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Govt sets up science & tech core team on COVID-19

WHO
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New Delhi (NVI): With the total number of coronavirus cases reported in India reaching 126, the Government has set up an ‘S&T Core-team on COVID-19’, of experts who will reach out to the Indian scientific community to expand their scope of finding ‘immediate and urgent solutions’ to the ongoing pandemic.

K VijayRaghavan, Principal Scientific Advisor to GoI, tweeted yesterday that there is a need for the scientific community in the country to proactively work to find a solution to the global health problem.

“It is now time for all of us, individual scientists, institution leaders and groups of institutions to get together and contribute to containing, mitigating, and pushing back this pandemic,” he said in a tweet.

The Advisor said that his office has set up “an ‘S&T Core-team on COVID-19’, of experts, who will reach out to each of the clusters, help define problems that need urgent and immediate solutions.”

He added that the experts will also work with academia and industry to help link teams to solve these problems speedily.

“This is a time for team-work. This is a time for our S&T institutions to show national and global leadership. We have concentrations of institutions & industry in the NCR, Kolkota-Kalyani, Chandigarh, Lucknow-Kanpur, Mumbai-Pune-Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyd, etc.,” he tweeted.

“These R&D hubs, linked to others, each needs to form a collaborative team and leadership. They can each while interacting, map out their strengths and what key COVID-19 problems they will address and solve in weeks, months, a year,” he added.

while exhorting the scientific community as well as academia, he said, “The goal is to make sure that our health-agencies, our science agencies, and most importantly our people and all peoples have the benefit of your knowledge, talents, and expertise speedily. Don’t hold back.”

Principal Scientific Advisor further added that in addition to the ‘top-down’ efforts of various departments and ministries, such as the Department of Biotechnology and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research etc., scientists need to proactively work together to ensure synergy and develop implementable solutions that health-workers and communities need.

Total number of coronavirus cases climbed to 126 today as one more death was reported from Mumbai today. The Health Ministry is working with other departments in the government to contain the spread of COVID-19, almost in a war footing.

Nirbhaya case: Convict moves Delhi court

Mukesh Kumar Singh

New Delhi (NVI): Mukesh Kumar Singh, one of the convicts in 2012 Nirbhaya gangrape case moved a Delhi court today, claiming that he was not in the national capital on the day of the crime.

The death row convict filed a plea seeking quashing of his death penalty.

However, during the hearing, the public prosecutor told the court that convict Mukesh’s plea against the death penalty was frivolous and a tactic to delay hanging.

As per the latest information available, the court has reserved order on Mukesh’s plea and order will be pronounced shortly.

Mukesh Singh and the three other convicts including Vinay Sharma, Pawan Kumar and Akshay Kumar are scheduled to be hanged on March 20 in Tihar Jail.

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

India bans travellers from Afghanistan, Philippines, Malaysia

New Delhi (NVI): In its additional travel advisory on coronavirus issued today, the Government has prohibited the travel of passengers from Afghanistan, Philippines, Malaysia to India with immediate effect.

“No flight shall take off from these countries to India after 1500 hours Indian Standard Time (IST). The airline shall enforce this at the port of initial departure,” the Ministry of Health said in a statement here.

The latest advisory has been issued “In continuation of the travel advisory issued on 11th March 2020 and 16th March 2020,” the statement read.

The official statement further stated that the instruction is a temporary measure and shall be in force till 31st March 2020 and will be reviewed subsequently.

The additional travel advisory has been issued a day after the Government prohibited the travel of passengers from European Union, the European Free Trade Association, Turkey and the United Kingdom to India. The order will come into effect from March 18.

“No airline shall board a passenger from these nations to India with effect from 1200 GMT on 18th March 2020. The airline shall enforce this at the port of initial departure,” read an official statement by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

However, the Ministry said that this is a temporary measure and shall be in force till 31st March and will be reviewed subsequently.

Apart from this, the compulsory quarantine has been expanded to a minimum period of 14 days for passengers coming from/transiting through UAE, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait. This will also come into effect from 1200 GMT on March 18 from the port of first departure.

