World coronavirus Dispatch: ‘Painful’ US experience, dubious China figures

From some scary new death toll projections coming from the US to a tobacco maker’s bid to produce vaccines and Saudi planning to postpone hajj, read these and more in today’s international dispatch

US President Donald Trump has warned that the next two weeks will be painful, as new projections by experts fix the potential death toll at 240,000. This is despite stringent social-distancing measures being followed in the country. “We’re going through the worst thing that the country’s probably ever seen,” Trump said. Elsewhere, there is growing scepticism around the official pandemic numbers reported from China, which added only 68 new cases yesterday. Residents of Wuhan, where the virus originated, have dismissed official figures. Most people believe deaths could be as many as 40,000, not the 2,400 officially reported from the city. From a global point of view, we may be underestimating the coronavirus death toll.

Let’s look at the global statistics:

Total confirmed cases: 874,081

Change over previous day: 74,032

Total deaths: 43,291

Total recovered: 185,196

Nations hit with most cases: US (189,633), Italy (105,792), Spain (102,136), China (82,308), and Germany (72,383).

UN estimates on pandemic crisis: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called the coronavirus the biggest threat the world faced since the World War II. The UN also launched a report on the potential impact which predicted among other things that 25 million jobs around the world will be lost and there will be up to 40 per cent “downward pressure” on global foreign investment. Read more here.

Tackling ICU beds shortage: With a shortage of ICU beds, European nations are on a building and hiring spree, putting together makeshift hospitals and shipping coronavirus patients out of overwhelmed cities via high-speed trains. London is putting up 4,000 beds in a massive convention centre. Dozens of hotels across Spain are turned into recovery rooms, while in Milan beds are being put on fair grounds. Read more here.

Covid-19 Factoid: France and Iran face similar fight, Germany stands out

Around 20 cases are being registered and at least two people are losing their lives almost every minute due to coronavirus across the globe.

The number of Covid-19 positive cases in India stands at 1,071, and globally the tally has crossed 735,000. The US registered more than 20,000 cases in a day, taking the tally to over 140,000. The US is followed by Italy, a tad below 100,000-cases mark. Spain has overtaken China to become the third most affected country from coronavirus, going by the number of cases registered.

On an average, around 20 cases are being registered and at least two people are losing their lives almost every minute due to coronavirus across the globe. There is a rapid dissemination of information flowing around the Covid-19 pandemic.

1. Challenging time ahead for France and Iran

Both France and Iran have more than 40,000 Covid-19 cases registered so far. While around 30,000 cases in France are still active, out of which more than 12 per cent of the cases are in critical condition, highest among all countries. Similarly, 8 per cent of the active cases in Iran are critically ill. Both these countries have this far witnessed a higher death rate and might witness more fatalities in coming days. On the other hand, the US, which has the most number of cases tested positive for Covid-19, has much lower share of critical cases, and it also has a low death rate. Italy, Spain and the UK have a death rate on the higher side but few cases are in critical condition as on date…Read Full Source

Nizamuddin Covid-19 shock: Crisis for govt as 6 die in Telangana, 1 in J&K

More than 2,000 people from all over India and some from abroad attended a Tableeghi Jamat congregation in the Nizamuddin area in Delhi. Seven are now reported dead and over 1,500 are in quarantine

A religious congregation of 2,000 people at a mosque in Delhi’s Nizamuddin area, which has thrown up several corona positive cases maybe a ticking time bomb as six of the persons who returned to Telangana after attending the congregation have died from the virus and positive cases are emerging from at least five other regions including J&K, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and the Andaman and Nicobar islands.

Over 1,500 people have been quarantined in the Markaz itself. A facility is coming up for these people in the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, according to several reports. Even on Tuesday morning, people continue to board buses in the Nizammudin area in order to be taken to different hospitals for a checkup.

• Number of infected cases in Delhi shoot up to 97 by Monday evening from 72 on Sunday
• Six people from Telangana who attended the congregation died
• 1 who attended from Kashmir dies
• 253 admitted to hospitals, 24 test positive
• Around 800 people went to different states, police begin the search for those people

Such is the magnitude of this incident….

Covid-19: FIR against Coca Cola plant in Himachal for flouting lockdown

Operation of all units barring those manufacturing essential commodities has been banned during the lockdown, they added

A case has been registered against a Coca Cola plant in Himachal Pradesh, operated by a separate entity, for running its factory in violation of an lockdown order issued to check the spread of coronavirus, officials said on Tuesday. Operation of all units barring those manufacturing essential commodities has been banned during the lockdown, they added.

