.jpg)
Coronavirus Outbreak Updates: The number of known coronavirus US cases soared well past 1,15,000, with more than 1,900 dead, reports Reuters. President Donald Trump said he was considering imposing a quarantine on the hard hit New York region and other regions which had emerged as hotspots.
The total number of COVI-19 cases in Maharashtra has reached 186, ANI quotes the state government as saying. Meanwhile the total number of confirmed cases in the country has reached 918, said the Union health ministry while the death toll has reached 19.
The number of positive cases in Jammu and Kashmir has reached 33, Principal Secretary of Planning Rohit Kansal said. The Department of Information and Public Relations, Jammu and Kashmir said that the five latest cases were all contacts of people who had earlier tested positive and remained asymptomatic.
The second coronavirus death has been reported in Delhi, news agency PTI quotes the Delhi health department as saying. The number of COVID19 cases in the national capital has reached 49, it said.
The 85-year-old doctor who died in Mumbai on Friday was confirmed to be infected by the novel coronavirus, PTI reported. The toll in Maharashtra is now six.
The surgeon-cum-urologist died of suspected coronavirus infection early on Friday, even as two of his family members are said to have contracted the disease.
The Uttar Pradesh Government is set to release 11,000 prisoners, across 71 jails in the state, on parole for eight weeks. Those inmates of 71 prisons who have spent less than seven years sentence are being released as as a preventive measure against the fast-spreading coronavirus.
The Tata Trusts pledged to contribute Rs 500 crore for COVID-19 relief fund on Saturday. The contribution will be used for buying personal protective equipment for medical personnel, respiratory systems for treating increasing cases, testing kits, setting up modular treatment facilities and training of health workers.
Taking to Twitter, Ratan Tata, chairman of Tata Sons, said, "The COVID 19 crisis is one of the toughest challenges we will face as a race. The Tata Trusts and the Tata group companies have in the past risen to the needs of the nation. At this moment, the need of the hour is greater than any other time."
Five more cases have been reported in Noida, Noida District Magistrate (DM) BN Singh said on Saturday. Singh also ordered landlords in Gautam Buddh Nagar, Noida to collect rent from workers (tenants) only after a month.
The Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) has requested all District Magistrates (DMs), Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) and other officials not to obstruct the movement of 200 special buses being run to provide transport facilities to people stuck at various places in the border areas with Delhi.
"On the directions of the Government of Uttar Pradesh, the UPSRTC is deploying buses to provide transport facilities to people stuck at various points at border districts of Delhi. The buses have started reaching Noida and Ghaziabad. Around 200 buses will depart from for every 2 hours from 8 am onwards," read a letter written by the Managing Director (MD) UPSRTC, Raj Shekhar, to the administration.
In its recent press release, the Union Home Secretary has written to all States/UTs to take immediate steps for providing all adequate arrangements for the migrant workers, students who are still outside their states.
The adequate services include providing food and shelter, to the migrant agricultural labourers, industrial workers and other unorganized sector workers during the 21-day nationwide COVID-19 lockdown.
The advisory suggests that in order to mitigate the situation for unorganized sector workers, particularly stranded migrant workers; states/UTs should explore different possible measures.
"This can also be done by involving various agencies, including NGOs, to provide food and shelter with basic amenities like clean drinking water, sanitation etc.," read the statement.
Kerala reported its first coronavirus death after a 69-year-old patient, who was under treatment at the Kalamasserry Government Medical College in Kochi, passed away on Saturday. The victim had recently returned from Dubai and was admitted for coronavirus treatment on 22 March.
The patient was of high-risk category as he was a cardiac patient, Kerala minister VS. Sunil Kumar said in Kochi. His family members are under surveillance.
The Assam Police on Saturday resorted to firing in Bongaigaon district on Saturday after locals, who had gathered to buy vegetables, pelted stones at them.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting released a statement on India's response to the novel coronavirus so far. The ministry stated that the nation's efforts to contain the virus has been "pre-emptive, pro-active and graded".
"As many as 20 video conferences by Union Health Secretary with State Governments and 6 by the Cabinet Secretary with the State Chief Secretaries have been held to review the and step up the preparedness to deal with the Corona issue. Integrated disease surveillance system, which includes monitoring of international travellers, is one of the many issues discussed in these Video Conferences," read the statement.
The total number of coronavirus cases have climbed to 873 on Saturday, according to the Union Health Ministry. At least 149 fresh cases were reported in 24 hours.
The health ministry's data further revealed that 19 people have succumbed to the virus so far. Meanwhile, 79 people have now been cured, discharged or migrated.
Six new coronavirus positive cases were reported in Maharashtra on Friday — five in Mumbai and one in Nagpur. The total number of positive cases in the state rises to 159, said the state health ministry.
The United States on Friday announced $174 million financial assistance to 64 countries including $2.9 million to India to help them fight the coronavirus pandemic. This is in addition to the $100 million aid announced by the US in February.
