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Fri, 10 April 2020
Lockdown to be extended till April 30
Timeline Refresh
23:41 Coronavirus: All shops shut in Thane till April 14
In a bid to implement social distancing norms strictly to combat the coronavirus outbreak, the Thane district administration on Friday decided to shut all vegetable markets and shops till April 14.
The order was issued by Collector Rajesh Narvekar late evening, said officials.
"The decision seems drastic but was the only way to reduce crowding as all pleas to people to maintain social distancing were failing," an official said.
The order will be in force in the limits of civic bodies in the district, he added. -- PTI
22:59 Screen people for COVID-19 symptoms: BMC to dialysis centres
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation on Friday directed dialysis centres in the metropolis to screen persons for coronavirus symptoms before treating them.
The directive asked centres to create exclusive dialysis facility for COVID-19 patients or send them to Kasturba, KEM, Nanavati, Seven Hills and Saifee Hospitals.
"It has been observed that few centres are doing dialysis of COVID-19 symptomatic patients, thereby spreading the disease," it said, adding that those violating this directive would be penalised. -- PTI
22:27 Pune family got travel permit; official denies giving it
Close on the heels of lockdown violation by DHFL promoters Kapil and Dheeraj Wadhawan and their family, another case of a family obtaining safe passage through an official letter has come to light in Pune district.
As per a letter purportedly signed by Mulshi Sub Divisional Officer (SDO) Sandesh Shirke, which is making rounds on social media, three members of a family and a driver were given permission to travel to Mumbai on April 8.
The man in whose name the permission was obtained is a relative of a local Member of Legislative Council (MLC) facing a bank fraud case.
When contacted, Shirke said he never issued such permission, and claimed that someone from his office might have 'misused' his signature specimen.
"I never issued such a pass to them. But as I have to be out in the field during lockdown, I have kept a signature specimen in the office to issue movement passes to vehicles carrying essential goods," he said.
"It seems someone from my office misused that signature by scanning it and issued that letter," the SDO said.
He would conduct an inquiry and the person who did this would be sent on forced leave, Shirke added.
District Collector Naval Kishore Ram said he will conduct an inquiry into the incident. -- PTI
21:54 11 more test coronavirus positive in Dharavi, tally 28
Eleven more people, including two who returned from the last month's religious gathering at Nizamuddin, tested positive for coronavirus in Dharavi on Friday, taking the tally in the slum-dominated area here to 28, civic officials said.
According to the officials, among the 11 three are women.
One of them, aged 29, is the wife of a doctor who tested positive earlier in Vaibhav Nagar, while the another one, aged 31, is a resident of the Kalyanwadi locality, they said.
"Two people who figure in the list of police who returned from Markaz (Tablighi Jamaat's event at its headquarters in Nizamuddin, Delhi) were also found positive," said a senior Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation official.
He said one of them was a resident of Dr Baliga Nagar, while the other is from PMGP colony.
"Both were already quarantined at the Rajiv Gandhi sports complex and have been now taken to hospital," he said.
While five patients tested positive earlier in the day, six other cases came to light later.
Of these six patients, five are residents of Mukund Nagar, while a 26- year-old man lives in Rajiv Gandhi Nagar Chawl. -- PTI
21:49 Modi govt should talk to US to prevent job losses of H-1B holders
The Congress on Friday urged the Modi government to talk to the Trump administration to prevent job losses of Indians holding H-1B visa due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said after compromising the 'India First' policy in the HCQ drug climb-down, the government is again failing to secure the safety and livelihood of Indians in the US.
"Time for the prime minister to ensure that our soft power of 'Namaste Trump' converts into fair treatment of H-1B visa holders in the US," Surjewala said, noting that the US has put Americans on a temporary paid leave or allowed them to work for reduced hours in the wake of the pandemic.
But 'the sword of H-1B visa job terminations' looms large over an estimated 75,000 Indians, with the United States giving them only a 60-day period to find a new job in case of a lay off, he said.
"Time for the prime minister to rise to the occasion. We demand that the Modi government ensure the extension of post-job loss limit of H-1B Visa holder Indians to 180 days," Surjewala said.
He said this will give them sufficient time to find another job when the situation improves.
'Modi government should also ensure that H-1B visa holders, who lost their jobs, are covered for COVID-19 and other health insurance free of cost, including extending support to their families,' he said in a statement.
The Congress leader said the party also demands that the Modi government deliberate with Indian industry confederations like NASSCOM, CII, and FICCI to prevent further H-1B job losses.
He said there are 309,986 Indians working on H-1B visa in the US, and given the COVID-19 lockdown in the two countries, it is logistically impossible for them to return to India.
He said nearly 60,000 H-1B visas are generally granted to Indians each year which have already been on a steady decline for a few years whereas the rejection rate has gone up to as high as 53 pc for some top IT companies, who contribute 8 per cent to the GDP.
The economic slowdown is becoming 'more and more extreme' during lockdown, he said.
Surjewala alleged that most organisations are even considering to terminate the contract unless the Modi government and the Trump administration find a solution.
This, he said, has to be taken-up on war footing as post-termination they would have 60 days to find a job, which seems bleak in these challenging times. -- PTI
20:32 Number of coronavirus cases in Maharashtra reaches 1,574
The number of coronavirus cases in Maharashtra reached 1,574 on Friday with 210 more persons testing positive.
Of 210 new patients, 132 were detected in Mumbai, the state health department said.
However, there was a significant variance between the official figures for Mumbai, as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) release earlier in the day stated that 212 new cases were found in the state capital alone.
Elsewhere, as per the state health department, 38 persons tested positive in Pune, 17 in Mira Bhayander, six in Nagpur, two each in Kalyan Dombivali, Thane and Buldhana, three each in Pimpri-Chinchwad and Akola, one each in Nashik, Navi Mumbai, Ratnagiri and Vasai-Virar.
One patient admitted in Mumbai is from out of the state, it said. -- PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
20:29 Lockdown to be extended till April 30
According to highly placed sources in the government, the 3-week national lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which ends on April 14, will be extended for another two weeks, till the end of April.
But it will not be business as usual on May 1, the government is clear in its mind.
What is being considered by the government is a staggered lifting of the lockdown, with no place collecting more than 50% of its capacity, the sources said.
According to a tentative calendar of lifting of the lockdown before the government, religious places will be the first to reopen, on May 5.
Fruits and vegetable markets will be allowed to open from May 7, but on alternate days.
Malls, cinema halls and wedding halls are expected to open in the third week of May, while educational institutions will reopen in the end of May.
Trains and domestic flights are expected to resume on May 15.
International flights, however, will have a longer wait -- July 30 is the date being considered, and a final decision will be taken after gauging if the world has been able to overcome the coronavirus threat or not.
According to sources in the government, this is the tentative plan before the Prime Minister's Office and sums up the essence of what various experts groups have proposed.
While a final call will be taken by the Union Cabinet and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Centre is keen to give chief ministers the freedom to decide on the schedule as per their own compulsions.
This calendar is expected to be discussed in the PM's video-conference with the CMs tomorrow, following which Prime Minister Modi may address the nation on Sunday, April 12.
