During his 'Mann ki Baat' address to the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologised to the nation for the "discomfort" caused due to the lockdown. The prime minister said, "Lockdown is for you to protect yourself, your family, you've to show this patience for many more days. Those violating the lockdown are playing with their own lives."
Of the 312 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases reported from across the country in the last three days, 80% were from 16 cities and districts. Five of these — Delhi, Mumbai, Bhilwara (Rajasthan), Kasaragod (Kerala) and Nawanshahr (Punjab) — account for over 40% of these cases.
With 194 fresh cases, including two deaths, being reported in the last 24 hours — the highest single-day spike till now was 88 on March 26 — the count has now gone up to 918. While 79 have recovered, 19 have died.
The other districts which saw a spike in the last three days are: Indore and Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh; Pathanamthitta and Kannur in Kerala; Pune and Sangli in Maharashtra; Gautam Buddh Nagar in Uttar Pradesh; Ahmedabad (Gujarat), Karimnagar (Telangana), Leh (Ladakh) and Chennai (Tamil Nadu).
The number of districts which have reported COVID-19 cases now stands at 132; it was 75 when the 21-day lockdown was imposed earlier this week. For about 80-odd cases, the districts from where they have been reported are still being ascertained.
In an exclusive piece for The Indian Express, Nobel laureates economists Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo write that even if lockdown flattens the curve, COVID-19 will spread. Looking at migrants on the road, let’s expect a mess — and plan for it. They have listed out nine steps that need to be followed after the three-week lockdown ends.
READ | Moving migrant crisis deepens at multiple points, worried states scramble to get a grip
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READ | Walking home to Rajasthan, four migrants run over in Maharashtra
Opinion | Madhu Trehan writes: Why the lockdown is PM Modi’s Sophie’s Choice
Global pharma giant Abbott, which on Friday announced it has received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for a portable device that can tell if someone is COVID-19 positive in five minutes, said it plans to “bring more tests forward with the intent to get them to more people in more places around the world”. Currently, the ID NOW COVID-19 test is available only in the United States as this is where most of the company’s ID NOW instruments are in use, the Abbott spokesperson said. The test will deliver positive results for COVID-19 in approximately five minutes, and negative results in 13 minutes. Read here
Nearly 200 migrant labourers who were heading towards their villages were stopped by Nashik Police near Veldhoni. Police arranged tea-biscuits before handing the people over to Talhati officer. (Photo: Neeraj R Tiwari)
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Mumbai Police is cracking down on migrant movement. It caught four trucks and a tempo near Igatpuri toll on Mumbai-Nasik highway carrying some 500 workers in all. Police have registered an FIR against the driver and are going to take the workers to the Talathi in Bhiwandi district “jahan unka khane peene ka intezam kiya hai” (to a place where arrangements for food have been made), authorities informed The Indian Express.
The workers have been taken to Wadape police station, but no legal formalities have been carried out in almost two hours, from 11:30 pm to 1:30 am
(Express photo by Prashant Nadkar)
One more elderly male patient tested positive admitted in a private hospital at Saltlake in Kolkata. He is a resident of Sheorafuli and suffering from fever since March 16.He has no history of foreign travel. But he used to go to Durgapur regularly. He is diabetic and hypertensive and age is 59.
Even as it declined to interfere with the Chandigarh Administration's decision to relax curfew in the city, the Punjab and Haryana High Court in an order passed on Sunday asked the authorities to solicit opinion of the specialists of infectious and communicable diseases while taking any decision and emphasised that social distancing is ‘sine qua non' (essential condition) to control the coronavirus.
One COVID-19 positive patient died in Guru Nanak Dev College of Government Medical College Hospital, Amritsar, on Sunday evening. "He was suffering from diabetes and hypertension, age-about 60-65 years— was medically vulnerable," said civil surgeon Amritsar Prabhdeep Kaur Johal.
Vadodara: 19 contacts of the first two COVID-19 positive patients of the city test negative in two consecutive tests. Administration to discharge the 19 persons at the end of the 14 days institutional quarantine as per protocol. Of the 19 persons, 11 are contacts of first COVID-19 positive person, who has also recovered and will be discharged in the coming week. Eight are contacts of another second positive case.
