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Sat, 04 April 2020
PM to chair council of ministers' meet on Monday

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21:30   COVID-19: PM to chair council of ministers' meet on Monday
Amidst the nationwide lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak, a meeting of the council of ministers will be held on Monday via a video-conference chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
 
This is perhaps for the first time in the history of the country that a council of ministers' meeting will be held via video-conference.
The council of ministers' meeting will be followed by a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Both meetings will be chaired by the prime minister, sources said.
This will also be the first meeting of the council of ministers after the prime minister announced the 21-day lockdown from March 24.
According to the sources, the meetings will deliberate upon tackling COVID-19 and making the lockdown effective.
Discussions will also be held on a better implementation of the steps taken by the government to address the challenges posed by the novel coronavirus. -- PTI
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20:16   Modi, Trump talk over phone on COVID-19
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Donald Trump on Saturday held a detailed discussion on the situation arising out of the coronavirus outbreak and resolved to deploy the full strength of the India-US partnership to fight the pandemic.
 
The two leaders held an "extensive" telephonic conversation.
"We had a good discussion, and agreed to deploy the full strength of the India-US partnership to fight COVID-19," Modi tweeted. 
The discussion comes at a time when both countries are in the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The US has so far confirmed 278,458 cases of COVID-19 and more than 7,100 deaths. India has 3,072 coronavirus cases and has reported 75 deaths. -- PTI 
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19:25   Don't use alcohol-based hand sanitisers before lighting diyas: Govt
The government on Saturday cautioned people against the use of alcohol-based hand sanitisers before lighting candles or diyas on Sunday as they are inflammable.
 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday had urged people to switch off lights at their homes and light lamps, candles or turn on mobile phone torches for nine minutes at 9 pm on April 5 to display the country's "collective resolve" to defeat the novel coronavirus.
In a video message of over 11 minutes, Modi had also asked people to maintain the "lakshman rekha" of social distancing by staying indoors and not getting together in groups during the exercise.
"Please refrain from using alcohol-based hand sanitisers tomorrow before lighting candles or diyas," K S Dhatwalia, Principal Director General of PIB, said at a media briefing.
Modi had said once people everywhere light up lamps, diyas or display flashlights of their mobile phones at their doorsteps or balconies after turning off the lights at home, it will emerge in this "superpower" of brightness that "we are all fighting with a collective resolve". -- PTI  
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19:21   Ayushman beneficiaries to get free Covid-19 tests
Testing and treatment for COVID-19 will be free of cost for Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries at private laboratories and empanelled hospitals, the National Health Authority said on Saturday.  
 
The NHA, which implements the national health insurance scheme, said this will strengthen the country's response to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
"Testing and treatment of COVID-19 is already available for free in public facilities. Now, more than 50 crore citizens, eligible under the health assurance scheme will be able to avail free testing through private labs and treatment for COVID-19 in empanelled hospitals," it said in a statement.  
Hospitals empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana can use their authorised testing facilities or tie up with an authorised testing facility, the NHA said. 
The COVID-19 tests will be carried out as per protocols of the Indian Council for Medical Research and by private labs approved or registered by it, the authority said. 
Treatment of COVID-19 by private hospitals will be covered under the AB-PMJAY, it said. -- PTI 
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18:30   9 of 14 coronavirus patients cured in Ladakh
Nine of the 14 patients who had tested positive for coronavirus in Ladakh have been cured over the past 12 days, a senior government official said on Saturday.
 
Commissioner Secretary (Health), Rigzin Samphel, in a tweet said, "2 (two) more positive cases turn negative, total cured = 9" 
 
The Union Territory of Ladakh had recorded a total of 14 cases of coronavirus -- 11 from Leh and three from Kargil districts -- and announced full recovery of two of the patients on March 24, another one on March 29 and four others on Friday.  
 
