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Kasargod: Four more persons test positive for COVID-19 on Friday

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Kasargod: Four more persons test positive for COVID-19 on Friday

Kasargod on Friday reported four fresh cases of Corona Virus while one patient also recovered from the virus and was discharged from the hospital, the latest health bulletin informed.

A 42-year-old man who is a resident of Paivalike with travel history to Maharashtra, a 63-year-old resident of Badiyadka, a 31-year-old Mangalpadi resident, a 58-year-old Udamu resident who returned from Dubai have tested positive for the deadly virus.   

A 28-year-old man who was diagnosed with the COVID has recovered and was discharged from the hospital on Friday. He was admitted to Kasaragodu Medical College in Ukkinadka.

A total of 3665 people have been kept under observation in the district. Of these, 3081 are under home quarantine and 584 are in hospitals. Similarly, 238 people have completed their quarantine period.

On Friday, 485 new people have been admitted to the isolation Ward.

World needs answers from China: Trump says US ‘terminating’ relationship with WHO

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As the COVID-19 pandemic erupted, Trump accused the UN agency of being a ‘puppet’ of China and had already suspended funding in mid-April.

President Donald Trump announced on Friday that the US was cutting ties with the World Health Organization which he says, did not respond adequately to combat the initial spread of COVID-19. 

Stating that the funding of the WHO would now be diverted to other global public health organisations, Trump announced a series of decisions against China including issuing a proclamation to deny entry to certain Chinese nationals and tightening of regulations against Chinese investments in America.

Trump also announced that the US will end the special treatment of Hong Kong in response to the Chinese imposition of new controls.

He said that the US will revise its travel advisory to warn of surveillance in Hong Kong.

“The world needs answers from China,” Trump said in his aggressive speech on a bright sunny day from the Rose Garden of the White House.

The president, however, did not take any questions.

For decades it has ripped off the US as no one has ever done before, he said, reiterating his charges against China.

China not only stole intellectual property, took away billions of dollars from the US and offshored the jobs but also violated its commitment under the World Trade Organization, he said, adding that it was able to get away with the theft, like no one before because of past politicians and past presidents.

On May 19, Trump had threatened to “permanently” halt funding for the WHO “if it did not commit to improvements within 30 days, and to reconsider the membership of the United States in the global health body.”

This is the letter sent to Dr. Tedros of the World Health Organization. It is self-explanatory!

As the COVID-19 pandemic erupted, Trump accused the UN agency of being a “puppet” of China and had already suspended funding in mid-April, AFP reported. 

“Because they have failed to make the requested and greatly needed reforms, we will be today terminating our relationship with the World Health Organization,” Trump told reporters about the recent decision in Washington. 

He reasoned that “China has total control over WHO despite only paying USD 40 million a year compared to what US has been paying which is approximately USD 450 million a year.”

Meanwhile, Trump said they would be “redirecting those funds to other worldwide and deserving urgent global public health needs.” 

China, he alleged, has unlawfully claimed territories in the Indo-Pacific ocean, threatening freedom of navigation and international trade and broke its word to the world on ensuring the autonomy of Hong Kong.

“The United States wants an open and constructive relationship with China, but achieving this relationship requires us to vigorously defend our national interest,” he said.

Trump alleged that the Chinese government has continually violated its promises to the US and many other nations.

“These plain facts cannot be overlooked or swept aside,” he said.

Observing that the world is now suffering as a result of the malfeasance of the Chinese government, Trump reiterated that China’s cover-up of the Wuhan virus allowed the disease to spread all over the world, instigating a global pandemic that has cost more than 100,000 American lives and over one million lives worldwide.

“Chinese officials ignored their reporting obligations to the World Health Organization and pressured the World Health Organization to mislead the world when the virus was first discovered by Chinese authorities. Countless lives have been taken, and profound economic hardship has been inflicted all around the globe,” he said.

China, he said, has total control over the WHO despite only paying USD 40 million per year compared to what the US has been paying which is approximately USD 450 million a year.

“We have detailed the reforms that it must make and engage with them directly, but they have refused to act.”

“Because they have failed to make the requested and greatly needed reforms, we will be today terminating our relationship with the World Health Organization and redirecting those funds to other worldwide and deserving urgent global public health needs,” Trump said.

