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NITI Bhavan employee found Covid positive

File

New Delhi (NVI): An employee working at NITI Aayog Bhavan in the National Capital has been detected positive with COVID-19, the government’s top think tank said in a tweet today.

The building has been sealed for disinfection and sanitisation after the confirmation of the case.

In a tweet, Niti Aayog said: “An employee working at NITI Bhavan has been detected positive with COVID-19. It was informed to the authorities at 9 am this morning. NITI Aayog is following all the due protocols necessary as per the Ministry of Health guidelines. The building has been sealed.”

“Disinfection and sanitisation of the building are underway. Contacts of the single covid-positive person have been asked to go on self-quarantine,” it said in another tweet.

J&K: Pakistan violates ceasefire along LoC in Poonch

Ceasefire
Representational image

Jammu (NVI): Pakistan today violated ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Shahpur, Kirni & Qasba sectors in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, defence sources said.

“At about 1100 hours, Pak intiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms & shelling with Mortars along LoC in Shahpur, Kirni & Qasba sectors, District Poonch(J&K),” they said, adding that Indian Army was retaliating befittingly.

Yesterday also, Pakistani troops violated ceasefire in Uri sector along LoC in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, drawing strong retaliation from the Indian Army.

In another incident yesterday, three militants were killed in a gunfight with security forces at Lower Munda area of Kashmir’s Kulgam district.

(More details awaited)

Guidelines issued for home isolation of mild and pre-symptomatic COVID-19 cases

Health Ministry
Representative Image

New Delhi (NVI): The Union Health Ministry has issued fresh guidelines for home isolation of people who have been diagnosed with very mild COVID-19 symptoms or for people who are pre-symptomatic.

The fresh guidelines are in addition to the guidelines on proper management of suspect or confirmed cases of COVID-19 issued by the Ministry earlier this month.

As per existing guidelines, during the containment phase, the patients should be clinically assigned as very mild/mild, moderate or severe and accordingly admitted to COVID Care Centre, Dedicated COVID Health Centre or Dedicated COVID Hospital, respectively. However, very mild/pre-symptomatic patients having the requisite facility at his/her residence for self-isolation will have the option for home isolation,” the ministry stated.

As per the eligibility guidelines, these are the steps to follow:

1. The person should be clinically assigned as a very mild case/pre-symptomatic case by the treating medical officer.

2. There should be requisite facility at their residence for self-isolation and also for quarantining the family contacts.

3. A care giver should be available to provide care on 24 x7 basis. All close contacts of such cases should take Hydroxychloroquine prophylaxis as per protocol.

4. The patient should download the Arogya Setu app on their phones and should remain active at all times through Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

5. The patient shall agree to monitor their health and regularly inform their health status to the District Surveillance Officer for further follow up by the surveillance teams.

The health ministry also listed the symptoms that determine if a patient needs immediate medical attention or not.

However, the patient under home isolation will end the isolation only if and when advised by the treating medical officer, ministry further added.

Coronavirus cases top 3 million globally; deaths cross 2,11,000

Coronavirus cases
(Representational/file photo)

New Delhi (NVI): The number of people confirmed with coronavirus has risen to more than 3 million worldwide with at least 2,11,000 people who lost their lives due to the pandemic, according to John Hopkins University tally.

On the other hand, the total number of positive cases in the US is nearing 10 lakh-mark with more than 56,000 fatalities reported from the country so far.

Donald Trump has said the US will conduct “serious investigations” into China’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak

Meanwhile, New Zealand has partially relaxed restrictions and said that 75% of the economy is now operational as 1 million people return to work and restaurants open for takeaway.

In addition to this, China has reported 6 new coronavirus cases and no deaths.

The UN rights chief has warned that countries flouting the rule of law in the name of fighting the novel coronavirus pandemic risk sparking a “human rights disaster”.

COVID-19 cases in India rise to 29,435; death toll at 934

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India has increased to 29,435 while 934 people have died due to it across the country, Union Health Ministry confirmed.

