The government on Monday reported 92 new confirmed cases of infection and at least four deaths across India in past 24 hours. (Express photo: Vishal Srivastav)
Telangana reported five COVID-19 deaths Monday, taking the total number of fatalities due to the virus to six. All the deceased had attended a religious gathering at New Delhi’s Nizamuddin Markaz from March 13 to 16. While two persons died at Gandhi Hospital, one died at Global Hospital, one at Apollo Hospital, one at Gadwal hospital and one person at Nizamabad.
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The death toll in the country rose to 32 while the number of coronavirus-infected patients has risen to 1,251 Monday evening, Ministry of Health stated. Commenting on the health crisis, the Supreme Court cautioned that fear and panic are becoming a bigger problem than the coronavirus.
Meanwhile, the Indian Army dismissed rumours about likely declaration of an Emergency in mid April and clarified that there was no decision on deploying its personnel, National Cadet Corps (NCC) or NSS to assist the civil administration during the nationwide lockdown, which entered its sixth day. Earlier in the day, dismissing reports that the current 21-day lockdown would be further extended to contain the spread of COVID-19, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba said the Centre had “no such plans”.
Meanwhile, the total number of coronavirus cases across the world surpassed seven lakh, with over 1,30,000 cases in the United States. And the worst affected state in the US is New York, which has over 1,000 deaths. US President Donald Trump said the death rate in the country would likely peak in another two weeks. So far the over death toll is 2,460 from the respiratory disease, according to a Reuters tally.
Lucknow: Thermal screening of passengers being conducted at Kamta bus stand during a nationwide lockdown in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, in Lucknow, Sunday, March 29, 2020. (PTI Photo)
In several places on Sunday and Monday, migrant workers travelling to their home states, or their belongings, were sprayed with a disinfectant, apparently to sanitise them. Workers were sprayed in Bareily of Uttar Pradesh, and belongings of workers in Delhi. The chemical in the spray was a sodium hypochlorite solution. Sodium hypochlorite is commonly used as a bleaching agent, and also to sanitise swimming pools. This chemical is also being used in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Punjab, for disinfecting buildings and solid surfaces in a bid to wash away any presence of novel coronavirus. Is the chemical safe? Know here
On Sunday night, a 65-year-old resident from Nayagaon in Punjab with symptoms of severe acute respiratory distress (SARD) tested positive for COVID-19 at the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER). The patient, who has no relevant travel history or history of contact with another positive case, was placed in the emergency ward and was in contact with at least 36 medical professionals, some of whom were not equipped with proper protective gear, before he tested positive for COVID-19 and was placed in the Communicable Disease (CD) Isolation ward of PGIMER. Read more...
West Benga government allows sweet shops to remain open from 12 noon to 4 pm. According to the instruction, only packed sweets can be sold.
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, along with his Cabinet colleagues, MLAs and MLCs will take a 75 per cent salary cut due to the impact the coronavirus disease will have on the state economy. The Telangana government has decided to cut salaries of all staff. Stating that the coronavirus is adversely impacting Telangana’s economy, a high-level committee recommended measures so that the state can have enough funds to tackle the virus. Read more
Coronavirus has spread among some of those who attended a religious prayer meeting from March 13 to 15 at Markaz in Nizamuddin area in Delhi. Among those who were from Telangana, six died. Two in Gandhi Hospital, one each in Apollo, Global Hospital, Nizamabad and in Gadwal. The special teams under the collectors have identified those persons who came in contact with these persons, and they have been shifted to the hospitals. They are being tested and treated. Since those participated in Markaz prayers were infected by coronavirus, all those participated in the prayers should inform the officials concerned. The government would conduct tests and offer treatment to them free of cost. Hence, all those who went for the Markaz prayers in Delhi should inform the authorities. Any one who has information about them should alert the government, the Medical and Health Department of Telangana State stated in a statement.
