The UN's human rights chief has expressed concern over the plight of millions of domestic migrants in India during the ongoing 21-day nationwide lockdown to stop the spread of the coronavirus, and welcomed the subsequent measures announced to address their situation, underscoring the need for "domestic solidarity and unity" to combat the epidemic.

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a complete lockdown for 21 days on March 24, triggering a mass movement of hundreds of thousands of migrant workers from their place of work in cities to homes in villages across India.

"The lockdown in India represents a massive logistical and implementation challenge given the population size and its density and we all hope the spread of the virus can be checked," UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said in a statement on Thursday in Geneva.

Bachelet said she was "distressed" by the plight of millions of domestic migrants affected by the sudden lockdown announced in India, noting that it is important to ensure that measures in response to the COVID-19 are "neither applied in a discriminatory manner nor exacerbate existing inequalities and vulnerabilities."

 The UN agency stressed that containing COVID-19 in the country, which hosts one-sixth of the world's population, will require effort not only from the government but also the population at large.

The high commissioner encouraged the government to work "shoulder-to-shoulder" with civil society on the response -- including many NGOs who are already providing relief.

"This is a time for domestic solidarity and unity. I encourage the government to draw on India's vibrant civil society to reach out to the most vulnerable sectors of society to ensure no one is left behind in this time of crisis," Bachelet said.

British Airways will temporarily lay off 28,000 employees, or 60 per cent of its workforce, due to the coronavirus crisis which is paralysing the sector, trade union Unite announced Thursday.

 

Unite, which represents thousands of workers employed by BA, said it had "reached agreement with the company" to use a version of the government's business support programme for around 28,000 staff, guaranteeing 80 percent of salaries to avoid redundancies.

But there will be no cap on earnings -- set at GBP 2,500 per month under the government scheme -- no unpaid temporary lay offs and no redundancies during the crisis, said the union.

"Given the incredibly difficult circumstances that the entire aviation sector is facing this is as good a deal as possible for our members," Unite national officer for aviation Oliver Richardson said.

"The deal protects the jobs of BA staff and, as far as possible, also protects their pay," he added.

The deal will now be sent to Unite's members at British Airways for final approval.

US Democrats will postpone their presidential convention by more than a month to August 17 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Democratic National Committee announced on Thursday.

"In our current climate of uncertainty, we believe the smartest approach is to take additional time to monitor how this situation unfolds so we can best position our party for a safe and successful convention," DNC Chief Executive Joe Solmonese said in a statement. 

"During this critical time, when the scope and scale of the pandemic and its impact remain unknown, we will continue to monitor the situation and follow the advice of health care professionals and emergency responders." 

The convention, originally slated for July 13, will be held in the US city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The decision followed a televised statement from former Vice President Joe Biden, frontrunner for the party's presidential nomination, urging that the convention be postponed at least until August.

A senior resident doctor of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi has tested positive for COVID-19, official sources confirmed on Thursday.

Sources say his wife, who is nine-month pregnant, has also tested positive for the novel coronavirus and has been isolated.

The doctor from the Physiology Department has been admitted to the new private ward of the hospital, official sources said, adding contact-tracing is being done and those identified are being screened and advised home-quarantine accordingly.

The source of the infection is yet to be ascertained, but official sources said the doctor does not have any foreign travel history.

A senior CRPF doctor, working as the chief medical officer at a Delhi-based hospital of the force, has tested positive for COVID-19, officials said on Thursday. They said the doctor has been admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Haryana's Jhajjar.

Two resident doctors of the Centre-run Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi have also tested positive for COVID-19. Besides, two doctors of Delhi government-run hospitals who have also tested positive for the coronavirus infection.

One of the Safdarjung Hospital doctors, who is part of the team treating COVID-19 patients at the hospital, is believed to have contracted the disease during the course of duty, the sources had said on  Wednesday.

The other medico, a female resident doctor who is a third-year post-graduate student of Biochemistry Department, had recently travelled abroad, they had said.

Both of them showed symptoms of COVID-19 and their test results came out positive three days ago. They are now undergoing treatment at the isolation ward of Safdarjung Hospital.

"All doctors and staff who had come in contact with them have been tested and so far nobody else has been found positive for coronavirus infection," said sources.

At Sardar Patel Hospital and Delhi State Cancer Institute too, a doctor each has tested positive for the coronavirus infection, the sources had said. 

Spiritual guru, Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev on Thursday appealed to the people not to blame a "specific religion" for the spread of coronavirus and stressed there should be no division in the name of caste and creed.

The yoga guru's appeal came at a time when Nizamuddin West in Delhi has emerged as an epicentre for the spread of coronavirus in different parts of the country after thousands of people took part in an Islamic congregation organised by Tablighi Jamaat from March 1-15 and returned to their states.

On Thursday, describing the contagion as "a very dangerous pandemic," Vasudev said one should be a part of the solution and not that of the problem.

"At a time like this, let us not create divisions in the name of religion, caste and creed. This is the time that as a generation of people we must stand up and see that this pandemic does not transform itself into a major calamity for this generation," he said in a video message.

He further said that by behaving responsibly and consciously we can ensure this pandemic passes off as a "minor aberration but not a major calamity."

