Tuesday 14 April 2020

Coronavirus Outbreak LIVE Updates: Five fresh cases take Dharavi's tally to 60; 10 staffers at Mumbai hospital test positive

10:01 (IST)

Coronavirus in India Latest Update

State govts to demarcate hotspots, containment zones; only essential services permitted in areas

The Ministry of Home Affairs’ new guidelines says that states, Union Territories (UTs) and district administrations will demarcate hotspots and containment zones as per the guidelines of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

“Very strong containment measures will be implemented in the hotspot districts accounting for a large number of COVID-19 cases or with the fast growth of cases,” Ministry of Home Affairs’ revised guidelines for lockdown says.

Only essential services have been permitted in these zones and strict perimeter control and strict restrictions on movement enforced.

09:57 (IST)

Coronavirus in India Latest Update

Revised guidelines permit transportation of goods without distinction of essential or non-essential

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued a set of detailed guidelines for the lockdown that will remain in force till 3 May. The revised guidelines permit all health services and the social sector to remain functional. Public utilities to function without any hindrance. The supply chain of essential goods to operate without any hindrance and, important offices of Centre and state governments and local bodies to remain open with the required strength.

Other key guidelines include that transportation of goods will be permitted without any distinction of essential or non-essential.

09:52 (IST)

Coronavirus in India Latest Update

MHA issues new guidelines on lockdown extension

According to the latest notification by the Ministry of Home Affairs dated 15 April, food processing, manufacturing units, and industries will be allowed in rural areas amid the coronavirus lockdown. 

It also stated that construction activities in rural areas will be allowed during the coronavirus lockdown. Construction activities in municipal (urban) areas will only be allowed if workers are staying on-site.

“In pursuance of this announcement, the Government of India has issued directions to all the Ministries/Departments of Government of India, State/Union Territory governments and authorities, that the lockdown measures stipulated in the Consolidated Guidelines of MHA, for containment of COVID-19 pandemic in the country, will continue to remain in force up to May 3, 2020,” a statement by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had said earlier.

09:37 (IST)

Coronavirus in Rajasthan Latest Update

Rajasthan records 29 fresh cases as tally rises to 1,034

State health officials recorded 29 new coronavirus cases in Rajasthan after 15 patients in Jaipur, 7 in Jodhpur and 7 in Kota tested positive for the virus. The total number of positive cases in the state now stands at 1,034.

09:35 (IST)

Coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh Latest Update

All 5 who died of COVID-19 in Bhopal were gas tragedy victims

All five persons who died due to coronavirus in Bhopal were victims of the 1984 gas tragedy in the Madhya Pradesh capital, an official said on Wednesday.

On 21 March, some organisations working for the survivors of the Bhopal gas tragedy had written to the authorities concerned, saying such people were five times more vulnerable to the coronavirus infection.

"All the five persons who died after contracting COVID-19 here were victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy," the official said.

A hospital in the city dedicated for the treatment of gas mishap survivors has been turned into a facility for coronavirus patients, causing hardship to these people, Rachna Dhingra, member of the NGO Bhopal Group for Information and Action, told PTI.

09:23 (IST)

Coronavirus in West Bengal Latest Update

West Bengal guv slams Mamata Banerjee over virus response

West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's administration of failing to handle the coronavirus crisis. Taking to Twitter, he said the police and administration in Bengal are failing to implement the required social distancing norms and curbing of religious congregations, which according to him, should "be shown (the) door."

09:17 (IST)

Coronavirus in Maharashtra Latest Update

Dharavi records 5 fresh cases as tally in area rises to 60

Health officials confirmed five new coronavirus cases in Mumbai's Dharavi region, taking the total number of cases in the locality to 60 and 7 deaths due to the spread of the disease, reported ANI.

09:11 (IST)

Coronavirus in China Latest Update

China's recent cases jump to 1,500 amid exodus of Chinese from Russia

China's has reported 46 new coronavirus cases, including 10 domestic infections, with health experts saying that the increasing number of local transmissions in the country's northeast bordering Russia remained a concern following the return of Chinese nationals from abroad.

China's National Health Commission (NHC) said on Wednesday that 46 new confirmed cases mostly from Chinese coming from abroad were reported on Tuesday taking the total number of recent cases to 1,500. This included 10 new local infections.

Health experts said that the Suifenhe city at the China-Russia border might become another Wuhan amid sharp increase of COVID-19 cases following an exodus of Chinese nationals from Russia.