The body of a man identified as Thomas Schäfer, the finance minister of the German state of Hesse, was found on a high-speed train line in the town of Hochheim between Frankfurt and Mainz, police confirmed Saturday. The politician apparently left a note before taking his own life, German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported, citing sources close to the investigation. The note, according to the report, referenced Schäfer’s reasons for taking the step.The state's premier, Bouffier said that Schäfer had been living under considerable worry and stress because of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Read more
As positive cases in India crossed the 1000-mark, including 27 deaths on Sunday, MHA has formulated 11 'Empowered Groups' of officers cutting across government ministries and departments to synchronise efforts in tackling the spread of coronavirus in the country under the Disaster Management Act (2005). This has been done in order to ensure comphrehensive and integrated response against Covid-19 and these groups would be empowered to identify problem areas and provide effective solutions, formulate plans, strategise operations and ensure implementation of policies.
Amid India coronavirus lockdown, police have been deployed on longer shifts in order to maintain law and order situation. In Punjab, a 10-minute 'relaxation activity' was conducted for police force who are on 12-hour shifts.
The Jammu and Kashmir government on Sunday informed that 6,465 people that came in contact with suspected cases have been put under surveillance and, so far, 38 cases (34 positive, 02 recovered and 02 deaths) have tested positive in Jammu and Kashmir. According to the daily media bulletin on coronavirus, 3,260 persons have been kept under home quarantine, whereas, 307 are in hospital quarantine. Persons who are under home surveillance stand at 2,163 and 735 people have completed their 28-day surveillance period. The bulletin further stated that 588 samples have been sent for testing of which 542 have tested negative and 8 reports are still awaited.
The total number of global coronavirus cases has touched 680,000, including more than 30,000 fatalities on Sunday. While 145,000 patients are reported to have recovered, US is approaching 125,000 confirmed cases. Mexico urged citizens to stay at home for a month, whereas, New Zealand reported its first death. Australia witnessed its first highest-day surge and UK has reported 1,000 fatalities till now. While Russia has sealed its bordrs, Spain has had the deadliest 24 hours since the outbreak. Read coronavirus global updates
With the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in India crossing 1000 by Sunday, including 25 deaths, India Inc. is coming forward to combat the COVID-19 outbreak. From donating N95 masks to converting resorts into temporary care facilities, more and more Indian companies are assisting in various forms to fight the pandemic.Globally, over 6.6 lakh people have been infected by COVID-19 and over 31,000 killed. Read full story
Two Indian Army personnel tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday. They have travel history during the first and second week and were identified through contact tracing. Both of them are stable and in good health, and are being quarantined, statement issued by the Army said.
The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in India rose to 1024, including 27 fatalities, the health ministry said on Sunday. Maharashtra and Kerala have reported the highest number of positive cases in the country.
The Home Ministry Sunday asked all states and union territories to allow transportation of all goods, without distinction of essential and non-essential during the 21-day lockdown period in the country. The home secretary also said that newspaper delivery supply chain was allowed to operate under exemptions given for print media. "Groceries, including hygiene products such as hand wash, soaps, disinfectants, oral care items, battery cells and chargers, are also allowed," the statement read.
In Maharashtra, the total number of cases touch 203 after seven more test positive, state health department was quoted as saying by PTI. Meanwhile, Karnataka has reported seven new cases as well, and the tally mounts to 83.
Bihar records four more cases due to Covid-19; total cases stand at 15.
The Gujarat government on Sunday said it will release around 1,200 prisoners for two months on parole and interim bail to reduce jail crowding in view of the novel coronavirus outbreak, an official said. The state Home department has been asked to prepare a list of inmates who could be released for two months, he said.
"Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has informed the home ministry, which will prepare a list of convicts, undertrials who can be released on parole and interim bail respectively, as required," Ashwani Kumar, Secretary to the CM, said.
"They will be granted parole and interim bail with the help of judges of local courts. Such inmates will be released for two months. They will be physically examined before being released, and only those who are healthy will be sent home," he said. (PTI)
8 new positive COVID-19 cases in Tamil Nadu from Erode who came in contact with Thai nationals who are undergoing treatment at IRT Perundurai."Patients were identified through contact tracing and all of them are isolated for treatment," Dr C Vijayabaskar, Tamil Nadu Health Minister said.
