advertisement
Three persons tested positive for in Goa on Thursday, 26 March, ANI reported. A 25-year-old man with travel history to Spain, a 29-year-old man with travel history to Australia and a 55-year-old man with travel history to United States are the three cases.
The Union Health Ministry on Wednesday, 25 March reported that the total number of COVD-19 cases so far in the country is 606 of which 553 are active, 43 are cured/discharged/migrated cases and at least 10 deaths due to the pandemic.
Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday reported its first death from the novel coronavirus. The patient was a 65-year-old woman who was undergoing treatment for the infection in Indore, reported PTI, quoting officials.
The first phase of Census 2021 and the updation of National Population Register (NPR) has been postponed until further orders in view of the novel coronavirus outbreak
Tamil Nadu, too, reported its first death from COVID-19 on Wednesday, taking the total death toll in the country to 10. This death has not been included by the ministry in its official numbers yet.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)
A 54-year-old man infected with coronavirus died at a hospital in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai in the early hours of Wednesday, 25 March, the first death recorded in Tamil Nadu due to the pandemic, state Health Minister C Vijayabaskar said.
He also said the man had a medical history of prolonged illness with "uncontrolled diabetes".
The number of people infected with the novel coronavirus worldwide has exceeded 372,000, with over 16,000 deaths, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said in its daily COVID-19 situation report, according to ANI.
The total number of cases has reached 372,757, most have been registered in Europe which has more than 195,000 cases. The global death toll has reached 16,231, of which more than 10,000 deaths were in the European region.
Ministry of Home Affairs has directed all states and Union Territories to set up 24x7 control rooms/offices with helplines at state/district level to address any grievances or undue problems faced by providers of goods/services amid the 21 days Lockdown.
Two people, who were found positive two weeks back in Maharashtra's Pune, have now tested negative twice for COVID-19, ANI reported on Wednesday. Both will be discharged from the hospital. They were the first two cases in Maharashtra.
The 'Extraordinary Virtual G20 Leaders' Summit' is all set to be held on Thursday to advance coordinated global response to COVID-19. Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud will chair the meeting and PM Narendra Modi is expected to participate in it.
Mahan Air flight carrying 277 Indian passengers landed at Delhi airport today early morning from Tehran, Iran.
In Bihar, another person tests positive for Coronavirus in Patna's Nalanda Medical College and Hospital. The total number of cases rises to 4 in the state, reported ANI.
Police barricading continues at Uttar Pradesh-Delhi border to stop movement of vehicles except those rendering/availing essential services amid lockdown; visuals from Delhi Noida Direct Flyway (DND).
The first known death of a child due to the novel coronavirus in the United States was a teenager in previously good health, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said Tuesday.
The death of the youth from Lancaster, just north of Los Angeles, was reported hours earlier by public health officials, and comes despite the disease not typically proving severe for juveniles, reported AFP.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to hold a meeting with Lt Governor Anil Baijal at 11 am today at Lieutenant Governor Secretariat, reported ANI.
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIT) issues instruction to state authorities “to not obstruct and call for closure of food processing units.”
People in Noida practice social distancing. Visuals from outside a grocery store in Sector-19.
The total number of positive cases in India has risen to 562, the Health and Family Welfare Ministry said on Wednesday. While there are total 512 active cases, the number of discharged cases stand at 40, according to the ministry.
MHA has asked private security agencies not to lay off or cut salaries of guards during 21-day lockdown, said Officials.
It states, “this is the time for the private security industry to adopt a humane approach and protect its workers and staff members from lay-offs and consequent decrease in earnings.”
Maharashtra reported five new coronavirus cases since Tuesday night, taking the number of cases in the state to 112, the highest in the country so far, officials said, reported PTI.
“A 33-year-old resident of Pilibhit has tested positive for coronavirus. He doesn't have any travel history, it is a confirmed case of contact transmission,” says Dr Sudhir Singh, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, reported India Today.
In Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh Government officials flag off vehicles carrying essential supplies which will be delivered to households.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal holds a meeting with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at LG Secretariat. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia is also present in the meeting.
US Senate, The White House have agreed on a $2 trillion Coronavirus rescue plan, reported AFP news agency.
The total number of coronavirus cases has risen to 1000 in Pakistan including 7 deaths, said that Pakistan Government, reported ANI.
Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi underway at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg. The ministers can be seen practising social distancing.
After his meeting with Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal briefed the media regarding the 21-day nationwide lockdown.
He said, "This step was necessary for everybody's health. We need to keep some things in mind. Do not step out of your house for anything. But for the essentials, like milk, vegetables, daily-use commodities and medicines, you will have have to move out of your place."
Kejriwal has emphasised that the Delhi government and police are working on the supply of these essential commodities. "No need to panic. If you'll crowd, then you are negating what social distancing means."
He further continued, "It is our responsibility to get your own essentials. We will also begin e-pass for those selling essential supplies."
In Rajasthan, four new coronavirus positive cases have been reported in the state today. Two of the four positive persons are members of the medical staff in Bhilwara. Total number of cases in the state rise to 36, reported ANI.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said, “We have sufficient stock of essential commodities like vegetables, rice and other items of daily use, so there is no need to worry. All shops selling essential goods are open too. We will celebrate Gudi Padwa once we tackle this crisis.”
Calling it a war-like situation, he said, “It is a war-like situation so I have compared this Coronavirus with war, when we are not aware of the enemy then the enemy will attack us, so we have to be aware as we cannot see this enemy.”
“I am at home listening to Mrs CM, you listen to your home minister, there is no need to panic, essential services are available,” he added.
Biotech entrepreneur Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw on Wednesday said the 21-day nation-wide lockdown in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is needed from the scientific point of view to collect required testing data to fully understand the severity of the disease.
"The government has done the right thing. Scientifically, you need those three weeks," the Chairman and Managing Director of Biocon Ltd, told PTI.
The current count of COVID19 patients in the state of Maharashtra is 116. In Sangli, five people from one family are identified as positive due to contacts and four people from mumbai are identified as positive due to travel history or contacts.
“Army Headquarters are closed today in view of the lockdown announcement by the Government. From tomorrow onwards, only 5-10 percent of essential staff to work for meeting the operational requirements,” ANI stated quoting Indian Army sources.
Delhi police has released a press statement that New Delhi District arrested 19 persons in 15 cases have been registered under Section 188 IPC for “disobedience to lawful instructions issued by public servants.”
“Consequent upon the directions issued by the Government of India to stay at home to contain the disease being spread by novel Corona virus Covid-19, the sufficient number of police personnel were deployed at various police posts and checking points in the jurisdiction of New Delhi District,” it stated.
The general public was informed through loudspeakers to abide by the instructions issued by the Government of India, the police added.
Around 100 people have shown some symptom of COVID-19 in Odisha. Out of them, 45 are on government quarantine. All of them had foreign travel history.
A Bhopal-based journalist has tested positive for coronavirus. His daughter had recently returned from London. Yesterday, he along with several other journalists had attended the press conference of chief minister Kamal Nath.
The journalist's wife, son and domestic helpers have tested negative for the virus, reported ANI.
“All government offices except those providing essential services closed till 14 April,” Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary (Planning), Jammu and Kashmir stated, reported ANI.
The total number of positive cases in Madhya Pradesh have risen to 14.
Five cases were reported in Jabalpur, one in Gwalior, one in Shivpuri, two in Bhopal and five in Indore.
“I had a meeting with e-commerce website representatives, they shared the problems faced by them in the movement of essential goods. We have issued passes to them and assured that their delivery agents will be helped by the police,” said Delhi Police PRO MS Randhawa, reported ANI.
Delhi Police PRO MS Randhawa, “We have set up a platform for e-commerce websites where they can share with us the problems they are facing, so we can solve them.”
