Report Wire

Tag: India Covid Lockdown

  • Gujarat govt could not go for lockdown, signifies Nitin Patel

    Hinting at no possibililty of a lockdown in Gujarat, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel on Monday stated that there was “no scientific evidence that indicates a lockdown will definitely break the chain (of transmission)”.
    Gujarat on Monday reported 11,403 instances and 117 deaths. On April 1, the state had reported 2,410 instances and 9 deaths.
    Responding to a query, Patel advised mediapersons, “…several states, countries have seen significant reporting of Covid-19 cases despite a lockdown… in the first wave, we could break the chain with a lockdown but in this second wave, the virus is highly infectious”.
    Announcing a slash in charge for RT-PCR checks at 55 personal laboratories throughout Gujarat, Patel, who additionally holds the well being portfolio, indicated that there isn’t a plan for a lockdown in Gujarat that continued to report over 10,000 new Covid instances every day.
    Patel stated, “Night curfew is in place in 20 cities. Several cities, towns, villages, municipalities, organisations and associations have decided to observe voluntary lockdown… we will inform if there is a decision from the state government… We are discussing with experts and what they are saying is to wear masks, maintain social distancing and to wash hands. If these are followed, there is no need for a lockdown… Lockdown can be useful for breaking the chain but it will affect lakhs of people’s employment, their earnings and their businesses.”

    He stated, “We are keeping a night curfew because a lot of people go to hotels, restaurants, pan stalls and roam around in society compounds…, increasing chances of infection… no state is going for a complete lockdown…”
    Patel additionally added that the elevated variety of infections has made the general public extra conscious, forcing them to look at security.
    “A self-awareness has come among citizens, in view of the rate at which infections and number of hospitalised patients have increased in the past eight to 10 days… to save themselves and their family, people have become aware…,” he added.
    Rate for RT-PCR check at personal laboratories if the samples are collected from the residence of the affected person has been diminished to Rs 900 from the sooner Rs 1,100. If the samples are collected on the lab, the speed has been lower to Rs 700 from the sooner Rs 800, introduced Patel. The new charges will likely be in power from Tuesday.
    Claiming that RT-PCR check outcomes are declared inside 24 to 30 hours, Patel stated, “In municipal corporations and other big districts where we are receiving a lot of samples, the number of (RTPCR) machines will be increased in laboratories… A testing facility will be launched in Morbi and another machine will be added in Kutch district since we are receiving as many as 1,000 samples from Bhuj (daily)… More private laboratories are being authorised as well across the state (to conduct RT-PCR testing).”
    On oxygen scarcity and delay in refilling in addition to Remdesivir scarcity, Patel stated, “In Gujarat, oxygen production has been reserved for medical purposes and diversion for industrial use has been stopped. Police has been roped in to ensure smooth transport of oxygen tankers and to ensure there is no time wastage in delivery… Each day we are getting nearly 20,000 Remdesivir injections… we are giving it to the district administration and government hospitals. For private hospitals, the respective district collector or municipal commissioner is allocating on a need-basis.”
    The Deputy CM additionally introduced that the state medical health insurance scheme card — Mukhyamantri Amrutam Yojana — will likely be prolonged by three months for these whose insurance coverage expired on March 31.
     

  • From Delhi to Maharashtra: Here’s an inventory of states below Covid-induced curfews

