Coronavirus facts vs myths: Don’t believe these WhatsApp tips on Covid-19

Coronavirus rumours: The spread of misinformation via WhatsApp in many ways mimics how Covid-19 itself moves through societies – from individual to individual, group to group

With the total number of coronavirus cases across the world rising consistently, the fear of death and insecurity is mounting. Worse, there is still a big question mark on a possible treatment for Covid-19. And, in the midst of this crisis, misinformation has been spreading virally. On WhatsApp, which boasts over 2 billion users worldwide, and other social messaging networks like Twitter, Facebook and TikTok, the spread of misinformation in many ways seems to mimic how Covid-19 itself moves through societies — from individual to individual, group to group.

Here is afact-check on some of the common myths being circulated on social media and messaging platforms:

1. Myth: Drinking alcohol protects against coronavirus

Fact: Drinking alcohol does not protect you against Covid-19, and can in fact be dangerous. The harmful use of alcohol increases your risk of health problems, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

2. Myth: Thermal scanners can detect coronavirus

Fact: Thermal scanners are effective in detecting people who have a fever. However, they cannot detect people who are infected with Covid-19. There are many causes of fever.

3. Myth: Hydroxychloroquine, Gilead’s remdesivir, and other drugs can cure coronavirus

Fact: While several drug trials are ongoing, there is currently no proof that either hydroxychloroquine or any other drug can cure or prevent Covid-19…

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Human trials for Covid-19 vaccine may begin in 6 months: ICMR Official

“The virus strain isolated at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) laboratory in Pune will be used to develop the vaccine”

As India ranked 10th in the global infection list, overtaking Iran, which was an early hotspot of coronavirus, India’s top medical body has said the human trials of Covid-19 vaccine may begin at least in six months. Speaking to IANS, Dr. Rajni Kant, Director Regional Medical Research Centre and Head at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said, “The virus strain isolated at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) laboratory in Pune will be used to develop the vaccine, and this strain has been successfully transferred to the Bharat Biotech International Ltd. (BBIL). It is expected that the human trials of the vaccine will begin in at least six months.”

Queried on the focus areas as India inches closer to 140,000 Covid-19 cases, Kant said we should not get anxious about the rapid increase in numbers, especially in the past week, which saw 5,000 Covid-19 cases daily, instead focus on protecting the most vulnerable group “We should not fear from increasing Covid-19 cases. The elderly and people with comorbidities need protection. This is the highly vulnerable group, and we need to deploy resources and develop strategies to keep the mortality rate as low as possible in this group,” said Kant.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE: India cases at 145,456; global tally nears 5.6 million

Queried on the focus areas as India inches closer to 140,000 Covid-19 cases, Kant said we should not get anxious about the rapid increase in numbers, especially in the past week, which saw 5,000 Covid-19 cases daily, instead focus on protecting the most vulnerable group “We should not fear from increasing Covid-19 cases. The elderly and people with comorbidities need protection. This is the highly vulnerable group, and we need to deploy resources and develop strategies to keep the mortality rate as low as possible in this group,” said Kant.

Bengaluru airport introduces ‘contactless journey’ to contain Covid-19

According to the BIAL, the features include pre-entry process, where the passengers have to wear masks and carry e-boarding or printed passes

The Bengaluru airport management is introducing a unique feature of parking-to-boarding contactless journey for the passengers as the domestic flight resumes from Monday. In order to contain coronavirus transmission among passengers and staff, the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) introduced the new feature of contactless journey right from pre-entry check to security check and boarding.

“Contactless would be the buzzword at the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru when operations resume from May 25,” the BIAL said in a statement on Sunday. With a greater emphasis on minimum touch and minimum exposure between passengers and airport personnel, BIAL aims to minimise all physical contact at the airport.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE: Global tally crosses 5.5-mn mark; India cases at 138,536

The technology will continue to enable a seamless airport journey, with greater emphasis on health and safety, the statement said. “We have introduced innovative contactless procedures to minimise exposure at the airport,” Hari Marar, managing director and chief executive officer of BIAL, said. “These enhancements demonstrate our continued commitment to keep our passengers safe in this environment.”