The newly announced assistance is part of a larger American global response package across multiple departments and agencies, including the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The funding is for 64 of the most at-risk countries facing the threat of the global pandemic.
The US State Department said it is providing $2.9 million to help the Indian government prepare laboratory systems, activate case finding and event-based surveillance, and support technical experts for response and preparedness, and more
West Bengal on Friday reported five new cases of COVID-19 including that of an infant, the highest number of confirmed cases on a single day in the state, taking the tally to 15.
Of the five fresh cases which were reported from Nadia district in South Bengal, four did not have any recent travel history.
The five of family include a nine-month-old baby, a six-year-old girl, an 11-year-old boy and two women aged 27 and 45, a health official said.
The 27-year-old woman had visited Delhi, where she came in contact with a person from the UK who recently tested positive, the official said.
"We tracked the entire family and tested eight of them. Five were found positive," the official said, adding that they are undergoing treatment at a hospital in Nadia district.
Nine more people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Tamil Nadu on Friday, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 38 in the state as Chief Minister K Palaniswami briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the action being taken to tackle the contagion.
While six cases were reported earlier in the day, three were reported on Friday night, as the state recorded the highest number of cases in a single day.
Health officials maintained on Friday that India is still in Phase II of the coronavirus pandemic even as the tally of confirmed cases rose to 724. Officially, 17 people have lost their lives in India due the novel coronavirus while 66 patients have been discharged after being cured of the virus that has killed over 25,000 globally and infected over 5.4 lakh persons.
On Friday, India also announced unprecedented measures to cushion the impact of a 21-day-long nationwide shutdown and the threat the pandemic has caused.
The RBI on Friday announced its steepest interest rate cut in more than 11 years in a bid to counter the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the government stepped up efforts to battle the fast-spreading virus, amid warnings from health experts that there could be a risk of community transmission if people violated the lockdown.
Representational image. PTI
The health ministry continued to maintain that there was no case of community transmission yet.
"There is not enough evidence to show that community transmission has started," Dr Raman R Gangakhedkar, Head of Epidemiology and Communicable diseases at ICMR, said on Friday during the health ministry's daily briefing.
Gangakhedkar also denounced prediction models for India, saying they often "go wrong".
"There are many doomsday predictors," he added.
Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba has asked states to immediately strengthen the surveillance of international travellers, who entered the country before the lockdown as there appeared to be a "gap" between the actual monitoring for COVID-19 and the total arrivals.
In a letter to chief secretaries of all States and Union Territories, Gauba said the gap in the monitoring of international passengers for coronavirus "may seriously jeopardise the efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19", given that many amongst the persons who have tested positive so far in India have a history of international travel.
Apart from announcing the rate cut, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) also allowed banks to put on hold EMI payments on all term loans for three months as it slashed the cost of fresh borrowing by cutting policy interest rate, a move which was dubbed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as "giant steps" to safeguard the economy from the impact of coronavirus.
"The announcements will improve liquidity, reduce cost of funds, help middle class and businesses," Modi tweeted.
On its part, the Delhi government assured people that medical staff in the National Capital were ready to tackle the situation even if the cases go up at a rate of 100 per day and that it has the adequate number of medicines and testing kits.
While Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane launched an initiative christened 'Operation Namaste' to extend all possible assistance to the government in containing the spread of the novel coronavirus, NDRF chief SN Pradhan said the force is getting battle-ready should its services be required amid rising cases.
"We have prepared 84 small core teams per battalion. The force is trying to cover 600 personnel in each battalion with personal protection equipment (PPE). We have informed the chief secretaries of all the states that we are on standby and can be called in, as and when required...," Pradhan told PTI in a telephonic interview.
While the numbers — both the toll and the total number of coronavirus cases — may not paint a grim picture compared to other countries, including the developed nations like the US and the UK, concern is growing among healthcare experts who believe that if people do not follow the lockdown or social distancing seriously, the situation can quickly go out of control.
Dr Arvind Kumar, lung surgeon at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRH) in Delhi, said "the only way" to slow down the virus' transmission is to follow the lockdown diligently.
Dr Kumar, also founder trustee of Lung Care Foundation, cautioned that "one infected person can spread the contagion to three more persons, which then increases in a geometric progression".
"So, you can imagine the threat India is facing if people violate lockdown and roam around, especially in the affected ones. It will be so difficult to trace contacts then," he added.
Kumar also warned that sometimes a COVID-19-positive person may not have a fever but regular flu symptoms with breathlessness, and it is important for such people to be self-isolated.
Asked about the cases from clusters, Health Ministry's Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal, at the press conference, said contact tracing of all the cases is being done diligently as per defined protocols and in areas where more than one case has been reported, special teams have been deployed for house-to-house surveys.
