Gujarat Reports Six New Cases; State Tally Now at 53
Officials early morning on Saturday confirmed six new coronavirus infected cases in Gujarat. With this, the state tally now has reached 53. The state has so far reported three deaths.
Centre Takes Note of Plight of Migrant Worker; Kerala, Telangana Records First COVID-19 Death
The number of COVID-19 cases in the country rose to 918, with active cases standing at 819, according to Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
A family makes its way back home from Dehi trekking hundreds of kilometres during the lockdown.
After media highlighted the plight of million of migrant workers using the only transportation available to them to return to their home towns – their feet, the Narendra Modi–led central government finally woke up on Saturday.
The government instructed state governments and Union Territory administrations to utilise the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), to which ₹29,000 crore has been allocated for the next fiscal, for providing food and shelter to migrant workers hit by the 21-day lockdown.
Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs Punya Salila Srivastava said the central government has also asked the states and UTs to set up camps for migrant workers fleeing cities and carry out their health check-ups.
Meanwhile, it was chaos at the Anand Vihar Bus Terminal in Delhi, as the Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday said that 1000 buses have been arranged from Ghaziabad to take the migrant workers to their respective hometowns.
As on Saturday evening, the number of COVID-19 cases in the country rose to 918, with active cases standing at 819, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Fresh cases were reported from Gujarat (7), Karnataka (10), and Uttar Pradesh (6) among others.
Saturday also marked the day when Kerala reported its first death due to the contagious coronavirus of a a 69-year-old man at Kochi Medical College in Ernakulam district. Telangana, which has reported 65 coronavirus infected patients, also recorded its first death, according to news agency ANI. A 46-year-old patient, reportedly with no travel history, also passed away in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad. With these, the death toll in the country now stands at 22.
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Kerala CM Seeks PM’s Intervention to Ensure Smooth Flow of Essentials to State
In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan requested urgent intervention of the PM to ensure smooth flow of essential commodities to Kerala.
Vijayan speaks about “the action of Karnataka Police which has resulted in blocking of Thalassery-Coorg State Highways-30.” According to him, the route is “lifeline” for flow of essential commodities to Kerala.
Total positive cases reach reach 39 in Tamil Nadu
Around 89,000 people in home quarantine. (In Chennai alone-24,000)
500 bedded hospital to be set up for treating COVID patients (existing block in super speciality hospital in Chennai to be used)
Uttar Pradesh Govt Arranges 1000 Buses to Take Migrant Workers to their Hometowns
Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday informed that 1000 buses have been arranged to take the migrant workers to their respective hometowns amid the lockdown induced by coronavirus. According to news agency ANI, transportation officers, bus drivers and conductors were called by the CM last night to make all the arrangements.
The decision has come in light of many migrant workers are forced to walk hundreds of kilometres to reach their hometown, as no transportation was available due to the 21 day nationwide lockdown which began on March 25.
Govt Forms Cargo Management Body for Smooth Flow of Essentials: Report
To tackle with the sudden shortfall in air transport capacity, the government has instituted an Air Cargo Management Group for Covid19 to ensure that essential commodities can be ferried across the country in a timely manner, according to an Indian Express report.
“Helicopters are ready in NE for intra-region movements. Support is being given to private agencies interested in aiding efforts,” the report quoted civil aviation ministry as saying.
Indian Railways Prepares Isolation Coaches
In the wake of the country preparing to fight the novel coronavirus, Indian Railways on Saturday unveiled the isolation coach in train which reportedly can be used as patient cabin
‘Co-operate With Restrictions’: Kerala Religious Leaders Issue Joint Statement
Religious leaders in Kerala issued a joint statement on Saturday requesting to “co-operate” with restrictions, according to news agency ANI.
“We enforced certain restrictions on entry to pilgrim centers. We're fighting this menace, by highlighting the concern for the others...” the statement said.
How Long Can India’s Health System Fight COVID-19?
More than 5.49 lakh people around the world have been infected by the Novel Coronavirus, which has caused the Covid-19 pandemic. Estimates show that by mid-May, all government hospitals in India will be occupied by coronavirus infected patients. With the country looking to fall short of infrastructure in the current rate of infections, how long can it fight COVID-19, explores Pritam Datta and Chetna Chaudhari. Read more here.