Meanwhile, Tsering Sandup, deputy chairman, Ladhak Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, directed the education department to explore ideas in ensuring proper use of the remaining lockdown days in providing a proper support learning system to students.            
Sandup passed the direction during a meeting which was convened to review the compliance of the education department, Leh in implementing alternative plans to support the learning of students at home due to the closure of schools, an official spokesman said.            
He said the meeting discussed the use of internet, television and devising plans for schools and villages which do not have internet and mobile connectivity.
"All the Zonal Education Officers and Principals of educational institutions have been directed to submit the detailed reports of school homework and assignments class-wise in writing to Hill Council in a couple of days positively," he said. -- PTI
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18:28   Govt puts curbs on exports of diagnostic kits
The government on Saturday put curbs on exports of diagnostic kits with a view to discourage shipments amid the coronavirus outbreak.
   
"The export of diagnostic kits (diagnostic or laboratory reagents on a backing, preparation diagnostic or laboratory reagents)... is restricted with immediate effect," the Directorate General of Foreign Trade said in a notification.
 
The move would help in dealing with the Covid-19 crisis as these kits are required for testing of patients.
 
Earlier, exports of these products were allowed without any restrictions. 

Putting them under the restricted category would mean that an exporter will now require a licence from the DGFT for outbound shipments. -- PTI  
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18:26   Musician Christopher Cross tests coronavirus positive
Five-time Grammy winner musician Christopher Cross has tested positive of novel coronavirus. 
 
The singer-songwriter shared the news in a lengthy Facebook post. 
"I'm sorry to report that I am among the growing number of Americans who tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. Although I am fortunate enough to be cared for at home, this is possibly the worst illness I've ever had," he wrote.
Cross urged his fans to take the global pandemic seriously.
"For those of you who still do not believe the COVID-19 virus is real, or think it is a 'hoax' or part of some conspiracy, my advice to you is to understand right now that this is a deadly illness spreading like wildfire throughout the world. Please make every attempt to stall the spread of the virus," he added. 
Since COVID-19 emerged late last year from China's Wuhan city, around 1.1 million people have fallen ill. 

Almost 60,000 people have died. -- PTI 

Image: kind courtesy Christopher Cross Facebook page
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18:12   Flight booking open from April 15: AirAsia
Budget carrier AirAsia India on Saturday said bookings for its flights are open from April 15, but it it is open to any change in case aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation issues fresh directives on the issue.
 
Domestic and international commercial flights in the country are suspended till April 14 amid the lockdown to curb spreading of coronavirus infections.
Most of the airlines have commenced taking bookings for their flights from April 15 onwards.
However, on Friday state-owned Air India said it has stopped bookings till April 30 and is awaiting a decision after April 14, when the nationwide lockdown is scheduled to end.
"Passengers can continue to make their bookings with us from April 15 onwards," an AirAsia India spokesperson said on Saturday in response to a PTI query.
In case there is any change based on the direction provided by the regulator, he said, "we will abide to the policies and notify guests accordingly.
On Thursday, Civil Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola said airlines are free to take ticket bookings for any date after April 14.
The 21-day nationwide lockdown began on March 25.
No-frills carriers IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir said they are taking bookings for domestic flights starting April 15. In the case of SpiceJet and GoAir, they have started selling tickets for international flights from May 1.
"We continue to book flights between (April) 15 and (April) 30," an IndiGo spokesperson had said on Friday.
Full service carrier Vistara had said it has started bookings for travel from April 15. -- PTI 
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18:10   Stay inside on Mahavir, Hanuman Jayanti, Shab-e-Barat: Ajit Pawar
Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Saturday appealed people to celebrate Mahavir and Hanuman Jayanti and observe Shab-e-Barat next week by staying inside home in view of the coronavirus pandemic.
Mahavir Jayanti will be celebrated on Monday while Hanuman Jayanti and Shab-e-Barat fall on Wednesday.
"People should not step out of home on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti, Hanuman Jayanti and Shab-e-Barat. Offer worship and prayers staying inside home," Pawar said in a statement.
He noted that the number of COVID-19 patients in the state was increasing.
The number of coronavirus cases in Maharashtra crossed 500 on Saturday.
Doctors, police and municipal employees were discharging their duties by risking their lives, Pawar said.
"The majority of people are staying inside home. But this fight against coronavirus receives setback due to few people who are roaming on streets," the NCP leader said.
This was a "battle for existence", Pawar said, warning of strict action against violation of lockdown rules.
Battle against the pandemic can be won only by holding "scientific and humanitarian views", the deputy chief minister added. -- PTI  

