***CORONA VIRUS UPDATES***

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Uttar Pradesh to seal borders of 15 districts to stop the spread of coronavirus 

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanatha told CNN-News18 that the state government would be 'completely sealing' 15 districts from 12 am today. Among these 15 districts are Agra, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Basti, Kanpur, Varanasi, Lucknow, Shamli, Bulandshahr, Sitapur, Maharajganj, Meerut, Bareilly, Firozabad, Saharanpur. 

RK Tiwari, Chief Secy of Uttar Pradesh said that in the sealed areas no delivery movement will be allowed.. Only stores with essentials and medicines will be open, he stated.

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ESMA invoked in Madhya Pradesh, says CM

The Madhya Pradesh government on Wednesday invoked the Essential Services Management Act (ESMA) with immediate effect to tackle the coronavirus spread, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said.

"In a bid to manage the COVID-19 outbreak in a better way and in the interest of the citizens, the government has implemented the Essential Services Management Act, called ESMA, with the immediate effect in Madhya Pradesh," Chouhan said in a tweet.

So far, 327 persons have been tested positive for coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh with 14 more cases being reported on Wednesday.

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UK PM Boris Johnson stable; still in ICU

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been reported to be stable after he spent two nights in ICU. His condition is said to have improved after he was administered oxygen support.

 

 

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Only home delivery and medical teams will be allowed, says UP chief Secy on lockdown order

UP Chief Secretary RK Tiwari state that further restrictions in the 15 districts will only be applied for those hotspot areas that have reported high coronavirus positive cases. He also said that affected areas that have positive COVID-19 cases will be sealed. 

He also added, "Movement will be affected as the lock down is still on. Only areas with high positive cases will be sealed off."

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Narendra Modi likely to extend lockdown, claim reports

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held an all-party meeting via video conference to discuss the fight against coronavirus as the number of cases in the country rose to 5,194. Citing government sources, multiple reports are saying that Narendra Modi has said that lifting the lockdown was 'not an option.'

Amid speculation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it clear that lockdown will not be lifted in one go on 14 April, said BJD's Pinaki Misra to PTI after all-party meet.

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69 people booked for violating lock down orders in Firozabad

The police have registered cases against 69 people here for violating the lock down orders, officials said on Wednesday.

Superintendent of Police (city) Prabal Pratap Singh said, "Cases were registered against 69 persons for moving in the city without masks, not maintaining social distancing and also not adhering to the lock down orders." Notice have also been pasted on the houses of the 69 people.

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BMC makes wearing face masks compulsory in Mumbai

Amid an increase in the number of novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, cases in the city, Mumbai's civic body, the Brihan mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), has made wearing of masks compulsory in public places, hospitals, offices, markets and while travelling in vehicles.

"All person will be moving for whatsoever purpose and under whatever reason authority in a public place, like street, hospital, office, markets must be wearing 3 ply mask or cloth mask compulsorily," an order issued by the Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Praveen Pardeshi stated.

"These masks may be standard masks available with the chemist or even homemade washable masks and can be reused after proper washing and disinfecting them," the order said.

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Home secy urges States, UTs to ensure availability of essential goods

Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla has written to all the state chief secretaries to ensure the availability of essential goods by invoking provisions of the Essential Commodities Act 1955, reported by news agency ANI. The Home Secretary also urged for steps to be taken to prevent hoarding and black marketing and ensure essential items are available at fair prices to the public, 

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Amid rumblings of lock down extension, Punjab govt approves work from home for employees till 30 April

In an attempt to curtail mass movement of people even after the scheduled deadline of the lock down, Punjab government has asked all people working from home to continue doing that till 30 April, News18 reported. The government made it clear that this order should not be conflated with an extension of curfew. It is merely applicable on people already working from home. 

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Film producer Karim Morani tests positive for corona virus, admitted

Bollywood producer and Mumbai resident Karim Morani has tested positive for the corona virus, media reports said. Morani, in all likelihood, may have contracted the virus from his daughter who was confirmed with COVID-19 earlier last week. The producer has been shifted to the Nanavati hospital for treatment.

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Karnataka in favour of lifting lockdown in districts not affected by COVID-19

The Karnataka government is in favour of lifting the coronavirus lockdown in districts which remained free of the virus infection, subject to approval from the Centre, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa told PTI on Wednesday. According to officials, there were no COVID-19 cases in 12 districts of the total 30 districts in the state.

As on Wednesday, there were 181 COVID-19 cases in the state, including 5 deaths and 28 discharges. If the Prime Minister suggests to states to take decision
(on lock-down) based on the situation in their respective states, my position is to take a call (on roll-back) in districts free from COVID-19, Yediyurappa said.

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India reports jump of 773 cases in 24 hours

The health ministry has said that till date total 402 people have been discharged, total 5,194 positive confirmed case have been reported. In last one day, 773 positive cases were reported. Total 149 deaths have been reported and around 32 people have died yesterday.  

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No shortage of hydroxychloroquine drug, says Health Ministry

Health secretary Lav Agarwal on Wednesday said that the government has ensured that not only today even in future there will not be any lack of HCQ (Hydroxychloroquine) as and when needed. 

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12 arrested in Navi Mumbai for violating lock down

News agency PTI reported on Wednesday that at least 12 morning walkers were arrested in Navi Mumbai today for violating lockdown orders. 

 

Telangana bans spitting in public

Telangana government has issued a notification banning unhealthy practices such as Spitting of Paan/ chewable tobacco or non tobacco product, sputum in public places and institutions with immediate effect.

 

 

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Maharashtra to setup 'fever clinics' to avoid accidental transmission 

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has said the state will set up ”Fever Clinics” for those with cough, cold and fever.

"The locations will be announced soon. Those with these symptoms should not go to other hospitals but only to these clinics to be launched in all divisions. Here, the patients will be examined will be directed for further treatment. Patients will be categorised into three sections, those with mild, moderate and severe symptoms along with other factors like high BP and kidney ailments. There will be doctors at all three places, but the third facility will have experts to deal with allied ailments like those of the kidney," Thackeray said. 

"This is because, if a COVID patient goes to a normal hospital, it affect the entire facility. We are taking care to prevent person-to-person transmission," he added.