I am doing fine after taking a two-week course of hydroxychloroquine: Trump

Trump has spent weeks pushing the drug as a potential treatment or prophylaxis for Covid-19 against the cautionary advice of many of his administration’s top medical professionals

President Donald Trump says he’s doing fine after taking a two-week course of an unproven malaria drug for Covid-19. Trump was addressing his disclosure last week that he was taking hydroxychloroquine and a zinc supplement. He said the regimen was meant to help prevent infection after two White House staffers tested positive for the coronavirus.

Trump has spent weeks pushing the drug as a potential treatment or prophylaxis for Covid-19 against the cautionary advice of many of his administration’s top medical professionals.Trump was addressing his disclosure last week that he was taking hydroxychloroquine and a zinc supplement. He said the regimen was meant to help prevent infection after two White House staffers tested positive for the coronavirus. Trump has spent weeks pushing the drug as a potential treatment or prophylaxis for Covid-19 against the cautionary advice of many of his administration’s top medical professionals.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE: India cases at 138,845; Global tally crosses 5.5-mn mark

Speaking in an interview aired on the Sunday news program Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson, Trump said that “I just finished the course of drug treatments and to the best of my knowledge, here I am. If it’s something that helps, that’s all I want.”

Covid-19: Here’s what chief ministers said to PM Modi on easing lockdown

Covid-19: Here’s what chief ministers said to PM Modi on easing lockdown

On Monday during the fifth video conference with state Chief Ministers, PM Modi delivered a clear message – planning must be done to increase public, economic activities while trying to contain the spread of coronavirus.PM said, “We have a two-fold challenge — to reduce the transmission rate of the disease, and increase public activity gradually while adhering to all the guidelines,” and asked for written suggestions on a roadmap for economic revival from the states by May 15. He also stressed that all efforts should be made to stop the spread of Covid-19 to rural areas.

During the meeting, several CMs pointed out that with the return of migrants, there is a need to implement strict social distancing guidelines, usage of masks, and sanitisation in order to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the rural areas. Many asked for compulsory quarantine for all those who have returned from abroad. Several CMs also raised the need to strengthen the medical and health infrastructure in the country and sought support to MSMEs, infrastructure projects, easing of interest rates on loans and assured market access for agricultural produce…

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE: India cases at 70,827; Vaccine not guaranteed, says UK PM

US govt predicts more job losses, in talks with Congress on Covid-19 relief

While Democrats, who control the House of Representatives, are moving to unveil new legislation as early as this week, the White House signaled it is in no hurry to pass another relief bill

The White House has begun informal talks with Republicans and Democrats in Congress about what to include in another round of coronavirus relief legislation, officials said on Sunday, while predicting further US job losses in the coming months. Officials in President Donald Trump’s administration, including Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow, said they were holding discussions with lawmakers on issues including potential aid to states whose finances have been devastated by the pandemic.

ALSO READ: Covid-19 crisis: Tracking the coronavirus footprint across the world

Another White House economic adviser, Kevin Hassett, said future legislation could include food aid to help Americans struggling with hunger amid widespread job losses that have ruined the finances of many people. It also could include broadband access for those who lack it, Hassett added.While Democrats, who control the House of Representatives, are moving to unveil new legislation as early as this week, the White House signaled it is in no hurry to pass another relief bill.

