Friday, April 3, 2026
Home Blog Page 1325

88 new Covid cases reported in India, highest in a day

(Updating earlier copy)

New Delhi (NVI): As per the latest data available with the Ministry of Health, 88 news coronavirus cases were reported in the country today, highest in a single day so far. With this, the total number of COVID-19 cases has risen to 694, with 16 deaths.

The total 694 cases include 633 active cases, 44 cured/discharged, 16 deaths and 1 migrated COVID-19 patient.

47 out of the total cases are foreign nationals, the Health Ministry said.

At least 60 positive cases have been reported every day for the last five days in the country, according to the media reports.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra is the most affected state with 124 positive cases. Jammu and Kashmir and Madhya Pradesh reported their first deaths today. Maharashtra also reported its third death in the state due to the pandemic.

The contagion has also spread to Goa which reported three cases of COVID-19 and in northeast India, Manipur and Mizoram confirmed one case each.

In another development, the Government has extended its ban on international flight operations to India till April 14, in the wake of COVID-19 lockdown situation. Earlier, the Government had put ban on all international commercial passenger flights to India from March 22 to 29.

Currently, the country is under 21-day lockdown from March 25 to April 14.

 

Delhi’s BLK Hospital to admit Covid-19 patients from tomorrow

New Delhi (NVI): BLK Super Specialty Hospital in Delhi will begin admissions of Covid-19 patients from tomorrow. The treatment will be available in specially designated isolation wards at the private hospital.

Amid the pandemic outbreak, the private hospital has been allowed to admit COVID-19 patients, a statement issued by the hospital said.

The development is significant as there is an increasing need for specialised infrastructure for the rising number of coronavirus patients.

The hospital, located at Rajendra Place in Delhi, is well-equipped with isolation beds, adequate supply of personal protective gear, ventilators and trained staff to support any complex positive cases, the statement said.

Speaking on the development, Dr Sanjay Mehta, Unit Head and VP, BLK Super Speciality Hospital said, “With such a massive spread world over, we are in support with the government on tackling these cases within the city.”

While, the ongoing situation has created fear and panic among masses on one hand, it has exerted tremendous pressure on healthcare professionals, he said.

“However, we are pleased to share that we are well-equipped with sufficient supply of ventilators, ICU and ward beds, trained medical professionals and motivated clinicians,” Mehta said.

“We have already streamlined numerous processes such as isolated designated areas, for first-level screening process of patients suspected of having the virus. This is a challenging phase for not only the country but the whole of humanity,” he added.

“We will keep adding bed/wards in case there is a surge in the number of COVID-19 positive patients,” he added.

BLK Hospital is one of the largest private hospitals in the National Capital Region (NCR) of Delhi with a capacity of 650 beds including 125 critical care beds. All ambulatory services are smartly designed to ensure quick access to interventional services. The Hospital has 17 state-of-the-art well equipped modular operation theaters and a world-class pathology lab. It is equipped with most modern infrastructure, and eminent doctors drive its Centers of Excellence. The hospital also has Asia’s largest Bone Marrow Transplant Units.

J&K govt extends 2G mobile internet services till April 3

Pakistan
(Representational Image)

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): Amid COVID-19 scare and demand for high-speed internet, J&K Government today further extended ongoing curbs on 4G connectivity till April 3.

Principal Secretary to Government, Home Department, Shaleen Kabra in an official order said that the internet shall be restricted to 2G only till April 3.

“Taking note of the overall security situation in the UT of J&K and the latest reports of the law enforcement agencies, particularly with regard to the speed-related restrictions on the mobile data services, and upon assessment of the available alternatives. Principal Secretary to Government, Home Department, being satisfied that it is absolutely necessary so to do, in the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India,” the order reads.

According to the order, the postpaid SIM card holders shall be provided with access to the internet. However, such access shall not be made available on pre-paid sim cards unless verified as per the norms applicable for postpaid connections.

It also directed for continuation of Mac-binding internet connectivity for fixed landline connections.

“The directions shall be effective immediately and remain in force upto 3rd April, 2020, unless modified earlier,” reads the order.

Internet services along with mobile and fixed landline 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.

