Meanwhile, thousands of migrant labourers walking hundreds of kilometres along highways and across shuttered cities, running out of food and the nationwide disruption in supply chains have exposed glaring gaps in the implementation of the 21-day Covid-19 lockdown the Prime Minister announced on March 24 by the Centre and the states.
Urging the states to help migrants with food and shelter and prevent their cross-state movement, a health ministry official said, "The lockdown could have been planned better, not at four-hour notice".
Police and state governments admit the PM’s 21-day announcement caught them off guard. Experts said that the coronavirus outbreak was not an earthquake — that catches an administration by surprise — nor was it a development that called for a closely guarded response.
On the other hand, Noida recorded three more positive cases, while two cases were reported from Ghaziabad. Till Friday evening, Noida had 18 cases, the highest in UP, while Ghaziabad has five cases.
Officials said four cases so far have been linked to a Noida fire safety firm that was visited by a British national for an audit earlier this month. Two employees of the same firm tested positive earlier this week. The office has been closed for sanitisation.
Sources said the two Ghaziabad residents who went to a private lab tested positive.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), which has approved twelve antibody kits, on Friday issued guidelines on the use of these kits for testing for COVID-19, stating that the test “is not recommended for diagnosis” and that positive test would only “indicate” an exposure to the coronavirus.
The six guidelines issued by ICMR on the rapid antibody kits state that the test can be done on blood/serum/plasma; the test result is available within 30 minutes; test comes positive after 7-10 days of infection; the test is not recommended for diagnosis of COVID-19 infection; positive test indicates exposure to SARS-CoV-2; and a negative test does not rule out COVID-19 infection.
As the trickle of people walking to their villages turned into a wave on Saturday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said his government had tried hard to make migrant workers stay back, and reassured people that every help would be extended to them. “A lot of people are going back to their villages. We have tried very hard to make them stay. I have directed the MLAs to make appeals and made ample arrangements to make them stay back. We are making arrangements for food twice a day as well as a place for them to stay. Many have insisted that they want to go home. Many are not sure what the future holds,” said the CM. Read more
Italy's coronavirus toll has topped 10,000, AFP reported quoting an official.
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Maharashtra has recorded 33 fresh Covid-19 cases, taking the total number to 186. On Friday, 28 persons were found infected with coronavirus in different parts of the state, 250 people were hospitalised across the state on suspicion of being infected. So far, 3,059 people have tested negative in the state. From stamping the hands of people coming from Mumbai and Pune to barricading entry points, villages across the state have devised various measures amid fear, concern and rumours over coronavirus.
Pakistan's confirmed cases have surged to over 1,400 with 11 deaths. A top health official has told PTI the country has over 12,000 suspected Covid-19 cases. Most of the infected people had returned from Iran, where the confirmed cases are over 30,000 with more than 2,300 deaths.
In a press conference in Agartala, Tripura Health Secretary Debasish Basu said around 5,267 persons are currently under surveillance in the state with preliminary symptoms or recent travel history to other states. He also said 88 persons underwent tests for COVID-19 so far among the quarantined persons but all the samples were tested negative. There is no positive case in Tripura so far.
Fever clinics in Karnataka start. The state has closed border it shares with Kerala.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India said it will contribute Rs 51 crore to Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM-CARES Fund) to fight COVID19.
Putting the total number of positive cases in J&K at 33 following the detection of five more cases, the UT government on Saturday reiterated its appeal asking people to self-declare their travel history faithfully as hiding it, especially the overseas travel history, can be extremely dangerous first for the family, then for the neighbourhood and finally for the community as a whole, reports Arun Sharma
The total number of confirmed cases of coronavirus went up to 49 in the national capital Saturday, the Delhi government said
The Tihar jail has released over 400 inmates to reduce overcrowding in prisons to prevent the spread of coronavirus. According to a senior jail official, 356 inmates were released on bail, while 63 inmates were released on emergency parole. The interim bail is for 45 days and emergency parole is for eight weeks, the official told PTI.
The death toll in Briatin has risen to 1,019 from 759 on Friday. Meanwhile, the total deaths in Europe has crossed the 20,000 mark.
Migrant workers at Delhi's Anand Vihar bus terminal head home.
Spain witnessed 832 deaths within a span of 24 hours, taking the toll over 5,600 and recording total cases to 72,248. Spain has the world's second-highest coronavirus death toll after Italy with 5,690 fatalities. Madrid is the worst-hit region, with 2,757 deaths and 21,520 infections.