The world needs answers from China on the virus, he said.

“We must have transparency. Why is it that China shut off infected people from Wuhan to all other parts of China? It went nowhere else; it didn’t go to Beijing, it went nowhere else, but they allowed them to freely travel throughout the world, including Europe and the United States. The death and destruction caused by this is incalculable,” he said.

“We must have answers not only for us but for the rest of the world. This pandemic has underscored the crucial importance of building up America’s economic independence, reshoring our critical supply chains, and protecting America’s scientific and technological advances. For years, the government of China has conducted illicit espionage to steal our industrial secrets of which there are many,” Trump said.

Trump said that later in the day, he will issue a proclamation to better secure America’s vital university research and “to suspend the entry of certain foreign nationals from China who have been identified as potential security risks”.

Asserting that he is also taking action to protect the integrity of America’s financial system, Trump said he is instructing his presidential working group on financial markets to study the differing practices of Chinese companies listed on the US financial markets with a goal of protecting American investors.

“Investment firms should not be subjecting their clients to the hidden and undue risks associated with financing Chinese companies that do not play by the same rules. Americans are entitled to fairness and transparency,” he said.

Referring to the unilateral Chinese action control over Hong Kong security, Trump said that this was a plain violation of Beijing’s treaty obligations with the UK in the declaration of 1984 and explicit provisions of Hong Kong’s basic law which has 27 years to go.

“China’s latest incursion, along with other recent developments that degraded the territory’s freedoms, makes clear that Hong Kong is no longer sufficiently autonomous to warrant the special treatment that we have afforded the territory since the handover,” he said.

“China has replaced its promised formula of one country, two systems with one country, one system; therefore, I am directing my administration to begin the process of eliminating policy exemptions that give Hong Kong different and special treatment,” Trump added.

In mid-May, right after Trump’s threat to WHO, the European Union backed the agency in its multilateral efforts to fight the pandemic. 

European foreign affairs spokeswoman Virginie Battu-Henriksson said, “this is the time for solidarity, not the time for finger-pointing or for undermining multilateral cooperation.”

Congress shows signs of revival amid corona crisis

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What is also perhaps working in the Congress’ favour is the low profile of the JDS which is losing ground in its traditional pockets.

MYSURU: Congress that had almost slipped into coma after the worst-ever defeat in the Lok Sabha polls and the collapse of the JD(S)-Congress coalition government has started reaching out to people rather than sticking to conventional protests and raising slogans. This has been evident in the past two months.

Opposition leader Siddaramaiah and others announced their support to the government in containing the spread of the virus and during the lockdown period. The party made a strategic move by calling a meeting of the Kayaka Samaja (those in traditional occupations), farmers and opposition parties demanding that the government act. Chief Minister BS Yeddiyurappa, in no mood to give Congress the edge, announced the Rs 1,610 crore package.

New KPCC president DK Shivakumar seemed to have won brownie points at the height of the migrant crisis by giving away a cheque for Rs 1 cr on behalf of the party to the  KSRTC to meet the transportation charges of the workers and even volunteered to give Rs 2 cr more to meet their train fares. Shivakumar roped in both veterans and second rung leaders, as also the District Congress Committees and gave away essentials, food packets and raised funds from the sitting and defeated MLAs to donate it for Covid relief activities.

What is also perhaps working in the Congress’ favour is the low profile of the JDS which is losing ground in its traditional pockets. The Congress is now making efforts to draw public attention projecting itself as the only alternative. The party was careful not to back Tablighis nor press for allowing Ramadan prayers at Idgah fearing that the BJP may project it as anti- Hindus.

KPCC spokesperson M Lakshmana said the Congress has extended all cooperation to the government. 
BJP spokesperson G Madhusudhan said that the BJP was aware of the Congress move to take mileage giving a cheque for Rs 1 cr instead of contributing it to PM CARES or the CM Relief Fund. Madushudan said it is the government’s commitment to respond to those in traditional occupations and farmers, and not under pressure from the Congress. Political commentator Prof Muzzafar Asadi said that Yediyurappa hijacked the Opposition agenda and announced the package and on the other side he also complimented them for giving valid suggestions.