Image: Devotees stand outside closed Jhandewalan Mandir in New Delhi on the occasion of Ram Navami during a nationwide lockdown imposed in the wake of coronavirus pandemic. Photograph: Atul Yadav/PTI Photo
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17:47   1023 COVID-19 cases linked to Jamaat event: Govt
As many as 1,023 COVID-19 positive cases found in 17 states have been traced to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation, the Union health ministry said on Saturday, underlining that about 30 per cent of the total coronavirus cases in the country are linked to "one particular place".  
 
Joint Secretary in the ministry Lav Agarwal said in the daily media briefing that the rate of doubling of COVID-19 cases in India is pretty less as compared to other countries.
He said a total of 2,902 COVID-19 cases have been reported so far and cases have risen by 601 since Friday. 
The joint secretary said as many as 68 deaths, including 12 since Friday, have been reported and added that 183 people have recovered or have been discharged.
A total of 1,023 positive cases of COVID-19 with links to Tablighi Jamaat congregation have been reported across 17 states, Agarwal said.
"Rigorous contact tracing is on across 17 states which have reported cases related to Tablighi Jamaat congregation," the health ministry official said.
"Around 30 per cent of the total cases so far are linked to one particular place where we could not sort of understand it and manage it," he said.
 
The Tablighi Jamaat congregation was held earlier last month in Delhi's West Nizamuddin area, which has turned into a COVID-19 hotspot.
India is increasing COVID-19 testing capacity progressively, the official said, adding that there is no need to panic but awareness is needed to fight the battle against COVID-19.
"We are increasing our COVID-19 testing capacity progressively," he said. -- PTI 
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17:45   COVID-19: PM to interact with floor leaders of parties on April 8
Amid a countrywide lockdown due to COVID-19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with floor leaders of various political parties via a video link on April 8.
 
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said Prime Minister Modi will interact with floor leaders of all those parties who have more than five MPs in both houses of Parliament on April 8 at 11am.
COVID-19 and countrywide lockdown are likely to be discussed during the meeting.
This will be the prime minister's first interaction with opposition leaders after the lockdown. -- PTI
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17:06   Just switch off lights, not fans, ACs: Govt
The ministry of power on Saturday clarified that no instability would be caused to the grid and there would also be no fluctuation in the voltage which harm the electrical appliances when the people voluntarily switch off their lights between 9 pm and 9:09 pm on April 5.

"The appeal of the Prime Minister is to simply switch off the lights in their homes from 9 pm to 9:09 pm on April 5. There is no call to switch off either street lights or appliances like computers, TVs, fans, refrigerators and ACs in the homes. Only lights should be switched off," said the ministry in a statement.

In a statement, the ministry further said: "The lights in hospitals and all other essential services like public utilities, municipal services, offices, police stations, manufacturing facilities, etc., will remain on. The call given by is to just switch off lights in residences. All local bodies have been advised to keep the street lights on for public safety."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 3 made an appeal to the countrymen through a video message to switch off their house lights on April 5 for nine minutes from 9 pm to 9.09 pm to fight the coronavirus. India is currently under 21-day long lockdown to check the spread of the coronavirus. -- ANI
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16:49   Nearly 22k Tablighis, their contacts quarantined
Nearly 22,000 Tablighi Jamaat members and their contacts have been quarantined across the country so far, a home ministry official said on Saturday.
 
During the daily briefing, Punya Salila Srivastava, a joint secretary in the Union home ministry, told reporters that the Union government undertook "massive efforts" in coordination with states to find out the Jamaat members and their contacts.
All issues related to the ongoing lockdown are being monitored by a 24x7 control room of the ministry of home affairs in New Delhi, she said, adding that about 200 personnel from the National Disaster Response Force and Central Armed Police Forces are linked to it on the ground level. -- PTI
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16:31   SRK offers his office for quarantine facility
Days after Shah Rukh Khan and his wife Gauri Khan announced several initiatives to help the central and state government in their fight against the coronavirus pandemic, the superstar has now opened his office for treating Covid-19 patients.
 