In its circular, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has also directed all scheduled Indian and foreign airlines engaged in international air transportation to\from India to follow the latest guidelines.

Three more test positive for coronavirus in Ladakh

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): Three more patients have been tested positive for coronavirus in Ladakh, taking the total number of patients infected by the virus in the Union Territory to six.

Among the three new cases, two are from Leh while one is from Kargil district.

Medical Superintendent, Sonam Norboo Memorial (SNM) Hospital, Tsering Samphel confirmed that two patients have been tested positive of coronavirus at the hospital in Leh. “They have no travel history to coronavirus hit countries but their parents returned from Iran,” he said.

The Union Territory administration has imposed Section 144 in Kargil as a precautionary measure.

Yesterday, two patients, one each from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were tested positive for the virus.

Jammu and Kashmir Government on Monday informed that 176 persons have completed their 28-day surveillance period and, so far, only two cases have been tested positive in the Union Territory.

2,478 travellers and people in contact with suspected cases have been put under surveillance while as 2,095 people are under home quarantine.

People in hospital quarantine stand at 29 while 178 people are under home surveillance.

A media bulletin stated that 106 samples have been sent for testing, of which 98 have tested negative and only two cases have tested positive so far. Reports of six cases were awaited.

Third COVID-19 death in India; cases climb to 137

New Delhi (NVI): A 64-year-old coronavirus patient died today in Mumbai, taking the total number of deaths due to COVID-19 in the country to three.

The total number of positive cases has also reached 137, according to the Health Ministry.

The Ministry has also said that fresh coronavirus cases have been reported from Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Kerala.

Meanwhile, the Central Government has issued a fresh travel advisory, prohibiting the entry of passengers from EU countries, Turkey and the UK from March 18 till March 31.

Yesterday, the Centre also decided to shut all Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)-protected monuments and central museums across the country till March 31, including Taj Mahal.

Apart from this, the Ministry has activated a toll-free 24×7 national helpline number, 1075, to address queries related to the infection.

PM pays tributes to Bangabandhu

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today paid tributes to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on his 100th birth anniversary.

Bangladesh is today celebrating the birth centenary of its founder President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman also called as Bangabandhu.

PM Modi will also participate in the birth anniversary celebrations of Bangabandhu in Bangladesh this evening via video link.

“Shri Modi will address Jatir Pita of Bangladesh’s 100th Birth Anniversary celebrations via video link, this evening,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a release.

PM Modi also tweeted on the occasion, saying that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is remembered for his courage and indelible contribution to Bangladesh’s progress.

“Tributes to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on his birth anniversary. He is remembered for his courage and indelible contribution to Bangladesh’s progress. This evening, via video link, will address Bangabandhu’s 100th Birth Anniversary celebrations being held in Bangladesh,” he tweeted.

Meanwhile, due to coronavirus outbreak, the events planned today in Bangladesh will be without any public gatherings.

Unseasonal rains expected in MP, Chhattisgarh

File photo

New Delhi (NVI): Unseasonal rains and thundershower activities are expected over Southeast Madhya Pradesh and adjoining parts of Chhattisgarh by today evening and rain activities may intensify in the region by tomorrow.

Since last two days, the weather of these states has gone completely dry.

At present an anti-cyclone is persisting over West central Bay of Bengal and its impact will be seen over Central India in terms of moisture incursion from Bay of Bengal.

In Delhi, the maximum temperature today was recorded at 28 degrees Celsius and the minimum at 14 degrees Celsius.

According to IMD, the maximum and minimum temperature is expected to rise over the next few days.

19 mn USD deposited in COVID Fund: WHO

Geneva (NVI): Nearly 19 million US dollars have been deposited by more than 1.1 lakh people to the COVID19 Solidarity Response Fund which was launched on March 13, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said today.

“These funds will help buy diagnostic tests, supplies for health workers and support research and development,” he said addressing media here.

“This is the defining global health crisis of our time. The days, weeks and months ahead will be a test of our resolve, a test of our trust in science, and a test of solidarity,” he added.

He said crises like #COVID19 tend to bring out the best and worst in humanity.