Also on Tuesday, 57 new asymptomatic cases were reported taking their total to 1,023, the NHC said.

09:02 (IST)

Coronavirus in Pakistan Latest Update

Pakistan Chief Justice, family tested for COVID-19 after staffer tests positive

Pakistan's chief justice and his family were tested for coronavirus on Tuesday after one of his staffers tested positive for the deadly disease.

The Public Relation Officer of Supreme Court said in a statement that tests of Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed, his family and his secretary were conducted and they all were found to be negative.

However, the Chief Justice did not preside hearing of any case due to the coronavirus scare. The incident followed a day after Chief Justice Ahmed raised several questions over the size of the federal Cabinet and qualification of Advisor on Health Dr Zafar Mirza.

08:57 (IST)

Coronavirus in Maharashtra Latest Update

10 staffers at Mumbai hospital test positive

Ten staffers of a Mumbai hospital have tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday. They were in quarantine after 3 patients admitted there had tested positive. A total of 35 staff of the hospital have tested positive for the coronavirus till now and all are being treated at the hospital itself, reports ANI. 

08:48 (IST)

Coronavirus in India Latest Update

India reports 38 deaths, 1076 cases in last 24 hours

Total confirmed COVID-19 cases in India have risen to 11,439, according to the latest update by from the Union Health Ministry. This number includes cases involving foreign nationals, patients who have recovered. 

38 deaths and 1076 new cases reported in the last 24 hours. India's total number of coronavirus positive cases rises to 11,439, including 9756 active cases, 1306 cured/discharged/migrated and 377 deaths, reported Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. 

08:44 (IST)

Coronavirus in South Korea Latest Update

South Korea records less than 30 cases for third day in a row

South Korea recorded fewer than 30 new cases of the novel coronavirus for the third day in a row Wednesday, as the nation is facing the fourth week of strict social-distancing restrictions to slow the spread of the highly contagious virus, reported The Korea Herald.

The 27 new cases, which were detected Tuesday and compared with 27 on Monday and 25 on Sunday, brought the nation's total infections to 10,591, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).

08:41 (IST)

Coronavirus in South Korea Latest Update

South Koreans vote in national elections amid virus fears

South Korean voters wore masks and moved slowly between lines of tape at polling stations on Wednesday to elect lawmakers in the shadows of the spreading coronavirus.

The government resisted calls to postpone the parliamentary elections billed as a midterm referendum for President Moon Jae-in, who enters the final years of his term grappling with a historic public health crisis that is unleashing massive economic shock.

While South Korea's electorate is deeply divided along ideological and generational lines and regional loyalties, recent surveys showed growing support for Moon and his liberal party, reflecting the public's approval of an aggressive test-and-quarantine program so far credited for lower fatality rates compared to worst-hit areas in China, Europe and North America.

08:38 (IST)

Coronavirus in New Zealand Latest Update

New Zealand PM, ministers take 20% pay cut for six months 

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, ministers in her government and public service chief executives will take a 20 percent pay cut for the next six months amid the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

New Zealand’s offices, schools and non-essential services have been closed for the last three weeks, and economic activity is at a standstill as the country undertakes one of the strictest lockdowns globally.

The government has forecast joblessness to surge because of the global and domestic slowdown. “This is where we can take action and that is why we have,” Ardern said in a news conference announcing the decision.

“We acknowledge New Zealanders who are reliant on wage subsides, taking a pay cut, and losing their jobs as a result of the global pandemic,” she added.

08:29 (IST)

Coronavirus in Delhi Latest Update

55 containment zones in Delhi

The number of containment zones in Delhi has risen to 55, with Jain Mohalla in Chirag Delhi being declared one. The National Capital has reported 28 deaths and 1,510 confirmed cases.

08:16 (IST)

Coronavirus in US Latest Update

'Not the time to reduce the resources' of WHO, says UN chief

It is "not the time to reduce the resources for the operations of the World Health Organization or any other humanitarian organization in the fight against the virus," United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said.

"It is my belief that the World Health Organization must be supported, as it is absolutely critical to the world's efforts to win the war against COVID-19," Guterres said, after President Donald Trump announced that the US would cut off funding to the UN health body for mishandling the pandemic.

08:14 (IST)

Coronavirus in US Latest Update

Coronavirus cases in US surpass 600,000; toll at 25,575

The number of coronavirus cases in the United States has topped 600,000, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The death toll has surpassed 25,000.

