#treatment for baby in andaman

[itineraryblog]

Activities in Phuket Happiness Trips Turtle Village

When people think of Phuket, they often picture stunning beaches, vibrant nightlife, and thrilling water sports. But there’s more to this beautiful Thai island than meets the eye. One hidden gem that promises an enriching experience is Turtle Village. Located in the Mai Khao area, this charming shopping and dining complex is the perfect place for families, couples, and solo travelers looking to blend leisure with local culture. Let’s explore the various activities and attractions that make a must-visit on your next Phuket Happiness Trips Turtle Village.

1. Introduction to Turtle Village

Turtle Village is more than just a shopping center; it’s a cultural hub nestled in the heart of Mai Khao Beach. Known for its relaxed atmosphere and vibrant community, Turtle Village offers visitors a unique blend of shopping, dining, and recreational activities. Whether you’re looking to indulge in local Thai delicacies, shop for artisanal crafts, or simply relax in a serene environment, Turtle Village has something for everyone.

2. Getting to Turtle Village

Located in the northern part of Phuket, Turtle Village is easily accessible by car or taxi from popular tourist spots like Patong Beach and Phuket Town. The drive is scenic, offering glimpses of lush greenery and the Andaman Sea. For those staying in nearby resorts, shuttle services are often available.

Siam Niramit Phuket

3. Best Time to Visit Turtle Village

The best time to visit Turtle Village is during the dry season, from November to April. This period offers pleasant weather, perfect for outdoor activities and exploring the surrounding areas. However, even in the rainy season, the covered shopping areas and indoor attractions ensure you can enjoy your visit.

4. Shopping Delights

4.1. Local Crafts and Souvenirs

Turtle Village is a treasure trove for unique souvenirs. From hand-painted ceramics to intricately carved wooden sculptures, you’ll find plenty of options to bring a piece of Phuket back home. Don’t miss the chance to shop for local spices and teas, perfect for recreating the flavors of Thailand in your own kitchen.

4.2. Boutique Fashion Stores

If you’re a fashion enthusiast, the boutique stores in Turtle Village will captivate you. Featuring a blend of local designers and international brands, these stores offer a range of clothing and accessories that cater to diverse tastes.

Tha Phae Gate

5. Culinary Experiences

5.1. Thai Cuisine at Its Best

Savor the rich flavors of authentic Thai cuisine at the various restaurants in Turtle Village. From spicy Tom Yum soup to creamy Green Curry, the dishes here are a delightful exploration of Thailand’s culinary heritage. Many restaurants also offer vegetarian and vegan options.

5.2. International Dining Options

For those craving a taste of home or looking to try something different, Turtle Village has several international dining options. Whether it’s Italian pasta, Japanese sushi, or American burgers, you’ll find a variety of cuisines to satisfy your palate.

6. Family-Friendly Activities

6.1. Turtle Observation Programs

Turtle Village gets its name from the nearby Mai Khao Turtle Foundation, which works to protect the local sea turtle population. Families can participate in turtle observation programs, where they learn about these magnificent creatures and even get a chance to see baby turtles being released into the sea.

6.2. Kids’ Adventure Zone

For younger visitors, the Kids’ Adventure Zone is a highlight. With a range of activities like arts and crafts, mini golf, and interactive games, it’s the perfect place for children to have fun while parents relax.

Lanta Old Town

7. Relaxation and Wellness

7.1. Spa and Massage Centers

Indulge in a day of pampering at one of the many spa and massage centers in Turtle Village. From traditional Thai massages to modern wellness treatments, these centers offer a sanctuary of relaxation and rejuvenation.

7.2. Yoga and Meditation Classes

Join a yoga or meditation class to reconnect with your inner self. Many resorts in the area offer classes for all levels, set against the backdrop of serene beaches and lush greenery.

8. Cultural Activities

8.1. Traditional Thai Performances

Immerse yourself in Thai culture by attending traditional dance and music performances. These shows, often held in the evenings, are a beautiful expression of Thailand’s rich artistic heritage.

8.2. Cooking Classes

Why not take a piece of Thailand back home by learning to cook some of its famous dishes? Cooking classes in Turtle Village offer hands-on experience in making popular Thai dishes like Pad Thai and Mango Sticky Rice.

9. Exploring Nearby Attractions

9.1. Sirinat National Park

Just a short drive from Turtle Village, Sirinat National Park is a haven for nature lovers. Explore its mangrove forests, snorkel in the crystal-clear waters, or relax on the pristine beaches.

9.2. Splash Jungle Water Park

For a fun-filled day, head to Splash Jungle Water Park. With thrilling water slides, a lazy river, and a wave pool, it’s a fantastic spot for families and thrill-seekers alike.

10. Nightlife at Turtle Village

Turtle Village may not have the vibrant nightlife of Patong, but it offers a more relaxed evening experience. Enjoy a cocktail at one of the chic bars, or unwind with live music performances that add to the laid-back vibe.

11. Accommodation Options

11.1. Luxury Resorts

For those looking to splurge, the luxury resorts around Turtle Village offer top-notch amenities, private beach access, and stunning ocean views. Expect impeccable service and world-class facilities.

11.2. Budget-Friendly Stays

Travelers on a budget will also find plenty of options, from cozy guesthouses to affordable hotels. These accommodations offer comfortable stays without breaking the bank, allowing you to enjoy all that Turtle Village has to offer.

12. Tips for Visitors

Plan Your Visit: Check the schedule for any special events or activities in advance.

Stay Hydrated: Phuket’s tropical climate can be quite humid, so carry water with you.

Respect Local Culture: Dress modestly and be mindful of local customs, especially in religious or cultural areas.

13. Sustainable Tourism at Turtle Village

Turtle Village is committed to promoting sustainable tourism. Many shops and restaurants use eco-friendly practices, and the Mai Khao Turtle Foundation plays a crucial role in conserving local wildlife. By visiting Turtle Village, you’re supporting efforts to preserve Phuket’s natural beauty and cultural heritage.

Conclusion

Turtle Village is more than just a shopping destination; it’s a celebration of the rich culture, cuisine, and natural beauty of Phuket. Whether you’re here for a day or a week, there’s something for everyone. From indulging in culinary delights to participating in turtle conservation, your visit to Turtle Village will be a memorable part of your Phuket adventure.

