Nationwide search ensues as new deaths find link to Delhi event

India count crosses 1,400
Fresh cases of COVID-19 were reported on Tuesday from several states, taking the nationwide tally past 1,400 with at least 45 deaths, though a consolidated official tally was not announced in the Union Home Ministry’s daily briefing. The official figures on its website say the death toll in the country stands at 32 with a total of 1,251 cases, as on 9:30 pm, March 30.

Chaos after Tablighi Jamaat
A nationwide search has been launched for participants of a religious gathering held earlier this month in Delhi’s Nizamuddin area after several states reported COVID-19 cases linked to the Tablighi Jamaat. Some people who had attended the event have died of the infection, several others tested positive and many more have showed symptoms. The cleric who had led the congregation has been booked for violating government orders against organising public gatherings. The government has, meanwhile, decided not to issue tourist visa to any foreigner who wish to visit India and take part in Tablighi activities.

Strategy to contain spread
The Health Ministry said the government is using cluster containment strategies and doing rigorous contact tracing in the hotspots to check the coronavirus from further spreading. It has lamented that the number of hotspots has risen due to “lack of people’s support and delay in timely detection” of the cases.

No migrants on road: Govt
The Centre has told the Supreme Court that no migrant worker was on the road, amid fears that large-scale movement of migrants may trigger the spread of the virus in country’s hinterland. The court has, meanwhile, asked the Centre to set up within 24 hours a portal for disseminating real time information on COVID-19 to counter the panic being spread through fake news.

No shortage of medicines
The government asserted that there is no shortage of medicines to combat the virus outbreak and that the pharmaceuticals department is regularly monitoring distribution and addressing issues with the help of other departments, states and union territories.

Plea for free testing
A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the Centre and concerned authorities to provide free of cost testing facility for COVID-19 to all citizens in the country. It also sought a direction to the authorities for ramping up the testing facilities at the earliest “given the escalating mortality and morbidity rate across the country.”

21,000 relief camps
The government said over 21,000 relief camps have been made operational in the country where more than 6.6 lakh destitute people and those stranded because of the COVID-19 lockdown are sheltered as of now. It said over 23 lakh people are being provided food at these camps and other locations.

H-1B visa holders panic
In the US, foreign IT professionals, a majority of them Indians with H-1B visas, have urged the Trump administration to extend their permissible stay from 60 to 180 days after job loss, amidst the massive layoffs due to the pandemic. About 3.3 million Americans have filed initial jobless claims for the week ending March 21.

8 lakh cases worldwide
Globally, the COVID-19 tally has crossed eight lakh confirmed cases, while more than 38,000 people have died. Spain has broken another national record of 849 deaths in one day on Tuesday and its toll has now crossed 8,000. In Italy, over 11,500 have died so far while Iran has recorded a toll of 2,898. In the US, the death toll has crossed 3,100.