Evevning News - 20 April, 2020
06:37 Share

With the release of a patient from Lakhimpur, Assam’s total cured COVID-19 cases stands at 19, informed Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

9600 Rapid kits have been sent by Centre, informed Himanta Biswa Sarma during a press conference. Out of these, random testing will be done. 25 kits will be utilised for Athgaon Kabrstan; 50 Spanish Garden and 250 for  Lahori Garden; other kits will be in Medical Hospitals and Civil hospitals. Also, 24th April onwards hospitals except Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital will be open for people. Sarma also said that measures are being put in place to take care of residents of Assam who might return to Assam from other states. Most Assam migrants are based in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala. Measures will be taken to ensure that they get necessary care and facilities as the state tries to deal with COVID-19 pandemic.

With some services resuming in the state, Assam police have announced that some protocols on lockdown will be followed strictly. Electricians, plumbers can function; 2 people will not be allowed to ride together; fine will be imposed on people who spit; any kind of attack or vulgarity displayed towards health workers will not be permitted; social distancing must be practiced at all costs, informed Assam police during press conference.

Shillong civil hospital is preparing to handle 200 COVID-19 patients. “We are almost 80 percent ready with our plan of handling upto 200 cases of COVID-19 patients. The whole hospital will have to be converted into COVID-19 hospital. We would need to shift all the in-patients to the other hospitals,” Shillong Civil Hospital Medical Superintendent, Dr. S.S. Nongbri told media.

In a viral video, some youngsters in Nagaland are seen feasting on wild animals such as deer and wild cat to celebrate 'lockdown festival." The youngsters said “We are going to stay around this place for the next seven days, and it is going to be party-time for us.” Investigation is going on after the video emerged through social media. Most likely the incident took place at Intaki National Park in Nagaland.

A one-and-a-half-month-old baby died in Delhi hospital, according to reports. The baby who was brought to Kalawati Saran Children’s Hospital attached to the Centre-run Lady Hardinge Medical College was admitted to SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Illness) ward and died a few days later.

While strict measures have been imposed in containment zones where only essential services will be allowed to operate, certain activities will now resume. National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will start collecting toll; healthcare, horticulture, agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries ill begin operations; tea, coffee and rubber plantation will work with 50 % workforce; construction activities will operate, government offices will stay open; workers under MNREGA will work but will have to maintain social distancing and wear masks; e-commerce outlets can deliver non-essential items.

Horrific video of a mob beating a sadhu went viral yesterday. The incident took place at Gadchinchale village in Maharashtra. The villagers reacted angrily as there were rumours floating around that some thieves were around to kidnap kids and harvest their organs. The two sadhus and their driver are seen getting beaten by the mob as they plead for their life. Reports claim that cops have also been injured in the incident. The video shows the presence of cops but in front of a violent mob they failed. The ones killed have been identified as Sushil Giri Maharaj (35), Nilesh Telgane (35), who was the driver of the car, and Chikane Maharaj Kalpavrikshgiri (70). Two of them were sadhus. They were travelling towards Surat to attend a funeral service.