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Covid-19: 198 more cases in J&K, tally climbs to 4,285

Srinagar (NVI): The number of COVID-19 cases in Jammu and Kashmir has reached 4,285 as the Union Territory witnessed another big spike of 198 positive cases today.

Officials said that among new 198 new cases, 43 were tested positive at SKIMS, 70 at JVC Bemina and rest at other hospitals.

Among 198 new cases, 165 belong to Kashmir division while 33 are from Jammu division, officials said, adding that the total number of positive cases in Kashmir has reached 3,363 including 1,112 recoveries and 40 deaths while total number of positive cases in Jammu has reached 922 including 212 recoveries and 5 deaths.

They added that total number of active cases in Jammu and Kashmir is 2916 including 2211 from Kashmir division and 705 from Jammu division.

Cases tested positive in J&K include 14 from Anantnag, 10 from Kulgam, 9 from Srinagar, 40 from Budgam, 11 from Kupwara, 31 from Shopian, 33 from Baramulla, 9 from Bandipora, 7 from Pulwama and 1 from Ganderbal in Kashmir while 33 from Jammu include include 12 from district Jammu, 11 from Kathua, 4 each from Poonch and Samba and one each from Rajouri and Doda.

As per officials figures, 458 positive cases including five deaths and 220 recoveries are from Anantnag, 466 including 12 deaths and 220 recoveries are from Srinagar, 537 including 5 deaths and 150 recoveries are from Kulgam, 350 including 101 recoveries and 3 deaths are from Kupwara, 482 including 107 recoveries and seven deaths are from Baramulla, 401 including 133 recoveries and four deaths are from Shopian, 224 including 136 recoveries and 1 death is from Bandipora, 200 including 77 recoveries and 2 deaths are from Budgam, 188 including 16 recoveries and 1 death are from Pulwama and 57 including 26 recoveries are from Ganderbal.

In Jammu, 234 including 70 recoveries and three deaths are from Jammu district, 168 including 21 recoveries are from Ramban, 130 including 32 recoveries 1 one death is from Udhampur, 118 including 40 recoveries are from Kathua, 73 including 4 recoveries from Poonch, 63 including 23 recoveries and 2 are from Samba, 57 including 13 recoveries are from Rajouri, 42 including 1 death and 2 recoveries are from Doda, 20 including 3 recoveries  are from Reasi and 17 including 4 recoveries are from Kishtwar.

As per the daily information bulletin, 214,595 persons in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while as 42,381 persons have been kept under home quarantine. Besides that, 2916 persons are in hospital isolation while as 51 persons are under hospital quarantine.

According to the bulletin, 113,625 persons have completed surveillance period and 555,77 persons are under home surveillance.

Apart from that, so far results of 2,27,906 samples are available, out of which 2,23,621 stand negative while 4,285 have been tested positive. Among the positive cases, 2916 are active and 1324 persons have recovered while 45 persons have died.

Govt committed to ensure minorities are equal partner of mainstream development: Naqvi

New Delhi (NVI): Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today said that in the past six years, the BJP government at the Centre led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has worked with commitment to “Development without Discrimination” and “Development with Dignity” to ensure that minorities have also become an equal partner of mainstream development.

Naqvi, who was addressing UP BJP Minority Morcha workers through virtual conference here today, said that the BJP is not only the largest political party of the world, it is also an “Inclusive Family” which is working for prosperity of all with a commitment to nationalism by removing the barriers of region and religion.

“All the poor and weaker sections including minorities have been equally benefitted through Modi Government’s schemes such as PM Awas Yojana, Ujjwala Yojna, Ayushman Bharat, Kisan Samman Nidhi, Jan Dhan Yojana, Mudra Yojana, electrification drive, PM Sadak Yojana, One Nation-One Ration Card etc. Besides, the Minorities have significantly benefitted through various welfare measures taken by the Union Minority Affairs Ministry,” he said.

