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MP: 50 quarantined at BSF academy after officer tests positive

(File)

New Delhi (NVI): As many as 50 BSF personnel have been placed under quarantine at the BSF Academy in Tekanpur in Gwalior after an officer was tested positive for COVID-19.

He was posted as a supervisory officer at a BSF quarantine centre in Tekanpur, MP. According to reports, the officer attended 4 meetings from Mar 15-19 where he met other ADG, IG rank officers. His wife had returned from UK 15 days ago. All officers who came in his contact and his wife are under quarantine
now.

Soon after the confirmation, Senior BSF officials, including the academy directors as well the officer who tested positive, attended a meeting where all necessary steps were taken to prevent any kind of contagion among the personnel.

The BSF academy has been directed to establish a quarantine center for 250 beds. The Subsidiary Training Centre (STC) BSF has also been directed to establish another quarantine center for 200 beds.

COVID-19 global death toll crosses 30k mark, overall 6,40,589 cases

Germany has activated their flying ICU plane, an Airbus A310 MedEvac, to fly corona patients from Italy to hospitals in Germany. (Source: Twitter @TosinOlugbenga)

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus deaths in the world rose to 30, 249 today while overall cases surged 6,40,589.

The US has emerged as the new hotbed of fresh coronavirus cases with 115,547 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University’s Coronavirus Resource Centre.

In another sad news from the US, an infant has died from the disease, making it the first such fatality from COVID-19, of a child younger than a year old.

As per reports in foreign media, two-thirds of the corona deaths have occurred in Europe. Around 21,334 people have died in Europe, with Italy reporting the highest number of fatalities at 10,023 deaths, followed by Spain with 5,690.

Here is a list of countries affected by the pandemic and number of deaths:

Italy: 10,023
Spain: 5,982
China: 3,295
Iran: 2,517
France: 2,314
US: 2,227
UK: 1,028
Netherlands: 640
Germany: 433
Belgium: 353
Switzerland: 271
South Korea: 152
Brazil: 114
Sweden: 112
Turkey: 108
Indonesia: 102
Portugal: 100
Austria: 68
Philippines: 68

(Source: The Spectator Index)

Jodhpur Army facility receives another batch of Indians from Iran

Jaipur (NVI): Another batch of 275 Indians, evacuated from Iran, was brought to the Army Wellness facility at Jodhpur today. This is the second batch of Indian nationals at the Jodhpur facility in Rajasthan, created by the Army under its ‘Operation Namaste’.

“275 #Indians from #Iran brought to #IndianArmy Wellness Facility at #Jodhpur today. Facility created under #OperationNamaste fully equipped to provide #Medical & Adm support during quarantine period,” PRO Defence, Rajasthan tweeted.

Before this, 277 Indians airlifted from Iran had arrived at the Jodhpur facility on Wednesday. The well-equipped facility has been set up at Jodhpur Military Station in coordination with Rajasthan Medical Authorities and Civil Administration.

Apart from Jodhpur, another army facility has been set up at Jaisalmer where Indians evacuated from Iran have been kept.

Iran is one of the worst COVI-19 affected countries in the world where the death toll due to the pandemic has crossed 2,000 mark.

Kashmir reports 2nd Covid death, total 38 cases so far

CDH Hospital in Srinagar (File)

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): Kashmir reported a second death from COVID-19 today, a 52-year-old man from Tanmag area of Baramulla, who succumbed to the disease at Government CD Hospital here.

With this, the total number of cases has reached 38 in the Union Territory as five more were tested positive today.

JK Government spokesperson Rohit Kansal said that two persons from Srinagar, two from Budgam and one person from Baramulla have been tested positive.

“5 more positives cases confirmed in Kashmir -2 from Srinagar, 2 Budgam, 1 Baramulla,” Kansal said in a tweet.

The man who died at Srinagar’s CD hospital today was not properly isolated by doctors at SMHS hospital, informed sources said.

The man was tested positive yesterday. Doctors have claimed that he had no travel history or contact with any COVID-19 patient.

On Thursday last, a 65-year-old from Hyderpora died of the disease, making it the first case of death due to Coronavirus.

Yesterday, Kashmir reported a total of 33 coronavirus cases. Around 13 people were tested positive for the virus yesterday.

The UT administration has informed that 5,919 travellers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been put under surveillance so far.

As per the Media Bulletin on novel coronavirus released yesterday, 3,535 persons have been kept under home quarantine (including facilities operated by Govt) while 227 are in hospital quarantine.

COVID-19: Five more test positive in J&K, total cases reach 33

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): Five more people have been tested positive for coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir this evening, taking the total number of positive cases to 33.

J&K government spokesperson, Rohit Kansal said that five more persons- two in Srinagar and three in Jammu have been tested positive.

“Hardly do I finish my press briefing -28 cases-that I get more unpleasant news -5 new positive cases- 2 in Srinagar, 3 in Jammu- all contacts of previously positive ones; All Jammu cases asymptomatic. We are at 33 now,” Kansal said in a tweet.

Earlier in the day, eight persons were tested positive for coronavirus in Kashmir.

Till now in Jammu and Kashmir, there are 33 positive cases among which 30 are active, two have recovered, one died.

23 active cases are from Kashmir and 7 from Jammu.

The Government informed that 5919 travellers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been put under surveillance so far.

As per the daily Media Bulletin on novel coronavirus, 3535 persons have been kept under home quarantine (including facilities operated by Govt) while as 227 are in hospital quarantine.

Persons who are under home surveillance stand at 1525 while as 632 persons have completed their 28-day surveillance period.

It said that 486 samples have been sent for testing of which 486 tested as negative. The bulletin further stated.

