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Advisory issued asking people to wear ‘homemade masks’: Health Ministry

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): As India is witnessing a spike in the coronavirus cases, an advisory on homemade protective covers and face mask was issued today by the Ministry of Health and Family Affairs.

In the advisory, the government recommends that healthy people can wear homemade face masks, especially outside their homes, for better personal hygiene.

This will also protect the communities during the coronavirus pandemic. Certain countries have claimed benefits of homemade face cover for the general public.

Homemade face masks are recommended for such people  who are not suffering from medical conditions or having breathing difficulties may use the handmade reusable face cover, particularly when they step out of their house.

These masks and face covers are not recommended for Covid-19 patients or those involved in their care including healthcare workers and medical professionals.

The government also advises making two sets of these covers and masks so that while one is in use, the other can be washed.

In the manual, few steps have been laid down to make such homemade face covers and masks at home using cleam strips of cloth and a sewing machine.

In order to make a temporary face cover, the manual also shows ways to use a handkerchief and a couple of elastic bands for making a face mask.

An urgent need to facilitate the transfer of LCT to developing countries

New Delhi (NVI): Limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees is possible with existing low-carbon technology, if it is deployed on a massive scale to developing countries, according to the World Bank.

“There is an urgent need to facilitate the transfer of technology to developing countries,” said Ceyla Pazarbasioglu, Vice President for Equitable Growth, Finance and Institutions, at the World Bank Group.

Technology Transfer and Innovation for Low-Carbon Development observes that the cost of low-carbon technology (LCT) is on decrease while investment, trade, and innovation in this sector are rising.

The benefits of that progress have largely avoided the world’s poorest countries, which play little role in LCT markets as buyers, sellers or innovators despite being the most vulnerable.

As global transfer and deployment of LCT from developed to developing economies is a necessity but also an opportunity, according to the World Bank report.

Actions that promote LCT absorption, use and production, such as investments in human capital, infrastructure and firms. These investments can increase a country’s competitiveness, output, and employment while producing other benefits that improve the lives of citizens.

The World Bank report noted that, mass deployment of existing technology in just four sectors—energy, industry, transport and buildings, can account for two-thirds of the emissions reductions needed by 2030.

It is also said, technological capabilities in developing countries are improving although slowly, and from a small base.

In year 1992, just 5.2 percent of global LCT exports went from developing to advanced economies. By 2016, this share had increased to 18.1 percent, as per the World Bank report.

China is the said to be the world’s largest importer and exporter of LCT. In 2016, China accounted for 15.9 percent of total LCT imports, ranking ahead of the United States (13.2 percent) and Germany (6.9 percent).

Meanwhile, LCT have certain characteristics that make their adoption and transfer difficult, which include high up-front capital requirements, highly complex production inputs, and intense inertia and competition from the fossil fuel industry.

Apart from that, there are a variety of domestic and international policies that can help promote LCT technology transfer as well.

However, LCT is becoming less expensive, more widely traded and the basis for increasing innovation.

IMTECH to begin testing COVID-19

New Delhi (NVI): The CSIR Institute Microbial Technology (IMTECH) will take up testing of COVID-19 samples as the virus poses several challenges to the healthcare sector with the limited number of test kits.

In the initial phase, IMTECH plans to operationalise capability to test 50 to 100 samples a day, which can be subsequently ramped up.

IMTECH becomes the first CSIR laboratory in Chandigarh region and the third in the country after the Centre for Cellular Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, and the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi, to take up Covid testing.

The institution has increased its capabilities to carry out clinical testing for COVID-19 and it has the necessary expertise in molecular microbiology.

Meanwhile, with a limited number of test kits available, India has been testing only those patients having a travel history and is ranked lowest in terms of testing per million people.

Apart from testing of clinical samples, CSIR-IMTECH is also supporting healthcare professionals by providing Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) to prevent them from contracting any infection.

COVID-19: Deaths top 57,000 globally; total cases cross 1.1 mn

Coronavirus cases

New Delhi (NVI): At least 58,929 people across the world have now died as a result of the pandemic, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

Globally, the virus that has now spread to 181 countries, have a total number of positive cases of COVID-19 have now reached 11,00,283, with a total of 2,26,669 people have been cured or have recovered from the deadly virus.