Canadian public health officials are now reporting at least 10,132 cases of Covid-19 across the country and 127 deaths.

Officials stressed that the next two weeks will be crucial in determining the shape of the pandemic curve in Canada.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced questions Thursday about why modeling data had not yet been released in Canada, as the Trump administration has done in the US.

Trudeau said that modeling information would be released soon but stressed his government is reviewing data to ensure more accurate modeling.

How do we make sure the analysis that we apply to the data thats coming in, thats being published daily so Canadians can see it, actually makes sense and reflects whats going to happen in various regions across the country, he said.

The vast majority of Canadians are now under "stay at home" orders and most public schools have been closed for more than two weeks.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephonic conversation with UK's Prince Charles on Thursday and discussed the coronavirus crisis, with the British royal hailing the Indian diaspora's role in combatting the pandemic.

  

The prime minister conveyed his condolences for the loss of life in the UK over the past few days, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

Prime Minister Modi expressed satisfaction that the Prince of Wales had recovered from his own recent indisposition and wished him good health.

Prince Charles had tested positive for coronavirus last month. He expressed his appreciation for the members of the Indian diaspora in the UK, including many members of the National Health Service, who were playing a seminal role in combatting the pandemic, the statement said.

The Prince of Wales also referred to the selfless work being done by religious and social organisations of the Indian community in the UK.

He thanked the prime minister for the facilitation and assistance provided for UK citizens stranded in India during the present crisis.

Modi also thanked Prince Charles for the keen interest he has always taken in Ayurveda.

Shah Rukh Khan on Thursday announced a series of initiatives to help the central and state governments in their fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

 

The actor has taken the help of his companies -- Kolkata Knight Riders, Red Chillies Entertainment, Meer Foundation and Red Chillies VFX -- to provide support to the governments.

"Given the enormity of the task, my team and I discussed ways to contribute in our own modest way. We have come up with a series of initiatives, which we hope will make a small difference," he said in a statement posted on the Twitter handle of Red Chillies.

The actor lauded the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief ministers of the states, particularly naming Uddhav Thackeray, Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal, in the fight against the COVID-19.

Shah Rukh said he along with his wife Gauri Khan and business partners -- Juhi Chawla and Jay Mehta -- will be contributing to the PM-CARES Fund through IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders.

Shah Rukh and Gauri will also making a donation to the Maharashtra CM's Relief Fund through their film banner Red Chillies Entertainment.

The KKR franchise and his NGO Meer Foundation will work with the Maharashtra and West Bengal governments for the supply of 50,000 Personal Protective Equipment for the healthcare professionals, whom Shah Rukh called the "real heroes" of the battle against COVID-19.

Meer Foundation has also tied up with Ek Saath - The Earth to provide daily food requirements to over 5500 families for at least a month in Mumbai.

Shah Rukh said a kitchen will also be set up to send out 2000 freshly cooked meals everyday to help households and hospitals whose daily needs aren't being fulfilled.

Amid a country-wide manhunt by police for participants of last month's Tablighi Jamaat meet at Nizamuddin in New Delhi, jamaat leader Maulana Saad Kandhalvi on Thursday said he has quarantined himself on doctors' advice.

  

"We should help and support our government in dealing with this crisis. I have also quarantined myself in Delhi under instructions from doctors. This precautionary measure is not against the principle of faith so it's important to adopt such steps," he said in an audio clip.

"I appeal to all my jamaat to follow the instruction of our government," Saad said in the clip.

The authorities across states have identified more than 6,000 people who attended the Nizamuddin Tablighi Jamaat congregation.

The mid-March Islamic religious discourse was attended by thousands of Jamaat members, along with hundreds of foreigners -- many of them suspected to be coronavirus positive -- and has triggered a nationwide scare of community spread of the virus.

"There's no doubt that this pandemic is the result of sins we humans have been committing. We  should pray to Allah for forgiveness while staying at home. This way, we will be able to please our lord to show mercy on humankind and save them from this pandemic," Saad said. 

Instructions of ulemas, government, and doctors need to be followed and no one should stray out of home and organise gatherings, he said.

More than 3.9 billion people, or half of the world's population, are now being called on to remain in their homes to combat COVID-19.

  

The measures -- which include compulsory or recommended confinement, curfews and quarantines -- are in place in more than 90 countries and territories. 

The introduction of a curfew in Thailand, which takes effect on Friday, pushed the number past half of the global population.

There is an urgent need for an India-specific strategy to combat the coronavirus outbreak, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Thursday, and asserted that the country must prepare for "economic devastation".

  

The remarks came at the Congress Working Committee meeting, where besides him, party chief Sonia Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh and other senior leaders discussed the health crisis through video-conferencing.

"At the Congress CWC meeting today, I emphasised the urgent need to devise an India specific strategy to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and for Congress workers and leaders to help soften the blow by assisting the poor and the most vulnerable sections of our society in every possible way," Rahul Gandhi tweeted after the meeting.

COVID-19 particularly attacks aged persons, people with lung disease, diabetics, persons with heart diseases, making them the most vulnerable, the former Congress chief was quoted as saying at the meeting by the party's chief spokesperson, Randeep Surjewala. 

