducting surveys or treating patients," Patel said.
As many of these employees were scheduled to retire on March 31 after completing 58 and 60 years of age (for doctors), the chief minister decided to extend their services till May 31, Patel said.
-- PTI
19:20 Remembering the 'giant' of neurosurgery who separated conjoined twins
Most will remember Dr James T Goodrich as a recognised giant of neurosurgery, the most experienced neurosurgeon in the world when it came to the delicate and daunting separation of craniopagus twins, those conjoined at the head.
These separations, which involve months of planning and dozens of procedures, are among the most challenging in any field of medicine. I know, because I was with him for 27 hours as he operated on Jadon and Anias McDonald and allowed CNN to document the remarkable event. Even as a neurosurgeon myself, I had never seen anything like it.
Read full HERE
19:12 CBSE to conduct Std 10, 12 exams for 29 subjects
The Central Board of Secondary Education will conduct class 10 and 12 examinations for only 29 main subjects which are crucial for promotion and admission to higher educational institutions, Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' announced on Wednesday.
"Have advised CBSE to conduct board exams only for 29 main subjects that are required for promotion and crucial for university admissions. Whenever CBSE is in a position to hold board exams, it shall conduct for 29 subjects by giving adequate notice. For rest of the subjects, CBSE will not hold board exams and instructions for their marking, assessment will be issued soon," he said.
The exams were postponed in view of the coronavirus outbreak in the country.
-- PTI
19:07 UK records over 500 daily coronavirus deaths for first time
Britain reported 563 daily coronavirus deaths on Wednesday, the first time the national toll has exceeded 500, bringing the total fatalities to 2,352, according to official figures.
A total of 1,52,979 people have been tested of whom 29,474 tested positive.
18:39 PM to hold video conf with CMs on Thursday
Prime Minister Narendra will hold a video conference with all chief ministers on Thursday during which issues such as ways to contain the spread of COVID-19, movement of migrants and contact tracing of Tablighi Jamat participants are likely to come up for discussion, sources said on Wednesday.
The availability of essential items will also be discussed during the conference, they added.
This will be the second such interaction in less than two weeks on the critical issue of the COVID-19 outbreak and related matters, and the first after the Central government imposed a 21-day nationwide lockdown from March 25. The last interaction took place on March 20.
Sources said issues including the ways to contain the spread of virus, large-scale movement of migrant workers, availability of essential commodities and extensive contact tracing of participants of Tablighi Jamat meet at Nizamuddin here are some of the issues which are expected to be discussed.
According to officials, contact tracing in several states is underway to identify, quarantine and test all the people who attended a gathering of almost 4,000 people in Delhi's Markaz Nizamuddin in mid-March.
India has registered 386 new cases of COVID-19 in last 24 hours, taking the tally to 1,637 in the country, the government said on Wednesday, and linked the sharp increase in number of cases to the Tablighi meet at Nizamuddin which has become the new epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country -- from Kashmir to Tamil Nadu.
-- PTI
18:22 HRD ministry directs CBSE to promote all class 1-8 students to next class
The HRD ministry on Wednesday directed the Central Board of Secondary Education to promote all students of classes 1 to 8 to the next class in view of the situation due to the coronavirus outbreak in the country.
"In view of the current situation due to #COVID19, I have advised @cbseindia29 to promote ALL students studying in classes I-VIII to the next class or grade," Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' said in a series of tweets.
Students of class 9 and 11 will be promoted on school-based assessments conducted so far, he said, adding those not promoted this time can appear in school based tests online or offline.
"Students studying in classes IX & XI will be promoted to next class/grade based on the school-based assessments including projects, periodic tests, term exams, etc. conducted so far. Students not promoted this time can appear in school-based tests, online or offline," Nishank tweeted.
-- PTI
18:03 COVID-19: MP guv dedicates kitchen to feed poor
Governors usually swing into action during constitutional crisis, but the Raj Bhavan in Madhya Pradesh is feeding the poor who have been affected by the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown.
The governor's kitchen has been sending out as many as 100 food packets on a daily basis and sometimes even at a short notice, a spokesperson from Raj Bhavan said on Wednesday.
"Governor Lalji Tandon has not only directed his staff to supply 100 food packets daily during lockdown period, but also ensured that in case of emergencies, parcels can be delivered at a short notice," the official said.
Soon after the lockdown was announced, Tandon dedicated the Raj Bhavan kitchen for community service, by directing the staff to supply 100 food packets daily, which were distributed to needy persons through the Bhopal Municipal Corporation, he said.
Apart from this, the governor also directed his staff to supply food packets at a short notice of just two hours during emergencies, he said.
-- PTI
17:18 Maha: Pvt lab stopped from conducting COVID-19 tests
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Wednesday said a private lab in the state has been stopped from conducting coronavirus tests for delay in
providing results.
The private testing laboratories are unable to provide prompt results to state authorities, he said.
"Every report provided by them has to be rechecked in the state-run labs again. After the state-run lab confirms prevalence of the infection, the person is declared coronavirus positive," Tope told reporters.
Out of the eight private labs conducting COVID-19 tests in the state, one facility failed to provide the data in time, he said.
"Thus we had to issue work suspension order for that lab. The remaining seven labs in the state are operational," he said.
"We did not get the reports in time. They generally take one or two days more to submit the reports," he said.
A couple of more state-run testing laboratories will be operational in the state in the next two days, he said.
"We can conduct as many as 5,000 (sample) tests in Maharashtra, out of which the state-run labs have a cumulative capacity of 1,500 tests per day," the minister said.
-- PTI
17:11 Govt withdraws perks of former J-K CMs
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers have lost all perks after the Centre repealed or amended 138 legislations of the erstwhile state. According to a gazette notification on Wednesday, the government amended the Jammu and Kashmir State Legislature Members' Pension Act and increased the pension amount to Rs 75,000 per month from Rs 50,000. Section 3-C of the Act, under which former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir were entitled to various privileges and perks, has now been omitted.
With this amendment, the former chief ministers would not be entitled for rent-free furnished accommodation, expenditure to the limit of Rs 35,000 per annum for furnishing of the residential accommodation, free telephone calls up to the value of Rs 48,000 per annum, free electricity to the extent of Rs 1,500 per month, car, petrol, medical facilities, driver and personal assistant.
The provisions were made through a gazette notification, titled the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Adaptation of State Laws) Order-2020.
