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MHA writes to Kerala Govt over ‘dilution’ of lockdown guidelines

New Delhi (NVI): The Centre has shot a letter to the Kerala government over easing of lockdown by opening restaurants, MSME industries and allowing intrastate bus travel in the state, saying that this amounts to violation of its fresh guidelines for extended lockdown issues on April 15.

In a letter signed by Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, the MHA has said that Kerala’s steps amounted to dilution of guidelines issued by Home Ministry under the Disaster Management Act 2005.

In its communication, MHA stated, “Government of Kerala (GoK) on April 17 has circulated revised guidelines for lockdown measures to all departments, district collectors, superintendent of police and other heads of department of Kerala. On examining the said order, it is observed that the Kerala government has allowed opening of activities that are prohibited as per the MHA order issued on April 15, 2020. Such additional activities allowed by State government inter alia includes opening of local workshops, barber shops, restaurants; book stores, MSMEs in municipal limits, bus travel in the Cities/ towns for shorter distance (up to 60 km); two passengers In the back seat of four wheelers. This amounts to dilution of guidelines issued by MHA and issued under the Disaster Management Act 2005.”

However, the Kerala government has denied any violation of guidelines saying that there may be some “misunderstanding”, due to which the Centre has objected to dilution of the lockdown protocol.

Kerala has reported 402 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 3 deaths as of April 20, (9 AM), according to the Union Health Ministry.

Ensure adequate police protection to medical staff: MHA

Ceasefire Agreement

NEW DELHI: The state governments should ensure that medical teams are given adequate security during community testing for coronavirus in the regions by the local police, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs said.

MHA Joint Secretary, Punya Salila Shrivastav made the announcement while addressing a media briefing, as there has been an increase in the number of such incidents, where medical teams and personnel have gone to certain areas to test corona positive patients and they had to face assaults and backlash.

The joint secretary also said that peace committee consisting of local community leaders can play an important role in ensuring smooth community testing and security.

In addition to this, “The district authorities should ensure that facilities provided to labourers in shelter and relief camps are up to the mark and are adequate,” she added.

The ministry has also asked the district authorities to set up an adequate system of monitoring in rural areas which ensures that the national guidelines for lockdown are being properly adhered to.

So far, a total of 17,265 confirmed cases of coronavirus have been reported in India while 543 people have died, according to the Union Health Ministry.

Coronavirus cases surge past 2.4 million globally; deaths at 1,65,000

New Delhi (NVI): The novel coronavirus has infected more than 2.4 million people and killed at least 1,65,000 worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University tally.

In addition to this, nearly 6,25,000 people have recovered from the deadly virus.

The US now has more than 40,000 fatalities due to the coronavirus with a total number of 7,59,687 positive cases being reported.

Furthermore, as the coronavirus spread deepens in the US, protests against “stay at home” orders have flared in a number of states.

Meanwhile, New Zealand will relax some of its restrictions – among the most stringent in the world – from next Monday as the coronavirus curve continues to flatten in the country.

The number of deaths in Italy was witnessed as the lowest in a week, while the pace of new infections also slowed taking the total number of infections to 1,78,972 with the total deaths at 23,660.

Spain also registered its lowest daily death toll in almost a month, according to media reports.

COVID-19 cases in India rise to 17,264; death toll at 543

New Delhi (NVI): The total confirmed cases of coronavirus in India has increased to 17,265, while 543 people have died from the pandemic, according to Union Health Ministry.

In the past 24 hours, 1,553 new infections and 36 deaths have been reported.

In terms of total number of cases, Maharashtra is the worst affected state with 4,203 coronavirus cases and 507 fatalities.

Meanwhile, the national capital, Delhi comes next with 2,003 cases out of which 72 patients recovered and 45 have died, as per health ministry data.

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

The government restrictions will be eased in non-hotspot areas of the country from today.

At least 2,547 patients have been cured or discharged so far.

Cop shot dead by militants in south Kashmir’s Anantnag 

Representational Picture

Srinagar (NVI): A policeman was shot dead by militants at Shahabad village of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district late this evening, police said.

The cop was fired upon by militants at his residence in Hiller Shahabad area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, they said.

Senior police officers also reached the crime spot.

Police said that militants shot at a policeman identified as Manzoor Ahmad, a resident of Bahi Kokernag, Anantnag.

“He received gunshot injuries in this incident. He was evacuated to nearby hospital for treatment of his injuries. However, he succumbed to his injuries,” they said.

Meanwhile, Police has registered a case in this regard under relevant sections of law. Further investigation is in progress, police said.

Nine more test positive in J&K, Covid-19 tally mounts to 350

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir today recorded nine more positive cases of Covid-19, taking the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the Union Territory (UT) to 350.

J&K government spokesperson Rohit Kansal tweeted: “Some respite but no reason for complacency; 9 new cases- 8 from Kashmir Division, 1 from Jammu Total cases now 350. Jammu Division-55 and Kashmir Division-295.”

The daily bulletin released by J&K government stated that the total number of people who are under observation in the J&K UT is 61331. “Total number of people who are under home quarantine are 5939 while as people who are in hospital quarantine are 289,” it read.

The bulletin stated that surveillance of 30,966 people has been completed. “Total number of people tested so far is 7895 of which 7545 have tested negative,” the bulletin read.

It said that so far 350 people have tested positive of which 289 are active cases. “In Jammu, 41 positive cases have been recorded so far while as in Kashmir total number of positive cases is 248. In Jammu, 13 people have recovered and 43 people have recovered in Valley,” the official figures revealed.

