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COVID has attacked our faith, need for united front: PM

New Delhi (NVI): Observing that coronavirus has attacked “our faith and belief”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the pandemic is “threatening our way of life” and appealed for a united front in the battle against it.

Against the backdrop of the controversial Tableegi congregation at Nizamuddin Dargah here, Modi said leaders should reach out to community leaders and social welfare organizations at state, district, town and block levels to build up a united front based on community-approach in the battle against the pandemic.

The Prime Minister was addressing Chief Ministers via a video conference in which he underlined the imperative to work on a war footing, identify hotspots of the virus, encircle them and ensure that the virus does not spread out.

He also said that it is pertinent to maintain peace and law and order across the country.

The Chief Ministers also mentioned their efforts of maintaining social distancing, tracking suspect cases, identifying and quarantining suspect cases arising from Nizamuddin Markaz, during their interaction with the PM.

They also apprised the Prime Minister about their efforts for containing community transmission, boosting up of medical infrastructure, strengthening medical workforce, provision of tele-medicine, provision of mental health counselling, distribution of food and other essentials to those in need and taking care of migrant workers.

Apart from that, the Prime Minister asked the States to brainstorm and send suggestions to the Centre so that a common exit strategy can be formulated to ensure staggered re-emergence of the population once lockdown ends.

This would mean a limited or controlled movement of a large population in the country after the lockdown gets over on April 14.

While reiterating the importance of social distancing in preventing the spread of COVID-19, the PM thanked the States for supporting the decision of lockdown due to which India has achieved some success in limiting the spread of the contagion. At the same time, he also forewarned that the global situation remains far from satisfactory and informed about the speculations of a possible second wave of the spread of the virus in some countries.

He asserted that the common goal for the country is to ensure minimum loss of life. “In the next few weeks, testing, tracing, isolation and quarantine should remain the areas of focus,” he said.

The PM also highlighted the necessity of maintaining the supply of essential medical products, availability of raw material for the manufacture of medicines and medical equipment.

He said it is necessary to ensure availability of separate, dedicated hospital facilities for COVID-19 patients.

To increase the availability of doctors, he asked the States to tap into the resource pool of AYUSH doctors, organize online training and utilize para-medical staff, NCC and NSS volunteers.

Calling for a coordinated action to address the present crisis, the Prime Minister stressed the need for setting up Crisis Management Groups at district level and appointment of District Surveillance Officers.

To ensure congruence in Covid-19 related data of district, state and Centre, the PM said that data must be taken from the accredited labs for testing.

Apart from that, the Prime Minister also said it is necessary to ensure staggered release of funds to the beneficiaries under PM Garib Kalyan Yojana to avoid crowding at banks.

Starting from China in December last year, the pandemic has wreaked havoc across several countries in the world with the death toll reaching 47,000 and total cases around 9 lakh.

In India, the death toll due to Covid-19 has reached 50 while the total number of cases have climbed to 1,965, according to Health Ministry data. The country entered a 21-day lockdown on March 24 midnight after PM made an announcement in this regard to combat the pandemic by remaining indoors and following the principle of social distancing.

COVID-19: Prez, VP to hold video-conference with Governors and LGs

President
President Ram Nath Kovind

New Delhi (NVI): President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President Venkaiah Naidu will hold a video-conference tomorrow \with Governors, Lieutenant Governors and administrators of all the states and Union Territories.

The video-conference will be held to bolster the efforts to contain and manage the crisis arising from the outbreak of COVID-19.

The agenda of the conference would include the status of COVID-19 in the states, the role of the Red Cross with focus on vulnerable sections, and the role of civil society/voluntary organisations/private sector in complementing the efforts of the Union and State governments to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

This will be second such video-conference with Governors/LGs and Administrators of States and UTs.

In the video-conference on March 27, 14 Governors and Delhi Lt. Governor shared experiences in their territories.

The remaining Governors/LGs and Administrators will be sharing their experiences tomorrow.

Rights of refugees, migrants must be protected amid Covid-19: UN

Many live in overcrowded camps, settlements, makeshift shelters or reception centers. (Twitter)

New Delhi (NVI): Amid the coronavirus pandemic, when several countries in the world are closing their borders, many refugees, especially those forcibly displaced, stateless and migrants are at heightened risk, according to the UN Refugee Agency.

At such a time, rights and health of refugees and migrants must be protected as “we can only defeat this virus when each and every one of us is protected,” says the UN body.