Four former chief ministers of the erstwhile state -- Farooq Abdullah, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti -- are alive and all of them are central government protectees.
The amended Special Security Group, which mans the security of the chief minister and former chief ministers, will not provide security to family members of serving chief ministers. -- PTI
17:00 BMC's 'empty Mumbai' pictures
And another of Flora Fountain. The BMC also shared an image of the Gateway of India, all completely empty of people or traffic and urged people to stay home.
16:54 BMC shares images of city's popular but empty places
Mumbai's civic body shared these pictures from iconic locations in the city tweeting, "#MyBeautifulMumbaiClicked.
We know that youd love to be out there, soaking in the Mumbai sun.
So heres a glimpse of Aamchi Surakshit Mumbai to brighten up your day!
#SecondLineOfDefence
#SocialDistancing
#NaToCorona
PC: A Mumbaikar on the streets "
Image: An empty Marine Drive
16:50 Tablighi Jamat main reason for rise in cases: Govt
Ministry of Health updates on the COVID-19 pandemic.
-- Till now, there are 1637 COVID19 cases, including 386 new positive cases since yesterday. There have been 38 deaths. 132 people have recovered.
-- The number of positive cases have gone up since yesterday. One of main reasons for it is the travel by members of the Tablighi Jamat. 1800 people related to the Jamaat have been sent to nine hospitals and quarantine centers. The recent rise in cases does not represent a national trend.
-- Railways is preparing to set up 3.2 lakh isolation and quarantine beds by modifying 20000 coaches. Modification of 5000 coaches has begun. Lifeline flights have been started to transport essential commodities like testing kits, medicines & masks.
-- States have been asked to carry out intensive drives to ensure tests of those who came in contact with affected people and initiate rigorous contact tracing and containment strategies.
-- Health Ministry officials urged people to follow guidelines during the lockdown period and avoid congregations and religious gatherings.
Kotak Mahindra Bank dropped by 8.6%
16:34 Sensex begins 1st day of FY 20-2I in the red
Equity benchmark indices closed 4 per cent lower on the first day of new financial year (2020-21) as investors remained focused on rising coronavirus infections and its economic impact within and outside the country.
At the closing bell, the BSE S&P Sensex was down by 1,203 points or 4.08 per cent to 28,265 while the Nifty 50 tumbled by 344 points or 4 per cent at 8,254.
All sectoral indices at the National Stock Exchange were in the negative zone with Nifty IT down by 5.4 per cent, private bank by 4.8 per cent, financial service by 3.9 per cent and FMCG by 3.5 per cent.
Among stocks, private sector lenders Kotak Mahindra Bank and Axis Bank dropped by 8.6 per cent and 6.2 per cent respectively while State Bank of India dipped by 5 per cent.
IT majors too were under pressure with Tech Mahindra down by 9.4 per cent, Tata Consultancy Services by 6.1 per cent, Infosys by 5.8 per cent and HCL Technologies by 4.9 per cent. -- PTI
16:26 'Stupid advice'! PC slams interest rate cuts
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Wednesday described as a wrong step based on "stupid advice" the government's decision to reduce interest rates on small saving schemes and demanded its rollback. He also said though India's GDP for the last quarter could not be have been more than 4 per cent, it was time to focus on saving people's lives and not the GDP.
"I know that sometimes government acts on stupid advice, but I am amazed how stupid this advice was. While reducing the interest rate on PPF and small savings may be technically correct, it is absolutely the wrong time to do so," he said on Twitter.
The former finance minister said in times of acute distress and uncertainty about income, people depend on the interest income on their savings. "Government must reconsider immediately and restore old rates until June 30," he said. Talking about the GDP, he said after the three quarters' growth rates of 5.6, 5.1 and 4.7 per cent respectively, the fourth quarter of 2019-20 ended Tuesday.
"Q4 growth could not have been more than 4 per cent. So annual GDP for 2019-20 must be a disappointing 4.8 per cent," he said. He, however, said, this was the time of discussing growth rate of coronavirus and not GDP.
"Once Corona is in control automatically GDP will increase," he said on the social networking website. "In my view, we should not worry about growth now. The focus should be on saving people's lives whatever it takes," he said. -- PTI
Representational image
16:21 Two Safdarjung Hospital docs test positive for COVID-19
Two resident doctors of Safdarjung Hospital have tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday.
Of the two doctors who were tested positive, one is a male posted at COVID-19 unit and the other is a female third-year post graduation student from the Biochemistry Department, officials said.
According to officials, the student has a past travel history to a foreign nation."Both the doctors have been admitted to the isolation ward," hospital officials said while adding that contact tracing of these two doctors is being done.
Earlier today, a doctor of the Delhi State Cancer Institute was confirmed positive for COVID-19.
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of COVID-19 positive cases has reached 1637 in India, including 1466 active cases, 133 cured, discharged or migrated and 38 deaths. -- ANI
16:18 Mercedes, Infosys to set up quarantine facilities
-- Mercedes-Benz India announced on Wednesday it will set up in association with local authorities a temporary hospital with 1,500-bed isolation wards for corona virus patients in Chakan in Pune. Besides, its employees will voluntarily contribute one day's salary, the amount of which will be matched by the company towards contribution to the Maharashtra Chief Minister's Relief Fund for COVID-19 pandemic.
-- Infosys Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Infosys, on Wednesday said it has partnered Narayana Health to open a 100-room quarantine facility for COVID-19 patients in the vicinity of Narayana Health City in Bengaluru.
16:15 Infection is now in the community: Dr Gilada
Dr Trupti Gilada, an infectious disease specialist practicing in Mumbai, weighs in on the COVID-19 pandemic amid amid the lockdown in India.
-- The effect of the lockdown is something we will see only after two weeks from its start. What we are seeing now is the effect of the pre-lockdown period (given that the incubation period is up to 14 days).
-- Also lockdown is just one aspect of the strategy. The other important aspect is testing and isolating the infected -- and I think we definitely delayed doing that and are still not doing it aggressively enough. The infection is now in the community and in crowded places like slums and Chawls -- so the situation will get more tricky to handle in the days to follow.
-- The other aspect which may widely affect the epidemic is the mass migration from cities to villages which may have taken the disease to places where it will take a while to track them down. To add to it is the Jamaat incident in Delhi. Our lockdown wasn't a lockdown in the full sense -- time will tell how badly we get punished for this.