The coronavirus has claimed a life of a 74-year-old man from Telangana's capital Hyderabad, first death in the state. The deceased was suffering from pneumonia and was undergoing treatment at a private hospital, state HEalth Minister Eatala Rajender confirmed. He has recently returned from Delhi. The test was conducted post his death when the state government asked private hospitals to inform of any suspicious deaths. Four of his family members have been kept in home quarantine.
The Tata Trusts have committed to contribute an addiitonal Rs 1,000 crore towards the coronavirus relief. Earlier in the day, they had vouched to give Rs 500 crore for the cause.
Kerala has reocrded six fresh coronavirus cases today, taking the total number of infected persons to 165. The new cases surfaced in Trivandrum, Kollam, Malappuram, Palakkad and Kasaragod districts. CM Pinarayi Vijayan express gried over the first Covid-linked death of the 69-year-old man who succumbed to the virus. He requested people under home qurantine to engage in creative practices such as reading books. "To reduce anxieties and stress, they must talk openly with their friends and relatives. Psychosocial intervention is being provided by government if needed," he said in a press conference.
Engeenering and medical entrance exams have been postponed indefinitely in state. Kerala will also begin rapid testing of samples to get faster results, the CM said.
Home Minister Amit Shah said the Central government has committed all support to migrant workers during the lockdown, adding the MHA has asked states and union territories to immediately set up relief camps for them and pilgrims, who are returning to their domicile states or trying to do so during this lockdown period. "As per the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government has committed all support to migrant workers during lockdown period," Shah said.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has urged people, including the migrant workers, to follow the 21-day lockdown to contain the spread of the virus. "I have asked MLAs to request migrant workers to not leave Delhi as we have made arrangements for all. I will appeal that initiative of lockdown taken by PM is necessary to contain this epidemic. If people will migrate then COVID-19 cases will rise," he said.
Kejriwal assured that food is being served to the needy at nearly 800 centres set up by Delhi government.
Eight new cases of coronavirus were detected in Maharashtra, as of Saturday evening. One person tested positive in Nagpur, whereas seven others were infected in Mumbai, however, the figures are yet to be updated on the health ministry website. Amid the coronavirus outbreak, state chief secretary Ajoy Mehta has been given three months job extension . He was due to complete his tenure on March 31.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that an emergency fund against Covid-19 has been constituted under the name 'Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief Fund' which is accepting donations from people of all walks of life. He shared account details and mode of payment through his Twitter handle.
The Health Ministry affirmed that social distancing and a nation-wide lockdown could play an important role in breaking the chain of transmission. "We have been preemptive and graded in our response to arrest spread of coronavirus," Joint Secreatary fo the ministry Lav Aggarwal said.
The ICMR official said 44 private laboratories have been given approval so far for testing the coronavirus. "Reduction in viral load has been observed in COVID- 19 patients who were given Hydroxychloroquine drug," he said.
The Health Ministry said "rigorous" contact-tracing is underway and it's focus is to set up Covid-19 deciated hospitals. "We are constantly engaged in discussion with states for earmarking dedicated COVID-19 hospitals," Lav Aggarwal said.
The ICMR official said all patients who have severe acute respiratory illness are being tested for COVID-19, adding no research in the world on developing the vaccine to combat the virus has so far reached human trial stage.
A MHA official, during the press conference, said states have been directed to set up camps fot migrant workers.
In Gujarat, a 46-year-old woman from Jamalpur-Astodia area of Ahmedabad has died due to the coronvirus. The woman was admitted on March 26 and was tested psoitive for the virus the next day. She had co-morbid conditions incluidng hypertension, pulmonary fibrosis leading to partial lung function. The Ahemdabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has said they are unsure who would conduct the last rites of the deceased as her family of four has been kept under home quarantine.
Tthe source of the infection is unknown as the deceease had no travel history. "It may be local transmission," the AMC said.
The Health Ministry, in its evening press conference, said doctors across country being trained on management of COVID-19 patients with the help of AIIMS in Delhi. Further Joint Secretary of the Ministry Lav Aggarwal said co-morid conditions are a major factor including, diabetes, hypertension, asthma and people who have a kidney condition.