Read More Blog: https://itineraryplans.com/

[fertilityhospitals]

[vignaniasacademy]

19-05-2020 Current affairs & Daily News Analysis

INITIATIVES TO BOOST EDUCATION SECTOR

Union Finance Minister announced several initiatives to boost Education Sector These are: A comprehensive initiative called PM e-VIDYA will be launched which unifies all efforts related to digital/online/on-air education. This will enable multi-mode access to education, and includes:DIKSHA (one nation-one digital platform) which will now become the nation’s digital infrastructure for providing quality e-content in school education for all the states/UTs; TV (one class-one channel) where one dedicated channel per grade for each of the classes 1 to 12 will provide access to quality educational material; SWAYAM online courses in MOOCS format for school and higher education; IITPAL for IITJEE/NEET preparation; and study material for the differently abled developed on Digitally Accessible Information System (DAISY) and in sign language on NIOS website/ YouTube. The Manodarpan initiative is being launched to provide psychosocial support to students, teachers and families for mental health and emotional wellbeing through a website, a toll-free helpline, national directory of counselors, interactive chat platform, etc. Government is expanding e-learning in higher education. Top 100 universities will start online courses. Also, online component in conventional Universities and ODL programmes will also be raised from present 20% to 40%. It has been decided to prepare a new National Curriculum and Pedagogical Framework for school education, teacher education and early childhood stage to prepare students and future teachers as per global benchmarks. A National Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Mission will be launched, for ensuring that every child in the country necessarily attains foundational literacy and numeracy. This mission will cover the learning needs of nearly 4 crore children in the age group of 3 to 11 years.  Source : PIB ( Education ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Academy in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy A rare palm endemic to the South Andaman Island is finding a second home at Thiruvananthapuram-based Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI). About: JNTBGRI scientists termed the Pinanga andamanensis “a critically endangered species and one of the least known among the endemic palms of the Andaman Islands”. Its entire population of some 600 specimens naturally occurs only in a tiny, evergreen forest pocket in South Andaman’s Mount Harriet National Park. By conserving the germplasm on the Indian mainland, JNTBGRI can ensure its continued survival in the event of its minuscule original home getting wiped out by a natural calamity. This elegant palm holds promise as an avenue tree for gardens, pavements and homesteads. The name is derived from ‘Penang’, the modern-day Malaysian state. Penang itself has its origins in ‘Pulau Pinang’, which means ‘Island of the Areca Nut Palm.  Source : The Hindu ( Environment ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Academy in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy J&K GRANT OF DOMICILE CERTIFICATE PROCEDURE RULES, 2020 The J&K administration notified the J&K Grant of Domicile Certificate Procedure Rules, 2020 and set a fast-track process in motion to issue the certificates within a stipulated time of 15 days. About: Under the amended rules, eligible non-locals can also apply for the certificate. These rules provide a simple time-bound and transparent procedure for issuance of domicile certificates. There is a timeline of 15 days for issuance of certificates. Domicile certificates have now been made a basic eligibility condition for appointment to any post under the Union Territory of J&K following the amendments in the previous Act. To make the process transparent and time-bound, any officer not able to issue the certificate would be penalised ₹50,000. The amount would be recovered from his salary. All Permanent Resident Certificate holders and their children living outside J&K can apply for the certificates. Kashmiri migrants living in or outside J&K can get domicile certificates by simply producing their Permanent Residence Certificate (PRC), ration card copy, voter card or any other valid document. Bonafide migrants can apply with the Relief and Rehabilitation department by providing documents like electoral rolls of 1988, proof of registration as a migrant in any State in the country or any other valid document.  Source : The Hindu ( Polity & Governance ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Academy in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy LESS INVASIVE SURFACTANT ADMINISTRATION (LISA) A recent medical technique, known as Less invasive surfactant administration (LISA), has been started at J.K. Lon Government Children’s Hospital in Jaipur for treatment of lung disease or respiratory distress syndrome among premature babies. About: LISA has been developed as a lung protective strategy for respiratory management and ventilation in view of the mechanical ventilation causing damage to the preterm lungs of newborns. Infants considered suitable for LISA are those being managed with primary continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or high flow with the evidence of increasing respiratory distress and with a rising oxygen requirement. The procedure, started initially for newborn children with the birth weight of less than 1,500 grams, has yielded encouraging results. The regular application of LISA would turn out to be very useful and help save the lives of premature babies.  Source : The Hindu ( Health ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Academy in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy Government has accepted and implemented three important recommendations of Committee of Experts (CoE) under the Chairmanship of Lt General D B Shekatkar (Retd) relating to border Infrastructure. About: Government has implemented recommendation of CoE to outsource road construction work beyond optimal capacity of Border Roads Organisation (BRO). It has been made mandatory to adopt Engineering Procurement Contract (EPC) mode for execution of all works costing more than Rs 100 crore. The other recommendation relating to introduction of modern construction plants, equipment and machinery has been implemented by delegating enhanced procurement powers from Rs 7.5 crore to Rs 100 crore to BRO, for domestic and foreign procurements. Border Roads has recently inducted Hot-Mix Plant 20/30 TPH for speedier laying of roads, remote operated hydraulic Rock Drills DC-400 R for hard rock cutting, a range of F-90 series of self-propelled snow-cutters/blowers for speedier snow clearance. The land acquisition and all statutory clearances like forest and environmental clearance are also made part of approval of Detailed Project Report (DPR). It is mandatory to award work only when 90 per cent of the statutory clearances have been obtained.  Source : PIB ( Defence & Security ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Academy in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM DAY (IMD) International Museum Day 2020 was celebrated on May 18 under theme of "Museums for Equality: Diversity and Inclusion" About: International Museum Day (IMD) is an international day held annually on 18 May to create awareness about the cultural importance of museums. It is coordinated by the International Council of Museums (ICOM). It is being celebrated since the year 1977.   Important Info : The International Council of Museums (ICOM)? Status: A non-governmental organisation maintaining formal relations with UNESCO and having a consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.Created in: 1946. Location: Paris, France.  Source : PIB ( Culture ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Academy in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy The Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘AMPHAN’ (pronounced as UM-PUN) intensified into Super Cyclonic Storm on 18th May, 2020. About: Extremely severe cyclone Amphan (pronounced as Um-Pun) over the central parts of the South Bay and adjoining Central Bay of Bengal has spun into a class-topping super cyclone after howling winds around its core broke the threshold speeds. Amphan is only the third pre-monsoon super cyclone to form in the Bay after 1990, after the Andhra Pradesh super cyclone (May 4-9, 1990, no name) and the Bangladesh super cyclone (April 24-May 2, 1991, Gorky).  Important Info : According to IMD’s classification of storms based on intensity, super cyclone is an intense low-pressure system represented on a synoptic chart by more than four closed isobars (concentric circles) and in which the wind speed at surface level is 222 km/hr (category 4 or 5 as per Saffir-Simpson scale storm intensity).  Source : The Hindu ( Geography ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Academy in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has relaxed the 25 per cent Minimum Public Shareholding (MPS) norm. About: The rules have been relaxed for listed entities for whom the deadline to comply with MPS requirements falls between the period from March 1, 2020 to August 31, 2020. Under SEBI norms, listed entities are required to have at least 25 per cent public shareholding. SEBI has advised stock exchanges not to take penal action till August 2020 in case of non-compliance. The SEBI move is aimed at easing such compliance rules amid the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.  Important Info : Background: Many public sector companies are yet to fulfill the 25 per cent minimum public shareholding norms, and have been seeking deadline extensions.In July 2019, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her maiden Budget speech urged SEBI to consider increasing the minimum public holding in listed firms to 35 per cent from 25 per cent. However, SEBI board is yet to take a view on this proposal. Source : Indian Express ( Economy ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Academy in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy Daily Current affairs and News Analysis Best IAS Coaching institutes in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy Contact Vignan IAS Academy Enroll For IAS Foundation Course from Best IFS Academy in Bangalore Read the full article