19:26 Govt decides to export surplus hydroxychloroquine
Amid concerns over the export of hydroxychloroquine, which is being seen as a drug that may counter coronavirus, the government on Friday said India has received requests from several nations for the medicine and a decision has been taken to export the surplus drug, while keeping a sufficient buffer of stocks for the country.
Addressing a briefing, MEA Additional Secretary Dammu Ravi, who is also the COVID-19 coordinator, said that hydroxychloroquine is in high demand globally and a decision for exporting the drug to the first list of countries which put in a request has been approved.
"Several countries made requests for this particular drug. Taking into view the domestic stocks available and keeping sufficient buffer for our own requirement, a decision was taken by GoM to release some surplus medicines for export purposes. The first batch for the list of countries have been approved and the products have started to leave. I want to emphasis that the domestic requirement and necessity will be a priority for the government," Ravi said.
Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Health Lav Agarwal said that India has a stock of 3.28 crore tablets of hydroxychloroquine, which is three time more than the projected requirement of one crore tablets in the country for the coming week and that tie-ups have been made for additional supply of 2 to 3 crore tablets for the future need.
"Based on our projected requirement, we need one crore tablets of hydroxychloroquin for the coming one week, while we have 3.28 crore tablets with us today. So we have more than 3 times supply relative to the domestic requirement.
"Domestic requirement and production of hydroxychloroquin has been 100 per cent ensured, not even for today but for coming times as well. Also, two crore tablets have been sent to states to ensure their availability in the private sector," Agarwal said assuring there is no shortage of the medicine in the country.
The ICMR has recommended the use of drug as a preventive medication to healthcare workers and household contacts looking after a positive case . Besides, the Union Health Ministry has also recommended use of hydroxychloroquine in combination with azithromycin on those severely suffering from COVID-19 who require ICU management. -- PTI
19:23 Hope govt has plan to deal with lockdown: Sonia
The Congress hopes that the government will come out with a plan to deal with the situation arising out of the prevailing lockdown, party president Sonia Gandhi said on Friday as she took stock of the party's relief work for people reeling under the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.
At a meeting with all Congress state unit chiefs via video conferencing, Gandhi said the country is fighting the battle against the coronavirus and the party is ready to play its role in it. Congress office bearers, workers have been engaged in serving the countrymen in tdifficult times.
"Due to the lockdown, the poor laborers left for their villages, and our workers got down to help them. Even today, all over the country, Congress workers from every district are engaged in this work," she said in her initial remarks.
Gandhi said former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and herself had written to the government and made suggestions to the government over the battle against COVID-19.
"We hope that the government comes out with a plan to meet this challenge. The poor, farmers and labourers are suffering the most," the Congress chief said.
"The lockdown is going to put a lot of burden on our economy. The economy was already in crisis - and now it seems that difficulties will increase. We have to be ready for it," Gandhi told the party's state chiefs.
She asked the state chiefs to brief her on the relief work carried out by the Congress workers in various parts and whether they were satisfied with government support and actions.
She also asked them for suggestions on how the Congress can contribute more in the fight against COVID-19. -- PTI
18:23 PMO reviews efforts to check coronavirus spread
The production of personal protective equipment is being ramped up, a review meeting held by the Prime Minister's Office on the efforts to tackle the spread of coronavirus was informed on Friday.
Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister P K Mishra chaired the meeting of the empowered groups of officers set up to tackle the challenges arising out of COVID-19.
The meeting reviewed and expressed satisfaction on the detailed testing protocol and procedure, under which 1,45,916 samples have so far been tested across the country.
According to an official statement, the production of PPE is being ramped up and capacity building for healthcare personnel is being ensured.
There has been a shortage of PPE for doctors and health workers and efforts were put in to pump up supplies.
NGOs and civil society groups are also being mobilised, the meeting was informed.
Mishra suggested that coordination with the NGOs at the district level be done to avoid overlaps and ensure an efficacious utilisation of resources.
The progress of the welfare measures rolled out through the economic relief package under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana was also reviewed, the statement said.
Mishra underlined that data sanctity is important to ensure that the benefits reach all the beneficiaries.
During the meeting, issues related to the supply chain and logistics management for availability of necessary items were discussed.
The efforts undertaken for the benefit of the stakeholders involved and steps to assist farmers to harvest their produce while maintaining social distancing were also discussed, the statement said.
Further, the necessary confidence-building measures and need to ensure percolation of the Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines to the ground level also came up for deliberations.
18:14 37 deaths, 896 new COVID-19 cases reported in last 24 hrs
Thirty -seven deaths and 896 new coronavirus cases were reported in India in last 24 hours, the sharpest ever increase in cases.
The death toll due to the novel coronavirus rose to 206 and the number of cases to 6761 in the country on Friday, according to the Union health ministry.
While the number of active COVID-19 cases is 6,039, as many as 516 people were cured and discharged and one had migrated, it said.
17:16 Punjab govt extends lockdown to May 1
The Amarinder Singh government in Punjab extends the lockdown till May 1. It became the second government to do so after Odisha announced its lockdown extension till April 30. In a presser, Singh said the ongoing lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus should continue, while noting that predictions by health experts about the spread of the pandemic are "horrendous and frightening".
"Given the projections for India and the global trend of COVID-19, this is just the start of the war and the situation threatens to get worse over the next few months for India. In the circumstances, no government could afford to ease the restrictions. We have to check the spread of the infections," Singh said according to an official release.
The Chief Minister said that most of the 27 positive cases, the highest daily increase so far reported on Thursday, were cases of "secondary transmission". He described it as an indication of the state moving into the stage of "community transmission".
Singh said the only good thing about coronavirus is that the drugs supply line to Punjab has been broken.
17:06
Punjab extends lockdown/curfew in the state till May 1st
17:02 24 of 26 coronavirus patients in Sangli recover, 22 discharged
And some good news coming out of Maharashtra. 24 of 26 coronavirus patients in Sangli district have recovered from infection, and 22 of them have been discharged, local authorities said on Friday. All these patients were either members of a family living in Islampur town or those who came in close contact with it. They accounted for all known coronavirus patients in this western Maharashtra district.
Twenty-four members of this group tested negative twice, indicating recovery, said Dr C S Salunkhe, the district civil surgeon. Four members of the family tested positive for virus on March 23 after returning from Saudi Arabia. Within a week, another 21 relatives or close contacts, including a two-year- old boy, were found to have contracted the infection. -- PTI
Image: Police ask for IDs and documents from people on the streets in Mumbai amid the lockdown. Pic: ANI
16:49 Exports sector may witness 15 million job losses
About 15 million people face job losses in India's exports sector following cancellation of over half of the orders and gloomy forecast for global trade due to the Covid-19 pandemic, exporters' body FIEO said on Friday. Seeking immediate announcement of a relief package for exports, Federation of Indian Export Organisations President Sharad Kumar Saraf said a fine balancing is required between life and livelihood, as opting for only one can be disastrous for the country.
He said that exporters are left with "very" few orders and if factories are not allowed to work with a minimum workforce, many of them will suffer "irreparable losses" which will bring them to the brink of closure as they are saddled with fixed cost that in any case has to be absorbed by them.