While the number of cases stands at 602,989, a total of 25,575 people have died from the deadly virus in the country, reported Sputnik citing Johns Hopkins University.  A total of 46,515 people have recovered as per the university's data.

08:10 (IST)

Coronavirus in US Latest Update

Donald Trump halts World Health Organization funding

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he would halt funding to the World Health Organization over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic while his administration reviews its response to the global crisis.

Trump, at a White House news conference, said the WHO had “failed in its basic duty and it must be held accountable.” He said the group had promoted China’s “disinformation” about the virus that likely led to a wider outbreak of the virus than otherwise would have occurred.

The United States is the biggest overall donor to the Geneva-based WHO, contributing more than $400 million in 2019, roughly 15% of its budget.

The hold on funding was expected. Trump has been increasingly critical of the organization as the global health crisis has continued, and he has reacted angrily to criticism of his administration’s response.

08:04 (IST)

Coronavirus in India Latest Update

Suspension of rail services essential to prevent coronavirus spread, says railway official

Senior officials of the Railways on Tuesday said the suspension of train services and other public transport is necessary to ensure social distancing which is the only way to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Fearing a repeat of what happened in Mumbai earlier during the day when thousands of migrants gathered at Bandra railway station hoping to catch trains to their native places, the Northern Railway also issued an advisory.

"The general public is informed that a decision has been taken to not run any trains by Northern Railways till 3 May 2020 in view of COVID-19, hence such fake news in circulation may not be believed," a Northern Railways spokesperson said.

The official also asked media persons to publicise that Northern Railways is not running any train from Delhi or anywhere else.

07:56 (IST)

Coronavirus in West Bengal Latest Update

Over 600 arrested in Kolkata for flouting lockdown

Over 600 people were arrested from different parts of the city on the Bengali New Years' day on Tuesday for defying the lockdown norms imposed to break the chain of coronavirus transmission, a senior police officer said.

A total of 95 vehicles were also seized during the vigil conducted till 8 pm, he said. Those arrested will be prosecuted under sections dealing with disobedience of order duly promulgated, the officer added.

07:52 (IST)

Coronavirus in Maharashtra Latest Update

Curfew imposed in some more areas of Pune to check pandemic

Curfew was imposed on Tuesday in some more areas in Pune city after the civic body on Monday issued an order to seal them following a spurt in the cases of COVID-19.

Pune police on Tuesday night issued orders under section 144 of CRPC and restricted movement of people in various slums as well as non-slum pockets under Khadak, Bandgarden, Sinhgad Road, Dattawadi, Warje, Kothrud, Vishrantwadi, Khadaki, Chandannagar, Vimantal, Yerwada and Hadapsar police stations.

"As per the orders, restrictions on the movements of people have been imposed from 6 am on 15 April to 3 May in these areas," said joint commissioner of police, Ravindra Shisave.

07:50 (IST)

Coronavirus in India Latest Update

Airlines decline refund to customers for cancelled tickets as lockdown extended

With the central government extending the lockdown to May 3 and the subsequent suspension of all commercial passenger services till then, domestic airlines have again decided not to refund customers in cash for their cancelled flights and instead offer them rescheduling of tickets for a later date without any additional fee.

India had imposed a 21-day lockdown from March 25 to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Consequently, all domestic and international commercial passenger flights were suspended for this time period.

However, most of the airlines had been taking bookings except national carrier Air India for domestic flights for the period beyond 14 April.

Aviation consultancy Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) India said the civil aviation ministry should instruct airlines to "halt unfair practice of taking advance bookings until resumption is certain and an interim transition schedule has been established".

07:41 (IST)

Coronavirus in Assam Latest Update

Markaz attendee's wife tests positive for COVID-19 in Assam as tally goes up to 32

The total number of COVID-19 positive patients in Assam has reached 32, according to Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

On Tuesday Sarma tweeted that one more person from Dhubri, who is the wife of an infected person linked to both the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi and Athgaon Kabristan congregation in Guwahati, has tested positive for COVID-19. 

"A woman from Dhubri has tested positive for COVID-19. She is wife of a COVID-19 positive person who is connected both with Nizamuddin Markaz and Athgaon Kabristan congregation in Guwahati. The number of patients is now 32," the minister said in a tweet. 

07:35 (IST)

Coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh Latest Update

142 new cases in MP, 99 in Indore alone, tally 757

With 142 persons testing positive on Tuesday, the number of coronavirus cases in Madhya Pradesh climbed to 757, health officials said. With three deaths, the death toll of COVID-19 patients in the state also reached 53.