A 21-year old man has tested positive for the Covid-19 in Dehradun. He had returned from Dubai on March 18. According to data provided by the Health Ministry, five coronavirus confirmed cases have surfaced so far.
Iran reports 139 new coronavirus deaths, raising total to 2,517. The confirmed cases are over 30,000. Iran’s health infrastructure is strong and ready to cope with a possible escalation in coronavirus cases, President Hassan Rouhani said.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has changed the rules for assistance under the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF), facilitating availability of money for food and temporary accommodation for migrant workers during the 21-day lockdown. All chief secreataries have been asked to ensure medical care and clothing to migrant workers during the national lockdown. The decision was undertaken after migrant workers in swarming numbers from different parts of the country started leaving their work places.
Jammu and Kashmir has circulated three helpline numbers dedicated for stranded citizens of the Valley residing in different parts of the country - 24611210, 24611108, 24615475.
Additional Secretary, Rimpy Ohri supervising the overall functioning of the Centre said hundreds of students from across the country have already been facilitated by the commission to return to their home districts while several have been facilitated to stay at various hotels in Delhi.
People in the Australian state of Queensland were urged to vote in local elections on Saturday or face a fine of USD 80, as polls went ahead despite most citizens being encouraged to stay home to stem the spread of the coronavirus. The state's top health official said it was safe to vote in person as long as people followed social distancing guidelines. "There's no risk here, we've got to remember the risk of people going to the shops is far, far higher," Jeannette Young told reporters. Many of the three million eligible voters had cast their ballot early, or remotely by post or telephone. However long queues were reported outside some booths on Saturday due to safety measures limiting the number of people allowed inside at once. Queueing voters were told to stand 1.5 metres (5 feet) apart and asked to bring their own pens. Compulsory voting remained in place, but those who were self-isolating due to illness could apply to have fines waived, state health minister Steven Miles said. It was unclear whether healthy people could cite fear of infection as a valid reason for not voting. The vote came as confirmed virus cases in Australia rose above 3,500 on Saturday, with 14 deaths. (AFP)
Four more people tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) disease in Rajasthan on Saturday, taking the total number of cases in the state to 54, news agency PTI reported quoting officials.
The Chhattisgarh government will provide 100 beds each to all districts of the state to deal with coronavirus cases, a senior official here said on Saturday. As many as six persons have tested positive for COVID-19 in Chhattisgarh, while swab reports of 81 people are awaited. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel chaired a high-level meeting with his cabinet colleagues and officials late on Friday to review the steps taken to prevent the spread of the pandemic and to ensure supply of essentials during the 21-day lockdown, the official said. Baghel directed officials to provide 100 beds in each of the 28 districts and ensure treatment of suspected coronavirus patients in all medical colleges of the state, he said. The beds will be provided to government and private hospitals based on the availability of space, the official said. (PTI)
The Geological Survey of India (GSI) on Saturday urged its employees to donate one day's salary to the prime minister's relief fund to aid the government's efforts to fight the coronavirus outbreak. GSI's director general M Sridhar requested heads of the departments and deputy director generals of six regions to appeal to employees to make the donation, according to a statement issued by the organisation. "As always done, GSI shall do its bid in the fight against the Covid-19. "In this regard, it is an appeal to all the members of GSI family to come forward and contribute at least one days salary from the pay bills of April 2020 to the PMNRF," the director general said. (PTI)
Police in Chennai has been creating awareness among the people about the importance of them staying at home amid lockdown in the city due to coronavirus by making a police personnel wear a helmet designed to look like coronavirus. The helmet has been designed by a local artist Gowtham. Inspector Rajesh Babu says, "We had been talking to public. But awareness among them is very less. So we thought of doing something different. We designed a helmet that looks like coronavirus. We thought of doing something which will scare the people and make them stay at home." (ANI)
Maharashtra minister Amit Deshmukh has said that facilities will be created at three hospitals in the state for treatment of coronavirus patients. These facilities will be created by the J J Group of Hospitals in Mumbai, he said. A 300-bed facility with 60-bed ICU will be set up at St George Hospital for treatment of coronavirus patients, while the G T Hospital will have 250 beds and 50-bed ICU for this purpose, the Medical Education Minister said. In Pune, a 700-bed hospital with 100 beds for ICU will be put in place, he said. Senior bureaucrat Vinita Singhal has been appointed as the nodal officer for the creation of these facilities, Deshmukh said. (PTI)
