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J&K Covid deaths at 8 as Srinagar woman dies day after testing positive

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Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): A 70-year-old woman from Rainawari area of Srinagar, who was tested positive for Covid-19 yesterday, breathed her last at a hospital this afternoon, officials said.

With this, the total number of people who have died of Covid-19 in Jammu and Kashmir UT has jumped to eight.

A doctor at Chest Diseases hospital Srinagar, told NVI that being elderly, the woman had multiple ailments that included hypertension and diabetes. “She was tested positive on Monday and her condition deteriorated today afternoon after which she died,” he said.

Medical Superintendent, Chest Disease hospital, Srinagar Dr Saleem Tak said: “She was having a series of medical conditions. We tried our best to save her but she couldn’t fight the Covid,” he said.

The elderly woman’s death comes close on the heels of the death of a pregnant lady in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, who was tested positive for the virus, a day after she succumbed at a hospital after giving birth to stillborn twins.

Earlier, J&K had recorded six deaths including that of a woman from the Jammu region, who also had a series of underlined medical conditions.

COVID-19 cases climb to 14,504 in Pakistan; 312 dead so far

New Delhi (NVI): The number of confirmed cases due to coronavirus in Pakistan rose to 14,504 today while the total number of fatalities have gone up to 312.

Looking at the breakdown of cases, Punjab province has reported 5,730 coronavirus cases, highest among all the provinces, while Sindh has 5,291 positive cases.

On the other hand, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has recorded 1,984 cases, Balochistan is at 853, Gilgit-Baltistan at 320, Islamabad at 261 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is at 65 cases so far, according to Geo News.

In the last 24 hours, 204 recoveries have been recorded in the country to take the number 3,233.

In addition to this, implementing the lockdown is proving to be a challenge for Islamabad.

India signs $1.5 billion loan with ADB to combat Covid-19

New Delhi (NVI): In a big boost to the country’s Covid-19 response, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) today approved a $1.5 billion loan, that will help focus on immediate priorities such as disease containment and prevention, the Ministry of Finance said.

The loan will also support the Government’s action plan of social protection for the poor and economically vulnerable sections of the society, especially women and disadvantaged groups, the ministry said in a statement.

The signatories to the loan agreement for the ADB’s COVID-19 Active Response and Expenditure Support Programme (CARES Programme) were Sameer Kumar Khare, Additional Secretary (Fund Bank and ADB), in the Department of Economic Affairs in Ministry of Finance, and Kenichi Yokoyama, Country Director, ADB, in India.

“We thank ADB’s timely assistance for the government’s immediate response measures to the coronavirus pandemic to implement (i) COVID-19 containment plan to rapidly ramp up test-track-treatment capacity, and (ii) social protection for the poor, vulnerable, women, and disadvantaged groups to protect more than 800 million people over the next three months,” Khare was quoted as saying by the finance ministry.

“ADB’s financial and technical support will contribute to the sound implementation of the government’s far reaching emergency response programs launched in March 2020,” he added.

Earlier, the ADB’s Board of Directors approved the loan to provide budget support to the government to counter and mitigate the adverse health and socio-economic impact of the pandemic.

On April 9, ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa had conveyed the bank’s commitment to support India’s emergency needs for the health sector while alleviating the economic impact of the pandemic, as well as short- to medium-term measures to restore the dynamic economic growth of the country by exploring all available financing options, the Finance Ministry said.

The CARES Programme is provided as the first support to meet the immediate requirements of the government.

Covid-19 deaths reach 155 in Bangladesh; total 6,462 cases

(Image source: United News of Bangladesh)

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of deaths from coronavirus continues to rise in Bangladesh as three more people have died in the last 24 hours, taking the total casualties in the country to 155, according to United News of Bangladesh.

Besides, a whopping 549 new cases of coronavirus infection were reported during this period, raising the number of such cases in the country to 6,462.

“In the last 24 hours, 2,392 people were put under home and institutional quarantine while 3,231 released from quarantine,” Additional Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Prof Nasima Sultana said.

Currently, there are 9,738 isolation beds in hospitals across the country, Dr Nasima added.

Meanwhile, only 113 people have recoverd from the virus till date, making the recovery rate of Bangladesh lowest in the world.

In addition to this, the coronavirus has now sread to 60 districts of the country out of the 64 districts.

125 new positive cases in Afghanistan take Covid tally to 1,828

(Pic courtesy: TOLO news)

New Delhi (NVI): At least 125 new coronavirus positive cases have been reported in Afghanistan in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of Covid-19 cases to 1,828 across the country, according to Afghan media reports.

The country’s Ministry of Public Health spokesman said that 361 samples were tested from 18 provinces in the last 24 hours.