India is under a complete lockdown for 21 days since Wednesday, in a desperate measure to contain the spread of the virus. Globally, the death toll from the coronavirus has risen to 25,000 with more than 5.4 lakh cases reported in over 170 countries and territories.
Cases in states
As per the health ministry, four deaths have been reported from Maharashtra while Gujarat had registered three deaths.
Karnataka has reported two deaths so far, while Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Punjab, Delhi, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh have reported one death each.
According to the data, the number of active COVID-19 cases in the country stood at 640, while 66 people were either cured or discharged and one had migrated.
The total number of 724 cases included 47 foreign nationals, the ministry said.
Agarwal said, "Seventy-five new cases of coronavirus and four deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours and that the Centre is working in tandem with states to ensure that social distancing is followed and the lockdown is implemented effectively."
In Shillong, the Catholic Church has written to its parishes across the Khasi Jaintia Hills region to open the facilities as centres for quarantine, if needed, amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Shillong Archdiocese administrator John Madur in a letter said, "I understand we are in difficult times. But I am sure we can be of some services to humanity."
The Catholic Church is one of the biggest churches in the state with over three lakh members.
Updated Date: Mar 29, 2020 00:31:21 IST
Hospitals & Testing centres
Highlights
Coronavirus in Gujarat Latest Updates
Two more cases reported in Gujarat
Two more COVID19 positive cases were detected in Gujarat, reports ANI. A 25-year-old man from Gandhinagar got infected through local transmission, while a 65-year-old man from Gir Somnath had recently travlelled to Saudi Arabia. The total number of positive cases in the state has reached 55, ANI quotes the state health department as saying.
Coronavirus Outbreak in Jammu and Kashmir latest updates
Health workers, residents in Jammu and Kashmir beaten up by police
A number of videos have emerged on social networking sites showing the Jammu And Kashmir Police roughing up residents, health workers as well as power department workers during the unprecedented nationwide lockdown that has been enforced across India in order to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.
In the Charar-e-Sharief area of Budgam district, residents accused the police of not only baton-charging them but also disallowing them from buying medicines and essential commodities after fresh coronavirus cases were reported from the Valley.Even doctors, as well as the staff of government-run Power Development Department (PDD), have accused the police of preventing them from attending to their duties.
Read more here
Coronavirus Outbreak in Jammu and Kashmir Latest Updates
Tally of positive cases rises to 33 in Jammu and Kashmir
The number of positive cases in Jammu and Kashmir has reached 33, Principal Secretary of Planning Rohit Kansal said. The Department of Information and Public Relations, Jammu and Kashmir said that the five latest cases were all contacts of people who had earlier tested positive and remained asymptomatic. It attributed the rise in cases to the higher rate of testing (10 percent on those under surveillance).
Delhi reports second death
The second coronavirus death has been reported in Delhi, news agency PTI quotes the Delhi health department as saying. The number of COVID19 cases in the national capital has reached 49, it said.
Delhi Drug Association says shortage of staff hindering supply of sanitisers, mask
The Delhi Drug Association highlighted the shortage of staff due to the lockdown, which has become a hindrance in delivery of essential medical supplies. "We have passes for medicine shop owners but not for staff due to which there is a shortage of staff. The stock is enough but we don't have transportation to move it.," Ashish Grover, General Secretary, Delhi Drug Trader Association told ANI.
He also added that the material should be bought by the government and distributed among those who need it.
Coronavirus Outbreak Latest Update
Indian Railways converts non-AC train coach into isolation ward on trial basis
Indian Railways on Saturday announced that one of its prototypes has been converted into an isolation ward on a trial basis in view of the growing number of COVID-19 cases in the country.
"Each non-AC coach has 9 compartments and 4 toilets, of which 2 can be converted into bathrooms." Ten cabins will be available with six berths in each and there will be separate cabins for patients and medical staff, a railways official told PTI
Coronavirus Outbreak Latest Update
Visuals from Delhi's Anand Vihar bus terminal show police roughing up migrant workers
Visuals from Delhi's Anand Vihar interstate bus terminal show migrant workers, stranded without jobs or food in Delhi, lining up to get on buses back home. While appeals have been made by Central and state governments to ensure mass exodus of daily-waged workers don't happen and they are treated with compassion, visuals show police personnel roughing them up as they rush to take the few available buses.
Coronavirus in Chhattisgarh Latest Update
Essential commodities distributed in Maoist-affected Bastar
In Maoist affected tribal Bastar district of Chhattisgarh, essential commodities such as lentils, rice, vegetables etc are being distributed to poor and disable people in the rural areas by the district administration during the 21-day nationwide lockdown.
Coronavirus in Maharashtra Latest Update
85-yr-old doctor, suspected COVID-19 patient who died in Mumbai, tested positive for disease
The 85-year-old doctor who died in Mumbai on Friday was confirmed to be infected by the novel coronavirus, PTI reported. The toll in Maharashtra is now six.