Read Dr Gilada's interview with Vaihayasi Pande Daniel/Rediff.com
Representational image
16:05 Nurses of Mumbai COVID-19 hospital demand PPE
As many as 18 nurses and medical staff from civic-run Balasaheb Thackeray Hospital in Jogeshwari on Wednesday staged a protest demanding protective gear to attend to COVID-19 patients admitted at the facility. The protesting medical staff from Balasaheb Thackeray Hospital signed a letter addressed to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's medical officer. The hospital was converted into a COVID-19 facility, for treating positive patients and suspected cases, the letter stated.
"Despite the guidelines, we have not been provided the required kits for our own safety while serving patients. If any one of us suffers from the infection, the BMC would be solely responsible for it," the nurses have stated in the letter. As many as 167 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Mumbai, of which 14 have recovered from the infection. PTI
15:28 Foreigners at Markaz violated visa rules: Govt
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Wednesday said that foreigners who had participated in the Tablighi Jamaat had violated visa conditions and concerned states have been asked to initiate action against them and organizers of the event.
The Ministry informed that Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba held a meeting today via video-conferencing with all the Chief Secretaries/DGPs of states and they were sensitized about the intensive contact tracing of Tablighi Jamaat participants as this has increased the risk of containment efforts of COVID-19.
"It has been found that foreigners who had participated in the Tablighi Jamaat had violated visa conditions. Concerned states were asked (in the meeting) to initiate action for violation of visa condition against the foreigners and the organizers of the event," said Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in a press release.
"States were asked to implement the Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Yojana within the next week. This will involve large cash transfer to beneficiaries. It should be organized in a staggered manner to ensure social distance," it added.
It was noted that lockdown is being implemented effectively all over the country. The States were asked to ensure that intra-state movement of goods is allowed without any hindrance while maintaining social distance, the Ministry added.
The press release further read that the manufacturing of essential goods should be ensured. It should also be ensured that the supply chains of such goods are maintained.
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of COVID-19 positive cases have reached 1,637 in India, including 1,466 active cases, 133 cured/discharged/migrated people and 38 deaths. -- ANI
Image: Workers sanitise the Nizamuddin Markaz area after participants at the jamaat tested positive for COVID-19. Pic: ANI
15:09 Wipro, Azim Premji Foundation pledge Rs 1125 cr
Wipro Ltd, Wipro Enterprises Ltd and Azim Premji Foundation, have together committed Rs 1,125 crore towards tackling the unprecedented health and humanitarian crisis arising from the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. "These resources will help enable the dedicated medical and service fraternity in the frontline of the battle against the pandemic and in mitigating its wide-ranging human impact, particularly on the most disadvantaged of our society," they said on Wednesday.
Integrated action will be taken for a comprehensive on-the-ground response in specific geographies, focused on immediate humanitarian aid, and augmentation of healthcare capacity, including containing the COVID-19 outbreak and treating those affected by it.
These responses will be carefully coordinated with relevant government institutions and executed by the Azim Premji Foundation's 1,600-person team in collaboration with many of its over 350 strong civil society partners who have a deep presence across the country.
"These efforts will fully leverage the technology expertise, sourcing systems, infrastructure and distribution reach of Wipro," according to an official statement.
Of the Rs 1,125 crore, Wipro Ltd's commitment is Rs 100 crore, Wipro Enterprises Ltd's is Rs 25 crore, and that of the Azim Premji Foundation is Rs 1,000 crore. These sums are in addition to the annual CSR activities of Wipro and the usual philanthropic spends of the Azim Premji Foundation. -- ANI
15:04 Rs 1 cr compensation for families of health, sanitation workers
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announces Rs 1 crore compensation for anyone who loses their life while serving COVID-19 patients, whether sanitation workers, doctors or nurses. "Their family will be provided Rs 1 crore as respect to their service. Whether they are from private or government sector doesn't matter," Kejriwal said.
Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal on Wednesday asked authorities to deploy fire services personnel for disinfecting COVID-19 hotspots, quarantine centres and public places to check the spread of the virus, which has infected at least 120 people and killed two in the national capital. Baijal held a high-level meeting with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Secretary Vijay Kumar Dev, Police Commissioner S N Srivastava and other senior officers to review containment measures being taken in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
14:55 Next 2 weeks crucial as Singapore enters new phase of community transmission
The next two weeks are crucial in the battle against coronavirus, experts warned a day earlier, after new clusters and infection-related cases with no known connections were reported in Singapore. Whether this potential time bomb is defused or not is now firmly in the hands of each individual in the country, they stressed as quoted by The Strait Times.
"People must decide at this point whether they choose to cooperate and listen to the reminders on personal hygiene, physical distancing and to stay at home unless absolutely necessary, or if they continue to behave irresponsibly especially in public," said Professor Teo Yik Ying, Dean of the National University of Singapore's Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health.
"Right now, it is really in the hands of ordinary citizens to act responsibly and break any community transmission in Singapore. If many in Singapore refuse to follow the simple instructions, then no matter what the Government puts in place, we will see an uncontrollable outbreak," he added.
In Singapore, the number of unlinked cases has seen an upward trend in the last few days, with the Health Ministry conducting contact tracing for 93 locally transmitted cases as of yesterday.
The number of local cases in the country spiked by nearly 15 per cent, compared with a five per cent rise in imported cases in the last three days. As of now, the local cases looks set to take over imported cases as the number of people returning from abroad shrinks.
Associate Professor Hsu Li Yang, also from the same varsity, said that if the number of cases can be held in check, it bodes well for the longer term.
"If we can get through this and next week without a dramatic rise in cases - particularly unlinked cases - we should achieve a period of stability again," the professor added.As imported cases taper off, the nation is entering a new phase of community transmission, with local cases set to dominate yet again. This is of concern because it means the virus is becoming more entrenched in the community. -- ANI
Image: A view of a licensed brothel in Singapore, that is now shut down. Pic: Reuters.
14:45 Stricter measures if you defy lockdown: Maha govt
People should learn lessons from COVID-19 victims in the US, Italy and Spain and not venture out of their homes, Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said on Wednesday as he warned of taking stricter measures if citizens continue to roam around on streets despite the lockdown. Pawar's warning came amid reports of blatant violation of the lockdown norms by people from many cities. He said people stepping out of their homes in large numbers to purchase vegetables and grocery are endangering the very purpose of the measures undertaken by the Central and state governments to check the spread of novel coronavirus.