Among the new coronavirus cases, 21 were reported in Herat, Kabul (15), Kandahar (15), Balkh (10), Logar (9), Jawzjan (8), Panjshir (7), Laghman (7), Paktia (7), Ghazni (6), Takhar (6), Nangarhar (5), Helmand (2), Wardak (2), Kunar (2), Badghis (1), Kapisa (1) and Badakhshan (1) provinces, media reports said.

According to the ministry, so far more than 9,000 samples have been tested.

So far, 228 people have been cured or discharged while 58 others have died across the country.

PM holds talks with Indonesian Prez 

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held a telephonic conversation with President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, to discuss about the spread and effect of coronavirus in their regions and around the world.

The Indonesian President thanked PM Modi and the Government of India for supplies of pharmaceutical products to Indonesia.

PM Modi assured him that India would do its best to prevent disruption in supplies of medical products or the other commodities traded between the two countries.

The two leaders discussed issues related to their citizens present in each other’s countries, and agreed that their teams would remain in touch to ensure all possible facilitation in this regard, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.

PM Modi underlined the fact that Indonesia is an important maritime partner in India’s extended neighborhood, and the strength of the bilateral relationship would help both countries in fighting the effects of the pandemic.

He also conveyed greetings for the Holy Month of Ramadan to President Widodo and to the people of Indonesia.

The PM also wrote on Twitter later: “Discussed COVID-19 pandemic with good friend President @Jokowi. As close maritime neighbours and Comprehensive Strategic Partners, close cooperation between India and Indonesia will be important to deal with the health and economic challenges posed by this crisis.”

So far, around 9,000 people have been infected with coronavirus in Indonesia with around 765 fatalities.

Nepal: 2 more test positive for Covid-19, tally at 54

New Delhi (NVI): Two more persons have been tested positive for coronavirus in the Rautahat district of Nepal, taking the total number of Covid-19 cases in the Himalayan nation to 54, local media reports said.

According to the Himalayan Times, a 25-year-old man from Bhusaha of Brindaban municipality and a 21-year-old man in Dewani Gonahi municipality-1 of Rautahat district have been confirmed as infected.

The Nepal daily reported that the man in Brindaban had recently returned home from Kolkata in India. He was quarantined in Chandrapur for 14 days recently and was allowed to go home after completing his isolation period.

He tested negative for antibodies on Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) and negative for the virus through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method carried out in Janakpur, the newspaper reported.

The other man is still in quarantine, as per media reports.

Earlier, another youth in Rautahat was found to be infected. He has already achieved recovery and diagnosed from the Narayani Sub-regional Hospital in Birgunj, Nepali media reports said.

Nepal has reported zero COVID-19 deaths so far while 16 people have been cured or discharged.

At present, the active coronavirus cases in Nepal stand at 38.

J&K: SOP ignored in treatment, burial of pregnant woman tested positive after death

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): A preliminary inquiry into the death of a pregnant lady from South Kashmir’s Anantnag who was tested Covid-19 positive after her body was handed over to her family, has hinted at the brazen violation of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) even as the final report of the probe is still awaited.

Sources privy to the inquiry team told NVI that treatment to the woman with twin pregnancy from Kokernag area of Anantnag district was delayed and rules were ignored at the maternity hospital where she was taken. The woman was tested positive for Covid-19 on the day of her death (i.e. yesterday) but her body was already handed over to her family before the reports came in. The woman reached Maternity and Childcare Hospital (MCH) Anantnag on April 24.

The first violation of the SOP framed by the J&K government was that the woman was supposed to be treated at her own village in Kharpora area of Kokernag, which has been already declared as a red zone.

As per the SOP, the pregnant women in red zones shall be enlisted and they shall be managed at health centers established in red and buffer zones.

The SOP also stated that all asymptomatic pregnant women shall be tested one week before the expected date of delivery (EDD) using rapid antibody tests. “But it was not done in this case,” sources said.

A doctor, requesting anonymity, said that the deceased woman wasn’t kept in the isolation ward and she came in contact with dozens of patients and attendants at Maternity Childcare Hospital (MCH) Anantnag.

“She was taken to labour room and before treating her, doctors and paramedical staff had to literally beg for safety gears,” the doctor said. “No SOP was followed as her samples for Covid-19 should have been taken before seven days whether she was symptomatic or asymptomatic. But her samples were taken on the same day when she had already died.”

Pertinently, soon after her death, her family members alleged that doctors were hesitant to treat her as she was from a red zone area which led to her death. The woman delivered two stillborn babies. Soon after allegations, an inquiry committee was constituted and asked to submit its report within three days.

What is more surprising is that the body of the woman was handed over to her family members for last funeral before the final reports came in.

