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Covid-19 cases in India rise to 27,892; death toll 872

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India rose to 27,892 with 872 fatalities, Union Health Ministry said this morning.

In the last 24 hours,1,396 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in the country.

Maharashtra, the worst affected state by COVID-19, has risen to 8,068 with 342 deaths, ministry said.

With 3,301 coronavirus cases, Gujarat remains the second-most affected state in the country, followed by Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will today interact with Chief Minister’s of all states by video conferencing and discuss on current situation.

So far, number of active cases stands at 20,835 whereas 6,184 people have been cured/discharged.

COVID-19 could push 265 mn people into acute hunger by end of 2020: WFP

Representational Image (Source: Twitter)

New Delhi (NVI): The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that the COVID-19 pandemic could almost double the number of people suffering acute hunger, pushing it to more than a quarter of a billion by the end of 2020.

The UN body and other partners released a new report on food crises around the world on April 21. According to a WFP projection, the number of people facing acute food insecurity (IPC/CH 3 or worse) stands to rise to 265 million in 2020, up by 130 million from the 135 million in 2019, as a result of the economic impact of COVID-19.

The estimate was announced alongside the release of the Global Report on Food Crises, produced by WFP and 15 other humanitarian and development partners.

WFP’s Chief Economist, Arif Husain said: “COVID-19 is potentially catastrophic for millions who are already hanging by a thread. It is a hammer blow for millions more who can only eat if they earn a wage. Lockdowns and global economic recession have already decimated their nest eggs. It only takes one more shock-like COVID-19 – to push them over the edge. We must collectively act now to mitigate the impact of this global catastrophe.”

Some 265 million people in low and middle-income countries will be in acute food insecurity by the end of 2020 unless swift action is taken, according to WFP.

As per Global Report on Food Crises, the majority of people suffering acute food insecurity in 2019 were in countries affected by conflict (77 million), climate change (34 million) and economic crises (24 million people).

South Sudan had 61 percent of its population in a state of food crisis (or worse) in 2019. Six other countries also had at least 35 percent of their populations in a state of food crisis: Sudan, Yemen, Central African Republic, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Syrian Arab Republic and Haiti, the report said.

Apart from that, 10 countries constituted the worst food crises in 2019: Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Ethiopia, South Sudan, Syria, the Sudan, Nigeria and Haiti, as per Global Report on Food Crises.

These ten countries accounted for 66 percent of the total population in Crisis or worse (IPC/CH Phase 3 or above) or 88 million people, it said.

Considering the situation, WFP has said that it is vital that the food assistance programme be maintained, including its own programmes which offer a lifeline to almost 100 million vulnerable people globally.

Four militants killed, army officer injured in encounter at Kashmir’s Kulgam

July 18 Shopian encounter: Army completes summary of evidence
An encounter site in Kashmir (File Pic)

(Updating earlier copy)

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Four militants were killed and an army officer sustained injuries in an encounter that took place at South Kashmir’s Kulgam district this evening, police said.

A police officer said that acting on a specific lead about the presence of militants in Gudura area of Kulgam district, a joint operation was launched by the Army and the Police. “It was a close fight with the militants. In a brief shootout, two unidentified militants were killed while as an army officer sustained a bullet wound and is stable,” he said.

In the combing operation, two more hiding militants fired at the security forces triggering a fresh gunfight but they were also neutralised. “Two more militants were killed and four were killed in total,” a police official said. Kashmir Zone Police also tweeted on the encounter.

Earlier, Inspector General of Police Kashmir zone, Vijay Kumar also spoke on the incident. “It was a brief shootout between militants and security forces,” he said.

Defence sources said that the army officer who sustained bullet wounds in his leg was immediately rushed to the army hospital for treatment where his condition is stated to be stable. Defence spokesperson in Srinagar, Colonel Rajesh Kalia said the operation was still on in the area. With the killing of four militants at Kulgam, the number of militants killed since the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic in Kashmir has reached 27.

Barrack damaged in fire at Army camp in Kashmir’s Bandipora

Srinagar (NVI): A big fire erupted at an army camp in Watlab area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district this evening in which a barrack was completely damaged, defence sources said.