Five deaths have so far been reported in J&K—four in Kashmir and one in the Jammu region.

The figures further stated that Bandipora district of north Kashmir tops the list of positive cases at 81 followed by Srinagar district where 79 positive cases have been recorded so far.

“In Baramulla district of Kashmir, there are 43 cases, 31 in Kupwara, 22 in Shopian, 14 in Ganderbal, 13 in Budgam, six in Kulgam, three in Pulwama and Kulgam each,” the bulletin said.

Jammu has 26 positive cases, Udhampur 20, four each in Samba and Rajouri, and one in Kishtwar, it added.

Home is the new office: PM on changing work life in Covid-19 era

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today shared a post he wrote on LinkedIn, saying that coronavirus has changed the contours of professional life as home has become the new office and internet has become the new meeting room.

“As the world battles COVID-19, India’s energetic and innovative youth can show the way in ensuring healthier and prosperous future. Shared a few thoughts on @LinkedIn, which would interest youngsters and professionals,” PM Modi tweeted while sharing the link of his LinkedIn post.

“It has been a topsy-turvy start to the third decade of this century. COVID-19 has brought with it many disruptions. Coronavirus has significantly changed the contours of professional life. These days, home is the new office. The Internet is the new meeting room. For the time being, office breaks with colleagues are history,” the Prime Minister wrote in his LinkedIn post.

He said that he has been adapting to these changes. “Most meetings, be it with minister colleagues, officials and world leaders, are now via video conferencing,” he wrote.

The PM further said that in order to get ground-level feedback from various stakeholders, there have been videoconference meetings with several sections of society. “There were extensive interactions with NGOs, civil society groups and community organisations. There was an interaction with Radio Jockeys too,” PM writes.

Sharing the post on the fifth day of extended lockdown, the Prime Minister also pitched for innovative ways of continuing work while following social distancing.

“One is seeing the ways through which people are continuing their work in these times. There are a few creative videos by our film stars conveying a relevant message of staying home. Our singers did an online concert. Chess players played chess digitally and through that contributed to the fight against COVID-19. Quite innovative!” he wrote.

“The work place is getting Digital First. And, why not?” PM wrote.

PM further said that the transformational impact of technology often happens in the life of poor. He gave the example of his government’s effort in 2014 to connect such people through Jan Dhan Account, Aadhar and mobile number.

“This seemingly simple connection has not only stopped corruption and rent seeking that was going on for decades, but has also enabled the Government to transfer money at the click of a button. This click of a button has replaced multiple levels of hierarchies on the file and also weeks of delay,” PM said.

“India has perhaps the largest such infrastructure in the world. This infrastructure has helped us tremendously in transferring money directly and immediately to the poor and needy, benefiting crores of families, during the COVID-19 situation,” he added.

Apart from changing work culture, PM also mentioned about education sector, saying that “invigorating technology in this sector has its benefits.”

The PM gave example of DIKSHA Portal, to help teachers and boost e-learning and SWAYAM, aimed at improving access, equity and quality of education.

He also mentioned E-Pathshala, which is available in many languages, and enables access to various e-books and such learning material.

The Prime Minister further suggested ‘AEIOU’ model for youth to adapt to work life after COVID-19: Adaptibility, Efficiency, Inclusivity, Opportunity and Universalism.

Covid-19 cases in Pakistan cross 8,000 mark, 167 deaths so far

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan has reached 8,212, with 167 deaths so far, reported the Dawn.

Sindh has recorded the highest number of deaths in the last 24 hours at eight, the website reported. The province has 2,537 COVID-19 cases so far.

Meanwhile, 1,868 people have recovered from the disease in the country, according to Dawn.

Apart from that, 376 people cases have been reported in Balochistan, 3,686 in Punjab Province, 1,137 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 171 in Islamabad, 257 in Gilgit Baltistan and 48 in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK).

1,334 new coronavirus cases, 27 deaths in last 24 hours: Health Ministry

Joint Secretary, Health Ministry, Lav Aggarwal

New Delhi (NVI): The Union Health Ministry today said that there have been 1,334 new coronavirus cases since yesterday taking the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 15,712.

27 deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours, which takes the overall death toll in the country to 507, said Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary in Health Ministry, during the daily media briefing here.

“2,331 people have been cured so far which takes our percentage of people who are cured to 14.1 per cent, the Joint Secretary said.

There have been no cases in Mahe in Puducherry and Karnataka’s Kodagu in the last 28 days, he added.

“Apart from this, if we see today’s data, then there are 54 additional districts, besides the 2 above districts, in 23 states and Union Territories, where there has been no case in the last 14 days. 10 new districts have been included in this,” he said.

Aggarwal added that there are 755 dedicated Covid-19 hospitals in the country now, apart from 1,389 dedicated COVID Health Care Centres. With this, there are a total of 2,144 dedicated facilities where severe/critical patients can be treated, he said.

WATCH | Wreath laying ceremony of CRPF personnel killed in Sopore, J&K

Floral tributes were paid to three CRPF personnel who were killed in a terror attack in Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district yesterday. A wreath-laying ceremony was held at the force’s Humhama headquarters in Srinagar. Yesterday, militants fired indiscriminately at a CRPF party of 179 battalion in Sopore, leaving a head constable and two constables dead. Two others, including a head constable and a constable (driver) were injured.

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