     
    With the Covid-19 surge displaying no indicators of abating, a number of states have clamped stringent restrictions, together with night time curfew, and are even mulling lockdown of their bid to stem the unfold of the virus.
    India’s complete tally of Covid-19 circumstances crossed 1.50 crore with a file single-day rise of two,73,810 new coronavirus infections, whereas the energetic circumstances surpassed the 19-lakh mark, in accordance with the Union Health Ministry information up to date on Monday.
    Here’s an inventory of states which have put in place recent Covid-related restrictions
    Delhi
    The Delhi authorities has imposed a lockdown from tonight until subsequent Monday to examine the unfold of Covid-19. The choice was taken at a gathering between Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lt Governor Anil Baijal on Monday. The lockdown will keep in drive until 5 am on April 26.
    Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal mentioned e-passes will probably be issued to folks engaged in working outlets promoting medicines, groceries, vegatables and fruits, dairy and milk cubicles, meat and fish; folks working in banks, telecom/ web companies, supply of important items, petrol pumps; these going for Covid-19 vaccination. Marriages scheduled in the course of the course of the week can even be allowed. At marriages and funerals, as much as 50 and 20 individuals respectively will probably be allowed. Read right here the total checklist of exemptions
    Uttar Pradesh
    On Tuesday, the Allahabad High Court directed the Uttar Pradesh authorities to impose a one-week lockdown in Allahabad, Lucknow, Varanasi, Kanpur Nagar and Gorakhpur. Earlier, the UP authorities had introduced a 35-hour curfew throughout the state — from 8 pm on Saturday until 7 am on Monday. “Essential services, polling officials for the Panchayat polls, health and sanitation workers will be exempted from the curfew,” learn an order issued by Chief Secretary RK Tewari.
    To guarantee folks put on masks, the federal government elevated the penalty for not carrying a masks in public to Rs 1,000 for the primary violation. For the second offence, the high quality is Rs 10,000.
    Punjab
    In view of the sudden spike in Covid-19 circumstances, Punjab Tuesday determined to impose an evening curfew all through the state from 8 pm to five am. Coaching institutes, gyms, bars and cinemas shall stay shut until April 30.
    Gatherings of over 20, together with weddings and funerals are banned. People flying into Punjab will probably be mandatorily required to supply RT-PCR adverse report mandatorily. Restaurants and consuming locations in motels will stay closed on Sundays and allowed takeaways on different days of the week.

    Restaurants and consuming locations in motels will stay closed on Sundays and allowed takeaways on different days of the week. Appeal to everybody to maximise vaccination amongst the eligible inhabitants and to maintain following crucial security protocols. (3/3) pic.twitter.com/GAo2enwjBE
    — Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) April 19, 2021
    Maharashtra
    Maharashtra declared a statewide curfew from April 14 until May 1 in view of the rising Covid circumstances and lack of healthcare necessities like ICU beds and medical oxygen. To stop the gathering, part 144 of CrPC has been put in place all through the state. All institutions, public locations, and companies will stay closed until these within the important companies class.
    This contains hospitals, diagnostic centres, clinics, vaccinations, medical insurance coverage places of work, pharmacies, pharmaceutical firms, different medical and well being companies amongst others.
    Groceries, vegetable outlets, fruit distributors, dairies, bakeries, confectionaries and all sort of meals outlets can stay open. Public transport resembling airplanes, trains, taxis, autos and public buses are allowed. Transport of products, export-import of all commodities and E-commerce (just for provide of important items and companies) are additionally operational. Read right here the total checklist of exemptions
    Rajasthan
    Rajasthan, which already had a weekend curfew in place, has now prolonged it to 2 extra weeks until May 3 as its every day new circumstances crossed the ten,000 mark. Calling it ‘Jan Anushashan Pakhwara’ (Public Discipline Fortnight), the federal government has mentioned important companies resembling state and central authorities places of work, well being companies, mandis, groceries, dairies, ration outlets and so forth. will stay open whereas all non-essential personal places of work will probably be shut, whereas weddings and final rites will proceed to be permitted as per the orders issued on April 14. Importantly, the industries and manufacturing items will proceed to operate, to stop the migration of labourers.
    Chhattisgarh
    The Chhattisgarh authorities has introduced a complete lockdown in eight districts amid an increase in Covid-19 circumstances, in accordance with All India Radio information. From Saturday night, three districts — Rajnandgaon, Bemetra and Balod – will endure an entire lockdown. The state has already imposed a lockdown in capital Raipur and neighbouring Durg district. Jashpur, Koriya and Balodabazar can even endure an entire lockdown from Sunday.
    The lockdown in Raipur began from April 9 and can final until April 19. During the lockdown interval, the border of the district is totally sealed and all outlets, together with these promoting liquor, and industrial institutions are closed besides medical shops.
    Jammu and Kashmir
    An evening curfew is in place in city areas of eight districts which have seen a spike in circumstances. These districts are Jammu, Udhampur, Kathua, Srinagar, Baramulla, Budgam, Anantnag and Kupwara.
    Odisha
    In Odisha, an evening curfew has been in place since April 5 in 10 districts. The state authorities imposed an evening curfew within the districts of Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Bolangir, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Nawarangpur, Koraput and Malkangiri.
    The authorities additionally prolonged night time curfew to all city areas of the state from the ten western Odisha districts applied on April 5.
    Gujarat
    The Gujarat authorities imposed an evening curfew from 8 pm to six am in 20 cities within the state until April 30. The cities below curfew are: Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Bhavnagar, Junagadh, Gandhinagar, Amreli, Anand, Nadiad, Mehasana, Morbi, Dahod, Patan, Godhra, Bhuj, Gandhidham, Bharuch, and Surendranagar. A adverse RT-PCR report is necessary for these arriving within the state.
    Government places of work will observe a five-day week (to date, they’d two off days on the second and fourth weeks of a month) whereas curbing the variety of friends at weddings to 100. Rupani mentioned the federal government was anticipated to return out with an in depth notification in that regard shortly.
    Chandigarh
    The Chandigarh administration has introduced a weekend lockdown from 10 pm Friday to five am Monday. Essential companies resembling house supply of meals, medical shops would stay operational.
    Karnataka
    Karnataka authorities has determined to proceed with the night time curfew imposed in seven districts earlier. Night curfew is in place from 10 pm to five am day by day will probably be imposed in Bengaluru, Mysore, Mangalore, Kalaburagi, Bidar, Tumkur and Udupi-Manipal.
    Haryana
    Haryana has imposed an evening curfew within the state from 10 pm to five am. All colleges and schools have additionally been closed until April 30.

