New Delhi, Apr 28: Plasma therapy for coronavirus is still in an experimental stage and can even prove “life threatening” for a patient, the government said today amid a surge of hope brought in by the first successful test in Delhi.

There is “no concrete evidence to support plasma therapy as coronavirus treatment,” senior health ministry official Lav Agarwal said today during the ministry’s daily briefing. “The therapy is still in an experimental stage and the Indian Council of Medical Research is conducting a national study on it. It can even be life threatening if not carefully done,” he added.

“The therapy is still in an experimental stage and the Indian Council of Medical Research is conducting a national study on it. It can even be life threatening,” he added.

Delhi had reported the country’s first plasma therapy success story last week, the patient was a 49-year-old man who got treatment at a private hospital.

The positive result triggered a rush to donate plasma and Mumbai today started its plasma therapy trial.

The Indian Council of Medical Research – the nodal body for the fight against coronavirus in the country — has called for clinical trials across the country to assess plasma treatment, which is just one of the methods being tested to control the virus which is completely new to humans.

Earlier, plasma therapy has brought encouraging results in case of SARS, Ebola, and the H1N1 virus.

But ICMR has made it clear that even for the purposes of trial, it can be used only on critical patients who are on ventilator support.

Plasma Therapy involves transfusion of plasma from a convalescent coronavirus patient to a critical patient. The blood of a convalescent patient is rich in antibodies that are expected to help the critical patient recover.

Doctors have said one donor can donate 400ml of plasma, which can save two lives.

Precious Kashmir News
Kupwara, Apr 28: Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Pandurang Kondbarao Pole, visited Kupwara district and took stock of the ground situation amid COVID-19 outbreak and reviewed the measures being taken by District Administration for containment of the deadly Corona virus, . He also visited Red zone area of Anderhama- Dragmulla , Quarantine Centre Cherkoot, Potushai and inspected COVID control room set up at DC Office Kupwara.

Addressing the meeting at Conference Hall Kupwara, the Divisional Commissioner urged the concerned officials to visit home quarantine people on daily basis and ensure that social distance is maintained properly at home quarantines. He also directed that pregnant ladies and other non Covid patients should be provided proper health care facilities across the district.

Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, Anshul Garg briefed the Divisional Commissioner about the present scenario of the district, which has 39 active cases of COVID-19, so far.

The Divisional Commissioner was informed that 1116 persons have been enlisted for observation in the district while 670 have been kept under Quarantine and 91 persons are under home surveillance.

Regarding sample collection, he was informed that 1053 samples were collected for testing ,of which, 960 samples tested negative while as 48 tested positive. The number of positive cases recovering has risen to 09, so far.

Regarding the measures taken by District Administration, Kupwara, for containment of COVID-19, the Divisional Commissioner was informed that complete restrictions have been  imposed across the district  and 117 FIRs were lodged including sealing of 35 shops, for violation of Covid-19 lockdown.

He was informed that the Sub District Hospital, Kupwara has been designated exclusive COVID Hospital with deployment of 4 mobile Sample Collection Teams.

Besides, 2.40 lac reusable cotton based masks, produced locally by engaging 510 artisans, are being distributed among the public.

PDS ration has been distributed in advance to all households for April and May, while as distribution of free ration under PMGKY is underway for PHH and AAY households. Besides, 1.7 lakh home deliveries of groceries, LPG and medicines have been completed till date.

The Divisional Commissioner was also informed that 1571 migrant labourers are being facilitated at 31 locations with dry ration and other essential commodities.

Regarding health facilities of non COVID patients, the Divisional Commissioner was informed that district hospital Handwara and 2 Private Hospitals have been engaged for facilitating deliveries, critical surgeries and dialysis patients. Besides patients in need, are being lifted for treatment.

Regarding initiation of  MGNERAGA and other local construction works , the Divisional Commissioner was informed that 1039 works at Panchayat level are under progress in rural areas as per SOP issued by the Government.

The Divisional Commissioner inspected 24×7 COVID Control Room for Disease Surveillance Unit at D C Office, Kupwara. The Nodal Officer on duty briefed the Divisional Commissioner about how they are tracing the contact history of the patients and information is being forwarded to the higher authorities. He was informed that District Help line cum Counselling Centre Kupwara has attended 2022 phone calls and text messages from citizens stranded outside district.

Earlier, the Divisional Commissioner visited Red Zone area of Anderhama- Drugmulla and took stock of the basic amenities provided to the people. He enquired about health facilities, electricity, ration distribution, banking and agriculture activities in the area.

On the occasion the Divisional Commissioner was informed that home delivery of ration and essential commodities including banking facility through mobile ATM in all 7 Red Zones continues on regular basis. He was also informed that100 percent surveillance of the households in all 7 Red Zones of the district has been completed.

