40 students of Tamil Nadu college isolated over Covid symptoms

 Catch all the latest news live updates and developments from across the globe here

Israel’s military has said it will be calling up six reserve battalions in the next few weeks, amid escalating tensions in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. The move is made in order to preserve the presence of Israeli troops in the area between Israel and the West Bank, and to prevent Palestinians from crossing into Israel without permits, the Army added on Thursday.

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Thursday said that though Covid-19 cases have increased in the capital, people are not developing severe disease and the hospitalisation rate is low. He attributed the low hospitalisation rate to vaccination and naturally acquired immunity. “Though Covid cases have increased in Delhi, people are not developing severe disease and the hospitalisation rate is low. This is because our population is fully vaccinated and a large number of people have had the disease in the past,” Jain told reporters here.

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All 6 Units of Dadri and 5 Units of Unchahar are running at full capacity and receiving regular coal supplies All 6 Units of Dadri and 5 Units of Unchahar are running at full capacity and receiving regular coal supplies. Present stock is 140000 MT and 95000 MT respectively and import coal supplies are also in pipeline: NTPC Limited

Today’s temperature in Delhi may rise by 0.5-1 degrees & touch 46 degree C at some stations
Today’s temperature in Delhi may rise by 0.5-1 degrees & touch 46 degree C at some stations. Some stations in Haryana may record temperatures over 46 degree C. Peak temperature today will be in Haryana, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh & western Uttar Pradesh: RK Jenamani, senior scientist….Read More

Coronavirus : India records 100 deaths in a day, 66 from Tamil Nadu

India coronavirus LIVE updates: Maharashtra cases at 27,524, Tamil Nadu 9,674, Delhi 8,470. Stay tuned with Business Standard for Covid 19 LIVE updates on corona cases and death toll worldwide

Coronavirus India update: The total number of coronavirus cases in India has been rising constantly. The country now is just a whisker from overtaking China — from where the virus originated. India’s tally of cases now stands at 82,052 and 2,649 people have died of infections so far, according to Worldometer data. Maharashtra govt decides to extend lockdown in Mumbai MMR, PMC, Aurangabad, Malegaon, Solapur till May 31, according to media reports. Will Central extend the nationwide lockdown a third time beyond May 17? Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked chief ministers to submit their Lockdown 4.0 plan by today.

Finance Minister Sitharaman on Thursday unveiled her second tranche of stimulus worth Rs 3.16 trillion. The package includes free food grain for migrant workers, credit support to farmers and working capital loan for street vendors. coronavirus world update: Globally, 4,525,441 people have been infected by coronavirus so far, and the total number of deaths from the disease now stands at 303,372.

Coronavirus India update: Five states with most active cases

Maharashtra (20,446) Tamil Nadu (7,368) Delhi (5,310) Gujarat (5,252) Madhya Pradesh (2,018)

Coronavirus in US: Trump says he doesn’t want to talk to Xi right now, could even cut China ties

US President Donald Trump signaled a further deterioration of his relationship with China over the novel coronavirus, saying he has no interest in speaking to President Xi Jinping right now and going so far as to suggest he could even cut ties with the world’s second largest economy. In an interview with Fox Business Network broadcast on Thursday, Trump said he was very disappointed with China’s failure to contain the disease and that the pandemic had cast a pall over his January trade deal with Beijing, which he has previously hailed as a major achievement…Read More

India coronavirus dispatch: How to spot misinformation around Covid-19

From social media infodemic, to trends shaping post-Covid-19 world, and why the need for labour reforms must not be conflated with complete deregulation – read these and more in today’s India dispatch

Here is a round-up of important articles from across Indian publications on Covid-19. From social media infodemic, to trends shaping post-Covid-19 world, and why the need for labour reforms must not be conflated with complete deregulation – read these and more in today’s India dispatch.

Expert Speak

How paediatricians, obstetricians are dealing with Covid-19 cases and fears: The city of Mumbai has been seeing increased cases of Covid-19, and some hospitals and doctors are reporting more cases of pregnant women and children who have contracted the virus. Read this interview with Ravindra Chittal, consultant paediatrician and neonatologist at Hinduja Hospital and Lilavati Hospital, and Kiran Coelho, head of department, obstetrics and gynaecology, at Lilavati Hospital, to find out how this affects the overall problem in terms of capacity to respond and attend to these cases, and the treatment path that is being followed.