[kathleenseiber]

Team finds paint, baby formula, and more in oysters

Researchers have found the widespread presence of human bacterial pathogens and human-derived microdebris materials, including plastics, kerosene, paint, talc, and milk supplement powders in oysters in Myanmar.

Their new study in Science of the Total Environment concludes that coastal urbanization and lack of sewage treatment increases contamination in seafood and can cause potential health risks to humans, even large distances from pollution sources.

“It’s important to keep in mind that much of our seafood is imported from overseas, from places that may be contaminated…”

The researchers conducted the study in the eastern Andaman Sea through partnerships with local researchers in Myanmar in the densely populated but still rural Tanintharyi region.

The area covered by the study spanned nine coral reefs off Myanmar’s Mergui Archipelago, situated roughly 40 miles from Myeik, a city with a population of over 250,000 people.

The study examined contaminants in seawater and in oysters using next-generation DNA sequencing to reveal 5,459 potential human pathogens belonging to 87 species of bacteria. More than half of these pathogens are considered detrimental to human health. In addition, the scientists used infrared spectroscopy to examine individual microdebris particles found in the oysters.

Of the 1,225 individual microdebris particles examined, 78 different types of contaminant materials were found.

“While 48% of the microparticles were microplastics—a finding representative across numerous ocean ecosystems—many other particles were not plastic and originated from a variety of human-derived materials that are constituents of fuels, paints, and cosmetics,” says senior author Joleah Lamb, assistant professor of ecology & evolutionary biology at the University of California, Irvine.

“We were particularly surprised to find three different brands of milk powder formula, which comprised 14% of the microdebris contaminants.”

Both types of contaminants—pathogens and microparticles—reflect the pervasive presence of sewage and runoff from human and animal sources. The implications for other coastal regions are significant, since coastal marine environments worldwide are being increasingly subjected to reduced water quality from urbanization that could be leading to the contamination of important fishery species on a global scale.

Health implications

Implications for human health are also significant. Oysters in this region and elsewhere are part of the local diet and typically consumed raw and whole. The contaminants found in this study indicate that even the Mergui Archipelago in largely rural Myanmar has significant and widespread pollution from runoff of agricultural and human waste that can affect downstream food sources over a wide area far from urban centers.

“…the prominence of milk supplement detected suggests a direct fecal-oral link…”

Today more than half of seafood exports by value originate in developing countries, raising more general concerns about local food safety and food security worldwide.

“It’s important to keep in mind that much of our seafood is imported from overseas, from places that may be contaminated, emphasizing the importance of both adequate testing and improvements to coastal water quality worldwide,” says lead author Raechel Littman, a postdoctoral scholar in ecology & evolutionary biology.

Apart from human bacterial pathogens, the predominance of microplastics and other types of microparticles present in seafood could have implications for both the environment and human health.

“Scientists are only beginning to explore the human health consequences from consuming microplastics,” says Lamb.

‘Forever chemicals’

Many plastic particles can carry toxins, such as persistent organic pollutants, or POPs, like dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and bisphenol A (BPA), that subsequently enter the ocean and marine food webs, and can eventually be transferred to people through food. Therefore, the uptake of microplastics in the marine environment could have far-reaching consequences for human consumption of seafood and can be an emerging risk to public health globally.

Also concerning is that over half of the microdebris contaminants detected in the Myanmar oyster tissues were composed of non-polymer materials that can be harmful to human health if ingested, such as kerosene, saponin, and talc. Moreover, the prominence of milk supplement detected suggests a direct fecal-oral link between human waste and sewage making its way back into the food chain, thereby elevating the risk of contamination or disease transmission.

“This study in important in its global implications. There is strong evidence of transferability of the findings from Myanmar to other seafood sources around the world,” says Douglas Rader, chief scientist for the Environmental Defense Fund Oceans program and a collaborator on this study.

“These findings highlight both the risks of coastal urbanization and the importance of adequate wastewater and stormwater management. It also shows clearly the need for better science related to the potential impacts of these contaminants, and the need for better testing programs so that seafood consumers can rely on its wholesomeness.

Additional researchers from UC Irvine, the Environmental Defense Fund, Cornell University, and the University of Queensland contributed to the work.

Source: UC Irvine

The post Team finds paint, baby formula, and more in oysters appeared first on Futurity.

Team finds paint, baby formula, and more in oysters published first on https://triviaqaweb.weebly.com/

[brajeshupadhyay]

Coronavirus LIVE Updates: India's COVID-19 fatality rate of 2.18% among lowest, says Harsh Vardhan

08:56 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Assam LATEST updates

Nine-day-old girl youngest COVID-19 patient in Assam

A nine-day old girl from Hailakandi district became the youngest person in Assam to test positive for the novel coronavirus on Friday.

The infant has been taken to the Silchar Medical College and Hospital for treatment. The test result of the mother, who gave birth to the baby at home, turned out to be negative, the district spokesperson said.

08:26 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India LATEST updates

India's COVID-19 recovery rate is 64.54%, says health ministry 

Chairing the 19th meeting of the Group of Ministers (GoM) on COVID-19 through video-conference on Friday, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said India has achieved the milestone of more than 10 lakh recoveries, a recovery rate to 64.54 percent.

08:09 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India LATEST updates

India's COVID-19 fatality rate of 2.18% among lowest, says Harsh Vardhan 

Of the total coronavirus active cases, 0.28 percent patients are on ventilators, 1.61 percent patients required ICU support and 2.32 percent are on oxygen support, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Friday following the 19th meeting of the Group of Ministers (GOM) on COVID-19.

