Coronavirus India updates March 25: Cases cross 600 as PM warns of action against those misbehaving with doctors

The Home Ministry also put on hold exercise of updating the National Population Register (NPR) and the first phase of the Census 2021 besides issuing fresh guidelines covering additional people and services who would be exempted from the 21-day lockdown.

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Here are the latest updates on coronavirus from across the country today:

Home Ministry issues fresh guidelines on lockdown exemption

The Home Ministry on Wednesday issued fresh guidelines covering additional people and services who would be exempted from the 21-day lockdown. Reserve Bank of India and RBI-regulated financial markets, pay and accounts officers and field officers of the CAG, petroleum products and supply chain and forest staff are exempted from the purview of the lockdown.

Roads and markets wore a deserted look in Assam on Wednesday. (Express photo by Tora Agarwal)

Those people handling cargo operations in airports and railway stations, coal mining activities, officers and staff of resident commissioners based in Delhi and customs clearance at ports, airports and land borders are also exempted. Forest offices staff and workers required to operate and maintain zoo, nurseries, wildlife, fire fighting in forests, watering plantations, patrolling and their necessary transport movement, social welfare department staff for operations of homes for children, disabled, senior citizens, destitute women, widows, observation homes and pensions service are also exempted, the guidelines said.

A tanker sprays hyperchloride solution to disinfect a locality at Lajpat Nagar in New Delhi on Wednesday. (Express Photo by Tashi Tobgyal)

People in whites in hospitals and clinics are our Gods now: PM Modi

Amid reports regarding misbehaviour with staff of essential services and healthcare employees and airline crew being ostracised, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while interacting with citizens of Varanasi through video conferencing, said “people in whites in hospitals and clinics are our Gods now” and should be respected.

PM Modi said he had asked Home Ministry & DGPs to take strict action against those not supporting cooperating with doctors. “People in whites in hospitals and clinics are our Gods now; they should be respected. They are saving us by risking their own lives,” PM Modi said.

“I appeal to all the citizens, if you notice any incident where professionals, such as doctors and nurses, are ill-treated then you should take an initiative to make such people (those who are ill-treating healthcare professionals) understand that they are wrong,” the Prime Minister further said.

Nine new cases in Kerala, CM calls for setting up community kitchens

Kerala Wednesday reported nine new cases of the coronavirus, taking the total number of active cases to 112. Six people have been discharged so far after they recovered from the disease.

Out of the nine new cases reported today, three persons are from Ernakulam district, two each from Palakkad and Pathanamthitta, and one each from Kozhikode and Idukki. While six out of nine persons are those who have come from abroad, three others are primary contacts.

People waiting in queue for gas cylinders in Wadala on Wednesday. (Express photo by Prashant Nadkar)

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said, “No should go hungry in Kerala at a time like this. Local bodies must set up community kitchens to provide cooked food to elderly persons and others staying alone in homes. Families staying isolated in certain areas must be provided food.”

Kerala has decided to suspend the sale of liquor through retail outlets of the Kerala State Beverages Corporation (BEVCO) for 21 days in accordance with the three-week national lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday to stem the spread of the coronavirus infection.

54-year-old COVID-19 patient dies in Tamil Nadu

A 54-year-old man infected with coronavirus died at a hospital in Madurai in the early hours of Wednesday. This is the first death in Tamil Nadu due to the infection, state Health Minister C Vijayabaskar said, adding that the man had a medical history of prolonged illness with “uncontrolled diabetes”.

“Despite our best efforts, the COVID-19 positive patient at MDU, Rajaji Hospital, passed away… he had a medical history of prolonged illness with steroid-dependent COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), uncontrolled diabetes with hypertension,” the health minister tweeted.

Customers maintain safe distance at a store in CR Park in New Delhi on Wednesday. (Express Photo by Tashi Tobgyal)

Madhya Pradesh reports first COVID-19 death

Madhya Pradesh reported its first COVID-19 death when a 65-year-old woman who was under treatment at Indore passed away Wednesday.

The woman from Ujjain had been admitted at Indore’s M Y Hospital. Neither the woman nor any of her close relatives had reportedly travelled abroad. Principal Secretary (Public Health and Family Welfare) Pallavi Jain Govil told The Indian Express that people it seems to be a case of “community spread’’ and all precautions are being taken.

The locality in Ujjain where she lived has been sealed and her relatives isolated. She had been admitted to a local hospital in Ujjain and shifted to Indore’s M Y Hospital after she showed symptoms of COVID 19.

Second death reported in Delhi was COVID-19 negative

The Health Ministry today clarified that the second death reported in Delhi on Tuesday evening was not linked to coronavirus. Eleven deaths so far have been reported from Maharashtra (three), Bihar, Karnataka, Gujarat, Punjab, Delhi, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Himachal Pradesh.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police said more than 180 cases were registered and 5,103 people detained on Wednesday for violating orders during the lockdown. According to the data shared by Delhi police, 183 cases were registered under section 188 (for disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code till 5 pm, PTI reported.