Long Reads

The need for labour reforms must not be conflated with complete deregulation: While some easing of rigid labour laws has long been overdue, a note of caution must be sounded on the proposed ordinance of the Uttar Pradesh government. There can be little doubt that many of the labour law provisions in India are excessively intrusive, and have strengthened licence-inspector-raj and rent-seeking. Rationalisation of existing laws is imperative, for the sake of both labour flexibility for employers, and universal legal protection for workers. However, there is a need for more clear-sighted thinking on some of the lazy assumptions and sweeping generalisations that have been part of the case for labour reforms.Read more here.

World coronavirus dispatch: How a Wuhan lab got mired in global blame-game

In a curious development, French scientists claim to have identified a coronavirus case dating back to December, about a month before the first cases were officially confirmed in Europe

In a rather peculiar development, French scientists say they may have identified a possible case of the new coronavirus dating back to December — about a month before the first cases were officially confirmed in Europe. The patient, who has since recovered, said he had no idea where he caught the virus, as he had not travelled abroad. France is not the only country where subsequent testing points to earlier cases. Two weeks ago, a post-mortem examination carried out in California revealed that the first coronavirus-related death in the US was almost a month earlier than previously thought. Read more here.

Let’s look at the global statistics

Total confirmed cases: 3,601,760

Change over previous day: 75,582

Total deaths: 251,910

Total recovered: 1,174,006

Nations hit with most cases: The US (1,180,634), Spain (218,011), Italy (211,938), the UK (191,832) and France (169,583).

Source: Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center

US to fund coronavirus relief largely through borrowing: US expects to borrow a record $3 trillion in the second quarter to pay for the coronavirus relief measures passed by the Congress. The borrowing estimate for the April-June quarter is larger than the country’s largest full-year borrowing yet – the most it has borrowed in a financial year is $1.8 trillion, in 2009 because of the global financial crisis. Looking ahead to the third quarter, the US Treasury Department said it expected to borrow $677 billion.  Read more here.

India coronavirus dispatch: Pandemic’s impact on South Asian countries

From the driving force behind economic policies in the coming future, to problems faced by the elderly, and whether or not you should switch on the AC – read these and more in today’s India dispatch

Here is a selection of pieces from across Indian publications on Covid-19. From the driving force behind economic policies in the coming future, to the problems faced by the elderly under lockdown, and whether or not you should switch on the air conditioner during this pandemic – read these and more in today’s India dispatch.

Expert Speak

Condition of the poor an emergency, govt must open sluice gates: Nobel laureate Abhijit Banerjee, says in this interview that the two most urgent needs of migrant workers and the urban unemployed that the government must tackle immediately are food and housing. He explains why the government must issue temporary ration cards for three or six months and give them food. He also says the government must also open the sluice gates and get money out to these people.

Citizens Under Lockdown

At helplines for the elderly, distress calls for fear of dying alone: The problems of elderly callers ranged from a shortage of medicines and physical support to anxiety, fear and anxiousness. There were those with few resources to survive, while others who were entirely dependent on domestic help no longer available. Some were sick or vulnerable to infections and disease, and many complained of loneliness and anxiety. The biggest fear: dying alone with no family or friends around. Read here about how the lockdown has impacted the elderly citizens…Read Full Story

World coronavirus dispatch: How most affected nations plan to end lockdowns

From Italy to Spain, Germany, the US, China, New Zealand, Norway and Germany have all either ended or will soon end their stringent lockdowns. Read how they plan to do it in today’s world digest

Some of the countries most affected by the coronavirus pandemic – Italy, Spain, Germany, the US, China, New Zealand, Norway, Germany, etc –have either ended or will soon end their stringent lockdowns, as new Covid-19 cases have begun to drop. This is as much a result of businesses gasping for breath as the mankind’s social fabric breaking down. The re-opening is happening in phases, starting with core businesses like manufacturing, food and healthcare, followed by some leisure activities. Institutions of learning might well remain closed until the middle of the second half of this year. Read all about where the lockdowns are ending and how.

Let’s look at the global statistics:

Total confirmed cases: 2,992,970

Change over previous day: 74,702

Total deaths: 207,583

Total recovered: 876,531

Nations hit with most cases: The US (965,951), Spain (229,422), Italy (197,675), France (162,220) and Germany (157,946).

Source: Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center

New York may reopen in a phased manner from mid-May: The New York governor has said a phased reopening, beginning with construction and manufacturing, could start as soon as May 15. The state announced the lowest number of deaths in almost a month. Trade groups in the US have called for states to adopt uniform reopening standards. Read more here.