Rajnath reviews Defence Ministry’s action plan to combat COVID-19

Meeting held to review the preparedness of the Armed forces. (Source: @DefenceMinIndia)

New Delhi (NVI): Amid the rising novel coronavirus cases in India, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today reviewed the preparedness of defence forces to tackle the crisis.

The meeting was held with the Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, Secretary Defence Ajay Kumar and armed forces chiefs to seek what more can be done in the fight against COVID-19.

Singh expressed appreciation on the proactive role played by the Armed Forces and various departments of MoD in evacuating Indian nationals as well as foreigners from COVID-19 affected countries and ensuring them proper care at various quarantine facilities.

He also urged the Armed Forces and other departments to gear up their preparedness and provide all required assistance to the civilian administration at various levels.

The Indian Air Force has made several sorties and evacuated Indian nationals from affected areas in China, Japan and Iran. While various quarantine facilities of the Armed Forces have, so far, handled 1,462 evacuees and discharged 389.

Presently, 1,073 persons are being provided care at the facilities in Manesar, Hindan, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Mumbai. Additional quarantine facilities are on standby with 950 beds capacity.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) laboratories have manufactured 20,000 litres of sanitizer and supplied to various organisations, including 10,000 litres to Delhi police. DRDO has also supplied 10,000 masks to Delhi police personnel. It is tying up with some private companies to make personal protection equipment such as body suits and also ventilators.

Army medical teams deployed in the Maldives have since returned after completion of their mission. Army medical teams and two ships of Navy are on standby to provide required assistance to friendly countries in the neighbourhood.

The meeting comes at a time when the total numbers of confirmed coronavirus cases have risen to 649 in India and 13 deaths have been recorded, according to the Union Health Ministry.

India has ‘tremendous capacities’, says WHO official on coronavirus

New Delhi (NVI): India has “tremendous capacities” to combat coronavirus, a top official of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said and cited the examples the country set by eliminating two other “silent killers” – Small Pox and Polio.

Michael Ryan, Executive Director of the World Health Organization’s Health Emergencies Programme, said that as the coronavirus continues to spread, the future of this pandemic to a great extent will be determined by how India deals with the challenge.

He said it was very important that India continues to take aggressive action at public health level and at the level of the society to contain spread of this disease and save lives.

“India, like China, is a hugely populous countries and the future of this pandemic to a greater extent will determined by what happens in very large and densely-populated country,” Ryan said.

“India has tremendous capacities,” the official said.

“India led the world in eradicating two silent killers – small pox, one of the great successes of mankind. (It killed) more people on the planet than all the wars put together. India, through targeted political intervention, ended that disease and gave a gift to the world,” he recalled.

He added that India also eliminated polio, another silent killer and did a tremendous job.

Ryan emphasised the need for mobilising communities and the civil society in this direction to fight coronavirus.

Bangladesh: COVID-19 panic grips crowded Rohingya camps

New Delhi (NVI): About one million Rohingya refugees living in the crowded and cramped camps in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar are vulnerable to coronavirus infection, experts and activists warned.

The area where most of the Rohingya Muslims arrived in 2017 are wretched and have low lying conditions, which makes the area a fertile ground for the disease.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh has also suspended all public transport services as the country has reported five deaths due to the coronavirus pandemic with almost 27 positive cases, according to United News of Bangladesh.

The government has also declared a 10-day shutdown from to battle the spread of the coronavirus.

Both the private and public sectors, except emergency services, have come to a temporary halt.

Bhutan confirms 3rd coronavirus case

New Delhi (NVI): Bhutan has confirmed its third COVID-19 case after a student was found positive yesterday.

As per media reports, the third positive case of coronavirus in the country is an imported one. The student had a travel history from the United Kingdom (UK) and is already in quarantine in Thimphu.

Among the 25 tests conducted in Bhutan yesterday, one tested positive late last evening.

Twenty-two people were tested in Thimphu’s Royal Centre for Disease Control and three of them in Chukha’s Phuentsholing Hospital.

The Ministry of Health has already initiated contact tracing but most of the student’s contacts are already under quarantine.

Two American tourists had earlier been tested positive for coronavirus in Bhutan.

The first patient who had been tested positive for coronavirus was a 76-year-old tourist from the USA, who visited India, including Assam.

