Passengers await for transport outside Kolkata airport amid the nationwide lockdown. (Express photo)
Bengal reported its first coronavirus-linked death on Monday taking India’s death toll in COVID-19 cases to eight. The 55-year-old man was admitted at a private hospital in Kolkata and was tested coronavirus positive on Saturday.
According to the Health Ministry, the number of coronavirus cases in India rose to 433 on Monday with the Centre warning of legal action against those violating the lockdown which has been enforced till March 31 to curtail the pandemic. Violators could either face a fine of Rs 1,000 or a jail term of six months if they do not abide by the lockdown orders, the government said. All domestic commercial flights would remain suspended from Wednesday to restrict inter-state movement as a precautionary measure.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to take the lockdown measures seriously to ensure everyone’s well-being. “I urge the state government to do the same,” he tweeted. The Ministry of Health also confirmed that the death of a Philippines national in Mumbai was not due to coronavirus but kidney failure, although the patient did test positive later.
In a slew of extraordinary measures to battle the coronavirus threat, which has claimed seven lives so far, the Centre has announced a complete lockdown in 19 States and Union Territories and partial curfew in four others. All passenger trains, inter-state buses and metro services across the country have also been suspended till March 31. Delhi, Jharkhand, Punjab, Chandigarh, Kerala, Meghalaya, and Nagaland have declared a statewide lockdown, exempting only essential services, while similar curbs were announced in a number of districts in Bihar, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
Day one of the lockdown of Delhi-NCR saw crowded markets, traffic on the roads and stranded commuters who belong to the essential services category. Borders that Delhi shares with Noida and Gurgaon saw winding queues, rampant checking of IDs and traffic snarls. In Noida, police officers said the maximum traffic was seen at the DND Flyway between 6 am and 8 am, and similar scenes played out at the Delhi-Gurgapon border. Read here
In view of the lockdown in the state due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the Bombay High Court on Monday made an appeal to lawyers and litigants not to file non-urgent matters as directed earlier, failing which exemplary costs will be imposed on them. After observing several non-urgent matters being moved and close to 200 praecipes forwarded for placing matters on Thursday, the court on Monday said despite earlier directions, which prescribed that only urgent matters will be taken up, some lawyers and petitioners were coming to court to mention non-urgent matters and cautioned that the court would impose up to Rs 50,000 on such litigants and lawyers henceforth.
The Pune City Police on Monday issued orders prohibiting all vehicular traffic, except for essential and emergency services, from 6 pm on Monday till March 31. The order was issued after many people were observed on streets despite appeals to stay indoors. Pune is among the districts with highest COVID-19 positive cases in the country. The Pune City Police, which had imposed a curfew in the city from 9 pm on Sunday till 5 am on Monday, had further issued orders prohibiting gathering of five or more people, except for essential and emergency services. Read here
Twelve cases were registered in Ranchi on Monday for violating lockdown orders and unlawful assembly. While most of the cases were registered against sweet shops, pan, puja, caterers, tyre and repair shops among others, two were against "evening walkers".
Haryana Police Department Monday issued a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the lockdown in the state. Below is the set of FAQs.
Assam has announced a complete lockdown in the state from 6pm, March 24 till March 31. Grocery shops, pharmacies, petrol depot will remain open through this period. On Monday, Assam health minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma addressed a press conference in Guwahati announcing the lockdown. “Needless to say hospitals, fire brigade, electricity, public health engineering etc will remain open,” he told reporters. Cooking gas will also be available through the period. Read more
Karnataka CM B S Yediyurappa orders lockdown across the entire state. Earlier, the orders was issued only for 9 districts. “After assessing the situation of #covid_19, we have decided to lockdown not just 9 districts but the whole state of Karnataka starting tomorrow till March 31st. I request all citizens to co operate and please stay indoors,” he tweeted.
Jammu and Kashmir High Court today decided to create a dedicated fund to combat coronavirus pandemic and provide relief to Covid-19 victims.
In a full court meeting, the High Court decided that the Chief Justice and all the judges of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court shall make a contribution of Rs 25,000 each. While as all the District Judges of J&K and Ladakh shall contribute Rs 15,000 each.
It was further decided that all Sub-Judges /Civil Judges (Senior Division) and Munsiffs/Civil Judges (Junior Division) shall contribute Rs 10,000 and Rs. 7500 each respectively.
