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Coronavirus: Delhi primary schools to remain shut till March end

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): The Delhi government today ordered closure of all primary schools in the national capital till March 31, as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus among children.

The order comes amid the COVID-19 outbreak, in which total number of positive cases stands at 30 in India.

Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia tweeted regarding the closure of all primary schools (upto class 5).

“As a precautionary measure to prevent the possibility of spread of COVID-19 amongst our children, Delhi Government has directed immediate closure of all primary schools (Govt/ aided/ private/MCD/NDMC) till 31/3/20.”

Meanwhile, India reported one more case of coronavirus today. A middle-aged man from Ghaziabad has tested positive for novel coronavirus, according to media reports.

The patient has a history of travelling to Iran. A 16-year-old Indian girl has also tested positive for the COVID-19 in Dubai.

The total number of positive coronavirus cases in the country have now risen to 30.

A Paytm employee in Gurugram, Haryana was tested positive for the virus, yesterday.

Two persons from Hyderabad were also reported to have been affected with the viral infection but there was no official confirmation for the same.

Delhi violence: Suspended AAP leader Tahir Hussain arrested

Tahir Hussain

New Delhi (NVI): Suspended Aam Aadmi Party leader Tahir Hussain, accused in the murder of Intelligence Bureau employee Ankit Sharma, has been arrested as a Delhi court rejected his plea to surrender here today.

Hussain was arrested after the court rejected his application to surrender. He has also filed an anticipatory bail plea at Karkardooma court in Delhi which will hear the case, according to media reports.

The politician who is accused of murder, rioting and arson, appeared before a Delhi court today.

Tahir Hussain was charged after the body of Ankit Sharma was recovered last week from a drain in northeast Delhi’s Jaffrabad, one of the worst-hit areas in the violence over the citizenship law. The police said he was absconding since his name cropped up in the case.

He was suspended by AAP after allegations from the IB official’s family. Sharma’s family claims that Hussain incited the mob which had caught the IB staffer and killed him.

Heavy rains expected in Kashmir this weekend

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): Kashmir plains received rains today while the higher reaches received fresh snowfall bringing down the minimum temperatures.

The local Meteorological Centre in Srinagar has predicted moderate rain and snow from today till Saturday.

“Light rain and snow would commence at a few places in Kashmir division on Thursday morning. The intensity and distribution will then increase during the next two days and main activity is expected on Friday and Saturday,” the MeT department said.

“There is possibility of thunderstorm, hail and gusty winds at 30 to 40 K.M.PH in the plains of Jammu Division and few places of Kashmir Division during the period,” the department said.

Tourist destinations of the region, including the Gulmarg resort in north Kashmir and Pahalgam resort in south Kashmir, also received moderate rain and snowfall.

Meanwhile, Srinagar, the summer capital of the state recorded a low of 3.5 while the mercury in Qazigund in south Kashmir settled at a low of 2.7 degrees Celsius.

Pahalgam the famous health resort which also serves as one of the base camps for the annual Amarnath Yatra recorded a low of minus 1.2 degrees Celsius.

The temperature in Gulmarg famous ski-resort in north Kashmir was minus 3.5 degrees Celsius.

Kokernag town recorded a low of 1.8 degrees Celsius while Kupwara town in north Kashmir registered a low of 3.4 degrees Celsius.

Jammu city recorded 13.7 degrees Celsius, Katra town 11.2, Batote 4.9, Banihal 3.2 and Bhaderwah recorded 3.4 as the minimum temperatures.

5 patients with coronavirus-like symptoms quarantined at Srinagar hospital

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): Five patients with coronavirus-like symptoms have been quarantined at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Srinagar.

These COVID-19 suspects have a recent history of travelling to coronavirus-affected countries.

Epidemiologist, Integrated Disease Surveillance Program at SKIMS, Dr Mansoor Qadri said that four had been already quarantined at the hospital on Wednesday. “A new patient has been suspected with corona flu-like symptoms. He has been isolated. He already had a history of Myocardial infarction (MI),” he said.

The samples of the suspects were collected and sent for testing to the National Institute of Virology in Pune.

Of the five, one had travelled to Thailand while two had been to Iran, they said, adding that the remaining two had a recent travel history to the epicentre of COVID-19 in China’s Wuhan.

Jammu and Kashmir has stepped up preparedness in order to identify the symptoms and deal promptly with the emerging infection of coronavirus.

In Jammu, two passengers with travel history to Italy and South Korea were shifted to the quarantine ward at a government medical college hospital on Wednesday.

The tests of the two persons have been sent to Delhi and symptomatic passengers have been instructed for home quarantine.

Although no positive cases of coronavirus have been reported in Kashmir, health officials said all hospitals should ensure their staff is trained, and well-prepared to deal with the virus.

The government has been issuing advisories to inform people of the precautionary measures and symptoms associated with coronavirus.

On Wednesday, JK Government appointed various officers to ramp up efforts for prevention and control of novel coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to the order issued by the GAD, Bhupinder Kumar, Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM), J&K, shall be the overall in-charge of the coronavirus control efforts at the Union Territory level who shall work under the supervision of Financial Commissioner, Health & Medical Education Department, J&K.

The order also states that Dr Shafqat Khan (designated Nodal Officer) shall work under the supervision of overall in-charge coronavirus control efforts (Mission Director, NHM).