He had reached Assam on February 22 and took a week-long luxury cruise ride on the Brahmaputra to Guwahati.

The second person who was infected with coronavirus was a 59-year-old lady who is the partner of the tourist who had been first tested positive for COVID-19 in Bhutan.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Bhutan government banned the import of fruit, vegetables, and meat in an attempt to curb the spread of coronavirus in the country.

J&K: Two minor siblings test positive for COVID-19

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): Two minor Srinagar siblings have been tested positive for Coronavirus in Kashmir, taking the total number of positive cases in the Union Territory to 13.

J&K Government spokesperson, Rohit Kansal confirmed that two more positive cases have been reported in Srinagar.

“Siblings (7 years old and 8 months old)- grandchildren of a confirmed case from Srinagar with travel history to Saudi Arabia who had tested positive on March 24,” he said.

They are admitted at Jawahar Lal Nehru Memorial (JLNM) hospital and hail from Natipora area of Srinagar.

According to the hospital authorities, the test reports of their mother lies awaited.

There are a total of 32 high-risk suspects for COVID-19 quarantined at JLMN at present.

Earlier in the day, a 65-year-old man infected with the coronavirus died at Chest Disease (CD) Hospital Dalgate, Srinagar, marking Kashmir’s first recorded death due to the disease.

Over 500 Germans stranded in India flown back

New Delhi (NVI): Over 500 German citizens, who were stranded in India due to the nationwide lockdown, were flown back to their country today.

They were repatriated via a Lufthansa airline flight which airlifted them from Delhi airport and landed in Frankfurt.

“First repatriation flight from Delhi to Frankfurt succesful ! In an immense team effort we could bring home 506 people
! Excellent cooperation with @Lufthansa_DE and @Lufthansa_India ! @AA_SicherReisen @GERonAsia @germanydiplo,” the German Embassy in India tweeted today.

As part of the COVID-19 restrictions, the Central Government has banned all international commercial passenger flights to India from March 22 to 29.

The country is currently under a 21-day lockdown to combat the deadly pandemic that has claimed over 18,000 lives globally so far and infected more than 4,00,000.

Nepal prepares to evacuate over 10,000 tourists

New Delhi (NVI): Efforts are underway to evacuate over 10,000 tourists stranded in Nepal as countries including the US and Australia are sending flights to Kathmandu to fly their nationals out.

The decision to evacuate foreign nationals was taken during a meeting of the COVID-19 control committee headed by Nepal Defence Minister Ishwar Pokhrel yesterday, reports Nepali Times.

The German Embassy in Nepal has organised two Qatar Airways ferry flights from Doha to take its nationals out on Friday and Saturday. The French, British and Australian Embassies are also said to be planning flights out for their nationals, the newspaper reported.

In another development, the government of Nepal yesterday decided to allow its citizens stranded at southern border points to enter the country ‘one last time’ and also urged Nepalis living anywhere in the world not to panic and stay put where they are, according to a Himalayan Times report.

The Nepal government has also decided to make necessary diplomatic efforts and request other countries to ensure the security of Nepalis living there.

All Nepali missions abroad have also been asked to keep in touch with Nepalis and continue the flow of necessary information on decisions taken by the Nepal government.

Meanwhile, Nepal reported its third positive case for COVID-19 yesterday. A 32-year-old Nepali from Dhading district has been confirmed as the third coronavirus patient.

The man, who returned from the United Arab Emirates on March 19, was staying at a hotel in Kathmandu since his arrival in Nepal.

He visited the hospital on March 23 after developing COVID-19 symptoms and is undergoing treatment at Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital in Teku, Nepalese media reported.

The Nepali government has also started tracking down people who shared the flight with Nepal’s third coronavirus patient and came into his contact. But it has not disclosed the name of the airlines and the number of the flight he took.

Earlier, Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishwar Pokhrel took the decision for lockdown on Monday, hours after a second coronavirus case was confirmed in Kathmandu.

Nepal reported its first case of COVID-19 January 23, a 32-year-old man, who had returned from Wuhan.

Meanwhile, over 18,000 people have died of COVID-19 globally and more than 4,00,000 have been infected.

1...1,3241,3251,326...1,566Page 1,325 of 1,566

MUST READ