Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) official on Tuesday confirmed that the states have been advised not to use new rapid antibody tests for COVID-19 for a period of next two days. In the wake of complaints that the kits were throwing invalid tests, the country’s nodal medical research body said that it will investigate the issue of faulty kits.
Raman R Gangakhedkar, head scientist, ICMR, in its daily press briefing, said that admitted that variation in RTPCR tests is high. In the next two days teams from ICMR’s eight institutes will be sent on ground, who will test and validate the kits, he added.
Owing to the inaccuracy in results, Rajasthan on Tuesday stopped using rapid testing kits for coronavirus, NDTV reported. Two days earlier, on Sunday, West Bengal’s Department of Health also complained of a “large number of ‘inconclusive’ results” by the testing kits which, according to the department, necessitated a “repeat ‘confirmatory’ test run”, thereby causing delay in producing final reports.
Compared to other tests, rapid testing kits take roughly 15 minutes to deliver results – crucial in increasing the current pace of COVID-19 testing in India.
Meanwhile, the number of infections continue to rise in the country. As on Tuesday evening till five, the cumulative figure of the virus has climbed to 18,985, among whom 15,122 are “active” cases in hospitals and 3,259 are cured, according to Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The death toll due to COVID-19, disease caused by the novel coronavirus has now reached 603. Unlike any other day since the nationwide lockdown rules were enforced last month in March, on Tuesday, the country also witnessed farmers, workers, youth and their families gather on their rooftops or doorsteps protesting against the damaging impact of Narendra Modi – led central government’s COVID-19 strategy.
Bank employees across the country, led by Bank Employee Federation of India (BEFI) protested against the proposal to increase the daily working shift from accepted eight hours to 12 hours.
The employees also demanded payment of full wages to contract, casual and outsourced workers – present also in the banking industry – who are bearing the brunt of the lockdown.
Workers with their families were seen holding placards and red flag in Tamil Nadu’s Kanchipuram district demanding strict action against employers violating the directions/guidelines issued by government of India related to non-termination and payment of wages to all workers and employees.
Protests were also witnessed in industrial districts of Tamil Nadu, where labourers raised slogans demanding protective gear for health workers and essential service workers who are required to be exposed in dangerous environment, carrying the risk of getting infected.
As per media reports, over 200 healthcare workers have so far been infected with coronavirus in India’s Mumbai only.
Women with their families held placards and raised slogans in the national capital while maintaining social distance between each other. “Bhashan nahi, Raashan Chaiye,” (Need food instead of speeches) can be seen as one of the key demands of those protesting in Delhi’s Soniya Vihar area.
#BhashanNahiRation
CITU workers in Jharkhand pic.twitter.com/5FQAya53bo— musawir (@musawir92383693) April 21, 2020
Family members come out on doorsteps demanding food and wages as many have been left in lurch during the lockdown with no adequate ration and money.
Many IT and ITES employees also joined the nationwide protest on April 21 led by union their union. They are demanding that the Centre should ensure no jobs cut in the sector and wages, increments are not compromised during the lockdown period.
In the wake of coronavirus outbreak, the employees also protested against the exception given to the IT companies to run with up to 50 percent of workforce, which according to the union is “irrational” and will risk the health of the employees.
As the nation enters 28th day of lockdown, farmers across the country demanded financial aid for harvesting, transport, cultivation, from the governments. The demands came at a time when numerous reports of farmer’s distress surfaced in the media, who are seeing their already meagre income getting affected during the lockdown period.
The farmers, led by All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), also asked the governments to ensure agricultural operations, remunerative price and procurement centres for all crops.
In the wake of growing cases of hunger across the country, residents in Delhi demanded the centre to ensure food rations for all, irrespective of ration cards or AADHAR cards.
Days after lockdown started last month in March, the centre promised 5kg of wheat or rice free of cost and a kilogram of pulses for every low income family. However, as many do not own ration card, noted economist Jean Dreze pointed out that around four to five million won’t receive the food rations.
Led by All India Democratic Women Association (AIDWA), women demanded the Centre to address issue of the surge in domestic violence during the lockdown period.
With restrictions on movement in place to combat COVID-19, many women across the country are finding it hard to stay at home with increase in fights and violence against them. According to the National Commission for Women (NCW), which received complaints of domestic violence, such cases have been doubled than before the lockdown period.
Students demanded that the Centre should ensure that colleges should forego hostel fees, since all educational institution are shut due to lockdown.
The protestors, led by Students Federation of India (SFI), also asked the government to ensure that scholarships and grants are disbursed to the students.
Youth across the country demanded that the governments – both central and state – ensure food and shelter for all stranded migrant workers during the lockdown period.
As the restrictions over movement led to a humanitarian crisis resulting in many migrant workers to walk miles to reach their home, while others were forced to stay in their work city and relief camps.
The number of infections continue to rise in the country. As on Tuesday evening till five, the cumulative figure of the virus has climbed to 18,985, among whom 15,122 are “active” cases in hospitals and 3,259 are cured, according to Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The death toll due to COVID-19, disease caused by the novel coronavirus has now reached 603.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said that his government will provide ration to 30 lakh people who don't have ration cards.
Kejriwal on Tuesday also informed that 83 per cent of all COVID-19 deaths in the national capital were related to co-morbid conditions. So far, 47 have succumbed to the novel coronavirus in Delhi.
In a press briefing on Tuesday evening, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal confirmed that media persons in the national capital will be tested for the novel coronavirus from April 22, Wednesday.
Journalists can get tested for free at the centres from tomorrow, said Kejriwal, adding that details of the centres will be shared with media houses.
After 50 journalists found positive for the contagious virus in Mumbai, government officials on Tuesday informed that journalists, working for a Tamil TV news channel in Chennai also have tested positive for novel coronavirus.
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