They told NVI that a fire broke out at the Watlab army camp. “Thick smoke cover emanated from one of the barracks of the camp and within no time there was a big blaze,” sources said. They said that fire tenders were rushed to the spot immediately.

However, the cause of the fire was not immediately known. A police officer also confirmed the incident stating that fire tenders have reached the spot and were on job. “There is no loss of life reported in the incident. One barrack suffered damage in the fire that has been controlled,” the police officer said.

J&K: Covid deaths reach 7 as samples of deceased pregnant lady test positive

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): The Covid-19 death toll in Jammu and Kashmir reached seven today after the samples of a deceased pregnant lady turned out to be positive, officials said.

A pregnant woman, who gave birth to twins at a hospital in Anantnag on Saturday, had died soon after she was operated upon. The doctors, while suspecting the woman as Covid-19 positive had taken her samples, the results of which came as positive today.

The authorities had ordered a probe into the death of the pregnant lady after her relatives had alleged delayed treatment at a maternity hospital at South Kashmir’s Anantnag.

The woman, who hailed from Kharpora village that has been declared as a red zone by the administration, was admitted at Child and Maternity Hospital Anantnag on Saturday. Family members alleged that since she hailed from a red zone area, doctors were hesitant to treat her. “The delay in her treatment caused her death,” a family member said.

However, when she was operated, she breathed her last soon after giving birth to twins. The doctors at the hospital took her samples and the same were sent to Chest Disease hospital, Srinagar. “The sample results of woman who died yesterday have come as positive,” a senior doctor at the CD hospital told NVI.

With the woman’s death, the number of Covid-19 deaths in J&K has reached seven including another woman from Jammu region. Sources said that two doctors and paramedics team who attended to the woman at the hospital at Anantnag have been put under quarantine. Many of her family members have been also put under quarantine.

Lockdown impact: Air pollution in north India drops to a 20-year low

Representational Image (Source: Twitter)

New Delhi (NVI): Over a month into the lockdown, the country has witnessed a dramatic decline in air pollution levels, especially in northern India, which has been battling hazardous air for years.

North India, which also includes New Delhi, has seen a drastic drop on air pollution levels due to the coronavirus lockdown, according to a recent report by US space agency NASA.

The report suggests that aerosol levels in North India are at a 20-year low for this time of the year. NASA has also released satellite images showing aerosol levels in northern India during the same six-day period of March 31 to April 5 from 2016 to 2020.

Aerosols are tiny solid and liquid particles suspended in the air that reduce visibility and are harmful for human lungs and heart.

The majority of aerosols are produced by motor vehicles, coal-based powerplants, and other industries that produce nitrates and sulphates. With the lockdown bringing industrial operations traffic to a halt, there has been a significant drop in pollution levels, leading to clear skies and an improved air quality index.

Apart from the National Capital, the Indo-Gangetic plains also stretch across North India, which have the presence of two rivers– Ganga and Yamuna– both of which have suffered from high pollution levels due to sewage and tannery waste for years.

Interestingly, both these rivers, which also hold a spiritual significance in Hindu culture, have shown an improvement in their water quality during the lockdown. Recently, the Central government has also decided to monitor the lockdown impact on both rivers.

According to reports, water samples have been collected from Delhi for the Yamuna and all Ganga basin states, and are in the process of being analysed.

One of the primary reasons for this is no industrial activity or other human activities at ghats or along river banks.

Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer, Susanta Nanda today shared a video on Twitter showing clear waters of river Ganga at Rishikesh in Uttarakhand.

Similarly, the waters of both the rivers have also become much clearer at Prayagram in Uttar Pradesh.

India entered a 21-day lockdown to combat the spread of coronavirus on March 24 after it was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It was further extended by 19 days on April 14 (to May 3) after recommendations from States and experts.

J&K: Pregnant woman among 27 new positive Covid cases, tally at 523

Representational image

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Twenty-seven people including a pregnant woman, a pharmacist and a five-year-old girl tested positive for coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir today, taking the total tally to 523 cases in the Union Territory.

Government spokesman Rohit Kansal tweeted: “Total cases now 523. But don’t let this number daunt you. This includes 137 recoveries too. Total Active positive cases are 380. We will keep doing aggressive testing and strict containment. And you have to support by #Stayingathome.”