"With cancellation of over 50 per cent of orders and gloomy forecast for the future, we expect 15 million job losses in exports and rising NPAs (non-performing assets) amongst exporting units, hitting the economy very badly," Saraf said.
He added that sectors including apparel, gems and jewellery, leather, handicrafts, engineering and textiles are severely hit by the lockdown. "We are losing markets to China. All orders are going to China as they have resumed work. It will be very late if we will not start our factories now. Small economies like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka too have announced relief packages," he said.
16:45 No community transmission in India: Centre
Union Health Ministry and Home Ministry briefing on coronavirus:
-- Rise of 678 COVID-19 cases, 33 deaths in last 24 hours.
-- 146 govt labs testing samples for COVID-19, 67 private labs given approval to conduct test. Yesterday, the government conducted 16002 tests. Only 0.2% cases tested positive. On the basis of the samples collected, the infection rate is not high.
-- Rapid diagnostics kits have also been sanctioned.
-- No community transmission in the country yet, no need to panic; But remain aware and alert. Today, the challenge is not local or community transmission if we are taking all the precautionary and containment measures.
-- 20,473 foreign nationals evacuated from India as of Thursday.
-- Return of Indians from abroad: There is a need to assess the situation, then decide at a later stage about the steps to be taken.
-- MHA asks states to ensure strict compliance of lockdown; don't allow any social, religious gathering or procession.
-- India has received requests from several countries for hydroxychloroquine. Decision has been taken to export some surplus medicines. India has stock of 3.28 crore hydroxychloroquine tablets.
-- Maintain appropriate vigil on social media to ensure no objectionable content is circulated, MHA tells states.
Image: Security personnel punish people out on the streets without valid reasons in the midst of the lockdown. Pic: ANI
16:27 'Warm weather slowing COVID-19 inconclusive'
The arrival of summer in India may have raised hopes that hot and humid weather could slow the COVID-19 pandemic, however, experts believe that there is not enough proof to conclude any significant vulnerability of the novel coronavirus to seasonal change. According to a report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, experimental studies do show a relationship between higher temperatures and humidity levels, and reduced survival of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in the laboratory.
However, there are many other factors besides environmental temperature, humidity, and survival of the virus outside of the host, that influence and determine transmission rates among humans in the 'real world', the report said.
The rapid expert consultation report prepared on April 7 aims to provide scientifically grounded principles that are relevant to decision-making about the potential for seasonal variation of SARS-CoV-2.
The laboratory data available so far indicate reduced survival of SARS-CoV-2 at elevated temperatures, and variation in temperature sensitivity as a function of the type of surface on which the virus is placed, the experts said.
However, according to the report, the number of well-controlled studies available at this time on the topic remains small. There are important conditions regarding the results from experimental studies, it said. The first concerns the relevance of laboratory conditions to real world conditions, according to the academy.
For example, many of the experimental survival studies have used virus grown in tissue culture media. The report said that the natural history studies published so far also have conflicting results regarding potential seasonal effects.
They are also hampered by poor data quality, confounding factors, and insufficient time since the beginning of the pandemic from which to draw conclusions, the experts noted.
They explained that there is some evidence to suggest that SARS- CoV-2 may transmit less efficiently in environments with higher ambient temperature and humidity. "Given the lack of host immunity globally, this reduction in transmission efficiency may not lead to a significant reduction in disease spread without the concomitant adoption of major public health interventions," the report said.
With experimental studies, environmental conditions can be controlled, but almost always the conditions fail to adequately mimic those of the natural setting, it said. With natural history studies, the conditions are relevant and reflect the real-world, but there is typically little control of environmental conditions and there are many confounding factors, according to the report. Because the two approaches are so distinct, it is often difficult to harmonise the findings from the two, and relate the findings from one to the other, it said. -- PTI
15:59 Admins be warned: Don't allow derogatory posts
In a bid to filter false information and derogatory messages on social media amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mumbai police on Friday issued an order warning action against administrators of groups who allow posting of such contents. The police have been keeping constant tabs on social media activities in light of the pandemic and the ongoing lockdown, an official said. A lot of incorrect and derogatory content about certain communities in the form of messages, videos, images or memes were being circulated on WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tik-Tok and other social media platforms, he said. Such social media posts cause panic, confusion in minds of people and create mistrust towards government functionaries and actions that are being taken to contain the spread of COVID-19, the official said.
Taking cognisance of such incidents, the Mumbai Police issued an order, restricting the use of social media and messaging platforms under section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, (CrPC) he said. This step was taken to ensure there is no danger to human health or safety or threat to public order, he added.
All persons designated as 'administrators' on messaging and social media platforms will be held responsible for any such information on a group administered by them, he said. As per the order, it is mandatory for administrators on social media to report to the police any derogatory, malicious, incorrect content posted on their group, he added. PTI
15:53 Sanofi to donate 100 million doses of hydroxychloroquine across 50 countries
French pharma major Sanofi said on Friday it has decided to donate 100 million doses of hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malaria drug which could be a potential weapon against novel coronavirus, across 50 countries. The company has already doubled its incremental production capacity on top of the usual production for current indications across its eight hydroxychloroquine manufacturing sites worldwide and is on track to quadruple it by the summer.
"In this global health emergency, Sanofi stands ready to assist as many countries as possible, starting with countries where its medicine is registered for current approved indications as well as countries where there are no hydroxychloroquine suppliers or countries with underserved populations," it said in a statement.
Sanofi called for coordination among the entire hydroxychloroquine chain worldwide to ensure the continued supply of the medicine if proven to be a well-tolerated and effective treatment in COVID-19 patients. -- PTI
15:49 UN: Disgraceful Dereliction of Duty
"Instead of fighting over whatever will be left of the present world, the permanent members of the UN security council should have raised a little finger to arrest the death and devastation around us," notes Ambassador T P Sreenivasan. Read the column here
15:41 Sanitation tent for Dharavi cops
In Mumbai, a sanitization tent has been put up outside Dharavi Police station for policemen on COVID19 lockdown enforcement duty. This has been set up by the local MP Rahul Shewale. Five more people, including two who returned from the last month's religious gathering at Nizamuddin, have tested positive for coronavirus in Dharavi, taking the tally in the slum-dominated area to 22, said BMC officials on Friday. According to the officials, among the five two are women. One of them, aged 29, is the wife of a doctor who tested positive earlier in Vaibhav Nagar, while the other, aged 31, is a resident of the Kalyanwadi locality, they said.
A cop distributes rations to sex workers in Nagpur
15:39 Clicking selfies, photos while distributing food banned in Ajmer
The Ajmer District Collector has issued an order stating that taking selfies and indulging in photography by NGOs and other organisations would be banned during the distribution of food items amid Coronavirus Lockdown, here on Friday.
"In order to ensure that the norm of social distancing is adhered to, clicking of selfies and photographs while distributing food items to the people is to be banned in the Ajmer district," said the order issued by the district collector. The order added: "Any violation of social distancing norms may result in action under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code."
