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COVID-19: Fear of losing jobs forces workers to head back to Dhaka

New Delhi (NVI): Thousands of readymade garment (RMG) factory workers have started heading back to the country’s capital, Dhaka, from northern and southern districts to save their jobs, ignoring risks to their lives and a potential coronavirus outbreak.

The government has shutdown educational institutions, cut off mass transports and urged people to stay indoors to contain the spread of the virus.

But its efforts will face a tough challenge as people have started returning to attend work, amidst the fears of losing their jobs and no source of earning, according to United News of Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, 2 people have died due to novel coronavirus in Bangladesh in the last 24 hours, raising the death toll to 8, according to the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).

9 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 during this period, taking the total of number of such cases in the country to 70.

IEDCR director Meerjady Sabrina Flora in an online briefing informed, “In the last 24 hours, two more people died. One of them is 90 and another 68 years’ old. Both had underlying health conditions.”

Testing, treatment of COVID-19 free for Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries

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Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan.

New Delhi (NVI): To strengthen the country’s response to coronavirus pandemic, the Central Government has decided to make the testing and treatment for COVID-19 free for Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries at private laboratories and empanelled hospitals.

More than 50 crore citizens, eligible under the Government of India’s health assurance scheme, Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PM JAY), will be able to avail free testing through private labs and treatment for COVID-19.

Although, the testing and treatment of COVID-19 is already available for free in the public facilities.

The empaneled hospitals can use their own authorized testing facilities or tie up with an authorized testing facility.

These tests would be carried out as per the protocol set by Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) and by private labs approved/registered by ICMR. Similarly, treatment of COVID-19 by private hospitals will be covered under AB-PMJAY.

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Harsh Vardhan, said, “In this unprecedented crisis we have to very actively involve the private sector as a key partner and stakeholder in the fight against COVID-19. Making testing and treatment available under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY will significantly expand our capacities by including private sector hospitals and labs and mitigate the adverse impact of this catastrophic illness on the poor.”

This decision comes with the objective to increase the supply of testing and treatment facilities and increase access to them by roping in the private sector.

As per the ICMR guidelines for COVID-19 testing by private laboratories in India, the test is to be conducted by laboratory which has NABL accreditation for real time PCR assay for RNA virus.

This decision will also help attract more private sector players for providing testing and treatment for COVID-19. Active private sector involvement will be critical in case there is a surge in the number of COVID-19 patient that need care. States are in the process of enlisting private sector hospitals that can be converted in to COVID-19 ONLY hospitals.

Information on symptoms, testing and treatment for COVID-19 can be accessed from the website of the MoHFW and by calling the national COVID-19 helpline 1075.

Total cases of COVID-19 rise to 299 in Afghanistan

New Delhi (NVI): Afghanistan reported 25 new COVID-19 cases today, bringing the total to 299, according to country’s Ministry of Public Health.

A total of 153 suspected cases had been tested in COVID-19 laboratories in the capital city Kabul and western Herat province yesterday, as per local media reports.

According to Afghan official, 25 cases were tested positive of virus, including 11 in Kabul and five cases in Herat.Nine new positive ceases were reported in Samangan, Balkh, Kunduz, Faryab, Ghazni, Logar, Ghor and Nimroz provinces.

Six of the 299 affected people have died and 10 have recovered since the outbreak of the coronovirus in Afghanistan.

22,000 Tablighi Jamaat members, their contacts quarantined

New Delhi (NVI): Nearly 22,000 Tablighi Jamaat members and their contacts have been quarantined across the country so far, a home ministry official said today.

The Ministry is conducting rigorous contact tracing of the coronavirus cases linked to the Jamaat members in different states, the official said.

The official said the rate of rise in coronavirus cases in India has been far less as compared to other countries

However, all issues related to the ongoing lockdown are being monitored by a 24×7 control room of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Put off only lights, not electrical appliances: Power Ministry

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New Delhi (NVI): The Ministry of Power today sought to allay apprehensions regarding problems that power grids could face due to mass switching off of lights tomorrow at 9 PM in response to the call made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

It also clarified that only lights are required to be turned off at private residences and there is no call to switch off the street lights or appliances in homes.

The lights in hospitals and other essential services like public utilities, municipal services, offices, police stations, manufacturing facilities, etc., will remain on, the Ministry added in a statement.

Locals bodies are also advised to keep the street lights on so as to avoid any law and order problems, the ministry added.

At the same time, the Ministry said it is ready to handle the fluctuations which are expected to arise.

The statement was released in reference to the Prime Minister’s appeal to switch off lights for 9 minutes at 9 pm on April 5 to express solidarity in times of coronavirus outbreak.

The Ministry has also stated that adequate arrangements and protocols are in place to handle the variation in demand. People should be assured not to worry and continue running all the as usual.