He added that India has one of the lowest case fatality rates globally, which is also steadily decreasing.

08:07 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India LATEST updates 

India's COVID-19 toll tops 35,000, fifth highest in world now

India now has the fifth highest COVID-19 toll in the world after overtaking Italy's fatality count of 35,132. The country’s overall toll stood at 35,748 on Friday night. 

Of these, 18,356 have come in July alone, more than all COVID-19 deaths in the previous months put together.

08:02 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Madhya Pradesh LATEST updates 

No public events in Madhya Pradesh for two weeks: Minister

Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra said on Friday that the Chief Minister had directed all public representatives to not hold public events until 14 August, in view of several legislators and BJP leaders having contracted coronavirus.

"If necessary, they can do it virtually. More than five persons can’t visit public representatives together," said Mishra.

07:59 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Mizoram LATEST updates 

Mizoram records 412 coronavirus cases

Mizoram registered a total of 412 COVID-19 infections as on Saturday with 165 active cases. According to the Department of Information and Public Relations, the state has recorded 247 COVID-19 recoveries so far.

Coronavirus LATEST Updates: India's COVID-19 case fatality rate is progressively declining and now stands at 2.18 percent, one of the lowest globally, while just 0.28 percent of the total active patients are on ventilator, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Friday.

With a record single-day surge of 55,078 infections, India's COVID-19 caseload raced past 16 lakh on Friday, just two days after it reached the 15-lakh mark, while the number of recoveries rose to 10,57,805, according to Union Health Ministry data.

The country has so far registered 16,38,870 instances of the coronavirus infection. The toll increased to 35,747 with 779 fatalities being reported in 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am showed.

This is the second consecutive day that COVID-19 cases have increased by more than 50,000.

There are 5,45,318 active COVID-19 cases in the country. The recovery rate rose to 64.54 percent while the fatality rate dropped further to 2.18 percent.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a cumulative 1,88,32,970 samples have been tested up to 30 July with 6,42,588 being examined on Thursday.

However, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan said India's COVID-19 case fatality rate is progressively declining and now stands at 2.18 percent, one of the lowest globally.

In Delhi, the next round of sero-prevalence survey is slated to begin on Saturday, with authorities gearing up for the five-day exercise to comprehensively analyse the COVID-19 situation in the capital.

India's fatality rate among lowest globally, says Vardhan

Chairing the 19th meeting of the Group of Ministers (GoM) on COVID-19 through video-conference, Vardhan said India has achieved the milestone of more than 10 lakh recoveries, a recovery rate to 64.54 percent.

"This shows that the active cases under medical supervision are only 33.27 pc or approximately 1/3rd of total positive cases,” he was quoted as saying in a health ministry statement.

“India's Case Fatality Rate is also progressively reducing and currently stands at 2.18 percent, one of the lowest globally," he said.

Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar, Minister of Civil Aviation Hardeep Puri, MoS Shipping (Independent Charge) Mansukh Lal Mandaviya, MoS Health Ashwini Kumar Choubey and MoS Home Nityanand Rai joined the meeting.

Speaking on the severity of the disease, Vardhan said, "Out of the total active cases, only 0.28 pc patients are on ventilators, 1.61 pc patients needed ICU support and 2.32 pc are on oxygen support.”

On the country's testing capacity, he said 6,42,588 tests were conducted in a span of 24 hours through a network of 1,331 labs — 911 government and 420 private – which has taken the cumulative number to more than 1.88 crore tests so far.

The GoM was briefed on the current status of COVID-19 in India and was apprised about the ramping up of the domestic production capacities of various sectors for manufacturing PPEs, masks, ventilators and drugs such as hydroxychloroquine, the statement said.

In terms of healthcare logistics, cumulatively 268.25 lakh N-95 masks, 120.40 lakh PPEs and 1,083.77 lakh HCQ tablets have been distributed to states/UTs and Central institutions, it said.

State-wise cases and deaths

Of the 779 deaths reported on Friday, 266 were from Maharashtra, 97 from Tamil Nadu, 83 from Karnataka, 68 from Andhra Pradesh and 57 from Uttar Pradesh.

West Bengal registered 46 deaths, Delhi 29, Gujarat 22, Jammu and Kashmir 17, Madhya Pradesh 14 and Rajasthan and Telangana 13 each.

Ten fatalities have been reported from Odisha, nine from Punjab, five from Jharkhand, four each from Bihar, Haryana, Manipur and Uttarakhand, three each from Goa and Chhattisgarh, two each from Assam, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Kerala while Ladakh and Puducherry recorded one fatality each.

Manipur has for the first time reported COVID-19 fatalities.

Among the 35,747 deaths reported till now, Maharashtra accounts for the maximum 14,728 fatalities, followed by Delhi with 3,936 deaths, Tamil Nadu 3,838, Gujarat 2,418, Karnataka 2,230, Uttar Pradesh 1,587, West Bengal 1,536, Andhra Pradesh 1,281 and Madhya Pradesh 857.

So far, 663 people have died of COVID-19 in Rajasthan, 505 in Telangana, 417 in Haryana, 370 in Punjab, 365 in Jammu and Kashmir, 282 in Bihar, 169 in Odisha, 103 in Jharkhand, 94 in Assam, 76 in Uttarakhand and 70 in Kerala.

Chhattisgarh has registered 51 deaths, Puducherry 48, Goa 42, Tripura 21, Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh 14 each, Ladakh seven, Meghalaya and Nagaland five each, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Manipur four each, Arunachal Pradesh three, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu two and Sikkim one.

Delhi govt's sero-survey to begin from tomorrow

The next sero-prevalence survey is scheduled to be conducted from 1-5 August.

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain had on 22 July announced that after analysing the results of the last survey, it was decided that more such exercises would be undertaken every month to formulate better policies for tackling the COVID-19 situation in the city.

A senior government official said 15,000 samples would be collected over a span of five days and the survey would kickstart in four districts, including north and northwest Delhi.

It would follow the same protocol as that of the survey conducted earlier by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

All CDMOs will be tasked with carrying out the survey in their districts. Random people will be tested for antibodies.

The health department has prepared a detailed plan under which every district medical officer has been asked to conduct the survey in their respective jurisdictions, officials said.

The last sero-prevalence survey was conducted by the Delhi government in association with the NCDC from 27 June to 10 July.

UK PM halts lockdown easing

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday applied brakes on further easing of lockdown measures, due from this weekend, in England, fearing a spike in the COVID-19 cases.

