Total cases of the novel coronavirus disease in India rose 606 as India entered the second day of a three-week lockdown. The tally includes 10 people who have succumbed to the respiratory illness. Cases in India have more than tripled in the last five days.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi — in his second speech on the issue— imposed a 21-day nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of Covid-19.
“If we listen to the health experts we know that 21 days are crucial to break the cycle of transmission,” Modi said in his televised address to the nation on Tuesday. “For a few days forget what it means to go out. Today’s decision of a nationwide lockdown draws a line outside your home.”
Track latest updates on how the coronavirus situation is evolving in India here:
Toll Collection Suspended Across India
The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has ordered that toll collection at all toll plazas across India be suspended temporarily.
85-Year-Old Woman Dies In Ahmedabad
An 85-year-old woman who died in Ahmedabad tested positive for Covid-19. She had existing medical complications and a travel history to Saudi Arabia.
India Looks For Volunteer Doctors To Fight Covid-19 Outbreak
The government is looking for volunteer doctors to fight the Covid-19 outbreak which has infected over 600 people in the country and has taken more than 19,000 lives across the globe.
In a statement posted on NITI Aayog's website on Wednesday, the government appealed to retired government, Armed Forces Medical Services, public sector undertaking or private doctors to come forward and join the efforts of the government to fight the deadly virus.
Volunteers may register themselves on a link provided on the official website of the Niti Aayog.
The Government of India requests for volunteer doctors who are fit and willing to be available for providing their services in the public health facilities and the training hospitals in the near future. We appeal to such doctors to come forward at this hour of need.NITI Aayog Statement
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Total Cases In Maharashtra At 122
The current count of Covid-19 patients in the state of Maharashtra is 122, according to the state government. Two people have been cured.
In Sangli, five people from one family have been identified as positive due to contact and four people from Mumbai have been identified as positive due to travel history or contact with a patient, the government said.
Rajasthan Migrant Workers In Gujarat Leave For Homes On Foot
In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak and the 21-day nationwide lockdown, thousands of migrant workers from Rajasthan working in different parts of Gujarat have started walking back to their native places in the absence of any transport facility.
Gujarat Police have been trying to convince them to abide by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to avoid travelling.
A Congress leader from Ahmedabad has asked the party-led government in Rajasthan to arrange some transportation after these workers reach the Gujarat-Rajasthan border near Shamlaji town of Arvalli district, also known as the Ratanpur border.
Radheshyam Patel, a native of Rajasthan's Dungarpur district and working in Ahmedabad, said there is no point in staying here without any income.
"Most of us work here at tea stalls or food joints. Since everything is shut, our employers have asked us to come back only after things get normal, as they don't have money to pay us. Since buses and other modes of transport are not available, we have decided to walk to reach home," he said.
Patel was part of a 50-member group that started its journey on foot on Tuesday night from the city's Naranpura area to reach the Ratanpur border, around 150 km from here.
"I know there is the threat of virus, but we are helpless. How would we survive without any income for three weeks? We don't have money to pay to our landlord. It's better we move back to our native places," said Mangi Lal, who belongs to Rajasthan's Udaipur district.
He was part of a group of 100 people who left from Gujarat's Mehsana district to return to their homes.
Source: PTI
50-Year-Old Man Tests Positive For Covid-19 In Mizoram
A 50-year-old pastor, who recently returned from Amsterdam, tested positive for Covid-19 in Mizoram, making it the second case of the disease in the Northeast, Health Minister R Lalthangliana said on Wednesday.
The test report of the man, a resident of Aizawl, arrived on Tuesday night from the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, he said.
"We received the test result late last night. It is an imported case and the patient is fine," Lalthangliana told reporters.
The health minister urged people not to panic after the state reported its first case.
Eric Zomawia, the mission director of National Health Mission here, said the patient was in the Netherlands for higher studies.
Source: PTI
Home Ministry Tells Private Security Agencies Not To Lay Off Guards Or Cut Salaries
The Union Home Ministry has asked private security agencies not to lay off guards or deduct their salaries during the 21-day lockdown period announced to combat coronavirus.