The Coca Cola factory in Nalagarh falling under Baddi police district of Solan, operated by Krish Flexipacks, was found operational during a surprise check on Monday night, Baddi Superintendent of Police Rohit Malpani said. An FIR was registered against the factory and its owners under section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Nalagarh police station, he added.

ALSO READ: PM Modi to address the nation at 8 PM tonight on coronavirus outbreak

There was no immediate reaction from the company to the official action. There is a provision of six-month jail and/or fine of Rs 1000 under Section 188 of the IPC. In his order, Solan deputy commissioner-cum-district magistrate K C Chaman banned operation of all units in the district during the lockdown period, barring those manufacturing essential commodities including pharmaceutical, medical devices, soaps, hand cleaners. The managements of all non-essential industries are directed to shut their units immediately failing which strong action will be taken against concerned starting registration of cases under the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897, as well as other relevant laws, the order stated.

Covid-19: Govt tells companies to protect wages, not terminate workers

Companies may look to terminate the contract of workers ‘on the pretext’ of the Covid-19 or may force their employees to go on leave without pay

The Central government has asked all companies to ensure that workers, especially contract labour, who take leave as a precaution towards the coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19) should be treated to be ‘on duty’ and their salaries should not be deducted. “In the backdrop of such challenging situation, all the employers of public or private establishments are advised to extend their coordination by not terminating their employees, particularly casual or contractual workers from job or reduced their wages, Union labour and employment ministry joint secretary Kalpana Rajsinghot said in a letter dated March 20 sent to employers’ associations, adding, “If any worker takes leave, he should be deemed to be on duty without any consequential deduction in wages for this period.”

A labour ministry official explained that if workers are considered to be ‘on duty’, they will be entitled to wages and other benefits. The advisory further stated that “if the place of employment is to be made non-operational due to the Covid-19, the employees of such unit will be deemed to be on duty.” This means that if any establishment is closed due to a positive case of Covid-19 virus in the premises then the employees will be considered to be ‘on duty’ and not on leave.

The government’s advisory stated that the companies may look to terminate the contract of workers “on the pretext” of the COVID-19 coronavirus or may force their employees to go on leave without pay. “The termination of employees from the job or reduction in wages in this scenario would further deepen the crises and will not only weaken the financial condition of the employee but also hamper their morale to combat their fight with this epidemic,” the labour ministry’s letter stated.

Coronavirus: India in lockdown mode; no trains or metros to run till Mar 31

For the first time in its 167-year-old history, the Indian Railways cancelled all services of passenger trains, including suburban ones, till March 31

The voluntary janata curfew called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was, in effect, extended by the Centre on Sunday. It announced a week-long lockdown in as many as 80 districts of the country that have reported confirmed cases of coronavirus. For the first time in its 167-year-old history, the Indian Railways cancelled all services of passenger trains, including suburban ones, till March 31. The nearest equivalent of this was the 54-day railway strike in 1974, when trains did not run in the country. The railways, however, said goods trains would run. Around 12,500 trains, including 9,000 passenger trains and 3,500 mail express trains, run daily.

Besides, the Central government asked states to suspend inter-state transport. The decision was taken in a high-level meeting of chief secretaries of all states with the Cabinet secretary and the principal secretary to the PM, on Sunday. All metro rail services, too, would be suspended till March 31. In Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced a lockdown — sealing its borders, shutting down markets and directing private firms to give compulsory paid leave to all employees, including contractual — until the end of March. Beyond the 80 districts, states, including Maharashtra, which is leading in the number of coronavirus cases, Rajasthan and Punjab are now under effective statewide lockdowns after they imposed Section 144 that bars gatherings of more than four people.

India reported three coronavirus deaths on Sunday, including the first casualties from Bihar and Gujarat, taking the toll to seven, even as authorities took unprecedented steps to contain the spread of the virus. The number of positive COVID-19 cases rose to 396. Those affected by the railways order on Sunday include premium trains, mail/express, passenger trains, suburban train services, Kolkata Metro, and the Konkan Railway services. However, bare minimum services will be provided in suburban trains and Kolkata Metro, till late Sunday.

Keep Reading Live blog on Coronavirus Outbreak

There will be a coronavirus vaccine, likely by 2022-end: Zavaray Poonawalla

Founder-Director Serum Institute of India tells Business Standard that India’s social containment of the epidemic so far has been good

Serum Institute of India recently partnered Codagenix, a US-based biotech drug research company, to develop a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine. Its Founder-Director Zavaray Poonawalla tells Business Standard that India’s social containment of the epidemic so far has been good. Edited Excerpts: How is India doing as far as managing the whole social community distancing factor goes, with the advent of the COVID-19? Are our numbers of confirmed cases being under-reported?

