Newsletter 21 March

Top 5 News

1- Latest updates on the COVID-19 crisis in India and other parts of the world
2- Coronavirus Cases: 276,996
Deaths: 10,497
Recovered: 89,918

ACTIVE CASES
11,419: Currently Infected Patients
148,302 (95%): in Mild Condition
91,981 (5%) Serious or Critical

CLOSED CASES
100,415: Cases which had an outcome
89,918 (90%) Recovered / Discharged
10,497 (10%) Deaths

National

Govt of India: Union Cabinet approves financial assistance to the Modified Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMC2.0) Scheme for development of world class infrastructure along with common facilities and amenities through Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMCs).

Kamal Nath has submitted his resignation to Madhya Pradesh Governor Lalji Tandon

His letter states “All that has happened in Madhya Pradesh in the last two weeks is a new chapter in the weakening of democratic principles.”

MP Assembly Speaker: I had accepted 16 resignations last night. Now I have also accepted resignation of Sharad Kol (BJP MLA).

He had earlier said that he was forcefully made to resign but after looking at his documents and that he didn’t meet me personally, it didn’t seem like that.

Corona Virus Update

Meghalaya Government decides to impose restriction on movement of public transport, to close all shops, market and establishments with

effect from midnight of March 20, 2020, to midnight of March 21, 2020
To prevent the spread of COVID19, #Ladakh Administration orders that no commercial flights landing at Leh shall carry in-bound passengers other than residents of Ladakh, civilian officers and officers of uniformed forces serving in Ladakh.
In view of the prevailing situation, we are closing down all malls (except grocery, pharmacy and vegetable shops in them): CM, Arvind Kejriwal
Complete Lockdown in Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur announced in Maharashtra.
Indian Council of Medical Research: A total of 206 individuals have been confirmed positive among suspected cases and contacts of known positive cases. A total of 14,376 samples from 13,486 individuals have tested for COVID19 as on 20th March, 10am.
18 companies, including International and Indian companies, have got the test license from Drug Controller General of India (DGCI) to do COVID19 diagnostic tests in the country.
All International Flights cancelled at any airport in India.
Central government has approached Supreme Court challenging Kerala High Court’s yesterday’s order directing banks, financial institutions, income tax dept, and GST authorities to defer recovery proceedings or coercive measures till Apr 6 in the state, in the light of #coronavirus
Foreign Secretary HV Shringla today participated in a telephonic conference call initiated by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun for discussions among some countries in the Indo-Pacific region on issues related to countering COVID-19.
Shringla briefed the participants on the proactive steps taken by India both nationally and in the region. He conveyed India’s desire to regularly share its perspectives with partners in the region and to work together with others to counter this challenge.
The teleconference included senior representatives from Australia, the Republic of Korea, Vietnam, New Zealand, and Japan. The participants shared their assessments of the current situation with respect to COVID-19, and discussed ways to synergize their efforts to counter its spread.
Meanwhile, Sun Weidong, Chinese Ambassador to India: China will hold a video conference with more than 10 countries in the Eurasian and South Asia on prevention and control of #Covid-19 today. China will support and assist its friendly neighbors in the spirit of solidarity amid adversity.

J&K Police: Police after receiving information regarding illegal delivery of arms ammunition by some anti-national elements at District Hospital Sopore, carried out an operation and apprehended 4 persons. Huge cache of arms and ammunition recovered. Case registered. Investigation on.

Jammu & Kashmir Police: Upon questioning, it come on to surface that they are working under one Pakistan based person, who is operating a newly formed terrorist organization known by the name TRF/JK Fighters-The Resistance Front. On Mon

Police have recovered eight AK-47 rifles, nine pistols, 300 live rounds, 80 grenades and other paraphernalia in Keran sector. This operation will continue: IG #Kashmir Vijay Kumar

“Many unnecessary things were said during the speech. There was no specific direction. Why curfew for one day? It could have been for more days. (The PM) Could have thought about a lockdown as well. I didn’t find any prominent strategy of the government in the speech,” Choudhury said.

International

Fact check: Trump wrongly claims FDA 'approved' drug chloroquine to treat the coronavirus-CNN

President Donald Trump claimed during a White House briefing on Thursday that the Food and Drug Administration had approved the “very powerful” drug chloroquine to treat coronavirus.

Chloroquine has not been approved by the FDA to treat the coronavirus — and nor has any other drug, the FDA made clear in a post-briefing statement that said “there are no FDA-approved therapeutics or drugs to treat, cure or prevent COVID-19.” Because chloroquine has been approved for other purposes, doctors are legally allowed to prescribe it for the unapproved or “off-label” use of treating the coronavirus if they want. But its safety and effectiveness has not been proven with regard to the coronavirus. FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn, speaking after Trump at the briefing, said that chloroquine would be tested through a “large, pragmatic clinical trial” with coronavirus patients.

India in International Frame

BBC

Coronavirus: Indian cities go eerily quiet as cases rise

Reuters

India bans incoming flights to rein in coronavirus, seals off Kashmir