The Ministry of women and Child Development has today issued orders to all states and union territories to provide supplementary nutrition rations at home to pregnant and lactating women, and to children under the age of six years. Noting that many states across the country have suspended nganwadi services, and Anganwadi centres have now been shut due to the lockdown to contain the coronavirus, an order issued by joint secretary ICDS Anuradha Chagti today has directed states to ensure that the rations under the schemes are sent to all those entitled to it.
The death toll in the country rose to 32 while the number of coronavirus-infected patients has risen to 1,251 Monday evening, Ministry of Health stated Monday evening.
Dealing with migrants walking through the district to reach their villages and ensuring that supply chains of essential goods and services remain intact during the lockdown, the Rampur administration is also facing an unusual problem. Residents of Rampur, they say, are flooding the essential services helpline with demands for pizzas, samosas and other things.
Rampur DM Ajani Kumar Singh Monday personally ensured that the man who called up the Swar tehsil control room number to demand “four samosas” be sent to him, was fined and then punished – he was made to clean all the drains in an area. READ MORE
An otherwise redundant British-era law has got a new life due to the spread of coronavirus. The authorities in Panchkula have invoked a 1918 Act to control the movement of public during the ongoing lockdown. The law allows temporary deployment of civilians for patrolling within the villages and says they will be deemed to be public servants. READ MORE
After creating ‘safe homes for migrant labourers to prevent their exodus and to provide them free food and shelter, the state government’s Health Department is now facing another arduous task of conducting the medical examination of all those migrant labourers/workers. Haryana’s Chief Secretary Keshni Anand Arora has issued instructions to all the Deputy Commissioners that people who are coming to Haryana from other states must be kept in mandatory 14-day quarantine.
The naval dockyard at Visakhapatnam has manufactured innovative portable multi-feed oxygen manifolds for use at health facilities where Covid-19 patients are being treated. Officials said personnel from the naval dockyard have designed an innovative ‘Portable Multi-feed Oxygen Manifold (MOM)’ using a six-way radial header fitted to a single cylinder. This innovation would enable one bottle to supply oxygen to six patients concurrently, thus enabling critical care management to a larger number of COVID patients with the existing limited resources. Read more here
The Karnataka government has a novel way to ensure those in home quarantine do not venture out and comply with the directions issued by the health department. It has developed an application — ‘Quarantine Watch’ — where it has asked citizens in home quarantine to upload selfies every hour. “All persons under order of Home Quarantine shall send a selfie to the government every hour from home. If a home quarantine person fails to send the selfie every 1 hour (except sleeping time from 10 pm to 7 am), the government team will reach such defaulters and they are liable to be shifted to a government-created mass quarantine (centre),” Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar said in a statement released on Monday.
With 15 people testing positive for coronavirus, Bihar is currently giving priority to those who have come from abroad for testing, and the government wants migrant workers to stay where they are to ensure social distancing, state’s health minister Mangal Pandey said. “We are conducting tests. We are collecting samples even at district levels. In Bihar, we have already tested 1,000 people, and 15 have tested positive. Priority is being given to those who have come from abroad,” Pandey told The Indian Express. Read more here
With healthcare professionals braving odds each day and emerging as the “frontline heroes” in the battle against coronavirus, a photo of a cheerful group of medics flying to New York, one of the hardest hit cities in the US with over 1,000 deaths, to help during the crisis has won praise online. The picture was posted by the official Instagram handle of Southwest Air along with a caption that read, “While so many of us continue to feel the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, no one knows what is happening quite like our medical professionals. These brave souls soldier on in the midst of tremendous risk and exposure, constantly putting the needs of others above their own.”
The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday transferred Gautam Buddh Nagar District Magistrate BN Singh hours after he sought a three-month leave due to “personal reasons”. The development came on a day Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath rapped officials in Gautam Buddh Nagar on the knuckles for not being able to contain the spread of novel coronavirus in the district, which has been hit the hardest with 38 cases so far. Suhas LY will take over as the new District Magistrate of Gautam Buddh Nagar.