Italy lays down plan to reopen economy: One of the most affected counties, Italy, will start easing the lockdown from May 4, when construction and manufacturing activities will resume. These will be followed by retail shops and museums on May 18, and bars, restaurants and hair salons on June 1. Schools will remain shut until September. Read more here.

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 Factoid: Some worrying signs from India, Qatar and elsewhere

While India has seen its biggest single-day jump in cases, cases being added daily in Qatar has nearly doubled; the global death toll has taken just 15 days to rise from 100,000 to 200,000

The global tally of coronavirus infections is nearing the three-million mark, and more than 200,000 people have already succumbed to infections. The number of positive cases at present stands at 2,940,257, while 841,966 patients have recovered fully. The US, the most affected country in this pandemic, accounts for over 30 per cent of all confirmed cases, and a little over 25 per cent of the global death toll. In India, now there are 26,917 reported cases, and there have been 826 deaths. Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Delhi account for a little over 50 per cent of all confirmed cases in the country.

Here are some data trends to help you understand the current pandemic situation better:

1. Addition of 100,000 to the global death toll took just 15 days

The total number of fatalities globally has seen a sharp rise in the past fortnight. While the first 100,000 deaths had taken place in a little over 70 days, the second has come in just 15 days. In the first it was Italy that had contributed the most last month, but in the second the US surpassed all other countries with a whopping death toll of over 50,000.

2. Qatar is West Asia is witnessing a worrying surge in number of daily new cases

In the past five days, the number of cases added daily to Qatar’s total has surged from 500-odd to more than 900. The country has 10,287 cases at present, and 10 fatalities. In fact, it has more cases per million population than Italy, France, and the US.

Covid-19 Factoid: India took just four days to add 5,000 coronavirus cases

While the rate at which new daily deaths get added to the global toll has been declining consistently, France, the fourth most affected country has shown some clear signs of improvement

Globally, now there are more than 2.6 million confirmed cases of coronavirus infection. While the number of fatalities stands at 185,504, recoveries so far have been 730,843. In other words, for every 10 closed cases, two cases have ended up as fatalities, and the rest have recovered. In India, the tally of confirmed cases is now well above 21,000, and death toll is at 686. A little less than 20 per cent of all reported cases have now recovered. There has been a drop in the number of new cases added, but the trajectory is still erratic.

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

1. Growth in global number of fatalities is slowing down

Growth in daily deaths across the world in percentage terms has been on a decline consistently. In the past two weeks, the rate of growth has been under 10 per cent, even sub-5 per cent in last five days. While the global death toll stands at 185,504, the US alone accounts for more than 20 per cent of all reported deaths. Spain, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom have also reported high numbers of fatalities.

2. France shows signs of improvement; daily new case additions on a decline

France is showing consistent improvement with its daily new case additions falling consistently in the past 15 days. The country is the fourth most affected in the world — next to the US, Spain and Italy — by number of total confirmed cases. With its current tally of cases at 159,877, it is one of the four countries to have reported more than 20,000 deaths in the pandemic…Read More

World coronavirus dispatch: Lockdowns go into June; US halts immigration

Even as nations in the East are being cautious, some others, mainly in Europe, think the worst has passed for them and are looking to ease restrictions – read these and more in today’s dispatch

It looks like lockdowns in some country will go on for longer than they were thought to. The city-state of Singapore, having seen a spike in cases in the past two days, has extended its lockdown till June 1. This is the first time any country has officially extended its lockdown into June. Singapore’s lockdown was supposed to end on May 3.

Even as countries in the East are being more cautious, some others, particularly in Europe, think the worst has passed for them and are looking to ease restrictions. Some have even lifted their lockdowns partially. Read more here.

Let’s look at the global statistics:

Total confirmed cases: 2,531,804

Change over previous day: 73,928

Total deaths: 174,336

Total recovered: 665,458

Nations hit with most cases: US (804,194), Spain (204,178), Italy (183,957), France (156,495) and Germany (148,007).

Source: Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center

Governments vow to keep food supply chains running: A group of nearly 50 governments, including those in the European Union, Canada, Japan and Brazil, is preparing to sign a pledge to ensure food supply chains remain orderly and officials exercise restraint with any trade restrictions. Read more here.

In times of pandemic, China is testing digital currency: China’s central bank confirmed on Tuesday that it had started to test a digital currency in four cities. Cash is already a rare sight in China because of popular services like Alipay and WeChat Pay. Without an official name, the new currency is referred to internally as “DC/EP” or “digital currency/electronic payment”, and China says it should be ready for use by the Beijing Winter Olympics, 2022. Read more here.