Officials said that all the 27 cases are from Kashmir while no fresh Covid-19 case was reported from Jammu today. They said that 16 cases were tested positive at SKIMS, Soura lab and 11 at Chest Diseases Hospital, Srinagar.

The officials said that among the new cases is an expecting mother from Srinagar’s downtown who had contracted the virus from a Covid-19 positive neighbor, a health worker from Anantnag district, and a minor girl.

Pertinently, J&K has reported six deaths so far, five from Kashmir and one from Jammu.

Among 27 cases reported today, nine are from south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, followed by Bandipora with eight new cases, seven in Baramulla, two in Srinagar and one in Kupwara district.

A doctor at Jawahar Lal Nehru Memorial hospital said that two fresh Covid-19 positive patients were admitted at the hospital today including a woman who is five months pregnant and a shopkeeper belonging to Srinagar’s downtown area.

Officials from Bandipora said that out of 8 new cases, 7 belong to Gund Jahangeer village while one is from Wusan Goshbug village. They said that from Baramulla district, one of the new positive patients was a minor girl aged 5, a resident of Gund Jahangeer village.

Officials from Anantnag said that a pharmacist is among the new nine positive cases. As per the COVID bulletin, Bandipora is topping the list of positive cases in Kashmir with 124 cases. “Srinagar has 85, Shopian 63, Baramulla 62, Anantnag 48,  Kupwara 47, Ganderbal 14, Budgam 14, Kulgam 6, and Pulwama 3,” the bulletin read.

In the Jammu region, the bulletin reads that Jammu district has 26 cases, Udhampur 20, Samba 4, Rajouri 4, Kathaua 1, Kishtwar 1 and Ramban 1. “The total number of positive cases in J&K are 523 of which 380 are active cases. 137 people have recovered and six people have died so far,” the bulletin said.

It further stated that 66,977 people have been enlisted for observation while as 6,232 have been kept under home quarantine. “380 people are in hospital isolation and 258 are under hospital quarantine. Surveillance of 49,338 people has been completed. 10,763 persons are under home surveillance,” the bulletin read.

Threat posed by malaria can’t be ignored amid Covid-19 outbreak: UNICEF

Representational Image

New Delhi (NVI): Amid the rapid emergence and spread of COVID-19 globally, the world cannot afford to ignore other killer diseases such as Malaria, according to the UNICEF.

Coronavirus pandemic is creating massive disruptions that are impacting people’s lives and wellbeing, says the UN body while warning that the overlap of Covid-19 and Malaria could have potentially lethal consequences for children under-five “if we don’t respond soon to ensure continuity of services”.

THE UNICEF released a status update on children on Malaria Day yesterday in which it underlined that the social distancing necessity and restrictions/curbs imposed by Covid-19 could jeopardise years-long efforts to eradicate a deadly disease like Malaria.

“Over the past two decades, substantial work has been done to dramatically control malaria by ministries of health, national malaria control programs, district health offices, health facilities and community health workers. However, despite major gains, even before the onset of COVID-19, sub-Saharan African countries were already falling short of the global target of universal use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets,” UNICEF said in its report.

It further recommended that sleeping under insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs) on a regular basis is one of the most effective ways to prevent malaria transmission and reduce malaria-related deaths. Consistent use of an effective insecticide-treated net – particularly one that is long-lasting – by at least 80% of the population living in endemic areas can result in up to 20% reductions in child deaths, it said. This translates into up to 6 lives saved for every 1000 children sleeping under a mosquito net, it added.

Every two minutes, a child under the age of five dies from Malaria, says UNICEF in its report while citing a 2019 World Malaria Report which says that children under five accounted for 67 per cent of all malaria deaths worldwide in 2018.

“Most of these over 272,000 deaths occurred in sub-Saharan Africa where approximately 24 million children were estimated to be infected with the deadliest form of malaria. In addition to being the third highest infectious disease killer of children, malaria infection and the costs of treatment traps families in a cycle of illness, suffering and poverty,” it said.

On the Covid-19 outbreak, the UN agency said that public health officials are taking precautionary and often aggressive measures to limit transmission of this virus, including reductions in social movement, physical distancing, hand washing and recommending the use of personal protection equipment in high-risk settings.