As locusts land in Maharashtra, officials in Karnataka pull up socks

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After the parts of Northern India is under locust attack and reached the districts of eastern Maharashtra, the farmers located in the border districts of Karnataka are in a state of worry.

VIJAYAPURA: Amidst the challenging times of pandemic virus the state government is gearing up to fight the possible attack of dangerous desert locusts, which has worsened the situation on agrarian front in at least five states in North India. 

After the parts of Northern India is under locust attack and reached the districts of eastern Maharashtra, the farmers located in the border districts of Karnataka are in a state of worry. The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has directed the officials of the Department of Agriculture in the state to make necessary preparations to fight the deadly pests. 

The locusts are known for wolfing on all sorts of plants and standing crops. The bug will fly as per the wind directions and can fly a maximum of 200 km in a day. The experts claim that ‘Locusts are very dangerous to all types of vegetation. They feed on green leaves and known for gulping down crops spread in thousands of acres of land.’ 

These migratory pests in thousands have found in a couple of villages near Nagpur of Maharashtra, which is hardly distanced at 450 km from Bidar and 650 km to Kalaburagi of Karnataka. After the locusts found near to the border of Karnataka, the top officials of Department of Agriculture coordinating with Department of Forest and Ecology are chalking out plans to fight the dangerous pest.

Speaking to The New Indian Express, Brijesh Kumar Dikshit, Commissioner for Agriculture pointed that, “These locusts will fly as per the wind directions. Currently, the wind is towards north and possibility of these pests flying towards the state is low. If the wind changes its directions towards south then there are all chances that it might enter to state via Bidar. We are constantly in touch with the top official concerned at the ministry, who are monitoring the situation, and collecting the information about the movements of locusts.”   

“At present there are no crops or sowing activities in and around Bidar. But we are worried that it would attack the forests and consume the plants or vegetation. The insect can also cover a maximum of 200 km a day. We have planned to conduct the joint-operation with the Department of Forest. We have also enough stock of chemicals to fight the pests,” revealed Commissioner Brijesh Kumar.   

Caution from Opposition

Opposition party leaders cautioned the state government against the locusts attack almost a month ago. Congress leader and former minister M B Patil has tweeted on April 11, 2020 about the possible attack of pests and urged the state government to take precautions. 

Speaking to The New Indian Express, former minister M B Patil reiterated that, “I had made an attempt to bring this into the notice of authorities concerned almost a month ago. But, now the threat seems to be looming large across India. The pests have already invaded the districts of Maharashtra which are few hundred kilometers away from Karnataka. We have to take necessary precautions or else this will have a deadly impact than Coronavirus. Crops will be destroyed, which may lead to hunger and famine affecting hundreds of thousands of people in the state. I will personally write to the Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister to consider it seriously and chalk out plans to fight the desert locusts,” stated lawmaker Patil. 

Facts

  • The locusts are a family of grasshopper
  • The locusts can fly a maximum of 200km in a day
  • Locusts are known for consuming all sorts of plants and standing crops
  • Locusts will fly only during the day and as per the wind direction
  • Five states are severely affected by locusts attack
  • Rajasthan is the first state to be hit with dangerous locusts
  • Nagpur in Maharashtra is the nearest city to Karnataka to face locusts

Uddhav Thackeray meets Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena says Maharashtra govt strong

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Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray held a meeting with NCP president Sharad Pawar here, senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said on Tuesday while asserting that the state government is “strong”.

The two leaders met for about one-and-a-half hours late Monday evening, Raut said while dismissing speculations about the Thackeray-led government’s stability.

The Sena Rajya Sabha MP, however, did not reveal what transpired between the two leaders. The meeting between Thackeray and Pawar took place after the NCP chief met state Governor B S Koshyari on Monday morning.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray had a meeting for one-and-a-half hours. Those doubting about the stability of this government are doing so out of their own grudge. This government is strong,” Raut tweeted in Marathi.

Earlier, Pawar met Koshyari on Monday morning, following which the NCP claimed the meeting took place on the invitation of the governor and no political issues came up for discussion.

However, the timing of the meeting is significant as it took place against the backdrop of strained relations between the Shiv Sena, which heads the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, and the Raj Bhavan.