  • Covid second wave: Here’s a state-wise listing of restrictions imposed in current days

    With the surge in Covid-19 instances displaying no indicators of abating, a number of states have imposed contemporary restrictions, together with evening curfew, and are even mulling lockdown of their bid to stem the unfold of the virus.
    On Monday, India reported almost 1.69 lakh instances and 904 deaths within the final 24 hours, the highest-ever single-day Covid spike within the nation.
    List of states which have put in place contemporary Covid-related restrictions
    Kerala
    Kerala on Monday introduced contemporary restrictions to curb the unfold of Covid-19 within the state. Similar to the nationwide image, there was a surge in new infections in Kerala, with the positivity price climbing to 12.53% on Monday. At a high-level assembly chaired by the chief secretary, it was determined to usher in contemporary measures to curb the motion of individuals.
    Hence, public conferences in open areas can’t be attended by greater than 200 folks whereas these in closed areas shall have attendance not exceeding 100 individuals. The period of such conferences shouldn’t exceed two hours. The restrictions would apply to weddings and different capabilities. Instead of ‘sadyas’, Kerala’s conventional meal served on banana leaves, preparations must be made to supply visitors packed meals.
    Restaurants and outlets throughout the state can function solely until 9 pm. In eating places, solely 50% of the seats will be occupied at any given level. Measures to offer packed meals, as an alternative of dine-in amenities, to visitors will be inspired. Shopping festivals and low cost melas at malls are prohibited.
    Haryana
    Haryana has imposed evening curfew from 9 pm until 5 am, with impact from Monday. The variety of energetic instances in Haryana has doubled within the final 11 days, from 10,300 on April 1 to over 20,000 on April 11.
    “Night curfew between 9 pm and 5 am will be imposed from tonight and will remain in force till further orders,” Haryana Home and Health Minister Anil Vij advised PTI.
    He mentioned the choice has been taken within the wake of a rise within the variety of COVID-19 instances within the state lately.
    Delhi
    The Delhi authorities has imposed evening curfew, from 10 pm to five am, until April 30 within the wake of rising Covid-19 instances within the nationwide capital. Healthcare employees and authorities officers on important and emergency duties are exempted, as are these travelling to and from airports, railway stations and interstate bus terminals. Those travelling inter-state by non-public autos usually are not exempted, besides within the case of a medical emergency.
    As Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal dominated out a lockdown, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority on Saturday night introduced a contemporary set of curbs.
    Covid precautions at Le Meridien Hotel Staff in New Delhi (Express photograph by Amit Mehra)
    These embrace an entire ban on all social, political, sports activities, leisure, educational, cultural, non secular and festival-related gatherings; no more than 50 visitors at marriages and 20 at funerals; as much as 50% of capability in public transport, eating places, bars, cinema halls; and no spectators at sports activities occasions.