“However, while focusing on combating this disease, the world cannot afford to ignore other killer diseases, such as malaria. The Ebola outbreak in West Africa showed starkly that constraints on health services due to response measures led to substantial increases in malaria infections, illness and death,” UNICEF said in its report.

WHO has also released some modeling related to the potential impacts of COVID-19 on the malaria burden.

UNICEF has taken this one step further and produced “Malaria in Children” snapshots for the 10 High Burden, High Impact countries in sub-Saharan Africa which together represent 93% of the global malaria-related under-five deaths (over 250,000 children) every year.

These snapshots include the latest available data on malaria with a focus on children and pregnant women.

The data released by UNICEF includes charts that describe the burden of malaria cases and malaria deaths in the country, showing the proportion of all malaria cases and deaths that occurred among children under the age of five, the proportion of all child deaths that were attributable to malaria and current coverage levels of key malaria interventions for pregnant women and children. These charts provide an indication of variations in coverage levels of these interventions by urban-rural location and by wealth quintile.

The data also presents projections of all malaria cases and deaths from 2018 to 2020 under certain scenarios of intervention coverage disruptions due to COVID-19.

The UN agency has said that appropriate Covid-19 measures can be taken by authorities and decision-makers across the world by considering the data and projections, while also making sure that the threat posed by a deadly disease like malaria is not undermind.

J&K: Border residents appeal for Ramzan respite from Pak shelling

Smoke billowing from a house under fire due to intense shelling by Pakistan in Chowkibal area of Kupwara on April 12. (Photo via arrangement)

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Bearing the brunt of repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan since March this year, residents living near the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir have appealed for a Ramzan truce, to respect the sanctity of the fasting month and to adhere to the 2003 agreement.

The LoC in Kashmir has seen a spike in ceasefire violations by Pakistan in the last few weeks, particularly after a major infiltration bid was foiled by the Indian Army in Kupwara’s Keran sector earlier this month.

Pakistan has been trying to facilitate infiltration bids even as the whole world is grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nishada Parveen, Block Development Council Chairman of Teethwal in Tangdhar sector of Kupwara said that whenever there is a ceasefire violation, people living close to LoC are subjected to immense problems.

“Since March this year, we have witnessed cross-LoC shelling and have borne the brunt. Our movement has got restricted and we have literally been caged in our homes,” she said.

Nishada also complained that no community bunkers have been constructed in the area so far for the safety of people.

Shahid Ahmad, a Sarnpach from Nambla area of Uri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district also said that no community bunker has been constructed in the area to provide safety to the residents during shelling.

“Even in the time of Covid-19 pandemic, there is no respite for the people living close to LoC in north Kashmir. Whenever there is exchange of fire, we fear for our lives and our livestock,” he said.

Abdur Rasheed Kataria, a resident of Timuna-Vilgam in Chowkibal in Kupwara district, where heavy shelling by Pakistan recently claimed the lives of three civilians including a child, has appealed for peace. “Let us fast in peace. Let there be no exchange of fire or shells this month at least and let peace prevail for the rest of the year,” he said.

Fact check: No plan to reduce retirement age of Central Govt employees to 50

New Delhi (NVI): A report by a web news portal that Centre is likely to reduce the retirement age of Central government employees to 50 has been quashed by Press Information Bureau (PIB) which has clarified that the Centre is neither planning nor discussing any such move.

“Claim: A web news portal claims Centre is likely to reduce retirement age of Central Government employees to 50 In #Coronavirus Crisis

“#PIBFactCheck: The claim made within the report is false. Centre is neither planning nor discussing any such move.” PIB tweeted through its Fact Check handle that is constantly debunking misleading or wrong information on internet/social media amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

In another case, the PIB Fact Check Unit has tweeted that Centre is not giving Rs 1000 to anybody under the so called Corona Sahayata Yojana scheme.

The tweet was in response to a widely circulating message on WhatsApp that claimed that Government had launched a scheme-WCHO- under which people were being given Rs 1000 each. The message requires people to click on a link and provide their information, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said in a statement.

The tweet clarified that the claim and the link both were fraudulent and warned people against clicking on it.

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