Since Monday evening, two COVID-19 patients died in Indore while one person succumbed in Bhopal, officials said. Indore, a commercial hub, has reported the highest 427 cases in the state with 99 new cases being reported on Tuesday.

Sixteen new cases were reported in Bhopal, which took the tally of COVID-19 patients in the state capital to 158.

07:30 (IST)

Coronavirus in Delhi Latest Update

57 locations identified for accommodation of Delhi Police personnel

Delhi Police on Tuesday identified 57 locations to accommodate its personnel who are deputed in sensitive areas due to COVID-19 pandemic, officials said.

A letter has been written in this regard by Special Commissioner (Armed Police) Robin Hibu to all the deputy commissioners, special commissioners and joint commissioners.

According to the letter, the police personnel whose houses are in the COVID-19 hotspots areas of the national capital can also stay at the identified locations.

The details of these locations are available with the deputy commissioners in all the districts of Delhi, the letter said.

It said the deputy commissioners have been instructed to provide accommodation to the police personnel at these locations.

07:27 (IST)

Coronavirus in India Latest Update

Migrant labourers gather on streets in Surat, Mumbai

In Surat, hundreds of migrant workers gathered in the Varachha area, demanding that they be sent to their native places despite the lockdown. In Mumbai, a large number of migrant workers who earn daily wages came out on the road near the Bandra railway station demanding transport arrangements to go back to their native places.

Daily wage workers have been rendered jobless ever since the lockdown was announced late last month to stem the spread of COVID-19, making their life a constant struggle.

07:23 (IST)

Coronavirus in India Latest Update

India reports 1,463 new cases in last 24 hours

India reported 1,463 fresh cases, a new record in a single-day increase of infections, taking the total number of infections to 10,815. The toll from the virus currently stood at 353, the health ministry said on Tuesday. 

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the extension of the three-week nationwide lockdown for another 19 days till 3 May. Modi indicated easing some curbs after 20 April in areas which are not hotspots to allow some “select necessary activities”.

Coronavirus Outbreak LATEST Updates: Health officials confirmed five new coronavirus cases in Mumbai's Dharavi region, taking the total number of cases in the locality to 60 and 7 deaths due to the spread of the disease

Total confirmed COVID-19 cases in India have risen to 11,439, according to the latest update by from the Union Health Ministry on Wednesday.

With 142 persons testing positive on Tuesday, the number of coronavirus cases in Madhya Pradesh climbed to 757, health officials said. With three deaths, the death toll of COVID-19 patients in the state also reached 53.

The country reported 1,463 fresh cases, a new record in a single-day increase of infections, taking the total number of infections to 10,815. The toll from the virus currently stood at 353, it said.

The extension of the nationwide lockdown for another 19 days sparked protests by migrant labourers in Surat and Mumbai on Tuesday.

At both places, migrants gathered in large numbers in public, leading to fears of transmission of the novel coronavirus even as the country registered a record single day increase of 1,463 cases.

In Surat, hundreds of migrant workers gathered in the Varachha area, demanding that they be sent to their native places despite the lockdown. In Mumbai, a large number of migrant workers who earn daily wages came out on the road near the Bandra railway station demanding transport arrangements to go back to their native places.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the extension of the three-week nationwide lockdown for another 19 days till 3 May. Modi indicated easing some curbs after 20 April in areas which are not hotspots to allow some “select necessary activities”.

Representational image. AP

Migrant labourers gather on streets in Surat, Mumbai

A large group of migrant labourers gathered in Bandra, demanding permission to return to their native states.

According to reports, heavy police deployment was seen in the area and the police resorted to lathicharge in order to disperse the gathering.

The migrants originally hail from states like West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.

One of the labourers, who did not reveal his name, said that NGOs and local residents are providing food to migrant workers, but they want to go back to their native states during the lockdown which has badly affected their source of livelihood.

"Now, we don't want food, we want to go back to our native place. We are not happy with the announcement (extending the lockdown)," he said, looking dejected.

Asadullah Sheikh, who hails from Malda in West Bengal, said, "We have already spent our savings during the first phase of the lockdown. We have nothing to eat now. We just want to go back to our native place. The government should make arrangements for us."

Daily wage workers have been rendered jobless ever since the lockdown was announced late last month to stem the spread of COVID-19, making their life a constant struggle.

An FIR has been registered in this regard against about 1,000 migrant workers, but no arrests have been made yet and the workers are being identified, a police official said.