“Let’s take the next few weeks,” Mnuchin told the “Fox News Sunday” program. Since early March, Congress has passed bills allocating $3 trillion to combat the pandemic, including taxpayer money for individuals and companies to blunt an economic impact that includes an unemployment rate to 14.7% in April after US job losses unseen since the Great Depression of the 1930s…click here

WHO denies report claiming China pressurised it to withhold Covid-19 info

German weekly Der Spiegel reported that Xi asked Tedros during the call to hold back information about human-to-human transmission of the virus and delay declaring a pandemic

The World Health Organisation has dismissed a media report saying that it withheld information about Covid-19 following pressure from China, and termed it as ‘false allegation’. The UN agency said in a statement late Saturday that a German magazine’s report about a telephone conversation between WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Chinese President Xi Jinping on January 21 was unfounded and untrue.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE

Weekly Der Spiegel reported that Xi asked Tedros during the call to hold back information about human-to-human transmission of the virus and delay declaring a pandemic. The magazine quoted Germany’s foreign intelligence agency, BND, which declined to comment on Sunday. Der Spiegel also claimed that the BND concluded up to six weeks of time to fight the outbreak had been lost due to China’s information policy.

WHO said Tedros and Xi have never spoken by phone and added that such inaccurate reports distract and detract from efforts to end the Covid-19 pandemic. It added that China confirmed human-to-human transmission of the new coronavirus on January 20. WHO officials issued a statement two days later saying there was evidence of human-to-human transmission in Wuhan, but more investigation was necessary.

Covid-19 lockdown: Railways ferried 450,000 Indians in 428 special trains

Western Railways has operated a total of 191 Shramik Special ferrying over 225,000 migrants

Since the government has approved the movement of stranded people across the country, Indian Railways has operated 428 Shramik special trains to transport over 450,000 migrant workers, students, pilgrims and tourists stuck to their home states. However, in a late-night development on Sunday, the Railway Ministry announced that it has given green signal to passenger train services from May 12.

Nearly 1,000 workers from Tamil Nadu, stranded in Maharashtra, reached Tiruchirappalli by a special train operated by Southern Railways on Sunday. They operated similar services to ferry over 3,000 workers to destinations in Manipur and Andhra Pradesh among others from the state.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE

Similar trains left Chennai, one each for Srikakulam in AP, Jiribam in Manipur and Jagannathpur in Odisha with 881, 1081 and 1038 passengers respectively. Another special train carrying 1,140 migrant workers left from Tamil Nadu’s Tiruppur to Muzaffarpur in Bihar. A train left for Jagannathpur in Odisha from here with 1,038 passengers, and another ferrying 1,126 people to Danapur in Bihar departed from Katpadi (Vellore).

2,280 more people began their journey to Jaunpur and Akbarpur, both in Uttar Pradesh, by two separate trains from Coimbatore, on Sunday. In Maharashtra, as many as 220 migrants, including women and children, were found going on foot towards Madhya Pradesh on the Mumbai-Agra national highway. They were accommodated in 10 buses and dropped till the border of their home state from Nashik. A Shramik Special train carrying 1,200 migrant workers also left Jalna for Unnao in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday evening.

Covid-19 vaccine by end of 2020, says Trump as drug search intensifies

The European Union has pledged to set up an international medical program with an initial pledge of raising $8 billion to find a vaccine and treatment for the pandemic

US President Donald Trump on Sunday expressed confidence that a vaccine for coronavirus could be available by the end of this year. “I think we’ll have a vaccine by the end of the year. We’ll have a vaccine much sooner rather than later,” Trump said at a Fox News virtual town hall. The search for a vaccine for coronavirus infection has already intensified around the globe.The European Union has pledged to set up an international medical program with an initial pledge of raising $8 billion to find a vaccine and treatment for the pandemic.

In Britain, clinical trials have begun of a potential Covid-19 vaccine developed by scientists at Oxford University’s Jenner Institute. Other developers across Europe have also stepped up their works on their own experimental shots against the disease caused by the new coronavirus. Within the United States, at least 115 vaccine projects are going on in laboratories at companies and research labs, according to media reports.Earlier, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed that a vaccine against the coronavirus, when developed, should be universal and available for every individual across the world.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE: Italy reports lowest deaths since first day of lockdown

Coronavirus: Take a look at number of cases & death toll in these 13 states

During a video conference meeting with PM Modi, many states have reportedly called for an extension of the second phase of lockdown which is in place till May 3

India has seen a steady rise in coronavirus (Covid-19) cases. The total count has reached 29,451 and the death toll currently stands at 939, according to Worldometer data. During a video conference meeting with PM Modi, many states have reportedly called for an extension of the second phase of lockdown which is in place till May 3.