Addressing a briefing at Downing Street in London, Johnson said, "we must squeeze the brake pedal" to keep the virus under control and also announced that face coverings will become mandatory across many more indoor settings, such as cinemas, besides just public transport and shops and supermarkets.

"The prevalence of the virus in the community, in England, is likely to be rising for the first time since May," said Johnson, referring to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) data.

“That means until August 15 at the earliest casinos, bowling alleys, skating rinks and the remaining close-contact services must remain closed. Indoor performances will not resume, pilots of larger gatherings in sports venues and conference centres will not take place, and wedding receptions of up to 30 people will not be permitted," he said.

The UK PM insisted that progress against coronavirus continues, with the daily and weekly number of deaths falling, but warned that some European countries are "struggling" to control it.

“The UK must be ready to react," he said.

With inputs from PTI

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[brajeshupadhyay]

08:56 (IST) Coronavirus Outbreak in Assam LATEST updates Nine-day-old girl youngest COVID-19 patient in Assam A nine-day old girl from Hailakandi district became the youngest person in Assam to test positive for the novel coronavirus on Friday. The infant has been taken to the Silchar Medical College and Hospital for treatment. The test result of the mother, who gave birth to the baby at home, turned out to be negative, the district spokesperson said. 08:26 (IST) Coronavirus Outbreak in India LATEST updates India's COVID-19 recovery rate is 64.54%, says health ministry  Chairing the 19th meeting of the Group of Ministers (GoM) on COVID-19 through video-conference on Friday, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said India has achieved the milestone of more than 10 lakh recoveries, a recovery rate to 64.54 percent. 08:09 (IST) Coronavirus Outbreak in India LATEST updates India's COVID-19 fatality rate of 2.18% among lowest, says Harsh Vardhan  Of the total coronavirus active cases, 0.28 percent patients are on ventilators, 1.61 percent patients required ICU support and 2.32 percent are on oxygen support, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Friday following the 19th meeting of the Group of Ministers (GOM) on COVID-19. He added that India has one of the lowest case fatality rates globally, which is also steadily decreasing. 08:07 (IST) Coronavirus Outbreak in India LATEST updates  India's COVID-19 toll tops 35,000, fifth highest in world now India now has the fifth highest COVID-19 toll in the world after overtaking Italy's fatality count of 35,132. The country’s overall toll stood at 35,748 on Friday night.  Of these, 18,356 have come in July alone, more than all COVID-19 deaths in the previous months put together. 08:02 (IST) Coronavirus Outbreak in Madhya Pradesh LATEST updates  No public events in Madhya Pradesh for two weeks: Minister Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra said on Friday that the Chief Minister had directed all public representatives to not hold public events until 14 August, in view of several legislators and BJP leaders having contracted coronavirus. "If necessary, they can do it virtually. More than five persons can’t visit public representatives together," said Mishra. 07:59 (IST) Coronavirus Outbreak in Mizoram LATEST updates  Mizoram records 412 coronavirus cases Mizoram registered a total of 412 COVID-19 infections as on Saturday with 165 active cases. According to the Department of Information and Public Relations, the state has recorded 247 COVID-19 recoveries so far. Coronavirus LATEST Updates: India's COVID-19 case fatality rate is progressively declining and now stands at 2.18 percent, one of the lowest globally, while just 0.28 percent of the total active patients are on ventilator, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Friday. With a record single-day surge of 55,078 infections, India's COVID-19 caseload raced past 16 lakh on Friday, just two days after it reached the 15-lakh mark, while the number of recoveries rose to 10,57,805, according to Union Health Ministry data. The country has so far registered 16,38,870 instances of the coronavirus infection. The toll increased to 35,747 with 779 fatalities being reported in 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am showed. This is the second consecutive day that COVID-19 cases have increased by more than 50,000. There are 5,45,318 active COVID-19 cases in the country. The recovery rate rose to 64.54 percent while the fatality rate dropped further to 2.18 percent. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a cumulative 1,88,32,970 samples have been tested up to 30 July with 6,42,588 being examined on Thursday. However, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan said India's COVID-19 case fatality rate is progressively declining and now stands at 2.18 percent, one of the lowest globally. In Delhi, the next round of sero-prevalence survey is slated to begin on Saturday, with authorities gearing up for the five-day exercise to comprehensively analyse the COVID-19 situation in the capital. India's fatality rate among lowest globally, says Vardhan Chairing the 19th meeting of the Group of Ministers (GoM) on COVID-19 through video-conference, Vardhan said India has achieved the milestone of more than 10 lakh recoveries, a recovery rate to 64.54 percent. "This shows that the active cases under medical supervision are only 33.27 pc or approximately 1/3rd of total positive cases,” he was quoted as saying in a health ministry statement. “India's Case Fatality Rate is also progressively reducing and currently stands at 2.18 percent, one of the lowest globally," he said. Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar, Minister of Civil Aviation Hardeep Puri, MoS Shipping (Independent Charge) Mansukh Lal Mandaviya, MoS Health Ashwini Kumar Choubey and MoS Home Nityanand Rai joined the meeting. Speaking on the severity of the disease, Vardhan said, "Out of the total active cases, only 0.28 pc patients are on ventilators, 1.61 pc patients needed ICU support and 2.32 pc are on oxygen support.” On the country's testing capacity, he said 6,42,588 tests were conducted in a span of 24 hours through a network of 1,331 labs — 911 government and 420 private – which has taken the cumulative number to more than 1.88 crore tests so far. The GoM was briefed on the current status of COVID-19 in India and was apprised about the ramping up of the domestic production capacities of various sectors for manufacturing PPEs, masks, ventilators and drugs such as hydroxychloroquine, the statement said. In terms of healthcare logistics, cumulatively 268.25 lakh N-95 masks, 120.40 lakh PPEs and 1,083.77 lakh HCQ tablets have been distributed to states/UTs and Central institutions, it said. State-wise cases and deaths Of the 779 deaths reported on Friday, 266 were from Maharashtra, 97 from Tamil Nadu, 83 from Karnataka, 68 from Andhra Pradesh and 57 from Uttar Pradesh. West Bengal registered 46 deaths, Delhi 29, Gujarat 22, Jammu and Kashmir 17, Madhya Pradesh 14 and Rajasthan and Telangana 13 each. Ten fatalities have been reported from Odisha, nine from Punjab, five from Jharkhand, four each from Bihar, Haryana, Manipur and Uttarakhand, three each from Goa and Chhattisgarh, two each from Assam, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Kerala while Ladakh and Puducherry recorded one fatality each. Manipur has for the first time reported COVID-19 fatalities. Among the 35,747 deaths reported till now, Maharashtra accounts for the maximum 14,728 fatalities, followed by Delhi with 3,936 deaths, Tamil Nadu 3,838, Gujarat 2,418, Karnataka 2,230, Uttar Pradesh 1,587, West Bengal 1,536, Andhra Pradesh 1,281 and Madhya Pradesh 857. So far, 663 people have died of COVID-19 in Rajasthan, 505 in Telangana, 417 in Haryana, 370 in Punjab, 365 in Jammu and Kashmir, 282 in Bihar, 169 in Odisha, 103 in Jharkhand, 94 in Assam, 76 in Uttarakhand and 70 in Kerala. Chhattisgarh has registered 51 deaths, Puducherry 48, Goa 42, Tripura 21, Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh 14 each, Ladakh seven, Meghalaya and Nagaland five each, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Manipur four each, Arunachal Pradesh three, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu two and Sikkim one. Delhi govt's sero-survey to begin from tomorrow The next sero-prevalence survey is scheduled to be conducted from 1-5 August. Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain had on 22 July announced that after analysing the results of the last survey, it was decided that more such exercises would be undertaken every month to formulate better policies for tackling the COVID-19 situation in the city. A senior government official said 15,000 samples would be collected over a span of five days and the survey would kickstart in four districts, including north and northwest Delhi. It would follow the same protocol as that of the survey conducted earlier by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). All CDMOs will be tasked with carrying out the survey in their districts. Random people will be tested for antibodies. The health department has prepared a detailed plan under which every district medical officer has been asked to conduct the survey in their respective jurisdictions, officials said. The last sero-prevalence survey was conducted by the Delhi government in association with the NCDC from 27 June to 10 July. UK PM halts lockdown easing UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday applied brakes on further easing of lockdown measures, due from this weekend, in England, fearing a spike in the COVID-19 cases. Addressing a briefing at Downing Street in London, Johnson said, "we must squeeze the brake pedal" to keep the virus under control and also announced that face coverings will become mandatory across many more indoor settings, such as cinemas, besides just public transport and shops and supermarkets. "The prevalence of the virus in the community, in England, is likely to be rising for the first time since May," said Johnson, referring to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) data. “That means until August 15 at the earliest casinos, bowling alleys, skating rinks and the remaining close-contact services must remain closed. Indoor performances will not resume, pilots of larger gatherings in sports venues and conference centres will not take place, and wedding receptions of up to 30 people will not be permitted," he said. The UK PM insisted that progress against coronavirus continues, with the daily and weekly number of deaths falling, but warned that some European countries are "struggling" to control it. “The UK must be ready to react," he said. With inputs from PTI

