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Guwahati to go into total lockdown for 2 weeks from Monday

New Delhi (NVI): The Assam government today decided to impose a total lockdown in Guwahati for 14 days from the midnight of June 28 in view of the rising coronavirus cases.

In addition to this, the state government has also decided to impose night curfew and twice-a-week lockdown in all urban and semi-urban places across the state with immediate effect.

State’s Health Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma today said while addressing a virtual press briefing that, “The COVID-19 cases in Guwahati have been increasing exponentially. Since June 15, we have recorded 676 cases of community transmission. We have thus decided to impose total lockdown in the city from June 28 midnight till July 12.”

“For the first seven days, only pharmacies and hospitals will be open. Everything else will be shut. Grocery shops and vegetable markets would remain closed too,” Sarma added.

He further added, “The administration and police have been told to ensure a strict lockdown. We will assess the situation next Friday and take a call on relaxations, if needed.”

The movement of vehicles in the city would be monitored during the lockdown period and no vehicle — private or commercial — would be allowed to enter or exit. “Anyone willing to leave the city should do so by Saturday,” the Health Minister stated.

The city has recorded over 700 new infections since June 15, which prompted the state to take the decision. Of 276 fresh infections reported in Assam on Thursday, 133 were from Guwahati, according to the data.

-CHK

Odisha: Covid-19 tally crosses 6,000 mark with 218 new cases

Subrat Kumar Sarangi

Bhubaneswar (NVI): Total coronavirus positive cases in Odisha have surpassed 6,000 with 218 fresh cases reported from across the state in the last 24 hours.

Out of the new cases detected, 198 were reported from quarantine centres while the rest 20 are local contacts, according to the health officials.

Among the fresh cases, 211 are reported from 21 districts of Odisha-Khordha (17), Nabarangpur (1), Ganjam (49), Angul (1) Cuttack (5), Jagatsinghpur(29) Bhadrak (25), Kandhamal  (1), Nuapada (2), Jharsuguda (4), Keonjhar (2), Jajpur (1), Puri (10), Gajapati(27), Boudh (1), Sundargarh (11), Kendrapada (6), Sambalpur (2), Mayurbhanj (9), Koraput (1) and Balasore (7) as per the data of I&PR.

The remaining 7 cases are NDRF personnel who returned from Amphan duty from West Bengal. The state has now 1,865 Active cases with 4,291 recoveries and 17 deaths.

-ARK

PM Modi launches Atma Nirbhar UP Rojgar Abhiyan for migrant workers

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched Atma Nirbhar Uttar Pradesh Rojgar Abhiyan, a 125-day campaign to provide employment opportunities to 1.25 crore migrant workers, who lost jobs during coronavirus pandemic.

The campaign will cover 31 districts of Uttar Pradesh, which has seen more than 30 lakh migrant labourers return home following the nationwide lockdown. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was also present at the launch.

Atmanirbhar Rojgar Uttar Pradesh Abhiyan is focused on providing jobs, promoting local entrepreneurship and establishing partnerships with industry and other organisations to create employment opportunities in the state.

During the launch, both the leaders virtually reached out to the local and migrant workers in 6 out of the 31 targeted districts of UP which are Gorakhpur, Sant Kabir Nagar, Bahraich, Gonda, Siddharth Nagar and Jalaun.

This campaign will be undertaken as part of the Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan that the Prime Minister launched on June 20 across 116 districts in six states in the country.

The target of providing jobs has been given to different departments with a focus on 25 categories of works and those related to livelihood opportunities.

During the launch, Prime Minister also interacted with some of the beneficiaries of the scheme, who were earlier working in other states and returned to UP after the lockdown.

-RJV/CHK

CRPF jawan, minor boy killed in terrorist attack in J&K’s Anantnag

Kashmir
Representational Image

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): A CRPF jawan and a minor boy were killed after terrorists attacked a security forces party at Bijbehara area in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district today, police officials said.

“The militants opened fire on 90 BN CRPF near Padshahi Bagh, Bijbehara in which one CRPF man and a minor boy were injured. Both were shifted to SDH Bijbehara for treatment where CRPF man succumbed to injuries within a few minutes of his arrival. The doctors tried best to save the boy, who, however, breathed his last too,” said a doctor at SDH Bijbehara.

CRPF spokesman for Operations, Junaid Khan said that an attack took place at Bijbehera on the security forces. “A CRPF man identified as Samal Kumar was injured and he died at the hospital. A minor boy has also died,” he said.

Block Medical Officer (BMO) SDH Bijbehara Dr Muhammad Iqbal also told NVI that a CRPF man and a minor boy succumbed to injuries at the hospital. Meanwhile, the area has been cordoned off and a massive manhunt has been launched to track down the attackers.

