Manipur now Corona free, says CM
New Delhi, Apr 20: The complete nationwide lockdown announced by the centre last month seems to have worked in Goa as the prominent tourist destination hasn’t reported a coronavirus in case in two weeks. The seven people who had tested positive for the virus in January have recovered, the Centre said on Monday.

“There is good news from Goa – all patients have been discharged,” Joint Secretary (Health) Lav Aggarwal said at a press briefing.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has praised the state’s doctors and health workers for their contribution in the fight against the virus.

“A moment of satisfaction and relief for Goa as the last active Covid-19 case tests negative. Team of Doctors and entire support staff deserves applause for their relentless effort. No new positive case in Goa after 3rd April 2020,” he tweeted.

On Monday, government offices in the state became functional. All senior officers reported to duty at their offices.

Goa was one of the few states that had announced a complete lockdown after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Janata Curfew on March 22.

Meanwhile, Manipur has also announced that there is no active case in the state.

“I am glad to share that Manipur is now Corona free. Both patients have fully recovered and have tested negative. There are no fresh cases of the virus in the state,” Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh tweeted.

‘No congregational Taraweeh prayers in Masjids, grand Iftar parties’

Al-Misda Masoom

Srinagar, Apr 20: In a first, Kashmiris will observe the holy month of Ramadan without offering congregational prayers in Masjids and will remain confined to their homes due to Covid-19 lockdown.

Kashmiris would observe the month of Ramadan as more of a festival as fasting also would involve thronging markets for shopping and attending gala Iftaar parties.

But this time around, it’s mostly like to happen as people are under lockdown due to the spread of Covid-19 which has brought even most developed countries on its knees.

It will be for the first time in the Kashmir’s history that people will have to remain confined to their homes even in the month of Ramadan. Congregational Taraweeh prayers have also been cancelled in of Covid-19 threat across major Muslim countries including Saudi Arabia.

Entry of devotees has also been restricted in Holy Kaaba only to prevent the spread of Covid-19. In Kashmir too Muslims will be observing the holy month of Ramadhan by staying inside their homes and the Ulemas have also advised people to offer obligatory Taraweeh prayers in their homes till the spread of Covid-19 is contained.

Kashmir has seen series of lockdowns in its long conflicting history but no would stop people from offering Taraweeh and other congregational prayers in Masjids but this time the lockdown is different.

“We are so unlucky that were won’t be able to pray Taraweeh prayers in masjids this Ramadan,” said Inayat Rashid, a student a Darul Uloom Shah-e-Hamdaan, Pampore.

If the lockdown continues even after May 3, there is every likelihood that people will not be allowed to observe Shab-i-Qadr in local Masjids and major shrines across the valley.

“I am not sure that I will be able to get even the basic things like dates for Iftar as there is threat and everyone fears for his life. Markets are closed and people are confined to their homes due to Covid-19 pandemic. This time Ramadan would be different,” said a local resident of Srinagar.

Agencies
New Delhi, Apr 19: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the COVID-19 pandemic affects everyone equally.
“COVID-19 does not see race, religion, colour, caste, creed, language or border before striking. Our response and conduct thereafter should attach primacy to unity and brotherhood. We are in this together,” PM Modi said in a post on LinkedIn.

“Unlike previous moments in history, when countries or societies faced off against each other, today we are together facing a common challenge. The future will be about togetherness and resilience,” PM Modi said.

“The next big ideas from India should find global relevance and application. They should have the ability to drive a positive change not merely for India but for the entire humankind,” he said.

“Logistics was previously only seen through the prism of physical infrastructure – roads, warehouses, ports. But logistical experts these days can control global supply chains through the comfort of their own homes,” the Prime Minister said.

“As the world battles COVID-19, India’s energetic and innovative youth can show the way in ensuring healthier and prosperous future. India, with the right blend of the physical and the virtual can emerge as the global nerve centre of complex modern multinational supply chains in the post COVID-19 world. Let us rise to that occasion and seize this opportunity. I urge you all to think about this and contribute to the discourse,” he said.

The Prime Minister’s post comes on a day when a police case has been filed against a hospital in Uttar Pradesh after it placed an advertisement  in local papers that it would admit Muslim patients only after COVID-19 screening.

An event hosted by the Muslims sect Tablighi Jamaat in Delhi’s Nizamuddin had become a hotspot after hundreds of its members were found infected with COVID-19. A Muslim group later approached the Supreme Court, seeking to stop sections of the media from allegedly giving a communal colour to reportage on COVID-19 cases linked to the event held in Nizamuddin.

On Saturday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired a meeting of a Group of Ministers (GoM) at his residence to and discussed re-starting economic activity in non-containment zones after April 20, in line with announcements made by PM Modi earlier this week.

• Some respite, but can’t be complacent, says Kansal
• Kashmir receives 9600 rapid testing kits
• 80 positive cases reported in Bandipora village, all residents put under quarantine

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Apr 19:  Thirteen more persons tested positive for COVID-19 in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, taking the tally of infected persons in the Union Territory to 354.
In the first tweet this evening the J&K administration spokesman, Rohit Kansal said, “Some respite but no reason for complacency; 9 new cases-8 from Kashmir Division and from Jammu.”
However, just before the midnight Kansal tweeted again: “4 new cases from Kashmir- 3 from Bandipora, 1 from Baramulla. Total positive cases 354 (55 Jammu, 299 Kashmir)”

Bandipora is the worst COVID-19 hit district in the Union Territory of J&K with over 80 positive cases and one death. Of these, over 36 per cent of positive cases have been reported from Dangerpora in Bandipora, prompting authorities to put about 150 people in hospital and administrative quarantine. The rest of the people from Dangerpora have been put in home quarantine.