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[brajeshupadhyay]

Coronavirus Outbreak LIVE Updates: India confirms 20,471 COVID-19 cases with 652 deaths; WHO says 'long way to go' to tackle pandemic

08:11 (IST)

Coronavirus in India Latest Updates

Confirmed COVID-19 cases in India crosses 20,000, deaths top 650

The total number of novel coronavirus cases in India surged past 20,000 on Wednesday. At least 1,486 fresh cases emerged in the last 24 hours, taking the COVID-19 count in the country to 20,471, according to the latest Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data.

With 49 deaths recorded since Tuesday, the toll now stands at 652, it said.

So far, India has 15,589 active cases. There are also 77 foreign nationals who are affected by the virus, the ministry said.

07:58 (IST)

Coronavirus in India Latest Updates

Amid lockdown, airborne particle levels plummet in northern India at 20-yr low: NASA

The nationwide lockdown imposed in India in view of the coronavirus outbreak has decreased activity at factories and severely reduced car, bus, truck, and airplane traffic. After just a week of reduced human activities, NASA satellite sensors observed aerosol levels at a 20-year low for this time of year in the northern parts of the country.

Every year, aerosols from anthropogenic (human-made) sources contribute to unhealthy levels of air pollution in many cities. Aerosols are tiny solid and liquid particles suspended in the air that reduce visibility and can damage the human lungs and heart.

"We knew we would see changes in atmospheric composition in many places during the lockdown," said Pawan Gupta, a Universities Space Research Association (USRA) scientist at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. "But I have never seen aerosol values so low in the Indo-Gangetic Plain at this time of year."

07:40 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak Latest Updates

WHO says 'long way to go' to tackle COVID-19 crisis as global toll crosses 180,000

The World Health Organization on Wednesday warned that the coronavirus crisis would not end any time soon, with many countries only in the early stages of the fight, as the global death count surpassed 180,000.

The pandemic has sparked not only a health emergency, but a global economic rout, with businesses struggling to survive, millions left jobless, and millions more facing starvation.

07:33 (IST)

Coronavirus in West Bengal Latest Updates

COVID-19 patient in Howrah gives birth, condition of both stable 

A COVID-19 patient in West Bengal's Howrah district gave birth to a baby and the health condition of both of them is stable, hospital authorities said on Wednesday.

The pregnant woman was admitted to the Sanjiban Hospital in the Fuleswar area on 13 April and she later tested positive for the infectious disease, said its Director Subhasis Mitra.

The woman, a resident of Howrah city, gave birth to the baby boy around 8 pm on Monday, he said.

Coronavirus Outbreak LATEST Updates: The total number of novel coronavirus cases in India surged past 20,000 on Wednesday. At least 1,486 fresh cases emerged in the last 24 hours, taking the COVID-19 count in the country to 20,471, according to the latest Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data.

With 49 deaths recorded since Tuesday, the toll now stands at 652, it said.

The countrywide COVID-19 toll rose to 652 while the number of cases jumped to 20,471 on Wednesday, an increase of 49 fatalities and 1,486 cases since Tuesday evening, according to the Union Health Ministry.

The number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 15,859, while 3,959 people have been cured and discharged, the ministry said, adding that one patient has migrated.

Meanwhile, the Union Cabinet approved Rs 15,000 crore for "India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package" for setting up dedicated treatment facilities and laboratories as part of an urgent response to contain the pandemic.

The Cabinet also approved an ordinance aimed at preventing violence against health workers after several cases of assaults on doctors were reported during the coronavirus outbreak.

Maharashtra, Gujarat report most deaths

Of the 49 deaths reported since Tuesday evening, 19 were from Maharashtra, 18 from Gujarat, four from Madhya Pradesh, three from West Bengal, two from Andhra Pradesh and one each from Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, the ministry said.

Of the total 652 deaths, Maharashtra tops the tally with 251, followed by Gujarat at 95, Madhya Pradesh at 80, Delhi at 47, Rajasthan at 25, Andhra Pradesh at 24 and Telangana at 23, according to the ministry.

The death toll reached 21 in Uttar Pradesh, 18 in Tamil Nadu while Karantaka has reported 17 cases.

