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Pakistan eases lockdown partially even as COVID-19 cases spike

COVID-19: Pakistan imposes mini-lockdown in Islamabad

New Delhi (NVI): Provincial governments of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan announced partial easing of lockdown measures imposed to curb the spread of the virus, even as coronavirus cases surged to a record high in the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the total number of positive cases of coronavirus increased by more than 1,500, taking the total cases to 28,554 with at least 623 fatalities being recorded so far.

Looking at the breakdown of cases, Sindh province has reported 10,771 coronavirus cases, highest among all the provinces, while Punjab has 10,471 positive cases.

On the other hand, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has recorded 4,327 cases, Balochistan is at 1,876, Gilgit-Baltistan at 421, Islamabad at 609 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is at 79 cases so far, according to Geo News.

Over 7,500 patients have recovered from the deadly virus so far.

Minorities equally contributing in the fight against COVID-19: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi

Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi

New Delhi (NVI): More than 1,500 Health Care Assistants, who have been trained under skill development programme of Minority Affairs Ministry, are assisting in treatment and well-being of Corona patients, Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today said.

Naqvi said, “These Health Care Assistants include 50 per cent girls who are helping in treatment of coronavirus patients in various hospitals and health care centres across the country.

He further added that this year, more than 2,000 other Health Care Assistants will be trained by the Minority Affairs Ministry. The Ministry is providing one-year training through various health organisations and reputed hospitals of the country.

The Union Minister said that different waqf boards across the country have contributed Rs 51 crore in PM and CM relief funds with the support of various religious, social and educational organisations. Waqf boards are also distributing food and other essential commodities among the needy.

In addition to this, 16 Haj Houses across the country have been given to state governments for quarantine and isolation facilities for the virus affected people. Various state governments are utilising the facilities at these Haj Houses according to their needs.

Naqvi further informed that face masks have been prepared on a large scale under SeekhoAurKamao skill development program of the Minority Affairs Ministry. The Ministry will also launch “JaanBhi, Jahan Bhi” awareness campaign to make the people aware of social distancing and other guidelines for safety from Corona.

Coronavirus cases in Nepal rise to 109

New Delhi (NVI): Nepal has confirmed 7 new coronavirus cases, taking the tally to 109 across the country, according to local media reports

The Ministry of Health and Population spokesperson said that 3 new patients have been confirmed in Bhulke of Udayapur, 3 in Kapilvastu, and one in Chhapkaiya, Birgunj of Parsa district this morning.

These new cases include 3 women and 4 men aged between 17 and 65 years.

The health condition of everyone is normal and is under medical observation, as per the ministry report.

Meanwhile, Nepal is among the countries that has the least number of cases of the deadly coronavirus.

So far, the number of patients cured and discharged stands at 30 but 3 of them have tested positive again.

Fact Check: Audio about govt providing Rs 3 lakh for every COVID patient is fake

Health Ministry
Representative Image

New Delhi (NVI): An audio message is being circulated on social media claiming that the Central Government is giving Rs 3 lakh for every COVID-19 positive patient to the state governments, is a fake message.

The Fact Check Unit of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) said that it has clarified with the Ministry of Health in this regard and it is to be informed that no such scheme has been announced by the Centre.

PIB, through its Fact Check twitter handle retweeted @ROBChandigarh tweet and said, the claim made is false and baseless.

The tweet read, “Claim: An audio message is shared on social media claiming that central govt is giving Rs 3 lakh per #COVID19 patient to State Govts to look after patient.

#FactCheck: Claim made is FALSE & Baseless. @MoHFW_INDIA has clarified that there is No such scheme by Central Govt.”

 

PIB has initiated a Fact Check handle to check such viral fake messages. One can also submit such messages or claims on PIB’s official website.

CBDT spells out residential status for NRIs due to lockdown

New Delhi (NVI): The lockdown period will not be counted to determine the residency status of NRIs, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said today.

Since the lockdown was announced in India and flight operations were suspended, NRIs who came to the country before the lockdown, do not have an option to return till travel restrictions are lifted.

However, the number of days they stay in India decides their liability of income-tax compliance, stated in recent amendments introduced by the Finance Act 2020 related to the tax residency rules can be a concern for some NRIs, CBDT in a statement said.

In order to mitigate the hardships of these individuals, the CBDT has issued the order under section 119 of the Act with this Circular, it added.

It said various representations have been received stating that there are a number of individuals who had come on a visit to India during the previous year 2019-20 for a particular duration and intended to leave India before the end of the previous year for maintaining their status as a non-resident.

In respect of an individual who has come to India on a visit before 22nd March, 2020, the circular stated the following:

a. Has been unable to leave India on or before 31st March 2020, his period of stay in India from 22nd March, 2020 to 31st March, 2020 shall not be taken into account;

b. Has been quarantined in India on account of novel coronavirus (Covid-19) on or after 1st March, 2020 and has departed on an evacuation flight on or before 31st March, 2020 or has been unable to leave India on or before 31st March, 2020, his period of stay from the beginning of his quarantine to his date of departure or 31st March, 2020, as the case may be, shall not be taken into account;

c. Has departed on an evacuation flight on or before 31st March, 2020, his period of stay in India from 22nd March, 2020 to his date of departure shall not be taken into account.