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray appealed to migrant workers in the state to stay put and take up the challenge against the coronavirus, while also seeking to assure them that "lockdown" was not a "lock-up".

"Today what happened in Bandra was unfortunate. It might have happened because they thought that trains will start from 14 April, and so they would be able to go back to their villages," he said.

Stating that the highest number of coronavirus tests have probably been carried out in the state, Thackeray said between 20,00-22,000 tests have been carried out in Mumbai alone and between 10,000 to 15,000 tests have been carried out in the rest of the state till Tuesday morning.

Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh said that a probe has been ordered to find out who spread the rumour about train services resuming to take migrants home.

Hundreds of migrant workers gathered in Surat on Tuesday evening, demanding that they be sent to their native places despite lockdown, the Gujarat Police said.

The migrant workers gathered in Varachha area of the city and sat on a road demanding that they be allowed to go to their native places, police said.

Varachha is the diamond polishing hub of Surat, giving employment to lakhs of workers from different parts of Gujarat and the country. Many textile units are also located here.

"These migrant workers want to go to their native places. We have asked them not to be impatient because a lockdown is in force at present.

"Since some of them were complaining about food, we have called an NGO and immediately brought food packets for them. The situation is now under control," a police officer at the spot told reporters.

This was the second incident of migrant workers gathering on the streets in a week.

Migrant workers had staged violent protests in Surat on Friday, demanding that they be sent to native places despite lockdown.

Modi announces extension of lockdown till 3 May

Modi has announced the extension of the three-week nationwide lockdown for another 19 days to battle the coronavirus pandemic.

The prime minister acknowledged that the lockdown has come at a huge economic cost and also inflicted pain on the people, especially the poor, calling them “disciplined soldiers”.

Modi, however, asserted that India has chosen the correct path, and has managed to avert to a large extent the damage caused by the pandemic in many countries.

The prime minister's announcement on lockdown extension came at a time when India has recorded a sharp spike in COVID-19 cases in the last one week ever since Kerala reported the country's first coronavirus infection on 30 January.

The third and final week of the lockdown saw a jump of 5,574 cases and 215 deaths, an analysis of official data showed.

According to the latest health ministry data, there has been a record single day increase of 1,463 cases in the last 24 hours taking the total number of infections to 10,815. The toll from the virus currently stood at 353, it said.

A PTI tally compiled from states showed there were 11,312 cases with 389 deaths. The tally also showed that 211 of the 386 coronavirus patients in Kerala had recovered. There were two deaths in the state.

In his fourth address to the nation in the last one month on the coronavirus pandemic, Modi also announced that extensive guidelines for the second phase of the lockdown will be issued on Wednesday, declaring that his biggest priority is to save lives and minimise the hardships being faced by daily wagers and farmers.

During his 25-minute address, Modi also asked people to follow ‘saptapadi' (seven steps) in the coming days to help the government in its fight against coronavirus. The seven steps included taking care of the elderly people, maintaining social distancing and helping the poor.

Ten states — Tamil Nadu, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Maharashtra, Telangana, West Bengal, Karnataka, Meghalaya and Mizoram — and the Union Territory of Puducherry have already extended the lockdown till 30 April. Union government sources pointed out that the restrictions have been extended till 3 May as 1 May is a public holiday followed by the 2-3 May weekend.

IMF pegs India's growth at 1.9 percent in 2020-21

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected the growth of Indian economy in 2020 at the rate of 1.9 per cent, while the world economy is likely to contract sharply by "minus 3 percent" due to the coronavirus pandemic, which is proving worse than the 2008-09 financial crisis.

The IMF, in its yearly World Economic Outlook, gave a grim picture of the world economy amid global lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has jolted the world by claiming over one lakh lives globally.

The IMF has, however, given a bullish projection about India's economic growth in 2021, pegging the growth rate at 7.4 percent.

Gita Gopinath, Chief Economist and Director of the research department at IMF said in her opening remarks, "The COVID-19 pandemic is inflicting high and rising human costs worldwide. Protecting lives and allowing health care systems to cope have required isolation, lockdowns, and widespread closures to slow the spread of the virus."

"The health crisis is, therefore, having a severe impact on economic activity. As a result of the pandemic, the global economy is projected to contract sharply by minus 3 percent in 2020, much worse than during the 2008-09 financial crisis," said Gopinath.

As for China, the economy has been projected to grow at 1.2 percent and projected growth of 9.2 per cent in 2021.

With inputs from agencies



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