Maharashtra : Maharashtra on Monday reported 522 new Covid-19 cases, taking the total number of the infected people to 8,590. The death toll mounted to 8,590 with 27 more fatalities yesterday. Mumbai reported 395 new Covid-19 cases and 15 new fatalities, taking the total number of the infected patients in the country’s financial capital to 5,589. In Dharavi, out of the 288 Covid-19 patients detected so far 14 have died. In Pune, 84 fresh Covid cases have been detected taking the tally in the district increased to 1,348. Aurangabad reported 29 new cases taking the total to 82. A total of 1,45,677 people are currently in home quarantine across the state while 9,399 others in institutional quarantine.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE: India cases at 29,451; Maharashtra 8,590, Delhi 3,108

Gujarat : Gujarat recorded 247 new coronavirus infections on Monday, most of which was in Ahmedabad – taking the tally to 3,548. The number of fatalities increased to 162. Gujarat has so far conducted coronavirus tests on 53,575 people – 2,848 of them in the last 24 hours. As many as 8,908 samples have been tested using rapid testing kits.

Delhi : Delhi reported 190 new Covid-19 cases on Monday, however, no new deaths were reported. Currently, there are 2,177 active cases in the national capital, while 877 have recovered. Meanwhile, the government allowed veterinarians, plumbers, electricians, and water purifier repairers to resume work….Read Full Story

Covid-19 patients can now opt for home isolation: Here're govt guidelines

“Very mild/ presymptomatic patients having the requisite facility at his/her residence for self-isolation will have the option for home isolation,” it said

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) on Monday said that very mild or presymptomatic Covid-19 patients will have the option to opt for home isolation, given that his/ her residence has the facility to do so.

As per existing guidelines, during the containment phase, the patients should be identified as very mild, mild, moderate or severe and accordingly admitted to Covid Care Centre or dedicated Covid hospital. “However, very mild/ presymptomatic patients having the requisite facility at his/her residence for self-isolation will have the option for home isolation,” the government said in a statement.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE: India cases at 29,451; toll hits 939; US tally past 1 mn

Who can go for home isolation?

Those who have been clinically assigned as a very mild case/ pre-symptomatic case by the treating medical officer. However, they need to fill in an undertaking on self-isolation agreement before doing so.

• They should have the required facility for self-isolation at home and also for quarantining the family contacts
• A caregiver should be appointed on 24 x7 basis, who will have to maintain communication with the hospital for the entire duration of home isolation.
• The caregiver and all close contacts of such cases should take Hydroxychloroquine prophylaxis as per protocol
• The Arogya Setu App should remain active at all times
• The patient will have to monitor his health and regularly inform the District Surveillance Officer of his health status for further follow up by the surveillance teams.

Covid-19 Factoid: Death toll in India is doubling at same rate as in the US

Even as the number of daily fatalities globally fell for 3 straight days and the US epicentre of New York on April 18 saw only 23 new cases, New Jersey reported more than 3,000 on the same day

The global tally of coronavirus infections has gone past 2.4 million, and the death toll stands at 166,000. A little more than 600,000 people have now recovered from the infection. The United States, the worst affected country, accounts for more than 30 per cent of all reported cases globally. It is followed by Italy and Spain with less than 10 per cent cases apiece.

In India, the total number of confirmed cases has now topped 17,000, with the current death toll at 559. With 2,854 recoveries, a little more than 16 per cent of all infected people have managed to beat the virus.