Urging industrialists to not let workers go hungry, Keriwal told businessmen to take care of food and shelter for them. "Delhi govt has emptied stadiums, schools to shelter migrant workers. Giving free food to 4 lakh people daily," he added. He also reiterated the health ministry's statement and appealed to all landlords not to force tenants to pay rent and said if anyone is unable to pay, the government would pay for them.
Addressing a virtual presser, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal highlighted the issue of migrant workers traveling on foot and other modes of transport in large groups and appealed to them to stay wherever they are. "When PM imposed lockdown, he requested everybody to stay wherever they were. If you don't follow this, lockdown will fail," says Kejriwal. If one person in a huge crowd is infected with Covid-19, all can be affected; the virus can also reach villages, he warned.
In Maharashtra's Buldhana, a 45-year-old male has died due to cornavirus on Sunday. He had diabetes and with this, the death toll in the state rose to 8. Meanwhile, the total number of positive cases has touched 196— 107 in Mumbai and Thane, Pune (37), Nagpur (13), Ahmednagar (3), Ratnagiri (1), Aurangabad (1), Yavatmal (3), Miraj (25), Satara (2), Sindhudurg (1), Kolhapur (1), Jalgaon (1), Buldhana (1), health minister Rajesh Tope said, however, the health ministry has not updated the figures on the website.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has drawn the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the action of Karnataka police in blocking a key state highway ferrying essential commodities to the state and urged him to immediately intervene in the matter. In a letter to Modi, the Chief Minister pointed out that the Thalassery-Coorg State Highway 30, connecting Kerala with Coorg in Karnataka via Veerajapetta, was a key highway on which cargo lorries ferry essential commodities to Kerala.
Over 450 doctors recruited recently as medical officers in the CAPFs have been asked to join service "immediately" as the forces are ramping up their healthcare setup to combat COVID-19, a top paramilitary officer said on Sunday. Retired medical officers have been "alerted" and modalities are being worked on to hire doctors on contractual service to man the chain of the forces' country-wide hospitals and quarantine centres that have a combined strength of more than 7,200 beds, ITBP Director General (DG) Surjeet Singh Deswal told PTI.
Disneyland and Walt Disney World will not be opening theirs doors for the public anytime soon. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the two theme parks, based in California and Florida, were expected to open on Wednesday next week. But in light of the rising numbers of coronavirus cases, which recently crossed the 600,000 mark globally with over 27,000 deaths, the theme parks will remain closed till further notice."While there is still much uncertainty with respect to the impacts of COVID-19, the safety and well-being of our guests and employees remains The Walt Disney Company's top priority," a statement from the company reads.
Highlighting the importance of mental health during the time of lockdown, the health ministry today said, "For mental health issues, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru is providing guidance and they have issued a toll free number: 080-46110007."
Meanwhile, the ministry also added that most cases of death in the country have seen co-morbidity play a very major role. "Data is being monitored at state level. High risk cases, which include age or contact history as criteria and which are found serious are monitores. Figures are not availale with me right now."
"So far 34,931 Covid-19 tests done with 30 per cent capacity utilisation so far. 113 labs are currently functioning and 47 private labs are approved," informs Dr R R Gangakhedkar, Head Epidemiology.
Regarding MHA order to states to effectively seal borders and restrict movement of migrants, the health ministry said: "Cabinet Secy reviewed the lockdown measures with states and overall situation is being monitored for essential services and goods. Ten empowered groups of secretaries formed to look at isolation beds, medical emergencies, essential medical supplies. 65% wagons of Indian Railways which is nearly 1.25 lakh wagons transported essential items. Home Secretary held meetings with states twice and it has come to notice that the lockdown is by and large effective. For migrant workers, instructions have been issued to states to effectively seal borders, allowing only goods movement."
The Health Ministry in its daily briefing on Sunday announced that the total number of positive cases in the country has touched 979, including 25 deaths. "In the last 24 hours, 106 new positive cases & 6 deaths have been reported," Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare said. "Workers who are living in rented accomodations, the landlords cannot demand a month's rent or ask them to vacate the place," the health ministry added.
