Dushyant Singh Pundir

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 19

A day after the city reported its first Covid-19 positive case, rumour-mongers became active today, creating panic across the tricity. Fuelled by social media platforms, particularly WhatsApp and Facebook, rumours gained ground as people went on panic buying spree.

A 23-year-old woman from Chandigarh, who returned from England on Sunday, had tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday night. The girl is recovering at the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32.

However, fake messages have started doing the rounds on social media that “Her mother and brother also tested positive today. Five of family, including servant, tested positive today. Police naka /seal off area and restrict movement.”

Another message circulating on the social media claims that “3 more cases detected in Sector 19, Chandigarh. Emergency meeting announced… Lockdown likely in Chandigarh by evening.”

However, the UT Administration has clarified that all these messages were fake and advised people not to circulate or forward such messages.

Another message making the rounds in the social media is that the condition of the girl, who had tested positive, is not good. Countering the message as fake, the spokesperson of the Chandigarh Administration clarified that the girl was doing absolutely fine.

UT Adviser Manoj Parida said anybody receiving fake messages should immediately inform the authorities. After verifying the contents of the message, they would immediately issue a statement on its genuineness or inaccuracy.

He said people should not pay heed to fake messages being dished out online.

Meanwhile, these rumours also gave way to panic buying. The grain market in Sector 26 witnessed a huge rush as people went on panic-buying amid rumours of lockdown.

Anita Rani, a resident of Mani Majra, said it took her more than half an hour to buy grocery items from a neighbourhood shop. Due to panic buying, shopkeepers have increased the prices of pulses and other items, she added.

Amarinder Singh, a shopkeeper in Sector 22, said residents stared hoarding essential items, which could even last months.

Digvijay Kapoor, president, Sabzi Mandi Shopkeepers’ Association, said, “ City residents should not panic. There is no disruption in supplies and we have enough stock to ensure a smooth supply.”

Trashing the rumours, Parida said there was no need to panic and the situation was under control. He added that they were taking every step to contain the spread of the virus. He said there was no need to shut apni mandi being organised in sectors and even the wholesale vegetable and fruit market in Sector 26 would remain open. “We are only banning retail purchase in the Sector 26 market,” he said, adding that to provide adequate space, they would spread vendors to the vacant grain yard and truck parking yard in the mandi.

On revealing the identity of the 23-year-old, who was tested positive for coronavirus, Parida said hiding her identity might not help as after knowing the patient’s identity, people who came in contact with her, would get themselves examined.

Police advisory on fake info online

In an advisory, the cyber crime investigation cell of the UT police stated that as everyone is aware that Covid-19 is on the rise in India and in other countries as well, it has been noticed that some people are posting fake unauthenticated news and posts on the social media regarding the virus, thus creating panic among general public. “All are requested not to post/forward any such message on the social media. If any person is found creating panic/unrest in general public through such type of posts on the social media, he will be dealt with as per relevant provision(s) of law,” added the police.

3 quarantine sites identified

Three places have been identified for quarantine facility – PGI Infosys Serai, Panchayat Bhawan and Parkview (on a payment basis). The PGI Infosys Serai is a 250 double-bed facility. It has been decided to keep one patient in one room. Each room has an attached bathroom. A separate washroom has been designated for paramedical staff. Three medical teams have been constituted, which comprise paramedical staff and doctors and will work in eight-hour shifts.

Ottawa, March 18

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has urged Canadians to hunker down for possibly weeks or months of business closures and home-stay to prevent the spread of new coronavirus.

He said his government was preparing to roll out a new package of financial supports — worth Can $ 25 billion (US $18 billion), according to public broadcaster CBC — to ease the burden on Canadians and their businesses.

His government is also considering using the Emergency Measures Act, an extremely rare measure.

“We don’t know exactly how long this is going to take,” Trudeau said of the health crisis on Tuesday.

till March 31 in Punjab

Of 1,187 quarantined in Punjab, only 115 persons tested

Fake coronavirus messages being circulated in Chandigarh, admn warns of action

“It could be weeks. It could be months,” he told a news conference outside his residence where he and his family are self-isolating after his wife Sophie tested positive for the COVID-19 illness.

“But we will be there, standing together to support Canadians in order to get through this extremely difficult time.”

According to public health officials, the number of cases in Canada has risen to nearly 600, including eight deaths. The latest fatalities, one in Ontario province and three in British Columbia, were recorded on Tuesday.