The surgeon-cum-urologist died of suspected coronavirus infection early on Friday, even as two of his family members are said to have contracted the disease.
Sources said that the octogenarian’s grandson, who had returned from the UK after the colleges shut, has also tested positive for the disease.
Coronavirus Outbreak Latest Update
COVID-19 infections top 600,000 worldwide
The number of confirmed coronavirus infections worldwide topped 600,000 today as new cases stacked up quickly in Europe and the United States and officials dug in for a long fight against the pandemic. The latest landmark came only two days after the world passed half a million infections, according to a tally by John Hopkins University, showing that much work remains to be done to slow the spread of the virus. It showed more than 607,000 cases and a total of over 28,000 deaths. While the US. now leads the world in reported infections, with more than 104,000 cases, five countries exceed its roughly 1,700 deaths: Italy, Spain, China, Iran and France.
Coronavirus in Delhi Latest Update
Indian evacuees monitored at IBTP quarantine facility in Delhi
481 Indians, who were evacuated from Milan, Rome and Italy, are being looked after at Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Chhawla Quarantine Facility. No fresh symptoms have been seen in these evacuees.
Coronavirus in Delhi Latest Update
Delhi Police bring ration to senior citizen's residence in Saidulajab
A 73-year-old resident of Saidulajab who couldn't step out of her residence to collect ration in view of 21-day nationwide shutdown due to COVID-19 was in a fix as her son stayed in the United Kingdom. The Delhi Police came to her help and delivered the food items she needed.
Coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir Latest Update
Seven fresh cases emerge in Jammu and Kashmir, total tally at 27
Seven people tested positive for coronavirus in Kashmir on Saturday, taking the total number of cases in Jammu and Kashmir to 27, officials said.
"Seven more positive cases in Srinagar today. Four cases had a history of contact with already positive cases of religious congregation while the other three had travel history outside J&K," government spokesman Rohit Kansal said.
"Tough to be harbinger of unpleasant news. But being informed is being prepared," he posted on Twitter.
Coronavirus in India Latest Update
Essential services providers can now apply for e-pass on Delhi Police website
Delhi Police on Saturday rolled out the provision for essential service providers to obtain their e-passes through its website. Individuals can register and apply for their e-passes on Delhi Police’s website.
“Everyone who deals in essential commodities and does not have a pass yet can now apply online through the Delhi Police website,” Delhi police PRO MS Randhawa said.
People can also apply for the passes physically through the Deputy Commissioner of Police’s office.
Coronavirus in India Latest Update
Tata Trusts pledges Rs 500 crore for COVID-19 relief fund
The Tata Trusts pledged to contribute Rs 500 crore for COVID-19 relief fund on Saturday. The contribution will be used for buying personal protective equipment for medical personnel, respiratory systems for treating increasing cases, testing kits, setting up modular treatment facilities and training of health workers.
Taking to Twitter, Ratan Tata, chairman of Tata Sons, said, "The COVID 19 crisis is one of the toughest challenges we will face as a race. The Tata Trusts and the Tata group companies have in the past risen to the needs of the nation. At this moment, the need of the hour is greater than any other time."
Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu Latest Update
Chennai cop wears 'Corona helmet' to spread awareness
In a bid to spread awareness about the severity of the coronavirus pandemic, a local artist in collaboration with a Chennai Police official here has made a unique 'Corona' helmet to dissuade commuters from coming out on the streets during the nationwide lockdown.
Gowtham, the artist, who designed the helmet told ANI , "The public at large is not treating the COVID-19 situation seriously, whereas, the police personnel are working round the clock to ensure people stay at home and do not venture out so that further spread of the disease can be stopped,"
"I came up with the idea and used a broken helmet and papers to prepare this. I have also prepared many placards displaying slogans and handed them over to the police," he added.
The police personnel, who are serving 24/7 on the streets, said that the helmet was proving to be useful in making people aware.
Coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh Latest Update
Five fresh cases emerge in Noida
Five more cases have been reported in Noida, Noida District Magistrate (DM) BN Singh said on Saturday. Singh also ordered landlords in Gautam Buddh Nagar, Noida to collect rent from workers (tenants) only after a month.
Taking it to Twitter, Noida DM shared the advisory saying order by which landlords in Gautam Buddh Nagar can take rent from workers ( tenants) only after a month. No exodus of workers on rent ground will be allowed in present circumstances.
Coronavirus in India Latest Update
Nitin Gadkari asks NHAI chief, toll operators to ensure food and water to migrant workers
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday asked NHAI Chairman and toll operators across national highways to provide food, water and other necessary support to migrant workers.
The directions came amid reports that migrant workers are facing severe hardships while stranded at various parts in the country on account of nationwide lockdown in the wake of coronavirus pandemic.