"They should respect the sacrifices made by doctors, paramedical staff, police and sanitation workers who have risked their lives in fighting corona (virus)," the deputy CM stated. Appealing to people to stop crowding to purchase vegetables, he said those who behave irresponsibly and defy rules will not be spared.
Expressing concern over the rising number of COVID-19 patients in Maharashtra, Pawar said the people venturing out to purchase vegetables during morning hours in this context endangered the very aim of lockdown. "(The government) will have to review the current situation and take stricter measures if the people continue to congregate unnecessarily," Pawar said.
Maharashtra has till now reported 320 COVID19 positive cases including 12 deaths. Pawar further said that the fight against corona virus is receiving setback because of the few who are behaving irresponsibly. "But this irresponsible approach will not be tolerated now if the battle against corona virus is to be won," he added. Pawar also said that the departments like the public health, home, revenue, food and civil supplies, urban, rural and others are working at the war-level in tackling the COVID 19 and also thanked those people who have been staying inside their homes. -- PTI
14:30 Dear Muslims, Tablighi Jamaat committed a crime against humanity
I am not encouraging Islamophobia, it is a prejudice that needs fierce opposition but if this isn't plain stupidity in the name of Allah, then what is? Read the report here.
Representational image
14:25 Women students stranded due to lockdown can reach out for help: NCW
Women students stranded in different cities away from their homes due to the lockdown can contact the National Commission for Women for help, its chairperson Rekha Sharma has said. Sharma assured them that the NCW will work through the state government and "help will reach them". India is under a 21-day lockdown with its 1.3 billion people instructed to stay home in view of the coronavirus outbreak, which has claimed 32 lives and infected over 1,200 people in the country.
On Tuesday, Sharma also held a meeting with NCW members to discuss the matter. "Had Meeting with @NCWIndia members and discussed how we can help girl students who got stranded in different cities and couldn't go home. Will be reaching out to universities to get the details," Sharma said in a tweet. The girls can reach out to to the NCW through the following email adresses - mailto:chairperson-ncw@nic.in"chairperson-ncw@nic.in and mailto:sharma.rekha@gov.in"sharma.rekha@gov.in. PTI
13:57 All 43 tested who got COVID-19 attended Nizamuddin event: AP
All the 43 patients who were tested positive for COVID-19 in Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday have returned after attending the event at Delhi's Nizamuddin Markaz, said Chief Minister's Office, Andhra Pradesh. With 43 new COVID-19 positive cases, the total number of coronavirus cases in Andhra Pradesh has reached 87, informed the state Nodal Office earlier today.
The 43 new coronavirus positive cases were reported between March 31, 9 pm and April 1, 9 am. A total of 373 samples were tested during this time period and of these samples, 330 were negative and 43 came out to be positive.
There has been an increase of 240 COVID-19 cases in the last 12 hours across the country.According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of COVID-19 positive cases have reached 1637 in India, including 1466 active cases, 133 cured/discharged/migrated people and 38 deaths. -- ANI
An empty street in Wuhan
13:47 2nd wave? 1541 asymptomatic cases in China
For the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak, China on Wednesday revealed the presence of 1,541 asymptomatic cases carrying the deadly novel coronavirus, raising concerns of a second wave of infections amid the relaxation of stringent measures in the country initiated to contain the deadly disease.
Asymptomatic coronavirus cases are those who carry the virus but do not show any symptoms and can cause sporadic clusters of infections. In a surprise announcement on Tuesday, China's National Health Commission said it would begin to release the data of asymptomatic patients.
A total of 1,541 asymptomatic patients infected with COVID-19 have been put under medical observation in China by the end of Monday, including 205 imported cases, state-run Xinhua news agency quoted the NHC in a statement. Besides the asymptomatic cases, there are reports of 35 new imported cases and one domestic infection, NHC said on Wednesday.
The total number of imported cases has risen to 806, it said. Seven more people have died of the disease, taking the total number to 3,312. As of Tuesday, a total of 81,554 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 had been reported on the Chinese mainland. The announcement about asymptomatic cases came as the other countries are including asymptomatic cases in their number of confirmed cases for their potential to infect others. -- PTI
Image: A view of a street in Wuhan, Hubei province, the epicentre of China's coronavirus disease outbreak. Pic: Reuters.
13:24 Defence minister holds COVID-19 review meeting
Defence minister Rajnath Singh held a review meeting via video conferencing with the CDS, Service Chiefs, Secretaries, and DPSUs to discuss the preparedness and ongoing efforts towards tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. The defence minister said the armed forces and the Ministry of Defence are fully prepared and geared up to face any situation.
13:20 Doval intervened to get Markaz Nizamuddin vacated
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval had been in touch with representatives of the Jamaat in Nizamuddin to convince them to vacate the Markaz premises and get tested for COVID-19, claimed government sources. More than 2,000 people attended the congregation there. "The NSA had to intervene as there was a large congregation going on there for several days and after his intervention, the Jamaat leaders also cooperated and vacated the place," the sources said.
Over the years, the NSA has established good terms with the Muslim leadership and his connections have come handy in the past also while trying to defuse communal tensions. This was evident during the recent Delhi riots, as well as when the tension started brewing up around the Ram Mandir Temple, Ayodhya verdict by the Supreme Court, the sources said.
A huge religious gathering was held at the Markaz building in Nizamuddin between March 13-15, the gathering came into the spotlight after over 24 people who attended the event tested positive for coronavirus.
Nizamuddin Markaz and the area around it being was sanitised by a team of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation after the people were brought out earlier today. -- ANI
Migrant workers head home
13:15 23 COVID-19 positive cases in Bihar
23 COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in the state till today morning, informed Bihar Health Department on Wednesday. "The rise in cases is very concerning," said Sanjay Kumar, Principal Secretary, Bihar Health Department. "The State government has decided to test all the people who have returned from abroad after March 18 because we have found that even those who had no symptoms have tested positive," he said. -- ANI
13:10 UK extends work visas for Indian, foreign doctors amid coronavirus outbreak
In a relief to foreign doctors, including from India, whose visas were set to expire in October this year, the UK government has extended the deadline by one year amid the country's fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The UK government on Tuesday confirmed that foreign doctors, including from India, whose visas are set to expire before October this year will get an automatic extension for one year as they battle the coronavirus pandemic for the country's National Health Service (NHS). The extension, announced by UK Home Secretary Priti Patel, will apply to around 2,800 migrant doctors, nurses and paramedics employed by the NHS whose visa is due to expire before October 1.
