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German Embassy cafeteria turns ‘Evacuation Situation Room’

New Delhi (NVI): For the past three weeks, the cafeteria at German Embassy in Delhi has transformed into an ‘Evacuation Situation Room’ where a small team from the country is operating on a 24*7 basis to make sure that their nationals stranded in India are flown back home safely.

German Ambassador to India, Walter J Linder shared pictures of the cafeteria while lauding the hard work and efforts being put by the German officials at the embassy amid coronavirus pandemic.


“Update: for past 3 weeks, this Emb cafeteria (transformed into our EvacSituatRoom) has been the 24/7 home for fabulous evac team (same 4 consulates). 3000 stranded travelers already back home. No time for rest: airborne today 11th flight (Chennai), and 12th on Sunday (Goa/Mumbai),” the German envoy tweeted.

So far, 3000 Germans stranded at many places in India have been flown back home. The 11th evacuation flight operated from Chennai today and a 12th flight is scheduled on Sunday which will airlift German nationals from Goa and Mumbai.

Yesterday, over 600 Germans were evacuated from India on the 9th and 10th such flights. The first repatriation flight was operated by Lufthansa Airlines from Delhi to Frankfurt which flew back over 500 stranded Germans on March 26.

Amid the global Covid-19 crisis, many countries have imposed travel bans and closed their borders while airlifting stranded nationals from different parts of the world.

Taiwan to quarantine all incoming people with fever, respiratory problems

New Delhi (NVI): In an effort to stop coronavirus at its borders, Taiwan has announced that from today, all incoming people with fever or symptoms of respiratory tract infection will be taken to a designated quarantine facility after having their samples taken testing at the airport.

Announcing this, Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said that as of April 1, the daily number of inbound passengers had fallen to 1,500, with about 100 per day having fever or respiratory symptoms.

The new measure is aimed at preventing community transmission of coronavirus by putting those with symptoms into quarantine before the test results come out, CECC Deputy Commander Chen Tsung-yen said, according to Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA).

Currently, only three airports receive incoming passengers — Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Kaohsiung International Airport and Taipei Songshan Airport, with the first two having already selected quarantine locations in nearby areas, while Songshan airport has yet to choose a venue, he said.

Meanwhile, to prevent potential community transmission of COVID-19 from causing hospital acquired infections, the government is banning patient visitors at all hospitals, nursing homes and long-term care facilities, according to CECC Commander Chen Shih-chung.

However, visitors will still be allowed for seriously ill patients or those receiving end-of-life care after making arrangements with the hospital or medical institutions, Chen added.

Four militant associates arrested in north Kashmir

Terrorist arrested
Representational image

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir police today arrested four Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant associates in north Kashmir.

While two were arrested in Sopore area of Baramulla, two others were from Handwara area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

In Handwara, police said that they have arrested Azad Ahmad Bhat and Altaf Ahmad Baba.

According to the police, a joint team of SOG (Special Operations Group) and Army arrested two persons during a raid at Langate area of Handwara.

“Two grenades, two pistols, one letter pad of LeT besides other incriminating material were recovered from their possession,” they said.

A case under FIR number 104/2020 under section 7/25 of the Arms Act has been registered against the duo.

In Sopore, the police along with SOG carried out raids at Noorbagh area of the town and arrested two persons. The identification of these persons has been yet to be ascertained.

“Arms and ammunition including UBGLs, pistols besides other incriminating material were recovered from their possession,” police said.

Coronavirus cases surge past 1 mn worldwide; over 53,000 dead

New Delhi (NVI): More than a million people are now known to have been infected by the novel coronavirus worldwide, while the death toll has surpassed 53,000, according to reports.

Italy remains the worst affected country by the COVID-19 outbreak, with 13,915 deaths, followed by Spain with 10,003.

The US has now become the third-worst affected country, with 5,316 total deaths, and more than 2,45,500 infected cases due to the contagion.

Meanwhile, The number of coronavirus deaths in French hospitals reached 4,503, an increase of 471 in 24 hours, according to the media reports.

In addition to this, President Donald Trump has said that if Iran requests his administration for help in dealing with the coronavirus emergency, that he would be willing to do it.

In Iran, nearly 50,000 people have been infected with 3,160 total deaths being reported.

On Sunday 9 pm, light lamps to dispel corona darkness: PM

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asked people to switch off the lights in their homes on April 5 (Sunday) at 9 pm, and light lamps, candles for nine minutes, as a gesture to show solidarity in the fight against coronavirus pandemic.

PM asked the citizens to stand in their balconies for 9 minutes with candles and lamps, or mobile flashlights to mark the march from darkness to light while maintaining social distancing.

“We are at home during lockdown, but we are not alone in this as collective strength of entire country is with each one of us,” he said while asking people to fight back the darkness spread by coronavirus by moving towards light.

The PM in his speech also thanked everyone for following the lockdown for 10 days so far and said, “I thank everyone who are fighting against the novel coronavirus and people for respecting the corona lockdown. It has become an example for all the countries today.”