Here are a few data trends to help you understand the present pandemic situation:

1. Daily fatalities fall for three days in a row

The number of fatalities reported daily has come down significantly from its peak of 10,761 on April 14. For the past three days, there has been a progressive decline in the number of deaths. However, it is too early to predict that the curve has flattened. The US still has the highest number of deaths, at just a little under the combined total of the next two countries – Italy and Spain.

2. Covid-19 deaths in India doubling at the same rate as in the US

The time taken for death toll to double in India is below the world average of 12. Worryingly, the metric for India is the same as that in the US, at 9. Italy and Spain, with the second- and third-highest fatalities, took 20 and 17 days before their respective fatality figures doubled…Read More

India coronavirus dispatch: Social measures to raise public consciousness

From risk stratification approach, to a game-changing vaccine, and what precautions you should take when visiting a shop – read these and more in today’s India dispatch

Here’s a round-up of important coronavirus-related articles from across Indian publications. From risk stratification approach, to a game-changing vaccine, and what precautions you should take when visiting a shop – read these and more in today’s India dispatch

Citizens Under Lockdown

NGO feeds 30,000 slum dwellers daily during lockdown: The Mumbai Roti Bank (MRB), a non-governmental organisation, founded by Sivanandan in January 2018, has tied up with the Mumbai Police to ensure that the city’s daily-wage earners and the poor living in areas like Dharavi, a containment zone, do not go without food. Read more here.

Covid lockdown takes a toll on India’s red-light areas: Most residents of red-light areas live in cramped quarters, with poor sanitation and often no running water, ruling out social distancing and other hygiene measures that are supposed to contain the virus. Should a case of Covid-19 be detected in these areas, it would spread like wildfire, social workers as well as residents of red-light districts fear. Read more here.

Long Reads

Essential outreach services hit in states with worst health indicators: Six of the eight most socioeconomically backward Indian states — together called the empowered action group — which have among the highest infant and maternal mortality rates have discontinued health outreach services during the lockdown, multiple government and media reports show. Immunisation, antenatal checks (ANCs) and nutrition drives have been halted in all these states except Odisha, which continues apace, and Uttarakhand, which has kept its immunisation services open. Read more here.

Covid-19: Delhi has highest infection rate, Tamil Nadu is showing recovery

India had tested 383,985 people as on April 19 and found 17,615 of them (4.6%) positive. As on April 1, the number of confirmed cases in India was 2,059, or 3.5% of 47,951 tests conducted until then

India’s coronavirus infection rate – positive results as a proportion of tests conducted – has increased sharply from 3.5 per cent on April 1 to 4.6 per cent on April 19, reveal data released by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). As on April 19, India had tested 383,985 people for Covid-19, and found 17,615 of them (4.6 per cent) to be positive for the virus. By comparison, the total number of confirmed cases in India as on April 1 was 2,059, or 3.5 per cent of the 47,951 tests conducted till then.

However, if one were to look at the same data in a different way, the tally of confirmed Covid-19 cases in India has seen a 10-fold growth since the start of the month, against an increase of about 14 times in the total number of tests conducted during the same period. India has significantly ramped up its testing capabilities lately to keep a check on the spread of coronavirus infections in the country.

Among the 15 most affected Indian states with more than 100 confirmed Covid-19 cases, five have seen a spike in infection rate, and the rest a decline. The sharpest rise in infection rate has been seen in Delhi – of around two percentage points between April 1 and 19. Delhi has tested 24,387 samples till April 19 and recorded 2,003 Covid-19-positive cases — an infection rate of 8.2 per cent. The best performance on this count has come from Tamil Nadu, where the infection rate has dropped from 13 per cent at the start of the month to 3.6 per cent now…Read More

Paper-based device to detect Covid-19 in wastewater of communities: Study

The study, published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, noted that rapid testing kits using paper-based devices could be used on-site at wastewater treatment plants.