Further, at the Divisional Level, respective Divisional Commissioners shall be the overall in-charge of coronavirus control efforts and shall be assisted by the respective Directors of Health Services.

At the District Level, Deputy Commissioners shall be the in-charge of coronavirus control efforts to be assisted by the respective Chief Medical Officers.

Nirbhaya convicts to hang on Mar 20

New Delhi (NVI): A Delhi court today issued fresh death warrants and a new date to hang the four convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case. The convicts will be hanged on March 20 at 5:30 am in Tihar Jail now, the court said.

This comes after President Ram Nath Kovind rejection the mercy petition by Pawan Gupta — one of the convicts in the Nirbhaya case.

Earlier on March 4, a plea was moved in a Delhi court, seeking fresh death warrant for the execution of the four convicts, contending that the convicts have exhausted all the legal remedies.

Pawan Gupta and the three other convicts– Vinay Sharma, Akshay Kumar and Mukesh Singh – are scheduled to be hanged.

Nirbhaya, a 23-year-old girl, was brutally raped and murdered on the night of December 16, 2012 in a south Delhi area.

India keen to engage on Arctic: Prez

Former President of Iceland Olafur Ragnar Grimsson with President Ram Nath Kovind

New Delhi (NVI): India is keen to engage on the Arctic and looking at new avenues for cooperation, President Ram Nath Kovind said today as he met Former President of Iceland Olafur Ragnar Grimsson at Rashtrapati Bhavan here.

“The Arctic region is of special significance to India. Scientific studies have shown a link between the Arctic region and the monsoon,” President Kovind said.

Welcoming Grimsson, the President said that India deeply appreciates his efforts on Arctic and climate change issues.

President Kovind also appreciated Grimsson’s initiative to get all stakeholders on the Arctic together on one global platform – the Arctic Circle. “we all have to contribute towards building a sustainable planet for ourselves and for our future generations,” he added.

PF interest rate reduced from 8.65% to 8.50% for this fiscal

New Delhi (NVI): Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has reduced the interest rate on employee provident fund from 8.65 per cent in the last fiscal (2018-19) to 8.50 per cent for this fiscal (2019-20).

Union Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar confirmed the interest rate cut today, as the move is expected to affect around 6 crore people who have PF account with the retirement fund body.

The decision was taken at the central board of trustees (CBT) meeting of the retirement fund body Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) here today.

The salaried employees would earn 0.15 per cent lower returns for their provident fund deposits in this financial year ending March 31, 2020.

The EPFO has invested 85 per cent of its annual accruals in the debt market and 15 per cent in equities through exchange-traded funds.

As on March 31, 2019, EPFO has made a cumulative investment of Rs 74,324 crore fetching a return of 14.74 per cent.

Concerted efforts needed to combat Coronavirus: Harsh Vardhan

Union Minister Harsh Vardhan. (Source:@drharshvardhan)

New Delhi (NVI): The Health Ministry is constantly reviewing the evolving scenario due to the spread of coronavirus in the country with 29 positive cases so far, Harsh Vardhan said while briefing Lok Sabha MPs today.

The Union Health Minister said that a “concerted effort” would be needed from all sectors of government to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.

He gave details of cases detected in India as well as travel restrictions. He said the government has initiated a series of actions to contain the spread of the virus adding that the Health Ministry was conducting daily reviews.

“As on March 4, a total of 28,529 persons were brought under community surveillance and are being monitored. The universal screening for all international passengers will now be conducted,” he said

“The Government is constantly in touch with WHO headquarters. Our focus is on adherence to global standards on preparedness against disease,” he added.

Temperature down by few notches as rains lash Delhi-NCR

New Delhi (NVI): Rain and thundershowers lashed parts of Delhi-NCR last night, bringing mercury down.

Delhiites woke up to a cloudy morning today but the weather turned humid gradually.

There was a slight decrease in minimum temperature in the national capital to 14 degree Celsius from 14.4 degrees Celsius recorded yesterday.

The maximum temperature today is expected to be around 26 degrees celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Significantly, Skymet had already predicted the possibility of rain in Delhi-NCR. The reason for this rain is the Western Disturbance in North India and the cyclonic winds developed due to its effect.

This cyclonic system is currently over Rajasthan and adjoining parts, while the Western Disturbance is over Jammu and Kashmir. Both these systems are quite active and will remain on the states of North India for the next two days.

The rainfall activities are likely to increase today. There may be a few intense spells of rain and thundershowers in parts of Punjab, Haryana and West Uttar Pradesh during night hours.

Meanwhile, the overall air quality in the national capital today is in “moderate” category.

According to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital stood at 110 which falls in the “moderate” category.

J&K: SPO, Civillian killed in Sopore militant attack

Representational Image

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): A J&K Special Officer Officer (SPO) and a civilian were killed in a militant attack in Sopore town of north Kashmir this evening.

SSP Sopore Javaid Iqbal confirmed the death of a cop and a civilian. “In the incident ,SPO and a civilian were killed while as another policeman sustained injures,” he said.

The deceased have been identified as SPO Wajahat Ahmad Bhat son of Asadullah Bhat of Wagoora Kreeri and the civilian has been identified as Umar Subhan of Warpora.

The injured cop has been identified as Showkat Ahmed.

Police has cordoned off the area and search is on to nab the culprits.

Meanwhile, an encounter broke out between militants and security forces at Chadoora area of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district, police said.

The encounter was still on when this report was filed.

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