The meeting also decided that all the gazetted officers of the High Court staff and subordinate courts may contribute Rs.5000 whereas all the non-gazetted staff of the High Court and subordinate Courts may contribute one day’s salary. The contributions shall go a long way in tackling the rapidly spreading contagious disease.
A 55-year-old man, who was admitted to a private hospital in Kolkata and had tested positive for COVID-19, died on Monday afternoon. This is the first case of conoravirus-linked death in West Bengal.
The resident of Dumdum, who died of cardiac arrest, was admitted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital with acute respiratory distress syndrome and was put on ventilator. His samples were sent to NICED and SSKM hospital, one of which came positive. Later, fresh samples were sent to SSKM and NICED again and results of both came positive on March 21. According to the sources in the private hospital, family members stated that he had no history of foreign travel. Read more...
To ensure proper implementation of Section 144 of CrPC in the national capital, Commissioner of Police, Delhi, has asked all the people, moving for essential goods and services, to get the curfew passes from their concerned districts.
V P Singh Badnore, Governor of Punjab-cum-Administrator, UT, Chandigarh has decided to impose curfew in Chandigarh starting w.e.f. midnight of Monday i.e 00:00 Hrs 24th March, 2020 till further orders. With the imposition of curfew all the residents will be required to stay Indoors. The DGP, has been given strict directions to enforce the curfew without any relaxation whatsoever.
Manoj Parida, IAS, Adviser, has stated the individuals engaged in Essential Services including Police, Medical etc. will only be allowed curfew passes. Employees of Punjab, Haryana and central government will request for passes through their Chief Secretaries only. The deputy commissioner, Chandigarh will decide about the curfew passes. Moreover, the relaxation in curfew hours will be given for purchase of essential items in due course. The detailed orders are being issued by the deputy commissioner, UT, Chandigarh.
Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee writes to PM Modi to stop flights coming to Bengal
The Government of Meghalaya has announced relief measures for building and construction workers in the state in light of COVID-19. A notice signed by the Principal Secretary, DP Wahlang, has said that "building and other construction workers who are registered with the labour commissioner" can avail Rs 1,000 per worker per week on account of shutdown of commercial operations and business establishments in Meghalaya. The order is applicable till March 29, and will be further reviewed on March 20.
Bars across state will be shut, but Govt refuses to close down 260+ retail outlets of liquor monopoly BEVCO which witnessed heavy crowds today. CM Pinarayi Vijayan says doing so may lead to "social consequences".
Army issues fresh notification stating enhanced measures to combat COVID-19.
The measures to be taken in all military establishments/cantonments/formations/units in the 82 districts under lockdown are:
# All tasks related to response to COVID-19 should continue without hindrance.
# Restricted movements in Cantonments and military stations.
# Personnel engaged in essential services permitted to function (Medical establishments, fire, electricity/ water supply, communication, post offices and sanitation services).
# Home delivery of grocery/ essential items catering to the requirements of the cantonments.
# Social distancing while performing all tasks.
# Additional districts/ extension of lockdown time frame by state governments will be adhered to as when promulgated.
# All station CSDs to be closed forthwith.
Measures at IHQ of MoD(Army)/ (Army HQ)
# Only bare essential sections/ offices to function on a daily basis. Work from home to be implemented.
# Conferences and seminars postponed. Routine meetings and movements to be restricted.
# Personnel attending office will adhere to staggered timings.
In Kerala, banks will operate only till 2 pm. Shops can operate only between 7 am and 5 pm every day. In Kasaragod, the worst-affected district, shops to open between 11 am and 5 pm. Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan Monday has announced state-wide lock-down till March 31
An auto makes announcement of curfew at Bharat Nagar Road in Punjab Ludhiana. (Express Photo by Gurmeet Singh)
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan Monday announced state-wide lock-down till March 31, closing borders to other states and suspending public transport. Number of active Covid-19 cases in state rises to 92 after 28 new positive cases were reported today.
In a bid to step up measures to complement the state’s pursuit in containing COVID-19 related issues, the Karnataka government on Monday decided to procure 1,000 ventilators, 10 lakh masks, and 5 lakh Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Health Minister B Sriramulu confirmed the decision after top officials of the health department held a video conference with private companies. “The Health Ministry is working tirelessly to curtail the Covid-19 breakout. I humbly request the public to strictly follow the instructions passed on by the Health Ministry,” Sriramulu said. Read more
Assam will lock down from 6 pm, March 24 to 31. Pharmacy, petrol pump and grocery store will however remain open. Also, essential govt services will be on. "People have to stay indoors," said Assam health minster HB Sarma.