    Amid a resurgence in coronavirus instances, the variety of containment zones within the nationwide capital has risen to five,705, with South Delhi accounting for the utmost 1,303 crimson zones, in response to official knowledge.
    Delhi had 2,183 containment zones on April 1. The quantity swelled to five,705 — a rise of over 160 per cent — by Sunday as one other wave of COVID-19 instances hit the town.
    According to knowledge from the town authorities’s income division, South Delhi has the utmost variety of 1,303 containment zones. Also, it’s the solely district with greater than a thousand crimson zones.
    Delhi University and JNU have issued notifications that every one instructing and studying actions will proceed on-line for now.
    Karnataka
    Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Monday mentioned the state authorities might impose lockdown if the need arises. “People need to respond for their own good. If they don’t heed then we may have to take stringent measures. If required and if necessity arises, we will impose lockdown,” Yediyurappa advised reporters in Bidar.
    Reacting to queries on the rising coronavirus instances within the state, which noticed the numbers breaching 10,000 on Sunday, he mentioned the Prime Minister had additionally spoken to him concerning the measures taken by his authorities.
    The Karnataka authorities has introduced an evening curfew for 10 days starting April 10 in a number of elements of the state. “Night curfew from 10 pm to 5 am every day from April 10 to April 20 will be imposed in Bengaluru, Mysore, Mangalore, Kalaburagi, Bidar, Tumkur and Udupi-Manipal,” Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa mentioned.
    Gujarat
    The Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat has been closed for guests as soon as once more following the rise in coronavirus constructive instances within the state. The Sabarmati Ashram Preservation and Memorial Trust, which manages the ashram, said on Monday that the ashram premises “will remain closed for visitors due to COVID-19 pandemic till further notice”.

    The ashram, which served as one of many residences of Mahatma Gandhi throughout the freedom wrestle, was closed for guests on March 20, 2020, after detection of early COVID-19 instances in Gujarat.
    The ashram was opened for guests in January this yr after a spot of greater than 9 months because the COVID-19 situation improved in Gujarat with the variety of instances displaying a downward development.
    The Gujarat authorities has introduced an evening curfew in 20 cities and cities from 8 pm to six am until April 30. The state authorities took the motion after the Gujarat High Court proposed imposing a lockdown for 3 to 4 days to regulate the unfold of the virus.
    Uttar Pradesh
    In view of rising COVID-19 instances, an evening curfew has been imposed in Shravasti district of Uttar Pradesh until April 18, officers mentioned on Monday. The curfew shall be from 9 pm to six am, District Magistrate T Okay Shibu mentioned.
    Besides Shravasti, evening curfew has been imposed in Kanpur, Gorakhpur, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Allahabad, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Bareilly and Muzaffarnagar districts and the Lucknow Municipal Corporation space of the state.
    The COVID-19 tally in Uttar Pradesh rose to 7,05,619 on Monday with 13,685 contemporary instances, whereas 72 extra fatalities, highest single-day toll this month, pushed the dying toll within the state to 9,224, an official mentioned.
    Maharashtra
    Maharashtra, which accomplished its first weekend lockdown, could be heading in direction of a set of harsher restrictions to curb the Covid unfold. Health Minister Rajesh Tope has mentioned {that a} last choice on if a lockdown shall be imposed shall be taken after April 14.
    People crowd at a vegetable market in Pune. (Express photograph by Pavan Khengre)
    On April 4, the state authorities had introduced plenty of restrictions to regulate the unfold of an infection, together with each day evening curfews from 8 pm to 7 am and an entire lockdown on weekends starting 8 pm Fridays and continued till 7 am Mondays.
    Madhya Pradesh
    The Bhopal ‘Crisis Management Group’ has determined to impose ‘Corona Curfew’ in Bhopal, from April 13 to April 19, until 6 am. It means each day actions will proceed. Inter-state & inter-district motion of important companies shall be allowed, Vishvas Kailash Sarang, MP Minister, has mentioned.
    The Madhya Pradesh authorities has imposed lockdown in Barwani, Rajgad, Vidisha (city and rural) together with Indore metropolis, Rau Nagar, Mahu Nagar and metropolis areas of Shajapur, Ujjain till 6 am on April 19. The state has additionally introduced a 10-day lockdown in Balaghat, Narsinghpur, Seoni and Jabalpur from April 12-22.
    Besides this, the federal government has issued orders for an evening curfew each day, from 10 pm to six am, throughout all city areas. However, the weekend curfew will begin at 6 pm on Friday and be in power until 6 am on Monday.
    Apart from an evening curfew within the city facilities, the federal government additionally ordered an eight-day full lockdown in Chhindwara district, throughout its city and rural areas.
    Chhattisgarh
    The Chhattisgarh authorities has introduced a complete lockdown in eight districts amid an increase in Covid-19 instances, in response to All India Radio information. From Saturday night, three districts — Rajnandgaon, Bemetra and Balod – will endure an entire lockdown. The state has already imposed a lockdown in capital Raipur and neighbouring Durg district. Jashpur, Koriya and Balodabazar will even endure an entire lockdown from Sunday.
    The lockdown in Raipur began from April 9 and can final until April 19. During the lockdown interval, the border of the district is totally sealed and all outlets, together with these promoting liquor, and business institutions are closed besides medical shops.
    Punjab
    The Punjab authorities has imposed a statewide evening curfew from 9 pm to five am. Initially, the state authorities had imposed the curfew in solely 12 districts however later imposed it statewide because the virus instances noticed an increase. In Chandigarh, curfew timings are 10.30 pm to five am.
    Odisha
    In Odisha, an evening curfew has been in place since April 5 in 10 districts. The state authorities imposed evening curfew within the districts of Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Bolangir, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Nawarangpur, Koraput and Malkangiri.