Health Ministry issues revised COVID-19 patient discharge rules

Representational Image

New Delhi (NVI): The Union Health Ministry has revised its discharge guidelines for coronavirus disease patients.

As per the new guidelines, the COVID-19 patients will be categorised into into 3 categories in the country which are- Very mild/mild, moderate and severe.

According to the rules till now, a patient was considered fit to be discharged if he or she tested negative on day 14 and then again in a span of 24 hours.

“The revised discharge policy is aligned with the guidelines on the 3 tier COVID facilities and the categorization of the patients based on clinical severity,” the document said.

Based on the categories of the revised guildelines:

1. Mild/very mild/pre-symptomatic cases

Such cases admitted to a Covid-19 care facility will undergo regular temperature and pulse oximetry monitoring.

The patient can be discharged after 10 days of symptom onset and no fever for 3 days. There will be no need for testing prior to discharge.

2. Moderate cases admitted to dedicated Covid-19 Health Centre (Oxygen beds)

Patients whose symptoms resolve within 3 days and they maintain saturation above 95% for the next 4 days

Cases clinically classified as “moderate cases” will undergo monitoring of body temperature and oxygen saturation.

If the fever resolves within 3 days and the patient maintains saturation above 95 per cent for the next 4 days (without oxygen support), such patient will be discharged after 10 days of symptom onset as per the guidelines laid down by the Health Ministry.

3. Severe cases including immunocompromised (HIV patients, transplant recipients, malignancy)

Discharge criteria for severe cases will be based on clinical recovery and patient tested negative once by RT-PCR (after the resolution of symptoms).

Maharana Pratap and Gokhle remembered

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today paid tributes to freedom fighter and social reformer Gopal Krishna Gokhale and Maharana Pratap, a great warrior and king of Mewar, on their birth anniversaries.

Taking to twitter, PM Modi remembered Gokhle and wrote, “A remarkable personality blessed with immense wisdom, he made outstanding contributions towards education and social empowerment.”

“He also provided exemplary leadership to India’s freedom movement”, Modi added.

In another tweet, Prime Minister praised Maharana Pratap Singh and said, “A great tribute to Maharana Pratap, the great son of Mother India, on his birth anniversary.”

“His saga full of patriotism, self-respect and might will always remain a source of inspiration for the countrymen.”

Who killed prominent Pashtun leader in Pak?

Arif Wazir

New Delhi (NVI): The trending hashtag #StateKilledArifWazir on Twitter says it all. It talks about the assassination of Arif Wazir, a prominent leader of Pashtun community, by “unidentified gunmen” in Waziristan region of Pakistan and the needle of suspicion clearly points towards Pakistan’s notorious state agencies.

Wazir, who had been raising voice against human rights violations by the state forces against Pashtuns in Waziristan and the ‘enforced disappearances’, was shot at on May 1 when he was travelling by car in Wanna town. The leader of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) succumbed to his injuries a day later.

Interestingly, less than a fortnight before his killing, the Pakistani police had arrested him on April 17 on the pretext of delivering “anti-Pakistan” speech during a recent visit to Afghanistan. In a speech in Afghanistan, Wazir had pitched for unity among Pashtuns living in Pakistan and Afghanistan while talking about the impact of war on their lives.

Significantly, he was released on bail just four days before being attacked by the gunmen.

Wazir was detained by the Pakistani forces six times and altogether spent more than 13 months in detention.

It is well known that Pakistani intelligence agencies and forces use the pretext of ‘anti-Pakistan’ activities to target those raising voice against human rights abuses and ‘enforced disappearances’, which is a major menace in that country.

According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), the authorities have made allegations of anti-state activities “an expedient label for human rights defenders, particularly those associated with the PTM.”

Thousands of Wazir’s supporters and PTM activists have held demonstrations at various places in Waziristan against the killing, which they are convinced was carried out by the state agencies.

“A peaceful protest recorded by PTM supporters at #LandiKotal against the brutal killing of #ArifWazir by state sponsored terrorists,” tweeted one Ijaz Pashteen, along with pictures of a demonstration.

“Reasons may be best known to our Czars for condoning the murder of #ArifWazir, official silence on the incident not only raised questions, but doubts. Incidentally, the tragedy also triggered debate on the details of criminal apathy towards Waziristan,” tweeted Sangeen Khan, a Pashtun leader and advocate.

“Candles lit in memory of Arif Wazir Shaheed in Khost ! Those who fight for rights of voiceless people, Pakistan puts them in jails and brutally kills them,” wrote Nida Qureshi.

Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (meaning Movement for Protection of Pashtun) was formed in January 2018 and ever since has been campaigning for civil rights of  Pashtuns living in Waziristan, where the Pakistani military has been committing all kinds of atrocities under the pretext of fighting Taliban.