Tamil Nadu Reports Two More Coronavirus Cases
Tamil Nadu government confirmed on Saturday noon that two more cases of contagious coronavirus have been reported in the state. This takes the total number of positive coronavirus cases in the state reportedly to 40.
Kerala Reports First COVID-19 Death
Kerala state government confirmed first death in the state due to fast spreading coronavirus on Saturday. According to media reports, a 69-year-old man died at Kochi Medical College in Ernakulam district. With this, the death toll in the country is now at 20.
Noida's Gautam Buddh Nagar Admin Forego One Month House Rent of Factory Workers
In a bid to stop migrant workers from being forced to move to their hometowns during the lockdown, Noida’s Gautam Buddh Nagar District Magistrate has given orders to forego one month residential rent of workers performing labour in establishments operating within the district.
In an executive order issued on March 28, it was directed that violators of the order will face a jail period of upto one year or penalty under Section 51 of Disaster Management Act, 2005.
District Magistrate B.N. Singh noted that in light of a nationwide coronavirus-induced lockdown, housing of workers – mostly of whom are migrant – must be fully protected.
China’s Hubei to Resume Domestic Flights from Sunday
China has said the domestic passenger flights will resume operations in the coronavirus epicentre Hubei province, except for its capital Wuhan, from Sunday as part of a plan to ease lockdown in the region after it reported zero COVID-19 cases for several days, news agency PTI reported.
Domestic operations in the province except in Wuhan Tianhe International Airport will be resumed from Sunday, China's Civil Aviation Regulator (CAAC) said on Friday. Local bus and train services have already resumed in Wuhan and Hubei province.
According to PTI, No new confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease were reported in Wuhan on Friday, though the city reported three new fatalities, taking the total death toll in China to 3,295.
Provide Adequate Support to Migrant Workers: MHA to All States/UTs
The Union Home Ministry in an advisory has asked all states and Union Territories to take immediate steps to provide adequate support, including food and shelter, to migrant workers, students, and working women from other states during the 21-day nationwide coronavirus-induced lockdown.
How China Succeeded in Emerging Out of COVID-19 Crisis?
As India goes under a confused state of lockdown, it is important to understand the diverse, multi-pronged and holistic ways in which Beijing's policymakers handled, what turned into, a global pandemic.
From building hospitals to manufacturing masks, from keeping millions of people safely indoors to delivering them essentials, Shanghai-based journalist Suranjana Roy Bhattacharya explores secret of China’s success. Read more here.
Uttarakhand: Inmates Will be Released on Parole
15 inmates of Pursadi District Jail in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli will be released on six month parole, according to news agency ANI. Inmates who have been sentenced to less than 7 years of imprisonment are being released on parole in the light of the coronavirus outbreak in the country. Pursadi District Jail currently has 89 inmates, according to ANI.
Indian government defends its record
India's response to COVID-19 has been "pre-emptive, pro-active and graded", according to the government of India. It brushed aside allegations that 21-day nationwide lockdown was announced without any planning .
Relief for migrant workers
The Ministry of Home Affairs has changed the rules of the State Disaster Relief Fund.
The changed rules will enable the government to us the State Disaster Relief Fund to provide food, accommodation, medical care, money, and clothing for migrant workers during then lockdown, PTI reported.
Karnataka: Ten More COVID-19 Cases
Karnataka’s state health department on Saturday confirmed ten more positive cases of coronavirus in the state. With this, the state tally of positive cases has reached 74.
Seven Fresh Cases in Kashmir
Seven new cases of coronavirus were reported in Kashmir, taking the total J&K tally to rise to 27, according to officials.
Tamil Nadu CM Seeks Rs. 9,000 Cr from Centre
The economic impact of lockdown is likely to be very severe, Tamil Nadu Cheif Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said on Saturday. He requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to extend a grant of Rs 9,000 crore to the state to combat Covid-19.
In addition, OPS demanded that the Centre should provide an aggregate amount of at least Rs.1 lakh crore as a special grant to the state governments, according to Times of India.
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