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China, WHO failed to alert nations on coronavirus early: Taiwan

New Delhi (NVI): Amid the global catastrophe caused by coronavirus, Taiwan has targeted China and the World Health Organisation (WHO), saying they had failed to warn other countries about human-to-human transmission of the disease at the end of December after cases were detected in Wuhan.

Director General of Taiwan’s Centre for Disease Control (CDC) Chou Jih-haw said an email was sent to China and the WHO on December 31, saying that Taiwan was aware of a respiratory illness that had appeared in Wuhan and was worried about the possibility of human-to-human transmission, Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA) reported.

Taiwan’s Health Minister Chen Shih-chung said China did not clarify on the human-to-human transmission and the WHO did nothing more than simply acknowledging receipt of Taiwan’s email, according to CNA.

Addressing a press conference in Taipei yesterday, Head of the Department of International Organizations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Bob Chen said Taiwan learned about the emergence of atypical pneumonia cases in Wuhan before the end of 2019.

Taiwan’s CDC communicated this information to the WHO’s International Health Regulations (IHR) framework and to the Chinese side on December 31, requesting them to verify, Chen said.

The WHO said it would relay the information to experts, but the information was not shared in WHO’s internal website for other countries, according to Chen.

The CDC still has the records of those email communications, Chen said.

The officials were responding to a media report on March 20, which talked about the alleged inaction of the WHO in light of Taiwan’s concerns, quoting several Taiwanese officials, including Vice President Chen Chien-jen.

“While the IHR’s internal website provides a platform for all countries to share information on the epidemic and their response, none of the information shared by our country’s CDC is being put up there,” the report quoted the vice president as saying.

Though the WHO did not publicize Taiwan’s warnings, Taiwan still took precautions itself based on the information it had, including screening airline passengers, setting up an emergency response centre and dispatching a team to Wuhan to learn more about the situation, the CNA said.

The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) yesterday shared Twitter posts of Morgan Ortagus, a U.S. State department spokeswoman, on its Facebook page to confirm that Taiwan did alert the WHO to the coronavirus threat.

“Dec. 31 — that’s the same day Taiwan first tried to warn WHO of human-human transmission,” Ortagus tweeted. “Chinese authorities meanwhile silenced doctors and refused to admit human-human transmission until Jan. 20, with catastrophic consequences.”

The new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has continued to worsen since the first patients were detected in Wuhan in December. It has now spread to 195 countries, infecting lakhs of people and claiming lives of thousands.

India on Kabul attack: Reflective of diabolical mindset of perpetrators

External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar (File)

New Delhi (NVI): India today strongly condemned the terror attack on a Gurudwara in Kabul, saying such cowardly attacks on the places of religious worship of the minority community,  especially at this time of COVID 19 pandemic, is “reflective of the diabolical mindset of the perpetrators and their backers”.

A statement issued by the External Affairs Ministry said, “We convey our sincerest condolences to the immediate family members of the deceased and wish speedy recovery to the injured.”

The statement came after a group of terrorists stormed a Gurudwara in Kabul early this morning, killing several people.

The MEA said India stands ready to extend all possible assistance to the affected families of the Hindu and Sikh community of Afghanistan.

“We commend the brave  Afghan security forces for their valorous response to the attack and their exemplary courage and dedication to protect the Afghan people and secure the country,” the MEA added.

“India stands in solidarity with the people,  the Government and the security forces of Afghanistan in their efforts for bringing peace and security to the country,” it said.

Sri Lanka under lockdown, reports over 100 COVID-19 cases

New Delhi (NVI): As the novel coronavirus tightens its grip over the globe with an increasing number of cases and fatalities worldwide, Sri Lanka has also reported over 100 positive cases so far with 1 death, according to the country’s health ministry.

The nation has extended its lockdown countrywide which was imposed last week and was due to be revoked this Monday morning.

In the island nation of roughly 21 million, the lockdown has been extended in Colombo, Gampaha, Puttalam, Jaffna, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi and Mannar districts until Friday and in all other districts until Thursday, according to a statement by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s office.

In addition to this, Sri Lankan official media reported that the police has arrested 2,682 persons so far for violating curfew and 706 vehicles have been taken into police custody.

Sri Lanka has also suspended all international flights arriving in the country.