Spain announces 838 virus deaths in past 24 hours, a new record, according to new agency AFP. Meanwhile, Iran on Sunday said 123 more people had died of coronavirus, thus taking the death toll in the country to 2,640. "Fortunately 12,391 of those who have been hospitalised have now recovered and returned to their families," a health ministry official said.
As thousands of migrant workers take to the streets to walk back to their villages across states, the Centre said on Sunday that all those who have travelled during the lockdown period would be put under mandatory 14-day quarantine at government facilities. “Those who have violated the lockdown and traveled during the period of lockdown will be subject to minimum 14 days of quarantine in government quarantine facilities. Detailed instructions on monitoring of such persons during quarantine have been issued to states,” the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said in a statement. Read full story
The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Germany has risen to 52,547 and 389 people have died of the disease, statistics from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Sunday. Cases rose by 3,965 compared with the previous day while the death toll climbed by 64, the tally showed.
As thousands of migrant workers are walking from cities to their homes across states, the Union Government said on Sunday that all people who have travelled during the lockdown period will be put under mandatory 14-day quarantine at government facilities. The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting emphasised in a statement: “Those who have violated the lockdown and traveled during the period of lockdown will be subject to minimum 14 days of quarantine in government quarantine facilities”. It said that “detailed instructions on monitoring of such persons during quarantine have been issued to states”.
Sri Lanka has recorded its first death due to coronavirus, a 65-year-old diabetic man. The man, who was being treated for the deadly viral infection at Colombo's Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH), died on Saturday, said Anil Jasinghe, Director General of the Health Services. The patient had a history of high blood pressure and blood sugar, he said. According to Health Ministry officials, the man had contracted the virus from Lanka's second coronavirus patient who was in contact with a group of Italian tourists. As of Saturday, there were 115 confirmed COVID-19 cases and one death in the island nation. Nine persons have been cured of the disease, while 199 were under observation at designated hospitals across the country.
Medical staff among infected, 30 lakh including patients under screening, thousands of migrants out of work, 2,000 health teams, 6,400 people in quarantine, 149 high-risk possibilities, and one death. Why the COVID-19 watch in this Rajasthan district is monumental — and heartening. Read more
For the past five days, seven youths at Bhangdi village in West Bengal’s Purulia district are living on the branches of a tree outside their village. These seven youths, all of them migrant workers, have been living on the tree ever since they returned from Chennai at a time when COVID-19 infections in the country are on the rise. After doctors asked them to stay under home quarantine, villagers made arrangements on the mango tree. The youths climb down only to relieve themselves, wash their clothes and when food is served thrice a day.
Every person arriving in South Korea from overseas will soon be required to undergo two weeks of quarantine to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, the country's prime minister said on Sunday. South Korea confirmed 105 new coronavirus cases as of Saturday, bringing the country's total to 9,583, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Sunday. Of the new cases, 41 were travellers arriving from overseas, including 40 South Korean citizens and one foreigner, the KCDC said. The new mandatory isolation for all arrivals will go into effect on April 1, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said at a government meeting.
A 40-year-old woman died due to Covid-19. Had hypertension. She was admitted yesterday in a BMC hospital, died yesterday itself
Indian Railways has decided to run parcel vans to keep up uninterrupted flow of essential commodities in the country during the ongoing lockdown to contain COVID-19 outbreak, officials said Sunday. By suspending passenger trains from March 22, the Railways had also by default suspended parcel vans attached to them carrying perishable items, mostly daily essential needs like vegetables, dairy items, and fish. Officials said special Parcel express trains shall run on the New Delhi-Gauhati, New Delhi-Mumbai, New Delhi-Kalyan, New Delhi-Howrah, Chandigarh-Jaipur and Moga-Chhangsari routes. They said it was necessary to resume parcel van services because essential commodities were in short supply in local markets as most of the labour engaged in loading, unloading had returned to their villages owing to the lockdown.
SpiceJet said on Sunday that one of its pilots who did not fly any international flight in March has tested positive for the coronavirus. "One of our colleagues, a first officer with SpiceJet, has tested positive for COVID-19. The test report came on March 28. He did not operate any international flight in March 2020," the airline's spokesperson told PTI. "The last domestic flight that he operated was on March 21 from Chennai to Delhi and since then he had quarantined himself at home," he added. As a precautionary measure, the spokesperson said, all crew and staff who had been in direct contact with him have been asked to self-quarantine by staying at home for the next 14 days
Amid the nationwide lockdown, even as a hundred of migrants are on the move to their native places, a video of a Madhya Pradesh police officer writing “Maine lockdown ka ullanghan kiya hai, mujhse door rahna (I have violated lockdown restrictions, keep away from me),” on the forehead of a labourer has gone viral. The officer has been issued a show-cause notice.