“India has demonstrated a good example to be emulated by the world. The country is united against coronavirus,” he said.

The speech was live-streamed on PM Modi’s YouTube channel.

Modi had addressed the nation twice — on March 19 and March 24, since coronavirus pandemic became a serious concern in the country.

In his first address, PM Modi had called for a one-day Janata Curfew on March 22 (Sunday) and in the second address on March 24, he announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19. The lockdown will end on April 14.

Weather conditions to remain dry in North India

New Delhi (NVI): The weather will remain dry in the states of North India including Punjab, Haryana and Delhi for the next few days, according to the Meteorological Department.

The average temperature is expected to increase from 0.5 to 1.0 degrees Celsius during the coming April to June months.

In the last 24 hours, Khargone city of Madhya Pradesh was recorded as the hottest place in the plains of the country, where the maximum temperature was recorded at 41.5 degrees Celsius.

Apart from that, cities of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Odisha were also included in the top 10 list of hottest places.

At the same time, parts of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh may continue to receive rains for the next 24 hours whereas there will be a widespread decrease in rainfall activities in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Meanwhile, the maximum temperature in Delhi settled at 32 degrees Celsius today and the minimum temperature was recorded at 18 degrees Celsius, according to IMD.

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

Implement lockdown measures strictly: Centre to States

New Delhi (NVI): The Union Home Ministry today issued fresh guidelines to the States on lockdown measures to be taken in the wake of coronavirus outbreak while warning them that no negligence in this regard would be tolerated.

The “consolidated guidelines” by MHA came moments after Prime Minister Narendra Modi today interacted with Chief Ministers and took a review of the overall situation.

The guidelines have been issued to all ministries/departments of Centre as well as States/UTs/Governments/Administrations in a bid to break the chain of transmission of COVID-19 in the country. MHA said in a statement.

MHA had earlier written to all States requesting them to strictly implement lockdown measures in letter and spirit, by exercising their powers under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, to fight COVID-19.

In a fresh exercise of the orders, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla has written to states to “widely publicize among the authorities and public, the penal provisions under the DM Act and IPC regarding violations of lockdown measures, to fight COVID-19”.

The 21-day lockdown was announced by PM Modi on March 24 and it will end on April 14. However, in another development, the prime minister today asked the States to brainstorm and send suggestions to the Centre so that a common exit strategy can be formulated to ensure staggered re-emergence of the population once lockdown ends.

This would mean a limited or controlled movement of a large population in the country after the lockdown gets over on April 14.

 

WATCH | Kashmir gets its first ‘disinfection tunnel’ to fight COVID-19

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) today installed and made operational its first disinfection tunnel for decontamination and sanitisation purpose amid the coronavirus outbreak, at Chest Diseases Hospital here.

People including doctors, hospital workers, patients and other attendants can get sanitised instantly while entering or leaving the hospital.

Srinagar Mayor, Junaid Mattu said this tunnel has been built to clean people within no seconds automatically.

“Various steps have been taken to curb the outbreak of this pandemic by sanitising all the areas where people were found to be positive for this deadly disease including quarantines,” Mattu said.

“The first Decontamination and Sanitization Tunnel manufactured and commissioned by #SMC has started operating at Chest Diseases Hospital, #Srinagar! Overjoyed by the response by the frontline health workers and doctors! We will cover EVERY hospital! Proud of our Mech Engineers!!!,” he said in a tweet.

Head of Department, Chest Disease Hospital Srinagar, Dr Naveed Shah thanked SMC for installing sanitation channel at CD Hospital.

“First of its kind in Kashmir, it uses safe and effective chemical for disinfection,” he said.

Coronavirus deaths in India climb to 53; total cases at 2069

(Updating earlier copy)

New Delhi (NVI): As the country entered its ninth day of lockdown, the total number of positive COVID-19 cases rose to 2,069 while the death toll climbed to 53, with Maharashtra being the worst affected state (335 cases), followed by Kerala (265).

The latest numbers put out by the Health Ministry include 1,860 active coronavirus cases, while 155 people have been cured or discharged.

Tamil Nadu has reported 234 cases so far. The number of positive coronavirus cases in Delhi has also gone up to 152.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 47,951 tests for COVID-19 have been conducted in the country till date.

Coronavirus deaths reach 31 in Pakistan; total cases at 2,291

New Delhi (NVI): The death toll from novel coronavirus in Pakistan rose to 31, after five more people died in the last 24 hours.

The new deaths were reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh provinces, according to the Federal Health Ministry.

The number of infected cases in the country also rose to 2,291, according to Dawn news.

The total number of recovered patients also increased to 107, said the Health Ministry.

So far, 845 confirm cases were reported from the northeastern Punjab province, 743 from southern Sindh, 276 from northwestern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 169 from Balochistan, 187 from the northern Gilgit Baltistan region, 62 from the capital Islamabad.

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