Uttar Pradesh reports more cases
5 more people test positive for Coronavirus in UP's Gautam Buddh Nagar, 3 in Noida, 2 in Greater Noida: Officials
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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Major Broadcasting Networks Waive Tariffs and Charges for 2 Months
The Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) on Saturday said that that leading broadcasting networks will be offering four pay TV channels for free on DTH and cable networks for two months, according to The Hindu Business Line.
In a statement, IBF said, “Sony run Sony Pal, Star India run Star Utsav, Zee TV operated Zee Anmol and Viacom18’s Colors bouquet channel Colors Rishtey will be available to all viewers across the country for a period of two months free of charge on all DTH and cable networks.”
Child Rights Body Takes Note of ‘Vulnerable’ Children; Say ‘Ensure Their Safety’
National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, in an advisory issued on Saturday, directed all states and Union Territories to care and protect children who are currently without family or without any institutional care, according to news agency ANI.
Madhya Pradesh: Journalists Protest While Social Distancing
Journalists in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhopal staged protest at Bharatiya Janata Party’s state office against the state BJP government’s decision to paste quarantine notices on the house of reporters who attended the then Chief Minister Kamal Nath’s press conference, while sparring politicians and bureaucrats. The protesters had maintained distance between them.
Earlier, a journalist who attended the press conference on March 20 was tested positive for the coronavirus.
46-Year-Old COVID-19 Patient Passes Away in Gujarat
A 46-year-old COVI-19-positive patient in Ahmedabad passed away on Saturday, according to ANI. The woman was admitted to Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel Hospital in Ahmedabad on 26th March and was suffering from Hypertension, Diabetes and was on ventilator.
This is the fourth death in Gujarat due to the novel coronavirus. With this, the death toll in the country has reached 21.
Set Up Relief Camps for Migrant Labourers: MHA to All States/UTs
Punya Salila Srivastava, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) informed on Saturday that all states and Union Territories are requested to set up relief camps with arrangements of food and water for migrant workers.
Reduction in viral load observed for patients administered Hydroxychloroquine
An ICMR official at a press briefing said that all patients having severe acute respiratory illness are being tested for COVID-19.
He said that reduction in viral load has been observed in COVID-19 patients who were given Hydroxychloroquine drug, the official added.
At the brief, a Health ministry official said that rigorous contact tracing is underway. The official also said that the ministry is constantly engaged in discussion with states for earmarking dedicated COVID-19 hospitals.
Punjab: Panchayat Funds Can be Used to Buy Food and Medicines for Daily Wagers
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh allowed Gram Panchayats to buy medicines and food for the daily wage earners and poor persons out of Panchayat Funds on Saturday, according to ANI.
Each Gram Panchayat has been authorised to spend up to Rs.5,000 daily subject to a maximum of Rs 50,000.
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