The President’s Media Division said the curfew has been extended till 6 am (local time) on Tuesday for the Colombo, Puttalam and Gampaha districts and will be reimposed at 2 pm (local time) that afternoon, the Colombo Gazette reported.

On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked heads of SAARC nations including President Gotabaya Rajapaksa for contributing to the COVID-19 Emergency fund.

277 Indians evacuated from Iran reach Army facility in Jodhpur

Jaipur (NVI): Another batch of 277 Indians evacuated from coronavirus-hit Iran was brought to the Indian Army Wellness Facility at Jodhpur in Rajasthan, a Defence spokesperson said.

PRO Defence, Rajasthan said that a well-equipped facility has been set up at Jodhpur Military Station in coordination with Rajasthan Medical Authorities and Civil Administration.

“277 Indians evacuated from #Iran brought to #IndianArmy Wellness Facility at #Jodhpur Mil Stn. Well equipped facility setup in coordination with #Rajasthan Medical Authorities & Civil Adm,” he tweeted.

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 is nearing 2,000 mark.

PM greets people on festivals

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today greeted the people across the country on festivals including Navratri, Navreh, Gudi Padwa, and Ugadi, while hoping that the nation will win the battle against COVID-19.

“We are marking these festivals at a time when our nation is battling the COVID-19 menace. The celebrations will not be like they are usually but they will strengthen our resolve to overcome our circumstances. May we keep working to fight COVID-19 together,” he said in a tweet.

In a series of tweets, PM said that the festivals mark the start of a new year as per the traditional calendar.

“We are celebrating various festivals across India and also the start of a new year as per our traditional calendar. May these auspicious occasions bring good health, happiness and prosperity in our lives,” he said.

He also wished people on Navratri, the nine-day festival starting today. He said that he will pray for those who are doing their duty at such a time of crisis when the country is facing a deadly pandemic.

“Navratri begins from today. Over the years, I have been worshipping Maa (Durga). This time I pray for the health, safety and success of all the nurses, doctors, medical staff, policemen and media personnel who are engaged in the fight against coronavirus,” he added in another tweet.

The PM also extended his greeting to people in Manipur on the occasion of Sajibu Cheiraoba.

“Sajibu Cheiraoba greetings to my sisters and brothers of Manipur. May everyone be blessed with peace and prosperity. Special prayers for the good health of the people.

25 killed in terror attack on Sikh shrine in Kabul

The terror attack on a Sikh shrine in Kabul left 25 dead and 8 injured. (Photo Credit: Twitter @TOLOnews)

(Updating earlier copy)

New Delhi (NVI): At least 25 people were killed and eight injured after a group of terrorists today stormed a Sikh Dharamshala in Kabul, according to Afghan media reports.

After a six-hour gun battle with Afghan special forces, all four suicide bombers were killed, according to reports.

The terrorists targeted the religious place in Shorbazar area at around 7.45 am (8.45 am IST), the media quoted Tariq Arian, spokesman for Interior Ministry, as saying.

“80 people, including women and children, were rescued,” the Ministry of Interior was quoted as saying by Afghan media.

India has strongly condemned the terror attack, saying such cowardly attacks on the places of religious worship of the minority community,  especially at this time of COVID 19 pandemic, is “reflective of the diabolical mindset of the perpetrators and their backers”.

Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri also condemned the incident on Twitter.

“Suicide attack on a Gurudwara Sahib in Kabul needs to be strongly condemned. These killings are a grim reminder of atrocities that continue to be inflicted upon religious minorities in some countries & the urgency with which their lives & religious freedom have to be safeguarded,” he tweeted.

Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has also strongly condemned the attack and expressed his condolences to the victims’ families.

Coronavirus not mutating quickly, single vaccine possible: Scientists 

New Delhi (NVI): In good news for researchers hoping to find a solution to COVID-19, scientists have discovered that coronavirus is not mutating significantly or changing its form as it spreads among the human population.

According to scientists, who are closely studying the novel pathogen’s genetic code, the coronavirus is relatively stable as compared to other viruses which require multiple vaccines to tackle them as they keep changing their form, reports The Washington Post.

The new coronavirus pretty much looks the same wherever it has appeared, and there is no evidence that some strains are deadlier than others, the scientists engaged in the research have said.

The virus that causes the disease Covid-19, SARS-CoV-2, is similar to coronaviruses that circulate naturally in bats. It jumped into the human species last year in Wuhan, China, probably through an intermediate species.