"All state governments need to issue special advisory for these categories and take care," Rahul Gandhi said at the meeting.

"We have looked at COVID-19 for two months since February and have spoken to experts. No country in the world has attempted a lockdown with huge migrant labour without arranging for their stay, food and ration and pushing them back home," he said in an apparent attack on the government.

Rahul Gandhi called on the party to act as a watchdog and ensure that the most vulnerable and the poor are protected comprehensively.

"India has to fight COVID-19 with an India-specific strategy and consultation. India needs to prepare for the economic devastation," he was quoted as saying.

Gandhi asked Congress workers to help the people, soften the blow and assist in every manner possible.

"Also, let's take the message that we need to take special care of our senior citizens and elders," he added.

Uber will now deliver household essentials to customers and has partnered with bigbasket for the service amid the ongoing countrywide lockdown.

  

Uber, which is in discussions with other supermarkets and pharmacies for offering similar delivery services, said two-wheelers (UberMoto) and four-wheelers (UberGo and UberXL) and network of driver-partners will help support delivery of essential supplies safely to consumers' doorsteps.

"This last-mile delivery service provides multiple wins. It supports authorities in containing COVID-19, delivers essential supplies in a timely manner to customers and creates earning opportunities for drivers. We will not charge any commission for our efforts," said Uber India and South Asia Director-Operations and Head of Cities Prabhjeet Singh.

He added that the partnership with grocery delivery platform bigbasket is the first in this direction.

With the implementation of the 21-day lockdown, the government has allowed only people in essential services like healthcare, banking and media to commute. With no cabs being allowed to ply, driver-partners of ride-hailing apps have been left with no source of income.

Uber said its association with bigbasket will comply with all hygiene and traffic regulations. 

The new service will enable bigbasket to serve customers in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chandigarh and Noida. The e-passes required by the delivery partners as well as their training will be handled by bigbasket.

All drivers associated with this service have been provided masks, gloves, sanitisers, and specialised safety training.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has directed Delhi Police, directors general of police of other states to take legal action against 960 foreigners for violating laws, the ministry of home affairs said on Thursday.

These 960 foreigners, found to have been involved in Tablighi Jamaat activities, have been blacklisted and their visas have been cancelled, the MHA said.

More details are awaited.  -- PTI

Eminent cardiac surgeon Devi Prasad Shetty on Thursday favoured lifting of the country-wide lockdown after the 21-days spell and limiting its enforcement only in areas reporting high incidences of COVID-19 cases.    

The Chairman and Executive Director of Narayana Health said, 'medically speaking it would not make a big difference' if the 21-days lockdown in the entire country is continued.

"But what needs to be done is to keep testing as many people as possible and wherever you find in pockets where there is high incidence, that area should be locked down small, small areas by doing this we can contain this (spread of Coronavirus).

"The whole country need not be locked down (after the 21-dayslockdown)," Shetty told PTI.

He said the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 would continue to increase in India in the next two-three weeks.

"Right now, it's manageable."

Shetty opined that the 21-day nationwide lockdown would bring down the Coronavirus mortality by at least 50 per cent '..when you retrospectively look back after 3-6 months, whatever would have been the actual mortality, it would be 50 per cent of what it would have been (had there been no 21-daylockdown). I can very confidently say that. The 21-day lockdown definitely made a big difference,' he said.

Shetty praised the government for being 'very, very' proactive in declaring lock-down at a very early stage, noting that Brazil is yet to take such a measure and the US took the step much later.

"I am fairly confident that we will be able to manage (the COVID-19 crisis)," he said.  -- PTI

Two people evacuated from Nizamuddin Markaz died due to coronavirus on Thursday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said.

In a digital press conference, he said of the 2,346 people evacuated from the Markaz, 108 have tested positive for coronavirus.

However, the number of COVID-19 cases in the national capital may rise in the coming days as the government has decide to test all those who were evacuated from the Markaz, Kejriwal said.

The total number of coronavirus cases in Delhi stands at 219 including four deaths, he said, adding that there are 208 active COVID-19 cases in hospitals and 202 of them are stable while the rest have been discharged.

The figure includes 51 people who had foreign travel history and 29 are their family members, the chief minister said.

The virus has not started spreading among the people in the national capital, he added. A total of 2,943 people, including 1,810 from Markaz, have been quarantined by the government, he said, adding that 21,307 have been directed for self quarantine at their homes.

In view of the lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus, the Delhi government will give Rs 5,000 to autorickshaw, gramin-sewa and e-rickshaw drivers, Kejriwal said further.   -- PTI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday slammed the Congress, saying it is playing 'petty politics' over the novel coronavirus outbreak and asked it to think about national interest, instead of misleading the people.

Shah's comments came hours after Congress president Sonia Gandhi criticised the government for the 'unplanned' implementation of the countrywide lockdown, which, she said, caused 'chaos and pain' to millions.

'Under PM @narendramodi's leadership, India's efforts to fight Coronavirus are being lauded domestically and globally. 130-crore Indians are united to defeat COVID-19,' the minister said in a tweet.