“Three-quarters of the world’s refugees and many migrants are hosted in developing regions where health systems are already overwhelmed and under-capacitated,” UNHCR said in a report.

Many live in overcrowded camps, settlements, makeshift shelters or reception centers, where they lack adequate access to health services, clean water, and sanitation.

The situation for refugees and migrants held in formal and informal places of detention, in cramped and unsanitary conditions are particularly worrying.

The UN Body has warned that such cramped spaces at refugee camps can be breeding grounds of the COVID-19 that has claimed thousands of lives so far. While considering the consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak would have, they should be released without delay, it said.

Migrant children and their families and those detained without a sufficient legal basis should be immediately released, it added.

“Migrants and refugees are disproportionately vulnerable to exclusion, stigma, and discrimination, particularly when undocumented,” the UN body said adding that the disease can be controlled if an inclusive approach is adopted which protects every individual’s rights to life and health.

“To avert a catastrophe, governments must do all they can to protect the rights and the health of everyone. Protecting the rights and the health of all people will, in fact, help control the spread of the virus,” according to the human rights body.

All migrants and refugees must be ensured equal access to health services, the agency says adding that they must be effectively included in national responses to COVID-19, including prevention, testing, treatment.

This inclusion will help not only to protect the rights of refugees and migrants, but will also serve to protect public health and stem the global spread of COVID-19.

The UN Human Rights Agency has called upon all the countries to ensure that refugees and migrants get adequate access to national health services and additional financial support.

This is where the world’s financial institutions can play a leading role in making funds available, it stated.

The agency also suggested ways to manage border restrictions in a manner that respects international human rights and refugee protection standards, including the principle of non-refoulment, through quarantine and health checks.

As the world is fighting the COVID-10 menace on a war footing, the UNHCR has said that many refugees, displaced, stateless people and migrants can also be a part of the solution if their skills and resources are properly utilised, rather than ignoring them or closing doors on them.

COVID19: One more tested positive in Ladakh, toll 14

Mubashir Bukhari

Kargil (NVI): One more person has been tested positive for coronavirus in Kargil after a gap of 13 days, taking the total number of cases to 14 in Ladakh.

Baseer Choudhary, District Magistrate Kargil in a tweet said, “1 more positive case in Kargil a lot more is required to be done for #BreakingTheChain. Appeal to the Kargilis.”

On March 18, three persons were tested positive in Ladakh UT. Since then no case was reported, till today.

Senior doctor at Government Hospital Kargil, Dr Vilayat Ali said in the Kargil district of Ladakh two persons were tested positive and this is the third case.

In the Leh district, 11 COVID19 patients have been tested positive.

However, Ladakh hasn’t witnessed any death due to this deadly disease till now, while Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed two deaths, besides 62 positive cases.

Board exams to be conducted for 29 key subjects: HRD Ministry

Quality education
Union Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’

New Delhi (NVI): CBSE Board will now be holding the pending exams of CBSE Board Exam 2020 only for 29 Key Subjects, as per the latest notification released by the Union Human Resource Development Ministry, due to the prevailing coronavirus pandemic situations.

Exams for only those 29 subject will be conducted that are crucial for admissions in HEIs, and for rest of the subjects, the Board will not hold examinations; the instructions for marking/assessment in all such cases shall be separately issued by the Board.

In addition to this, HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ has also advised CBSE to promote all the students studying in classes 1st to 8th to the next class/grade.

He also said that the students studying in classes 9th and 11th will be promoted to next class/grade based on the school-based assessments including projects, periodic tests, term exams, etc. conducted so far.

Earlier, as a precautionary measure and in compliance of the instructions received from Ministry of HRD, dated March 18, 2020, CBSE postponed all the board examinations that were to be held between March 19 to March 31, 2020.

The announcement of CBSE comes as a great relief for students and parents who were concerned about the exam being held in such stressful time.

Till now, the total number of positive COVID-19 cases rose to 1,965 while the death toll climbed to 50, with several states reporting new cases, according to Union Health Ministry data.

J&K: Another COVID-19 patient tests negative at CD hospital

(Updating earlier copy)

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): Another ray of hope has rekindled among the people of Kashmir after one more COVID-19 patient has been tested negative at Chest Disease Hospital Srinagar today.

According to the hospital administration, the first COVID-19 positive patient of CD hospital has recovered and has been tested negative after 15 days.

“He was in hospital quarantine from past 15 days and today his test was found negative,” they said.

The development took place right after Kashmir’s first positive patient was discharged from Sher-e-Kashmir institute of medical sciences (SKIMS) Srinagar after testing negative.