Scientists are now studying more than 1,000 different samples of the virus, Peter Thielen, a molecular geneticist at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory told The Post.

Only about 4 to 10 genetic differences in the coronavirus strains have been found among the infected people in the US, and Wuhan in China.

“That’s a relatively small number of mutations for having passed through a large number of people,” Thielen said. “At this point, the mutation rate of the virus would suggest that the vaccine developed for SARS-CoV-2 would be a single vaccine, rather than a new vaccine every year like the flu vaccine,” Thielen was quoted as saying by The Post.

It would be more like the measles or chickenpox vaccines, Thielen said, adding that the vaccine would likely confer immunity for a long time.

According to the scientists, several vaccines against Covid-19 are in development, but experts estimate it will be at least a year to 18 months before one becomes available.

It is possible that a small mutation in the virus could have outsize effects in the clinical outcome of Covid-19, the experts say. That has been known to happen with other viruses. But there’s no sign this is happening with the novel coronavirus.

The dramatic death rates in Italy, for example, are most likely due to situational factors — an older population, hospitals being overwhelmed, shortages of ventilators and the resulting rationing of lifesaving care — and not because of some difference in the pathogen itself, reports The Post.

Two other virologists, Stanley Perlman of the University of Iowa and Benjamin Neuman of Texas A&M University at Texarkana, both of whom were on the international committee that named the coronavirus, told The Post that the virus appears relatively stable.

“Just one ‘pretty bad’ strain for everybody so far. If it’s still around in a year, by that point we might have some diversity,” Neuman was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

Flipkart suspends its services temporarily

New Delhi (NVI): E-commerce website Flipkart has temporarily suspended its services from today, in the view of 21-day nationwide lockdown due to coronavirus outbreak.

In a message on its website Flipkart said: “Hello Fellow Indians, we are temporarily suspending our services. Your needs have always been our priority, and our promise is that we will be back to serve you as soon as possible,” the company said in a statement.

“These are difficult times, times like no other. Never before, have communities stayed apart to stay safe! Never before, has been at home meant helping the nation,” it added.

Earlier on Tuesday, Amazon’s India unit also announced that it will stop orders for non-essential products in the country to prioritise customer’s critical needs at a time of lockdown to prevent the spread of the virus.

COVID-19: Over 600 total cases, 11 dead in India so far

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in the country has gone up to 600 as fresh cases were reported from the state of Kerala, Bihar, and Northeast. 11 people have died due to the pandemic so far as Tamil Nadu reported its first death due to COVID-19 today.

TN Health Minister C Vijayabaskar confirmed the death of a 54-year-old man at MDU, Rajaji Hospital in the state.

“Despite our best efforts, the #COVID19 +ve Pt at MDU, #RajajiHospital, passed away few minutes back.He had medical history of prolonged illness with steroid dependent COPD, uncontrolled Diabetes with Hypertension,” he tweeted.

Meanwhile, India is under a 21-day lockdown to tackle the pandemic that has claimed thousands of lives across the world.

Prime Minister Modi in his address to the nation yesterday announced the complete shutdown till April 14 and asked people to remain indoors.

Soon after the PM’s announcement, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued guidelines and asked people not to panic. MHA said that shops dealing with food, groceries, dairy and milk, meat, fish and animal fodder as well as banks/ATMs, petrol pumps, hospitals and all related medical establishments will be exempt from the lockdown.

Rainfall activities to increase in North Indian plains

Light rains in Delhi
Representational Image

New Delhi (NVI): Rain and thunderstorm activities are likely to increase in the Northern plains of India in the next 24 hours, according to Met department.

The national capital and its adjoining areas received moderate to light rainfall last evening. Apart from this, few states in the south, as well as Northeast India, also received good rainfall.

According to the weather forecast, a Western Disturbance is lying over Jammu and Kashmir and its adjacent areas. Also, an anti-cyclone effect can be seen over the west-central Bay of Bengal, off Andhra Pradesh coast.

While several parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat will also get good rainfall in the next 24 hours, many places in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and North Madhya Pradesh will also receive showers.

Apart from that, parts of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh may also receive rainfall in the next 24 hours. Northeast states will continue getting light showers.

Meanwhile, in Delhi, the minimum temperature today was recorded at 17 degrees Celsius. Weather in Delhi will remain cool and pleasant.

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

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