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India sees highest single-day spike: 195 deaths, 3900 corona cases in 24 hrs

Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary. Health Ministry

New Delhi (NVI): India has reported 46,433 coronavirus cases so far, while 195 deaths and 3,900 cases have been recorded in the last 24 hours, in the highest single-day spike for the country, the Health Ministry said today.

32,138 people are under medical supervision. There have been total 12,726 recoveries so far and the recovery rate stands at 27.41 per cent, said Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary in Health Ministry during the daily briefing.

Apart from this, there have been 1,020 recoveries in the past 24 hours. The total number of deaths to date is 1,568.

During the briefing, the Health Ministry also said that the lockdown has yielded positive results as the doubling rate of the positive cases has improved from 3.4 days before lockdown to 12 days now.

“As we relax the lockdown, every citizen should contribute to break the chain of transmission, as part of their social responsibility, by following all precautionary measures. It is important that we sustain the momentum,” said the Joint Secretary.

“Also, it is important that each and every contact of positive patients need to be traced. Conducting surveillance for SARI and ILI symptoms in facilities in containment zones and otherwise, yields very valuable data and guides further action,” he added.

On being asked the reason behind the massive spike in the number of cases in the last 2 days, the Joint Secretary said, “Some states had not been reporting coronavirus cases timely. After persuading them, they have reported such cases. This is the reason for the sudden spurt in the number of cases since yesterday.”

Punya Salila, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs said, “Workplaces must ensure thermal screening and face masks, sanitisers and handwash in ample quantity.”

She further added that work-shifts and lunch hours should be such that maximum social distancing is ensured. A company’s transport must also ensure distancing she added.

Covid-19 cases in Afghanistan cross 3,000-mark; 95 deaths

Representational Image (Credit: TOLO News)

New Delhi (NVI): Afghanistan recorded 330 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of Covid-19 infected people in the country to 3,224, according to Afghan media reports.

So far 421 people have recovered in the country, while 95 have died of the virus, according to TOLO news.

The 190 new coronavirus cases were reported in Kabul (45), Herat (59), Kandahar (41), Balkh (38), Paktia (26), Ghazni (5), Nangarhar (13), Logar (10), Laghman (11), Helmand (1), Farah (2), Samangan (10), Takhar (11), Kunduz (5), Faryab (6), Paktika (9), Panjshir (12), Zabul (3), Kapisa (4), Wardak (4), Parwan (7), Kunar (5) and Badakhshan (3).

The Afghan Health Ministry said that in the past 24 hours, there have been five deaths: 2 in Logar, 1 each in Nangarhar, Laghman and Baghlan.

13,076 people have been tested so far, the ministry said.

MHA issues SOPs for movement of Indian Nationals stranded abroad

(File/Representational Image)

New Delhi (NVI): The Ministry of Home Affairs today issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Indian Nationals stranded outside the country, as well as, for those persons stranded in India who are desirous to travel abroad for urgent reasons.

The development comes a day after the Centre announced that it will be facilitating the return of Indian nationals stranded in foreign countries.

Under the Government’s latest plan to evacuate Indian Nationals stuck abroad, priority will be given to “compelling cases in distress”.

To recall, the international travel of passengers has been prohibited under MHA’s orders related to lockdown measures, in order to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

Yesterday, MHA had announced that the Indian Government will initiate the process of bringing back Indians from May 7 in a phased manner.

According to the SOPs issued today, those wishing to return to India must register themselves with the Indian missions in the country where they are stuck. Such persons must also provide necessary details as prescribed by the Ministry of External Affairs.

“They will travel to India by non scheduled commercial flights to be arranged by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA); and, naval ships to be arranged by Department of Military Affairs (DMA). Only those crew and staff, who are tested COVID-19 negative, will be allowed, will be allowed to operate these flights/ships,” the SOP read.

“Priority will be given to compelling cases in distress, including migrant workers/labourers who have been laid off, short term visa holders faced with expiry of visas, persons with medical emergency/pregnant women/elderly, those required to return to India due to death of family member, and students,” the SOP further read.