An empty road in Delhi. Delhi Police said more than 180 cases were registered and 5,103 people detained on Wednesday for violating orders during the lockdown. (Express photo by Amit Mehra)

Centre postpones NPR, first phase of Census exercise

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has said that the updating of the National Population Register (NPR) and the first phase of the Census 2021 have been postponed due to the 21-day lockdown. Both the exercises were supposed to be carried out from April 1 to September 30.

In a statement, the MHA said the Census 2021 was scheduled to be conducted in two phases— house listing and housing census during April-September, 2020 and population enumeration from February 9 to 28, 2021. The updating of NPR was also proposed to be done along with the Phase I of Census 2021 in all the states and union territories, except Assam.

Homeless children play on an empty stretch of road in New Delhi on Wednesday. (Express photo by Tashi Tobgyal)

Mizoram patient second positive case in the Northeast

A person from Mizoram tested positive for COVID-19 at the Guwahati Medical College & Hospital. This is the second case in the Northeast after a 23-year-old Manipuri woman, who returned from the UK, had tested positive. Officials in Manipur said her younger brother, who flew in from the US and joined her in Kolkata, before the two flew to Manipur, has tested negative for coronavirus.

Social distancing at Cabinet meeting chaired by PM Modi

Social distancing was evident in the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. The Cabinet meeting held at Lok Kalyan Marg comes a day after PM Modi announced a complete lockdown across the country for the next three weeks and urged Indians to practice social distancing to combat coronavirus pandemic. Senior ministers were present at the meeting during which PM Modi is expected to chalk out strategies to deal with the pandemic.

Senior ministers were present at the meeting during which PM Modi is expected to chalk out strategies to deal with the pandemic. (Twitter/PMO)

Festivities will not be usual, will strengthen resolve: PM Modi

As the 21-day lockdown began in India, PM Modi greeted the country on the occasion of Ugadi, Gudi Padava, Navreh and Sajibu Cheiraoba. “We are marking these festivals at a time when our nation is battling the COVID-19 menace. The celebrations will not be like they are usually but they will strengthen our resolve to overcome our circumstances,” PM Modi tweeted.

We are marking these festivals at a time when our nation is battling the COVID-19 menace.

The celebrations will not be like they are usually but they will strengthen our resolve to overcome our circumstances.

May we keep working to fight COVID-19 together.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 25, 2020

People celebrating Gudi Padwa while wearing masks in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. (Express photo by Javed raja)

Rajasthan migrant workers in Gujarat leave for homes on foot

Over 2000 daily wage workers and migrant labourers in Gujarat, mainly Ahmedabad, travelled all through Tuesday night on foot and by other means of transport to reach Rajasthan’s Bicchiwara tehsil on Wednesday afternoon, immediately after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announed the 21-day nationwide lockdown.

Hundreds of people were lining up outside ticket counters at Bichhiwara bus station. (Express photo)

With bags in their hands and over their shoulders, hundreds of men, women and children began walking in clusters from parts of Ahmedabad, such as Sarkhej, Asarwa, Shahpur, Narol, Nikol and Naroda between 7 and 9 pm to reach Rajasthan’s Dungarpur village— the nearest border, 125 kilometers away from Ahmedabad.

277 Indians arrive from Iran, put under isolation

As many as 277 evacuees from Iran arrived at Jodhpur Airport on Wednesday. After the preliminary screening, evacuees were shifted to the Army Wellness Facility at Jodhpur Military Station. The Army, in coordination with the Rajasthan State Medical authorities, Jodhpur, has made adequate medical and administrative arrangements to cater for a comfortable stay and provide prophylactic medical support. The facility has a dedicated team of Army doctors, who will be constantly monitoring the health parameters of the evacuees for the duration of their stay.

277 evacuees from Iran arrived at Jodhpur Airport on Wednesday.

India lockdown: Mumbaikars rush to Byculla market to buy essentials

On Day 1 of the lockdown, people thronged to the Byculla market in Mumbai to purchase vegetables. Amid concerns over supplies of essential commodities, the government has clarified that the list of exemptions during the lockdown remained unchanged since the ‘Janata curfew’ on March 22, meaning that groceries, pharmacies, and ATMs, among other essential services, would remain open and operational.

People gathered at the Byculla market in Mumbai to purchase vegetables. (Express photo/Ganesh Shirsekar)

Centre asks states to ensure unhindered operations of essential services

The Centre has asked the state governments to ensure unhindered operation of essential services and their seamless availability for the general public during the 21-day lockdown period announced to deal with the coronavirus outbreak.

In a communication to chief secretaries and DGPs of all states, the Union Home Ministry said all states and UTs should actively enforce social distancing and isolation for COVID-19 through lockdown and prohibitory measures with exemptions for supply chain and transportation of essential goods and services in and out of the state. The Home Ministry has directed all states and Union Territories to set up a 24×7 control rooms/offices with helplines at state/district level to address any grievances or undue problems faced by providers of goods and service.