In the last 24 hours, 1,543 tested positive for novel coronavirus, it said.

At least 62 people succumbed to the pandemic in a day, the sharpest ever increase in death cases in India.

With 8,590 cases and 369 deaths, Maharashtra is the worst hit state.

It is followed by Gujarat and Delhi with 3,548 and 3,108 cases respectively.

The other worst affected states are Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

The recovery rate of COVID-19 patients in the country was a little more than 23% as 6,869 people have been cured or discharged, as per Health Ministry data.

So far, number of active cases stands at 21,632.

Assam: 11 poisoned vultures cured, released into the wild

A vet treating a poisoned vulture. (Source: WTI)

New Delhi (NVI): Veterinarians from Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) in Assam have cured 11 vultures who were poisoned after eating a contaminated carcass and released them into the wild today.

These vultures were spotted at Dichagmukh area last week, suspected to have fed on a poisoned animal carcass on the banks of Brahmaputra of which 19 birds were already dead on April 21, WTI said.

Sharing a video of the birds being released today, WTI tweeted: “Our vet treated 11 #vultures rescued from feeding on a poisoned carcass in Sibsagar distt. and released them #BackToTheWild this morning. #MondayMotivation that keeps us going through #lockdown.”

First responders from Assam Forest Department and wildlife workers from BNHS working in the vicinity reached the spot on the 22nd of April and shifted thirteen surviving vultures to the forest facility at Sibsagar, where they were kept under observation for 24 hours, WTI said.

The forest department decided to shift them to the WTI-IFAW- Assam Forest Department run Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) at Kaziranga the following day, it said.




Two of the thirteen surviving vultures brought to CWRC were critical condition and didn’t survive (one slender billed and one white backed vulture), WTI said.

Dr Samshul Ali, the WTI veterinarian observed: “Secondary poisoning led to vulture deaths and remains a very critical issue. We are losing these threatened and critically endangered species, also known as nature’s cleaners. We tried our level best to stabilise the two seriously ill birds, but they succumbed in the early hours today. Right now, eleven birds are under care. We are hopeful of their recovery.”

Cases of secondary vulture poisoning in Assam continue to occur periodically, WTI said, adding that their veterinarians have successfully treated and released vultures around the same time in previous years.

Pak cleric blames women’s ‘obscenity’, ‘wrongdoings’ for coronavirus

New Delhi (NVI): A Pakistani cleric has said that the “wrongdoings” and “obscenity” are responsible for the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic which is a form of God’s wrath, reports Dawn.

Maulana Tariq Jameel, who has a huge following in Pakistan, made the remarks during a televised event on April 24 in which Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had also participated, the Pak daily reported.

Jameel was called in to say a prayer after the Ehsaas Telethon event which had been organised to raise money for COVID-19 relief efforts.

The cleric also condemned the women for dancing and over the way they dress, saying it was these “immodest actions” that have “brought the Almighty’s wrath upon the country”.

What is surprising is that the Pakistan PM did not stop him or interrupt him for making such remarks. The cleric faced severe backlash in Pakistan media, social media as well as among members of civil society.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has also condemned the Maulana for his “inexplicable” statement.

Taking to Twitter, the body said, “HRCP is appalled at Maulana Tariq Jamil’s recent statement inexplicably correlating women’s ‘modesty’ to the Covid19 pandemic. Such blatant objectification is unacceptable and, when aired on public television, only compounds the misogyny entrenched in society.

Nida Aly, director of the Asma Jahangir Legal Aid cell (AGHS), was quoted as saying by Dawn that Pakistan had seen a rise in the cases of violence against women, and extreme situations, including honour crimes, domestic violence, assault and abuse of women.

She said while women under lockdown needed security from the community, “the government trotted out Tariq Jamil on a broadly televised programme who not just objectified women but declared them and their individualist actions to bring the wrath of God and punishment in the form of Covid-19.”