The NCP is one of the key constituents of MVA.

Pawar was one of the key leaders from Maharashtra who had openly complained about Koshyari’s “intervention” in the functioning of the state administration.

Recently, senior BJP leader and former state chief minister Devendra Fadnavis complained to the governor about the “failure” of the Thackeray government in handling the COVID-19 crisis.

COVID-19 death toll in India climbs to 4,167

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The death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 4,167 and the number of cases climbed to 1,45,380 in the country, registering an increase of 146 deaths and 6,535 cases since Monday 8 am, according to the Union Health Ministry.

The number of active COVID-19 cases climbed to 80,722, while 60,490 people have recovered and one patient has migrated, it said.

“Thus, around 41.61 per cent patients have recovered so far,” a senior health ministry official said. The total confirmed cases includes foreigners.

Of the 146 deaths reported since Monday morning, 60 were in Maharashtra, 30 in Gujarat, 15 in Delhi,10 from Madhya Pradesh, seven from Tamil Nadu, six from West Bengal, four each from Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, three from Telangana, two each from Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Karnataka and one in Kerala.

JNU asks students residing in hostels to return home, union opposes

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JNU asks students residing in hostels to return home, union opposes

New Delhi: The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Monday “strongly advised” students “stranded and residing” in its hostels to return to their native places as special trains and some intrastate bus services have started following relaxations in the COVID-19 lockdown.

The advisory led to a fresh confrontation between the students’ union and the administration. The Students’ Union opposed the circular, saying the university was deliberately putting students’ lives and safety at risk.

However, the university said some “self-proclaimed” student leaders always make it a point to oppose any advisory that comes from the administration and give an ideological colour to it.

In a circular, the Dean of Students, Professor Sudheer Pratap Singh said the university had issued communications in March too, informing students about the closure of the institute and advising them to return home.

“However, many students requested to stay back in hostels at that time due to non-availability of public transport during the lockdown,” the circular said.

It stated that the Railways has now begun running some special trains and around 200 more trains will be made operational from June 1.

Intra-state bus and taxi services have also been started by state governments, it said. Moreover, some state governments have made transport arrangements for the return of students, it said.

“Further, as per the Ministry of Home Affairs and Delhi government guidelines issued from time to time, the university has announced that students can return to the campus on or after June 25 and till then all academic activities are closed.

“This is to underline that the Government of India updates daily about the COVID-19 pandemic situation. At present, the number of cases in Delhi is increasing swiftly day by day,” the circular said.

“Keeping the facts in view, all students who are stranded and residing in the hostels are, hereby, strongly advised to return to their hometown and come back after the opening of the university,” it added.

The students’ union condemned the move in a statement.

“Students who have stayed back on the campus have weighed the risk of staying on the campus versus travelling. At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic must unite us all, these moves of the administration are clearly jeopardizing not only the safety of students but the fight against COVID-19 itself,” they said.

The university said its advisories are always depicted as “diktats” by the habitual student opponents.

“It also needs emphasis that it is reprehensible and inexcusable to discourage willing students who would like to go home,” it said.

In addition, when the administration has begun to install CCTVs at public places, including the hostel gates, yet again disruption has been organised by a handful of self-motivated student leaders, it added.

It is extremely important to monitor outsiders coming into hostel premises for the safety of the students and the campus life. But the “old bogey of privacy” is being raised even though the CCTVs are being installed at the gates and not the interior of the hostels, it added.

The students’ union has also been opposed to the installation of CCTV cameras calling it a violation of their privacy.

Union Minister Sadananda Gowda courts quarantine controversy

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Union Minister Sadananda Gowda courts quarantine controversy

Bengaluru: Union Minister D V Sadananda Gowda was at the centre of a controversy on Monday after he did not undergo quarantine on arrival from Delhi by a flight here as stipulated, but defended it, saying he came under the exempted category being in-charge of pharmaceuticals, an essential sector.

The Karnataka government came to his defence and said the Centre had issued orders exempting such people handling essential sectors from quarantine norms.

It also made public an addendum issued on May 23 to the standard operating procedure (SOP) for inter-state passengers, exempting Ministers of union and state government, also officers on official duty from quarantining.