Researchers are working on a test to detect the novel coronavirus in the wastewater of communities infected with the virus, a development that can help curtail COVID-19 spread via contaminated water sources.According to the scientists, including those from the Cranfield Water Science Institute in the UK, this approach may provide an effective way to predict the potential spread of the virus by picking up signatures of it in faeces and urine from disease carriers that enter water systems.The study, published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, noted that rapid testing kits using paper-based devices could be used on-site at wastewater treatment plants.It said such kits can be applied to trace sources and determine whether there are potential Covid-19 carriers in local areas.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE: 17 new cases in Andhra, 14 were at Nizamuddin in Delhi“

In the case of asymptomatic infections in the community or when people are not sure whether they are infected or not, real-time community sewage detection through paper analytical devices could determine whether there are COVID-19 carriers in an area to enable rapid screening, quarantine, and prevention,” said Zhugen Yang, study co-author from the Cranfield Water Science Institute.According to the scientists, the wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) approach can help monitor COVID-19 at an early stage in communities, enabling public health authorities to take effective intervention as early as possible to restrict the movements of that local population..Read More

Covid-19: Telangana govt announces up to 75% salary cuts for its employees

The meeting was held at Pragathi Bhavan in view of the State’s economic situation which has been affected adversely due to the coronavirus scare.

In a high-level review meeting conducted in the wake of State’s financial situation amid coronavirus outbreak, the Telangna government on Monday decided a huge pay cut for its employees ranging from 10 per cent to 75 per cent. The meeting was held at Pragathi Bhavan in view of the State’s economic situation which has been affected adversely due to the coronavirus scare. It was decided that there will be a 75 per cent cut in the salaries of the Chief Minister, State cabinet, MLCs, MLAs, State Corporation Chairpersons and Local Bodies representatives.

Whereas, there will be a 60 per cent salary cut of IAS, IPS IFS and other such Central Services Officer and for all other category of employees, there will be 50 per cent salary cut. For the Class IV, outsourcing and contract employees, there will be 10 per cent cut in the salary while for all category of pensioners there will be 50 per cent cut.

There will be a 10 per cent cut in the calary for the Class IV retired employees and for all the Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), Institutions that are receiving the government grants employees, like the government employees and retirees, there will be cut in their salaries as well. There are 71 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the State, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Monday.Meanwhile, the death toll due to COVID-19 has risen to 32 and the number of total coronavirus cases reached 1,251 on Monday. There are 1,117 active cases in the country, said Ministry of Health and Family Welfare…Read More

Coronavirus outbreak: US teen charged for ‘prank’ coughing on groceries

The incident took place at a time when confirmed cases of novel coronavirus are on the rise in Houston area. As of Sunday noon, COVID-19 cases in the area have climbed to 928.

A 14-year-old boy was charged over a prank in which he allegedly coughed on produce at a grocery store in northwest Harris County, amid the coronavirus scare in the US, officials said on Sunday. The grocer called 911 and reported a disturbance, following which the deputies arrived the store, they said. In a Facebook post, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the deputies responded to the disturbance call at the Food City. He said the teen “intentionally coughed on produce”.

“Apparently it was a prank,” wrote Gonzalez. “Not a very funny one. The teen was charged with Tampering with Consumer Products.” The incident took place at a time when confirmed cases of novel coronavirus are on the rise in Houston area. As of Sunday noon, COVID-19 cases in the area have climbed to 928. An estimated 58 people in the area who have tested positive for the virus have recovered, according to reports from a number of health officials. Meanwhile, Governor Greg Abbott is tightening travel to Texas by ordering some motorists from Louisiana to self-quarantine for two weeks.

The new travel restrictions come as Louisiana’s status as a novel coronavirus hotspot grew Sunday to more than 3,500 positive cases statewide. Abbott said drivers with commercial, medical, emergency response, military or critical infrastructure purposes for entering Texas would be exempted.State troopers will enforce the order at checkpoints at major roadways along the border. Those asked to quarantine will be required to provide an address for where they plan to hold up in Texas, either for two weeks or until their return to Louisiana, whichever comes first.