At least 463 positive COVID-19 cases have been registered so far in the state of Rajasthan, said the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Friday. -- ANI
15:29 99.8% workforce in IT sector incapable of remote working: Study
Amid the ongoing nationwide lockdown when all organizations in the IT sector are engaging its employees in remote work or work from home, a study has revealed that only 0.2 per cent workforce in the IT industry is highly productive. About 99.8 per cent of the workforce in the information technology sector is incapable of working from home and only 0.2 per cent are 'Work from Home' champions and showcase high productive attributes, according to the study by research-backed innovative venture SCIKEY MindMatch.
Further, the study indicated that 99.8 per cent of the workforce lack at least one of the qualities, including resistance to learning and exploring (95 per cent), lack in practical communication skills (65 per cent) and lack in planning and execution (71 per cent). -- PTI
15:13 Community transmission has begun in Punjab: CM
Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh says that in Punjab, 27 cases are there with no travel history. "Yes, it can be said that most of them are cases of community transmission." He is the first CM to state that community transmission has begun.
Singh on Friday said the ongoing lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus should continue, while noting that predictions by health experts about the spread of the pandemic are "horrendous and frightening". He said a decision on whether Punjab will extend the lockdown will be taken at a meeting of the state cabinet later this evening.
Addressing a press conference through video conference, Singh said Punjab will allow district-wise relief from lockdown only to farmers to allow them for harvesting of Rabi crop. He said the state was expecting a bumper crop of 185 lakh tonnes of wheat and is making arrangements for harvest of the crop. Quoting a PGIMER study, he said the virus is likely to touch its peak by mid-september and may likely to affect 58 per cent of India's population and 87 per cent of Punjab's and other states' population.
15:03 Punjab to decide lockdown extension today
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday said the ongoing lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus should continue, while noting that predictions by health experts about the spread of the pandemic are "horrendous and frightening". He said a decision on whether Punjab will extend the lockdown will be taken at a meeting of the state cabinet later this evening.
Addressing a press conference through video conference, Singh said Punjab will allow district-wise relief from lockdown only to farmers to allow them for harvesting of Rabi crop. He said the state was expecting a bumper crop of 185 lakh tonnes of wheat and is making arrangements for harvest of the crop. Quoting a PGIMER study, he said the virus is likely to touch its peak by mid-september and may likely to affect 58 per cent of India's population and 87 per cent of Punjab's and other states' population.
"....COVID19 epidemic in India is estimated to reach its peak in mid-September 2020 at a point where 58 per cent of population has been infected," he said quoting the projections made by the Department of Community Medicine in PGIMER in Chandigarh.
Quoting another figure from the projections by PGI, he said the virus can infect up to 87 per cent of population of Punjab and other states. He said, "The only good thing about coronavirus is that the drugs supply line has been broken".
To a question, the Punjab chief minister admitted that there has been some community transmission of the virus in Punjab as there are 27 positive cases from among the Tablighi Jamat congregation attendees in Nizamuddin in Delhi. -- PTI
14:55 Nurses complain of masks' shortage, Tripura slaps ESMA
The Tripura government has invoked the Essential Services Management Act (ESMA) after a few nurses at a state-run hospital in Agartala complained about the shortage of masks and other protective equipment in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Tripura is the second state after Madhya Pradesh to have enforced the Act of 1986, which gives the police the right to arrest without a warrant anybody violating the ESMA's provisions.
Under it, employees in a long list of "essential services" like post and telegraph, railway, airport and port operations are prohibited from going on strike.
The decision to invoke the Act came shortly after Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb warned that strict action would be taken against the nurses who complained to the media about a shortage of masks and other protective equipment at the state-run GB Pant Hospital.
"In order to better manage the COVID-19 outbreak in the interest of citizens, from today the government has implemented the Essential Services Management Act with immediate effect in Tripura," Deb said late on Thursday night. The Act mandates imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or fine which may extend to Rs 1,000, or with both, to any person who instigates a strike which is illegal under this Act.
Health Secretary Debashish Basu told reporters that show-cause notices were issued against the 18 nurses who levelled the allegations of shortage. He said their attitude was condemnable during a tough times like this. The chief minister said the state government has decided that officials of secretary level and above would only be allowed to interact with the media to check misinformation.
Deb said the state's lone patient is recovering. According to official data, 985 persons are now in isolation in Tripura and of them, 829 are in home quarantine and 156 in state-run facilities. A total of 1,0467 persons were kept under surveillance since the outbreak. Among them, 274 were tested for the disease and only one person's report came back as positive. PTI
Representational image
14:51 Over 30 booked for stepping out without masks in Delhi
Over 30 people have been booked for stepping out of their houses without wearing masks to guard themselves against coronavirus in northwest Delhi, police said on Friday. According to a senior police officer, total 32 people were booked after they were found without masks in different areas of the northwest district. Face masks have become mandatory for people stepping out of their homes in Delhi.
On Thursday, 190 cases were registered and 3,954 people detained in Delhi for violating government orders during the coronavirus lockdown. PTI
Representational image
14:43 Mumbai's Sushrusha hospital told to quarantine all nurses
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation on Friday directed a private hospital to quarantine all its nurses and stop new admissions after two of its nurses tested positive for coronavirus. A senior BMC official said two nurses from Sushrusha Hospital in Dadar, aged 27 and 42, have tested positive for coronavirus.
Following this, the BMC, as a preventive step, asked the private hospital to quarantine all its 28 nurses at the medical facility itself and stop new admissions, he said. "We have advised them to test all the nurses at their own cost," said the officer. -- PTI
14:33 G20 FMs, banks to meet to discuss eco revival
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das will on April 15 participate in the meeting of the G-20 countries to discuss the way forward in supporting the economy after the COVID-19 pandemic. The virtual meeting of the finance ministers and central bank governors comes within a fortnight of their last meeting on March 31. The April 15 meeting follows the Extraordinary Energy Ministers meeting of the G-20 countries on Friday.
"The April 15 meeting is in continuation of the March 31 meet and working groups would give their suggestions," an official said. The G-20 ministers are meeting at a time when rating agencies and economists are saying that the lockdown due to COVID-19 may lead the world economy into recession. Several rating agencies have projected lower growth for the world economy with India projected to clock a 30-year low level of growth at 2 per cent in 2020-21. -- PTI
Representational image
14:24 Plasma therapy clinical trials for COVID-19 soon
India is in the final stages of framing a protocol for conducting clinical trial for convalescent plasma therapy, which uses antibodies from the blood of cured patients, to treat severely-ill COVID-19 patients, a senior ICMR official said.
Kerala is set to become the first state in the country to commence the therapy to treat those critically-ill on a trial basis. Indian Council of Medical Research also validates TrueNat- a tuberculosis testing machine for COVID-19 screening tests.
The ICMR is learnt to have given its nod to the state government for the first of its kind project, initiated by the prestigious Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, a top official had said. The ICMR official on Thursday said they would need approval from Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) before embarking on any clinical trial using the therapy. He said that it is not currently used or prescribed for patients in India.
"We are in the final stages of making a protocol for convalescent plasma therapy and after that we will need approval from the DCGI. As of now it will be used only in clinical trials," he said, adding that the therapy was successful in limited clinical trials in some countries on patients who were in a severe condition or on ventilator support.
The death toll due to the novel coronavirus rose to 199 and the number of cases climbed to 6,640 in the country on Friday, according to the Union Health Ministry.