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister on Tuesday reported five more cases of COVID-19 in the state, raising the state total to 23. The patients are four Indonesian nationals and their travel guide at Salem Medical College in Chennai.
Mumbai Police on Wednesday seized 4 lakh face masks worth around Rs 1 crore from a godown near Mumbai Airport Cargo Terminal. A case has been registered.
Several images are being shared on social media from various parts of the country where people have marked circles or drawn boxes on the road with chalk, to discipline people in maintaining a healthy distance between each other.
Social distancing is the most important measure that is being taken across the world to cut down the transmission of coronavirus.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Wednesday offered life insurance for those at the frontline of the coronavirus threat, including doctors, healthcare professionals, sanitation workers, and media and police personnel, reported PTI.
Iran on Wednesday, reported 143 new deaths due to COVID-19, raising the toll to 2,077.
Prince Charles, the heir apparent to the British throne as the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II, tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, reported AFP.
Prince Charles is the oldest and longest-serving heir apparent in British history
The updating of the National Population Register (NPR) and the first phase of the Census 2021 have been postponed due to the 21-day nationwide lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reported PTI, quoting officials.
Both the exercises were supposed to be carried out from 1 April to 30 September.
All ration shops in Maharashtra will remain open to ensure regularly supply of food items to people during the lockdown ordered in the wake of coronavirus outbreak, reported PTI, quoting Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal.
The minister added that the state has enough foodgrain stock to last for six months.
Spain's death toll from the novel coronavirus outbreak overtook China's on Wednesday, rising to 3,434 after 738 people died over the past 24 hours, reported AFP, quoting the government.
The spiralling death toll came as Spain entered the 11th day of an unprecedented lockdown to try and rein in the COVID-19 epidemic that has now infected 47,610 people.
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Wednesday said there was no need for people to panic as shops selling essentials and medicines will remain open throughout the 21-day lockdown imposed to combat the novel coronavirus outbreak.
He also said there were sufficient legal provisions available to deal with black marketeers and hoarders.
Mali announced its first two cases of the novel coronavirus on Wednesday, adding to fears that the war-torn and impoverished West African state will struggle to handle an outbreak, reported AFP.
Two Malian nationals who arrived from France in mid-March tested positive for the virus, the government said in a statement on Wednesday, and are receiving medical treatment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing the citizens of Varanasi, his constituency, via video conferencing. This is the PM’s first public engagement after his announcement of the 21-day nationwide lockdown. Here are the top statements he made:
“As a MP from Kashi, I should have been there with you all, but you know how the situation is in Delhi.”
“In this hour of crisis, Kashi can lead the people, can teach the country patience, compassion and peace.”
“Social distancing, to be at home, is the only way out and the best option to deal with coronavirus.”
“This disease doesn't discriminate between rich and poor.”
“Mahabharata war was won in 18 days, war against coronavirus will take 21 days.”
“Govt has tied up with WhatsApp to create a helpdesk to give credible information on coronavirus. The number is 9013151515.”
“I appeal to all the citizens, if you notice any incident where professionals, such as doctors and nurses, are ill-treated then you should take an initiative to make such people understand that they are wrong.”
“We can fight coronavirus by also showing compassion towards the poor.”
Two more persons tested positive for coronavirus in Chhattisgarh on Wednesday, taking the total number of confirmed cases of the deadly infection to three in the state, reported PTI, quoting officials.
One of them was reported from the state capital Raipur and the other from Rajnandgaon district.
"The secretary of the health department has informed that two more persons have tested positive for the virus in the state," read an official statement.
Action shall be taken under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (disobeying public servant's lawful order) if mandatory quarantine is violated, read a directive issued by the Maharashtra government.
Violation of section 188 attracts jail term of one month or fine up to Rs 200, or both.
If the "disobedience causes danger to human life, health or safety", the person can be punished with six months' jail term and a fine of Rs 1,000 or both under the section.
The Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday banned manufacture and sale of pan masala, saying the move will help stop the spread of coronavirus, reported PTI.
The ban imposed on the first day of the nationwide lockdown is for an indefinite period.
"Manufacturing, sale and storage of pan masala is being banned in the state till further orders," Food Security Commissioner Ministhy S said in an order issued.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday announced that five new positive cases of COVID-19 were reported in the UT in the past 24 hours. One of the patients has a foreign travel history.
Noted chef Floyd Cardoz has died after testing positive for the novel coronavirus, family, reported PTI, sources.
“Cardoz, 59, died of COVID-19 infection in a hospital in New York,” the sources said.
He was the co-owner of two popular restaurants in Mumbai, Bombay Canteen and O Pedro, and had recently launched his third venture, the Bombay Sweet Shop.
One more person tested positive for COVID-19 in Uttarakhand on Wednesday taking the total number of confirmed cases in the state to five.
“A 26-year-old man, who had returned recently arrived from Spain has tested positive for the disease,” Pauri's Chief Medical Officer Manoj Bahukhandi said.
Functioning of all district courts in the national capital was suspended on Wednesday till 15 April due to the 21-day nationwide lockdown by the Centre to check the spread of coronavirus.
In a notification issued by the Registrar General of the Delhi High Court, the respective District and Sessions Judges have been directed to permit Judges and other staff officials to work from home wherever possible.
"In continuation of the office order on 23 March of the Delhi High Court and taking note of the order on 24 March by the Prime Minister whereby a national lockdown has been declared for a period of 21 days with effect from 25 March , the functioning of subordinate courts shall now remain suspended till 15 April.
Nine more people tested positive for the coronavirus in Kerala on Wednesday, taking the total number of those presently under treatment to 112, reported PTI.
Four persons have been cured, while eight tested negative in repeat tests.
Of the new cases, two are from Palakkad, three from Ernakulam, two from Pathnamthitta and one each from Idukki and Kozhikode districts, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told reporters after a Covid19 review meeting here.
The number of coronavirus cases increased to 122 in Maharashtra on Wednesday, registering an increase of 15, while two COVID-19 patients were declared as cured of the deadly infection.
Of the 15 new cases, 11 persons had come in contact with COVID-19 patients who had returned from abroad, while other four had overseas travel history themselves, said a state health department official.
The Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) has offered the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium (RGIC) for setting up a quarantine centre in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak to accommodate people who have been advised isolation.
"This (offering the stadium), we feel is the moral obligation on our part in this hour of crisis as there are 40 big rooms which can take care of some of the virus-affected patients," the HCA said in a press release.
"With a lot of parking space, we feel it would be appropriate on our behalf to make this token gesture of appreciation of your (Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao) efforts," it said.
Delhi police on Wednesday said they are proactively engaging with e-commerce portals and issuing passes to ensure their agents are able to commute seamlessly and deliver essential goods to residents during the 21-day nationwide lockdown because of the coronavirus pandemic.
E-commerce and home delivery come under essential services and are exempted from the lockdown rules but reports said the delivery agents were facing difficulties in reaching their destinations.
Senior police officials, including DCP Eish Singhal and Additional DCP Deepak Yadav of New Delhi District, held a meeting with the representatives of e-commerce platforms such as Flipkart, Zomato, Snapdeal and BigBasket and listened to the problems they were facing due to the lockdown.
"We have set up a platform for e-commerce websites where they can share with us difficulties faced by them, so we can solve them," said Mandeep Singh Randhawa, Delhi police PRO.
In the new guidelines, the home ministry said Reserve Bank of India and RBI-regulated financial markets, pay and accounts officers and field officers of the CAG, petroleum products and supply chain and forest staff are exempted from the purview of the lockdown.
Those people handling cargo operations in airports and railway stations, coal mining activities, officers and staff of resident commissioners based in Delhi and customs clearance at ports, airports and land borders are also exempted.