-ARK

For every COVID infection detected, 10 others may be undiagnosed in the US: CDC

Coronavirus cases
(Representational/file photo)

New Delhi (NVI): The number of people in the United States who have been infected with the coronavirus is likely to be 10 times as high as the 2.4 million confirmed cases, based on antibody tests, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said.

“Our best estimate indicates that at least 24 million Americans have been infected so far,” Robert Redfield, Director of CDC said during a briefing.

The assessment comes from looking at blood samples across the country for the presence of antibodies to the virus.

Redfield referred to proteins in the blood that indicate whether a person’s immune system has previously fought off the coronavirus.

Previously, testing was focused only on those with symptoms. But because so many who become infected with SARS-CoV-2 could either have mild disease or not know they were infected at all, Redfield said, current information on the burden of cases is an underestimate.

While younger people face a lower risk of severe illness from the coronavirus, a high infection rate among young individuals increases the chances of infecting those who are most vulnerable.

The estimation by the CDC comes, amidst rises in cases across the Southeast and Western U.S, particularly among younger adults in their 20s, 30s and 40s.

Across the United States, 39,327 new coronavirus infections were reported in the last 24 hours— surpassing the previous single-day record of 38,115, according to the data.

Furthermore, Redfield urged Americans to be vigilant about behavior measures known to minimize spread of the coronavirus, particularly as the country heads into the July Fourth holiday.

-CHK

State-wise details of Covid-19 cases in India

New Delhi (NVI): India saw the highest ever single-day rise in coronavirus cases after 17,296 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of positive cases to 4,90,401, according to Health Ministry data.

Meanwhile, the total number of fatalities due to the deadly contagion rose to 15,301 in the country after 407 new fatalities were reported during this period.

In terms of total number of cases, Maharashtra continues to be the worst affected state with 1,47,741 coronavirus cases followed by Delhi with 73,780 and Gujarat with 70,977 positive cases.

In terms of fatalities also, Maharashtra tops the tally with 6,931 deaths followed by Gujarat at 1,753.

Total positive cases in States/UTs:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 59

Andhra Pradesh- 10,884

Arunachal Pradesh- 160

Assam- 6,321

Bihar- 8,473

Chandigarh- 423

Chhattisgarh- 2,452

Dadar Nagar Haveli- 26

Delhi- 73,780

Gujarat- 29,520

Goa- 995

Haryana– 12,463

Himachal Pradesh- 839

Jammu and Kashmir- 6,549

Jharkhand- 2,262

Karnataka- 10,560

Kerala- 3,726

Ladakh- 941

Madhya Pradesh- 12,596

Maharashtra- 1,47,741

Manipur- 1,056

Meghalaya- 46

Mizoram- 145

Nagaland- 355

Odisha- 5,962

Puducherry- 502

Punjab- 4,769

Rajasthan- 16,296

Sikkim- 85

Tamil Nadu- 70,977

Telangana- 11,364

Tripura- 1,290

Uttarakhand- 2,69

Uttar Pradesh- 20,193

West Bengal – 15,648

State/UT wise total death toll:

Andhra Pradesh- 136

Arunachal Pradesh- 1

Assam- 9

Bihar- 57

Chandigarh- 6

Chhattisgarh- 12

Delhi- 2,429

Goa- 2

Gujarat- 1,753

Haryana- 198

Himachal Pradesh- 9

Jammu and Kashmir- 90

Jharkhand- 11

Karnataka- 170

Kerala- 22

Ladakh- 1

Madhya Pradesh- 542

Maharashtra- 6,931

Meghalaya- 1

Odisha- 17

Puducherry- 9

Punjab- 120

Rajasthan- 379

Tamil Nadu- 911

Telangana- 230

Tripura- 1

Uttar Pradesh- 611

Uttarakhand- 36

West Bengal- 606

A total of 2,85,637 people have been cured or discharged from hospitals in India. There are around 1,89,463 active cases currently, according to the Health Ministry.

-CHK

International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2020: History, significance and theme

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): Drug abuse and it’s trafficking is an evil in our society and disorientation among a majority of the youth. The global observance against drug abuse aims to raise awareness regarding the major problem that illicit drugs represent to society.

Every year, June 26 is observed as International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking to mark as an expression of its determination to strengthen action as well as cooperation and achieve the goal of society which is free of drug abuse.

The United Nations General Assembly decided to designate June 26 as International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on December 1987. This day is supported by individuals and organisations all around the world.

According to the World Drug Report 2017, released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), about a quarter of a billion people used drugs at least once in 2015. More than 269 million people used drugs worldwide in 2018, which is 30 per cent more than in 2009, while over 35 million people suffer from drug use disorders, according to the latest World Drug Report.

