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COVID-19: DRDO develops contactless sanitizer dispenser to reduce human touch

New Delhi, Apr 17 (ANI): In wake of coronavirus, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed a contactless sanitizer dispenser and has deployed it at its HQ in Delhi. The aim of contactless sanitizer dispenser is to reduce human contact as much as possible. Giving out more information, the Technology Advisor to DRDO Chairman, Sanjeev Joshi said, "This is a contactless sanitizer dispenser. To achieve the aim of not coming in contacting of anything, we have developed it. The machine dispenses sanitizer for 10 seconds without any touch and helps disinfecting people entering buildings."

Rajasthan Governor praises UP govt for slapping NSA against police attackers

Jaipur (Rajasthan), Apr 17 (ANI): After three police personnel were attacked in Rajasthan's Tonk while patrolling, state Governor, Kalraj Mishra called it saddening and said strict action should be taken against the attackers. He also praised Uttar Pradesh government for slapping National Security Act (NSA) against such people. "It is very saddening to see that people are misbehaving with staff who is indulged in providing essential items. Some anti-social elements had attacked healthcare workers and police in UP's Muradabad, Tonk in Rajasthan and other places. Strict action should be taken against the attackers and I praise Uttar Pradesh government for slapping National Security Act (NSA) against such people," said Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra.

Radha Soami Satsang Beas plays role in COVID-19 relief

Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh), Apr 17 (ANI): The Radha Soami Satsang Beas facility in Saharanpur has become a shelter house for hundreds of stranded migrant workers, who left for their homes during nationwide lockdown amid COVID-19 outbreak. On March 28-29, a large number of migrant workers reached Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh. The local administration made arrangement to send some 4,000 of them to their destinations, but over 900 of them remained stranded in the city. On Centre's guidelines, local administration took initiative to provide them shelter and they were brought to Radha Soami Satsang Beas shelter house. The facility, which spreads in an area of 350 acres, has provided bed arrangements under huge sheds by maintaining social distancing. Radha Soami Satsang Beas in Saharanpur has a clean and modern community kitchen, which prepares hygiene and healthy food three times a day. The food is served to stranded migrant workers by maintaining social distancing. The community kitchen als

Manish Sisodia urges people to extend helping hand for the needy amid lockdown

New Delhi, Apr 17 (ANI): In wake of lockdown due to coronavirus, Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia flagged off packets of food items and essential items for the needy people. The initiative was taken by PepsiCo. Manish Sisodia also urged others to help needy ones amid the lockdown. While speaking to media persons, Sisodia said, "Packets of cereals, vegetables, spices, sanitary pads and soaps have been delivered to the 1000 poor and needy people. I request other people as well to help the needy. This is a very crucial time. We need to share our things with others. He further said, "Success of operation shield is due to the workers, police team and the residents." 1640 positive coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Delhi as of April 17.

India's ratio of recovered corona patients and deaths is 80:20, better than others: Govt

New Delhi, Apr 17 (ANI): The Joint Secretary of Union Health Ministry, Lav Agarwal on April 17 said that the ratio between recovered COVID-19 patients and deaths stands at 80:20 in India which is higher than that in several other counties. "We have been witnessing average growth factor at 1.2 since April 1 which stood at 2.1 (average) between March 15- March 31. Hence, there is 40 per cent decline in average growth factor even as we increased COVID-19 testings," he further added.

We don't recommend BCG vaccine for COVID-19 until study proves it: ICMR

New Delhi, Apr 17 (ANI): ICMR Scientist, Dr Raman R Gangakhedkar said that the BCG vaccine is not recommended to fight COVID-19 until a study conducted is on it. On being asked on the use of BCG vaccine to fight COVID-19, Dr Gangakhedkar said, "ICMR will begin a study next week. Till we don't have definitive results from this, we won't recommend BCG vaccine, even for health workers." On being asked about the genome sequencing of coronavirus by Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), Dr Gangakhedkar said, "Gujarat Biotech did whole genome sequencing but it is not the first one. It had happened earlier as well. This virus has been in India for 3 months and the mutation of virus doesn't happen too quickly. Whatever vaccine comes out now, it will work in the future as well (if the virus mutates)."