Punjab has registered 16 deaths, while West Bengal has reported 15 fatalities due to coronavirus infection so far.

The disease has claimed five lives in Jammu and Kashmir, while Kerala, Jharkhand and Haryana have recorded three COVID-19 deaths each.

Bihar has reported two deaths, while Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha and Assam have reported one fatality each, according to the ministry data.

According to the health ministry''s data updated in the evening, the highest number of confirmed cases in the country are from Maharashtra at 5,221, followed by Gujarat at 2,272, Delhi at 2,156, Rajasthan at 1,801, Tamil Nadu at 1,596 and Madhya Pradesh at 1,592.

The number of COVID-19 cases has gone up to 1,412 in Uttar Pradesh, 945 in Telangana and 813 in Andhra Pradesh.

The number of cases has risen to 427 in Kerala, 425 in Karnataka, 423 in West Bengal, 380 in Jammu and Kashmir, 254 in Haryana and 251 in Punjab.

Bihar has reported 126 coronavirus cases, while Odisha has 82.

Forty-six people have been infected with the virus in Uttarakhand while Jharkhand has 45 cases.

Himachal Pradesh has 39 cases, Chhattisgarh has 36, while Assam has registered 35 infections so far.

Chandigarh has 27 COVID-19 cases, Ladakh 18, while 17 cases have been reported from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Meghalaya has reported 12 cases, while Goa and Puducherry have seven COVID-19 patients each. Manipur and Tripura have two cases each, while Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh have reported a case each.

"Our figures are being reconciled with the ICMR," the ministry said on its website.

It further said that one case of Jharkhand has been reassigned to Bihar after reconciliation.

Cabinet approves ordinance making attacks on doctors non-bailable offence

The Union government proposed making attacks on health workers non-bailable with maximum punishment of seven years in jail and Rs 5 lakh fine.

Javadekar said a person can be sentenced to anywhere between three months and five years in jail, besides a fine between Rs 50,000 and Rs 2 lakh, for crimes against healthcare workers under the new provision. In cases where injuries are serious, the punishment will range from six months to seven years, and carry fine between Rs 1-5 lakhs, the minister told reporters.

"Our government has zero tolerance against violence and harassment targeting doctors, nurses, paramedics and ASHA workers when they are doing their best to fight the pandemic," Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said after a Union cabinet meeting.

It was not clear whether these provisions would continue even after the COVID-19 crisis.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) called off its proposed ''white alert'' and ''black day'' protests scheduled for 22 and 23 April following a meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah through video conference on Wednesday. The doctors' body has been demanding that the Centre bring a law to protect healthcare workers from rising attacks at a time when they are battling COVID-19.

The Union Health Ministry also advised chief secretaries of all states and Union Territories to adopt adequate measures in ensuring the safety of health workers involved in COVID-19 services.

In a letter, Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan said amongst all professionals, the skills and services of these health workers place them in a unique position of saving lives.

Meanwhile, official sources told PTI that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with chief ministers via video conferencing on 27 April morning on the way ahead in the fight against coronavirus. This will be the third such video conference.

In the last interaction on 11 April, several chief ministers had recommended extension of the 21-day lockdown by two weeks, which was slated to end on 14 April earlier. Modi then extended it to 3 May.

Centre, West Bengal govt continue to be at loggerheads

A political stand-off continued between the BJP-headed Central Government and the Trinamool Congress-led government in West Bengal, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleging that the Centre had dispatched faulty testing kits to her state.

"Canards are being spread every day that only a few are getting tested in Bengal for COVID-19. This is absolutely false. Faulty kits were sent to Bengal which have now been withdrawn. We didn't even get adequate testing kits," she told a press conference.

The state government, however, assured it will abide by all the Central Government orders on the nationwide lockdown and said "it is not a fact" that it was not cooperating with the central team deputed to assess the COVID-19 situation in the West Bengal.

The assurance followed the Centre's allegation that the West Bengal government was obstructing the central team's work.

West Bengal has so far reported 15 deaths and 385 confirmed cases, though at least 79 people have been cured of COVID-19 in the state.

Rahul Gandhi seeks suggestions for MSME stimulus package

The Congress party on Wednesday has sought suggestions from the public on what a MSME economic stimulus package should cover. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweets, "COVID-19 has devastated our micro, small and medium businesses."

#COVID19 has devastated our micro, small & medium businesses (MSME). The Congress party needs your help. Send us suggestions & ideas for what a MSME economic stimulus package should cover on: https://t.co/kP2NZ6TNUK

or our social media platforms. #HelpSaveSmallBusinesses pic.twitter.com/UwLEPrnWdB

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 22, 2020

With inputs from agencies

via Blogger https://ift.tt/2xUoEgm

[brajeshupadhyay]