"I have advised Chairman NHAI and Highway Concessioners/Toll operators to consider providing food, water or any kind of support to migrant workers/citizens who are trying to reach to their respective native places.
"At this time of crisis we have to be compassionate for our fellow citizens," Road Transport and Highways Minister Gadkari said.
Coronavirus in Delhi Latest Update
Delhi to provide meals to nearly 4 lakh people at over 500 centres from today
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday appealed to migrant workers to not leave the National Capital in the wake of the 21-day lockdown as the Delhi government has made sufficient arrangements for them.
In a joint digital press conference with Lt Governor Anil Baijal, Kejriwal urged people belonging to states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Bengal, to return from the border. He said the government has also set up 'hunger relief centres' to serve free meals to the needy people in all districts.
Kejriwal said from Saturday the government will be serving lunch and dinner to nearly four lakh people at over 224 night shelters, 325 schools and other locations.
In the wake of the lockdown to the combat the coronavirus threat, thousands of migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other states have started returning back to their home states.
Coronavirus in India Latest Update
Rahul Gandhi urges people to provide food, shelter to migrants heading home
Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday appealed to the general public and his party workers and ministers to provide food and shelter to the homebound migrants moving on foot passing through their towns, cities and villages.
Taking to Twitter, Rahul said: "Today, hundreds of our brothers and sisters, along with their hungry and thirsty families have to move towards their villages. On this difficult path of theirs, those of you who are capable enough, provide them with food, shelter and water. The appeal to help the needy is particularly from Congress workers and leaders," he said.
Since Wednesday, scores of migrant workers have been spotted at Delhi-Ghaziabad border who were on their way home on foot crossing miles after miles.
Coronavirus in Maharashtra Latest Update
Aaditya Thackeray urges citizens to stay indoors, donate blood at doorstep service camp
Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Aaditya Thackeray has appealed citizens to stay indoors and donate blood in a camp organised by Shri Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple. For those interested, the camp volunteers will reach at your doorsteps for the service.
Coronavirus in India Latest Update
Kerala reports first death after 69-yr-old succumbs to virus in Kochi
Kerala reported its first coronavirus death after a 69-year-old patient, who was under treatment at the Kalamasserry Government Medical College in Kochi, passed away on Saturday. The victim had recently returned from Dubai and was admitted for coronavirus treatment on 22 March.
The patient was of high-risk category as he was a cardiac patient, Kerala minister VS. Sunil Kumar said in Kochi. His family members are under surveillance.
Meanwhile, the total number of confimred cases in India has risen to 873 cases with 20 people dead.
Coronavirus in India Latest Updat
Mother Dairy doubles supply of fruits, vegetables to over 300 tonne per day in Delhi-NCR
Mother Dairy has doubled its supply of fruits and vegetables in Delhi-NCR at over 300 tonne per day to meet the rising demand amid the nationwide lockdown even as it faces some logistics challenges, a senior company official said.
"Before the lockdown, we used to supply 160-180 tonne of fruits and vegetables per day in Delhi-NCR through our Safal retail stores. Now, we are supplying more than 300 tonne every day," said Pradipta Sahoo, business head of Safal.
On Friday, Mother Dairy supplied 320 tonne, he said adding the company could increase it to up to 400 tonne per day.
Coronavirus in India Latest Update
Infosys sacks techie for his 'sneeze in public' social media post
The Insofys software engineer who gave a call to the public to sneeze in public to spread the coronavirus has been sacked, the company said.
The tech giant, which had initially believed that it could be a case of mistaken identity, confirmed later that Mujeeb Mohammad was its employee and stated that he has been terminated from service. "Infosys has completed its investigation on the social media post by one of its employees and we believe that this is not a case of mistaken identity," the company tweeted late on Saturday night.
The company said the social media post by the employee was against Infosys code of conduct and its commitment to responsible social sharing.
Mohammad had posted on Facebook, "Let''s join hands, go out and sneeze with open mouth in public. Spread the virus." He was arrested on Friday night.
Coronavirus in Assam Latest Update
Assam Police resort to firing in Bongaigaon after locals pelt stone for enforcing lockdown, says report
The Assam Police on Saturday resorted to firing in Bongaigaon district on Saturday after locals, who had gathered to buy vegetables, pelted stones at them.
According to The Times of India, the incident occurred at Bhawlaguri market near New Bongaigaon railway junction when a group of people defying the lockdown guidelines gathered at the meat and poultry markets.
When the police team arrived at the spot, the unruly mob pelted stones at them. Following that police had to resort to firing in the air to disperse the crowd.
TOI quoted the Assam Police additional DG ( law and order) GP Singh as saying, "The people involved in the violation are being arrested. We have the instructions to enforce the lockdown."
Eight have been arrested for pelting stones at police. 60 others were arrested in Jorhat district, CNN-News18 reported.