'Yet, the Congress is playing petty politics. High time they think of national interest and stop misleading people,' Shah said.

Gandhi, addressing a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) through video conferencing, called for availability of all necessary equipment for medical professionals.

She said the onus lies on the government to ensure that the spread of infection and casualties are not caused owing to lack of infrastructure or preparedness.

The Congress chief said the country was in the midst of an unprecedented health and humanitarian crisis which can be overcome only if everyone acts in solidarity.  -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will share a video message with countrymen on Friday amid a nationwide lockdown to combat the coronavirus outbreak.

'At 9 am tomorrow morning, I'll share a small video message with my fellow Indians,' the prime minister tweeted, without divulging the subject of his message.

Modi held a meeting with chief ministers on the COVID-19 outbreak via video-conferencing on Thursday.

The number of COVID-19 cases climbed to 1,965 in the country on Thursday while the death toll rose to 50, according to the Union Health Ministry.  -- PTI

The government on Thursday directed states and union territories to book under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Disaster Management Act, 2005 people who violate the lockdown or make false claims.

In a letter to all chief secretaries of the states and union territories, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said the lockdown measures issued on March 24 clearly mentioned that 'any person violating these containment measures will be liable to be proceeded against as per the provisions of Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, besides legal action under Section 188 of the IPC'.

It is requested that for the attention of the public authorities and citizens, the penal provisions under the DM Act and IPC should be widely circulated and for violation of lockdown measures, action under relevant provisions shall be taken by the law enforcement authorities, he said.

Bhalla also cited the provisions of DM Act and IPC and said anyone obstructing enforcement of lockdown could be punishable for jail term of up to two years and anyone making false claim on any matter can be punished up to two years of jail with fine and laws.

He also said misappropriation of money or material in disaster-like situation invites two years of jail with fine.  -- PTI

Delhi's Nizamuddin area has emerged as one of the hotspots for coronavirus outbreak since the gathering of Tablighi Jamaat was held there, prompting many states to launch a massive search for the attendees to check the spread of transmission. 

Urging people to avoid gathering in big numbers to contain the spread of coronavirus, Pawar said, Taking cue from Delhis 'markaz' incident, no social events be organised. Permission will not be granted for such events. He also thanked the people for celebrating Ram Navmi in a low-key manner on Thursday. -- PTI

The Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund will simply accept donations and contributions from individuals and organizations who are based in foreign countries. According to government sources, this is consistent with India's policy with respect to Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF). PMNRF has also received foreign contributions as a public trust since 2011.

This clarification by the sources comes in the wake, they say of lot of misinformation on that PM CARES Fund accepting foreign donations."For those comparing this with previous instances of natural calamities, here is what the Official spokesperson had said on Aug 22, 2018- In line with the existing policy, the Government is committed to meeting requirements for relief and rehabilitation through domestic efforts. Contributions to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund and the Chief Minister's Relief Fund from NRIs, PIOs and international entities such as foundations would, however, be welcome," the sources said. -- PTI

"The prime minister has informed us that the state can now carry out rapid tests for early detection of coronavirus cases. We will be using blood samples for the early detection of COVID-19 infection," Tope said. 

Modi also asked the Maharashtra government to take care of migrant workers in the state in view of the lockdown. "There are some 3.25 lakh migrant labourers in various state-run facilities. Modiji asked us to not only take care of their food, but to also provide them television so that they can have some entertainment and do not leave the shelter homes," the health minister said. -- PTI

The Nizamuddin Markaz, the Tablighi Jamaat headquarters in south Delhi, has emerged as an epicentre for spread of the coronavirus in different parts of the country after thousands of people took part in a congregation from March 1-15. --PTI

The prime minister accepted Thackeray's suggestion and asked allchief ministers to speak to religious leaders from their respective states and ask them to tell the community members about the need for social distancing and avoiding large gatherings, the CMO said in a statement.

Modi also supported Thackeray's view that citizens need to be in good mental health during the lockdown period, it said. State Health minister Rajesh Tope, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, Tourism Minister Aaditya Thackeray and senior bureaucrats also attended the video conference. - PTI

The CMs mentioned their efforts of maintaining social distancing, tracking suspect cases, identifying and quarantining suspect cases arising from the Nizamuddin Markaz case, containing community transmission, boosting of medical infrastructure, and strengthening medical workforce.

The PM also accepted Maharashra CM Uddhav Thackeray's suggestion that  religious leaders should be asked to refrain from holding large gatherings.