The MHA has also cleared that the cost of travel will be borne by the travellers. Commercial flights and naval ships will be arranged for their return. “The cost of travel, as specified by MoCA/DMA will be borne by such travellers,” it said.

Based on the registrations received, MEA will prepare flights/ship wise database of all such travellers, including details such as name, age, gender, mobile phone number, place of residence, place of final destination, the order said.

The details of such persons will also include information on RT-PCR test taken and its results. This data will be shared by MEA with the respective States/UTs in advance.

MEA will designate State/UT wise nodal officers, who will coordinate with the nodal officers designated for this purpose by the respective States/UTs. the order read.

Apart from this MEA will display with at least two days notice, the schedule (day, place and time of arrival) of the incoming flight/ship, on their online digital platform.

All travellers will have to give an undertaking, before boarding, that they would undergo a mandatory institutional quarantine for a minimum period of 14 days on arrival in India at their own cost, as per the SOP.

All travellers will also be required to give an undertaking that they are making the journey at their own risk.

At the time of boarding the flight/ship, the passengers will have to undergo thermal screening and only those who are asymptomatic would be allowed to travel.

The order further stated that passengers arriving through land borders will have to undergo same protocol and only asymptomatic persons will be enable to cross the border into India.

In addition to this, all passengers shall be asked to download Arogya Setu app on their mobile devices.

The passengers found to be symptomatic shall be immediately taken to medical facility, the order said.

“The remaining passengers shall be taken to suitable instiutional quarantine facilities, to be arranged by the respective States/UT Governments. These facilities may be as far as possible, in the district headquarters, of the district to which the arriving passengers belong,” the SOP read.

These passengers shall be kept under institutional quarantine for a minimum period of 14 days.

If they test negative after 14 days, they will be allowed to go home and will undertake self-monitoring of their health for 14 more days as per protocol. The remaining persons will be shifted to the medical facility by the State/UT Government.

For the repatriation process, Air India will operate 64 flights from May 7 to May 13 to bring back around 15,000 Indian nationals abroad, Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said today.

“64 @airindiain flights will operate in 1st week (7-13 May). 10 flights will operate from UAE, 2 from Qatar, 5 from Saudi Arabia, 7 from UK, 5 from Singapore, 7 from USA, 5 from Philippines, 7 from Bangladesh, 2 from Bahrain, 7 from Malaysia, 5 from Kuwait & 2 from Oman,” he tweeted.

The SOP regarding the movement of persons stranded in India who are desirous to travel stated: “Such persons will apply to Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA) or to any agency designated by MoCA for this purpose along with details, including places of departure and arrival, as prescribed by MoCA.

SMC Corporator, 2 minors among 15 fresh Covid cases in J&K, total 741

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): The number of Covid-19 positive cases continues to rise in Jammu and Kashmir as 15 more people were tested positive for the virus today, pushing the overall tally to 741.

Officials said that nine cases were confirmed at Viral Diagnostic Lab at SKIMS, 5 others at Covid-19 testing Lab at Chest Disease Hospital Dalgate, Srinagar and one at GMC Jammu.

They said that among the 14 new cases, 6 are from Shopian, 4 from Srinagar, 2 from Bandipora and 1 each from Baramulla and Anantnag districts.

The new positive cases include an SMC corporator and two minors aged 6 and 7 years respectively. The officials said that with 15 fresh cases, the total number of cases have risen to 741 in Jammu and Kashmir. Besides, three members of a single-family, a corporator and a 30-year-old female from Tailwani Achabal, Anantnag are among five new cases tested positive at Chest Disease Lab.

Pertinently three days before, the brother of the corporator was found positive after which he along with other SMC officials were sent for quarantine and on Tuesday the corporator was tested positive at CD hospital Lab.