The Minister, also Bengaluru North MP, drove off in an official car with out undergoing institutional quarantine as mandated by the Karnataka government for air travellers coming from high COVID-19 prevalence states after arriving here by a commercial airline flight, services of which resumed after two months.

It triggered a controversy with several people taking to social media accusing him of violating norms while others saying rules are only meant for citizens and not for VVIPS, including ministers.

The (SOP) issued by the government on May 22 mandates passengers coming from high COVID-19 prevalence states- Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh- to go for paid institutional quarantine for a period of seven days.

Defending himself, Gowda said he being a Minister in- charge of Department of Pharmaceuticals, which comes under essential supplies, he is under the exempted clause and hence has been allowed to proceed.

“…you need people to work for the control (of COVID-19) right? If you say no one should come out can you stop this? As a pharma minister I need to check production, supplies, and ensure it reaches last point, it is my responsibility,” the Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister told reporters.

“I come under the exemption clause and I have the exemptions…Arogya Setu App on my phone also shows I’m safe.

After checking every things we conduct ourselves in a responsible way. Modi (PM Narendra Modi) also wont spare us, if we move around according to our wish,” he added.

State Minister S Suresh Kumar, who is spokesperson for COVID-19 in Karnataka said, “He (Gowda) is exempted in his capacity as a minister handling pharma sector… orders have already been issued by the central government (in this regard).”

The May 23 addendum to the SOP, made public hours after the controversy involving Gowda, said: “The ministers of Union Government or state governments or officers on their official duty who are travelling across states will be exempted from requirements of quarantine…”

Gowda, who later held a meeting with state Ministers and officials, also said his body temperature was checked before he left the airport.

The Minister said he has not come in contact with any one and there were only 11 passengers in the flight.

The senior BJP leader also said though he could have opted for a special flight much before, he waited for domestic flights to resume as “I am not a person who misuses things.”

According to the SOP, at the end of the seven days, the passengers coming from these six states would be sent to home quarantine if they test negative for COVID-19.

Those coming from other states have been asked to follow 14 days of home quarantine.

In special cases involving businessmen coming for urgent work, they are permitted without quarantine if they produce negative test report of COVID-19 from ICMR approved laboratory obtained within two days ahead of their travel date.

Private bus to ply Dakshina Kannada to resume from June 1

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Private bus services in Dakshina Kannada to resume from June 1

Mangaluru: Private bus services in Dakshina Kannada will resume from June 1, with 50% of the buses plying back on the road after over two months of nationwide lockdown due to the spread of Corona Virus in the country.

Usually, about 325 city busses ply the Mangaluru roads from 6:00 am to 10 pm routing and connecting several parts in and around city. In an official statement by the bus owners’ association, it was informed that about 150 buses will start service. Meanwhile about 450 service busses, 70 contract carriages and 150 tourist busses will start services in the city from June 1.

A compatible mechanism will be planned out in next two days about how, where and how many number of busses will commence on particular roads, a top KSRTC official said.

DK DC Sindhu B Rupesh has asserted that a meeting of bus drivers and owners with the RTO officials will be organised and strict instructions and measures will be sent out to them to be followed.

Indian teacher dies of COVID-19 in Abu Dhabi

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Indian teacher dies of COVID-19 in Abu Dhabi

Dubai: A 50-year-old Indian teacher has died of coronavirus in the UAE, according to a media report. Anil Kumar, a Hindi teacher at Sunrise School in Abu Dhabi, died on Sunday morning, the Gulf News reported. Kumar was detected with COVID-19 on May 7.

In a statement, the Sunrise School said, “The sad and shocking demise of Mr Anil Kumar, a senior Hindi teacher of Sunrise School on May 24, has left the entire Sunrise family in a pall of gloom.

“The bond that he had developed over the years, just as how we have with each faculty, makes the loss unbearable. The entire school is shaken and finds it hard to come to terms with this most saddening news,” the daily quoted the statement.

Kumar is survived by his wife and two children. His wife Rajini teaches mathematics at the Sunrise School.

The coronavirus, which first emerged in China’s Wuhan city in December last year, has claimed 245 lives with nearly 30,000 confirmed cases in the UAE. The virus has so far killed over 3,45,000 people across the world.

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