Emotional scenes played out outside the general hospital at Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district Monday as doctors, nurses and other health staff bid goodbye to five members of a family who were discharged after testing negative for novel coronavirus. A 25-year-old man, his parents aged 55 and 53, and two of their relatives were allowed to leave the isolation ward at the general hospital after their swab samples tested negative twice for coronavirus. The permission was in keeping with the World Health Organisation protocol. The 25-year-old and his parents, residents of Aythala near Ranni in Pathanamthitta, had arrived from Italy on February 29 and were admitted to the hospital on March 6 following symptoms.
The Delhi government has converted its eleven schools into night shelters in a bid to help migrant workers stay in the city during the lockdown period, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia told PTI on Monday. The move comes in the wake of mass movement of migrant workers in big cities, including Delhi, to their home states after they were rendered jobless due to the lockdown that was imposed countrywide for checking the spread of coronavirus. In addition to the existing 238 night shelters in the city, the Delhi government converted 11 schools into night shelters to help migrant workers.
Delhi reported 25 new cases of coronavirus on Monday. The total number of confirmed cases in Delhi stands at 97 now.
With markets shut, farm labourers absent from fields, and transportation services at a halt, is India likely to face a food crisis because of the coronavirus-induced lockdown? Possible, if steps are not taken in some key areas. As far as the availability of food is concerned, the country has more than adequate stock. Also, thanks to a surplus monsoon, a bumper rabi crop is on its way. Read more here
Reliance Industries' chief Mukesh Ambani on Monday committed a further Rs 500 crore to the Prime Minister's COVID-19 fund, topping up over the multi-crore initiative of India's first coronavirus hospital, meals to the needy, and fuel to emergency vehicles. In addition to the financial contribution to the PM's Fund, Reliance Industries has also provided contribution of Rs 5 crore each to the governments of Maharashtra and Gujarat to support their fight against COVID-19, according to a company statement. 'Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) today announced a donation of Rs 500 crore to PM CARES Fund in response to the call by the Prime Minister to support the nation's fight against the coronavirus onslaught,' RIL statement said. Here’s how India Inc is contributing in fight against coronavirus pandemic
The Hero Group, which includes the country's largest two wheeler Hero MotoCorp, on Monday pledged Rs 100 crore aid for COVID-19 relief-efforts in the country. Half of this sum, Rs 50 Crore, will be contributed to the PM-Cares Fund and the remaining Rs 50 crore will be spent in other relief efforts, the group said in a statement. The Hero Group (BML Munjal family) companies contributing to this fund include Hero MotoCorp, Hero FinCorp, Hero Future Energies, Rockman Industries and Hero Electronix. Hero Enterprise and AG Industries have also contributed to this fund. (PTI)
Ever since India reported its first novel coronavirus case on January 30 in Kerala, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s action plan to contain the spread of COVID-19 has so far seen steps such as a ‘Janata curfew’ followed by a strict 21-day lockdown besides sealing India’s borders by banning all international flights. Besides two addresses to the nation and one to the citizens of his constituency in Varanasi, PM Modi has reached out to journalists, doctors and health workers through video conferencing to encourage them. To drive home the message of social distancing, PM Modi also announced that he would shun from participating in Holi festivities this year. Here is how PM Narendra Modi responded to the coronavirus crisis
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a video conference Monday with Indian envoys worldwide. It was the first such event for Indian missions worldwide and was convened to discuss responses to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Modi told Indian envoys that 'extraordinary times require extraordinary solutions, which was why even in this globalised era, most of the world had quarantined itself', according to Ministry of External Affairs. PM Modi also complimented Indian envoys for their efforts to evacuate Indians stranded abroad in some of the epicentres of the crisis.
Pune registered its first death due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on Monday, when a 52-year-old man who had been on ventilator support for the last eight days at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital succumbed to COVID-19-related multi-organ failure. “World over, people are dying… this is a personal loss for us,” said the man’s brother-in-law, who quietly helped the family complete the formalities at the hospital.