Coronavirus in India Latest Update
COVID-19 crisis in India can prove to be 'an opportunity': US business advocacy group
The ongoing 21-day lockdown in India to combat the coronavirus outbreak can be "an opportunity" for the country as the move shows the government's transparency in policymaking, a factor which will attract more foreign investments, according to the head of an India-centric US business advocacy group.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced a countrywide lockdown for three weeks, restricting a population of over 1.3 billion indoors, in an effort to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus, which has infected over 870 people, including 19 deaths, in India.
It was the right thing to do, US India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF) president Mukesh Aghi told PTI.
"I'm hearing in the US that it was the right thing to do and it shows Modi's sign of leadership. Hopefully in three-week time, things will get under more control in India," he said.
"However, this challenging time can be changed into an opportunity for India," Aghi said.
India is a "very lucrative market", he said, "Yes, you have this disruption. This is all over the world and India is no exception. In fact, I see it's an opportunity in this crisis for India."
Coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh Latest Update
1,000 buses to carry migrant workers in UP to their hometowns
The Uttar Pradesh government has arranged for 1,000 buses to take the migrant workers to their respective hometowns amid coronavirus lockdown as the total number of COVID-19 cases soared to 873.
"Transportation officers, bus drivers and conductors were called by chief minister Yogi Adityanath last night to make all the arrangements," said Government of Uttar Pradesh.
Coronavirus in Kerala Latest Update
Kerala CM writes to Modi for clearance of road blockage in Thalassery-Coorg State Highway
Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene with respect to the action of Karnataka Police, which has resulted in blocking Thalassery-Coorg State Highway 30.
In a letter addressed to the prime minister, Vijayan said that during the crisis, this route is a lifeline for the flow of essential commodities to Kerala. The road connects Kerala with Coorg in Karnataka via Veerajapettah.
The chief minister also said that vehicles carrying essential commodities will have to travel through a longer route to reach Kerala if the road remain blocked.
Vijayan requested the prime minister to urgently intervene in the matter so essential commodities reach the state quicker.
Coronavirus in Gujarat Latest Update
Six new cases in Gujarat, state's tally at 53
Six more people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Gujarat, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 53 on Saturday, said Jayanti Ravi, Principal Secretary, Health and family welfare Department.
Coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh Latest Update
Bhopal scribe booked for attending Kamal Nath's presser after daughter's return from UK
A case has been registered against a journalist in Bhopal, who attended the 20 March press conference where Kamal Nath announced his resignation as Madhya Pradesh chief minister, even as his daughter had been advised home quarantine following her return from the UK.
Days after the press conference, the journalist and his daughter had tested positive for the infection.
The journalist was booked for violating the government's preventive orders related to coronavirus pandemic.
The journalist's daughter, a post-graduate law student, had returned from London to Bhopal on 18 March. She had been asked to observe home quarantine. But two days upon arrival, her father attended Kamal Nath's last press conference as the on 20 March, official sources said.
On 22 March, the journalist's daughter tested positive.
Coronavirus in Maharashtra Latest Update
Six new cases reported in Maharashtra
Six new coronavirus positive cases were reported in Maharashtra on Friday — five in Mumbai and one in Nagpur. The total number of positive cases in the state rises to 159, said the state health ministry.
Coronavirus in India Latest Update
Samples for testing sent to Pune by naval aircraft
A Dornier aircraft of Indian Navy, carrying 60 samples for COVID19 testing took off from INS Hansa to Pune on 27 March. These samples were carried by a technician from the Goa State Health department. The Goan medical team had earlier been airlifted to Pune on 25 March for the COVID-19 test facility setup training at NIV Pune and was brought back by another Naval Dornier aircraft on 26 March.
Coronavirus in Goa Latest Update
Navy collects 60k masks from Delhi to deliver it in Goa
According to a press release by the government, an Indian Navy Aircraft collected and delivered face masks from Delhi for Goa health workers to combat COVID-19 outbreak.
In a press release issued by the Indian Navy, a shipment of 60,000 face masks ordered by Indian Medical Association, Goa, to offset the shortfall in Goa was stuck at Delhi as trucks could not proceed further in the current situation of lockdown.
Therefore, a request for facilitating transportation of the masks to Goa was made by the President of the Indian Medical Association to the Indian Navy at Goa.
Accordingly, a Navy aircraft was specially sent on Friday to New Delhi to bring the masks, which returned with the items same day.
Coronavirus in US Latest Update
Abbott wins US approval for test that can detect coronavirus in minutes
Abbott Laboratories told Reuters on Friday it won US marketing approval for a diagnostic test for the coronavirus that can deliver results to patients within minutes and be used in physicians' offices and urgent care clinics, as well as hospitals.
The United States now has more cases of the coronavirus than any other country, and hospitals have struggled to meet the demand to test thousands of people for the often-deadly virus. The US Food and Drug Administration granted the approval under its Emergency Use Authorization.