The Pakistan government is so unnerved by PTM that it does not allow its peaceful rallies and arbitrarily imprisons its leaders and cadres by even slapping sedition charges. Some just go missing and are never found again, suspect for which are the Pakistani intelligence agencies.

According to estimates, thousands of Pashtuns have been killed or have disappeared and lakhs have moved out, abandoning everything.

One of the main demands of the PTM has been removal of Pakistani military checkpoints in tribal areas and an end to “enforced disappearances,” in which suspects are detained by security forces without due process.

The Pakistani forces have been regularly targeting PTM leaders and have filed cases against them, including on charges of committing sedition. The cases are filed besides the illegal means of harassment and killings.

Last year, Ibrahim Arman Loni, a core committee member of PTM, was killed in Balochistan Province in a manner similar to that of Wazir.

The arbitrary detentions include those of women’s rights defenders like Gulalai Ismail. Even her family has been harassed by the Pakistani forces.

Mohsin Dawar has faced arrests and legal harassment at the behest of the Pakistani establishment.

In January this year, the Pakistani authorities also arrested PTM leader Manzoor Pashteen along with 23 other human rights defenders. They were released on February 15.

World migratory bird day highlights Covid-19 lockdown as a boon for birds

New Delhi (NVI): Today is the World Migratory Bird Day but in view of COVID-19 pandemic this year, you may celebrate while staying at home.

The day is celebrated to raise awareness of migratory birds and the need for international cooperation to conserve them.

On this day, each year a variety of events are held to raise awareness. Various bird watching events too are held for bird enthusiasts. But, this year such events have been cancelled due to pandemic.

The theme of World Migratory Bird Day “Birds Connect Our World” reflects the importance of conserving the integrity of ecosystems that support the natural cycles essential for the survival and well-being of migratory birds.

It also underlines the fact that migratory birds depend on a network of sites along their migration routes for breeding, feeding, resting and overwintering.

The day was first observed in 2006 after the Secretariat of Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals and the Secretariat of Agreement on the Conversation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) came up with a proposal.

The COVID-19 lockdown seems to be a blessing for nature. Every year, migratory birds, especially flamingoes flock to certain parts of Mumbai during the summer.

However, it has been reported that there is a significant rise in the number of flamingos that arrived in Mumbai this year.

All of these birds are vulnerable to the effects of climate change. As global warming is affecting the breeding areas of wading birds, and even their eating habits.

Apart from this, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) also work hard to support member states and natural World Heritage sites to assess climate vulnerability and plan climate adaptation initiatives.

Earlier this year, during the 2020 international waterbird census, Banc d’Arguin National Park (Mauritania) broke all records, with a surprising count of 1.7 million waterbirds, as per UNESCO reports.

If birds are healthier and encounter less impacts from human activities, they will be able to cope with the changing conditions. The more we protect our natural world, the more we all benefit, it added.

State-wise details of Covid-19 cases in India

(Representational/file photo)

New Delhi (NVI): As the nation is now in the third phase of the countrywide lockdown, amid rapid spike in COVID-19 cases, the total number of confirmed cases have been reported at 59,662 with 1,981 deaths so far, according to the Union Health Ministry.

After the first confirmed coronavirus case in India, which was reported in the state of Kerala on January 30, the virus has tightened its grip across the nation.

Total positive cases in different states/UTs:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 33

Andhra Pradesh- 1,887

Arunachal Pradesh- 1

Assam- 59

Bihar- 571

Chandigarh- 150

Chhattisgarh- 59

Dadar Nagar Haveli- 1

Delhi- 6,318

Gujarat- 7,402

Haryana– 647

Himachal Pradesh- 50

Jammu and Kashmir- 823

Jharkhand- 132

Karnataka- 753

Kerala- 503

Ladakh- 42

Madhya Pradesh- 3,341

Maharashtra- 19,063

Meghalaya- 12

Mizoram- 1

Odisha- 271

Puducherry- 9

Punjab- 1,731

Rajasthan- 3,579

Tamil Nadu- 6,009

Telangana- 1,133

Tripura- 65

Uttarakhand- 63

Uttar Pradesh- 3,214

West Bengal – 1,678

State/UT wise total death toll in the country:

Andhra Pradesh- 41

Assam- 1

Bihar- 5

Chandigarh-1

Delhi- 68

Gujarat- 449

Haryana- 8

Himachal Pradesh- 2

Jammu and Kashmir- 9

Jharkhand- 3

Karnataka- 30

Kerala- 4

Madhya Pradesh- 200

Maharashtra- 731

Meghalaya- 1

Odisha- 2

Punjab- 29

Rajasthan- 101

Tamil Nadu- 40

Telangana- 29

Uttar Pradesh- 66

Uttarakhand- 1

West Bengal- 160

A total of 17,847 people have been cured or discharged from hospitals in India. There are around 39,834 active cases currently.

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