"Since, advance reservation period for taking reserved ticket is 120 days, ticket bookings for April 15 and beyond were made open much prior to lockdown period." -- ANI

"We have scrapped the deal we signed with Omni Business Corporate International, which had committed to supply 19 items including protective gear and testing kits," Mahendra Prasad Shrestha, Director-General of the Department of Health Services, said. He said the Chinese company has so far supplied Nepal up to 10 per cent of the total items. "We will call another tender tomorrow and purchase the necessary equipment through a fast track process." The cancellation comes amidst widespread criticism and suspicion of apparent irregularities in a deal signed with a private company for the purchase and supply of various medical equipment to contain the coronavirus infection and the treatment of COVID-19 patients. The first consignment was brought from Guangzhu province of China on Sunday on a Nepal Airlines plane. The Department of Health Services on March 26 awarded the tender to Omni Business Corporate International for medical equipment necessary to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Image: The Indo-Nepal border at Kakarvitta was shut to contain the Coronavirus pandemic. Pic: ANI 

Litzman and his wife, who also has contracted the virus, are in isolation, feeling well and are being treated, the health ministry said in a statement, adding that it will request all those who came in contact with the minister in the past two weeks to also do the same.  -- PTI

The country is under a 21-day lockdown which has been imposed to contain the spread of highly contagious coronavirus.All three were booked under section -188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) pertains to disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant. -- ANI

Image: People stand in a queue to buy LPG cylinders in Pune on Saturday. Pic: ANI

Jasvinder Singh Mehar Singh, 52, pleaded guilty to one count each of committing a rash act and being a public nuisance on March 3, 2020, The Straits Times reported. Singh smashed a plate and spat onto the floor of the Azur Restaurant at the Crowne Plaza Changi Airport hotel after a waitress told him that the eatery was closed. Still unhappy, Singh spat onto the floor two more times and yelled: "Corona, corona." 

This is the first conviction of its kind related to the current coronavirus outbreak, according to the Singapore daily. Singh must also spend an additional 55 days behind bars, as he had breached a remission order after his early release from prison in February. 

He was sentenced to jail in January to six months and five weeks' jail over offences including harassment. As part of the order, he was not supposed to commit any more offences between February 28 and April 26 this year. At around 10.30am on March 3, Singh went to the restaurant, took a plate and helped himself to some food at a buffet line without informing the staff. Court documents did not state if he was staying at the hotel at the time. When a waitress told him that the restaurant was closed, he smashed the plate and spat onto the floor before leaving. Hotel manager Vikram Om Prakash Kakroo later guided Singh back to the hotel from Terminal 3. When they reached the lobby, Vikram asked Singh to take a seat. The manager then phoned the hotel's security manager. Deputy Public Prosecutor Eugene Sng said that while Vikram was on the phone, Singh started walking towards the restaurant, saying that he wanted to break more plates. Vikram stopped Singh and took him to a sofa in the hotel's lobby. 

Singh, who sat down and placed both feet on the table in front of the sofa, later kicked a plastic sign off the table. After that, he spat onto the floor twice and shouted: "Corona, corona." The police were alerted at around 10.45am. For acting in a rash manner, Singh could have been jailed for up to six months and fined up to SGD2,500. -- PTI

According to these projections, 93,000 Americans and 16,000 New Yorkers will pass away by the time the pandemic is over. "And what would that mean to New York? That would mean about 16,000. Frankly that would mean that New York is only 16 per cent, roughly, of the number of deaths. I don't even understand that since New York is so much higher right now," he said. 

"But what that does say to the rest of the nation is, this is not just New York. If you believe these numbers, 16,000 deaths in New York, that means you're going to have tens of thousands of deaths outside of New York." 

"So to the extent people watch their nightly news in Kansas and say well this is a New York problem, that's not what these numbers say. This says it's a New York problem today. Tomorrow it's a Kansas problem, and a Texas problem, and a New Mexico problem. That's why I say to my fellow governors and elected officials all across this country, look at us today, see yourself tomorrow," he said. 

Cuomo voiced concern that overall the number of conformed coronavirus cases continue to go up in the state. He however noted that he is proud of the number of tests the state is now doing. -- PTI

Can this be a state of being for us at other times too...

The organisation had cancelled all grand celebrations to mark the first Ram Navami post the Supreme Court verdict on Ram Janmabhoomi in the aftermath of the lockdown and asked people to pray at home.

Furthermore, VHP is adhering to social distancing, a measure that can prevent the spread of the virus. The organisation has decided to hold its crucial meetings via video conferencing with all its top functionaries in attendance.

"We have the social responsibility of catering to the needs of many. We need to streamline and decide how to take care of government norms while doing that. So, 14 of the functionaries across states get connected via video conferencing and take stock of the situation," Milind Parande, Secretary-General, VHP said.

Those in the VHP headquarters located in RK Puram in the national capital maintained distance while performing pooja. There were a few who sat apart from each other at a respectable distance while watching Ramayana being telecast on Doordarshan."As Lord Ram was born around noon, we will begin prayers at 11 am and only a few will be allowed in the temple on the premises. This temple used to witness hundreds of people on Ram Navami. We have requested people not to gather in temples and rather pray at their homes," Parande said. -- PTI

"There has been a huge impact on the company's production and sales this month because of COVID-19 lockdown across the country," it added. Total two-wheeler sales during the month stood at 1,33,988 units as against 3,10,885 units in March 2019, down 56.9 per cent. 

Domestic two-wheeler sales stood at 94,103 units last month as compared to 2,47,694 units in March 2019, a decline of 62 per cent, it added. Total exports declined 34.3 per cent to 50,197 units last month as compared with 76,405 units in March 2019. -- PTI

She asserted that the "magnitude of the challenge before us is daunting" but everyone's resolve to overcome it must be greater.