The Mumbai municipal body, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, took to social media on Saturday to thank Shah Rukh and Gauri for the help.
"We thank @iamsrk & @gaurikhan for offering their 4-storey personal office space to help expand our Quarantine capacity equipped with essentials for quarantined children, women & elderly. Indeed a 

thoughtful & timely gesture," BMC's official Twitter handle post read.
The 54-year-old superstar on Thursday announced various initiatives to help the country during the crisis. 
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 central and state governments.
SRK along with Gauri and business partners -- Juhi Chawla and Jay Mehta -- will be contributing to the PM-CARES Fund through IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders and will also make a donation to the Maharashtra CM's Relief Fund through his film banner Red Chillies Entertainment.
Apart from this, the actor's NGO Meer Foundation will work with the Maharashtra and West Bengal governments for the supply of 50,000 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the healthcare professionals and 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.
The NGO, in association with Roti Foundation, will provide 3 lakh meal kits to 10,000 to underprivileged people and daily wage labourers for at least a month in Mumbai and will support 100 acid attack victims in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Uttarakhand. -- PTI
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16:13   Italian designer Sergio Rossi dies due to coronavirus
Celebrated Italian shoe designer Sergio Rossi has died at the age of 84 from complications over novel coronavirus. 
 
The shoemaker died on Thursday in Italy's Cesena, a city in Emilia-Romagna, one of the regions hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic. 
Riccardo Sciutto, CEO of the Sergio Rossi Group, shared the news of the designer's demise on Instagram.
"Today everyone at Sergio Rossi joins me in remembering our dear Sergio, the inspiring founder of our dream. Sergio Rossi was a master, and it is my great honour to have met him and gotten to present him the archive 

earlier this year. His vision and approach will remain our guide in the growth of the brand and the business," Sciutto said.
"He loved women and was able to capture a woman's femininity in a unique way, creating the perfect extension of a woman's leg through his shoes. Our long and glorious history started from his incredible vision, and we'll 

remember his creativity forever," he added. 
Rossi was born in 1935 and started making shoes at the age of 14. His designs were used by couturiers such as Azzedine Alaia, Versace, and Dolce & Gabbana in their collections. 
Celebrities such as Lupita Nyong'o, Rihanna, Paris Hilton, Eva Longoria, Cameron Diaz, Laura Dern and Ariana Grande have frequently worn Rossi's creations.
His son, Gianvito Rossi, joined the shoe industry in 2006, and his designs have been picked by Demi Lovato and British royal Kate Middleton.
Italy has seen about 120,000 cases of the coronavirus, resulting in about 14,000 deaths. -- PTI
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16:09   COVID-19: New York records highest number of deaths in single day
The New York State reported its highest number of 562 COVID-19 deaths in a single day, with a person dying almost every two-and-a-half minutes, as Governor Andrew Cuomo allowed redistribution of ventilators and protective gear to hospitals with greater need.
Coronavirus cases in the state, the epicenter of the pandemic in the United States, crossed 100,000 and it recorded the highest increase in the number of deaths from the virus in a single day between April 2 and 3, Cuomo said.
The death toll in the state now stands at 2,935, an increase of 562 deaths in just one day, Cuomo said.
"The curve continues to go up," Cuomo said while addressing reporters on Friday. 
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the state now stand at 102,863, nearly half of all COVID-19 infections in the US, where the tally has reached 277,953. 