During his radio address to the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologised to the people for the "discomfort" caused due to the lockdown. "I hope my country people will forgive me for my sudden decisions. I apologise for all the discomfort that you are facing, but this is the only step that we could have taken to curb the spreading of coronavirus in the country. I apologize for taking these harsh steps which have caused difficulties in your lives, especially the poor people. I know some of you would be angry with me also. But these tough measures were needed to win this battle." PM Modi said.
Virologist Minal Dakhave Bhosale led from the front to create India's first coronavirus testing kit even when she was in the last stage of her pregnancy. Bhosale's efforts paid the price with her team delivering the testing kit in a record time of six weeks. Bhosale gave birth to a baby girl just a day before submitting the kit to the authorities for evaluation. "It was like giving birth to two babies," Bhosale told PTI over the phone.
The lockdown was launched last Sunday and then accelerated, but no one seems to have grasped the morphology of the society. The poor cannot afford social distancing. If they cannot work in the metros, they have to flee to their rural homes. They can’t stay indoors as they live outdoors. They rush back on crowded trains and buses or walk. These trains are traps for the virus, so, for the poor, lockdown cancels itself. Read the entire opinion here
As migrant labourers are walking hundreds of kilometers to reach their villages amid the lockdown to contain the virus, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has appealed them to stay put. 'The prime minister has appealed to you to stay where you are. I am also making the same appeal as chances of you getting infected are high in these crowded situations. And through you, the infection may spread to your family, your village and other parts of India. It will then be difficult to contain the pandemic,' he tweeted.
Amid the lockdown, Indian Oil Corp (IOC) Chairman Sanjiv Singh has clarified that India has enough petrol, diesel and cooking gas (LPG) in stocks to last way beyond the three-week nationwide shutdown. "We have mapped demand for all fuel for entire April and beyond. We have refineries operating at levels enough to meet all of the demand. Besides all bulk storage points, LPG distributorships and petrol pumps are functioning normally. There is absolutely no shortage of any fuel," he told PTI.
The number of positive cases in India rose to 979 on Sunday. Fresh deaths were reported in Gujarat and the Kashmir Valley taking the number of casualties in the country to 25.
As the national coronavirus lockdown entered the fourth day, the Centre and states scrambled to respond to an unfolding human crisis triggered by an unprecedented exodus of migrant workers. Given the scale of the crisis, with 17 days left for the lockdown to end, this now poses as large a logistical challenge as the outbreak itself. More so, because there is no clarity on the level of spread of the virus in this floating population, most of them headed towards villages in UP, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand.
Maharashtra, which is among the worst-affected states in the country, the number of positive cases rose to 193. Fresh cases were reported in Mumbai, Pune, Sangli, Nagpur. Till Saturday late night, the state has reported 187 cases
A loss of smell and taste may be the early symptom of COVID-19 infection, according to a latest report by a leading American professional association of medical specialists. Currently, there have been reports of taste and smell disorders related to COVID-19 from multiple countries around the world as well as within the US, said James C Denneny III, MD, executive vice president and CEO of the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS). In light of the reports of these symptoms, AAO-HNS has proposed adding loss of smell and taste — anosmia and dysgeusia — to the list of available screening tools for COVID-19 infection.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Sunday called the coronavirus pandemic a momentary, minor problem and added that strong measures to contain it are unnecessary. Bolsonaro said his response to the disease matches that of President Donald Trump in the US, but labelled the virus as “a little flu” and said that state governors’ aggressive measures to halt the disease were crimes. “The Brazilian needs to be studied. He doesn’t catch anything. You see a guy jumping into sewage, diving in, right? Nothing happens to him. I think a lot of people were already infected in Brazil, weeks or months ago, and they already have the antibodies that help it not proliferate,” Bolsonaro said. “I’m hopeful that’s really a reality”.