India coronavirus dispatch: Continuing legislative work through a crisis

From a continued shortage of safety gears for health workers, to unforeseeable dangers of mass surveillance, and whether to do rapid tests or not – read these and more in today’s India dispatch

Here’s a round-up of important coronavirus-related articles from across Indian publications. From a continued shortage of safety gears for health workers, to unforeseeable dangers of mass surveillance, and whether to do rapid tests or not – read these and more in today’s India dispatch.

Citizens Under Lockdown

Is India neglecting its migrant workers abroad? A question that may arise in the case of international migrant workers is of attribution of state responsibility. Should the host country be responsible for the workers who are residing there or should the source country (or country of origin) support its nationals? Arguably, a migrant worker contributes to both countries’ economy. Therefore, shouldn’t the migrant worker’s civil right to good health be a shared responsibility in times like these? Read more here.

Stroke is an exception, rush to hospital: People in an extremely vulnerable group need to follow the specific advice about their health condition. A healthy diet, regular physical activity (at home) and reduction of anxiety and stress. While the anxiety of contracting the virus is understandable, emergencies like a brain attack or stroke cannot wait. Read here on why prompt attention at the earliest is the only way to achieve the best outcomes.

Opinion

How crucial legislative work could continue in crisis: Many of our MPs are already interacting with their constituents and party colleagues via video conferencing. Therefore, the switch to a virtual meeting for legislative work might be easy. What will require work is the setting up of protocols for ensuring participation, security and robust technology. Read more here.

Covid-19 Factoid: After Kerala, now Tamil Nadu is showing signs of success

While the time taken for 100,000 confirmed cases globally to recover has declined to just three days from 48 earlier, the gap between new cases and recoveries in Germany has narrowed significantly

The global tally of confirmed coronavirus infections currently stands at over 2.3 million, and death toll at 160,000. The United States continues to be the most affected both by number of cases and deaths. Overall, a little more than 600,000 people have recovered from the infection across the world.

In India, the number of confirmed cases has now breached the 16,000 mark, and deaths stand at 561. Roughly 15 per cent of all confirmed cases have now recovered. Goa is the first Indian state to have reported full recovery, with all seven infected patients there now cured.

Here are some data trends to help you understand the present pandemic situation better:

1. 100,000 people are recovering every three days

The pandemic is showing early signs of recovery globally, with 100,000 infected people recovering every three days now. When the pandemic first began, it took 48 days for the first set of 100,000 cases to recover However, it is important to note that the total number of confirmed cases at that point were also much lower than it is today.

2. Germany seems to be flattening the curve

The gap between new cases and recoveries in Germany has narrowed significantly. Globally, it is fifth when it comes to the total number of reported coronavirus infections, at 144,348. However, 88,000 of these cases, or roughly 60 per cent, have now recovered. The country’s death toll stands at 4,547…Read More

Over 400,000 samples tested, 17,615 Indians Covid-19 positive: ICMR

ICMR said that by the end of May it would achieve the testing capacity of 100,000 per day

The number of total coronavirus (Covid-19) positive cases in India has risen to 17,615 according to the latest data released by the Indian Centre for Medical Research (ICMR). The release said “Today, on 19 April 2020, till 9 pm, 27,824 samples have been reported. Of these, 1,135 were positive for SARS-CoV-2.”

According to ICMR a “total of 4,01,586 samples from 3,83,985 individuals have been tested as on 19 April 2020, till 9 PM. 17,615 individuals have been confirmed positive among suspected cases and contacts of known.” The ICMR will conduct a study to identify the effectiveness of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine against Covid-19, as per the Union Health Ministry officials. It may be noted that it is administered against tuberculosis immediately after the birth of an infant.

ICMR also said that soon it will reach the testing capacity of 100,000. “The daily Covid-19 testing capacity at various laboratories in the country is being increased and is expected to reach to 1 lakh test per day by May 31,” it said. Accordingly, a total of 16 regional depots are being set up and are modelled into self-contained units by strengthening manpower, resources and infrastructure. Besides these, depots at the National Institute of Malaria Research here and the National Institute of Virology in Pune would also function as central depots…Read More

Coronavirus brings focus on division of power between the Centre and states

Experts stress the need for an over-arching central law to deal with epidemics

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is getting heaps of praise as he tackles the coronavirus pandemic in his state, despite being at loggerheads with US President Donald Trump. In India, there still exists a conundrum over the division of powers between the Centre and states to fight the pandemic. Several experts want an over-arching central law to deal with similar situations in a quasi-federal democracy where fragmented laws don’t demarcate the roles of the two.