The United Nations says 86 staff members around the world have reported cases of COVID-19. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said most of the infected staff members are in Europe, but there are also staffers in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the United States that have the coronavirus. To try to reduce transmission, he said the vast majority of UN staffers are working from home. At UN headquarters in New York, where a normal day would see staffers' passes swiped 11,000 times, the number of swipes Saturday morning stood at 140, Dujarric said. In Geneva, he said, the number of staff at the UN office has dropped from around 4,000 people on a regular day to just about 70 on Thursday. In Vienna, more than 97% of UN staff are now working remotely, he said. And, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 99% of staff are working from home. (AP)
China's foreign ministry says the country is sending a plane containing medical personnel and supplies to aid Pakistan in the fight to contain the spread of COVID-19. Pakistan is a key link in China's ambitious multi-billion dollar, one-road project linking South and Central Asia to China. China is also a key military supplier for Pakistan, having supplied the country with missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons. Pakistan currently has 1,321 confirmed cases, 10 deaths and 23 patients who have recovered. Most of the infected people returned from Iran where the confirmed cases are more than 30,000 with more than 2,300 deaths. (AP)
China's foreign ministry says the country is sending a plane containing medical personnel and supplies to aid Pakistan in the fight to contain the spread of COVID-19. Pakistan is a key link in China's ambitious multi-billion dollar, one-road project linking South and Central Asia to China. China is also a key military supplier for Pakistan, having supplied the country with missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons. Pakistan currently has 1,321 confirmed cases, 10 deaths and 23 patients who have recovered. Most of the infected people returned from Iran where the confirmed cases are more than 30,000 with more than 2,300 deaths. (AP)
Days after the government mooted the idea, Indian Railways has converted one of its coaches into an isolation ward for COVID-19 patients. Each coach can contain 10 patients, in separated bays of the non-AC coach, which has undergone a number of modifications. In the first phase, the 16 workshops of the Indian Railways will be making two rakes each. Each rake will have 10 coaches. So to begin with, there will be 32 such rakes of 10 coaches each in the next two weeks. Read More
Sri Lanka police say they have arrested thousands, including many who were praying in a mosque, for violating a countrywide curfew imposed as a part of stringent measures designed to contain the spread of coronavirus. The number of positive cases has risen to 106 and the government has ordered police to strictly impose the curfew to ensure social distancing across the country. On a tip that a group of people were praying in a mosque in the town of Horowpathana, about 124 miles (200 kilometers) north of Capital Colombo, police and health officials went to the mosque and arrested 18 while several dozens have fled. The government has banned nonessential travel. Police have arrested 4,600 and seized 1,125 vehicles for violating curfew since March 20. (AP)
A 10th standard student of a government school here, who appeared for the SSLC examination this month, is among the positive cases detected in Kerala. Her father, who had returned from abroad on March 17, has also tested positive and two other family members are under observation, health department sources here said. Efforts were on to trace all those with whom the student is suspected to have come in contact, they said. At least 19 other students were also there in the class the affected girl had written the exam on March 19. On Friday, 39 people had tested positive for coronavirus, with the worst-affected Kasaragod accounting for 34 cases. The number of COVID-19 cases in the southern state has touched 164. (PTI)
Manipur Police has detained 45 people over the last few days for violating norms during the ongoing lockdown to contain the spread of the deadly COVID-19, officials said.
The state has been witness to mass gatherings and panic buying since the lockdown was imposed earlier in the week, they said. Manipur DGP L M Khaute had on Friday evening urged people to stay at home and warned of strict legal action against those not adhering to the guidelines.
The state’s cyber crime wing had earlier asked people not to spread fake news and information about coronavirus on social media platforms. Read more
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called up a nurse from the civic-run Naidu Hospital, which has been treating COVID-19 patients, and applauded the work done by the hospital staff to fight the pandemic, a civic official said on Saturday. Nurse Chhaya Jagtap received a call from the Prime Minister's Office on Friday evening, the health official from the Pune Municipal Corporation said.
An audio recordingof their conversation went viral on social media. Starting the conversation in Marathi, Modi enquired about her wellbeing and asked Jagtap how was she allaying her family's fears for her safety, while serving COVID-19 patients with devotion."Yes, I am concerned about my family, but one has to work. We have to serve patients in this situation. I am managing," she said. The Prime Minister went on to ask her if patients who are admitted in the hospital got scared.