New York City alone has 56,289 coronavirus patients.
Cuomo also gave a grim assessment of the rising number of casualties, saying the state witnessed the "highest single increase in the number of deaths since we started."
More than 7,000 people have died in the US, and 1,867 in the New York City alone, according to Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Centre.
"More people in New York died from the virus in the last 24 hours than in the first 27 days of March. The state's death toll has nearly doubled in the last three days," The New York Times said.
The Governor also expressed anger over the short supply of essential medical equipment for healthcare professionals to help them deal with the surge in the cases across the state and the country.
He said personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks, gowns and face shields are in short supply in New York as they are across the country and there is need for companies to make these materials.
"It is unbelievable to me that in New York State, in the United States of America, we can't make these materials and that we are all shopping China to try to get these materials and we're all competing against each other," he said.
Holding up an N-95 mask and a medical gown, Cuomo said these "are not complex materials and we will work with New York manufacturers, will finance the transition necessary to make these materials."
"I mean we talk about them as if they're very complicated," he said, adding that "it can't be that we can't make these. It can't be that companies in this country and in this state can't transition to make those supplies quickly." 
Cuomo asserted that he is not going to get into a situation where the state is running out of ventilators and people are dying because there are no ventilators but there are hospitals in other parts of the state that have them but are not using.  -- PTI
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16:01   BMC launches 10 COVID-19 clinics in Mumbai
In a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus in Mumbai, the local civic body has started ten COVID-19 clinics in the containment zones and densely-populated areas which are at the risk of rapid transmission, an official said on Saturday.
Screening for symptoms will be conducted in these clinics between 10 am and 1 pm every day, he said.
"A screening clinic is being opened in each zone of the MCGM (Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai) and one more additional clinic will be opened in Zone -II, IV and V, where COVID-19 cases were observed in large numbers," he said, adding that Municipal Commissioner Pravin Pardeshi issued instructions on Friday.
The official said that social distancing will be strictly adhered to at these clinics.
Each of these clinics will be managed by a team comprising a doctor and a nurse, which will be supported by another doctor for collecting swabs of clinically symptomatic cases, the official said.
Assistant Municipal Commissioners of respective zones will provide the necessary infrastructure like tables, chairs PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) kits and sanitisers. 
Mumbai recorded 278 COVID-19 cases as on Friday with 19 deaths.
The number of containment zones -- which are set up around areas where a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patient is found -- increased to 141 on Friday with addition of 29 new zones.
One of the new containment zones came up in Dharavi, where a 35-year-old doctor tested positive on Thursday. -- PTI 
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15:58   Ensure availability of medical equipment: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday chaired a meeting of various empowered groups set up to respond to the coronavirus threat and directed officials to ensure sufficient availability of all essential medical equipment such as personal protective equipment, masks, gloves and ventilators.
 
In a series of tweets, the Prime Minister's Office said Modi reviewed the countrywide preparedness regarding availability of hospitals, proper isolation and quarantine facilities as well as disease surveillance, testing and critical care training. -- PTI
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15:17   Lifting of lockdown depends on people: Maha CM
Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday said that lifting of lockdown in the state after April 14 will be dependent upon the compliance by people to the government directives.
He also said that no permission will be granted to any religious or sporting events in the state till further notice to avoid mingling of people amid coronavirus outbreak.
The CM also warned of strict action against those who spread communally divisive messages on social media. -- PTI
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14:41   'Aao diya jalayen': PM shares Vajpayee's poem

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday shared a video clip of Bharatiya Janata Party veteran Atal Bihari Vajpayee reciting his famous poem, to remind people to light up lamps on Sunday night to show the country's "collective resolve" to fight coronavirus.
 
"Aao diya jalayen" (come let's light the lamp), Modi tweeted.
"Aao phir se diya jalayen" is an iconic poem by the former prime minister.
In the brief clip, Vajpayee is seen reciting the poem from a stage.
Modi had on Friday urged people to switch off the lights at their homes and light up lamps, candles or mobile phone torches for nine minutes at 9 pm on April 5 to display the country's "collective resolve" to defeat coronavirus. -- PTI 
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14:05   COVID-19: Govt recommends homemade masks
As India witnesses a spike in coronavirus cases, the Central government on Saturday issued an advisory asking people to wear "homemade face covers" particularly when they step out of their houses in order to curb the 

spread of COVID-19.
   