Around three years back, the ministry of health put up for discussion the draft Public Health (Prevention, Control and Management of Epidemics, Bio-terrorism and Disasters) Bill, 2017. The draft Bill mentioned the role and responsibilities of the Centre and states in a medical emergency. The Bill, however, never saw the light of the day. According to Article 246 of the Constitution, matters related to public order and health are mentioned in the state list. To deal with the fast-spreading pandemic, the central government took recourse to the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 (ED Act), and the Disaster Management Act, 2005 (DM Act). Subsequently, it announced a countrywide lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus, using provisions in the DM Act.

As the virus quickly spread across the country, many experts called for the imposition of an emergency, which could give the Centre wide-ranging powers. However, such a measure would have faced implementation challenges. “The Constitution does not directly mention health emergencies of the kind India is currently experiencing. However, once central legislation becomes applicable, Article 256 applies. That provision says that states must comply with central laws, and the Centre can issue directions to demand compliance,” says Shubhankar Dam, professor of public law and governance, University of Portsmouth School of Law, UK…Read More

India coronavirus dispatch: What happens when a Covid-19 case is confirmed?

The scientists helping fight a pandemic, the future of agricultural markets, and how the government responds when a Covid-19 case is confirmed – read these and more in today’s India dispatch

Here’s a round-up of articles from across publications in India on how the country is dealing with the coronavirus pandemic – from scientists helping fight a pandemic, to the future of agricultural markets, and how the government responds when a Covid-19 case is confirme.

Expert Speak

Webinar: Was the lockdown successful in breaking the chain? Is herd immunity going to save us from the virus? Who needs the mask? Listen to this webinar to know what Dr Shahid Jameel, a well-known virologist and CEO, DBT, India Alliance, and Dr Arvind Kumar, chest and lung surgeon at New Delhi’s Sir Gangaram Hospital, and founder of Lung Care Foundation, have to say about the coronavirus outbreak in India, the lockdown, the treatments, vaccine developments and future of the pandemic.

Citizens Under Lockdown

These scientists are not medical experts but are still trying to help fight coronavirus: They are not virologists or involved in medical research, but a team of around 400 scientists has come up with different ways to bolster India’s attempts to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic. They are busting coronavirus-related myths — a major menace in current times — besides using government data to derive calculated estimates about the spread of the disease. Read here about how they are also helping manufacture masks and low-cost ventilators.

For Indians under lockdown, social media is the go-to source for news and entertainment: With Indians locked up inside homes, social media usage has gone through the roof in the country. Total session time – the time spent each day – on popular social media apps such as Facebook and Instagram grew significantly between February 2 and March 29, data show. Read more here.

Coronavirus pandemic: China ends 76-day lockdown imposed on epicentre Wuhan

Along the embankments and bridges, citizens waved flags and chanted “Wuhan, let’s go!” and sang a capella renditions of China’s national anthem.

The lockdown of Wuhan, which served as a model for countries battling the coronavirus outbreak around the world, has finally ended after 11 weeks. Chinese authorities are allowing residents of Wuhan to travel in and out of the sprawling city, which was the epicentre of the virus outbreak. From Wednesday midnight, the city’s 11 million residents are permitted to leave without special authorisation as long as a mandatory smartphone application powered by a mix of data-tracking and government surveillance shows they are healthy and have not been in contact with anyone confirmed to have the virus recently.

The occasion was marked with a light show on either side of the Yangtze river, with skyscrapers and bridges radiating animated images of health workers aiding patients, along with one displaying the words ‘heroic city’, a title bestowed upon Wuhan by president and Communist Party leader Xi Jinping. Along the embankments and bridges, citizens waved flags, chanted “Wuhan, let’s go!” and sang a capella renditions of China’s national anthem.

“I haven’t been outside for more than 70 days,” said an emotional Tong Zhengkun, who was watching the display from a bridge. Residents in his apartment complex had contracted Covid-19, so the entire building was locked down. He couldn’t go out even to buy groceries, which neighbourhood workers brought to his door. “Being indoors for so long drove me crazy,” he said…Read More

India coronavirus dispatch: Fighting today, planning for tomorrow’s battles

New economic models around health care, human rights and democracy during a pandemic, and whether the summer heat will kill the coronavirus – read these and more in today’s India coronavirus dispatch

Here’s a round-up of important coronavirus-related articles in Indian publications. From planning for new economic models centered around health care, to value of human rights and democracy during pandemics, and whether the summer heat kill coronavirus — read these and more in today’s India coronavirus dispatch.