A 46-year-old man who was under home quarantine was found dead in Hassan district on Sunday. According to police, the man had returned from Mumbai to his native village at Shravanabelagola in the district for the Ugadi festival. He was suffering from kidney ailments. Read more here
Punjab recorded its third coronavirus death Monday as a 42-year-old woman from Ludhiana died at GMCH Patiala after testing positive for Covid-19 today. On Sunday, Punjab recorded its second coronavirus death after a 62-year-old patient died at the Government Medical College Hospital in Amritsar. The patient, a resident of Hoshiarpur, had come in contact with the first coronavirus casualty of the state – a 70-year-old man who died on March 18.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his close advisers have been placed under quarantine Monday after an aide on Parliament affairs tested positive for coronavirus, PTI reported. The step was a precaution and is being taken even before the epidemiological investigation has been concluded, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office.
Sixteen new coronavirus positive cases were reported in Uttar Pradesh on Monday, taking the total tally in the state to 88, officials told PTI. Of the 88 COVID-19 patients, 14 have fully recovered and discharged. Gautam Buddh Nagar district alone has reported 36 cases.
On March 20, Maharashtra reported its first case of a person with no foreign travel history or contact with a COVID-19 patient testing positive to the virus. The 41-year-old anganwadi worker belonged to Pune. Nine days later, state public health officials said on Sunday that eight such sporadic cases have been detected. Officially, while the government has strongly denied any indication of community transmission, experts said these cases are ringing alarm bells that the virus is silently making its way into the community. Read more here
Punjab reported its third coronavirus death Monday. A 42-year old woman from Ludhiana died at GMCH Patiala after testing positive for Covid-19 today. Another Patiala man tested positive with travel history to Dubai. Punjab has a total of 41 confirmed cases while 3 have died due to coronavirus till now.
The Pune Rural Police is using drones to monitor the lockdown in Baramati, Wagholi, Lonavala, Nanded and Loni Kalbhor. District Superintendent of Pune Rural Police Sandeep Patil said, “As per the directions of office of director general of police, we have started surveillance of urban belts in our jurisdiction using drone technology.” “It helps in knowing whether any crowding is taking place in any of these areas during the lockdown. Patrolling teams will then be immediately sent to these areas to take appropriate action. Use of drone technology for surveillance is also reducing stress on the police. We appeal residents to stay safe and indoors. Legal action will be taken against those disobeying the orders regarding lockdown,” Patil said.
Five more persons tested positive for coronavirus in Chandigarh on Monday, taking the total count of confirmed cases to 13 in the Union Territory, reported PTI.
In light of migrant labourers complaining of hunger after losing their jobs owing to the national lockdown, the Gujarat government said that over 8.95 lakh food packets have been distributed across the state as of Monday. “So far, over 8.95 lakh food packets have been distributed in the state, of which 2.70 food packets were distributed yesterday (Sunday),” Ashwani Kumar, Secretary to the Gujarat government, told media persons in Ahmedabad. About 3.5 lakh food packets have been given to the needy in the eight municipal corporations of Gujarat, he added.
