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COVID cases in India rise to 14,378; death toll at 480

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in India has increased to 14,378 while 480 people have died due to it across the country, the Union Health Ministry said this morning.

In the last 24 hours, over 600 people tested positive for novel coronavirus, it said.

The confirmed cases of COVID-19 include 14,302 Indians and 76 foreign nationals, as per Health Ministry data.

Maharashtra is the worst affected state with 3,323 coronavirus cases and 201 fatalities.

The other worst affected states are Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Meanwhile, the number of novel coronavirus cases in the national capital rose to 1,707 with 67 fresh cases and 4 deaths reported in a day, it said.

At least 1,991 patients have been cured of the virus or discharged.

Still confused over lockdown 2? Here are activities not allowed till May 3

New Delhi (NVI): The Government on Wednesday issued a revised set of guidelines for its citizens and state governments to follow during the extended lockdown till May 3.

As per fresh MHA guidelines, the government has prohibited certain activities in the extended nation-wide lockdown:

  1. All domestic and international air travel of passengers
  2. All passenger movement by trains, buses and metro rail for public transport
  3. Taxis/autos/rickshaws and services of cab aggregators
  4. Inter-district and inter-state movement of individuals except for medical reasons or those permitted under the guidelines
  5. Places like cinema halls, malls, gyms, bars and restaurants, auditoriums will also remain closed
  6. Educational, training institutions and coaching shall remain closed but online teaching will be encouraged
  7. Industrial and commercial activities other than those specifically permitted in the guidelines
  8. Hospitality services will also remain closed but one can go in case of any emergency
  9. All social, political, sports, entertainment, religious functions and other gatherings are prohibited
  10. All religious places of worship shall remain closed for public till May 3

Earlier, a 21-day nationwide lockdown was imposed to combat the coronavirus spread in the country. It was further extended by 19 days, till May 3 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the basis of suggestions from experts and states.

DRDO develops 2 new products to combat COVID-19

New Delhi (NVI): Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) introduced two new products today to enable COVID-19 disinfection process in public places.

DRDO has been coming up with several solutions on the basis of its technology experience to help the country in fighting against the pandemic.

The two new products from its arsenal include an Automatic Mist Based Sanitiser Dispensing Unit and UV Sanitisation Box and Hand-held UV device.

The automatic mist based sanitiser dispensing unit has been introduced by the Centre for Fire Explosive & Environment Safety (CFEES), Delhi, Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

It is a contactless sanitiser dispenser that sprays alcohol-based hand rub sanitiser solution for sanitisation of hands while entering the buildings or office. It is based on water mist aerator technology.

The unit operates without contact and is activated through an ultrasonic sensor. A single fluid nozzle with low flow rate is used to generate aerated mist to dispense the hand rub sanitiser.

It sanitises the hands with minimum wastage. Using an atomiser, only 5-6 ml sanitiser is released for 12 seconds in one operation and it gives the full cone spray over both palms so that the disinfection operation of hands is complete.

It is a very compact unit and bulk fill option makes it an economical and long-lasting product. It is easy to install the system as wall-mountable or on a platform. As an indication of operation, an LED illuminates the spray.

The unit was manufactured with the help of M/s Riot Labz Pvt Ltd, Noida, and one unit has been installed at DRDO Bhawan. The unit can be used for sanitisation of hands at entry and exit to hospitals, malls, office buildings, residential buildings, airports, metro stations, railway stations, bus stations and critical installations. The product is also expected to be very useful for entry/ exit of isolation and quarantine centres, the MoD said in a statement.

The second product – UV Sanitisation Box and Hand-held UV device developed by Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences (DIPAS) and Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Sciences (INMAS) and  DRDO  laboratories in Delhi.

It consists of a shorter, more energetic wavelength of light. It is particularly good at destroying genetic material in COVID-19.

The UV-C box kills microbes quickly, sanitisation of the items by employing UV-C light avoids the harmful effects of the chemicals used for the disinfection. It is designed for disinfecting personal belongings like mobile phone, tablets, purse, currency, etc.

The virus will be deactivated by using UVC lamps in one minute placed equi-distantly in a box with UV dose of 100 mJ/cm2. The UV lamps used in the sanitisation box also emits 185 nm.

The hand-held device having eight watt UV-C lamp disinfects office and household objects with an exposure of 45 second, MoD said.

J&K’s Covid-19 tally reaches 328 with 14 new positive cases

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir today recorded its fifth Covid-19 death while 14 more people were tested positive including a Ph.D. student, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 328 in the Union Territory.

Medical Superintendent at SKIMS Bemina (JVC hospital) Dr Shifa Deva said that a 75-year-old man from Arampora area of Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district breathed his last today, ten days after he was tested positive. “His body was sent to his home town amid proper protocol,” the doctor said. “He had a travel history as well as multiple health issues which aggravated his condition,” she said.