"We try and speak to them. We tell them not to get scared and assure them that nothingis going to happen to them and that their reports will come out negative, she said. The staff tries to boost the morale of positive patients too, she is heard saying in the audio clip. Jagtap informed Modi that seven COVID-19 have been discharged from the hospital after being cured. When Modi asked her if she had a message for lakhs of medical staff working tirelessly in various hospitals, Jagtap said, "There is no need to be scared. We have to drive this disease out and we have to make our country win. This should be the motto of hospitals and staff." (PTI)
China has said the domestic passenger flights will resume operations in the coronavirus epicentre Hubei province, except for its capital Wuhan, from Sunday as part of a plan to ease lockdown in the region after it reported zero COVID-19 cases for several days.
No new confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease were reported in Wuhan on Friday, though the city reported three new fatalities, taking the total death toll in China to 3,295. The Central Hubei province has so far reported a total of 67,801 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 50,006 in Wuhan.
Domestic operations in the province except in Wuhan Tianhe International Airport will be resumed from Sunday, China's Civil Aviation Regulator (CAAC) said on Friday. Local bus and train services have already resumed in Wuhan and Hubei province. (PTI)
The number of Covid-19 cases continued to surge worldwide with as many as 27,000 deaths till Saturday morning. Italy has the highest number of deaths at 9,134, followed by Spain (5,138) and China (3,174). The United States leads in the number of COVID-19 cases with 104,007 infections confirmed so far, followed by Italy (86,498) and China (81,906). On Friday, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced that the global economy has entered a recession in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic which has brought several countries to a halt. “We have reassessed the prospects for growth for 2020 and 2021. It is now clear that we have entered a recession as bad or worse than in 2009. We do project recovery in 2021,” IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva told reporters at a news conference. Read more
Kerala on Saturday reported its first COVID-19 death. The deceased (69) had returned from Dubai and was admitted to Kalamassery Medical College on March 22nd following symptoms. He later tested positive. He's a resident of Chullikkal in Kochi.
A man who had tested positive for the coronavirus has recovered in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district, an official said. The 32-year-old man from Harchakkian tehsil of the district's Shahpur subdivision has recovered from the disease, said Additional Chief Secretary (Health) R D Dhiman in a statement. His latest report is negative for COVID-19, Dhiman added. Three people had been tested positive for the virus in Himachal Pradesh.
One of the patients has recovered, whereas another is being treated at Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College (RPGMC) in Tanda. The third patient, a 69-year-old man who recently travelled back from the US, had died on March 23, as per the official data. (PTI)
A 42-year-old male from Tamil Nadu's Kumbakonam, who returned from West Indies, and a 40-year-old male from Katpadi in the state, with a travel history from the UK, have tested positive. Both had transited via the MIddle East. This takes the total number of positive coronavirus cases in the state to 40.
Kerala religious leaders, including those of the Christian community, issued a joint press statement stating 'to curb the spread of the virus, we enforced certain restrictions on entry to pilgrim centers. We're fighting this menace, by highlighting the concern for the others. As everybody knows, a lockdown has been clamped all over the country. All are requested to co-operate with such restrictions and to make use of the situation in a highly creative way". (ANI)
Actor-politician Kamal Haasan rubbishes news reports which said he is self-quarantined at his residence in Chennai. In a statement, Haasan said, "Based on the notice stuck outside my house, news has been spread saying that I have been quarantined. But, most of you already know that I have not been living there for the past few years and the Makkal Needhi Maiam party office has been functioning from there. So, the news that I have been quarantined is not true. As a precautionary measure, I have undertaken social distancing as I requested the public too. I would again reemphasize all of us to undertake social distancing as a precautionary measure. I also request all news agencies to verify news before breaking it so that fake news does not get spread".
The Indian Railways on Saturday prepared isolation coaches in train to fight the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) disease. Take a look at the coach -
To tackle with the sudden shortfall in air transport capacity, the government has instituted an Air Cargo Management Group for Covid19 to ensure that essential commodities can be ferried across the country in a timely manner. In addition to freighter aircraft already being allowed to transport without restrictions, the government has also allowed private airlines to operate passenger planes only with cargo.
“An Air Cargo management group for COVID19 has been created with a dedicated team for smooth movement of cargo. Ministry is adopting a hub & spoke approach to move essential commodities across the country. Resident Commissioners of States/UTs are part of the group,” the Ministry of Civil Aviation said.