Highlighting the vulnerability of the middle class during the COVID-19 lockdown, she said: "Wage cuts, job losses across all sectors of the economy, high petrol diesel and gas prices are causing them acute distress. If this was not enough, while EMIs have been deferred, no interest subvention or relief has been provided. This offsets the entire purpose of the deferment. I urge the Central Government to prepare and publish a Common Minimum Relief Programme. This is vital and will help alleviate several of the concerns that currently afflict all people."

The Congress president termed the 21-day national lockdown "unplanned" and said it has caused chaos and panic in the lives of migrant workers. "It has been heartbreaking to see lakhs of people walking for hundreds of kilometres towards their villages without food or shelter," she said.

Gandhi further requested the government to publish and make available details of designated hospitals, number of beds, quarantine and testing facilities, as well as information regarding the availability of medical supplies to the general public.

"Medium and small-scale enterprises, are now gravely threatened. They have been hit hardest by recent events. The livelihood of crores of our citizens has been im-perilled. The government needs to put in place a comprehensive strategy to manage this crisis," she said.Gandhi said that as the condition of people involved in unorganised sectors is extremely vulnerable, the government owes them full and constructive support. -- PTI

"The partnership between a quick service restaurant and a fast moving consumer goods company is aimed at serving the community at large by ensuring uninterrupted supply of essential items without them having to step outside the safety of their homes," Domino's said in a statement.

A combo pack of Aashirvaad atta and spices including chilli, coriander and turmeric powder will be available on Domino's app starting Thursday. This service will be available for consumers first in Bengaluru and then in the cities of Noida, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad.

To avail the service, customers need to use the latest version of the Domino's app, click on Domino's Essentials section and use digital payment mode to complete the order. -- ANI

In the first video-conference held on March 27, 14 governors and the Delhi Lt Governor shared their experiences from in their territories. The remaining governors/LGs and administrators will share their experiences tomorrow.   

The agenda of the conference will be the status of COVID-19 in the states, the role of the Red Cross with a focus on vulnerable sections, and the role of civil society/voluntary organisations/private sector in complementing the efforts of the governments to contain the spread of the Coronavirus.

Image: President Ram Nath Kovind along with the Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu interacts with the Governors, Lt Governors and Administrators on March 27. Pic: ANI

Till now, 1,965 people have been infected with the novel coronavirus and 50 people have died due to it in India, according to the Union health ministry. In Punjab, an organisation called 'Guardians of Governance' comprising 4,200 ESM is assisting in data collection from all villages, the ministry noted. "The Chhattisgarh government has employed some ESM to assist the police. Similarly, in Andhra Pradesh, all the district Collectors have asked for ESM volunteers," the ministry said. The defence ministry said that in Uttar Pradesh, all 'Zila Sainik Kalyan Adhikaris' are in touch with district control rooms and retired Army Medical Corps personnel have been identified and kept ready. -- PTI

Image: Defence Rajnath Singh reviewing efforts being undertaken to contain Coronavirus with Chief of the Army Staff, General Manoj Mukund Naravane through video conferencing yesterday. Pic: ANI

Karnataka: We are monitoring 362 people who had attended the Markaz in Delhi. Out of 27 people from Bidar who had attended, 11 have tested positive for COVID 19, while results of 16 others are awaited. Total positive cases in the state are 121, says B Sriramulu, Karnataka Health Minister.

Tamil Nadu: 17 people have returned to Rameswaram after attending Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi. Two of the returnees have been tested positive for COVID19 & admitted to District Government Hospital. 15 others are in isolation, says District Collector Veeraragavarav.

All seven new COVID-19 positive cases from Ramganj are close contacts of a person who had tested positive earlier. This person has infected 17 of his close contacts. The person to test coronavirus positive in Jhunjhunu is from Tablighi Jamaat," the officials said. Apart from these cases, one more person has been found tested positive for the coronavirus. He is a resident of Jodhpur city.So, a total of nine new cases of COVID-19 have to light from Rajasthan in a single day, taking the state toll to 129. - ANI

Millions of workers in these countries are facing the bleak prospect of losing their jobs. Governments are considering and rolling out large stimulus packages to avert a sharp downturn of their economies which could potentially plunge the global economy into a deep recession. In the worst-case scenario, the world economy could contract by 0.9 per cent in 2020," the DESA said, adding that the world economy had contracted by 1.7 per cent during the global financial crisis in 2009. It added that the contraction could be even higher if governments fail to provide income support and help boost consumer spending. The analysis noted that before the outbreak of the COVID-19, world output was expected to expand at a modest pace of 2.5 per cent in 2020, as reported in the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2020. Taking into account rapidly changing economic conditions, the UN DESA's World Economic Forecasting Model has estimated best and worst-case scenarios for global growth in 2020. -- PTI