The Emergency Measures Act has only been used once since the two World Wars. It would allow the government to suspend civil liberties and impose restrictions on the movement of people and goods — which so far have been mostly voluntary.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said turning to emergency measures would be a “last resort”. “It’s a very serious step, which grants extraordinary powers to the federal government,” she acknowledged. “We would never introduce it without careful consultation.”

During the First and Second World Wars, it was used to intern thousands of recent immigrants labelled “enemy aliens”. It was last used when it was still known as the War Measures Act and Trudeau’s father, then-prime minister Pierre Trudeau, invoked it to deploy soldiers during the 1970 October Crisis in Quebec province after the kidnappings of British and Quebec officials by the Front de Liberation du Quebec.

On Monday, Canada closed its border to most foreigners except Americans.

Airlines were ordered not to allow passengers with flu-like symptoms to board, while all inbound international flights will be redirected to airports in Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver, where public health screenings will be stepped up.

On Tuesday WestJet, Canada’s second largest airline, announced it was suspending international flights, after flagship carrier Air Canada said it would soon halve its number of foreign flights.

Public broadcaster CBC said the aid package would be disbursed through existing programmes such as employment insurance and a child tax benefit. The broadcaster cited an unnamed government official as saying: “People need rent money and groceries. Businesses need to bridge to better times.”

“As much as possible, stay home,” Trudeau urged on Tuesday. “Don’t go out unless you absolutely have to. Work remotely if you can. Let the kids run around a bit in the house.”

With young people not getting the message, Quebec province on Tuesday enlisted the help of artistes and athletes including Samuel Piette, a player with Montreal Impact of Major League Soccer.

Pakistan’s coronavirus cases rise to 448

Islamabad, March 19

Pakistan’s coronavirus cases sharply rose to 448 on Thursday, as the military said measures are being taken to make the armed forces’ medical facilities available for an “extreme emergency” situation.

Pakistan on Wednesday reported its first two casualties due to the coronavirus that has spread to more than 160 countries, killing over 9,000 people.

On Thursday, maximum new cases were recorded in Balochistan where the number of infected people rose to 76 from 23. Punjab was next where the number rose from 33 to 78, Dawn reported.

But the worst-hit Sindh province was still on the top with 245 confirmed cases, while Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa had 23, Islamabad 2 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan 24, the paper said.

Army spokesman Major General Babar Iftikhar told the media that army was fully geared up to support the civil administration in fighting coronavirus.

“Medical facilities of armed forces will be available in case of emergency,” he said.

Pakistan also announced on Thursday to close down Wagah border with India for two weeks.

The interior ministry through a notification said that it closed the key border point with India “for an initial period of two weeks (14 days) with immediate effect”.

It said the measure was taken to “prevent the spread of COVID-19, in the best interest of both countries”.

Pakistan’s western border with Iran and Afghanistan had already been closed to curb the spread of the deadly virus.

“Pakistan was taking measures to stop the spread of the infection,” the Prime Minister’s Advisor on Health Dr Zafar Mirza told the media.

He said that Pakistan would learn from China’s experience. “Our doctors will be trained by Chinese doctors through video conferences,” he said.

Mirza asked people to practice social distancing which will help to reduce the infections.

Religious affairs minister Noor ul Haq Qadri said that training programs for Haj pilgrims were suspended as part of the preventive measure.

In Karachi, which is one of worst-hit areas, Christian leaders suspended Church services.

The Foreign Office announced to hold indirect press conference as a precautionary measure to control the spread of coronavirus.

Foreign Office spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said that reporters can submit questions through email and answers will be published on the ministry’s website.

Majority of Pakistan’s COVID-19 cases are linked to those who went on pilgrimage to Iran, one of the countries hardest-hit by the disease, while less than half a dozen are locally transmitted.

Pakistan shares a 960-kilometre border with Iran, with the main crossing point at Taftan in Balochistan province.

The Taftan border has been closed since March 16, but thousands of Pakistan Shia pilgrims who were visiting religious sites in Iran have been allowed to return subject to two weeks’ quarantine.

The federal government has banned public gatherings, closed all educational institutions until April 5 and cancelled Pakistan Day parade on March 23. It also limited international flights operations to Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. — PTI

Divya Prabhakar
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 18

Passengers travelling from abroad at Delhi International Airport created ruckus over the arrangements in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.