COVID-19: Our actions focused on speeding up vaccine development, says Health Ministry

New Delhi, Apr 17 (ANI): The Joint Secretary of Union Health Ministry, Lav Agarwal on April 17 said that the all action of government is focused on speeding up vaccine development to fight COVID-19. "All our actions are focused on speeding up vaccine development. We are working on recombinant BCG, convalescent plasma therapy, monoclonal antibodies to fight COVID19," he said.

CM Hemant Soren flags off food material vehicles for 15 districts amid lockdown

Ranchi (Jharkhand), Apr 17 (ANI): Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Hemant Soren, flagged off vehicles loaded with food material for Hindpiri amid lockdown on April 17. While addressing a press conference, Soren said, "We have started sending food material in 15 districts. We will distribute 15 days ration in 8000 houses." The total number of cases in Jharkhand stands at 30, which includes 2 deaths.

COVID-19: Muslim clerics urge people to pray at home during Ramzan

New Delhi, Apr 17 (ANI): In wake of growing cases of coronavirus, clerics and Muslim community leaders have urged people to pray at home during holy month of Ramzan. They have done so keeping in view of nation-wide lockdown and to promote social distancing.While speaking to ANI, one of the Imams said, "We should stay at home and practice social distancing to keep ourselves and others safe. If we fast and pray at home, there is no problem with it." Currently, the nation is under lockdown till May 03. 1640 positive coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Delhi.

1007 new COVID-19 cases, 23 deaths in last 24 hours: Health Ministry

New Delhi, Apr 17 (ANI): While addressing a press conference in the national capital on April 17 amid COVID-19 pandemic, the Joint Secretary of Union Health Ministry, Lav Agarwal said, "Till now 1749 people were cured. In last 24 hours 1007 new cases of COVID-19 were reported. 23 deaths also reported in last 24 hours." "Before lockdown, doubling rate of #COVID19 cases was about 3 days, but according to data in the past 7 days, the doubling rate of cases now stands at 6.2 days. Doubling rate in 19 States, Union Territories are even lower than average doubling rate," he further added.

Fresh RBI measures to have positive impact on liquidity, sentiments: FICCI

New Delhi, Apr 17 (ANI): Praising the fresh measures of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to soften the blow by coronavirus pandemic, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) said the second set of central bank's measures such as reducing the reverse repo rate would have positive impact on sentiments and liquidity. "FICCI warmly welcomes the 2nd set of RBI steps to address the COVID situation. These would have positive impact on both liquidity and more importantly on sentiments," said Dilip Chenoy, Secretary General, FICCI.

Ambulance driver, sweeper booked for denying to take COVID-19 victim's body in Sambhal

Sambhal (Uttar Pradesh), Apr 17 (ANI): In an inhumane incident happened in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal, an ambulance driver and a sweeper allegedly denied taking body of a COVID-19 victim. Later, they were booked by the police. Speaking about the incident, SP of Sambhal, Yamuna Prasad said, "A COVID-19 victim, who was a native of Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi, was to be cremated in Sambhal. We had got the consent of his family for his cremation in Uttar Pradesh. But some workers behaved inhumane and ran away. We have booked an ambulance driver and a sweeper for denying taking his body."

30 COVID-19 patients discharged from Chennai medical college

Chennai (Tamil Nadu), Apr 17 (ANI): 30 COVID-19 patients have been discharged from Omandurar Medical College on April 17. Omandurar Medical College's Dean, Narayana Babu said, "As of now we are having 95 positive patients out of which 30 patients discharged today after testing negative for coronavirus." "As patients are coming out of quarantine after 15 days, they will have mild depression. When they return to their homes they can isolate themselves, the public should not isolate them," the Dean further said. The total number of coronavirus cases in Tamil Nadu is 1,267. At least 15 people lost their lives due to the deadly virus in the state.