As per officials figures, 132 positive cases including one death and 62 recoveries are from Bandipora, 110 positive cases including one death and one recovery from are Anantnag, 113 including two deaths and 75 recoveries from Srinagar, 104 including 42 recoveries and 3 deaths from Baramulla, 89 including 25 recoveries from Shopian, 66 including 30 recoveries from Kupwara, 30 including 12 recoveries from Budgam, 14- all recovered from Ganderbal, 11 including 3 recoveries from Kulgam and 9 including 3 recoveries are from Pulwama.

In Jammu division, 27 including 26 recoveries are from Jammu district, 21 including one death and 19 recoveries from Udhampur, 7 with four recoveries from Samba and 4 including three recoveries from Rajouri, one from Kishtiwar who has also recovered and one active case each from Ramban, Kuthua and Reasi.

As per the daily information bulletin, 80,206 persons in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while as 13,688 persons have been kept under home quarantine. Besides, 413 persons are in hospital isolation while 213 persons are under hospital quarantine.

According to the bulletin, 58,610 persons have completed surveillance period and 7,274 persons are under home surveillance.

Results of 31,312 samples are available so far, out of which 30,571 tested negative while 741 have been tested positive. Among them, 413 are active and 256 persons have recovered and 8 persons have died.

CBSE Class X board exams suspended, except for North East Delhi students: HRD Min

(File/Representational image)

New Delhi (NVI): No board exams will be held for class 10 students nationwide, except for students from North-East Delhi, Union HRD Ministry said today, while putting an end to the speculations regarding holding of remaining papers of class 10.

It also announced that an adequate time of 10 days will be given to all students for the preparation of exams.

“Attention class X students! No examination to be held for class X students nationwide, except for students from North-East Delhi.

An adequate time of 10 days will be given to all students for the preparation of exams,” the Ministry tweeted after a webinar conducted by Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal on social media.

However, the ministry did not clarify immediately that how students will be passed. The exemption for northeast Delhi students was made because their exams had got impacted due to the anti-CAA protest.

Earlier in the day, Pokhriyal had said that a decision will soon be taken on the pending CBSE Class 10, 12 board exams.

The Union HRD Minister also announced the dates for JEE Main and NEET exams. While JEE Main will be held from July 18 to July 23, medical entrance test NEET will be conducted on July 26.

In another announcement, the HRD Ministry said that no fee hike will be introduced for IITs, IIITs, and NITs for academic year 2020-21.

Nepal reports 7 new coronavirus cases, total climbs to 82

New Delhi (NVI): Seven new confirmed Covid-19 cases were reported from Nepal, taking the toll in the Himalayan nation to 82.

The fresh positive cases were reported in Nepalgunj, reported The Himalayan Times, adding this is in addition to 15 cases confirmed earlier this week.

Out of total 82 cases, 23 are hailing from Nepalgunj alone, the Nepalese daily reported.

According to the country’s Ministry of Health and Population, among the new cases, three are males aged 22, 30, and 40, while four are females aged 9, 32, 34, and 55, the newspaper reported.

They all are under medical observation and their condition is normal, the ministry added.

Since Saturday morning, Banke District Administration has been carrying out contact tracing of those infected and had collected samples of 90 persons for testing, the daily reported. Nepalgunj falls in the Banke district of Nepal.

Earlier on Sunday, 15 new persons were identified as having contracted the coronavirus infection.

In addition to this, the district administration has also adopted high-alert measures to prevent community transmission.

The administration, as a precautionary measure, has imposed a three-day curfew effective from May 5 to May 7, completely restricting people’s movement.

Meanwhile, 15 people have recovered and gone home in Nepal, bringing the active number of cases to 67. No deaths have been reported so far.

COVID-19 cases likely to spike by mid-May in Bangladesh, warns experts

Bangladesh lockdown

New Delhi (NVI): The coronavirus pandemic in Bangladesh is likely to peak in mid-May, taking the infection cases to a much higher level at the end of the month, according to projections made by a panel of eight health experts under the Health Ministry.

The experts predict that the coronavirus cases may start declining at the end of June next, but it is unlikely to be eliminated anytime soon, according to media reports.