In a video that went viral on social media, the passengers are seen alleging that their passports have been confiscated and they are being made to stand in queues. However, the Delhi Airport authorities said it was a two-day old video and everything was under control now.

Multiple videos started doing rounds on social media on Wednesday. The video was also tweeted, but later deleted by actress Soni Razdan after the airport authorities issued a clarification.

In these videos passengers are seen standing in queues, shouting at the authorities for keeping their passports and “poor arrangements” at the airport. An official at the airport said, “These videos are from March 16 when passengers from Paris and Frankfurt onboard AI 142 and AI 120, respectively, landed and created a storm over allocation of quarantine facilities. We have taken care of complaints and took all possible measures to fix all issues. Now there is no chaos at immigration counters.” He added, “Now a system has been put in place such a way that no one is required to submit his or her passport with the authorities concerned before undergoing the tests.”

Tribune Web Desk
Chandigarh, March 17

AIIMS doctor’s plea to stay indoors amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak has gained praise online.

Prasar Bharati News Service shared a picture of a resident doctor requesting people to “stay at home”.

Dr. Amarinder Singh Malhi, who is the resident doctor in AIIMS, New Delhi, was seen carrying a sheet of paper with the message: “I stayed at work for you, you stay at home for us”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi re-tweeted the post and gave a “shout-out to all those working to make our planet safe and healthier”.

Modi wrote: “Well said, Doctor! Also a shout-out to all those working to make our planet safer and healthier. No words will ever do justice to their exceptional efforts. #IndiaFightsCorona”

Meanwhile, the novel coronavirus cases in India rose to 169 after 18 fresh cases were reported from various parts of the country, according to the Health Ministry.

The cases include 25 foreign nationals—17 from Italy, three from the Philippines, two from the UK, one each belonging to Canada, Indonesia and Singapore.

The figure also includes three deaths reported from Delhi, Karnataka and Maharashtra so far.

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, March 19

Unprecedented containment measures have been put in place at a Nawanshahr village after its 70-year-old resident, with travel history to Germany and Italy, tested positive for Covid-19 and died yesterday.

While 17 persons — 12 from victim’s family, three hospital staff and a resident from nearby Chikka village who travelled abroad with the victim — were put in isolation last evening at Banga’s Pathlawa village, the Nawanshahr administration today quarantined the village with a population of 2,200. The victim’s family includes three sons, their wives and six to seven children, among others.

The measures have been put in place on a war footing to ensure containment of the virus. Police checkpoints had been set up at eight entry points, a doctor deputed and a vehicle pressed into service to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential commodities to the village. All residents have been directed to stay indoors for the next 14 days.

The victim along with two relatives and the Chikka resident had visited Germany in February and spent two-three days in Italy before returning to India on March 7. The villagers have set up a grocery shop and started two helpline numbers — one for health-related emergencies and the second for ration.

DC Vinay Bublani said: “Samples of those who have or are displaying symptoms are being taken.”

Sarpanch Harpal Singh said: “The doctor is gathering social contact history of all villagers.” Despite mandatory quarantine, the victim after arriving in India visited Anandpur Sahib, he said. He was taken to private hospitals in Jalandhar and Phagwara on Tuesday, before being referred to a civil hospital on Wednesday.

Drastic measures

• Pathlawa has 2.2K population
• 8 entry points barricaded
• 24×7 doctor deputed
• Vehicle stationed for ration
• Village starts 2 helplines

Victim met scores at Dera

The district administration is in a tizzy as the Banga resident used to perform kirtan at a dera in Pathlawa village twice every day. Villagers said as many as 150 persons visited the dera daily. Almost all of them had met him after his return to India on March 7.

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 19

Intensifying its response to Covid-19, India today expanded physical distancing measures for the community, asking states to ensure elders and children stay at home besides toughening travel restrictions by barring all international passengers in the country from March 22 to 29. No international commercial flight will be allowed to disembark its passengers, foreigners or Indians, on Indian soil after 1.30 am on March 23, aviation regulator DGCA said on Thursday.

The regulator’s circular came after the Centre issued a statement that no international flight would be allowed to land in India from March 22 onward for a period of one week. “No scheduled international commercial passenger aircraft shall take off from any foreign airport for any airport in India after 5.30 am on March 22. These instructions shall remain in force till 5.30 am of March 29,” the regulator noted.

The measures were announced on a day when the country saw the fourth death from coronavirus, that of an elderly man from Punjab. The Health Ministry said the Punjab patient had comorbid conditions, including heart problem, diabetes and hypertension.