In the 'Advisory on the use of Homemade Protective Cover for Face and Mouth', the government said the use of such masks will help in protecting the community at large and that certain countries have claimed benefits of 

homemade face masks for the general public. 
The number of COVID-19 cases in the country rose to 2,902 while the death toll increased to 68 on Saturday.
In the United States, President Donald Trump has recommended to all citizens the voluntary use non-medical masks as an additional public health measure to fight the deadly coronavirus while keeping medical-grade masks 

available for health workers.
The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that Americans wear basic cloth or fabric masks that can be either purchased online or simply made at home. -- PTI 
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13:54   Singer Pink reveals she tested positive for coronavirus
Pop star Pink has revealed that she was tested positive for coronavirus two weeks ago but has since recovered.
 
In a statement posted on her social media accounts, the 40-year-old singer said that her three-year-old son Jameson was also diagnosed with the disease.
"Two weeks ago my three-year old son, Jameson, and I were showing symptoms of COVID-19. Fortunately, our primary care physician had access to tests and I tested positive," Pink wrote.
"My family was already sheltering at home and continued to do so for the last two weeks following the instruction of our doctor. Just a few days ago, we were re-tested and are now thankfully negative," she added.
She then slammed the United States government led by President Donald Trump for conducting inadequate tests of COVID-19, calling it an "absolute travesty".
"It is an absolute travesty and failure of our government to not make testing more widely accessible. This illness is serious and real. 
"People need to know that the illness affects the young and old, healthy and unhealthy, rich and poor, and we must make testing free and more widely accessible to protect our children, our families, our friends and our communities," Pink said.
In the US, the deadly coronavirus has so far claimed over 7,000 lives and infected over 2,70,000 people.
The singer also announced a $1 million donation to two funds to help the healthcare professionals who are leading the battle against the coronavirus.
"I am donating USD 500,000 to the Temple University Hospital Emergency Fund in Philadelphia in honor of my mother, Judy Moore, who worked there for 18 years in the Cardiomyopathy and Heart Transplant Center. 
"Additionally, I am donating USD 500,000 to the City of Los Angeles Mayor's Emergency COVID-19 Crisis Fund. THANK YOU to all of our healthcare professionals and everyone in the world who are working so hard to protect our loved ones. You are our heroes," Pink added.
The singer urged everyone to stay at home as she believes the next two weeks in the US will be "crucial". -- PTI 
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13:19   47 new COVID-19 patients in Maha, total 537
With as many as 47 persons testing positive for coronavirus in Maharashtra, the figure of such patients in the state jumped to 537 on Saturday, officials said.
The number of such patients till Friday night was 490, they said.
As per the updates given by the public health department, in Mumbai there are 28 new patients in the last 12 hours, 15 in the Mumbai metropolitan region (excluding Mumbai), two in Pune and one each in Amravati and Pimpri Chinchwad. -- PTI 
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12:55   COVID-19: Priyanka calls for large scale testing
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday said it is imperative for India to immediately ramp up its rate of testing for coronavirus and that the government must act now for the lockdown to yield results.
 
The Congress general secretary asserted that extremely valuable information about the severity of the disease, disease clusters and focal points is gained from testing.
"It is imperative that India immediately ramps up its rate of testing. Extremely valuable information about the severity of the disease, disease clusters and focal points is gained from testing," she said in a tweet. 
"In order for this lockdown to yield results, it has to be backed up by large scale testing and other measures to support the medical infrastructure systems in this country. The government must act now," she said.
Priyanka Gandhi also raised the issue of nurses and medical staff allegedly not getting protective equipment and cutting of their salaries.
At this time, the medical staff needs all the cooperation, she said.
"They are life givers and have taken to the field like warriors. In Banda, a great injustice is being done by not giving nurses and medical staff personal protective equipment and cutting their salaries," Priyanka Gandhi said.
She appealed to the Uttar Pradesh government to look into the issue, saying this is not the time to do injustice to these "warriors" but to listen to them. -- PTI 
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12:34   Switching off lights may lead to blackout': Maha Min
Maharashtra energy minister Nitin Raut has expressed fear that switching off the lights simultaneously for nine minutes could lead to a multi-state grid collapse and result in blackout in the entire country.
In his statement issued on Friday night, Raut has appealed to the people to keep the necessary lights on at home while igniting lamps and candles on Sunday, as asked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to avoid this situation.
His statement came on the day Modi urged the people to switch off the lights at their homes and light up lamps, candles or mobile phone torches for nine minutes at 9 pm on Sunday to display the country's "collective resolve" to defeat coronavirus.
"Switching off the electricity at one time can reduce the electricity demand. If all lights are switched off at one time for nine minutes there is possibility of a grid collapse resulting in blackout in the entire country," Raut said.
"Due to the lockdown, there is a change in the demand and supply situation. If there is a sudden drop or increase in the demand or supply in the grid, there could be disturbance in the grid frequency," he said.
 
