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Old Delhi residents search for the moon next to the illuminated Jama Masjid when Ramzan begins on Friday. (Express photo of Tashi Tobgyal)
A month after the national shutdown imposed to contain the spread of the new coronavirus, the Interior Ministry on Friday allowed stores to be opened in market complexes outside of municipal areas with 50 percent workers and mandatory precautions such as the use of masks and the rules of social distancing.
In his monthly Mann ki Baat speech on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to talk about the measures the country has taken against the new coronavirus. On Monday, he is also slated to have a virtual interaction with chief ministers to discuss how states are dealing with the shutdown situation and their efforts to flatten the curve for new coronavirus cases.
Ramzan’s moon was sighted on Friday night and Muslims in India will begin fasting starting on Saturday as they welcomed the holy month amid unprecedented circumstances due to the coronavirus pandemic and a national blockade.
Ramzan is usually a festive season, with a one-day fast followed by hearty meals and evening gatherings. But this year many are confined to their homes, travel is highly restricted, and public places like parks, shopping malls, and even mosques are closed.
Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan said third-stage (community) transmission has been avoided so far.
Dr. Sujit Singh, director of the National Center for Disease Control, said that 9.45 lakh people in India are currently under community surveillance on suspicion of contact with positive cases. “Our weekly doubling time (of cases) has increased from 4.2 on April 6 to 8.6 on April 20,” he said.
And, in a video conference with state health ministers and officials, Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan said that stage three (community) transmission, when the source of infection is not easily traceable, has been avoided so far.
Meanwhile, in a statement, the Home Office (MHA) said that apart from the new inter-ministerial central teams (IMCT), the one that is already monitoring Mumbai and Pune will also cover Thane.
Migrant workers in a transit camp (Express Photo by Amit Chakravarty)
In other news, Uttar Pradesh Prime Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday ordered officials to come up with a plan for the gradual return of UP migrant workers from other states where they have completed 14 days of quarantine.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary R. K Tiwari told The Indian Express: “The Prime Minister has today ordered a plan to be prepared. An estimated number (of such migrant workers) is not currently available, but it could be a thousand rupees. That is why a plan must be prepared to bring those people back gradually. Ultimately, these people will have to reach their destination. “
Don’t inject disinfectant: forceful rejection of Trump’s reflection
President Donald Trump’s comment that the disinfectants could perhaps be injected or ingested to fight COVID-19 received strong rejection from health officials and other officials on Friday, and even caused the Lysol maker to warn that its product should never be used internally.
The White House claimed that Trump’s comment was misrepresented, but the government also intervened to warn the nation (Getty images)
As the world leader in health and hygiene products, we must be clear that under no circumstances should our disinfectant products be administered to the human body (by injection, ingestion or any other route), said the statement by Reckitt Benckiser, parent company of the manufacturer of Lysol. and Dettol.
The White House claimed that Trump’s comment was misrepresented, but the government also intervened to warn the nation.
The Surgeon General’s office tweeted on Friday: “A reminder to all Americans: PLEASE always talk to your healthcare provider before giving any treatment / medication to yourself or a loved one. Your safety is paramount, and doctors and nurses have years of training to recommend what is safe and effective. ” (AP)
Business magnate Anand Mahindra shared a video of an e-rickshaw modified to isolate passengers during the Covid-19 pandemic, and suggested that his company’s auto division should consider hiring the person who did it.
Mahindra, who frequently shares innovations appearing on social media, was impressed by the way plastic and metal sheets were used to create separate seats for the four passengers. Given the restrictions on public transportation, the modified e-rickshaw allowed people to remain separate from other passengers.
In the undated video, a man is heard explaining the idea in Bengali and called it a “crown innovation.” The video shows how the driver is separated from the passengers by a sheet of metal.