Officials said that among new 14 cases, nine are from Bandipora district, three from Shopian and two from Kupwara district. In the past week, more than 100 positive cases have been reported from Kashmir division alone.

Officials said that three persons who were tested positive from Shopian district include a PhD student, a management graduate and a 52-year-old woman.

As per officials figures, 78 positive cases including one death and 12 recoveries are from Srinagar, 75 including eleven recoveries and one death from Bandipora, 42 including two deaths from Baramulla, 12 including three recoveries from Budgam, 3 from Pulwama including one recovery, 17 from Shopian including two recoveries, 27 from Kupwara, 14 from Ganderbal, 4 from Kulgam and two from Anantnag in Kashmir division.

As per the daily information bulletin, 59,205 persons in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while 7,631 persons have been kept under home quarantine. Besides that, 281 persons are in hospital isolation while 260 are under hospital quarantine.

According to the bulletin, 23,662 persons have completed surveillance period and 27,366 are under home surveillance. So far, results of 6,438 samples are available, the report said.

66 new cases take Covid-19 tally in Afghanistan to 906

(Pic courtesy: TOLO news)

New Delhi (NVI): Amid fears of lack of Covid-19 testing kits and other health supplies in Afghanistan, the country’s Ministry of Public Health today said that 66 new coronavirus cases have been reported, taking the total to 906, according to Afghan media reports.

The new cases were confirmed from 465 samples that were tested over the last 24 hours, the official spokesman of the Public Health Ministry was quoted as saying by Tolo news.

Out of the 66 positive cases, 26 cases were reported in Kabul, 15 in Kandahar, 6 in Balkh, 5 in Kunduz, 5 in Herat, 4 in Helmand, 3 in Laghman, 1 in Nangarhar and 1 from Kunar, he said.

45 coronavirus patients have fully recovered and were discharged from hospital yesterday, the official said, adding that the total number of recovered patients is now 99.

According to the Afghan ministry, the country’s laboratories have the capacity to conduct 600 tests a day.

The lockdown in Kabul was extended for another three weeks yesterday as part of Afghanistan’s attempts to slow the spread of the virus in the country.

8 positive Covid cases in Indian Army so far: COAS Gen Naravane  

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Army Chief General MM Naravane today confirmed that there are eight positive Covid-19 cases in the Indian army so far while asserting that the morale of soldiers is high despite the lockdown situation.

The COAS, who is on a two-day visit to J&K, was talking to a selected group of reporters in Kupwara today. “So far, we have only 8 positive cases in the entire Indian Army, of which 2 are doctors and 1 nursing assistant, 4 are responding well to treatment and we had one case in Ladakh, now he is fully cured and has joined duty,” he said.

The Army Chief arrived in the Union Territory yesterday to review the security situation in the Valley. He visited north Kashmir’s Kupwara district today to interact with soldiers guarding LoC and to take stock of the operational preparedness by the Army.

Over the past few weeks, tensions have gripped Kupwara district where earlier this month, five militants and as many soldiers of Special Forces Squad (SFS), including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), were killed in a close fight.

Three civilians including a minor boy and a woman were killed in Chowkibal area of Kupwara on Sunday, in heavy shelling by Pakistani troops.

“Soldiers are doing an excelling job. I want to compliment them, not only those who are in J&K but those guarding northern borders and northeast also,” Gen Naravane said.

Talking about the recent infiltration bid, he said that earlier this month, a group infiltrated into this side and there was an encounter in which a JCO and four gallant soldiers were killed. “We were able to foil the infiltration attempt. The operation was conducted in very difficult conditions amid snowfall in the area. The route infiltrators had taken would not have been possible without the support of Pakistani army,” he said.

“It is very unfortunate that when India is fighting the pandemic and exporting medicines to other countries to fight Covid, Pakistan is exporting terror,” he added.

Meanwhile, Defence spokesperson in Srinagar, Colonel Rajesh Kalia said that on the second day of his two-day visit to Kashmir, General Naravane continued to review the security situation along the line of control.

“The army chief accompanied by the Northern Army Commander Lt Gen YK Joshi and Srinagar-based 15 Corps Commander, Lt Gen BS Raju visited the formations and units, wherein the local Commanders briefed the Army chief on the existing security situation and the measures instituted so that infiltration bids by terrorists are foiled,” Colonel Kalia said.

He said that the army chief was briefed by the local Commanders on the situation on the Line of Control, cease fire violations, retaliations, counter infiltration operations and operational preparedness being maintained.

“During his interaction with the soldiers on snowclad heights, he was appreciative of the sharp vigil and alertness along the Line of Control and high morale of the troops,” Colonel Kalia said.

He said that the Army chief also asked the commanders to maintain strict vigil along the Line of Control and remain prepared to give a befitting reply to any misadventure from across and exhorted the soldiers to remain alert for any eventuality.

UK to operate 17 more flights to evacuate citizens stranded in India

New Delhi (NVI): The United Kingdom today announced that it will fly out over 4,000 more citizens stranded in India by 17 additional charter flights that have opened for bookings today.