"Considering the possible situation, citizens and all the electricity generation, distribution and transmission companies should take required precautions," he added.
At present, the power demand in the state has come down from 23,000 MW to 13,000 MW, the minister said.

Due to the lockdown, the industry load is zero. The 13,000 MW load is on essential services and residential, he said.
"If the electricity is switched off together, all power stations can go on high frequency and there is possibility of grid tripping. If all power stations are shut, there can be multi-state grid failure," the minister added. -- PTI
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11:18   Cops to deliver FIRs at violator's doorstep
In a drive against those who violate the nationwide lockdown in the district, police in Muzaffarnagar will register cases against them and deliver copies of the first information report at their homes, a senior official said on Saturday.

SSP Abhishek Yadav told reporters in Muzaffarnagar that the violators will not be arrested during the first instance but police will arrest those found to be violating the lockdown for the second time.

Police has started the drive in every street of the district under which cases will be lodged against those found violating the lockdown restrictions imposed across the country and the copies of the FIRs will be delivered at their doorsteps, he said.

Meanwhile, two youths have been booked based on CCTV footage after they were found wandering in the streets and the FIRs were delivered to them at their houses, police said.  -- PTI
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10:45   India's COVID-19 toll rises to 68, cases 2,902
The number of COVID-19 cases in the country climbed to 2,902 on Saturday while the death toll rose to 68, according to the Union Health Ministry.

The number of active COVID-19 cases stands at 2,650, while 183 people were either cured or discharged and one had migrated to another country, it said.

As per the ministry's updated data on coronavirus cases Saturday morning, six fresh deaths were reported -- three from Maharahtra, two from Delhi and one from Gujarat.

Thus, Maharashtra has reported the most deaths (19) so far, followed by Gujarat (9),  Telengana (7), Madhya Pradesh (6), Delhi (6), Punjab (5), Karnataka (3), West Bengal (3), Jammu and Kashmir (2), Uttar Pradesh (2) and Kerala (2).

Andhra Pradesh,Tamil Nadu, Bihar and Himachal Pradesh have reported a death each.

The figure of 2,902 includes 55 foreign nationals.

The highest number of confirmed cases of the pandemic was reported from  Maharashtra at 423 followed by Tamil Nadu with 411 infections.

The number of cases in Delhi has gone up to 386, in Kerala to 295, in Rajasthan to 179 and in Uttar Pradesh to 174.

In Andhra Pradesh, cases have increased to 161 while Telengana has 158 positive patients so far.

The cases in Karnataka have risen to 128. Madhya Pradesh has reported 104 cases so far, Gujarat 95 while Jammu and Kashmir has 75 positive patients so far.

The number of cases has risen to 63 in West Bengal. Punjab has reported 53 cases of COVID-19 so far followed by Haryana with 49 cases.

Bihar has 29, Assam has 24, Chandigarh 18, Uttarakhand 16 and Ladakh has reported 14 cases so far.

10 cases have been reported from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Chhattisgarh has nine positive patients so far.

Goa and Himachal Pradesh have have reported six coronavirus cases each. Odisha and Puducherry have five cases each.

Jhakhand and Manipur have reported two cases each while Mizoram and Arunachal Pradeh have reported a case each.  -- PTI
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09:56   Now, Kanpur hospital says Tablighis misbehaved
Tablighi Jamaat members who were quarantined in Kanpur at Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Memorial Medical College allegedly misbehaved with the medical staff and spat here and there.