The theme for the Day in 2020 is “Better Knowledge for Better Care”. It emphasizes the need for better understanding of the world drug problem and how better knowledge will encourage much more international cooperation for countering its impact on health, governance and security.

The theme is especially fit during these COVID-19 pandemic times when there has been a noted rise in the number of cases as well as the severity of alcohol dependence and other substance abuse as an unintended consequence of the lockdown.

Meanwhile, UNODC has been launching campaigns each year to raise awareness about drug control. So, people observe this event with much fervour and raise awareness regarding the hazards of drug addiction and Illicit trafficking.

Also, light is thrown on how to deal with drug abuse while several rallies, posters and other programs also take place on this day.

-RJV

Coronavirus cases exceed 9.6 million globally

New Delhi (NVI): More than 9.6 million people around the world have been diagnosed with COVID-19, while nearly 4.8 million people have recovered, and more than 4,89,000 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University tally.

The US recorded a daily high for new cases, partly driven by spikes in California, Florida and Texas.

United States health officials believe as many as 20 million Americans have contracted the coronavirus. That’s nearly 10 times as many infections as the 2.3 million cases that have been confirmed.

The number of Covid-19 cases in Latin America has tripled in the past month, surpassing 2 million infections.

Meanwhile Brazil has reported more than 1.22 million cases while the death toll is nearing 55,000 in the country.

Mexico pushed past 25,000 reported coronavirus deaths and 200,000 confirmed cases in the last 24 hours.

China reported a further decline in newly confirmed cases of the coronavirus on Friday, with 13 cases. Eleven were in Beijing, where mass testing has been carried out following an outbreak that appears to have been largely brought under control.

South Korea reported 39 new cases, mostly from the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area.

-CHK

COVID cases in India climb to over 4.9 lakh, death toll at 15,301

covid cases
File photo

New Delhi (NVI): The coronavirus cases in India saw the biggest single-day spike of 17,296 in the last 24 hours, taking the total number to 4,90,401, Union Health Ministry confirmed.

The death toll due to the virus rose to 15,301, with 407 new fatalities being reported in the last 24 hours,

At least 2,85,637 patients have been cured of the virus or discharged. With this, the recovery rate has improved to 58.24 per cent in India.

In terms of total number of cases, Maharashtra continues to be the worst affected state with 1,47,741 coronavirus cases followed by Delhi with 73,780 and Gujarat with 70,977 positive cases.

The other worst affected states are Gujarat (29,520), Uttar Pradesh (20,193), Rajasthan (16,296) West Bengal (15,648).

In terms of fatalities, Maharashtra tops the tally with 6,931 deaths followed by Gujarat at 1,753 ministry said.

The death toll in the national capital surged to 2,429 while another 44,765 patients have recovered so far, healthy ministry data shows.

In addition to that, the COVID-19 mortality rate stood at 3.12 per cent in the country so far.

Meanwhile, a central team headed by Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal will be visiting Gujarat, Maharashtra and Telangana from June 26-29 to review the COVID-19 situation.

-RJV

Vande Bharat Mission: 3,64,209 Indians have returned so far, phase IV from Jul 3

New Delhi (NVI): Of a total number of 5,13,047 Indians abroad who have registered for evacuation under the Vande Bharat Mission, 3,64,209 have returned so far, while the next phase to repatriate Indian nationals is expected from July 3, the Government said
today.

In the first three phases of the Vande Bharat Mission, around 875 international flights were scheduled for operation from over 50 countries across 5 continents. So far, more than 700 of these flights have reached India, repatriating around 1,50,000 Indians. The remaining 175 flights under Phase 3 are expected to reach in the coming days, the Government said in a statement.

The Centre has said that it is committed to bringing back the remaining citizens particularly in the GCC countries, Malaysia, Singapore among other places.

“In order to continue with our efforts, Phase IV of VBM is being firmed up with effect from 3 July 2020, it said, adding that the next phase will particularly focus on countries where there are still large number of Indians who have registered to return.

Apart from these, chartered flight operations which commenced on 26 May, 2020 have steadily increased over the past weeks. These flights have also brought back seafarers and crews of shipping companies stranded in various places. Till date, 130061 persons have returned on these flights. Demand for these flights remains very high especially in the Gulf region. Therefore, we are moving to further streamline the process, the Government said.

Repatriations from neighbouring countries have also been happening through land borders. More than 84000 Indians have returned through land border immigration checkpoints from Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.

Repatriations through naval ships have also been part of this Mission. One such repatriation is presently underway. INS Jalashwa reached Port of Bandar Abbas in Iran on 24 June to bring back Indian citizens and their embarkation will commence today.

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