Forest offices staff and workers required to operate and maintain zoo, nurseries, wildlife, fire fighting in forests, watering plantations, patrolling and their necessary transport movement, social welfare department staff for operations of homes for children, disabled, senior citizens, destitute women, widows, observation homes and pensions service are also exempted, the guidelines said.
Dr Randeep Guleria, Director, AIIMS Delhi on Wednesday said that AIIMSis going to start a tele-consultation facility where patients can consult doctors through telephone, reported ANI.
“Several patients had appointments which are now cancelled. Chronic patients can consult doctors through this facility,” he said.
“This(telephone service) will be rolled out in a day or two. Every department will have some doctors who will resolve the health related issues of the follow-up patients,” he added.
The United Nations on Wednesday launched a USD 2 billion global humanitarian response plan to fund the fight against the coronavirus pandemic in the world's poorest countries, warning that it is threatening the entire human race, reported AFP.
“The world faces an unprecedented threat. The COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly covered the globe. It has spread suffering, disrupted billions of lives and endangered the global economy. COVID-19 is menacing the whole of humanity – and so the whole of humanity must fight back,” UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said at the launch of the Global Humanitarian Response Plan for COVID19.
The International Monetary Fund and World Bank on Wednesday called for governments to put a hold on debt payments from the world's poorest nations so they can battle the coronavirus pandemic, reported AFP.
"The World Bank Group and the IMF believe it is imperative at this moment to provide a global sense of relief for developing countries as well as a strong signal to financial markets," the Washington-based development lenders said in a joint statement.
The move is directed at countries that qualify for the most generous aid from the "IDA" fund aimed at the "two-thirds of the world's population living in extreme poverty."
The number of COVID-19 cases in Gujarat went up to 39 as four more people, one of them with travel history abroad, tested positive for the new coronavirus on Wednesday, reported PTI, quoting a health department official.
On Wednesday, one new case was reported each from Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot and Vadodara, principal secretary (health) Jayanti Ravi told reporters here.
Foreign ministers of the Group of Seven industrial powers agreed in talks Wednesday that China is waging a "disinformation" campaign about the coronavirus pandemic, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said.
"Every one of the nations that were at that meeting this morning was deeply aware of the disinformation campaign that the Chinese Communist Party is engaged in to try and deflect from what has really taken place," Pompeo told reporters after the talks, held by videoconference due to health precautions.
China on Wednesday said it has neither created the coronavirus nor intentionally transmitted it and that usage of terms like "Chinese virus" or "Wuhan virus" is wrong.
Ji Rong, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy here, said the international community should focus on China's "swift response" to the pandemic rather than "stereotyping the Chinese people".
The Textiles Ministry on Wednesday said it has set up an emergency control room to monitor the production and supply of medical textiles including N-95 masks, body coveralls and meltblown fabric.
The emergency control office will work under the supervision of P K Kataria, Special Secretary. Three field level officers have also been appointed to take stock of the situation from the ground level.
Six new COVID-19 cases were reported in Rajasthan on Wednesday, taking the total number to 38 so far, reported PTI, quoting officials.
“Four positive cases in Bhilwara and one case each in Jodhpur and Jhunjhunu were reported, “ said Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Rohit Kumar Singh.
“Among the four positive cases in Bhilwara, two are private hospital staff members where a doctor was recently found to be positive, whereas the one in Jodhpur has a travel history,” Singh added.
In view of the coronavirus outbreak, the government has ordered to temporarily suspend the collection of toll at all toll plaza across India.
The number of coronavirus cases in the United States has crossed 60,000, with 827 deaths, AFP reported.
Three persons have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Goa, PTI reported quoting the state health department.
A 25-year-old man with travel history to Spain, a 29-year-old man with travel history to Australia and a 55-year-old man with travel history to United States are the three cases, ANI reported.
The US Department of State on Wednesday, 25 March, expressed their support to combat the coronavirus outbreak with India, ANI reported.