"Doctors, nurses and paramedics from all over the world are playing a leading role in the NHS' efforts to tackle coronavirus and save lives. We owe them a great deal of gratitude for all that they do," said Patel. "I don't want them distracted by the visa process. That is why I have automatically extended their visas -- free of charge -- for a further year," the Indian-origin minister said. The free of charge extension will also apply to their family members, demonstrating how valued overseas NHS staff are to the UK, the Home Office said. -- PTI
13:08 India COVID-19 tally: 1637 with 240 fresh cases
Update from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: There has been an increase of 240 COVID-19 cases in the last 12 hours. Total number of COVID-19 positive cases rise to 1637 in India (including 1466 active cases, 133 cured/discharged/migrated people and 38 deaths).
12:50 RBI announces more measures to deal with economic fallout of Covid-19
The Reserve Bank of India on Wednesday announced more measures, including extension of period for realisation and repatriation of export proceeds, to deal with the economic fallout of Covid-19 pandemic. It also increased ways and means advances limit by 30 per cent from existing limit for all states and union territories. In a statement, the RBI said presently value of goods or software exports made by the exporters is required to be realised fully and repatriated to the country within a period of 9 months from the date of exports. "In view of the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the time period for realization and repatriation of export proceeds for exports made up to or on July 31, 2020, has been extended to 15 months from the date of export," it said. -- PTI
12:48 Pak refuses food to Hindus as Covid-19 rages
The world is united in fighting against Covid-19 pandemic but for Pakistan, religious discrimination remains a top priority amidst this global crisis. The country's Hindus and Christian minorities are not being given food supplies by authorities, saying they are meant for the Muslims. The number of COVID-19 cases crossed 1,900 in the country.
"Authorities are not helping us during the lockdown, the ration is also not being provided to us because we are part of a minority community," a Hindu man lamented.
Scores of marginalised people gather at Karachi's Rehrri Ghoth to receive food supplies and daily essentials as shops remain shut to curb the spread of coronavirus. But those belonging to the Hindu community are told to go back since the rations are only meant for Muslims."We only hear that people in our neighbourhoods are receiving essential goods. My son drives the rickshaw. Due to the lockdown, all services have been suspended. He is sitting idle at home. We do not have anything to eat. We have no money. Even when we visit the ration distribution centers, the authorities assure us that they will send essential items in separate trucks but eventually they don't," said another member of the Hindu community in Karachi.
Hindus in Pakistan form a 4 per cent of the country's population. The community is subjected to rampant discrimination and are often denied basic human rights. -- ANI
Image: People reach out to get handouts from a charity in Karachi on Monday. Pic: ANI
Prakash Javadekar's now-deleted tweet watching the epic
12:40 Two India's - one watching Ramayana, other fighting for survival: Sibal
In an apparent reference to the situation of the migrant labourers across the country, Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Wednesday said that there are two types of people, one who are performing yoga and watching Ramayana while other, who are trying to reach home, are fighting for survival. Sibal tweeted, Two India's -- One ( at home ) Doing yoga Watching Ramayana Playing Antakshari The other ( trying to reach home ) Fighting for survival Without food Without shelter Without support."
In another tweet, Sibal on Tuesday slammed the incident in which disinfectant was sprayed on migrant labourers who were returning to Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh."Disinfectant Spray. Time to sanitise our politics, Not migrant workers reaching Bareilly to go home They work -1) in factories, 2) harvest crops, 3) in restaurants, hotels, 4) in construction projects, highways, 5) in homes. They build India, Treat them with dignity," Sibal tweeted.
Earlier on Monday, after a video went viral in which officials wearing protection gear were seen spraying disinfectant on migrant labourers in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly, the government said that action has been taken against those responsible. -- ANI
12:18 US COVID-19 death toll higher than 9/11 attacks
The coronavirus deaths crossed 4,000 in the US on Wednesday, a number higher than the ghastly 9/11 terror attacks in the country, even as the top health experts projected that the pandemic could kill between 100,000 and 200,000 Americans. According to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Centre, more than 4,000 people in the US have died due to COVID-19 and nearly 190,000 have been infected by it. Nearly 3,000 people perished in the attacks carried out by al Qaeda terrorists in the US in 2001.
The COVID-19 death toll in the US is also higher than the total number of people killed in China. China, which is the epicentre of the virus, witnessed 3,310 deaths. Globally, there are nearly 860,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and over 42,000 people worldwide have died of the disease. At 82,294 cases, China now has the fourth highest number of COVID-19 cases following the US, Italy and Spain. President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned that the US was headed for a "tough two weeks" and advised people to be prepared for the "hard days" ahead.
"We're going to go through a very tough two weeks and then, hopefully, as the experts are predicting, as I think a lot of us are predicting after having studied it so hard, we are going to start seeing some real light at the end of the tunnel. But this is going to be a very painful, very, very, very painful two weeks," Trump said.
Image: A worker inspects part of a delivery of 64 hospital beds from Hillrom to The Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan, New York City. Pic: Reuters.
12:10 India's oldest COVID-19 survivor loves his rice gruel with tapioca chips
At 93 years of age, Thomas Abraham has simple wants Pazhankanji, Kerala's own super food made of rice gruel, and tapioca or jackfruit snacks. And that's what he insisted on eating while confined in the isolation ward after becoming India's oldest COVID-19 survivor in what is being dubbed by the medical community as a "miracle cure".
Thomas and his wife Mariyamma, 88, both have been fully cured after days of life-and-death battle against the deadly virus which they contracted from their son, daughter- in-law and grandson who returned from Italy last month. All three have also recovered fully and are now waiting for the return of the miracle couple home. Doctors say the couple will probably be discharged on Wednesday from the Kottayam Medical College Hospital where they were in critical condition for days. Coronavirus is known to be especially deadly for elderly people.
The secret behind their recovery seems to be the healthy lifestyle they have been leading, said Rijo Moncy, their grandson half-jokingly. He said Thomas, a farmer in Ranni sub-division of Pathanamthitta district, is a very healthy person being a teetotaller and non-smoker. Even without going to the gym, he had a six-pack body. "It's a miracle that they survived the pandemic and the doctors and the health officials have put in their all efforts to save them," said Rijo who works in Italy in the radiology field.