The Divisional Commissioner also visited Quarantine Centres at Cherkoot and Potushai, where, he interacted with the Quarantine people and enquired about the facilities being provided to them.

SSP kupwara, Shri Ambarkar Additional Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, Nazir Ahmad Lone, OSD COVID-19, Deputy Director Health Services Kashmir, ACR , CMO,Nodal Officers of Red Zones and other concerned officers of district administrators were in attendance during the Divisional Commissioner’s visit.

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Apr 28: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday expressed solidarity with Corona warriors here at a sammelan.

Led by Director General of Police, Dilbag Singh, J&K Police expressed solidarity with fellow policemen, doctors, paramedic staff, municipal workers and other Covid-19 workers in Solidarity Sammelan held here at PHQ lawns while observing all the social distancing norms and other protocols.

ADGsP, IGsP, SSP and other Jammu based GOs participated in the solidarity Sammelan.

Doctors, nurses and other Paramedics from Police Hospital Jammu also participated.

The officers were holding placards in their hands on different themes including one for ASI Harjit Singh (Now SI) of Punjab Police who was assaulted by violators and rendered seriously injured while performing legitimate duties.

Similar Samelans were held by all the district police and armed police units at their respective locations.

United News of India
New Delhi, Apr 28: Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways and MSME Nitin Gadkari, on Tuesday, called for urgent action to facilitate Inter-State border movement of trucks and lorries carrying essential goods to ease public life during COVID-19 pandemic.

Gadkari has called upon all the states and UTs to take urgent action so that blockades of trucks and lorries at inter State/UT borders is cleared at the earliest possible, as smooth movement of essential goods to various parts of the country is essential.

This, he said, needs to be given urgent attention by facilitating the truck movement, to ease up lives of the public in the light of lockdown announced to curb COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking at the meeting of State/UT Road Transport Ministers held via Video Conference, Gadkari urged the Ministers to intervene in such matters and ensure resolutions through the local/district administrations.

At the same time, he underlined following the health advisories and other guideline like proper distance, wearing masks, use of sanitisers, both by the driver and cleaners and also at the Dhabaas.

Gadkari further pointed out that transportation of labour to factories etc may be facilitated by duly following the health protocols of maintaining minimum one metre distance, wearing masks, use of sanitisers, etc.

He pointed out that providing food and shelter to labour may be ensured while fully observing the norms of social distancing and hygiene.

Responding to a suggestion, Gadkari informed that his Ministry will start a helpline to resolve the transportation issues.

Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways General (Retd) V K Singh was also present.

Apart from the Transport & PWD Ministers/Deputy CMs, Chief Ministers of Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh also attended the video conference alongwith Secretary, Ministry of

Road Transport and Highways, senior officers of the Ministry, NHAI, NHIDCL, etc.

Jahangeer Ganaie

Shopian, Apr 28: Two militants were killed while an Army soldier and a civilian sustained injuries in an ongoing encounter at Melhoora village of Zainapora Sub division of South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Tuesday, officials said.

Pertinently, four militants of AGH were killed in an encounter with the forces in Melhoora village last week.

An official told KNO that two militants have been killed in an exchange of fire while as operation is still on in the area.

He said an Army man and a civilian also sustained injuries during the gunfight. They were rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Earlier, officials said that on specific inputs about the presence of militants, a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) was launched in the area by joint team of forces including 55 RR and Shopian Police. During the searches, the hiding militants fired upon the security forces, which was retaliated, triggering an encounter.

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Apr 28: Advisor to the Lt Governor, K K Sharma today discussed in detail the initiatives being taken for providing educational facilities to the students of Jammu and Kashmir in view of the situation arisen due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Advisor was interacting with Union Minister for HRD Mr. Ramesh Pokhriyal, Minister of State HRD, Sanjay Shamrao and the Union Education Secretary,  through video conferencing, which was also attended by Education Ministers of different states.

Principal Secretary Education, Dr Asgar Samoon; Directors Education, Jammu, Kashmir, Anuradha Gupta, Mohammad Younis Malik; Chairman J K Board of School Education, Veena Pandita; State Project Director SAMGRA Shiksha, Arun Manhas; and other officers were also present.

The Advisor apprised the union minister about the various steps taken to provide on–line education to the students through various IT-interventions and the use of services of Doordarshan, AIR, Private channels, which has benefitted a large number of students across Jammu and Kashmir. He also informed him about the decision of UT government to allow the mass promotion of students to next higher classes except 10th and 10+2, for which decision would be taken at an appropriate time.

It was also informed that the UT Government has ensured distribution of Mid Day Meal (MDM) dry ration to all eligible students at their doorsteps.

The Advisor also apprised the union minister that the UT has made appropriate arrangements for checking of answer sheets of students and requested for help in getting the pending books printed from printing presses located outside J&K by allowing them to work during the lockdown.