In addition to this, the world’s two leading financial institutions, World Bank and International Monetary Fund, have warned of dire economic disruptions as the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread around the globe.

World Bank Group President David Malpass said the health emergency is expected to cause a “major global recession” that would likely hit the poorest and most vulnerable countries the hardest.

Whereas, the International Monetary Fund described the situation as a “crisis like no other”.

UK also confirmed that 684 more people have died in hospitals, bringing the total to 3,605 in the last 24 hours, according to country’s Department of Health and Social Care.

The US now has nearly 7,000 fatalities as the contagion is rapidly spreading, meanwhile New York city recorded 562 deaths. The total number of positive cases in US have reached 2,77, 965.

Meanwhile, Italy remains the world’s worst-hit country, with a total of 14,681 deaths due to novel coronavirus.

Terrorists may take advantage of corona crisis: UN

New Delhi (NVI): The UN has warned that the worst is yet to be seen on the coronavirus front and urged for global peace as it apprehended that terrorist or extremist groups across the world may take advantage of the uncertainty created by the spread of pandemic.

“We need to do everything possible to find the peace and unity our world so desperately needs to battle COVID-19,” UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said.  

He warned that the worst is yet to come and so everything possible needs to be done to find peace and unity.

“Our world desperately needs to battle the pandemic. We must mobilise every ounce of energy to defeat it,” he added.

“We know the pandemic is having profound social, economic and political consequences, including relating to international peace and security,” he said.

“We see it, for example, in postponement of elections or limitations on the ability to vote, sustained restrictions on movement, spiraling unemployment and other factors that could contribute to rising discontent and political tensions,” the UN Secretary General said.

Expressing his deep gratitude for the countries which have responded positively to his appeal for an immediate ceasefire in all corners of the globe to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, he said more than one million people have gathered support for an appeal launched by ‘Avaaz’.

He said a substantial number of parties to conflict in 11 countries— Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Colombia, Libya, Myanmar, the Philippines, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine and Yemen — have expressed their acceptance for the call for peace.

But there is a huge distance between declarations and deeds — between translating words into peace on the ground and in the lives of people, the UN chief said.

“Conflicts have even intensified in some warring parties in Yemen, Libya and Afghanistan,” he said.

“To silence the guns, we must raise the voices for peace.”

“There is chance for peace but we are far from there and the need is urgent. The coronavirus storm is now coming all these theatres of conflict. The virus has showed how swiftly it can move across borders, devastate countries and upend lives,” he said.

“We know that any initial gains are fragile and easily reversible. We need robust diplomatic efforts to meet these challenges,” he added.

COVID-19 death toll in India rises to 68, total cases 2,902

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India rose to 2,902 and 68 people have died from the pandemic, the Union Health Ministry said this morning.

In the last 24 hours, 478 new cases have been reported, the highest single-day spike.

The number of cases has doubled across the country in the last three days from 1,251 on March 31 to 2,547 on April 3.

Of these, over 25 per cent of the positive cases are linked to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in New Delhi.

At present, the number of active COVID-19 cases stands at 2,650, while 183 people were either cured or discharged and 1 had migrated.

Rainfall expected in MP, Jharkhand

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New Delhi (NVI): Rain and thundershowers are expected in many parts of Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh over the next few days, according to the Meteorological Department.

Isolated rainfall is also predicted for Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Kerala in next 24 hours.

Southern parts of Jharkhand (East and West Singhbhum, Chaibasa and Seraikela) may also receive rain on April 6.

Its spread may occur in the southern as well as central districts of the Jharkhand. It is also expected in north-western districts (Palamu, Garhwa, Chatra, Koderma and Latehar). Thus, On April 8, a comprehensive change in the weather has been warned.

The meteorological department has also released yellow alert. During this time, wind speed (30 to 40 kmph) can be seen at some places in other parts of Jharkhand.

Apart from this, there is also a possibility of thunderclap and strong thunder, due to local factors. The weather is expected to be dry from April 9.

Meanwhile, in Delhi, the minimum temperature today was recorded at 15 degrees Celsius.

However, the maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to rise over the next few days, according to IMD.