14:04 Had fruitful discussion with Abe on COVID-19: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the India-Japan special strategic and global partnership can help develop new technologies and solutions for the post-COVID world.
The prime minister made these remarks on Twitter after speaking with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on the situation arising out of the coronavirus outbreak.
"Had fruitful discussion with my friend, Japanese PM @abeshinzo about the COVID-19 pandemic .
"The India-Japan Special Strategic & Global Partnership can help develop new technologies and solutions for the post-COVID world - for our peoples, for the Indo-Pacific region, and for the world," he said.
Japanese Prime Minister Abe had recently declared a state of emergency in Tokyo and six other prefectures to contain the spread of the killer virus.
Modi also spoke with Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli on the coronavirus issue.
"Spoke today with Prime Minister of Nepal, Shri @kpsharmaoli. We discussed the prevailing situation due to COVID-19," Modi tweeted.
"I appreciate the determination of people of Nepal to fight this challenge. We stand in solidarity with Nepal in our common fight against COVID-19," the prime minister said.
-- PTI
13:37 UK to evacuate stranded nationals from India
The United Kingdom on Friday announced 12 additional charter flights to evacuate its nationals who are stranded in India amid travel restrictions owing to the coronavirus crisis. The announcement was made by the British High Commission.
The additional flights' announcement comes days after UK High Commission said that seven charter flights will evacuate Britishers from Goa, Mumbai and New Delhi. These 19 flights will evacuate in total 5000 people from India, the UK High Commission said in a statement.
The first charter flight from India reached London Stanstead on Thursday morning with 317 British nationals on board from Goa. The embassy also announced the schedule of 12 flights.
Three of the 12 flights will take off from Amritsar on April 13, 17 and 19. Two flights are scheduled to embark from Ahmedabad on April 13, 15 and two from Goa on April 14, 16. One flight each will take off from Goa, Thiruvananthapuram Hyderabad, Kolkata and Chennai during the time period from April 15 to 20.
"We are doing all we can to get thousands of British travellers in India home. This is a huge and complex operation which also involves working with the Indian Government to enable people to move within India to get on these flights," UK Minister of State for South Asia and the Commonwealth, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon. -- ANI
13:20 Ramp up testing to save lives: Priyanka to Yogi
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has called for ramping up testing facilities to check coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh, saying it can prove to be a lifesaver in the big state. In a letter to Uttar Pradesh Chief minister Yogi Adityanath, she called for steps that could win over the confidence of everyone by creating a fear-free atmosphere, while keeping aside political ideology, to ensure that people come up voluntarily for testing.
"We are with you in this fight against the pandemic. Coronavirus does not see any religion or caste and affects everyone. In this battle, there is need to take steps by keeping our political ideologies away and help bring people together and create a fear-free atmosphere," she said in her letter.
Stressing on the need for ramping up testing facilities, she said for a state with such a big population "increasing testing can prove to be a lifesaver". She said state authorities have to conduct testing on more and more people, on "mild to moderate high risk cases" and treat them on a war footing so that there is less pressure on ICUs.
The Congress leader also called up creation of more isolation wards and quarantine centres soon. She said with reports of community transmission coming from some parts and clusters in urban areas are being formed, she said there are also reports about COVID infected people hiding their disease.
"This is happening because of fear mongering in the society about this disease. Hence it is important, especially in these clusters to provide right information on a war footing in these areas and immediately stop fake news and myths about the coronavirus," she said in her letter.
She also called for taking such steps that people win the confidence of the government and come forward to get testing done voluntarily. "It is important that the government takes such steps to inspire confidence of people so that they come up voluntarily for testing," she said, while also calling for seeking the help of NGOs and social and political organisations to unitedly fight the coronavirus pandemic.
Making a host of suggestions in her letter to UP CM, the Congress general secretary for Uttar Pradesh also called for improving sanitation facilities and provision of free ration to the poor and the marginalised. -- PTI
12:50 'How will we survive this lockdown?'
"Bhukha toh pura desh hai! Bhukh kahaan nahi? Bhukh gaon main hai, kasbe main hai. Har jagah bhukhmari paida hui hai (the entire nation is hungry, where is there no hunger? Hunger is there in villages, in districts. Everywhere, hunger is an issue)," he says."Aadhi roti kha lete. Shahar main hi rehna chahiye tha. Coronavirus ka dar toh hai(they should have eaten a little less in Delhi, but stayed back. There is a real fear of coronavirus)."
Sheela Bhatt travels to Firozabad in UP, known for its expertise in making glass bangles and meets its people amid the national lockdown.
12:42 'Who will feed us for three months?'
Sheela Bhatt drives from New Delhi to Firozabad via Agra to capture the stories of an India under lockdown. Do read the report here.
12:40 Just 1 ventilator for every 75000 people in MP
As Madhya Pradesh battles rising number of COVID-19 cases, burdening its health infrastructure, government data showed the state has just one ventilator for every 75,000 people and one intensive care unit bed for every 47,000. However, to the satisfaction of authorities, the availability of hydroxychloroquine, a common anti-malaria drug seen as potential cure for COVID-19, is around 30 tablets per person, according to an analysis of state government data. Madhya Pradesh has so far registered 426 coronavirus positive cases and 33 fatalities. Indore leads the tally with 235 COVID-19 cases followed by Bhopal, which has 98 patients of the infection which has now spread to 20 districts of the state.
The state, having a population of over 7.5 crore, has a total of 993 ventilators and 1,598 ICU beds in government and private hospitals put together together (as on March 9, 2020), according to the data. Overall, 29,914 beds, including 9,492 in isolation wards, are available in states hospitals, the data said.
If compared to total population, Madhya Pradesh has just one ventilator (whose count now stands at 993) for about every 75,000 people and one ICU bed for every 47,000, it showed. Asked about the low ratio of ventilators and ICU beds vis-a-vis population, Principal Secretary (Medical Education) Sanjay Shukla told PTI that efforts are being made to improve overall medical facilities and procure necessary healthcare equipment in the state.
The state government has placed orders to procure 200 ventilators but as everybody knows that manufacturers of life- saving equipment are overburdened these days so it may take time to receive supply, Shukla said. He said there is no shortage of funds. -- PTI
12:32 US lawmakers urge China to shut down wet markets
Amidst the coronavirus pandemic, a bipartisan group of top US lawmakers have urged China to urgently shut down all of its operating wet markets as that have a potential to expose humans to health risks through the introduction of zoonotic disease. A wet market sells fresh meat, fish, produce, and other perishable goods as distinguished from "dry markets". It gets its name from the floors being constantly wet from the spraying of fresh produce and cleaning of meat and seafood stalls.
"We write to urgently request that China immediately close all operating wet markets that have a potential to expose humans to health risks through the introduction of zoonotic disease into the human population,' wrote the senators, in a letter to Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai.
A zoonotic disease is an illness that can be passed from an animal to a human. Gao Fu, the director of China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention, has acknowledged that "the origin of the new coronavirus is the wildlife sold illegally in a Wuhan (China) seafood market,' they said.
A wet market in the central Chinese city of Wuhan is believed to be the source of the coronavirus pandemic that began in December last year, crossing from animals to humans.