“More than 3 crore 80 lakh students from Minority communities have been provided various scholarships during the last 6 years. More than 50 per cent beneficiaries of scholarship schemes are girl students,” he said.

At the same time, Naqvi said that while the Government is committed to “Honour” of all Indians, on the other hand some people are conspiring to create “Horror” in India.

He said that “Inclusive Empowerment” has been “Rashtraniti” (national policy) and not “Rajniti” (politics) for the Government led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

He said the Modi Government has been working with commitment to happiness in eyes and prosperity in life of every needy. “This has ensured that each and every section of the society including Minorities have become an equal partner of prosperity, dignity and empowerment. All sections of the society are moving forward on the path of inclusive empowerment without any discrimination,” he said.

The Union Minister said that some people and organisations in the country itself are engaged in obstructing this journey of inclusive growth, empowerment, dignity and harmony due to their narrow and prejudiced political self-interests. “They are involved in a criminal conspiracy to disgrace India and Indians. We should not only be remain cautious of these nefarious elements but also expose and isolate them,” he added.

He further saud that unable to digest the positive atmosphere and constructive mood of the country, the ‘Bogus Bashing Brigade’ is trying to raise bogey of “Islamophobia”, intolerance, safety of Minorities etc just to defame India and disturb the fabric of communal harmony and unity of the country,” he said.

Taking an indirect dig at the Congress and Opposition parties, Naqvi said, while on one hand some political parties are confined to a particular family frame, on the other hand the BJP is “all-embracing family” which is moving forward with ethos of “Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas” and commitment to “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat”.

Apart from that, Naqvi in his virtual conference said that more than 5 lakh master artisans, craftsmen and culinary experts and people associated with them have been provided employment and employment opportunities through “Hunar Haat” during last about 5 years.

More than 10 lakh youths have been provided skill development training and employment and employment opportunities during last about 6 years through employment-oriented skill development schemes such as “Ustad”, “Garib Nawaz Self Employment Scheme”, “Seekho aur Kamao”, “Nai Manzil” etc, he said.

More than 50 per cent beneficiaries are girls. Thousands of Health Care Assistants, who have been trained under skill development programme of Minority Affairs Ministry, are assisting in treatment and well-being of Corona patients, he added.

In addition to this, the Minister informed that for the first time since Independence, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi led Government is providing 100 per cent funding to develop schools, colleges, hospitals, community hall and other basic infrastructure on Waqf land under Pradhanmantri Jan Vikas Karykram (PMJVK) for weaker sections and needy especially girls in those backward areas which had been deprived of these basic facilities.

During last about 6 years, Modi Government has developed socio-economic-educational and employment-oriented infrastructure across the country in deprived Minority concentrated areas, he added.

22 terrorists killed by forces in Kashmir in 2 weeks

GoC Victor Force, Maj Gen A Sengupta, GoC 15 Corps, Lt Gen BS Raju and J&K DGP Dilbag Singh.

Srinagar (NVI): Pakistan is not happy with the peace returning to Kashmir as it wants to keep the pot boiling, a top Indian Army official said today as security forces killed 9 terrorists in two operations in less than 24 hours since Sunday.

At least 22 terrorists, including 6 top commanders, have been killed in the last two weeks in nine different operations in Kashmir, Director General of Police Dilbag Singh said.

Lt General BS Raju, Commander of Srinagar-based 15 Corps, said Pakistan has been attempting to push terrorists and weapons into Kashmir to generate violence in the valley.

His comment at a press conference came after security forces gunned down 4 terrorists in a four-hour long encounter in Pinjoora area of Shopian district. Earlier on Sunday, 5 terrorists were killed in Reban village of the same district in a nine-hour gunfight.

Lt Gen Raju said if there is anyone who is not happy with the peace returning to Kashmir that is Pakistan.  “It is Pakistan’s larger game plan to keep the pot boiling in Kashmir. Contribution of our neighbour as far as violence in Kashmir is combination of two things—inducting weapons along the LoC (Line of Control) as part of infiltration or through various means at its disposal and then to push in the same weapons to Kashmir to generate violence and keeping the pot boiling in one or the other way,” the GoC said.