Govt amends domicile order for J&K

Containment

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): Three days after issuing Gazette notification on domicile law in Jammu and Kashmir, the central government tonight amended it to provide for reservation in all jobs of the newly-created Union Territory for the domiciles, instead of only Class IV employees.

The amended notification was issued in the wake of criticism by mainstream parties of J&K.

It also has certain more amendments.

According to the official order, MHA amended section 5A of The Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Decentralization and Recruitment Act) replacing “a post carrying a pay scale of not more than Level-4 (25500)” with “any post”.

In section 8 of the Act, it added “is a domicile of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir” thus making it mandatory for a person to be a domicile of J&K to get any government job.

The development comes after JK Apni party president Altaf Bukhari apprised National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Union Home Minister Amit Shah about the shortcomings in the central government order on domicile rights in the matter of employment and demanded that all levels of jobs including non gazetted and gazetted be reserved only for the residents of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Government issued Gazette notification on Tuesday, eight months after the abolition of special status of J&K.

According to the Gazette notification, “a person who has resided for a period of 15- years or has studied for a period of 7 years and appeared in Class 10th /12th examination in an educational institution in J&K, will be eligible to be the resident of Union Territory.”

The Gazette notification has been amended in 3 days.

In the initial notification, the jobs were reserved only for Class IV employees, which earned criticism.

J&K: 2G internet services extended till Apr 15

Social Media

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir Government has extended 2G mobile internet services (on post-paid and verified pre-paid sim cards) in the Union Territory till April 15.

Principal Secretary to Government, Home Department, Shaleen Kabra in an official order said that data is “being misused for incitement, including circulation of fake news and the directions/restrictions contained in Government Order No 21(1.01S) of 2020 dated 26.03.2020 shall continue till April 15”.

The government further said that “the internet speed restrictions have, while enabling access to essential services and sites, not posed any hindrance to COVID-19 control measures or to access online educational content, but checked the unfettered misuse of social media for incitement and propagating/coordinating terror activities”.

The government also said that the recent changes “in the domicile law in J&K too has the potential to be exploited by those inimical to public peace and tranquility and cause large scale violence and disturb public order.”

Kabra further said that they have found that social media is misused for “incitement and propagating /coordinating terror activities”.

Internet services along with mobile and fixed land line telephony were suspended in Kashmir on August 4 last year.

From the past few weeks, people and other political leaders had asked UT and GoI to restore 4G internet in Jammu and Kashmir keeping in view the present situation.

Nepal: ‘Govt negligence’ puts Bajura at high risk of Covid-19

According to media reports, hundreds of migrant workers are stranded on both sides, following the lockdown imposed India and Nepal. (Twitter)

New Delhi (NVI): Government authorities in Sudurpaschim Province in Nepal have been “violating” the nationwide lockdown order by sending people who came from India and other districts to Bajura district, reports The Himalayan Times.

People have been following the lockdown orders in Bajura by staying at home and not moving out, except in case of emergency, the newspaper reports. However, the provincial government has been sending people from other districts to Bajura, Chief District Officer, Ganga Prasad Neupane was quoted as saying by the daily.

Neupane said people should not be sent from one district to another and they should stay put in the same place during the lockdown.

“The flow of people entering the district had swollen. But we have kept them in quarantine facilities,” he told the newspaper.

The Himalayan Times has further said in its report that many people have been entering Bajura from India daily even during the lockdown period and the province government has let them enter the district.

Health Coordinator Dipak Sha at Budhiganga Municipality told the paper that Bajura would be at high risk of infection due to people’s movement during the lockdown. He also said the province government had been sending people to their respective districts even during the lockdown.

However, Bajura Police chief has said initiatives are being taken so that the lockdown rules are not violated.

As per the Nepal daily, the Sudurpaschim province government has sent 26 people, who came from India three days ago, to Bajura.

According to reports, hundreds of Nepalese workers returning from India are stranded at border points as India-Nepal border has been closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

On the other hand, 352 Indian migrant labourers, working in Nepal’s Birgunj, have been kept at a hostel of Thakur Ram College there. The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has suspended all passenger movements through all immigration land check posts at the India-Nepal border until further orders.

Nepal has imposed a nationwide lockdown till April 7.

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