I think we are taking it very seriously and perhaps that’s a good thing in a country with the size of our population. In practical terms, people are avoiding crowds, flights have been halted and large events delayed. We have as a country in other spheres shut down activities like cricket, racing and other sporting and business events, and I think we can’t do very much more than that. The numbers we are seeing seem to indicate we are doing better than the rest and while I can’t say if they are being under-reported, I do know that our health care infrastructure is not large enough, which is why over-awareness is a good thing.

How bad is this epidemic so far as India is concerned?

It’s a virus with a big scary name but we have had viruses earlier. Now, a new one has emerged. So it’s getting to be seen as the bad one until it is understood better, and we are indeed doing so day by day. If you recall the swine flu pandemic that emerged in 2009, it was equally terrifying because it was the exact opposite, which is very few young people were immune to it, and it spread from country to country, much faster than the present one. Today, swine flu is more of a seasonal type of flu and can be vaccinated against with part of your annual flu shots.

The ground reality of coronavirus in China: What the WHO has found?

The report noted that the younger you are, the less likely you are to be infected and the less likely you are to fall seriously ill if you do get infected

The highly infectious Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) is spreading very fast and has caused 3,164 deaths across the world so far, and there have been over 92,000 confirmed cases. In India, the total number of confirmed cases rose to 21 on Tuesday. Recently, the World Health Organization sent a team of international experts to China to investigate the ground realities in the country where the outbreak first began before spreading globally. Here are some important facts that the team found out:

Spread of the virus: Contrary to the popular opinion, transmission of virus through the air over long distances is not one of the main causes of spread. Most of the infected were either infected at home or in the early phase of the outbreak in Wuhan when most hospitals are unaware about the disease. Around 78-85 per cent cases were caused by an infection within the family by droplets and other carriers of infection in close contact with an infected person. Symptoms: The most common symptoms found among the infected are fever, and dry cough, exhaustion, expectoration of mucus when coughing, shortness of breath, and several others. Coronavirus deaths are strongly influenced by age, pre-existing conditions, gender, and especially the response of the health care system.

Healthcare facilities: The findings by the WHO team revealed some disturbing facts about the healthcare system in China and other countries. 20 per cent of infected people in China needed hospital treatment for weeks. China has hospital beds to treat only 0.4 per cent of the population at the same time – other developed countries have between 0.1 per cent and 1.3 per cent and most of these beds are already occupied with people who have other diseases…

Can coronavirus spread through cough and sex? Here’s all you need to know

Whether you catch the infection or not depends on how close you get and how long you are near the person

Coronavirus is highly contagious and is spreading at a lightning speed around the world. The virus has already infected people in close to 70 countries. According to the World Health Organisation, there are 92,819 confirmed cases and 3,164 deaths reported globally. In India, total number of confirmed cases rose to six on Tuesday after an Italian tourist in Jaipur tested positive. So what is coronavirus and how can it be transmitted? Here is what you need to know:

What is coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV). A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans. The present scare is because of COVID-19, an infectious diseases caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus. The outbreak began in Wuhan in China in December, 2019. The virus can be transmitted between animals and people. Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.

Will the coronavirus spread through cough?

People can catch the virus from others. The disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person coughs or exhales. These droplets land on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people then catch the virus by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. People can also fall victim to virus even if they breathe in droplets from a person infected who coughs out or exhales droplets. This is why it is important to stay more than 1 meter (3 feet) away from a person who is sick.

China virus death toll reaches 1,110; world warned of ‘very grave threat’

Coronavirus is believed to have emerged last year in a market that sells wild animals in Hubei’s capital Wuhan, the city at the centre of the outbreak.

The number of fatalities from China’s new coronavirus epidemic jumped to 1,110 nationwide on Wednesday after hard-hit Hubei province reported 94 new deaths. In its daily update, Hubei’s health commission also confirmed another 1,638 new cases in the central province, where the outbreak emerged in December. There are now more than 44,200 confirmed cases across China, based on previously released figures from the government.

The new virus is believed to have emerged last year in a market that sells wild animals in Hubei’s capital Wuhan, the city at the centre of the outbreak. The virus was officially named “COVID-19” at a conference in Geneva held by the World Health Organization, where the body’s chief said countries had a chance of stopping its global spread. WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Tuesday that although 99 percent of cases are in China, where it remains “very much an emergency,” it also “holds a very grave threat for the rest of the world.” He urged countries to share data in order to further research the disease.