COVID-19: 601 cases, 12 deaths reported in a single day: Health Ministry

New Delhi (NVI): India has reported 601 new coronavirus cases and 12 deaths in the last 24 hours, which is recorded as the highest spike, a health ministry official today said.

The condition of 58 coronavirus patients is said to be critical in Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi.

Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry, while addressing a press briefing, said, “Till now there are 2,902 Covid-19 positive cases in India. 601 positive cases have been reported since yesterday. 12 deaths also reported yesterday have taken the total number of deaths to 68. At least 183 people have recovered.”

1,023 positive cases reported have been linked to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation. The cases have been found from 17 states till now, according to the Health Ministry.

In addition to this, the ministry said that these cases amount to 30 per cent of the total coronavirus cases in the country and are linked to “one particular place”.

The highest number of Covid-19 cases—490 so far have been reported in Maharashtra followed by Tamil Nadu and national capital Delhi.

“There is no need to panic but awareness is a must to fight the battle against Covid-19: the health ministry official said.

PM directs availability of medical supplies for COVID-19

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today directed officials to ensure sufficient availability of all medical equipment such as ventilators, coveralls and masks, to be used in COVID-19 response.

He issued the directions while chairing a joint meeting of the empowered groups constituted for planning and ensuring implementation of COVID-19 response activities in the country.

At the meeting, the Prime Minister reviewed countrywide preparedness regarding availability of hospitals, proper isolation and quarantine facilities, the PMO said.

He also viewed disease surveillance, testing and critical care training and also directed the concerned groups and officials to ensure sufficient production, procurement and availability of all essential medical equipment such as PPEs, masks, gloves and ventilators.

The PM also directed the groups and officials concerned to ensure sufficient production, procurement and availability of all essential medical equipment such as PPEs, masks, gloves and ventilators, the Prime Minister’s Office tweeted.

4 militants eliminated by security forces

New Delhi (NVI): Security forces eliminated four militants in an ongoing operation that broke out today in Kashmir’s Kulgam region. The identities of the militants are yet to be ascertained.

The house in which the militants were holed up was demolished and weapons were seized from the scene of the encounter.

The militant group was responsible for killing several civilians since the last 12 days.

This operation was carried out based on a credible police input, through which the militants were tracked down in an operation launched by the Army and security forces.

Taiwan’s example-setting directive

New Delhi (NVI): Wear facial masks while travelling in public transport or risk a fine of USD 496.

This example-setting directive has been issued in Taiwan by its government as part of efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Taiwan’s Health Minister Chen Shih-chung, who also heads the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC), said users of public transport, including the high speed rail and various metro systems, will need to wear the masks or face fines, Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA) reported.

“If we spot someone not wearing a mask, we will ask them to put one on and if they refuse to do so, we will fine them in accordance to the Communicable Disease Control Act,” Chen said.

Currently, passengers not wearing masks on trains belonging to the Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) and the Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) have been directed to purchase masks at nearby convenience stores, said CECC Deputy Commander Chen Tsung-yen.

The reason for enforcing users of public transport to wear masks is because proper social distancing cannot be properly implemented in such situations, Chen Shih-chung said.

The CECC issued its first round of guidelines of social distancing on March 31, recommending that people in Taiwan stay at least one meter apart outdoors and 1.5 meters apart indoors.

The guidelines were expanded the following day, saying that businesses that cannot implement the social distancing rules should close temporarily.

Chen Shih-chung said social distancing is a preventative measure to contain COVID-19, even though Taiwan has not yet reached a lockdown level as has been the case in many other cities around the world.

“It will be too late if we implement social distancing after a lockdown has been announced,” Chen said.

As of yesterday, Taiwan had recorded nine new infections, bringing the total to 348 since the coronavirus emerged in China at the end of last year, according to CECC statistics.

In another directive, the government announced that all members of the public must wear a face mask when visiting government facilities and offices in Taipei from April 9, or be turned away.

Domestic cargo flights empowering India’s fight against COVID-19

New Delhi (NVI): Efforts at policy and ground level are being taken to add substantially in the country’s fight against Covid-19 by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

The cargo that is being delivered to various parts of the country includes COVID-19 related reagents, enzymes, medical equipment, testing kits & PPE, masks, gloves & other accessories and cargo requisitioned by State and UT Governments and other postal packets.

The continous delivery of such essentials like medical kits has enabled testing of patients on time across the country. Similarly, delivery and parcel of masks and gloves has enabled doctors to protect themselves and others.

In addition to this, medical supplies delivered to North-East and remote areas ensures that no region of the country is left behind in this fight against Covid-19.

The ministry also announced that hub & spoke lifeline services have been started so that simultaneously, different and far located parts of the country can be catered to and resources are utilised optimally.

With regards to international collaboration, the ministry announced an air bridge between Shanghai and Delhi. “The First cargo flight of Air India on April 5.Air India will be operating dedicated scheduled cargo flights to China for the uplifting of critical medical equipment,” the ministry added.

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