He and his parents, who also have been living in Italy for many years, praised the state government, which also has the distinction of having cured India's first three coronavirus cases earlier. "We were planning to come to Kerala in August but advanced the journey as my grandfather insisted that we should visit him soon. However, now we feel that it was a blessing or else we would have been in Italy right now," Rijo told PTI.
Representational image
12:06 All 107 from MP who attended Nizamuddin jamaat quarantined
All 107 people from Madhya Pradesh who attended the religious congregation at Nizamuddin West, which has turned out as one of the major COVID-19 hotspots in the country, have been identified and quarantined, a senior official said on Wednesday. The gathering at Markaz Nizamuddin, the Delhi headquarters of the Tabligh-e-Jamaat, was held earlier this month.
12:04 300 from K'taka attended Nizamuddin jamaat
Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu on Wednesday said about 300 people from the state had attended the religious congregation of Tablighi Jamaat at Nizamuddin Markaz Masjid in New Delhi last month, and 40 of them have been identified and quarantined.
In a tweet, the Minister also said COVID-19 test reports of 12 of them have come out as negative. Stating that government has got information about 62 Malaysia and Indonesia nationals who had attended the congregation have come to Karnataka, in an another tweet Sriramulu said, 12 of them have been identified and quarantined.
"The Home Department and the Health Department will identify and quarantine those who are staying here without going to their country," he added. Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai had last night said about 300 people from the state had attended the religious congregation of Tablighi Jamaat and efforts were on to identify and quarantine them.
Stating that those who attended the congregation, including few foreign nationals have traveled to various parts of the country after it was over, Bommai in a release issued on Tuesday night said it is found that several of them have been affected by COVID-19, and 6 people had died in Telangana, while one each in Andaman and Nicobar.
"A 60-year old man from Sira in Tamukuru district of Karnataka who died last week and was positive for infection, had also attended the congregation," he said adding according to reports at least 62 foreign nationals have traveled to Karnataka. While 12 of them have traveled back, the remaining 50 of them still here have been quarantined and are undergoing tests, he added. -- PTI
11:46 Trump urged to pause H1B visa programme after job loss amidst layoffs
A US body representing American technology workers has urged President Donald Trump to suspend for this year the H-1B visa programme, the most sought-after among the Indian IT professionals, to protect their interests amidst the massive layoffs in the country due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.
Companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China. US Tech Workers, a nonprofit organisation which describes itself as representing the voices of American workers harmed by the H-1B visa programme, in its letter to Trump also urged him to suspend the H-2B visa programmes for the foreign guest workers too. -- PTI
11:43 J-K new domicile law: 15 yrs stay to be eligible
The Narendra Modi government has redefined the duration of domicile for government jobs in the newly-created Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir through the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Adaptation of State Laws) Order, 2020, issued late Tuesday night.
According to the notification, anyone who has resided in J&K for 15 years or has studied in the state for seven years, and appeared in either the Class 10 or the Class 12 examination, will be eligible for domicile certificates. This would allow them to apply for gazetted and non-gazetted government jobs.
According to the earlier domicile laws, only J&K residents were eligible to apply for jobs or own immovable property in the erstwhile state.
11:36 Markaz Nizamuddin cleared, 2361 people evacuated
The Tabligh-e-Jamaat's Markaz in Nizamuddin West, which is among the major COVID-19 hotspots in the country, has been cleared after the evacuation of 2,361 people in the past 36 hours, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said on Wednesday.
Taking to Twitter, Sisodia said that out of the 2,361 people, 617 have been admitted to hospitals while the rest quarantined. "The medical staff, administration, police and DTC staff worked together in this 36-hour operation, putting their lives at risk. Hats off to all of them," the deputy chief minister said in another tweet.
The total number of coronavirus cases in Delhi climbed to 120 on Tuesday after 23 new cases of the disease were reported on Tuesday. These 120 cases include 24 people who took part in a religious congregation at the Markaz in Nizamuddin West earlier this month. Till Monday night, the number of cases of the deadly COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) stood at 97, including two deaths. -- PTI
11:30 120 COVID-19 cases in Delhi, 1 person on ventilator
Delhi: A total of 120 positive COVID-19 cases in the national capital. A total of 750 people are admitted in hospitals across Delhi, of which only one person is on ventilator, says Delhi Health Minister Satyender Jain. "As of today, the Delhi govt has 1000 beds dedicated for COVID-19 patients. It has been decided that Lok Nayak Hospital and Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital will now be used for Coronavirus patients only," he said.
Delhi Health Minister Satyender Jain
11:18 Doc who visited brother down from UK tests positive
This is why you should follow social distancing. In Delhi, a doctor working at a Delhi government hospital has tested positive for COVID19. The doctor working at Delhi State Cancer Institution tested positive after she visited her brother's house recently. He had returned from the United Kingdom a few days back. The hospital has been shut for today and is being disinfected, Delhi Health Minister Satyender Jain, said.
11:15 In Mumbai's Dadar people flock to buy veggies, fruits
People in Dadar, central Mumbai, violated the lockdown orders on Wednesday morning and flocked to the local wholesale market for buying essential commodities. Scores of people broke the social distancing that ought to be maintained in the backdrop of COVID-19 outbreak. Both men and women were seen standing in large groups near the vendors to buy fruits and vegetables.
11:11 Centre seeks SC's direction asking media to report official version on COVID-19
The Centre has sought directions from the Supreme Court for the media houses not to publish, print or telecast anything without first confirming it from the concerned authorities, keeping in view the sensitivity of the news regarding COVID-19 in the country.
The Central government had filed its status report with respect to the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by a lawyer, Alakh Alok Srivastava, seeking a direction to provide food, medicines, shelter and other basic necessities to migrant labourers and workers amid the national lockdown.
The Centre stated in its report that it wanted media houses not to publish the news of COVID-19, without asking the Central government authorities, who are assigned to talk to media houses, keeping in view the welfare and benefit of migration labourers and other people due to the pandemic.
"We expect the media (print, electronic or social) to maintain a strong sense of social responsibility and ensure that unverified news -- capable of causing panic--is not disseminated," the report stated.
The report added: "We do not intend to interfere with the free discussion about the pandemic but direct the media to refer and publish the official version about the developments.