“We also ask people to express their solidarity by refraining from hoarding essential items, including medicines,” the global body chief said.

Hoarding can create shortages of medicines and other essential products, which can exacerbate suffering, he said.

Emphasising on conduct of test for coronavirus, the WHO DG warned, “This is a serious disease. Although the evidence we have suggests that those over 60 are at highest risk, young people, including children, have died.”

He said, “So far, we have seen epidemics in countries with advanced health systems. But even they have struggled to cope.”

He went on to add, “As the coronavirus moves to low-income countries, we’re deeply concerned about the impact it could have among populations with high HIV prevalence or malnourished children. We’re calling on every country & individual to do everything they can to stop transmission.”

Entry of foreigners banned in Delhi Gurdwaras amid COVID-19 fears

New Delhi (NVI): In a bid to check the transmission of coronavirus, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee today decided to ban the entry of foreigners who have not completed their 15 days stay in India in all Delhi Gurdwaras with immediate effect.

Manjinder Singh Sirsa, President Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Committee, said that only those foreigners who have completed their 15-day stay in India will be allowed to visit the Gurdwaras in National Capital as a matter of precaution and preventive measure.

Apart from this, all devotees have been requested to take langar prasad (food) from main langar halls only. The food served by individuals/different Sikh organizations in a different separate place in gurdwara premises henceforth will not be allowed in Gurdwara Premises, Sirsa announced.

The DSGMC president also said that all Gurdwara sevadars will take every essential precaution before serving food like sanitising themselves and washing their hands with soap.

In the advisory, Sirsa further stated that all the railing/lifts/chairs etc which are used by devotees will be disinfected multiple times a day as part of precautionary and preventive measures against coronavirus.

Gurdwara Authorities have also discontinued providing headscarf in all Delhi Gurdwaras to visiting devotees as a preventive measure to check transmission of Corona Virus.

Therefore, all non-sikhs/Shahzdhari Sikhs who visit Gurdwaras regularly have been advised to bring their own headscarf to cover their head which is mandatory to gain entry in the main hall.

Besides this, all the important places like Langar Halls / Main halls / Visiting rooms will be regularly disinfected in the Gurdwara Premises to check the transmission of coronavirus, Sirsa said.

He added that it has been decided to avoid cooking of raw vegetables in langar and instead cook packaged rice, pulses, etc in as preventive measure.

DSGMC is seriously considering the checking of all devotees for virus infection before entry to gurdwaras as health safety measures if situation warrants so in coming days, advisory reads.

COVID-19 cases in India at 114 after 4 fresh reports: Health Min

New Delhi (NVI): Four fresh cases of coronavirus have been detected in India across three states and a Union Territory, taking the total number of cases in the country to 144, the Government said in a statement today, even as the pandemic continued to afflict damage in various parts of the world.

In a media briefing on the coronavirus situation held here today, the Union Health Ministry said that four new cases- one each from Odisha, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh and Kerala have been confirmed as per the latest data available.

“There are now a total of 114 confirmed cases in India as of today, including 10 discharged, 3 cured and 2 reported deaths,” the Ministry said.

The Government also informed that contact tracing activity of these positive cases has led to the identification of more than 5,200 contacts, who are kept under surveillance.

Apart from this, the officials informed the media that Travel restrictions have been further tightened to prevent the spread of the virus from high-risk areas.

Under the fresh travel bans, travel of passengers from member countries of the European Union, the European Free Trade Association, Turkey and the United Kingdom to India is prohibited with effect from 18th March 2020, the Ministry said in a statement.

“No airline shall board a passenger from these nations to India with effect from 1200 GMT on 18th March 2020. The airline shall enforce this at the port of initial departure,” it said.

However, the Ministry said that this is a temporary measure and shall be in force till 31st March and will be reviewed subsequently.

The briefing was conducted by Home Ministry Additional Secretary Anil Malik, Luv Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry, MEA Additional Secretary Dammu Ravi and KS Dhatwalia, DG PIB, at National Media Centre.

Earlier today, a high-level meeting of the Group of Ministers (GoM) on COVID-19 was held at Nirman Bhawan, chaired by Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan.

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