Meanwhile, the first batch of 9,600 rapid test kits was on Sunday received in Kashmir, which is trying to ramp up testing in its fight to contain the spread of COVID-19.

An official said 80 Red Zones were identified in Kashmir Division and that such areas will remain red zones up to 42 days, unless no new positive case of COVID-19 is detected. ”If any new case is detected in these areas, then from that date, the area will again remain a red zone for another 42 days,” they added.

As many as 27 people were tested positive for COVID-19 in Kashmir on Friday and Saturday. The number of Coronavirus cases crossed the 300-mark in the Union Territory after 22 persons, including 18 from Kashmir and four from Jammu, on Wednesday and 14, all from Kashmir, on Thursday tested positive for the infection. As many as 33 people, including 31 from Kashmir and two from Jammu, tested positive for Coronavirus on Monday and Tuesday.
Meanwhile, 138 people, mostly from Kashmir, were tested positive for COVID-19 in J&K last week. Thirty-three new positive cases, including 28 from Kashmir and three from Jammu, were reported on April 4 and April 5, making it one of the highest jumps in the COVID-19 infected persons in J&K.

J&K recorded first death due to COVID-19 on March 25, when a 65-year-old man from Hyderpora died due to the infection at Chest Disease Hospital. Then, on March 29, a 50-year-old man, a resident of Tangmarg, passed away at CD hospital.

Earlier this month, a 54-year-old Bandipora resident, who was tested positive for the infection, died at SMHS hospital. Later on April 8, a 61-year-old woman from Udhampur died at Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu.

On April 17, a 70-year-old patient died on Friday due to Coronavirus in Kashmir, taking the total number of deaths due to the infection to five in J&K. (With inputs from UNI)

1866 persons successfully complete isolation period

Srinagar, Apr 19: Thirty-nine (39) more persons who were shifted into administrative quarantine in Srinagar two weeks ago were discharged Sunday after successfully completing their 14-day quarantine period.

Concerned supervising officers oversaw their discharge and transportation to their respective homes.

The group like all others before them was under thorough medical supervision throughout their quarantine period and was discharged after clearance from doctors and health authorities.

A total of 1866 persons have been discharged from administrative quarantine so far after successfully completing their required two-week quarantine in Srinagar.

‘10 lakh SMSs sent to lawyers, litigants in J&K and Ladakh’

Precious Kashmir News 

Jammu, Apr 19: Making optimum use of mobile numbers and email IDs of lawyers and litigants available in databases of High Court as well as District Courts of UTs of J&K and Ladakh, High Court of Jammu and Kashmir is using SMS as one of the mode for disseminating information and spreading awareness about the novel corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic.

When the entire government machinery is busy in making the public aware about Corona-virus pandemic, High Court of J&K is also contributing to the cause and till date has flashed 10 lac SMS approx. from the High Court as well as from the District Courts of UTs of Jammu and Kashmir & Ladakh to the lawyers and litigants about information regarding novel corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Various advisories/guidelines/helplines issued by WHO, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, Health and Medical Education Department J&K are being conveyed through SMS. Various Dos and Don’ts, precautionary measures as well as myth busters regarding Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) are being flashed through SMS sent on regular intervals.

High Court of J&K in coordination with J&K Legal Services Authority has devised a robust mechanism for general awareness through text messaging about COVID-19 spread. General public is being informed through SMS about the names and contact numbers of Secretaries District Legal Services Authority and of Para Legal Volunteers of J&K Legal Service Authorities so that they can be contacted in case of any emergency related to COVID-19

The move is a part of the measures being taken by High Court of Jammu and Kashmir to sensitize lawyers and litigants especially those residing in far flung areas of UTs of Jammu and Kashmir & Ladakh on Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) pandemic.

United News of India 
New Delhi, Apr 19 : The Novel Coronavirus cases in the country rose to 15,712 on Sunday morning, thereby crossing the 15,000-mark with the death toll standing at 507, Union Health Ministry reported.

19 COVID-19 patients succumbed to the virus in past 24 hrs, it said, adding that the number of active cases in the country at present stand at 12974.

There is an improvement in the number of cured and discharged cases with the figure for now resting at 2,230.

Cases in the worst COVID hit-state in the country- Maharashtra have again spiked with the number now resting at 3,651 with ten fresh deaths since Saturday evening taking the total to 211 casualties, followed by the national capital, where the cases have jumped to 1,893 with 42 casualties.

With a rapid spike in the number of cases in the past two days, Madhya Pradesh now houses 1,407 positive cases with 70 deaths.

After MP, cases also rose in Gujarat on Sunday, which now houses 1,376 cases and with 53 deaths.

Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan have also witnessed a spike in positive Coronavirus cases, with figures now standing at 1,372 and 1,351, respectively.

In the past two days, the number of positive cases has rapidly increased in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, other than Maharashtra, Delhi, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.

As per the Health Ministry’s official statement on Saturday, a total of 4,291 people be linked to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi.

Union Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal had earlier underlined that 29.8 per cent of the total COVID-19 cases in the country were linked to ‘one particular place’.

He said that 84 per cent cases in Tamil Nadu, 63 per cent in Delhi, 79 per cases in Telangana, 59 per cent in Uttar Pradesh and 61 per cent cases in Andhra Pradesh are related to the event.