"The Supreme Court is yet to take a call and pass any order on the status report filed by the Centre.The total number of coronavirus cases in India rose to 1,397 after 146 new patients were reported in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Tuesday. -- ANI
11:04 Cabinet secy holds meet on Nizamuddin Markaz
Union Cabinet Secretary Rajeev Gauba is currently holding a meeting with all state Chief Secretaries and DGPs on the Nizamuddin Markaz issue and its pan- India impact. Following the meeting, new directions will be issued to states.
Indian authorities have launched a nationwide search to identify and isolate participants at the Tablighi Jamath religious congregation in Nizamuddin held last month.
There are fears that thousands present there could have carried the infection to the length and breadth of the country. From March 1-15, over 2,000 delegates, including those from countries like France, Indonesia and Malaysia, attended the religious gathering organised at Markaz in Delhi's Nizamuddin.
The participants then returned to their homes in virtually every state, including Telangana, West Bengal, Karnataka and Gujarat. Many of these states have reported COVID-19 cases linked to this congregation. Seven deaths on Monday were reported in connection with COVID-19 spread from the congregation.
Several fresh cases of COVID-19 infection were reported on Tuesday from Delhi, Maharashtra, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir and Bihar.
10:44 Talibani crime, Naqvi calls Markaz issue
COVID-19 update on the Markaz Nizamuddin issue: MA Naqvi, Union Minority Affairs Minister on the Markaz case: It is a Talibani crime by the Tabhleeghi Jamaat. Such criminal act cannot be forgiven. They have put lives of many people in danger. Strict action should be taken against such people and organisations that defy govt directions.
The Erode district administration in Tamil Nadu has asked Muslims who participated in the Tablighi Jamaat in Delhi's Nizamuddin to come forward and undergo a COVID19 test. Sulthanpet, Manickam Palayam and BP Agraharam,where Muslim population density is high, have been cordoned off, the Erode District Collector said. "The address of individuals who travelled via flight and train could only be traced. Tablighi Jamaat representatives from Tamil Nadu in Erode have been asked to give details of those who travelled to Delhi," the Erode District Collector said.
B Sriramulu, Karnataka Health Minister: We got information that 62 Indonesian and Malaysian nationals who took part in prayers in Delhi (Markaz) had visited Karnataka as well. We have detected 12 such people and quarantined them. The home department will investigate the case further.
Ahmednagar District Collector: 34 people traced in Ahmednagar, including 29 foreigners who had attended the Markaz in Nizamuddin, Delhi. Out of these 29 foreigners, results of 14 have come & 2 have tested positive for COVID19. 3 people who came in contact with them also tested positive.
Kotak Bank was the top loser in the Sensex pack
10:31 Sensex plunges over 700 pts; Nifty drops below 8400
Equity benchmark Sensex slumped over 700 points in early trade on Wednesday tracking losses in index heavyweights Reliance Industries, Kotak Bank, HDFC Bank and Infosys amid weak cues from global markets.
Starting the new financial year on a negative note, the 30-share BSE barometer was trading 714.74 points or 2.43 per cent lower at 28,753.75. Similarly, the NSE Nifty fell 199 points, or 2.31 per cent, to 8,398.75.
Kotak Bank was the top loser in the Sensex pack, cracking up to 8 per cent, followed by SBI, Infosys, HDFC Bank, Tech Mahindra and UltraTech Cement. On the other hand, IndusInd Bank and PowerGrid were the gainers.
10:09 Yediyurappa to donate one year's salary
Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Wednesday announced he will donate his one year's salary to the Chief Minister Relief Fund COVID-19. He has appealed to Ministers, legislators, Members of Parliament, officials and citizens to also do their bit and contribute in whatever capacity possible to help the state in fighting the coronavirus outbreak. "It is a very difficult time that we are all going through. And it is important that we fight this epidemic together. Personally, I am donating my one year's salary to the #CMRF Covid19. I request you all to contribute, however small, and help #Karnataka fight #Corona.Thank you," Yediyurappa tweeted along with a video message announcing the same.
Yediyurappa on March 25 had appealed to people to help the state government by donating money for the advanced medical support system to fight the spread of COVID-19. Those willing to donate can transfer funds online and also send cheques or DDs to Chief Minister Relief Fund COVID- 19, he had said. -- PTI
10:05 Lockdown relaxed in Mangaluru
People rushed to buy essentials in parts of Mangaluru after the lockdown was relaxed for 9 hours (6 am to 3 pm) yesterday. As can be seen, nobody practiced social distancing.
A near-empty DTC bus yesterday
10:03 ISIS might target police during COVID-19 lockdown: Delhi Police
A Delhi Police official said that 'ISIS terrorists' are likely to target police personnel deployed during COVID-19 duty in the national capital."Police personnel deployed at various pickets, barricades in Delhi in connection with maintaining of law and order in Delhi during the COVID-19 duty may be targeted by suspected ISIS operatives. The field staff may be briefed accordingly," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) talking to ANI.
The total number of coronavirus cases in India climbed to 1397 on Tuesday after 146 new infections were reported in the past 24 hours across the country. The death toll due to the COVID-19 rose to 35 while 123 cases were cured or discharged after treatment, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said.
09:58 Home delivery of pensions in AP
In Amaravati, the Andhra Pradesh Government has started door to door distribution of welfare pensions from today, amid the Corona lockdown. The state government says it has paid pensions to 31 lakhs pensioners till now, out of 59 lakhs pensioners in the state.
Representational image
09:57 20 new COVID-19 cases in MP; tally jumps to 86
Twenty more people tested positive for coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday, taking the total number of such cases in the state to 86, a health official said.
Among the new cases, 19 were reported from Indore and one from the neighbouring Khargone district, he said. Of the 19 new patients in Indore, nine are from one family, including three children, aged 3, 5 and 8, residing in Tanzeem Nagar area of the city, the official said.
A police official from Indore is also among the new coronavirus patients. He is admitted to a private hospital, Additional Superintendent of Police Guru Prasad Parashar said.
As a precautionary measure, the police officials wife and two daughters are also kept in a separate ward of the hospital. -- PTI
09:37 COVID-19 pandemic biggest crisis since WW II: UN
The coronavirus pandemic is the most challenging crisis the world faces since the Second World War, one that is killing people and will also lead to an economic recession that probably has no parallel in the recent past, UN chief Antonio Guterres has warned.
Secretary General Guterres on Tuesday launched a new report 'Shared responsibility, global solidarity: Responding to the socio-economic' on the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19.