Talking about the two operations conducted since yesterday, Major General A Sengupta, Commander of Army’s Victor Force, said the Army, along with the state police, has been working extremely hard over the past few months to develop leads to neutralise terrorists who have been disrupting normal life of civilians in Kashmir, especially South Kashmir.

“These militants were coercing the population to give them shelter,” the General Officer Commanding of Victor Force said.  He said an input was received yesterday morning about the presence of five militants in Reban village of Shopian and troops of 1 Rashtriya Rifles of Army swung into action.

“It was a congested built area and the challenge of ensuring no collateral damage remained there. Some 14 houses were evacuated. At 7 am, contact was established with the militants and after nine hours of fierce battle, they were killed,” he said. “There was no damage to civilian property,” he added.

Maj Gen Sengupta said last night again, a specific input was received from the police about presence of militants in Pinjoora area of Shopian. “These militants were involved in harassing the civil population, disrupt normal life and killing of non-local people, injuring truck drivers last year and also abducting the cops,” the GoC Victor Force.

He said in the four-hour-long operation at Pinjoora, four local militants were killed without any collateral damage in a four-hour long operation.

Lt General Raju, while congratulating the teams of Army, police and CRPF for the success, said both the operations were conducted without any collateral damage in areas where there was a fair amount of civilian population and where civilians were evacuated.

“This we have been able to do because of the professionalism of all agencies involved. The tactics used by the forces on ground are to ensure operations are conducted in a very professional manner,” he said.

“I would like to give the credit to local population for facilitating smooth anti-militancy operations,” the GoC 15 Corps added.

IAF develops ‘Airborne Rescue Pod’ to evacuate patients with infectious diseases

New Delhi (NVI): The Indian Air Force has inducted an Airborne Rescue Pod for Isolated Transportation (ARPIT), designed and developed by itself, to evacuate critical patients with infectious diseases including COVID-19 from high altitude area, isolated and remote places.

The IAF developed the Pod after it felt the need of an air evacuation system with the facility to prevent spread of infectious aerosol from a COVID-19 patient during air travel, when Covid-19 was declared as a pandemic, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

The first prototype was developed at 3 BRD AF and has undergone various modifications, the Ministry said, adding that only indigenous materials have been used to fabricate this pod, in line with the  “Atmanirbhar Bharat” call by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The indigenously designed system has been developed at a cost of Rs sixty thousand, which is very less as compared to the imported systems costing up to Rs sixty lakh, the MoD said.

The system has been developed as a lightweight isolation system made from aviation certified material. It has a transparent and durable cast Perspex for enhanced patient visibility which is larger, higher and wider than the existing models.

The isolation system caters for suitable number of air exchanges, integration of medical monitoring instruments, and ventilation to an intubated patient.

Apart from this, it generates high constant negative pressure in the isolation chamber for prevention of infection risk to aircrew, ground crew and health care workers involved in air transportation.

“The ARPIT utilises High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) H-13 class filters and supports invasive ventilation using Transport Ventilator. The design integrates life support and monitoring instruments (defibrillator with multipara monitor, pulse oximeter, Infusion pumps etc), long arm gloves for use by health care professionals and power pack with high endurance,” MoD said.

The design requirements have been evolved and are based on the guidelines issued by the Union Health Ministry, National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) and Centre for Disease Control (CDC), USA. The IAF is inducting a total of 7 ARPITS as of now, MoD said.

Sarpanch shot dead by terrorists in J&K’s Anantnag

Representational Picture

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): A sarpanch (village head) was today shot dead by terrorists at Lukbawan village in Larkipora area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district, police officials said.

A senior police officer said that militants fired at Ajay Pandita, leaving him seriously injured. Pandita was the sarpanch of Lukbawan, Larkipora Panchayati Halqa in Anantnag district.

