India heads to total shutdown with fresh surge in COVID-19 cases
India is heading towards a complete shutdown with its inter-state borders sealed and restrictions imposed in a majority of the states and union territories, in its bid to contain the spread of the coronavirus outbreak. Besides, Section 144 has also been imposed in almost all major cities.
India is heading towards a complete shutdown with its inter-state borders sealed and restrictions imposed in a majority of the states and union territories, in its bid to contain the spread of the coronavirus outbreak. Besides, Section 144 has also been imposed in almost all major cities. The health administrators were heaving the machinery towards attaining complete containment.
The country reported its ninth death on Monday (March 23) while total number of cases skyrocketed to 434. It has already suspended passenger trains and flight operations will also come to a halt on Tuesday midnight.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to the states to ensure lockdown rules are enforced properly. His flagship ‘janata curfew’, which was observed last Sunday, is now turning into a hard-and-fast state-imposed shutdown as is the need of the hour to
Here are the latest developments from the day:
An inevitable lockdown
Complete lockdown has been imposed in 19 states and union territories, said the Union health ministry, besides partial lockdown in six other states and UTs. Chandigarh, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Goa, West Bengal, Ladakh, Jharkhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Telangana, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh, according to the health ministry.
Major cities shut
Those living in 80 districts across the country, including in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Kolkata, have been placed under travel and movement restrictions with authorities suspending all passenger train and inter-state bus services till March 31. The Centre has also directed the states to take legal action against those found violating the lockdown orders.
Essential services to be available
Essential services like grocery shops, hospitals, police and media are not likely to be affected due to the shutdown. Even though state borders are sealed, trucks carrying essential items, including milk and other food items, will be allowed to pass. Goods trains will also be operative to ensure supply of essentials. Prime Minister Modi has asked Indian companies to maintain production lines of essential commodities and ensure there is no hoarding and black marketing. In some places, residents were divided on whether to stop newspapers as it is deemed a carrier. In Kerala, a major newspaper brand has supplied protective equipment including gloves and masks to all employees in packaging to all the agents and newspaper boys on the ground. They have also put out an ad which hinges on theme of the ‘newspaper safely reaching the readers.’
No flights, no trains
No domestic commercial passenger flight would be allowed to operate in India from March 25 onwards. India had already banned international flights for a week from Sunday. A day earlier, Indian Railways too had announced all passenger train services will remain suspended until month end. Inter-state bus operation has also been suspended in several parts of the country.
PM’s appeal to states
Prime Minister Modi has asked state governments to ensure that rules and regulations of the coronavirus lockdown are enforced as he noted that many people are not taking the measure seriously. “Please save yourself, save your family, follow the instructions seriously,” he appealed in a tweet in Hindi.
Modi meets media honchos
Prime Minister Modi on Monday interacted with key stakeholders of electronic media channels to discuss the emerging challenges due to the spread of COVID-19. The representatives said that a dedicated department with doctors available 24*7 can be set up to check on the reporters and also to help combat rumours. Meanwhile, there are apprehensions about suspension of newspaper delivery since it could be a potential carrier of the virus.
AIIMS shuts OPD
The AIIMS in Delhi has decided to shut down its OPD, including speciality services, all new and follow up patients’ registration, from March 24 till further order as it redirects its resources to control the Covid-19 outbreak. Last week, it had postponed all nonessential elective procedures and surgeries and directed for only emergency life-saving surgeries with effect from March 21.
Testing of COVID-19
ICMR has clarified FDA/CE approval is not mandatory for testing of COVID-19 cases, and that ICMR-NIV-approved tests are also acceptable. It said process of kit manufacturing has also been fast-tracked at ICMR-NIV, Pune. “I’d like to clarify FDA/CE approval isn’t mandatory. ICMR-NIV-approved tests which will be done there on fast-track basis will also be acceptable,” said ICMR DG.
Global toll surges past 15,000
Global COVID-19 toll has crossed 15,000 with over 341,300 cases confirmed in 174 countries since the epidemic first emerged in December. However, this tally likely reflects only a fraction of the actual number of infections since many countries are only testing cases that require hospitalisation.
Worst-hit countries
Italy now has 5,476 fatalities with over 59,000 cases while China, excluding Hong Kong and Macau, has 81,093 cases, including 3,270 deaths. Spain, the third worst-hit country, has 2,182 fatalities and 33,089 cases, followed by Iran with 1,812 fatalities and 23,049 cases, France with 674 deaths and 16,018 cases, and the US with 471 deaths and 35,224 cases.
Related news: COVID-19: More than 1 billion people worldwide told to stay home