"We are facing a global health crisis unlike any in the 75-year history of the United Nations '" one that is killing people, spreading human suffering, and upending people's lives. But this is much more than a health crisis. It is a human crisis," Guterres said at the virtual launch of the report. Later, in response to a question on why he thinks the pandemic is the worst global crisis since the UN was founded, Guterres said "because it is a combination, on one hand, of a disease that represents a threat to everybody in the world and, second, because it has an economic impact that will bring a recession that probably has no parallel in the recent past."
"The combination of the two facts and the risk that it contributes to enhanced instability, enhanced unrest, and enhanced conflict are things that make us believe that this is, indeed, the most challenging crisis we have faced since the Second World War and the one that needs a stronger and more effective response that is only possible in solidarity if everybody come together and if we forget political games and understand that it is humankind that is at stake."
The UN chief said the human crisis demands "coordinated, decisive, inclusive and innovative policy action from the world's leading economies '" and maximum financial and technical support for the poorest and most vulnerable people and countries."
Guterres called for "an immediate coordinated health response to suppress transmission and end the pandemic' that "scales up health capacity for testing, tracing, quarantine and treatment, while keeping first responders safe, combined with measures to restrict movement and contact.'
According to the estimates by the Johns Hopkins University, there are more than 850,500 confirmed coronavirus cases in the world, and over 41,000 deaths. The US now has the highest number of cases in the world at 184,183 and more than 3,700 deaths. -- PTI
09:19 Andaman COVID-19 patients booked for misleading contact tracking
Deputy Commissioner of South Andaman District has ordered to register first information report against two people who have been tested positive for COVID-19 for continuously misleading contact tracking in tracking their contacts.
The two people tested positive have been identified as Farzand Ali and S Rehman.
These people have been giving wrong information about the places they visited during the home quarantine period apart from violating the terms and conditions of home quarantine.
Meanwhile, Deputy Director Heath and Nodal Officer in Andaman and Nicobar, COVID-19 Abhijit Roy, on Tuesday informed that nine out of the 10 people who tested positive for coronavirus in the Islands had attended a Tablighi Jamaat event at the Jamaat's headquarters in Delhi's Nizamuddin. -- PTI
09:13 2 more COVID-19 deaths in Maha, toll jumps to 12
Two more COVID-19 patients died in Maharashtra, taking the state toll to 12, health officials said on Wednesday.
One was a 75-year-old man from Mumbai, while the other, a 50-year-old man, died in adjoining Palghar district, the officials said.
"The 75-year-old male patient died here on Tuesday. We are finding details of his travel history and also checking if someone close to him had a travel history," an official said.
The Palghar man had no travel history, he said.
This is the first death reported from Palghar, a predominantly tribal district.
18 more people have tested positive for coronavirus in the state, taking the total number of such cases in the state to 320, a health official said on Wednesday.
"Maharashtra's COVID-19 tally till Tuesday night was 302. Today, we got reports of 18 more people testing positive for the viral infection. This has taken the state tally to 320," the official said.
Of the 18 new cases, 16 have been reported from Mumbai and two from Pune, he said. -- PTI
08:26 US reports record 865 COVID-19 deaths in a day
The United States has reported 865 coronavirus deaths in one day, setting a one-day record, according to Johns Hopkins University.
President Donald Trump warned that the US is headed for a 'tough two weeks', advising people to be prepared for the 'hard days' ahead, as the country fights the fast-spreading coronavirus pandemic that the White House projects could claim one to two lakh lives in the coming weeks.
Trump's remarks came as Deborah Bix, a member of White House Task Force on coronavirus, based on a model from actual data from the ground, said the death toll in the US could be between 100,000 to 200,000, with the strict implementation of the existing mitigation measures including social distancing till April 30.
If no steps were to be taken, the death toll could range between 1.5 million and 2.2 million, Brix said on a day when the confirmed number of coronavirus infections in the US, according to the Worldometer website, skyrocketed to over 188,000, adding more than 24,000 new cases in a single day and the fatalities rose to 3,867.
"I want every American to be prepared for the hard days that lie ahead," Trump told reporters on Tuesday at a briefing which has now become his daily coronavirus press conference at the White House for more than 10 days.
"We're going to go through a very tough two weeks and then, hopefully, as the experts are predicting, as I think a lot of us are predicting after having studied it so hard, we are going to start seeing some real light at the end of the tunnel. But this is going to be a very painful, very, very, very painful two weeks," Trump said.
In this grim scenario, where the daily death toll keeps on jumping at an unprecedented rate, and more than 250 million of the American population has been forced to stay inside their homes, the president asked his countrymen to be positive and cooperate in this war against the invisible army of coronavirus.
"I want to give people hope. I'm a cheerleader for the country," said Trump who is the seeking his re-election in the November presidential elections.
Campaigning has come to a standstill and it is unlikely to revive in the next few months.
The social distancing measures now have been extended for another 30 days till April 30.
The country is expected to face the peak in coronavirus around middle of April.
"We're going through the worst thing that the country has probably ever seen. Look, we had - the Civil War, we lost 600,000 people, right? Here's a thing, had we not done anything, we would have lost many times that. But we did something, so it's going to be, hopefully, way under that," he said.
"But you know, we lose more here potentially than you lose in world wars as a country. So there's nothing positive, there's nothing great about it, I want to get people in this country hope. I think it's very important," Trump said.
The United States is in the midst of a great national trial, Trump said. -- PTI
00:09 COVID-19 vaccine at least a year away: EU agency
It will be at least another year before a vaccine against the new coronavirus will be ready for approval and available in sufficient quantities, the Europen Union medicines agency said.
As the number of declared coronavirus cases worldwide passed 800,000 on Tuesday, according to an AFP tally, the race is on to develop a vaccine against COVID-19 which emerged from China late last year.
The European Medicines Agency said in a statement it "estimates that it might take at least one year before a vaccine against COVID-19 is ready for approval and available in sufficient quantities to enable widespread use".
This was based on current available information and past experience with vaccine development timeframes, the Amsterdam-based agency said.
It added that two vaccines have already entered a first phase of a clinical trials that was carried out on healthy volunteers.
But in general "timelines for the development of medicinal products are difficult to predict", the EMA said.
So far, no medicine has yet shown to be a treatment for the coronavirus, that has so far claimed some 40,000 lives.
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