Citizens Under Lockdown

The extraordinary men and women of these extraordinary times: Amid news of hoarding and misery, there are self-driven volunteers who have cut across barriers, across the country. Here are some of the people who have acted on the principle that a small act goes a long way. From cooking to ensure migrant labourers are fed, to working around the clock to bust WhatsApp myths, read here to know how Indians have responded to this extraordinary crisis….

Long Reads

Coronavirus is breaking the back of India’s restaurant industry: As India went into a lockdown last month, restaurants were ordered shut, though they were allowed to service takeout and home delivery orders. As a result, almost overnight, millions of people went out of work, at least temporarily. And if the pandemic does not subside soon enough, industry experts warn, a substantial section of the workforce might not even have workplaces to go back to. Read more.

Opinion

Democracy should not permit a trade-off: Epidemics provide an opportunity to do away with inconvenient checks and balances institutionalised in the media, the judiciary, and civil society. The dismantling of constitutions and institutions will have a major impact on societies. Read here to understand whether decisions to control the pandemic need to be at the expense of human rights and democracy.

It is time for digital leaders to flatten the curve of infodemic: An ‘infodemic’ — an over-abundance of noxious or false-but-benign, and occasionally useful information on Covid-19 — has hit the country harder than the pandemic itself. If there ever was a time to demonstrate vision and leadership, this is the time for the digital leaders to flatten the curve of the infodemic before it flattens the most vulnerable populations on the planet. Read more here.

Covid-19 Factoid: Counting the dead – from the US to Punjab and Iran

The US remains the most affected country with over 340,000 cases and the death toll at over 11,000

The global tally for Covid-19 cases is now nearing the 1.4 million mark and more than 76,000 people have lost their lives due to the coronavirus pandemic. Back home, India is inching closer to the tally of 5,000 cases and the death toll has risen to 125. The US remains the most affected country, with over 340,000 cases and the deaths now at over 11,000. It has recorded more than 1,000 deaths daily for four straight days.

Here are a few data trends showing the magnitude of the pandemic spread across 181 nations.

#1. The death toll in the US has crossed the 10,000 mark, slower than in Italy and Spained

While the US is the worst affect country globally when it comes to the total number of coronavirus-infected persons, the country’s path to cross the 10,000 deaths has been slower than Italy and Spain. Overall, Italy has the highest number of reported deaths due to the coronavirus pandemic.

#2. Italy has the highest death rate, followed by Netherlands

Despite the progressive growth in the number of deaths due to coronavirus infection in the US, it still fares better than Italy and Spain in terms of death rate. Italy, with over 1,40,000 cases and over 16,000 deaths, has a death rate of over 12 per cent. Italy is followed by Netherlands, with a death rate of around 11 per cent. The US has had a much lower rate of 3 per cent as of now….Read More

US chipmakers oppose proposed export rule changes amid Covid-19 crisis

In a letter sent on Monday, nine groups urged U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to allow public comment before putting the rules into effect to avoid unintended consequences

Industry groups are pushing back on proposed changes to U.S. export controls that would impact the sale of certain semiconductors and other technology to China, while highlighting the role chips play in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a letter sent on Monday, nine groups urged U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to allow public comment before putting the rules into effect to avoid unintended consequences. The changes may “result in significant impacts to the semiconductor industry, its global supply chain, and the broader technology sector,” said the letter, signed by the Semiconductor Industry Association and the National Foreign Trade Council, SEMI, and six other groups.

ALSO READ: Amid coronavirus crisis, world is short of six million nurses, says WHO

Noting the public health crisis, it added: “Semiconductors drive the functionality in advanced medical equipment used by health professionals to treat the public,” and enable telework. Reuters reported last week that senior U.S. officials agreed on new ways to control high-tech exports to China. The changes are aimed at preventing China from obtaining advanced U.S. technology for commercial purposes and diverting it to military use, sources told Reuters.

The previous week, Reuters also reported that the officials agreed to require foreign companies that use U.S. chipmaking equipment to obtain licenses before supplying certain chips to China’s Huawei Technologies. Ajit Manocha, president of SEMI, which represents the semiconductor and electronics manufacturing supply chain, sent another letter on Friday to President Donald Trump saying the change would harm U.S. exports of chipmaking equipment, which bring in over $20 billion a year.