Shoot at sight orders may be issued if lockdown violated: Telangana CM

Taking a tough stand on people violating the lockdown rules, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao Wednesday said stringent action would be taken against violators. “If people do not listen and stay indoors, we will be forced to implement a 24-hour curfew. If people continue to be on the streets, then the army has to be called out and shoot at sight orders may be issued,” Rao said, appealing to the people to not go out, or get into arguments with officials implementing the restrictions.

In Hyderabad, the elected members and police are also checking if shops have increased prices of vegetables and warned them of cancelling license if they overcharged. (Express photo: Sreenivas Janyala)

Govt bans export of anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine

Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government on Wednesday banned export of anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine with immediate effect to ensure sufficient availability of the medicine in the domestic market. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director General Balram Bhargava had on Monday recommended the use of hydroxychloroquine for treating healthcare workers handling suspected or confirmed coronavirus cases and also the asymptomatic household contacts of the lab-confirmed cases.

Don’t panic buy, essentials will be made available: Kejriwal

Addressing a press conference, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged people to follow the lockdown. “There’s no need to panic. The government is making efforts to help everybody. There’s no point of lockdown if each one of us rushes to shops together. We are assuring you that there will be no dearth of essential products and services. This is our responsibility. Those providing essential services, we are getting passes ready. There’s a helpline to help you all. The number is 23469536,” Kejriwal said.

Crowd outside grocessery store after PM Modi announced lockdown.(Express Photo by Amit Chakravarty)

Congress backs PM’s lockdown call, questions lack of financial aid

The Congress Tuesday supported the unprecedented 21-day lockdown announced by PM Modi but criticised the government for not announcing a comprehensive economic package to protect the poor and the vulnerable from the ill-effects of the nationwide shutdown.

“What India has to do for containment of novel coronavirus disease is understood…but the country and administration at the tehsil-level, subdivision-level ought to have been prepared well in advance,” senior Congress leader Anand Sharma told The Indian Express. Sharma said, “You have to ensure that the poor and the vulnerable are taken care of. It is still strange that there is no package, no economic package, and food guarantees for the poor.”

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi suggested the government to employ a two-way strategy focused on health and economy to fight the pandemic.

Journalist who attended Kamal Nath’s presser tests positive for COVID-19

A journalist who attended the press conference addressed by former Chief Minister Kamal Nath before tendering his resignation to Governor Lalji Tandon on March 20 has tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The press conference was attended by ministers, MLAs, and journalists, including those who came from Delhi to cover the political developments, and many others, including those from government’s publicity department.

The journalist’s daughter had recently returned from London via Delhi. Her brother who accompanied her from Delhi to Bhopal in Shatabdi Express has tested negative.

Sanitation work in full swing in Lucknow a day after PM Modi announced complete lockdown in the nation due to the coronavirus outbreak. (Express photo by Vishal Srivastav)

Flipkart, others temporarily shut operations

As India entered into its first day of the 21-day lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for containing the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) disease, several e-commerce businesses have been severely hit. While many business enterprises have had to shut down operations, some had to cut down the active workforce employed to comply with the government orders.

While e-commerce giant Flipkart on Wednesday announced it is suspending its operations temporarily, Amazon India said it has temporarily stopped taking orders and disabled shipment of low-priority products. Online grocery platform Grofers too is has been facing issues with its warehouse in Faridabad, Haryana being shut down.

UN expresses solidarity with India, WHO terms lockdown ‘comprehensive and robust’

The UN has expressed solidarity with India in its fight against coronavirus, with a top official at the world body’s health agency praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 21-day nationwide lockdown as a “comprehensive and robust” response to the raging COVID-19 pandemic.

“United Nations stands in solidarity with India in its fight against COVID-19,? said a video message tweeted by United Nations News on Tuesday, the UN’s multimedia news service. The video also took note of the ‘Janta Curfew’ observed across India on Sunday, when the country’s 1.3 billion citizens stayed at home from 7 am to 9 pm in an effort to practice social distancing.

Even the woman’s husband, son and her two maids have also been quarantined.

Ludhiana woman who hid travel history tests positive, two physicians isolated

A 55-year-old woman in Ludhiana, who did not reveal her recent international travels to doctors, has tested positive for coronavirus.  The report of her second and confirmatory test, which has been sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, is awaited. The woman, who runs a boutique and is the wife of a leading industrialist, had recently travelled to Spain. She had visited DMCH for treatment and two doctors of the hospital have been isolated.

Here’s a quick Coronavirus guide from Express Explained to keep you updated: Are smokers at high risk form coronavirus? | Can Vitamin-C prevent or cure coronavirus infection? | What exactly is community spread of coronavirus? | How long can the Covid-19 virus survive on a surface? | Amid the lockdown, what is allowed, what is prohibited?