They also 'broke the rules of quarantine and defy all norms of social distancing'.

"We had 22 people for two days who attended the Tablighi Jamaat event in Markaz, Nizamuddin in Delhi. Our team of doctors, staff and nurses were taking care of them in rotation.

"However, the patients behaved rudely with the medical team, they misbehaved, spit here and there and also used to huddle up together in the hall despite being repeatedly told not to do so," said Dr Arati Dave Lalchandani, Principal and Dean of the GSVM Medical College.

However, this is not the only instance of misbehaviour by the members of the Tablighi Jamaat with the medical staff, while in quarantine.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had invoked the National Security Act (NSA) against six persons from the Tablighi Jamaat, who were in quarantine at MMG District Hospital in Ghaziabad for misbehaving with the hospital staff and termed them 'enemies of humanity'.

'They (accused) will not obey the law. Neither they will accept the system as they are the enemies of humanity. What they have done to women health workers is a heinous crime, they are being slapped with the NSA. We will not spare them,' said Aditynath in a statement.

On Thursday, an FIR was registered against six persons from Tablighi Jamaat who are in quarantine at MMG District Hospital for 'walking around the ward without their trousers on and making lewd gestures towards the nurses'.

The Uttar Pradesh government had on Friday said that 1,203 people who had attended the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi's Nizamuddin area have been identified.

According to the government, samples of 897 people have been sent for test and 47 people have tested positive. -- ANI
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09:16   Two terrorists killed in encounter in J-K
Two terrorists were reportedly killed in an encounter with security forces in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, police said.

The security forces launched a cordon and search operation based on intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists in Hardmand Guri village in Kulgam, a police spokesperson said.

"This operation based on a credible police input was launched this morning. Two terrorists have been reportedly killed so far," the spokesperson said, adding that the exchange of fire was going on.

Earlier, the police tweeted on its official handle that three militants had been trapped in the cordon.

'Same group of #terrorists trapped who killed 3 civilians recently,' the police said.  -- PTI
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08:31   US records worst 24-hr COVID-19 toll globally
The United States recorded nearly 1,500 deaths from COVID-19 between Thursday and Friday, according to the Johns Hopkins University tracker, the worst 24-hour death toll globally since the pandemic began.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has recommended all Americans to voluntary use non-medical masks as an additional public health measure to fight the deadly coronavirus that has so far claimed the lives of more than 7,000 people in the country.

With 1,480 deaths counted between 8.30 pm (0030 GMT) Thursday and the same time Friday, according to Johns Hopkins University's continuously updated figures, the total number of people who have died since the start of the pandemic in the United States is now 7,406.

Citing the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Trump urged people to wear face coverings like scarves or homemade cloth masks, but to keep medical-grade masks available for the health workers.

"The CDC is advising the use of non-medical cloth face covering as an additional voluntary public health measure," Trump told reporters during a press briefing at the White House on Friday.

"The CDC is not recommending the use of medical-grade or surgical-grade masks. Those needs to be used for medical people working to save lives of Americans.

"Medical protective gear must be reserved for the front-line healthcare workers who are performing those vital services," he said.

CDC has recommended that Americans were a basic cloth or fabric masks that can be either purchased online or simply made at home.

During the press conference, Trump stressed that the new masks guidelines do not replace CDC's guidance on social distancing, including staying at home when possible, standing at least 6 feet apart for a period of time.

He also called for practicing hand hygiene.

Based on the new available data, CDC said the virus can spread between people interacting in close proximity -- for example, speaking, coughing, or sneezing -- even if those people are not exhibiting symptoms.  -- with inputs from PTI
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00:33   Maha: Out for no reason? Lose your vehicle
Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Friday said that police have been ordered to seize the vehicle if anybody is found riding on streets without a valid purpose.

He also urged people through Twitter not to ride vehicles unnecessarily and follow the ongoing lockdown for checking the spread of coronavirus.  -- PTI

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