Chinese authorities dismissed two senior health officials from Hubei on Tuesday, where tens of millions of people have been under lockdown since late last month, and tightened restrictions in its capital Wuhan.

Over 1000 dead in mainland China, 2,097 new confirmed Coronavirus cases

According to the SCMP report, the virus has spread to at least 24 countries, sickened more than 42,000 people worldwide

The Health Authorities in China’s Hubei province on Tuesday (local time) reported 103 more deaths and 2,097 newly confirmed cases of Coronavirus, reported South China Morning Post. With this, the death toll in the epicentre of the outbreak Hubei has risen to 974, while the total number of deaths in mainland China has reached 1,011, according to CNN. One person in Hong Kong and one in the Philippines has died due to the virus.

According to the SCMP report, the virus has spread to at least 24 countries, sickened more than 42,000 people worldwide. Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday appeared before the public for the first time since the coronavirus epidemic started and said the government would prevent large-scale layoffs amid the outbreak.

Jinping inspected efforts by community workers in Beijing to contain the virus, visited a local hospital that offers treatment to coronavirus patients and video-chatted with frontline medical staff in Wuhan, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

Hong Kong reports first Coronavirus death; second fatality outside China

Hong Kong has had 15 confirmed cases including one that was transmitted locally

Hong Kong reported its first coronavirus death on Tuesday, a 39-year-old male who had been suffering from an underlying illness and had visited China’s Wuhan city in January, hospital staff said, marking the second death outside mainland China.The first death outside of China was reported on Sunday – a 44-year-old Chinese man who died in the Philippines after travelling there from Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus.

The death toll in China rose on Tuesday by a new daily record to more than 420 and total infections in China rose by 3,235 to 20,438. There were at least 151 cases in 23 other countries and regions, including the United States, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong and Britain. The Hong Kong coronavirus death comes as hundreds of medical workers in the Asian financial hub began a second day of strikes on Tuesday to force the government to completely close the city’s borders with mainland China, a day after embattled leader Carrie Lam left three remaining checkpoints open.

The former British colony so far has had 15 confirmed cases including one that was transmitted locally. Holding red and white placards reading “Save HK now. I am a Hospital Authority staff on strike”…

Coronavirus: China says ‘urgently needs’ medical masks as toll worsens

What China urgently needs at present are medical masks, protective suits, and safety goggles, foreign ministry spokeswoman said

China on Monday said it “urgently needs” protective medical equipment as the death toll in the country from a highly contagious coronavirus passed that of the 2002 SARS crisis, with more than 17,000 infected.

Fears of the virus have spurred people in the densely-populated country of 1.4 billion to stock up on single-use surgical masks, while frontline medical personnel at the centre of the outbreak have reported equipment shortages.”What China urgently needs at present are medical masks, protective suits, and safety goggles,” the foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a press briefing.

At full capacity, China’s factories are only able to produce around 20 million masks a day, according to the ministry of industry. The foreign ministry said countries including South Korea, Japan, Kazakhstan and Hungary have donated medical supplies. Tian Yulong of the industry ministry said earlier Monday that authorities were taking steps to bring in masks from Europe, Japan and the US, adding that supply and demand in China remained in “tight equilibrium” as factories returned to production after the Lunar New Year lull…

Coronavirus: Death toll from outbreak rises to 17 in China, 444 cases found

Chinese authorities have warned that the disease could spread further in the ongoing holiday season

The death toll from the new coronavirus outbreak in China nearly doubled to 17 with the confirmed infection cases sharply rising to 444 on Wednesday, even as the cases of the deadly pneumonia were reported from the US, Hong Kong, Macao and Mexico. Chinese authorities have warned that the disease could spread further in the ongoing holiday season during which millions travel at home and abroad amid official advisories to people of Wuhan, the epicentre of illness, not to leave the city. Seventeen people have died due to the virus, state-run China Daily reported.

The coronavirus is a large family of viruses that causes illnesses ranging from the common cold to acute respiratory syndromes, but the virus that has killed people in China is a novel strain and not seen before. Common symptoms of the novel coronavirus strain include respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties, according to the WHO. The Chinese health authorities said that 444 confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) had been reported in 13 provincial-level regions in the country.

Considering its potential to spread to different countries, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is holding a rare emergency meeting Geneva on Wednesday to consider declaring Wuhan virus as an international public health emergency, as it did with swine flu and Ebola…