“He was taken to Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag for treatment but he had died on the way,” he said.

ID card of the deceased sarpanch

Principal, GMC Anantnag, Dr Showkat Jeelani said that Pandita was declared brought dead. A massive search operation has been launched to nab those involved in the attack.

Kashmir Zone Police also tweeted: “Today at about 1800hrs some unknown #terrorists fired upon one #Congress Sarpanch identified as Ajay Pandit at #Lokbawan #Anantnag who later on #succumbed to his injuries at hospital. #Police is on the spot. Further details shall follow.”

COVID cases in Afghanistan climb to 20,917 death toll at 369

New Delhi (NVI): The Afghan authorities confirmed 575 new coronavirus cases in Afghanistan in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 20,917, according to Afghan media reports.

Among the fresh cases, Kabul was on the top of the list with 193 new cases, followed by Herat with 151.

Other provinces reporting cases were Kandahar (39), Paktia (7), Nangarhar 23), Badghis (13), Takhar (5), Logar (22), Nimruz (10), Wardak (7), Parwan (13).

Likewise, 3 cases in Lagman, 39 in Helmand, 26 in Kunar, 10 in Ghor, 8 in Zabul, 1 in Badakhshan and 5 in Daikundi.

The country’s Ministry of Public Health said, 48,305 people have been tested for coronavirus in the country so far.

At least, 2,171 people have recovered while 369 died from the respiratory disease in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan government announced restriction guidance for the next three months.

According to the guidance wearing masks in public is mandatory, any gathering of more than 10 people, funeral ceremonies and parties are totally banned, as per media reports.

In addition, all party wedding halls, hotels, gyms, auditoriums, parks, and other public sites including all educational centers would remain closed for the next three months. Under the plan, all educational centers could continue their activities via online platforms.

Unlock 1.0: Malls, hotels, religious places reopen, conditions apply

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): As the fifth phase of lockdown unfolds across the country with the Centre’s ‘Unlock 1.0’ strategy to contain the spread of coronavirus, shopping malls, religious places, hotels and restaurants reopened in most of the states from today, after more than two months of sustained lockdown.

However, states like Maharashtra and Goa have been barred from opening shopping malls and religious places for now.

The reopening is a part of Phase 1 of the three-phase plan for a calibrated exit from the lockdown, as per the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

In addition to this, the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have been issued by the Health Ministry for malls, restaurants and hotels and are advisory in nature, while the Centre has left it to the states to finetune the details.

The SOPs include measures like allowing only asymptomatic staff and guests inside the premises and proper crowd management.

Safety guidelines like following social distancing protocols, wearing a mask, and installing the ‘Aarogya Setu’ mobile app has been made mandatory for people visiting these places.

In the malls, cinema halls, gaming arcades and children play areas will continue to be in the prohibited segment.

The temples, mosques, and churches have painted social distancing boxes where the devotees will have to stand in queue and wait for their turn, while masks have been made mandatory for all, including the priests as well.

According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare guidelines, touching of idols or holy books, choir or singing groups, and physical offerings like prasad, distribution of holy water will not be allowed.

Restaurants have also been asked to encourage takeaways instead of dine-in.

Health Secy reviews Covid-19 status in select districts seeing surge in cases

Preeti Sudan (File photo)

New Delhi (NVI): Senior Health Ministry officials including Health Secretary Preeti Sudan and Rajesh Bhushan, OSD, MoHFW today held a high level review meeting via video conference with officials from 45 municipalities/municipal corporations across 38 districts in ten states, that are witnessing a surge in COVID-19 cases.

The officials with whom the Health Secretary interacted included the District Collectors, Municipal Commissioners, Chief Medical Officers, Superintendent of District Hospitals and Principle of Medical Colleges, the Ministry of Health said in a statement.

The 38 districts are from the following states and Union Territories: Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh.

During the meeting, the main issues discussed were the widespread infection in densely populated urban areas, with areas that shared public amenities; importance of house-to-house surveys; prompt testing followed by prompt isolation and clinical management of cases and containment strategy to be implemented.

