NEW DELHI, Mar 22: India reported three more Coronavirus deaths today including the first casualties from Bihar and Gujarat, taking the toll to seven and the number of COVID-19 cases rose to 360, as States imposed unprecedented restrictions to contain the spread of the infection.
Delhi, Jharkhand, Punjab and Nagaland declared a statewide lockdown while similar curbs were announced in a number of districts in Bihar, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Several states, including Maharashtra, Kerala, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, had earlier imposed a partial or complete lockdown.
The Union Health Ministry said one death each was reported from Bihar, Gujarat and Maharashtra today. A 38-year-old man with a kidney ailment and recent travel history to Qatar died at AIIMS-Patna and a 67-year-old man died at a hospital in Surat. Another death was reported from Mumbai of a 63-year-old man. The rest four deaths were reported from Karnataka, Delhi, Maharashtra and Punjab.
As the virus cases climbed, Union Home Ministry officials said the Central and State Governments decided to completely lock down 75 districts in 17 States from where COVID-19 cases have been reported while the States can extend the list of districts as they deem fit.
The Health Ministry said states would earmark hospitals to exclusively treat coronavirus patients.
The Government was also expanding the network of labs for testing samples from suspected cases.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that his Government was placing the national capital under a lockdown.
Nagaland said it was imposing an indefinite lockdown from midnight.
The West Bengal Government said in a notification that Kolkata and several other areas of the state will be under lockdown from Monday 5 pm till Mar 27.
According to the Health Ministry, Maharashtra has reported the highest number of confirmed Coronavirus cases at 67, followed by Kerala (52) and Delhi (29).
Uttar Pradesh has recorded 27 cases, Telangana 22, Rajasthan 24 and Haryana 21.
Karnataka has 26 patients. Punjab has 21 cases while Gujarat has 18.
Chandigarh and Andhra Pradesh reported five cases each. Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal reported four cases each. Uttarakhand reported three cases, while Bihar, Odisha and Himachal Pradesh reported 2 cases each.
Puducherry and Chhattisgarh reported one case each.
The Health Ministry said 15,17,327 passengers had been screened at airports across the country.
The Indian Council of Medical Research said they are ramping up testing efforts, but added that they won’t do indiscriminate testing for COVID-19. The strategy is to test only those who show symptoms, its director general said.
The paramilitary forces, comprising about 10 lakh personnel, also ordered immediate suspension of movement of troops and directed them to ‘’be where they are’’ till April 5, officials said.
Meanwhile, Millions of people across the country stayed indoors on Sunday in an unprecedented and overwhelming response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for a ‘Janta curfew’ to help check the spread of coronavirus, coming out briefly at 5 pm to show gratitude to health and other essential service providers with sounds of bells, conches and claps.
Be it Mumbai, known as the city that never sleeps, Patna or Ahmedabad, life came to a standstill in the country as roads, railway stations and airports wore a deserted look and markets and establishments except those dealing in essential goods and services remained shut during the 14-hour self-imposed curfew that started at 7 am.
In the national capital, roads which are usually chock-a-block had only a few private vehicles and buses plying. The Delhi Police gave flowers to people who stepped out of their homes, requesting them to stay indoors. In some parts, policemen also handed out masks and sanitisers to spread awareness about coronavirus.
From children to the elderly, common people to VIPs, residents of metropolitan cities to villages, all responded to Prime Minister Modi’s appeal to show gratitude to doctors, paramedics, police, sanitary workers, mediapersons and other personnel associated with essential services.
Many took positions with their choice of instruments, including metal plates or whatever kitchen utensils they could get, while some played the sounds of conches and bells on their phones and music systems at 5 pm. Police sirens too were heard.
People also shared videos on social media on the response of residents in their areas. Modi tagged a video which showed his mother Heeraben beating a plate in Gujarat.
Commercial capital Mumbai, which is not new to natural and man-made disasters, observed a shutdown on Sunday unlike any. The iconic Gateway of India, Juhu beach and the Bandra-Worli sealink, which are otherwise always bustling with activity, wore a desolate look.
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and other suburban train stations presented an uncommon sight of being empty as people stayed indoors to support the curfew.
Key market places in Fort, Dadar, Andheri, Borivali, Ghatkopar, Bandra-Kurla Complex and other areas were also empty as the city intensified its fight against the deadly virus by staying away from public places.
The Goa Church and others cancelled Sunday masses. Prominent temples were also shut while community prayers were suspended by almost all major shrines of various faiths.
Most of the gated-colonies and apartments in cities were locked from inside, while civic bodies took up the job of sanitising public places such as parks and bus stands.
In Kolkata, the usually crowded Esplanade, and Dalhousie areas, besides airport and railway stations were nearly empty.
Roads, railway stations and airports in Gujarat’s four major cities – Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot – had very few people.
In Tamil Nadu, arterial roads, including the Anna Salai and the GST Road in Chennai and vital junctions like the Kathipara grade separator which are usually teeming with vehicles and people were empty. The iconic Marina and Elliots beach were also deserted.
“We have to help the government combat the pandemic which has gripped the world. We as citizens too have an equal responsibility,” Baldev, an elderly resident of Chandigarh, said.
But with fewer people stepping out of their homes, the livelihood of daily wagers like rickshaw pullers has been affected.
Ganesh, a rickshaw puller in Lucknow, said, “I have been working for the past five-six years. In the past few days, my earnings have come down. After paying the daily rent of Rs 40, I am left with Rs 50-100, which I use to buy food. On a normal day, I earn around Rs 250.”
Cutting across party lines, chief ministers and others leaders as well as prominent personalities had urged the people to follow the self-imposed curfew and thanked them for their cooperation. (PTI)
Beginning of long battle: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today the 14-hour ‘Janata Curfew’ is the beginning of a long battle against Coronavirus outbreak and the countrymen have proved that together they can defeat any challenge.
“Today’s Janata Curfew may end at 9 pm, but this does not mean we start celebrating,” he tweeted.
He said the self-imposed curfew should “not be considered as a success” as it is the “beginning of a long battle”.
“Janata Curfew is beginning of a long battle. Today countrymen have told that we are capable, and once we decide we can take on any challenge together,” he said.
Modi thanked people for expressing their gratitude towards those at the forefront of fight against coronavirus outbreak.
“The country thanked each person who led the fight against the Coronavirus. Many thanks to the countrymen,” Modi wrote on Twitter.
Earlier, he had reminded people to express their gratitude towards those who have been at the forefront of combating Coronavirus, and extending essential services without fearing for their safety. (PTI)
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