The Advisor also suggested that MHRD should promote on-line education as an integral part of the teaching–learning process in the country and also help the states and UTs in providing the tablets to the students for accessing the on line content. He said it will deepen the learning process in the country.

The Union Minister appreciated the efforts of the UT in providing the on–line education to the students. He said that the government has effectively minimized the academic losses of the students, especially during the lockdown period and extra ordinary situation arisen due to COVID 19.

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Apr 28: The Department of Social Welfare, J&K is meant for the upliftment of socially and economically weaker sections of the society. To help the poor deserving students to complete their studies without any financial constraint and to ensure that no meritorious student is deprived of quality education in reputed lnstitutioins/ colleges/universities, the department provides financial assistance in the form of various pre-matric and post-matric scholarship schemes. This year 4, 56,086 students were awarded scholarship under Pre-Matric scholarship for National Minorties, 48782 students under Post-Matric scholarship for National Minorities covering students pursuing various Academic/Technical Vocational courses in various parts of the country.

Further 4836 students were granted scholarships under Merit-cum-Means scholarship for National Minorities covering those students pursuing various professional/Technical courses within UT of Jammu and Kashmir and outside the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.

In addition to above 1282 students were awarded Post-Matric Scholarship OBC, 37 students covered under the Scheme Post-Matric Scholarship to Physically Handicapped and nearly 20000 students were covered under Pre-Matric OBC scholarship scheme. Thus during the year 2019-20 nearly 530000 students of Kashmir Division (nearly 4 times higher than 2018-19) have availed benefits under various scholarship schemes being run by the department.

United News of India
New Delhi, Apr 28: The University Grants Commission (UGC) is likely to issue guidelines next week for the current and next academic sessions, including new schedule for examinations postponed due to outbreak of Covid-19.

The Commission had formed two panels earlier in this regard who submitted their reports on April 24, sources on Tuesday said.

The first panel- a seven-member body, headed by Haryana Central University vice-chancellor R C Kuhad, recommended that the new academic year can be initiated in the month of September.

The panel also proposed that all the exams which have been delayed should be held in July.

The second panel, headed by Professor Nageshwar Rao, vice-chancellor, IGNOU, was instructed to look into how colleges and universities can conduct and promote online classes and issues surrounding it.

Several universities across country, including prominent ones like JNU, Delhi University, Mumbai University are waiting for the UGC guidelines to chalk out their future plans.

The exams of all the universities have been put on hold due to the lockdown imposed to combat the Covid-19 situation.

A sense of confusion was also prevailing regarding the exams and the academic sessions among students and faculty.

There are lot of ways to hold them accountable, says Trump
Washington, Apr 28: US President Donald Trump suggested on Monday that he may seek damages from China over the coronavirus outbreak which began in the Chinese city of Wuhan and spread around the world.

“We are not happy with China,” Trump said at a White House briefing. “We are not happy with that whole situation because we believe it could have been stopped at the source.”

“It could have been stopped quickly and it wouldn’t have spread all over the world,” he said.

“There are a lot of ways you can hold them accountable,” Trump said. “We’re doing some very serious investigations as you probably know.”

Trump was asked about a recent German newspaper editorial which called on China to pay Germany $165 billion in reparations because of economic damage done by the virus.

Asked if the US would consider doing the same, the US president said “we can do something much easier than that.”

“Germany is looking at things, we are looking at things,” he said. “We are talking about a lot more money than Germany’s talking about.”

“We haven’t determined the final amount yet,” Trump said. “It’s very substantial.”

“This is worldwide damage,” he said. “This is damage to the US, but this is damage to the world.”

There have been more than 55,000 coronavirus-related deaths in the United States and the pandemic has shut down huge swathes of the economy, leaving tens of millions unemployed.

‘Our neighbour ready to learn lessons from past’

Rajouri, Apr 28: Lieutenant Governor’ Advisor, Farooq Khan, on Tuesday castigated Pakistan for repeated ceasefire violations along Line of Control and for making attempts to push in infiltrators into J&K amid COVID-19 pandemic.

Talking to media persons in Rajouri on the side-lines of his visit in Rajouri, Khan said that “Pakistan is not learning a lesson even after being bashed multiple times in past. They have been hit many a times in the past but the neighbour is not ready to learn a lesson.” Khan said.

“Presently at a time when entire world is suffering from Corona pandemic, our neighbour, Pakistan is carrying forward its designs,” Khan said adding that these designs include ceasefire violation on Line of Control and attempts to push in militants. “Our forces are not sitting in a silent mode but are giving befitting reply to such machinations,” Khan said.
Advisor Farooq Khan said that “we are hopeful that losses suffered by Pakistan in present times may give a lesson to Pakistan.” –(KNO)