Read our full coverage on Coronavirus

New York state’s coronavirus death toll surpasses 1,000 in 16 days

The virus and the disease it causes, coronavirus, has torn through New York with frightening speed.

New York state’s death toll from the coronavirus outbreak climbed Sunday above 1,000, less than a month after the first known infection in the state. Most of those deaths have come in just the past few days. New York City reported in the evening that its toll had risen to 776. The total number of statewide deaths isn’t expected to be released until Monday, but with at least 250 additional deaths recorded outside the city as of Sunday morning, the state’s total fatalities was at least 1,026.

The virus and the disease it causes, COVID-19, has torn through New York with frightening speed. The first known infection in the state was discovered March 1 in a health care worker who recently returned from Iran. Two days later, the state got its second case, a lawyer from the suburb of New Rochelle.

March 10, Gov. Andrew Cuomo had declared a containment area in New Rochelle that shuttered area schools and houses of worship. That same day, the metropolitan area saw its first fatality: a man who worked at a harness track in Yonkers and lived in New Jersey. By March 12, the state had banned all gatherings of more than 500 people, darkening Broadway theaters and sports arenas. A day later, the first New York resident died, an 82-year-old woman with emphysema...

Delhi police detects fake UPI ID created to cheat PM CARES donors; blocked

Anyesh Roy, DCP (cybercrime) said in a tweet that the fake UPI was created with the ID pmcare@sbi, which is similar to the correct ID pmcares@sbi.

Delhi police’s cybercrime unit has detected a fake Unified Payments Interface (UPI) ID created with a motive to cheat the donors of the newly launched PM CARES Fund to fight the coronavirus outbreak, a senior official said on Sunday. Anyesh Roy, DCP (cybercrime) said in a tweet that the fake UPI was created with the ID pmcare@sbi, which is similar to the correct ID pmcares@sbi.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE: Punjab records another death; global toll hits 33,965

The State Bank of India has also been briefed about the fake ID and the bank has blocked it, another official said. The matter is under investigation and efforts are being made to identify the accused, he added. PM Narendra Modi announced the constitution of the PM’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM-CARES) fund last week. The fund is dedicated for dealing with any kind of emergency or distress situation, like the coronavirus pandemic. He also urged people to donate in the fund to fight the battle against coronavirus. The pandemic has claimed at least 21 lives in India and over 1000 people has been tested positive so far.

70-yr-old Covid-19 patient dies in Guj, state’s toll at 3; new cases emerge

The 70-year-old man died at a government hospital in Bhavnagar

A 70-year-old COVID-19 patient died in Gujarat’s Bhavnagar district early Thursday morning, a health department officials said. With this, the total number of deaths due to coronavirus inthe state has gone up to three, they said. “The 70-year-old man died at a government hospital in Bhavnagar,” state principal secretary (health) Jayanti Ravi said. Earlier, one patient each from Ahmedabad and Surat had succumbed to the viral infection, she said. Four new COVID-19 cases reported in Lucknow Four new COVID-19 cases have been reported in Lucknow, taking the total tally of coronavirus cases in the state to above 40 on Thursday.

A 21-year-old woman, whose parents had tested positive, a 32-year-old man with travel history to Dubai, a 33-year-old woman and a 39-year-old man tested positive for coronavirus, confirmed Dr. Sudhir Singh, Incharge, Isolation Ward, King George’s Medical University in Lucknow. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of COVID-19 positive cases have risen to 649 in India (including 593 active cases, 42 cured/discharged people) and 13 deaths.

Coronavirus cases rises to 649 in India, 13 dead, The total number of people who have been confirmed positive for COVID-19 in India has risen to 649 in India, including 593 active cases and 42 people who have been cured or discharged from hospitals, according to the recent update by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on Thursday morning.