Abbott said in a statement that it plans to begin distributing the test next week and will ramp up manufacturing to 50,000 tests per day.
Coronavirus in Karnataka Latest Update
Residents block roads with wooden logs in villages
Residents of some villages in Sagara Taluk in Shivamogga put logs of wood to block roads leading to the villages to restrict entry of outsiders in wake of global pandemic, reports ANI.
Coronavirus in China Latest Update
China reports three deaths, 54 new confirmed cases
China has reported 54 new imported coronavirus cases, taking their tally in the last few days to 649, while the death toll in the country has risen to 3,295 with three more fatalities confirmed on Friday, China's National Health Commission said on Saturday.
While no new locally transmitted cases of COVID-19 were reported on Friday, the number of coronavirus infections in people returning from abroad has gone up to 649 with 54 new cases reported, it said.
A total of three deaths and 29 new suspected cases were reported in the Chinese mainland on Friday.
Coronavirus in China Latest Update
Hate speeches against Chinese surge on Twitter
The coronavirus outbreak has led to a 900 percent surge in hate speech toward China and Chinese people on Twitter, according to a report by a tech startup.
"People are spending more and more time on social networks, communication apps, chat rooms and gaming services, and the problems endemic to these platforms - hate, abuse, toxicity and bullying - have become accentuated," the Israel-based company L1ght said in its report.
"According to our data, much of this hate and abuse is being directed towards China and its population, as well as individuals of Asian origin in other parts of the world," added the startup that uses artificial intelligence to detect harmful content in social networks.
Coronavirus in West Bengal Latest Update
Woman held for spreading fake news on Beliaghata doctor contracting COVID-19
A 29-year-old woman was arrested on Friday night for allegedly posting a "fake news" on social media about a doctor in the state's ID hospital, Beliaghata, being infected with the coronavirus infection, a city police officer said.
The arrest was made on the basis of an FIR filed with the cyber crime branch of Kolkata Police by the state health department.
"Chandrima Bhowmik, daughter of Kinkar Kumar Bhowmik has been arrested in connection with posting a fake post about ID Hospital Beliaghata Doctor," Kolkata police joint commissioner (crime) Murlidhar Sharma said.
Coronavirus in United States Latest Update
US ready to supply ventilators to countries in need: Donald Trump
The United States is ready to supply a large number of ventilators needed by its friends and allies in their fight against the coronavirus pandemic, President Donald Trump said on Friday.
Increasing the production of ventilators and other medical equipment required inside the US to treat the large number of people infected with COVID-19, Trump said his administration will be distributing those throughout the world to other countries.
Trump said when he spoke with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has tested positive for the virus, the first thing that the prime minister asked him for help was ventilators.
"Boris Johnson was asking for ventilators today. Unfortunately, he tested positive. And that's a terrible thing, but he's going to be great. I'm sure he's going to be totally great. But they want ventilators. Italy wants ventilators, Spain wants ventilators, Germany wants ventilators," he said.
"They're all calling for ventilators. Well, we're going to make a lot of ventilators and we'll take care of our needs, but we're also going to help other countries," said the President as he announced that in the next 100 days, the US will be making more than 100,000 ventilators.
Coronavirus in West Bengal Latest Update
Five of family, including 9-month-old, test positive in Nadia district
West Bengal on Friday reported five new cases of COVID-19 including that of an infant, the highest number of confirmed cases on a single day in the state, taking the tally to 15.
Of the five fresh cases which were reported from Nadia district in South Bengal, four did not have any recent travel history.
The five of family include a nine-month-old baby, a six-year-old girl, an 11-year-old boy and two women aged 27 and 45, a health official said.
The 27-year-old woman had visited Delhi, where she came in contact with a person from the UK who recently tested positive, the official said.
"We tracked the entire family and tested eight of them. Five were found positive," the official said, adding that they are undergoing treatment at a hospital in Nadia district.
Coronavirus in Delhi Latest Update
In Images: Delhi Police conducts checking on non-essential movement of people
Coronavirus in United States Latest Update
Total deaths exceed 1,500 in America
The United States has become the first country to exceed 100,000 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus. The US reached the grim milestone late Friday afternoon, according to a count by Johns Hopkins University. Deaths in the US topped 1,500 on Friday.
Coronavirus in Delhi Latest Update
Total COVID-19 cases in Delhi climb to 40
The total number of coronavirus cases in the National Capital on Friday increased to 40, according to the Delhi Health Department. Of these cases, 30 are travel-related and 10 contracted the disease through contact, it said.
Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu Latest Update
Nine more cases emerge in Tamil Nadu, total rises to 38
Nine more people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Tamil Nadu on Friday, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 38 in the state as Chief Minister K Palaniswami briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the action being taken to tackle the contagion.
While six cases were reported earlier in the day, three were reported on Friday night, as the state recorded the highest number of cases in a single day.
