COVID-19: Govt issues social distancing, work guidelines

Dimapur, March 21 (EMN): Asserting the measures taken by states and union territories are not uniform, the Central government on Saturday issued a slew of guidelines on social distancing in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

An expert group constituted in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, through Health Secretary Preeti Sudan, asked the state and union territories to regulate work in government offices to reduce congestion and maintain hygiene.

The guidelines came after the number of coronavirus infected cases climbed up to 285 and claimed four lives.

Among other measures, they have also been directed to regulate working hours except in essential services. "Private sector to consider work from home, wherever feasible," the guidelines stated.

Frequency of metros, railways, buses and airplanes should be decreased.

"Alternate seating to ensure social distancing; disinfection and crowd control in places like railway stations, metro stations, bus stands, airports, etc," it further stated, adding that social distancing should be maintained even in small gatherings.

As per the guidelines, the educational institutions, theatres, museums, gyms and examination centres should remain closed.

"Sporting events, competitions and religious gatherings to be postponed and maintain required social distancing even in smaller gatherings."

Barring public representatives, government servants and medical professionals, all senior citizens have been directed to remain indoors and avoid gatherings, except for medical reasons and need for essential services.

The guidelines added, "All children below ten years of age to remain at home and avoid going to public parks, picnics and other games requiring large number of participants."

All health establishments should avoid non-urgent hospitalisation and minimise elective surgeries, the guidelines stated.

In wake of black marketing, the government also tightened the screw on regulation of prices of masks, sanitizer and medicines and ensure their availability.

"Sensitise on appropriate use of masks and good hygienic practices including washing hands with soap," the government directed.

The state and union territories have been asked to motivate citizens, particularly the youth, to volunteer to support the ongoing efforts in management of COVID-l9.

The government also gave the state and union territories a free hand to invoke relevant provisions of law in larger public interest. (IANS)

Latest cases

The number of Coronavirus cases in India is now 285, while cases in Maharashtra increased from 52 to 63 in a day on Saturday. Another development is the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) saying that all hospitalised patients with severe acute respiratory illness, shortness of breath and having fever and cough will now be tested for COVID-19 infection.

These are some of the development in the country amid efforts to contain the pandemic from spreading in the subcontinent.   

The Ministry of Health has said that the total number of novel coronavirus cases, on Saturday, rose to 285 in India. As of 9 a.m., data put out by the Union Health Ministry, out of the 285 cases, 22 were discharged and cured of the virus across India, four have died, while 231 people still remained active.

Of the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, one is a migrated COVID-19 Patient, said the ministry. Himachal Pradesh made it into the statistics of health ministry by confirming its first Coronavirus case.

Maharashtra remained worst hit state with 52 confirmed cases and one casualty followed by Kerala which has 40 active cases. Delhi and Uttar Pradesh also have 26 and 24 cases respectively. (IANS)

Maharastra

In a major health concern, the total number of coronavirus cases in Maharashtra shot up to 63 on Saturday, with 11 new cases detected overnight among several foreign-returned persons, Health Minister Rajesh Tope said here.

While one case is from Pune, 10 are detected in Mumbai, including three who are 'first contact' afflictions with no history of foreign travel, sending alarm bells ringing among the health authorities.

As the state continued to lead in the number of active cases, Tope again warned of the axe falling on Mumbai's lifelines - the suburban trains and buses - and reiterated that people strictly remain indoors as 'isolation' is the key to battling the COVID-19 virus.

"If the people don't heed and continue to use public transport unnecessarily, we have to think otherwise. Even the rush of the working class to the railway stations to return to their native states is concerning," Tope told mediapersons.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray - who slapped a total ban on private offices, slashing attendance in government offices to 25 percent and statewide cancellation of Class I-VIII exams - will tour some railway stations before taking a final decision to shut down public transport.

"A rise from 52 to 63 in a day is big. People's cooperation is needed to fight this calamity. We are in Phase II and maybe headed for Phase III. The spread is mostly 'imported' through people who came from abroad," Tope said.

On Friday, the government had slapped a total ban on all non-essential services in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur as a measure to reduce crowds.

Tope said the state has completely banned all flights from worst-hit 12 countries besides exercising extreme precautions for flights from all other nations at the three international airports in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur since the past over a month.

Tope advised people to respond to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call and observe the 'Janata Curfew' on Sunday, March 22, by remaining indoors.

The previous Tuesday (March 17), COVID-19 claimed its first victim in the state after a 63-year-old man who returned from Dubai, passed away in Mumbai's Kasturba Hospital.

However, his wife and son who also tested positive are currently under treatment in the same hospital. (IANS)

Punjab: Woman with suspected coronavirus flees hospital, booked

In a first such case in Punjab, a 26-year-old woman suspected to be suffering from coronavirus was booked for fleeing from the hospital here, police said on Friday.

The woman, a resident of Mohali, had returned from the US and was taken to a government hospital in Chandigarh for a check up. But we got a call from the PGIMER (Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research) authorities that the woman had fled from the hospital on Thursday early morning, said Mohali Station House Officer Phase -8 Rajnish Chaudhary on Friday.

She had been booked under relevant sections including 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 188 (disobedience to order) of the IPC, he said. (PTI)

Bollywood singer Kanika Kapoor booked for negligence

The UP police have booked singer Kanika Kapoor for negligence and committing acts that are likely to spread disease dangerous to life after she attended at least three gatherings in Lucknow, including a party where political leaders were present, and tested positive for the new coronavirus, an official said.

The FIR was registered at Sarojini Nagar police station on Friday based on a complaint filed by the Lucknow chief medical officer, said Police Commissioner Surjit Pandey. (PTI)

‘All hospitalized patients with respiratory issues to be tested for COVID 19’

The ICMR revised its strategy to fight the spread of the new coronavirus on Saturday, saying all hospitalised patients with severe acute respiratory illness, shortness of breath and having fever and cough will now be tested for COVID-19 infection.

The new ICMR guidelines also said asymptomatic direct and high-risk contacts of a confirmed case should be tested once between day 5 and day 14 of coming in his/her contact.

The apex body for biomedical research revised its strategy in view of a spurt in coronavirus cases in the country this week. The new strategy aims to contain the spread of infection more effectively and to provide reliable diagnosis to all individuals meeting the inclusion criteria of COVID-19 testing. (PTI)

Strict restrictions in Kashmir, markets shut

Strict restrictions on movement and assembly of people continued for the third consecutive day on Saturday in Kashmir to contain the spread of the new coronavirus that has infected one person in the valley, officials said. (PTI)

Kerala village has robots spraying sanitizer

At Maker village here in Kerala, there are two robots that dispense sanitizers by spraying it on employees’ hands and even distribute masks to those needing them. They even clear ones doubts about the novel coronavirus.

Speaking to IANS, Jayakrishnan, CEO of Asimov Robotics said ever since the spread of COVID-19 turned into a scary pandemic, they have placed two of their robots in front of the Village where about 600 employees work in various start up companies in the Integrated Startup Complex, Technology Innovation Zone.

"We have been in the field of robotics for more than a decade now. We have by now supplied robotic arms and other accessories, including robots to numerous clients and hence to put up these two robots it was no big deal," said Jayakrishnan.

"When we found out that there is a need for sanitizers and masks, we put up two of our own robots in the front of the village. These two robots even clear ones doubts, if asked on how to protect one from Covid-19. These platforms can be changed and even the language can be changed.

"By now we have got several calls asking if we can supply. We require about 15 days to make one and if there are bigger orders, then the cost of it will be less than Rs 20 lakhs," said Jayakrishnan. (IANS)