The highest number of confirmed cases of the pandemic was reported from  Maharashtra at 335 followed by Kerela with 265 infections and Tamil Nadu at 234 so far. The number of cases in Delhi has gone up to 152. Uttar Pradesh has reported 113 positive cases so far, while the cases in Karnataka have risen to 110 and in Telengana to 96. Rajasthan has reported 108 cases, Madhya Pradesh 99 cases, Andhra Pradesh 86, Gujarat 82, while Jammu and Kashmir has 62 positive patients so far. Punjab has reported 46 COVID-19 cases while 43 cases have been detected in Haryana. The number of cases has risen to 37 in West Bengal. Bihar has 23 while Chandigarh has 16 and Ladakh has reported 13 cases. Ten cases have been reported from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Chhattisgarh has nine positive patients while Uttarakhand has reported seven cases so far. Goa has reported five coronavirus cases. Odisha has four cases each while Puducherry and Himachal Pradesh have reported three cases each. Assam, Jhakhand, Puducherry, Mizoram and Manipur have reported a case each. -- PTI

Even as confirmed coronavirus cases across the world grew exponentially, the Security Council under the presidency of China last month, did not hold any discussions on the pandemic. "Yes, as we all know the COVID19 will be the main topic in the world as we speak. (We are) working on it. It (the meeting) was requested by five or six ambassadors, and we will make it happen...for sure next week or before," Special Envoy from Dominican Republic to UN Ambassador Singer and President of the Security Council for April told reporters during a virtual press briefing on Wednesday. Singer was responding to questions from several reporters, including from PTI, on whether the Security Council plans to hold a special meeting this month on the COVID19 pandemic that has engulfed the entire world. 

Singer said it is his "understanding" that a meeting of the Security Council on the coronavirus situation "is being negotiated at the moment right now." According to estimates by the Johns Hopkins University, confirmed coronavirus cases across the world now stand at over 932,600 and over 42,000 deaths. --PTI

Image: An NYPD officer takes a selfie in the middle of the street in an almost empty Times Square. Pic: Reuters

After the attendees were accommodated in the facility, residents of the railway colony raised concerns over their safety and said they feared about spread of the deadly virus, prompting senior officials to request local authorities for necessary action, sources said.

"At the quarantine centres, they (attendees) misbehaved with the staff and even raised objections over the food being served to them... They even spit at the doctors and those attending to them and refused to stop roaming around the quarantine facilities," Northern Railway spokesperson Deepak Kumar said."We informed the DM (district magistrate of) South East Delhi to arrange necessary security to control them or to shift them to any other suitable place. At 5:30 pm, four Delhi Police constables and six CRPF jawans along with a PCR van have been deployed at the quarantine centres," Kumar said. -- PTI

The number of calls to Dial 100 rose after Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had recently said that people can use the service for assistance relating to health emergencies and following his instructions to officials that no person should be allowed to go without a meal in the state. 

After Rao's announcement, police personnel in coordination with volunteers have been distributing food and essential items to the needy people across the state. 

Besides, scores of migrant workers found moving on foot from parts of Telangana to their native places were stopped and convinced to remain in the state by providing food, shelter and essential commodities to them. Anyone in need of essential commodities can Dial 100 or approach any police station or patrolling vehicle for help, police said. --   PTI

"We have changed the outlook for the Indian banking system to negative from stable. Disruptions to economic activity from the coronavirus outbreak will exacerbate a slowdown in India's economic growth," Moody's said. Moody's said a sharp decline in economic activity and a rise in unemployment will lead to a deterioration of household and corporate finances, which in turn will result in increases in delinquencies. 

"Growing solvency stress among non-bank financial institutions will increase risks to banks' asset quality because banks have large exposures to the sector," it added. It expects deteriorating profitability and loan growth to hurt capitalisation. "Increases in loan loss charges and declines in revenue will hurt banks' profitability, which will lead to a deterioration of capitalization. If the government makes more capital infusions into PSBs, as it has in the past few years, it will mitigate capital pressure for them," it added. It said while funding and liquidity at public sector banks (PSBs) will be stable, growing risk aversion in the system following a default by a private sector bank (Yes Bank) will increase funding and liquidity pressure on small private sector lenders.Moody's rates 16 commercial banks in India, which together account for around 75 per cent of deposits in the system. -- PTI 

Image: Auto rickshaws parked during nationwide lockdown at Andheri in Mumbai on Wednesday. Pic: ANI

On Wednesday, Wimbledon was cancelled for the first time since World War 11.The 134th Championships will instead be staged from 28 June to 11 July 2021.New York remains one of the hardest-hit areas in America due to coronavirus. The World Health Organisation (WHO) had termed coronavirus as a 'pandemic' on March 11.-- PTI

Naval Dockyard, Mumbai has designed and developed its own handheld infrared-based temperature sensor for undertaking screening of a large number of personnel at the entry gates of the yard, reducing the load on the security sentries at the gate. The Indian Navy says the instrument has been manufactured under Rs 1000, through in-house resources and is a fraction of the cost of the temperature guns in the market.

"It was written on the road at Nagenahalli check-post. The message was written by the cops in the regional language.Meanwhile, nine fresh cases were reported in Karnataka with the count rising to 110 in the state on Wednesday.Out of the total cases, three persons died due to the virus while nine others have been discharged after recovery."

COVID-19 cases climbed to 110 in Karnataka, with nine fresh cases being reported between 5 pm yesterday and 2 pm today. Out of the total cases, three have died while nine others have been discharged," a bulletin issued by the state health department said."