Notably, cargo carried in underbelly of passenger aircraft accounts for nearly 60% of the total air cargo transported across the country. “Private airlines/freighters have been co-opted to link the request of States/UTs for smooth movement of essential items. Additionally, ATRs of Alliance Air have been kept on standby at Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad,” the ministry added. Alliance Air operates a fleet of ATR turboprop aircraft. Read more
DMK chief MK Stalin on Saturday urged his party members to help the migrant workers who are leaving their homes and going to their villages because the national lockdown. He tweeted, "In a time like this, all states must come together cutting across boundaries and party affiliations to help those who are most vulnerable. I have instructed all the DMK people representatives and cadres to help anyone in need". He also urged the other states to help those in need in this time.
The death toll in India rose to 19 Saturday morning. So far, Maharashtra has reported five deaths, Gujarat has reported three fatalities, two have been reported from Karnataka, two from Madhya Pradesh, and one each death has been reported from Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Punjab, Delhi, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh.
Praying in a desolately empty St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis on Friday likened the coronavirus pandemic to a storm laying bare illusions that people can be self-sufficient and instead leaves "all of us fragile and disoriented" and needing each other's help and comfort. Francis stood under a canopy erected on the steps of St. Peter's Basilica while leading a special prayer service as rain soaked the usually crowded cobblestone square. "Open our hearts to hope," he said in his opening prayer. "Lord, may you bless the world, give health to our bodies and comfort our hearts," he prayed At the end of the hour-long ceremony, he delivered a blessing that is traditionally reserved for the holy days of Christmas and Easter. (AP)
The Karnataka government on Saturday decided to set up ‘Fever Clinics’ in 31 areas of Bengaluru for Covid-19 screening. These ‘fever clinics’ will be functional 24x7 with one doctor officiating each clinic. "Anyone with travel history or coming in contact with positive COVID-19 people can report to these clinics and get diagnosed for symptoms," said Dr Sudhakar, Minister for Medical Education. According to the minister, Karnataka is the first state in India to take up such precautionary measures of setting up Fever Clinics.
Gujarat on Saturday reported six new cases, with the number rising to 53 in the state.
With six more cases, the number of coronavirus cases in Maharashtra rose to 159 on Saturday. Five of the cases were reported from Mumbai, while Nagpur reported one new case.
According to the health ministry, 149 new Coronavirus positive cases have been reported in last 24 hours, the total positive cases in India now stand at 873.
Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik on Friday announced a package of Rs 2,200 crore to support the “needy” during the lock down to control spread of Corona Virus. The CM said in a video clip, “Corona is a global threat and has hit the lives and livelihood of the poor people. For the benefit of poor people, I have announced a package of Rs 2,200 crore. All the beneficiaries of the food security act will receive three months ration in advance. 94 lakh such families will also receive Rs 1,000 each and will involve (state) expenditure of Rs 940 crore”.
“The 48 lakh beneficiaries (of the state) of various social protection schemes will receive four months penion in advance. This will lead to spending of Rs 932 crore. 22 lakh construction workers will receive Rs 1,500 leading to Rs 330 crore expenditure”, Patnaik added.
Meanwhile, Odisha confirmed its third positive case of corona virus, which has led to disruption in the functioning of the state assembly.
South Korea has reported 146 new cases of the coronavirus and five more deaths, bringing its totals to 9,478 cases and 144 deaths. South Korea's Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said 4,811 people have been released from hospitals as of Saturday, marking the first time the number of recoveries exceeded the number of people remaining under treatment since the country confirmed its first COVID-19 case on January 21.
The KCDC says 71 of the new cases came from the worst-hit city of Daegu, which has struggled to stem transmissions in hospitals, nursery homes and other live-in institutions. Infections in the populous Seoul metropolitan area have reached 874 following a steady rise over the past two weeks that was mainly linked to passengers arriving from Europe and the United States.
South Korea is tightening border controls and began enforcing two-week quarantines on South Korean nationals and foreigners with long-term stay visas arriving from the United States on Friday. Similar quarantines had already been in place for passengers coming from Europe. South Korean Prime Minister Chung Se-kyun on Saturday called for Seoul and other local governments to strengthen their monitoring on South Koreans who returned from overseas after some of them triggered public anger by breaking quarantine and travelling to other regions before testing positive. (AP)