Meanwhile, the total number of deaths from coronavirus continues to rise in Bangladesh as another person died during the period, taking the total casualties in the country to 183.

Besides, a whopping 786 new cases of coronavirus infection were reported during this period, raising the number of such cases in the country to 10,929, according to United News of Bangladesh.

Considering the worsening situation, the government is about to extend the general holiday again to prevent the transmission of the deadly virus, media reports states.

JEE Main, NEET exam dates announced

Quality education
Union Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’

New Delhi (NVI): Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank today announced the dates for JEE Main and NEET exams.

While JEE Main will be held from July 18 to July 23, medical entrance test NEET will be conducted on July 26.

However, JEE Advanced is expected to be held in August, dates of which are not decided yet.

Pokhriyal made the announcement while interacting live with the students on social media.

The HRD minister also announced that the syllabus will be reduced for the upcoming academic session as students have lost valuable academic time.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) had earlier deferred JEE Main 2020– which was to be conducted on April 5,7,8, and 11– to the last week of May.

A decision will soon be taken on the pending CBSE Class 10, 12 board exams, the minister added.

Over 9 lakh students have been awaiting the JEE Main exam date while 15.93 lakh have applied for NEET 2020.

Pakistan witnesses spike in COVID-19 cases; 505 dead

Representational Image

New Delhi (NVI): Pakistan is witnessing a rapid increase in the positive cases of coronavirus with more than a 1,500 cases being reported in the last 24 hours, taking the total cases to 22,299 with at least 505 fatalities being recorded so far.

Looking at the breakdown of cases, Sindh province has reported 8,189 coronavirus cases, highest among all the provinces, while Punjab has 8,133 positive cases.

On the other hand, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has recorded 3,288 cases, Balochistan is at 1,321, Gilgit-Baltistan at 372, Islamabad at 464 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is at 71 cases so far, according to Geo News.

In addition to this, Pakistan had reported 400 recoveries in the last 24 hours taking the number of recovered patients to 5,635 in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Pakistan is among those countries that are least prepared to tackle the coronavirus challenge, according to a report by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) based on virus-related data from around the world today said.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has recently said that the nationwide lockdown will be lifted gradually, asserting that Pakistan cannot afford an indefinite closure, according tp media reports.

Janaushadhi Kendras accepting orders on WhatsApp, e-mail to deliver medicines in lockdown

New Delhi (NVI): To facilitate medicine procurement during the lockdown, many Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJK) are accepting orders on WhatsApp and e-mail, the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers said today.

On the basis of uploaded prescriptions, medicines are delivered at the doorsteps of the patients through these kendras, the ministry said in a statement, adding that this novel move is ensuring use of technology for facilitating easier procurement of medicines by the users.

Complementing PMBJKs for the initiative, Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers DV Sadananda Gowda said, “it is heartening to note that many PMBJKs are using modern communication tools including social media platforms like Whatsapp to provide better services in effecting faster delivery of essential medicines to the needy.”

PMBJKs are working under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana ( PMBJP). At present there are over 6,300 such units functioning in 726 districts of the country ensuring supply of quality medicines at affordable prices.

These medicines are cheaper by about 50 per cent to 90 per cent on an average. In April 2020 around 52 crore rupees worth of medicine have been supplied throughout the country, the ministry said.

In addition to this, supply arrangements with India Post has also been made for supply to remotely located stores, it added.

To ensure free flow and supply of medicines, Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) under the Department of Pharmaceuticals has paid its vendors within due date for solving their working capital issues for raw material & logistics.

The ministry, in its statement further said that a dedicated team has been created of BPPI officers for every state to sort out bottlenecks in supply due to lockdown and helpline numbers of BPPI are also working to resolve any issues of consumers and store owners.

Apart from this, Jan Aushadhi warehouses are working at full capacity and inhouse residential arrangements have been made
for staff, the ministry said.

“For maintaining supply of essential Medicines during lockdown period, BPPI has issued purchase orders for 178 fast-moving medicines in the month of April having MRP of Rs 186.52 crore,” the ministry added.

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