While the Maharashtra government has announced it will ramp up its ‘Shiv Bhojan Thali’ scheme to ensure that the urban poor and migrant labourers do not go hungry in the coronavirus lockdown, in Pune, most Shiv Bhojan Thali centers were closed for the past 10 days — since the district administration started imposing restrictions. On Monday, only six of the 14 centres in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad were open, and reported to have sold 687 thalis (out of a capacity of 3,000 thalis per day). This was a big improvement over sales throughout last week, when none or barely one/two centres remained open for business. Read more here
The Sahibabad Mandi in Ghaziabad, these days, looks like a parking lot for trucks. Allowing trucks to bring in food to the vegetable and grain mandi, the administration is not allowing them to make their journey back in empty trucks. The stranded truckers say they have no way of going back and bringing in fresh produce and that NCR could be staring at a shortage of essential items because if the break in the supply chain. Several truckers at the mandi as well as those halted near the Delhi-Ghaziabad border said that they are being stopped at several police check points across states as they had dropped the food product at the mandi and their trucks were empty. Rinku, who had come to Sahibabad from Hyderabad last Friday to supply water melons, said has been trying to leave for past four days but has not been allowed. Another truck driver Mukim, who had brought onions from Malda said that though the police allows essentials, the problems start when they want to return. “I will try to go my home in Mewat and rest for the remainder of the lockdown,” he said. Ghaziabad Police, meanwhile, denied any transportation problems at the border. "Our policy is clear, we are not stopping any truck whether empty or full. We know at this point of time the trucks are involved in supply of essentials themselves. The maximum traffic is being witnessed at the UP border. Police officials are deputed at all corners and it is ensured strictly that the trucks do not run into delays", said Neeraj Jadaun, SP Rural Ghaziabad. (Reported by Abhinav Rajput)
Manipur Government is going to set up a 200-bed quarantine centre within 10-15 days in Imphal West District taking up more stringent measures to tackle spread of pandemic COVID-19 in the state. This is in addition to the existing centres already opened in different districts of the state. Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh along with some MLAs and high ranking officials of the state government inspected the site Monday. The centre would be constructed in one hectare of land. Official sources said that that half of the land would be donated by the land owners while another half would be bought from the owners by the government. A government hospital would also be developed on the land after the epidemic is contained. The Chief Minister instructed the officials concerned to complete construction of the centre within 10 to 15 days. He also instructed the DC Imphal West to begin survey of the land immediately. Meanwhile, the state Government has taken up initiative to operate home delivery services by extending support to some private agencies for essential commodities, health, hygiene related items twin districts of Imphal (East and West). The home delivery services is an interim measures to facilitate social distancing in the twin districts of Imphal. “The home delivery services of essential services of essential services, health, hygiene and sanitization related items will be a great help to fight Covid-19 in the state”, said Naorem Praveen, deputy commissioner Imphal East district. The agencies are directed to submit action taken reports twice a week. (Reported by Jimmy Levion)
Coronavirus lockdown has halted Basanti Puja and Brahmakunda mela this year in Tripura. The Mela was observed for over a hundred years, much before princely Tripura merged with the Indian Union in 1949. Brahmakunda Temple at Tripura's Mohanpur Sub-division, hosts a massive mela at this time of the year to offer prayers to River Ganges. The sashthi-puja was held rather unceremoniously at Brahmakunda Temple today with absolutely no devotee in sight. The temple, which is studded with people all other years, wore a barren face as all festivities stand cancelled due to lockdown for COVID-19. Speaking to indianexpress.com, Pradip Adhikari, 43, whose builds the idol of Goddess Basanti at Brahmakunda Temple by generation, said he has never seen the mela halted till now. 'I am making idol of the deity for last 27-28 years. Before that, I used to come with my father as a kid. We saw huge gathering on this day on all other years, especially on the day of Ashtami, when people take the holy dip in the Kunda. There is nothing this year for Coronavirus. We are building the idol because the puja rituals will be minimally done', he said. (Reported by Debraj Deb)
The novel coronavirus responsible for a pneumonia-like illness has killed over 30,000 people and infected over six lakh in over 200 countries so far, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). As the specific mode of transmission of the virus is yet not clear, the best way to prevent is to avoid being exposed to it. Here is all you need to know about the infectious respiratory disease that has affected more than 200 countries.