Out of 110 cases detected and confirmed in Karnataka so far, seven cases are transit passengers of Kerala who have landed in our airports and being treated in Karnataka," it added. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Wednesday said that there are 1,834 coronavirus positive cases in India, including 1,649 active cases, 144 cured/discharged/migrated people and 41 deaths. -- ANI

Image: Bengaluru Traffic Police  write on the road: "If you come to road, I'll come to your home." 

The move to buy from Russia comes after a telephonic conversation between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on March 30. 

"As a follow-up to the March 30 phone call between President Trump and President Putin, the United States has agreed to purchase needed medical supplies, including ventilators and personal protection equipment, from Russia, which were handed over to FEMA on April 1 in New York City." State Department Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said on Wednesday. 

The United States is committed to the global fight against COVID-19, she said, adding that the US is a generous and reliable contributor to crisis response and humanitarian action across the world. "But we cannot do it alone," Ortagus noted. President Trump told reporters on Tuesday that the US was headed for a "very tough two weeks", advising people to be prepared for the "hard days" ahead, as the country is at war with the deadly coronavirus pandemic that the White House projects could claim one to two lakh lives during the next fortnight. 

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. 

Across the United States, hospitals are facing shortages of ventilators. Some medical device makers have agreed to ramp up supplies. But because patients diagnosed with or suspected to have COVID-19 often require breathing support, there is widespread concern that these devices won't be developed and shipped quickly enough. 

A total of 932,605 COVID-19 cases have been reported across more than 175 countries and territories with 16,809 deaths reported so far, according to Johns Hopkins University data. -- PTI

The patient was admitted to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases on March 22 and was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on the same day. He had been in Indonesia from January 20 to March 16 and was in the intensive care unit since March 26. The patient, with a history of diabetes and hypertension, developed serious complications and eventually succumbed to the infection after seven days in the ICU, said the ministry. Seven Indian nationals were among 74 new coronavirus cases reported in Singapore on Wednesday, the highest daily increase in COVID-19 positive patients in the country. 

The total number of infections is 1,000. Twenty of the new cases are imported, with a travel history to Australia, Europe, South America, Africa, ASEAN and other parts of Asia, said the Ministry. 

Twenty-four COVID-19 patients are in critical condition in the intensive care unit. Most of the rest of the 457 confirmed cases, still in hospital, are stable or improving, the ministry said. A total of 245 cases have fully recovered and been discharged from hospitals or relocated to community isolation services. --PTI

The patient was admitted to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases on March 22 and was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on the same day. He had been in Indonesia from January 20 to March 16 and was in the intensive care unit since March 26. The patient, with a history of diabetes and hypertension, developed serious complications and eventually succumbed to the infection after seven days in the ICU, said the ministry. Seven Indian nationals were among 74 new coronavirus cases reported in Singapore on Wednesday, the highest daily increase in COVID-19 positive patients in the country. 

The total number of infections is 1,000. Twenty of the new cases are imported, with a travel history to Australia, Europe, South America, Africa, ASEAN and other parts of Asia, said the Ministry. 

Twenty-four COVID-19 patients are in critical condition in the intensive care unit. Most of the rest of the 457 confirmed cases, still in hospital, are stable or improving, the ministry said. A total of 245 cases have fully recovered and been discharged from hospitals or relocated to community isolation services. --PTI

The foreign nationals include 172 from Indonesia, 36 from Kyrgyzstan and 21 from Bangladesh.Several state governments are tracing and identifying all those who attended the gathering. A large number of people in different states have already been placed under quarantine as a precautionary measure.

"104 persons who had attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation at Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi were picked from various mosques yesterday. They have been lodged at a resort and their samples will be collected," Dr Mukesh Vats, Chief Medical Officer of Agra said.

The people are associated with the Tablighi Jamaat were staying at various mosques and other places in Delhi.Meanwhile, Lucknow Police said, "FIR has been registered against some Muslim clerics for allegedly hiding 23 foreign nationals. FIR has been registered on the grounds of violation of rules under Lockdown, hiding information about the foreign nationals, and religious preaching upon arrival on a tourist visa."

Police have informed the Embassy for the purpose of deporting such foreign nationals, police added.The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Wednesday said that there are 1,834 coronavirus positive cases in India, including 1,649 active cases, 144 cured/discharged/migrated people and 41 deaths. -- ANI

Three persons, who had attended a religious congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin, died due to novel coronavirus in Telangana, taking the death toll in the state to nine on Wednesday, a statement said.

 

Thirty new COVID-19 cases were reported in the state, a press release from chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao's office said on Thursday.

 

All the fresh cases and the deceased had a history of attending the religious meeting at Nizamuddin in south Delhi last month, it said.

The earlier six fatalities had also attended the same congregation. -- PTI

World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said he is "deeply concerned about the rapid escalation and global spread" of the coronavirus infection.

Addressing a daily news briefing, he said that in the past five weeks there had been a "near exponential growth" in the number of new cases while the number of deaths had more than doubled in the past week.

The world is set to reach one million confirmed cases and 50,000 deaths worldwide in the next few days, he added.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University say 887,067 people around the world have become infected and 44,264 have died.