The UK government had earlier announced 7 charter flights on April 5 and 12 additional flights on April 10.

The 17 additional flights will airlift British nationals from Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Delhi, Goa and Mumbai, the British High Commission said in a statement here.

The additional flights will depart for London from Ahmedabad on April 20, 22, 24, 26, from Amritsar on April 21, 23, 25, 27, from Bangalore (via Ahmedabad) on April 23, from Delhi on April 21, 23, 25, 27, from Goa on April 20, 22, 24 and from Mumbai on April 26.

Tariq Ahmad, British Foreign Office Minister of State said, “We know this is a difficult time for British travellers and there is great demand for these flights. This is a huge and logistically-complex operation, and we are working tirelessly with the Indian Government and state authorities to help more British travellers get home.”

Acting British High Commissioner to India, Jan Thompson also said in a statement, “There will be 17 more charter flights next week to take British travellers back to the UK – on top of the 21 flights announced previously. We are working around the clock to arrange additional flights from locations where we know large numbers are still stranded and are extremely grateful for the support we are receiving from the Government of India and local authorities.”

This will take the total number of British nationals brought back on these flights to a total of 9,000.

Those who are most vulnerable will be prioritised for seats on these flights the Foreign Office said, adding this will bring the total number of chartered flights run by the UK Government from India to 38.

J&K: Rs 127 cr spent on accommodating ‘Darbar Move’ staff

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): A whopping amount of Rs 127 crore was spent on the accommodation of ‘Darbar Move’ employees in the past two years alone, according to an affidavit submitted by the Jammu and Kashmir government before the High Court of Union Territory.

‘Darbar Move’ is an age-old practice started by the Dogra Maharaja Gulab Singh in 1872, under which the seat of power, involving almost all departments, shifts to Jammu for six months during winter and remains stationed in Kashmir for six months of summer.

The affidavit has been submitted yesterday by the J&K’s Estate’s Department which is responsible for providing accommodation to the Civil Secretariat employees whenever there is ‘Darbar Move’.

As per the affidavit, a copy of which is with the NVI, the Estates Department has disclosed that Rs 127 crore was spent for providing accommodation to the Darbar Move employees during 2018-19 and 2019-20.

“Rs 41.32 crore and Rs 23.57 crore were spent for providing accommodation to employees in Srinagar and Jammu, respectively, during 2018-19,” states the affidavit, submitted before the High Court.

“In 2019-20, Rs 41.61 crore were spent for providing accommodation to the employees in Srinagar and Rs 20.53 crore in Jammu respectively,” it stated.

The expenditure incurred by the Estates Department includes the hiring of private hotels, private houses and JK Tourism Development Corporation (JKTDC) huts, transportation charges, maintenance charges and hiring of seasonal laborers.

The Estates Department has also revealed that 307 private houses were hired in Srinagar and 151 in Jammu during 2018-19. In 2019-20, 80 private houses were hired in Srinagar and 69 in Jammu.

The details were submitted by the Estates department on the directions of the High Court. The court had sought details of expenditure incurred on accommodation of Darbar Move employees in its previous hearing.

The High Court had sought details of expenditure on a plea seeking postponement of Darbar Move this time from Jammu to Srinagar in view of the outbreak of deadly Covid-19 pandemic.

Coronavirus cases cross 7,200 in Pakistan

COVID-19: Pakistan imposes mini-lockdown in Islamabad

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan has reached 7,261, while 137 people have died of the disease so far, according to Geo news.

No new cases of recovery were reported in the last 24 hours. So far, around 1,648 COVID-19 patients have recovered from the virus in the country, including people from Sindh and Punjab province.

Nearly half of the total confirmed cases are from Punjab province alone, at 3,301.

Looking at the breakdown of cases, the Sindh province has reported 2,217 cases while Balochistan has 305 cases so far. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province has 993 cases, Islamabad 154, Gilgit Baltistan 245 and 46 in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

In addition to this, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan has asked the country’s lead agency, National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic to take measures to cope up with the deadly disease during the upcoming holy month of Ramzan as the number of COVID-19 cases in the country crossed 7,000.

NCOC was formed to take unanimous decision on all issues related to the coronavirus. It became operational earlier this month.

Apache makes emergency landing in Pb

New Delhi (NVI): An Indian Air Force Apache helicopter made an emergency landing at a field in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur after developing a technical fault today, IAF said.

“On 17 Apr 20, an Apache helicopter of the IAF got airborne from Pathankot airbase. The helicopter, after approx 1 hr of flying had indications of a critical failure and carried out a safe landing west of Indora, Punjab,” the Indian Air Force said in a statement.

IAF said that the captain of the aircraft took correct and prompt actions to recover the helicopter safely. “All crew onboard the helicopter are safe and there has been no damage to any property,” it added.

The aircraft will be recovered after necessary rectification, it said.

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