"It is well documented that wet markets in China have been the source of a number of worldwide health problems, and their operation should cease immediately so as to protect the Chinese people and the international community from additional health risks,' the senators wrote. "Therefore, we are urging China to shut down all wet markets that allow for interactions between humans and wild animals that pose public health risks," the lawmakers concluded.
Prominent among the group of 11 Senators were Republican Mitt Romney, Republican Lindsey Graham and Democratic Chris Coons. "We understand and respect that wet markets are an important component to Chinese society and way of life, but we believe the current moment, which has disrupted everyday life around the world, calls for extreme precautions."
Last week, China published an official timeline that said that the novel coronavirus was first detected in Wuhan in late December where it was listed as "pneumonia of unknown cause". The letter of the Senators comes after Dr Anthony Fauci, the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, called for the closing of these markets.
"They should shut down (wet markets) right away. I mean it boggles my mind when we have so many diseases that emanate out of that unusual human animal interface that we don't just shut it down. I don't know what else has to happen to get us to appreciate that," he said. "And I think that there are certain countries in which this is a very common place. I would like to see the rest of the world really lean with a lot of pressure on those countries that have that because what we are going through right now is a direct result of that," Fauci said. -- PTI
Image: The Huanan Seafood Market in China's Wuhan is believed to be the epicentre of the coronavirus.
12:16 'I spent six days on a ventilator with Covid-19'
The ventilator has become an object of national fascination -- and controversy. The previously obscure medical device, which mechanically helps patients to breathe, has shot to worldwide fame during the coronavirus pandemic. Many patients with serious cases of covid-19 suffer respiratory failure and will die if they can't be connected to ventilators.
I should know. I spent six days on a ventilator, in critical condition in the intensive care unit at New York University Langone medical center in New York City. I would not be here today without a ventilator.
12:09 PM-CMs meeting on lockdown extension tomorrow
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with chief ministers of all states on Saturday via video, where a call would be taken on whether the 21-day lockdown to check spread of coronavirus, ending next week, should be extended. The video conference comes amidst indications that the central government may extend the lockdown across the country beyond April 14 after several states have favoured the extension to contain the fast-spreading virus. Addressing floor leaders of various parties who have representation in Parliament, on Wednesday, Prime Minister Modi had made it clear that the lockdown cannot be lifted in one go on April 14, asserting that the priority of his government is to "save each and every life".
According to an official statement, the PM said states, district administrations and experts have suggested extension of the lockdown to contain the spread of the virus. Odisha has taken a lead and has extended the lockdown till April 30.
"Prime Minister Modi made it clear that lockdown is not being lifted and also that the life pre-corona and post-corona will not be same," Biju Janata Dal leader Pinaki Misra had told PTI after Wednesday's interaction. This is for the second time the prime minister will interact with the chief ministers via video link after the lockdown was imposed. During his April 2 interaction with chief ministers, Modi had pitched for a "staggered" exit from the ongoing lockdown. Before the lockdown was announced on March 24, the prime minister had interacted with the chief ministers on March 20 to discuss means to check the spread of the deadly virus.
According to a Health Ministry update this morning, the death toll due to COVID-19 has risen to 199 in India. The total number of coronavirus positive cases have climbed to 6,412. -- PTI
Does the virus know English?
11:59 10 COVID-19 patients in Andaman & Nicobar recover
Ten persons, who tested positive for COVID-19 after returning from a religious congregation in Delhi last month, have recovered, officials said on Friday. All of them returned to Port Blair via Kolkata on March 24, they said. They have tested negative and will soon be shifted from the GB Pant Hospital, where they are undergoing treatment, to a quarantine facility before being discharged, a health official said.
The quarantine facility has been set up at a hotel in Port Blair, he said, adding that they will have to undergo isolation for another 14 days.
After returning on two different flights, they were transported to the hospital directly from the airport as they showed coronavirus-like symptoms, and did not get in contact with locals, officials said. The state's lone COVID-19 patient at present, a woman in her 20s who tested positive earlier this week, is recovering well, officials said. -- PTI
11:56 Nizamuddin gets sanitised
South Delhi Municipal Corporation conducts sanitisation drive outside the Markaz in Nizamuddin area. The Health ministry has said that 30 per cent of India's confirmed cases are linked to the Nizamuddin cluster.
11:47 UP govt gives 11 lakh workers Rs 1000 each
The Uttar Pradesh government has provided Rs 1,000 financial aid each to over 11 lakh construction workers in the state till date amid the nationwide lockdown, said Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday.
The Chief Minister said: "The State government had decided to extend help to those people whose livelihood has been affected due to COVID-19. In this context, in the first phase, more than 11 lakh construction workers in the state have been provided Rs 1,000 each in their accounts.
"On Thursday, Adityanath had held a COVID-19 review meeting with senior administrative officials at his official residence.The Chief Minister and officials were seen wearing masks and maintaining social distancing during the meeting.
Meanwhile, earlier on Wednesday, Additional Chief Secretary, Awanish Awasthi had announced that as per the decision taken by the Chief Minister, hotspots in 15 districts which have six or more cases of coronavirus will be sealed.So far, Uttar Pradesh has reported 410 positive COVID-19 cases, including 37 cured/discharged or migrated cases and four deaths, as per the Health Ministry. -- ANI
India exported the drug to US after threats of retaliation
11:33 India to export hydroxychloroquine to govts only
India will export anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine, high in demand globally, only to foreign governments and not to private companies, as the product is under prohibited or banned category of exports, sources said. Although exports of this medicine is completely banned, India has decided to export this anti-malarial drug in sync with its global commitment to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
"Hydroxychloroquine continues to be a prohibited item. Private-to-private company or a domestic exporter-to-foreign importer trade is banned. The procedure, which the government is adopting, is to help countries which are in dire need or which are traditionally dependent on India for this medicine or friendly countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan," the sources said.
Explaining the procedure, they said countries that have to import hydroxychloroquine would have to route their application through the Ministry of External Affairs.
The Department of Pharmaceuticals would assess the requirement sought by that country and see its impact on India's availability and without compromising on India's interests, it would recommend the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) to give a licence or go-ahead signal to customs authorities to release the consignment. DGFT is an arm of the commerce ministry that deals with export- and import-related issues. It is the agency that gives licence or permission or no-objection certificate for exports or imports.
On March 25, India banned export of hydroxychloroquine with some exceptions in the midst of views in some quarters that the drug could be used to fight COVID-19. On April 4, it completely banned the exports without any exception. In a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week, US President Donald Trump had sought supply of hydroxychloroquine to the US.
India is learnt to have received requests from over 20 countries including its immediate neighbours Sri Lanka and Nepal for the supply. The Indian pharmaceutical industry has stated that there is enough stock of hydroxychloroquine in the country, and drug firms are ready to ramp up the production to meet domestic as well as export requirements.
India manufactures 70 per cent of the world's supply of hydroxychloroquine. Companies like Zydus Cadila and IPCA are the major manufacturers in the country, according to the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance.
11:25 Lawyer social distances in tree house
In Hapur, UP, Mukul Tyagi, an advocate has built a makeshift tree house in his village Asaura, as a retreat, during the Corona lockdown. He says, "Doctors have said social distancing is the only way to contain this pandemic that is why I made up my mind to live in seclusion. I'm enjoying it."