08:11 (IST) Coronavirus in India Latest Updates Confirmed COVID-19 cases in India crosses 20,000, deaths top 650 The total number of novel coronavirus cases in India surged past 20,000 on Wednesday. At least 1,486 fresh cases emerged in the last 24 hours, taking the COVID-19 count in the country to 20,471, according to the latest Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data. With 49 deaths recorded since Tuesday, the toll now stands at 652, it said. So far, India has 15,589 active cases. There are also 77 foreign nationals who are affected by the virus, the ministry said. 07:58 (IST) Coronavirus in India Latest Updates Amid lockdown, airborne particle levels plummet in northern India at 20-yr low: NASA The nationwide lockdown imposed in India in view of the coronavirus outbreak has decreased activity at factories and severely reduced car, bus, truck, and airplane traffic. After just a week of reduced human activities, NASA satellite sensors observed aerosol levels at a 20-year low for this time of year in the northern parts of the country. Every year, aerosols from anthropogenic (human-made) sources contribute to unhealthy levels of air pollution in many cities. Aerosols are tiny solid and liquid particles suspended in the air that reduce visibility and can damage the human lungs and heart. "We knew we would see changes in atmospheric composition in many places during the lockdown," said Pawan Gupta, a Universities Space Research Association (USRA) scientist at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. "But I have never seen aerosol values so low in the Indo-Gangetic Plain at this time of year." 07:40 (IST) Coronavirus Outbreak Latest Updates WHO says 'long way to go' to tackle COVID-19 crisis as global toll crosses 180,000 The World Health Organization on Wednesday warned that the coronavirus crisis would not end any time soon, with many countries only in the early stages of the fight, as the global death count surpassed 180,000. The pandemic has sparked not only a health emergency, but a global economic rout, with businesses struggling to survive, millions left jobless, and millions more facing starvation. 07:33 (IST) Coronavirus in West Bengal Latest Updates COVID-19 patient in Howrah gives birth, condition of both stable  A COVID-19 patient in West Bengal's Howrah district gave birth to a baby and the health condition of both of them is stable, hospital authorities said on Wednesday. The pregnant woman was admitted to the Sanjiban Hospital in the Fuleswar area on 13 April and she later tested positive for the infectious disease, said its Director Subhasis Mitra. The woman, a resident of Howrah city, gave birth to the baby boy around 8 pm on Monday, he said. Coronavirus Outbreak LATEST Updates: The total number of novel coronavirus cases in India surged past 20,000 on Wednesday. At least 1,486 fresh cases emerged in the last 24 hours, taking the COVID-19 count in the country to 20,471, according to the latest Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data. With 49 deaths recorded since Tuesday, the toll now stands at 652, it said. The countrywide COVID-19 toll rose to 652 while the number of cases jumped to 20,471 on Wednesday, an increase of 49 fatalities and 1,486 cases since Tuesday evening, according to the Union Health Ministry. The number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 15,859, while 3,959 people have been cured and discharged, the ministry said, adding that one patient has migrated. Meanwhile, the Union Cabinet approved Rs 15,000 crore for "India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package" for setting up dedicated treatment facilities and laboratories as part of an urgent response to contain the pandemic. The Cabinet also approved an ordinance aimed at preventing violence against health workers after several cases of assaults on doctors were reported during the coronavirus outbreak. Maharashtra, Gujarat report most deaths Of the 49 deaths reported since Tuesday evening, 19 were from Maharashtra, 18 from Gujarat, four from Madhya Pradesh, three from West Bengal, two from Andhra Pradesh and one each from Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, the ministry said. Of the total 652 deaths, Maharashtra tops the tally with 251, followed by Gujarat at 95, Madhya Pradesh at 80, Delhi at 47, Rajasthan at 25, Andhra Pradesh at 24 and Telangana at 23, according to the ministry. The death toll reached 21 in Uttar Pradesh, 18 in Tamil Nadu while Karantaka has reported 17 cases. Punjab has registered 16 deaths, while West Bengal has reported 15 fatalities due to coronavirus infection so far. The disease has claimed five lives in Jammu and Kashmir, while Kerala, Jharkhand and Haryana have recorded three COVID-19 deaths each. Bihar has reported two deaths, while Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha and Assam have reported one fatality each, according to the ministry data. According to the health ministry''s data updated in the evening, the highest number of confirmed cases in the country are from Maharashtra at 5,221, followed by Gujarat at 2,272, Delhi at 2,156, Rajasthan at 1,801, Tamil Nadu at 1,596 and Madhya Pradesh at 1,592. The number of COVID-19 cases has gone up to 1,412 in Uttar Pradesh, 945 in Telangana and 813 in Andhra Pradesh. The number of cases has risen to 427 in Kerala, 425 in Karnataka, 423 in West Bengal, 380 in Jammu and Kashmir, 254 in Haryana and 251 in Punjab. Bihar has reported 126 coronavirus cases, while Odisha has 82. Forty-six people have been infected with the virus in Uttarakhand while Jharkhand has 45 cases. Himachal Pradesh has 39 cases, Chhattisgarh has 36, while Assam has registered 35 infections so far. Chandigarh has 27 COVID-19 cases, Ladakh 18, while 17 cases have been reported from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Meghalaya has reported 12 cases, while Goa and Puducherry have seven COVID-19 patients each. Manipur and Tripura have two cases each, while Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh have reported a case each. "Our figures are being reconciled with the ICMR," the ministry said on its website. It further said that one case of Jharkhand has been reassigned to Bihar after reconciliation. Cabinet approves ordinance making attacks on doctors non-bailable offence The Union government proposed making attacks on health workers non-bailable with maximum punishment of seven years in jail and Rs 5 lakh fine. Javadekar said a person can be sentenced to anywhere between three months and five years in jail, besides a fine between Rs 50,000 and Rs 2 lakh, for crimes against healthcare workers under the new provision. In cases where injuries are serious, the punishment will range from six months to seven years, and carry fine between Rs 1-5 lakhs, the minister told reporters. "Our government has zero tolerance against violence and harassment targeting doctors, nurses, paramedics and ASHA workers when they are doing their best to fight the pandemic," Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said after a Union cabinet meeting. It was not clear whether these provisions would continue even after the COVID-19 crisis. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) called off its proposed ''white alert'' and ''black day'' protests scheduled for 22 and 23 April following a meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah through video conference on Wednesday. The doctors' body has been demanding that the Centre bring a law to protect healthcare workers from rising attacks at a time when they are battling COVID-19. The Union Health Ministry also advised chief secretaries of all states and Union Territories to adopt adequate measures in ensuring the safety of health workers involved in COVID-19 services. In a letter, Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan said amongst all professionals, the skills and services of these health workers place them in a unique position of saving lives. Meanwhile, official sources told PTI that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with chief ministers via video conferencing on 27 April morning on the way ahead in the fight against coronavirus. This will be the third such video conference. In the last interaction on 11 April, several chief ministers had recommended extension of the 21-day lockdown by two weeks, which was slated to end on 14 April earlier. Modi then extended it to 3 May. Centre, West Bengal govt continue to be at loggerheads A political stand-off continued between the BJP-headed Central Government and the Trinamool Congress-led government in West Bengal, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleging that the Centre had dispatched faulty testing kits to her state. "Canards are being spread every day that only a few are getting tested in Bengal for COVID-19. This is absolutely false. Faulty kits were sent to Bengal which have now been withdrawn. We didn't even get adequate testing kits," she told a press conference. The state government, however, assured it will abide by all the Central Government orders on the nationwide lockdown and said "it is not a fact" that it was not cooperating with the central team deputed to assess the COVID-19 situation in the West Bengal. The assurance followed the Centre's allegation that the West Bengal government was obstructing the central team's work. West Bengal has so far reported 15 deaths and 385 confirmed cases, though at least 79 people have been cured of COVID-19 in the state. Rahul Gandhi seeks suggestions for MSME stimulus package The Congress party on Wednesday has sought suggestions from the public on what a MSME economic stimulus package should cover. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweets, "COVID-19 has devastated our micro, small and medium businesses." #COVID19 has devastated our micro, small & medium businesses (MSME). The Congress party needs your help. Send us suggestions & ideas for what a MSME economic stimulus package should cover on: https://t.co/kP2NZ6TNUK or our social media platforms. #HelpSaveSmallBusinesses pic.twitter.com/UwLEPrnWdB — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 22, 2020 With inputs from agencies

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