Coronavirus in Bihar Latest Update
Bihar Board Class 10 exam results expected
As the nation continues its battle against the novel coronavirus, the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) may announce the Class 10 2020 result on Saturday. This, however, has not been confirmed by the board officials.
Earlier, several media reports had said the results would be declared in April due to the 21-day nationwide lockdown called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in view of COVID-19.
Coronavirus in India Latest Update
Supreme Court's Offices of Registry to remain closed till 15 April
The Supreme Court's Offices of Registry will remain shut till 15 April as a preventive measure in view of the novel coronavirus. However, there are some exemptions as protocol, caretaking section, computer and judicial sections dealing with filing and listing of matters and court masters will continue to function as usual.
LIVE NEWS and UPDATES
00:04 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak Latest Updates
Tomorrow's Mann ki Baat to focus on coronavirus outbreak: PM
The latest episode of Mann ki Baat on Sunday will focus on the coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said. Mann ki Baat radio programme is aired on the last Sunday of every month and the prime minister speaks on the latest issues.
23:59 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in US Latest Updates
COVID-19 cases in US cross 1,15,000
The number of known coronavirus US cases soared well past 1,15,000, with more than 1,900 dead, reports Reuters. President Donald Trump said he was considering imposing a quarantine on the hard hit New York region and other regions which had emerged as hotspots. Trump told reporters he could order a quarantine on three states, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, which between them have recorded at least 64,000 infections and 895 deaths.
23:51 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Punjab Latest Updates
One more case reported in Punjab
Ambala has reported its first positive case of coronavirus, reports ANI. A 21-year-old man is a resident of Ram Nagar village in Patiala, Punjab, on Ambala-Patiala border. He had recently travelled to Nepal and was admitted to a hospital on 26 March, ANI quotes the chief medical officer of Ambala as saying.
23:42 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Italy Latest Updates
Death toll in Italy crosses 10,000
The death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in Italy has surged by 889, Reuters quotes the Civil Protection Agency as saying. This is the second highest daily tally since the epidemic emerged on 21 February. Total fatalities in Italy have reached 10,023, by far the highest of any country in the world. The total number of confirmed cases in Italy rose on Saturday to 92,472 from a previous 86,498.
23:24 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Updates
918 cases in India, Maharashtra tally tops 186
The total number of COVI-19 cases in Maharashtra has reached 186, ANI quotes the state health department as saying. Meanwhile the total number of confirmed cases in the country has reached 918, said the Union health ministry while the death toll has reached 19.
23:17 (IST)
Coronavirus in Gujarat Latest Updates
Two more cases reported in Gujarat
Two more COVID19 positive cases were detected in Gujarat, reports ANI. A 25-year-old man from Gandhinagar got infected through local transmission, while a 65-year-old man from Gir Somnath had recently travlelled to Saudi Arabia. The total number of positive cases in the state has reached 55, ANI quotes the state health department as saying.
23:07 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak Latest Updates
Centre to provide three meals to day to those living in shelter homes
The Ministry for Housing and Urban Affairs will provide three meals a day to more than 1,00,000 people living in over 1500 shelters for the urban homeless across the country, said Union minister Hardeep Sngh Puri.
22:59 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak latest updates
Rahul Gandhi hits out at Centre over exodus of migrants
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi lashed out the government over exodus of migrant workers who were stranded in different parts of the country due to the lockdown. "It’s shameful that we’ve allowed any Indian citizen to be treated this way and that the government had no contingency plans in place for this exodus," he said. Visuals of hordes of migrant workers gathering at Delhi's Anand Vihar bus station to catch buses back home to Uttar Pradesh had gone viral on social media.
22:43 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Jammu and Kashmir latest updates
Health workers, residents in Jammu and Kashmir beaten up by police
A number of videos have emerged on social networking sites showing the Jammu And Kashmir Police roughing up residents, health workers as well as power department workers during the unprecedented nationwide lockdown that has been enforced across India in order to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.
In the Charar-e-Sharief area of Budgam district, residents accused the police of not only baton-charging them but also disallowing them from buying medicines and essential commodities after fresh coronavirus cases were reported from the Valley.Even doctors, as well as the staff of government-run Power Development Department (PDD), have accused the police of preventing them from attending to their duties.
Read more here
22:35 (IST)
Coronavirus in Maharashtra Latest Updates
Four new cases detected in Pune
Four new coronavirus cases were detected in Pune on Saturday, taking the number of cases in the city to 24, PTI quotes a health official as saying.A person who was admitted to a private hospital for a liver-related ailment had tested positive for coronavirus two days ago. Three persons who had come in close contact with him tested positive on Saturday, said a health officer of Pune Municipal Corporation. "They were admitted to Naidu Hospital and their condition is stable," he said.
Another person, who is 51 years old and who had been admitted to anothe rhospitalfor some other ailment, also tested positive for the virus on Saturday.