The 67-year-old Saudi returned lady from Khanyar area of Srinagar was tested positive for COVID-19 on March 18 and was admitted at SKIMS, Soura, where she was quarantined and put under observation.

But after completing mandatory quarantine period of 14 days at SKIMS hospital and testing negative twice she has been discharged and has been allowed to go home.

Till now Jammu and Kashmir has reported 62 positive cases with two deaths and two recovered cases.

Meanwhile, 324 persons who were quarantined in different hotels and other Government Buildings were allowed to go home, while 281 people will be sent back to their homes tomorrow.

On Wednesday, 221 persons completed their quarantine period and were allowed to go home.

A day before, 78 people completed a 14-day quarantine period and were sent home.

States/UTs should take up measures to fight against fake news: MHA

Ceasefire Agreement

New Delhi (NVI): Union Ministry of Home Affairs has written to all states and UTs to take effective measures to fight against fake news in order to prevent panic among people and spread of COVID-19 in India.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla said that the government is creating a web-portal for people to verify facts and unverified news promptly.

All the state UT governments have been requested to create a similar mechanism at their level for issues in this regard, Bhalla added.

The Supreme Court while hearing a petition, took serious note of the panic created by fake news leading to mass movement of migrant labourers, in different parts of the country amidst the ongoing lockdown.

Meanwhile, the court has also made observations and directions to ensure provision of basic amenities such as food, medicines etc. in line with NDMA/MHA directives and other welfare activities in relief shelters for migrant labourers.

The Supreme Court has asked the government to develop a system to share credible information with people, for comtaiment of spread of COVID-19 in the country.

COVID-19 death toll crosses 50,000, total cases inch near 10 lakh mark

Coronavirus

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus positive cases around the world has reached 9,81,221 as they inch near the 10 lakh-mark while the total number of fatalities has crossed 50,000, according to reports.

In the last 24 hours, Spain, US and UK have recorded the highest death toll in a day, where the US recorded 884 coronavirus deaths. It has also confirmed more than 2,16,000 cases of the disease.

In the United Kingdom, the virus claimed a total 563 lives in a day, in what was described as a “sad, sad day”, by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The total death toll in the UK currently stands at 2,352.

Whereas in Spain, an additional 864 people have died taking the total death toll to 9,387 with more that 1,04,000 positive cases of the novel coronavirus.

Meanwhile, France has become the fourth country to pass the 4,000 threshold in the deaths, following Italy, Spain and the US.

Italy now has a total of 1,10,574 positive cases with 13,155 deaths, which is the highest death toll due to COVID-19 in the world.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was “deeply concerned about the rapid escalation and global spread of infection”, adding: “Over the past five weeks, we have witnessed a near-exponential growth in the number of new cases reaching almost every country, territory and area.

“The number of deaths has more than doubled in the past week. In the next few days, we will reach one million confirmed cases and 50,000 deaths.”

So far, 1,93,770 people have been completely cured or discharged from hospitals, according to John Hopkins data.

PM to hold video conference with state CMs

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with chief ministers of all states today through video conferencing, to discuss the situation arising out of the COVID-19 crisis in the country.

This will be the second such interaction in less than two weeks on the critical issue of the coronavirus outbreak and related matters.

The first interaction was after the Central government imposed a 21-day nationwide lockdown from March 25.

PM will be discussing on issues such as ways to contain the spread of Covid-19, movement of migrants and contact tracing of Tablighi Jamat participants.

However, on Wednesday, 437 new cases were reported across the country, the highest so far for a single day.

COVID-19: J&K sets up committee for release of prisoners

Jammu (NVI): In a bid to de-congest jails in Jammu Kashmir and prevent any possible spread of coronavirus among the inmates, the Union Territory administration has set up a high powered committee to take appropriate action regarding the release of some prisoners.

The J&K Government has taken the step on the directions of Supreme Court, following the spread the pandemic in the country.

The Committee comprises Executive Chairman J&K SLSA,  Justice Rajesh Bindal, as its Chairman with Principal Secretary, Home Department Shaleen Kabra and Director General of Police(Prisons) J&K, V K Singh, as its members.

On the basis of the nature of offence, the number of years and severity of offence, the Committee has proposed to release convicted prisoners and under trials.

With regard to release of convicted prisoners, categories of convict shall be considered for release on special parole for eight weeks, extendable for another eight weeks if the lockdown by the government continues, subject to good conduc, the J&K government said in a statement.

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