Quite like its on-field pluckiness, the Indian football team’s last line of defence is putting up a resolute fight off it too, doing its bit to save the poor from the seismic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The national players are providing the needy, in their respective localities, monetary aid and food items, besides setting up camps and spreading awareness about social distancing. The trio of defender Pritam Kotal, midfielder Pronay Halder and defender Prabir Das have pooled in around Rs 4 lakh to help the needy in West Bengal. Read more here
Mumbai reported another death due to coronavirus Monday. "In wake of COVID-19, no burials of coronavirus patients will be allowed in Mumbai's jurisdiction. Bodies of COVID-19 will be cremated irrespective of their religion. If anybody insist on bury dead body, then it has to be done outside Mumbai's jurisdiction", said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
Unfazed by the nationwide lockdown, a 22-year-police constable walked for nearly 20 hours during the 450-km journey from his hometown in Uttar Pradesh to Rajgarh in Madhya Pradesh to join duty. The Rajgarh police lauded constable Digvijay Sharma’s commitment towards work and advised him rest for a few days as his legs got sore muscles after travelling long hours on foot. Talking to PTI on Monday, Sharma said he was on leave from March 16 to 23 to appear for his BA (Bachelor of Arts) exams at Etawah in Uttar Pradesh. But, the exams got postponed due to the shut down.
Surat city police opened two rounds of fire in the air to disperse an angry mob of textile factory workers who attacked the police when they were stopped from leaving for their homes in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other states late Sunday. A mob of around 500 came on to the streets confronting the police which charged at them with lathis to drive them back to Pandesara where they live in colonies. The police stopped them which led to the stone pelting incident. Three police vehicles were damaged by the angry crowd. The police later arrested 96 people on charges of rioting. Read more here
In Goa, Agaciam Police Station staff dropped Mumtaz Sheikh (25) r/o Verem along with her new born baby at her home. Mumtaz was discharged from Goa Medical College after delivery and was stranded at the premises as she had no money to travel back home.
Lok Sabha MP Manish Tewari Monday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that special trains should be run for migrants rather than trying to stop them. They can be screened upon arrival like it was done at airports and then either be allowed to go home or quarantined, he added.
The railways may be required to convert up to 20,000 train coaches into isolation wards for treatment of COVID-19 patients, the Railway Board has told its zonal units. Initially, it will convert 5,000 ICF coaches into isolation wards.
Work at quarantine centre, set up at Assam’s Sarusajai Sports Complex, is on full swing. On Monday, Assam Health Minister visited the complex, and tweeted that it was “coming up on a war footing.” The facility has the capacity to accommodate at least 700 people and will house people whose family members have tested positive for COVID-19. While Assam has not reported a single positive case so far, the government has stepped up its preparation. The government has also announced that it will set up five pre-fabricated hospitals (in Dibrugarh, Silchar etc) with 300 beds each to treat only coronavirus cases, at the cost of approx Rs 40-45 crore.
Another person in Gurgaon has been discharged from hospital after testing negative for coronavirus Monday, said officials from the health department. Of the 10 people who have tested positive in the district, 6 have recovered so far.
A meeting of the Congress Working Committee will be held on Thursday, April 2. The meeting will be conducted through video conferencing, said AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal said. Ninety-two new cases and four deaths due to COVID-19 have been reported in India since Sunday taking total cases to 1,071 and the number of deaths to 29, the Health Ministry said on Monday while reiterating that there has been no community transmission of the virus as of now.
As many as 17 more people tested positive for coronavirus in Tamil Nadu Monday, taking the total number of infected people in the state to 67. Till Sunday, the state had reported 50 coronavirus positive cases. Addressing reporters in Chennai after a review meeting with senior IAS and Health department officials over the measures taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisamy said so far, 67 people had been infected with coronavirus in the state. “Of the 17 who tested positive Monday, 10 are from Erode, four from Chennai, two from Madurai and one from Tiruvarur. All the patients are stable and currently undergoing treatment in isolation wards. Five people have recovered completely. The state has reported one death due to the coronavirus,” he said.
Iran's official coronavirus death toll reached 2,757 on Monday and the number of infections crossed 40,000, accoding to AFP tally. Iran is one of the countries worst hit by the virus, which originated in China. Iran has been scrambling to contain COVID-19's spread since it reported its first cases on February 19.