In a statement health ministry said, “State officials were advised on the measures to be taken in the containment zones for case management and buffer zones surveillance activities and promotion of COVID appropriate behaviour.”

To reduce the case fatality rate, the officials were briefed on measures to be taken like prioritising the high-risk and vulnerable segments like elderly people and people with co-morbidities while contact-tracing to prevent deaths; active surveillance measures, adequate testing and promoting health seeking behaviour for timely detection of cases; ensuring timely shifting of patients without escalating the symptoms.

Regarding infrastructure and human resource management for the containment of COVID-19, the state officials were told to ensure adequate planning for health infrastructure should be taken up; adequate number of surveillance teams to be provided; a system to be put in place for bed availability management, Centres of Excellence to provide hand-holding for medical professionals and senior officers to be deployed for hospitals to offer help to citizens to find health services as per their need.

While speaking on field governance, Municipal authorities were advised to take leadership and put the whole municipal infrastructure for containment measures using the ‘whole of Government approach’.

It was also highlighted that along with COVID-19 management efforts, care needs to be given to the regular and essential health services that are also available for the citizens.

The officials stressed upon the areas that need constant attention included active house-to-house survey for timely detection; augmentation of the survey teams; efficient ambulance management; efficient triaging of patients at the hospitals and bed management; clinical management of the hospitalised cases through rotational 24*7 teams to ensure reduction in the fatality rates they were also advised to ensure that the testing results were returned by the labs in time for ensuring early identification and timely treatment.

It was also suggested to involve the elected representatives in the rural areas for cooperating with the district health authorities for confidence building and timely accessing of available health services. States were reminded to activate the fever clinics for detection of SARI/ILI cases in the buffer zones. In view of the lockdown being eased and curbs being lifted, States were also advised to make a district wise prospective plan for the coming months.

So far, a total of 1,24,430 people has been cured, 5,137 of whom were cured in the last 24 hours taking the total recovery rate to 48.49 per cent. The total number of active cases now stands at 1,24,981.

Nepal reports 314 new cases of Covid-19, tally surges to 3,762

New Delhi (NVI): Nepal reported 314 new cases of coronavirus today, taking the national tally to 3,762, according to local media reports.

The country’s Ministry of Health and Population said, “Of the infected, 3,506 are males and 256 are females.”

Among the newly-infected are 294 males and 20 females, the ministry said.

The new infections have been found in Morang, Sunsari, Jhapa, Saptari, Janakpur, Syangja, Kaski, Parsa, Bara, Rautahat, Dang, Banke, Bardiya, Dailekh, Surkhet, Argakhachi, Kapilvastu, Nawalparsi, Palpa, Pyuthan, Rupandehi, Sarlahi and Mahottari.

At present, 71 of the 77 districts and all the Provinces have witnessed the transmission of COVID-19 virus in the country, as per media reports.

So far, the government has conducted 257,962 tests for coronavirus in Nepal. Of these, 1,00971 samples were tested through the PCR and 156,991 through the RDT.

Apart from this, 41 people have been discharged following recovery, which means the total recovery cases stand at 365 across the country.

Meanwhile, Nepal has recorded one more coronavirus related death, which has taken the national COVID-19 death toll to 14 across the country.

COVID-19 tally in Bangladesh rises to 68,500; 930 dead

New Delhi (NVI): Bangladesh reported spike in coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours with the detection of 2,735 new cases, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 68,504.

The country also recorded a total of 42 deaths due to the novel coronavirus during this period, raising the death tally to 930, according to United News of Bangladesh.

So far, a total of 14,560 people have recovered from the deadly contagion, after 657 more patients made recovery.

The detection rate of new patients has been recorded at 21.10 per cent.

Meanwhile, against the total number of detected cases, the recovery rate is 21.25 per cent and the mortality rate is 1.36 per cent in the country.

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