India has sufficient pharmaceutical drugs to fight COVID-19: Chemicals Minister

New Delhi, Apr 17 (ANI): Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Sadananda Gowda, on April 17 said the citizens don't need to panic, as country have sufficient Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) including hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) to fight COVID-19 pandemic. "There is no problem as far as hydroxychloroquine or paracetamol are concerned. We assess every day the requirement for domestic consumption and the excess that can be exported. We keep 10 days stock with us, at present we have sufficient Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), said Gowda. The Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) is the part of any drug that produces the intended effects.

Pakistan only exporting terror even as whole world is fighting COVID-19: Army Chief

Kupwara (Jammu and Kashmir), Apr 17 (ANI): Army Chief General MM Naravane reacted over the continued violation of ceasefire by Pakistan. The Army Chief said that while whole world is fighting the coronavirus pandemic, on the other hand Pakistan is only exporting terror. "While we are busy not only helping our own citizens but the rest of the world by sending medical teams and exporting medicines, on the other hand, Pakistan is only exporting terror. This doesn't auger well," said Army Chief General MM Naravane to ANI in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara.

Only 8 coronavirus cases in Indian Army so far: Chief MM Naravane

Kupwara (Jammu and Kashmir), Apr 17 (ANI): Army Chief General MM Naravane on April 17 revealed that the armed forces have just 8 positive cases of coronavirus so far. While talking to ANI, Army Chief General MM Naravane said, "So far, we have only 8 positive cases in the entire Indian Army, of which 2 are doctors and 1 nursing assistant, 4 are responding well to treatment and we had one case in Ladakh, now he is fully cured and has joined duty." "Our personnel who have not come in contact with any infected person are being moved back to units, we have already catered for two special trains, from Bengaluru to Jammu and other from Bengaluru to Guwahati," the Army Chief further said.

2 terrorists neutralised in encounter in JandK's Shopian

Shopian (JandK), Apr 17 (ANI): Two terrorists have been neutralised during an encounter with troops in Dairoo village of Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian District on April 17. Identity of the terrorists is yet to be ascertained. Area has been cordon-off and search operation by Central Reserve Police Force along with 44 Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operation Group (SOG) is underway.

Union Ministers review COVID-19 situation as cases cross 13,300 mark

New Delhi, Apr 17 (ANI): A union Group of Ministers (GoM) meeting on COVID-19 outbreak took place at Nirman Bhawan on April 17. Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar were present at the meeting. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and other ministers were also in attendance. Meanwhile, the total number of coronavirus cases in India has risen to 13,387

'Don't stoop so low', Sisodia warns Delhi private schools over fee hike amid lockdown

New Delhi, Apr 17 (ANI): Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia, on April 17 emphasised that private schools in the national capital cannot hike fees amid the coronavirus lockdown. "It has come to my notice that many schools are taking fees arbitrarily and charging transportation fees even when schools are closed. Private schools should not stoop to this level. Be it private or government schools, they cannot hike fees," said Sisodia who handles the Education Ministry of Delhi government.

Haryana govt starts purchasing rabi crops, no entry in 'mandis' without e-pass

Rohtak (Haryana), Apr 17 (ANI): Procurement of rabi (winter) crops has started in Haryana, after the central government's new guidelines amid the nationwide lockdown over coronavirus. However, only e-pass holders can enter 'mandis'. The action was taken to reduce congestion and ensure social distancing in 'mandis' amid the rising cases of COVID-19. The market committees will ensure that all the agricultural produce will be brought into the yards only after an online e-gate pass is issued to the farmers, who are registered and verified on the government's "Meri Fasal Mera Byora" web portal.