All central government departments have been asked to ensure prompt redressal of public grievances related to coronavirus, reported news agency PTI. The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) has also come out with a procedure of handling public grievances related to COVID-19. The move follows the constitution of 11 empowered groups by the Centre on Sunday, including one on "public grievances and suggestions, to identify problem areas and provide effective solutions to check the coronavirus pandemic.
Early Monday morning, the Delhi Police sealed portions of Nizamuddin West area — a day after six of the 23 fresh COVID-19 cases in the Capital were traced to the area. They had attended an event held at a mosque in the area last month. DCP (Southeast) RP Meena said, “All of Nizamuddin West has not been sealed. We have cordoned off an area, starting from the mosque, to the Dargah, right up till the police station.”
The BSE Sensex crashed over 1,375 points on Monday, pressured by heavy selling in banking, finance and auto counters, as sentiment remained grim amid a steady rise in coronavirus cases. The number of Covid-19 cases in India shot past the 1,000-mark on Monday, with the death toll rising to 29. Investors dumped risky assets after multiple ratings agencies cut India's growth outlook, traders said. After plunging over 1,500 points during the day, the 30-share BSE barometer ended 1,375.27 points or 4.61 per cent lower at 28,440.32. Similarly, the NSE Nifty fell 379.15 points, or 4.38 per cent, to close at 8,281.10. (PTI)
Inside a gated community in Greater Noida West, mellifluous tunes of Frank Sinatra’s I love You Baby emanated from an apartment. The evening sun was beginning to set; an eerie silence lingered in the air, punctuated by the occasional tweeting of birds. Not a human in sight, stray animals wandered the streets, scouting for food. And then, a shriek emerged — more like a war cry: “Chhilka kyun nahi phenka?” (“why did you not throw away the peel?”) Frank Sinatra disappeared quickly. It was replaced by muffled explanations. The husband had barely begun to scratch the surface, but the wife would have none of it: “Jo bhi ho (whatever it may be)”. And that was the end of the conversation. Read more here
Pakistani squash great Azam Khan has died of coronavirus in London, his family said. Azam, who won the British Open title successively between 1959 and 1961, had tested positive for Covid-19 last week and died at London’s Ealing Hospital on Saturday. He was 95. Younger brother of the legendary Hashim Khan, Azam is widely regarded as one the best squash players in the world.
Addressing the daily press briefing on the actions taken, preparedness and updates on COVID-19 at 4 pm, Agarwal informed that 92 new cases of COVID-19 and four deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours, taking total cases to 1,071 and the number of deaths to 29. Underlining the importance of social distancing, said even one person's carelessness can lead to spread of this pandemic. He said rather than spreading panic, there is a need for creating awareness about COVID-19.
Another resident of Faridabad has tested positive for coronavirus Monday. The district has recorded 4 cases so far, of which 1 person has recovered and been discharged.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's top aide, Dominic Cummings, has gone into self-isolation after developing mild symptoms of coronavirus over the weekend, according to PTI.. Cummings, the UK PM's senior-most adviser, is the latest among the top rung in government to be hit by COVID-19 after Johnson himself was tested and went into self-isolation last week, followed soon after by UK health secretary Matt Hancock.
"Bareilly District Magistrate has clarified that some employees took an overzealous step due to ignorance. Required action has been taken against those employees", said Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry. Migrant workers returning home were forced to take a bath in the open as district officials hosed the workers with sanitiser solution before entering Bareilly district on Monday. The migrants, who were fully clothed and carrying bags on their back were forced to squat by the road as officials sprayed the solution on them. The incident was captured on video by the officials.
Over the last five days, Kerala’s health department reported 93 positive cases of novel coronavirus, taking the total number of infected to 202 since February and heightening fears of community transmission of the virus in the state. Of the 202 infected, 21 persons have been discharged after complete recovery with the rest under treatment in isolation at hospitals. Around 1.4 lakh people have been ordered to stay under home quarantine and are being monitored regularly. Read more here