Evacuation of 2500 Afghans from India begins: Envoy

(Image source: @tahirqadiry)

New Delhi (NVI): The evacuation of 2500 Afghan nationals stranded in India began today, according to Afghan Envoy to India Tahir Qadiry.

 “We started evacuation of some 2500 stranded Afghans from Delhi to Kabul today. @AfghanistanInIN transferred first batch from 3 locations to the airport. Thanks? to Indian authorities (esp PAI) for helping us doing this amidst a total lock-down. Bid farewell to them at the #IGIA,” Qadiry tweeted.

He had given indication in this regard three days back.

“Following vigorous follow-ups, the proposal of evacuating all stranded Afghan citizens in India is likely to be approved by the Indian Govt starting tomorrow. We ask our stranded fellow Afghans to contact KamAir for their flight details. Thanks to our Indian partners,” Qadiry tweeted on March 25.

Railway coaches to be turned into isolation wards for COVID-19 patients

New Delhi (NVI): As the number of coronavirus cases in India is rising, Indian Railways is proposing to convert train coaches into isolation wards.

North Central Railway (NCR) General Manager Rajiv Chaudhary said the Railways are trying to convert a coach at the coaching depot in New Delhi into isolation wards after consulting medical professionals.

“A sleeper coach of a train is being converted and improvised into isolation wards for patients suffering from COVID- 19. Such a plan can help us be well-prepared to meet any emergency,” he added.

Apart from this, all Railway divisions are engaged to follow the move and have identified a ward or building for setting up isolation beds for COVID-19 patients.

The Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of NCR Ajeet Kumar Singh said, “NCR has taken necessary steps to ensure operational safety to mitigate any possibility of disruption in goods trains.”

Similarly, the North Indian Railway is considering an extension of the mandatory Paramedical Medical Examination (PME) of safety category and running staff to boost its medical facilities.

NCR is also giving training to its paramedical staff on for COVID-19 related procedures, especially ventilators.

Meanwhile, Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is working-class out a plan to serve meals in different parts of the country and hospitals, if the need arises.

The proposal to offer the empty coaches and cabins to be used as isolation wards were discussed in a meeting of Railway Minister Piyush Goyal with Chairman Railway Board V.K Yadav, General Managers of all zones and Divisional Railway Managers over video conferencing on March 25.

The idea was discussed after PM Narendra Modi in the cabinet meeting on Wednesday asked all the ministers to think for ways to deal with the coronavirus crisis.

As per the WHO, India has only 0.7 beds per 1,000 people. While it has targeted to increase this to two beds, WHO mandates for at least 3 beds per 1,000 people in every country.

However, Indian Railways runs 13,523 trains daily and has now suspended all passenger services till April 14 in view of the nationwide lockdown.

157 govt and private labs to conduct tests for coronavirus

Representational Image

New Delhi (NVI): Government and private laboratories across the country are gearing up to conduct tests for COVID-19, according to Indian Council of Medical Research’s (ICMR) official website.

A total of 157 labs – 121 government and 35 private laboratories – will be conducting the tests.

Out of the 121 government laboratoires that are approved by ICMR, 109 labs are operational while 12 laboratories are in the process of being operationalized.

In addition to this, the 35 private labs for conducting these tests are present various parts of the country including Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Jharkhand.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has stressed upon testing during the novel coronavirus outbreak across the world. The Indian government claims to raise the capacity of testing for COVID-19 on a regular basis.

Earlier while addressing a press conference, Joint Secretary, Health, Lav Agarwal said, “There are 29 private laboratory chains, accredited by the Indian Council of Medical Research for conducting tests for novel coronavirus. These labs have 16,000 collection centers across the country, where at least 12,000 tests can be conducted per day.”

Agarwal also added ICMR norms will have to be followed by the private labs while testing for COVID-19. However, people who need to be tested have to fit in the criteria prescribed by the ICMR.

According to ICMR, the criteria include symptoms like fever, sore throat, runny nose, dyspnea, etc or individuals returned from affected countries like China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Iran, Italy or have had close contact with confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 infection, all individuals evacuated and quarantined from Wuhan, China and Diamond Princess ship, Japan and other coronavirus affected countries.

“The National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune functions as the resource center for the Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDL) network and is responsible for providing technical training for performing molecular and serological assays for virological diagnosis. NIV, Pune also performs the important task of standardizing assay procedures for the network as well as quality control and quality assurance activities,” the ICMR said.

Bangladesh to get $3,00,000 grant from ADB to fight COVID-19

Bangladesh lockdown

New Delhi (NVI): The Asian Development Bank (ADB) today approved $3,00,000 emergency grant to support the Bangladesh government’s fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

The grant will be used for procurement of health safety materials including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), masks, safety goggles aprons, thermometers etc, United News of Bangladesh reported.

The list has been prioritised by the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of Bangladesh.

These materials will enable the country to strengthen its fight against the unprecedented contagion.

The grant assistance is sourced from the Asian Development Bank Regional Technical Assistance entitled “Regional Support to Address the Outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Potential Outbreaks of Other Communicable Diseases”.

So far, the total of 44 positive cases of coronavirus have been reported whereas the death toll has reached 5 in the country.

WATCH| Indian students in Ukraine want to return home

Srinagar (NVI): Hundreds of Indian students in Ukraine are feeling unsafe there in view of the coronavirus pandemic and want to return home.

According to an estimate, there are over 10,000 Indian students, including 200 from Kashmir, in different parts of Ukraine and they are living in constant fear of getting infected by the virus there because of the conditions they are in.

The students have made a video appeal asking the government to take up necessary measures in order evacuate Indian students from Ukraine.
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