COVID-19 cases doubling rate higher in Pune: MHA

Punya Salila Srivastava, Joint Secretary in the Home Ministry

New Delhi (NVI): The doubling rate of coronavirus cases in Pune, Maharashtra is 7 days, which is slightly higher than the rest of the country, a senior official from Union Ministry of Home Affairs said today.

One out of every 9 samples is found to be COVID-19 positive in Pune, while in the rest of the country, the average is 23 samples, according to Inter Ministerial Central Team (IMCT), the MHA official said.

Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Punya Salila Srivastava, while addressing a media briefing said, “The Inter-Ministerial Central Team of Pune found these results when they visited Pimpri-Chinchwad, Haranwadi and Baramati containment zones.”

The Joint Secretary further said, “Permissions for certain movements have been allowed during the course of lockdown. By 26th April, more than 80% wheat harvesting has been completed. More than 2000 (which is about 80%) mandis have also started working.”

She further said that around 2 crore labourers have been employed through MNREGA, for works related to large community assets like water conservation and irrigation.

Meanwhile, the Inter Ministerial Central Teams (IMCT) formed by MHA under Disaster Management Act, 2005, have reached their stated states and started working, she added.

IMCT has advised that high-risk persons should be identified fast; testing and surveillance should be increased and also contact-tracing is to be done fast. It is necessary to enforce protocols at places like slums and markets where social distancing is not being followed properly, the Joint Secretary said.

Indian Army retaliates after Pak violates ceasefire along Loc in J&K’s Uri

Ceasefire
Representational image

Srinagar (NVI): Pakistan today violated ceasefire at Uri sector along the Line of Control in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, drawing strong retaliation from the Indian Army, defence sources said.

Indian and Pakistani Armies exchanged heavy gunfire along LoC in Tulwari, at Churanda and Silkote villages in Uri, they said.

Pakistani troops resorted to heavy shelling on Indian Army posts in the area which was retaliated effectively by the Indian Army, they added.Locals said that panic gripped the area when the heavy shelling from both sides took place.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Baramulla Abdul Qayoom said that shelling took place from both sides. “There was no loss of life or injury reported during the ceasefire violation,” he said.

J&K: Teacher, 6-yr-old among 23 new cases, Covid tally mounts to 546

Representational Image

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Twenty-three more persons including a teacher and a six-year-old boy were tested positive for the Covid-19 in Jammu and Kashmir today, taking the overall tally of the positive patients in UT to 547.

Officials said that among 23 new cases, 15 were confirmed at Viral Diagnostic Laboratory of SKIMS Soura that include five each from Baramulla and Shopian, three from Bandipora and one each from Budgam and Kupwara districts.

Seven other cases were confirmed at the Covid-19 testing laboratory at Chest Disease hospital Dalgate, Srinagar which includes six from Anantnag district and one from Srinagar.

Also, Jammu division reported one fresh case, taking toll of total positive cases in Jammu to 58.

GH Yatoo, Nodal officer for Covid-19 at SKIMS said that out of 394 samples tested at SKIMS in the last 24 hours, 15 were tested positive while rest 379 were negative.

“Among new 15 new cases, 5 are from Baramulla, 05 from Shopian, 03 from Bandipora and one each from Kupwara and Budgam,” he said. He said that all were contacts of previous positive patients.

Nodal officer for coronavirus at GMC said that out of 376 samples tested in the last 24 hours, 7 were tested positive. 6 are from Anantnag including the pregnant lady who died two days before and one from Srinagar.

He further added that 470 samples were received today while reports of 94 samples are awaited. Officials from Reasi district of Jammu said that a 46-year-old teacher who was associated with Tablighi Jamaat and hailing from village Jamsalan in Mahore tehsil of the district was the first person from the district who was tested positive, taking total positive cases in Jammu division to 58.

Officials from Kupwara said that a 6-year-old boy from red zone Anderhama was tested positive today.

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