“Authorities should have kept her body in a mortuary till her Covid report would have come. But her body was given to her family and at least 100 women participated in her burial bath besides hundreds of people assembled at her house for condolences and dozens offered her funeral,” said a neighbor of the deceased woman.

Principal Government Medical College Dr Showkat Jeelani said that three doctors, two nurses and few medicos were immediately asked to go under home quarantine after the death of the lady. To query about the fate of inquiry, he said that the process is on and once it will be completed, details will be shared. “If anybody is found involved in negligence, action will be taken,” he said.

Talking to NVI, Advisor to Lieutenant Governor J&K, Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar said that the death of the pregnant woman is being inquired into. “If any doctor or a para-medical staff is found involved in violation of SoP, action will follow,” he said. “The final inquiry report is expected by tomorrow,” he addded.

392 Lifeline Udan flights fly 736 tonnes of medical supplies across India

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New Delhi (NVI): The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has said that under Lifeline Udan, 392 flights have been operated by Air India, Alliance Air, IAF, and private carriers, transporting 736 tonnes of medical supplies across the country.

229 of these flights have been operated by Air India and Alliance Air alone. “Aerial distance covered by Lifeline Udan flights till date is over 3,89,100 km,” the ministry said in a statement yesterday.

‘Lifeline Udan’ flights are being operated by MoCA to transport essential medical cargo to remote parts of the country to support India’s war against COVID-19.

The domestic Lifeline Udan cargo includes COVID-19 related reagents, enzymes, medical equipment, testing kits, Personal protective equipment (PPE), masks, gloves, etc.

Besides, SpiceJet, Blue Dart, and Indigo are also operating cargo flights on a commercial basis.

The Spicejet has operated 608 cargo flights from March 24 to April 26 carrying 4,428 tons of cargo. Out of these, 216 were international cargo flights, the Civil Aviation Ministry said.

Similarly, Blue Dart operated 211 cargo flights carrying 3,481tons of cargo from March 25 to April 26. Out of these, 10 were international cargo flights, it said.

Additionally, Indigo has operated 50 cargo flights during 3-26 April carrying around 185tons of cargo while Vistara has operated 12 cargo flights during 19-26 April carrying around 82 tons of cargo.

The Lifeline Udan flights connect hubs to airports at Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Agartala, Aizwal, Dimapur, Imphal, Coimbatore, Thiruvanthapuram, Bhubaneswar, Raipur, Ranchi, Port Blair and Goa.

Special focus has been on the North East Region, island territories and the hill states. Air India and IAF collaborated primarily for J&K, Ladakh, North-East and other island regions.

In the International Sector- a cargo air-bridge was established with East Asia for transportation of pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and COVID-19 relief material. The medical cargo brought in by Air India to Shanghai, Hong Kong, Seoul, Guangzhou this month on several dates. Total 593 tonnes of cargo was transported to these cities.

Apart from that, Blue Dart has uplifted around 109 tons of medical supplies from Guangzhou starting 14 April upto 26th April 2020. The Indian logistics company has also uplifted 5 tons of medical cargo from Shanghai on 25th April 2020. Spicejet has also uplifted 140 tons of medical supplies from Shanghai upto 26th April 2020 and 13 tons medical supplies from Hong Kong and Singapore upto 25th April 2020, MOCA said in a statement.

Fact check: No deduction in allowances of Central Government employees

New Delhi (NVI): The Centre is not going to deduct allowances of its government employees, the Fact Check Unit of Press Information Bureau (PIB) clarified today in response to a media report speculating that Government was planning such a move in response to the coronavirus crisis.

PIB, through its special Fact Check Twitter handle informed that no such planning is being done by the government after a Hindi newspaper published a report regarding the deduction of allowances of Central government employees.

“Claim: Hindustan newspaper has reported that in view of Covid-19, Central Government Employees will have to face deduction in facilities like LTC/Leave encashment/OTA/Medical.

#PIBFactCheck: There is no such proposal by the government. The media report is wrong and baseless,” the tweet read.

On April 23, the Union Finance Ministry had announced the freezing of Dearness Allowance (DA) to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to Central Government pensioners at current rates till July 2021, in the wake of the economic crisis arising in the country due to Covid-19 pandemic.

Apart from that, the Government has not indicated any other deduction in allowances of Central Government employees.

In another fact check, PIB busted a rumor that was making rounds on Facebook that blamed ICMR for allegedly buying COVID19 testing kits at a significantly inflated price when cheaper options were available.

In this regard, ICMR has also clarified that it has fixed-rate brackets for the kits and is open to any company that can provide the kits at a still cheaper rate.

The PIB tweeted that the test kits like (RT-PCR) are being bought at Rs 740 to Rs 1,150 whereas Rapid test kits bought at Rs 528 to Rs 795. ICMR has also invited companies providing test kits at a cheaper price.

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