India had 5,192 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus and at least 162 deaths, a Press Trust of India tally of figures reported by various states as on Tuesday 9.45 PM showed.
The Union Health Ministry’s update on Wednesday put confirmed cases at 5,194, of which active cases were 4,643 and the death toll was 149. This is the biggest jump in both the number of case as well as deaths in 24 hours, NDTV reported.
What You Need To Know Today:
1. Coronavirus Tests Must Be Free In Govt And Private Labs, Says SC
2. Modi Hints India’s Lockdown Is Likely To Be Extended
“Nobody is saying that lockdown should be lifted. I will again talk to the CMs. But as of now, the mood is that entire lockdown lifting is not possible. We are also talking at district levels. For us, lockdown is the only way to save our people,” PM Narendra Modi said in a video conference with leaders of all parties, according to Hindustan Times.
The Centre has said a decision will be taken after a meeting with chief ministers of all states on Saturday.
3. US Bought 29 Million Doses Of Hydroxychloroquine, A Lot Of It From India: Trump
A large part of the 29 million doses of hydroxychloroquine bought by the US is from India, US President Donald Trump said.
“I bought millions of doses... more than 29 million. I spoke to Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi, a lot of it comes out of India. I asked him if he would release it. He was great. He was really good,” Trump told American channel Fox News.
India manufactures 70 per cent of the world’s supply of hydroxychloroquine, according to Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) secretary-general Sudarshan Jain. The country has a production capacity of 40 tonnes of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) every month, implying 20 crore tablets of 200 mg each.
4. Mumbai Makes Masks Mandatory In Public Places, Maharashtra To Start Fever Clinics
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday made it mandatory for people to wear masks in public places.
“Anybody not wearing the masks can be charged under provision of Section 188 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and may be arrested by the police,” BMC’s notification said.
“The masks can be the regular three-layer masks or cloth masks, either available with pharmacies or home-made which can be washed and reused after disinfecting them,” it said.
Maharashtra said it was starting fever clinics so that a potential COVID-19 patient could avoid going to a regular hospital.
Patients will be categorised into three sections, those with mild, moderate and severe symptoms along with other factors like high BP and kidney ailments, Thackeray said.
5. UP Seals Hotspots In 15 Districts, Including Agra, Lucknow, Ghaziabad
Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday said all COVID-19 hotspots in 15 districts will be sealed till April 15.
“Only home delivery will be allowed. These are places where a number of cases have been found,” Director, Information Shishir told PTI. Only medical vehicles will be allowed in these areas.
Additional Chief Secretary, Information Awanish Awasthi said 15 districts, including Agra, Lucknow, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Kanpur, Varanasi, Shamli, Meerut, Bareilly and Bulandshahr, have reported large number of Covid-19 cases.
6. Doctors Are Warriors, They Need To Be Protected: SC
The Supreme Court said on Wednesday that doctors and healthcare professionals are “warriors” in the fight against coronavirus and have to be protected.
This was after solicitor general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre said that the government was doing its best to provide personal protective equipment to them.
Huffpost India has had multiple reports on how healthcare workers like doctors and nurses have faced dire conditions.
Docs In Govt Hospitals Say They Are ‘Grossly Unequipped’
The Supreme Court said that a mechanism needed to be created to get suggestions from people about how to go ahead on the issues related to COVID-19, including on providing treatment, regulatory mechanism for people working from home and also on lockdown.
A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan and S Ravindra Bhat was hearing through video-conferencing three petitions seeking protective kits for doctors and healthcare workers amid coronavirus pandemic.
“They (doctors and healthcare professionals) are warriors. They have to be protected,” the bench observed, adding, “You have to think how to start production. Service sector is working from home. Their well being and mental health is also important”.
7. 576 Coronavirus Positive Cases In Delhi, Says Health Minister
There are a total of 576 positive cases in Delhi so far, 35 of them are in ICU and 8 on ventilator, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said today.
8. Delhi Policeman Tests Positive
Delhi Police said an Assistant Sub-Inspector has tested positive for Covid-19. “He was tested last week when he complained of fever and his reports came on April 7. He has been shifted to AIIMS, his family has been asked to be on home quarantine,” police said.
9. ASHA Workers Attacked In Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh
Police said two Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers were reportedly manhandled at Kudachi in Belagavi district in Karnataka while undertaking a survey on Tuesday, The NewsMinute reported.
In rural Bengaluru, police arrested two people for allegedly abusing a doctor and four ASHA workers when they were conducting health surveillance.
10. Two Tablighi Jamaat Members Booked For Attempted Murder For Avoiding Tests
Two members of the Tablighi Jamaat were booked for attempt to murder in Uttarakhand’s Haridwar on Tuesday after they allegedly avoided getting themselves tested for coronavirus.
“Their friend had tested positive for COVID-19. Still, they deliberately hid themselves from the administration to avoid being tested despite repeated appeals and warnings, thus endangering their own lives and those around them,” DGP (Law and Order) Ashok Kumar said.
The DGP said they traced them with the help of electronic surveillance and booked them under Section 307 of the IPC.
11. Gujarat To Supply Hydroxychloroquine To The US
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Tuesday said three companies from the state will export hydroxychloroquine to the United States.
In an interview to a private radio station, Rupani said his government has kept aside 1 crore hydroxychloroquine tablets to deal with any eventuality.
“Three Gujarat-based companies have already started production of that drug to be supplied to the US. To be on the safer side, we have kept aside 1 crore tablet for our own use,” the CM said.
13. Death Toll In New York State Crosses 5,000
New York state recorded 731 new coronavirus deaths, its biggest one-day jump yet, for a statewide toll of nearly 5,500, Governor Andrew Cuomo said.
“A lot of pain again today for many New Yorkers,” he said.
But in an encouraging sign, the governor said hospital admissions and the number of those receiving breathing tubes are dropping, indicating that social distancing measures are succeeding.
And alarming as the one-day increase in deaths might sound, the governor said that’s a “lagging indicator,” reflecting people who had been hospitalised before this week. Over the past several days, in fact, the number of deaths in New York appeared to be levelling off.
Across the U.S., the death toll neared 13,000, with close to 400,000 confirmed infections. (AP)
14. Trump Accuses WHO OF Being China-Centric During Pandemic
US President Donald Trump said he would put a hold on America’s funding to the World Health Organization, accusing it of becoming China-centric during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
“We’re going to put a hold on money spent to the WHO. We’re going to put a very powerful hold on it and we’re going to see. It’s a great thing if it works. But when they call every shot wrong, that’s no good,” Trump told reporters at his daily White House news conference.
“We pay for a majority or the biggest portion of their money. They actually criticised and disagreed with my travel ban at the time I did it. They were wrong. They’ve been wrong about a lot of things. They had a lot of information early and they didn’t want to — they’re very — they seem to be very China centric, Trump charged during his news conference.