In a letter to the Central Association of Private Security Industry, CII, FICCI and Assocham and others, the Home Ministry said India was facing an unprecedented situation arising out of the Covid-19 outbreak.
This has also affected economic activity and it is possible that private security agencies may be impacted due to the closure of shops, malls and other establishments.
"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.
"I would, therefore, urge the industry for empathy with its workforce, vital to its functioning, and ensure that these workers continue to be treated on duty and paid accordingly," the ministry said in the letter.
Kunwar Vikram Singh, chairman of the Central Association of Private Security Industry (CAPSI), welcomed the central government's appeal.
Source: PTI
Home Minsitry Asks States To Check Rumours About Shortage Of Food, Essential Commodities
In the wake of the 21-day lockdown period, the Union Home Ministry has asked state governments to check the spread of rumours about shortage of food and other essential commodities.
In a communication to chief secretaries and DGPs of all states, the ministry asked them to take action to allay apprehensions and maintain peace and tranquillity, and inform people about the availability of food, medicine and other essential commodities.
Source: PTI
Five In Indore Test Positive, MP Cases Rise To 14
Five persons admitted in different hospitals of Indore have tested positive for the coronavirus, taking the number of Covid-19 cases in Madhya Pradesh to 14, health officials said on Wednesday.
None of the patients in Indore have history of travel to abroad.
The five Covid-19 patients in Indore include a woman from neighbouring Ujjain while others are residents of Indore, Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr Anusuya Gawli said.
Earlier, six positive coronavirus cases were reported from Jabalpur and one each from Bhopal, Gwalior and Shivpuri.
Meanwhile, curfew has also beem imposed in Ujjain city of Madhya Pradesh in view of the coronavirus crisis.
Source: PTI
Government Monitoring Availability Of Essential Commodities In Market: Paswan
Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Wednesday said the government is monitoring the availability of essential commodities in the market amid nationwide lockdown for next 21 days to check the spread of coronavirus outbreak.
Paswan warned manufacturers and traders against profiteering during this period.
The Centre is also in touch with the state governments to ensure that there is no shortage of essential commodities, he said.
"In view of situation emerging from the threat of #Covid19India, the government is keeping an eye on availability of all essential commodities in the market," Paswan tweeted.
"I appeal to all manufacturers and traders to avoid from profiteering in this situation," Paswan said in his tweet.
Source: PTI
277 People Evacuated From Coronavirus-Hit Iran Reach Army Facility In Jodhpur
A batch of 277 people evacuated from the coronavirus-hit Iran arrived at the Jodhpur airport in Rajasthan on Wednesday early morning, a defence spokesperson said.
He said preliminary screening of the evacuees, mostly pilgrims, was conducted at the airport upon arrival and thereafter they were taken to the Army Wellness Facility set up at the Jodhpur Military Station. They were flown in from Iran, which has been severely affected by the deadly infection.
The Army, in coordination with the Rajasthan state medical authorities and civil administration, has made adequate medical and administrative arrangements to ensure a comfortable stay for the evacuees and provide prophylactic medical support, he said.
Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Rohit Kumar Singh said that 273 of the evacuees are pilgrims.
He said that among the people were 149 women and girls.
The defence spokesperson said that the facility has a dedicated team of Army doctors, who will be constantly monitoring the health parameters of the evacuees for the duration of their stay.
Source: PTI
List Of 26 Private Labs In India
There are now 26 private labs across India that can carry out Covid-19 tests, in addition to the government centers. Here’s a list of the private labs, as provided by the government.
India Total Cases Rise To 562, Death Toll At 9
The Indian Health Ministry has reported 27 new cases from last night, taking the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases to 562, as of 9:15 a.m. This includes 40 cured or discharged and nine dead.
The number of casualties has been corrected to nine from the previously reported 10. The ministry clarified that the second death reported in Delhi was not because of coronavirus.
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