11:15 The coronavirus outbreak may hurt Imran Khan's political future
There are increasing signs of disagreement between Prime Minister Imran Khan and the establishment in Pakistan. Read the report here.
11:08 720 COVID-19 cases in Delhi, 6000 houses scanned
A total of 720 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Delhi till now, of which 22 of them are in ICU and 7 on ventilator, says Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain. "In the hotspots identified in Delhi, we are conducting door-to-door medical scanning of the residents. 6000 houses have been scanned in Nizamuddin area also, one person tested positive for COVID19," Jain added.
The death toll due to the novel coronavirus rose to 199 in the country and the number of cases to 6,412, on Friday, according to the Union health ministry.
10:58 ADB assures $2.2 bn support package to India
Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masatsugu Asakawa on Friday assured Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman of USD 2.2 billion (about Rs 16,500 crore) support to India in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. In a call, Asakawa commended the Indian government's decisive response to the pandemic, including a national health emergency program, tax and other relief measures provided to businesses and a USD 23 billion (Rs 1.7 lakh crore) economic relief package announced on March 26 to provide immediate income and consumption support to the poor, women, and workers affected by the three-week nationwide lockdown.
"ADB is committed to supporting India's emergency needs. We are now preparing USD 2.2 billion in immediate assistance to the health sector and to help alleviate the economic impact of the pandemic on the poor; informal workers; micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises; and the financial sector," Asakawa said.
ADB is also engaged with the private sector to meet its financing needs during this period, ADB said in a statement. "ADB assistance for India will be further increased if needed. We will consider all financing options available with us to meet India's needs, including emergency assistance, policy-based loans, and budget support to facilitate swift disbursement of ADB funds,' he said. -- PTI
10:50 Mort Drucker, legendary Mad magazine artist, dead at 91
Mort Drucker, the renowned caricature artist behind many movie posters and the satiric illustrations of cult comedy staple Mad magazine, has died. He was 91.
Drucker is survived by his wife, Barbara Hellerman, daughters Laurie Bachner and Melanie Amsterdam, and three grandchildren. His longtime friend John Reiner confirmed his death to the New York Times.
Drucker, who was born in Brooklyn and got his start with Mad in 1956, was behind countless magazine illustrations, album covers, movie posters (including George Lucas first movie, American Graffiti), childrens books, adult colouring books and advertisements.
10:47 India committed to contribute to humanity's fight against COVID-19: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi says India is committed to contribute to humanity's fight against this pandemic. His remark comes in response to Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro, who thanked him for supplying hydroxychloroquine to the country.
"The India-Brazil partnership is stronger than ever in these challenging times," PM Modi said. In another tweet, he also responded to Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu.
"We have to jointly fight this pandemic. India is ready to do whatever is possible to help our friends. Praying for the well-being and good health of the people of Israel," PM Modi said.
10:32 Dalrymple fans, listen up
Author, columnist, William Dalrymple shares a picture of himself at his desk surrounded by books, saying, "Writing, again." His last book was 2019's, 'The Anarchy'. Looking forward to his next.
10:17 26 new COVID-19 cases in Rajasthan, tally 489
A 65-year-old woman who had tested positive for coronavirus died in Jaipur taking the toll in Rajasthan to eight, an official said on Friday. The state also reported 26 fresh cases of the deadly virus Friday morning, taking the total number of COVID-19 patients to 489. The official said the woman was undergoing treatment at SMS Hospital for COVID-19 and she breathed her last Thursday evening.
"The woman from Ramganj in Jaipur was admitted to SMS Hospital on Wednesday with complaint of respiratory distress pneumonia and co-morbidity hypertension. She had tested positive for COVID-19 and was on a ventilator," the official said. This is first death of a coronavirus patient in Ramganj and second in Jaipur.
On Sunday, a man from Ghat Gate in the capital city had died of COVID-19. The state reported 26 new positive cases in the last 12 hours till 9 am Friday, officials said. While 12 cases are from Banswara, eight are from Jaisalmer, three from Jaisalmer and one each form Alwar, Bharatpur and Kota, they said. A total of 489 persons have been tested positive for coronavirus in the state so far and 168 of them are from Jaipur. The maximum number of cases in Jaipur are from Ramganj. PTI
09:58 Five more test positive for coronavirus in Mumbai's Dharavi
Five more people, including two who returned from the last month's religious gathering at Nizamuddin, have tested positive for coronavirus in Dharavi, taking the tally in the slum-dominated area to 22, said BMC officials on Friday. According to the officials, among the five two are women. One of them, aged 29, is the wife of a doctor who tested positive earlier in Vaibhav Nagar, while the other, aged 31, is a resident of the Kalyanwadi locality, they said.
"Two people who figure in the list of police who returned from Markaz (Tablighi Jamaat's event at its headquarters in Nizamuddin, Delhi) were also found positive," said a senior BMC official. He said one of them was a resident of Dr Baliga Nagar, while the other is from PMGP colony. "Both were already quarantined at the Rajiv Gandhi sports complex and have been now taken to hospital," he said. PTI
09:55 Mom rides 1400 km to pick up stranded son
A modern-day Razia Sultan no less! In Telangana, Razia Begum from Bodhan, Nizamabad rode around 1,400 km on a 2-wheeler to Nellore in Andhra Pradesh, to bring back her son who was stranded there. She says, "I explained my situation to Bodhan ACP & he gave me a letter of permission to travel."
09:43 M&M factory uses banana leaves
Anand Mahindra, chairperson of the Mahindra Group tweets this image and writes, "A retired journalist, Padma Ramnath mailed me out of the blue & suggested that if our canteens used banana leaves as plates, it would help struggling banana farmers who were having trouble selling their produce. Our proactive factory teams acted instantly on the idea...Thank you!"
09:33 COVID-19 updates at this hour
Mumbai: Three new COVID-19 cases have been reported from Mumbai's Dadar area today; 2 nurses of Shushrusha Hospital and 1 man from Kelkar Road. The total number of cases in Dadar stands at 6 now.
5 more people, two of them Nizamuddin event attendees, test positive for COVID-19 in Mumbai's Dharavi.
US: The National Institute of Health on Thursday announced it has begun enrolling participants in a clinical trial to test the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug, for treating COVID-19.
09:24 PM Modi recalls courage and righteousness of Jesus Christ on Good Friday
Prime Minister Narendra Modi remembered Jesus Christ on Good Friday, saying he devoted his life to serve others. "Lord Christ devoted his life to serving others. His courage and righteousness stand out and so does his sense of justice," Modi wrote on Twitter. He said we should remember Lord Christ and his commitment to truth, service and justice on this day. Good Friday is a solemn day commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. PTI
09:22 547 new cases, India's COVID-19 tally 6412
Update from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: There's been an increase of 547 new COVID-19 cases in India. There have been 30 deaths in the last 12 hours. India's total number of Coronavirus positive cases rises to 6412 (including 5709 active cases, 504 cured/discharged/migrated and 199 deaths).