As the Covid case load reached 173, the Group of Ministers reviewing the situation met ahead of PM Narendra Modi’s address to the nation to take measures to prevent community transmission. “Right now, India does not have any community transmission of the virus. All infections currently are localised but we are taking preventive steps to avoid transmission to the community,” Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal said, briefing reporters after the GoM meeting today.

The GoM decided that no scheduled international commercial passenger aircraft shall be allowed to land in India from March 22 for one week. It also asked states to ensure all citizens above 65 barring public representatives and government and medical professionals stay at home, so do children under 10 years of age.

“The idea is to protect high-risk populations. Children should be prevented from going to public parks and states should also ensure all recreational facilities and religious gatherings are restricted,” said Agarwal.

The GoM has also directed states to ensure reduction in the frequency of railway, metros, buses and airplanes. The Centre has asked states to enforce work for home for private sector employees. “To reduce crowding, all Group B and C Central govt employees will be asked to attend offices on alternate week,” the GoM said later. The Health Ministry has asked all hospitals to postpone non-urgent hospitalisation and surgeries to prevent infection.

The Ministry of External Affairs also confirmed the death of an Indian patient in Iran. The government said on Wednesday that 255 Indians in Iran were infected.

The government on Thursday banned all commercial passenger flights from March 22 till March 29 midnight. (Express photo: Partha Paul)

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As India reported its fourth novel coronavirus (COVID-19) death and the total number of cases climbed to 173, the government Thursday tightened the lockdown further, banning the landing of all international commercial passenger flights for a week from March 22.

In Punjab, a 70-year-old man, who had returned from Germany via Italy on March 7 and died at a hospital in Nawanshahr district on Wednesday, tested positive. Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said the man had a history of diabetes and heart disease.

The Ministry of External Affairs also confirmed the death of an Indian patient in Iran. The government said on Wednesday that 255 Indians in Iran were infected.

With senior citizens, with co-morbidites like diabetes, hypertension and asthma, accounting for all the four deaths in the country so far, the Health Ministry issued a fresh advisory, asking those above 65 years and children below 10 years to stay at home.

Read | Of 1,514 Indians in Iran, 298 tested positive for COVID-19: Govt

While 22 fresh cases were confirmed on Thursday, 20 of the total COVID-19 positive patients have recovered so far.

In Agra, Dr Mukesh Vats, CMO, said seven of eight patients who had tested positive earlier had recovered. “In the initial cluster, five people had tested positive. Then a factory owner and his wife tested positive. These initial seven cases have been cured and are being discharged. The last patient who tested positive a few days ago is also recovering, with almost negligible symptoms,” he said.

Extending the travel ban after barring the entry of passengers from the European Union, Turkey, UK, Afghanistan, Philippines and Malaysia earlier this week, the government on Thursday banned all commercial passenger flights from March 22 till March 29 midnight.

Explained: As world battles coronavirus pandemic, a few takeaways emerge

Most of the states and Union territories also imposed fresh restrictions on public transport and gatherings. In Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced the closure of restaurants till March 31, but takeaway outlets will remain open. He said gatherings of more than 20 people will not be permitted. He also said hands of people to be quarantined at home will be stamped.

States have been asked to reduce the frequency of buses and Metro trains to prevent crowding, and “to enforce work from home for private sector employees except those working in emergency/ essential services”.

The Railways has cancelled 155 pairs of trains so far, keeping in view low occupancy and coronavirus pandemic.

Government offices have been asked to stagger timings and allow 50% of Group C and D staff to work from home.

Agarwal, however, said this was not a lockdown. “Lockdown is a very inappropriate word. The government’s effort has been to prepare for an evolving global scenario. Our measures started from January 17. To err on the side of caution will help us,” he said.

Citing data from the ICMR’s random sampling exercise, he said there has been no instance of community transmission of the virus in India.

He refused to discuss the case of a man from Uttar Pradesh who took a train to Tamil Nadu and was found to be positive — a situation that has raised fears of community transmission.

Earlier, a 64-year-old man in Mumbai with travel history to Dubai, a 76-year-old man from Kalaburagi in Karnataka who had returned from Saudi Arabia, and a 68-year-old woman in Delhi died.

Meanwhile, on March 21, Air India will fly a dreamliner with a capacity to seat 236 passengers to Rome to evacuate Indians stranded there.