    Jammu and Kashmir
    An evening curfew is in place in city areas of eight districts which have seen a spike in instances. These districts are Jammu, Udhampur, Kathua, Srinagar, Baramulla, Budgam, Anantnag and Kupwara.
    (With inputs from PTI)

  • Government interventions, not climate, helped curb Covid circumstances globally, finds WMO Covid-19 Task Team

    One yr for the reason that World Health Organisation (WHO) declared Covid-19 a world pandemic, hyperlinks between climate and meteorological components to the circumstances or mortalities brought about on account of coronavirus, globally, stay inconclusive. However, hyperlinks between publicity to out of doors air air pollution and Covid-19 mortality from internationally has remained constant for a yr now.
    The first preliminary report by the Covid-19 Task Force arrange by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has cautioned governments that climate, meteorological components and air high quality situations shouldn’t be used as a set off to chill out measures to halt the unfold of coronavirus.
    In September 2020, the analysis board of the WMO constituted a 16-member interdisciplinary and worldwide Covid-19 Task Team together with consultants in earth sciences, meteorologists and public well being from the UK, Barbados, Peru, Switzerland, Japan, Canada, Kenya, Spain, Brazil, USA and China. This group examined temperature, humidity, photo voltaic radiation, air high quality and different key meteorological parameters and assessed their affect on Covid-19 circumstances and mortality.
    In its report revealed final week, the WMO Covid-19 Task Team states that the transmission dynamics of coronavirus in 2020 and 2021 (until January first week) was influenced primarily by authorities interventions — imposing lockdowns, journey restrictions and use of face masks fairly than any meteorological components.

    “At this stage, evidence does not support the use of meteorological and air quality factors as a basis for governments to relax their interventions aimed at reducing transmission. We saw waves of infection rise in warm seasons and warm regions in the first year of the pandemic, and there is no evidence that this could not happen again in the coming year,” stated Dr Ben Zaitchik, Task Team co-chair and meteorologist on the Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA, within the WMO assertion.
    However, some preliminary hyperlinks between poor air high quality and Covid-19 circumstances appear to be getting established, primarily with respect to out of doors air air pollution.
    Similar outcomes had emerged from a June 2020 examine led by Gufran Beig, senior scientist on the Pune-based Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM). The examine had tried to grasp Covid-19-related deaths and air high quality in main Indian cities with excessive case load. The analysis findings concluded {that a} greater variety of Covid-19 deaths had been reported from Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Chennai, the place the particulate matter (PM) 2.5 ranges had been above regular.

    📣 JOIN NOW 📣: The Express Explained Telegram Channel

    “Chronic and short-term exposure to air pollution exacerbates symptoms and increases mortality rates for some respiratory diseases, and it has been consistent with Covid-19 mortality rates. But there is no direct evidence of pollution impact on air-borne viability of the virus,” highlighted the WMO Task Team’s preliminary report.
    Even although flu and viral infections exhibit seasonality, or extra infections are reported throughout autumn-winter seasons than temperate seasons, the group made no such observations in case of Covid-19 circumstances globally.

    “Laboratory studies show that SARS-CoV-2 virus survives longer under cold, dry and low ultraviolet radiation conditions. But these studies have not indicated any direct meteorological influences on the virus in real-world conditions,” acknowledged the Task Force’s findings.

    Some different components inflicting unfold of the virus, talked about by the WMO group, embody human behaviour, demographics of the affected inhabitants and virus mutations.