After a trader from the wholesale spices market of Vashi Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) tested positive for Covid-19, the Mumbai Agriculture Produce Market Committee has decided to keep the perishables as well as onion and potato sections of the market shut from Saturday, till further notice.
The decision has also been taken keeping in mind the recent spike in positive cases in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane. However, the APMC committee claims farmers will be able to send supplies directly to customers in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai.
09:06 DHFL promoters break lockdown: Heads start rolling
Maharashtra IPS officer has been sent on compulsory leave for allowing the Wadhawans to travel despite the lockdown, says Home Minister Anil Deshmukh. He also said that action will be taken against Amitabh Gupta, Principal Secretary (special), Home department, after talks with CM Uddhav Thackeray.
To bring you up to speed, Kapil Wadhawan and Dheeraj Wadhawan promoters of Dewan Housing Finance Ltd (DHFL) were detained in Mahabaleshwar for violating section 144.
The Wadhawan's and 21 family members were vacationing in the Mahabaleshwar farmhouse in violation of Covid-19 related curfew norms.
Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmuk tweeted that he would conduct an inquiry on how the members travelled to Mahabaleshwar.
According to police officials they were detained and have now been placed in institutional quarantine at a government hospital in Panchgani.
The Wadhwans reached Mahabaleshwar on the morning of 9 April and were travelling on a pass obtained under the garb of 'family emergency'.
The Wadhwans are the promoters of DHFL and are facing two probes by the Enforcement Directorate.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
08:57 UN Secy General urges Security Council to face pandemic with solidarity
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday said that the world faces its gravest test from the coronavirus pandemic that poses a significant threat to the maintenance of international peace and security. The Secretary-General said the pandemic could potentially lead "to an increase in social unrest and violence that would greatly undermine our ability to fight the disease."
He also urged the members of the Security Council to display unity."To prevail against the pandemic today, we will need to work together. That means heightened solidarity," he said during a closed video-teleconferencing session of the Security Council, which held its first meet on the coronavirus ever since the pandemic that has claimed over 1.5 million lives and infected 90,000 people worldwide.
"Every country is now grappling with or poised to suffer devastating consequences of the COVID19 Pandemic; tens of thousands of lost lives; broken families; overwhelmed hospitals and overworked essential workers," the Secretary-General said in his remarks to the Security Council on the COVID-19 Pandemic.The virus had originated in China's Wuhan last year.
"We are all struggling to absorb the unfolding shock: the jobs that have disappeared and businesses that have suffered; the fundamental and drastic shift to our daily lives, and the fear that the worst is still yet to come, especially in the developing world and countries already battered by armed conflict. While the COVID-19 pandemic is first and foremost a health crisis, its implications are much more far-reaching," he said.
Guterres identified eight risks which he said are particularly pressing including -- the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to further erode trust in public institutions, economic fallout of this crisis could create major stressors, the postponement of elections or referenda among others. -- PTI
08:52 16K deaths in US, COVID-19 tally 4.6 lakh
The deadly coronavirus pandemic claimed lives of more than 16,000 Americans and infected over 4.6 lakhs of them, devastating the US economy and rendering a record 16 million workers jobless in just three weeks. Of this, the New York metropolitan area, comprising the adjoining New Jersey and Connecticut, alone account for more than 9,000 cases and 220,000 cases.
Globally, over 15 lakh people have been infected so far by coronavirus and the fatalities stands at nearly 95,000. The United States accounts for nearly 30 percent of the all COVID-19 positive cases and over 17 percent of all fatalities.
By Thursday, nearly all of America -- 97 percent of the 220 million population -- are under stay-at-home order. President Donald Trump has notified major disaster declaration for almost all 50 States. In New York City, which is considered financial capital of the world and has one of the best health facilities, more than 800 deaths were reported in one day alone, taking the fatalities to a record 7,067.
New York Governor Andrew Cumo, however, asserted that COVID-19 now appears to have reached its peak in the city, where the number of new patients to hospitals have started coming down. Strict enforcement of mitigation measures including maintaining social distancing, he said, is having an impact nationwide.
"As such they now are projecting far less death -- around 60,000 -- due to coronavirus than earlier projections of between one and two lakhs," he said. "It looks like we're at the lower end of the curb in terms of death, which is a terrible word... a terrible, dark word that we've experienced like nobody's ever seen before in this country. We have numbers that are terrible,' Trump told reporters during his daily White House press conference on coronavirus.
"It is, in the sense of deaths, a bad week. In fact, every day there seems to be a record number of deaths compared to the day before. In fact, New York today had again another record of -- I think the city itself had about 820-plus deaths,' said Dr Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a lead member of the White House Task Force on Coronavirus. -- PTI
08:22 Assam reports first COVID-19 death
Assam on Friday reported the first death due to complications related to COVID-19 with the total number of positive cases in the state rising to 28, state minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
The patient, hailing from Hailakandi district, died early today at Silchar Medical College Hospital, the minister tweeted.
The condition of the 65-year-old retired BSF personnel turned 'alarming' on Thursday and he was shifted to SMCH during the day.
The minister had said his other parameters were stable but "his oxygen saturation is decreasing and he has been shifted to the ICU for better monitoring".
The person was confirmed coronavirus-positive on Tuesday night and had attended the Tablighi Jamaat meet at Nizamuddin in New Delhi, He also had travelled to Saudi Arabia before that.
Minister Sarma expressed his deepest condolences and prayers for the bereaved family.
The number of positive cases now is 28 with more case confirmed from Dhubri last night.
-- PTI
08:15 Kapil Sharma's show to go audience-less?
Kapil Sharmas show on Sony Entertainment stands cancelled at the moment because of the coronavirus. But it is reliably learnt that the producers intend to revive the show without a live audience.
Why not? Since the coronavirus struck the world, the most popular talk show hosts in America like Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel and Ellen Degeneres adopted a no-audience format," a source in the know tells Subhash K Jha.
"They are even recording their shows from their homes. Kapil is likely to follow this novel way.
07:57 New York sees 7,521 new cases, 518 deaths today
New York City has 7,521 new coronavirus cases and 518 new deaths, according to the citys website.
That brings the city's total to 87,725 cases and 4,778 deaths.
This case total doesn't reflect the number of active cases, but rather the total number of people infected since the start of the pandemic.
That means, according to official statistics, New York City alone now has had more infections than the whole of China, which has reported 81,907 cases, according to the Chinese National Health Commission.
01:01 British PM Boris Johnson out of ICU
United Kingom Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been moved out of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at a hospital in London where he was undergoing treatment after testing positive for COVID- 19.
Johnson 'has been moved this evening from intensive care back to the ward, where he will receive close monitoring during the early phase of his recovery', Downing Street said in a statement Thursday.
The PM is in 'extremely good spirits', it added.
Johnson, 55, was admitted to hospital for tests on Sunday night on the advice of his doctor as he continued to display symptoms of cough and high temperature 10 days after testing positive for the coronavirus.
He was moved to intensive care at St Thomas' Hospital in London on Monday night following a worsening of symptoms.
Johnson was receiving standard oxygen treatment and breathing without any assistance, according to Dominic Raab the foreign secretary who was deputising for the prime minister had said.
The number of coronavirus cases in Britain has surged past 65,000 and the death toll stands at 7,978. -- ANI
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