www.theasianstar.com
Vol 19 - Issue 12
Saturday, April 18, 2020
We’re flattening the COVID-19 curve in BC, says Premier John Horgan ... Premier John Horgan says people in British Columbia should congratulate themselves for their efforts to flatten the COVID-19 curve, but it’s still too early to loosen restrictions. Horgan said Wednesday that B.C. is poised to release data that indicates the province has had success in bending the trajectory of COVID-19. He said the majority of people are following the orders of provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry to self-isolate if sick, practise physical distancing and wash hands frequently. Most people in B.C. also stayed close to home over the Easter weekend and did not visit cottages or take drives to nearby communities, he added. Health Minister Adrian Dix and Henry will present the COVID-19 modelling data Friday.
... But no return to normalcy in BC ‘for some time’ - says Dr. Bonnie Henry A return to normal life may still be a long way off for BC and it will depend on people staying at home, washing their hands and maintaining physical distances, according to the provincial health officer. Dr. Bonnie Henry said Wednesday that while B.C. has managed to hold COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations to manageable levels, “we are not at the end of our beginning yet.” She said she doesn’t foresee any lifting of the restrictions on daily life within the next two weeks or even three weeks. “Normal is going to look quite different for some time,” Henry said. “There are some measures that we are not going to be able to stop doing until we have enough immunity in our community ... to prevent transmission and to prevent a lot of people from becoming sick in a short time.” That immunity can only come one of two ways — through infection or through development of a vaccine. Until then, physical distancing and frequent handwashing will remain the norm.
Tel:604-591-5423
Vancouver begs for $200M from BC govt while other cities manage on their own While Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart has asked for $200 million from the provincial government and highlighted negative consequences if they don’t get support, other B.C. municipalities are taking a different approach toward mitigating the financial impact of the pandemic. “[Bankruptcy] is a lovely dramatic phrase, and no disrespect to the good people of Vancouver … but it’s not gonna happen,” said Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog. “Not gonna happen in Vancouver, and not gonna happen in Nanaimo. We will trim our sail to match our cloth, as my granny told me.” Nanaimo council has passed a “revenue anticipation borrowing bylaw”, allowing them to take up to $50 million for any immediate cash
Continued on page 6
6 Indian-Americans to help Trump revive US economy President Donald Trump has roped in six Indian-American corporate leaders, including Sunder Pichai from Google and Satya Nadella from Microsoft, to seek advice from the “brightest and the smartest” people on how to restart US economy that has been crippled by the coronavirus pandemic. America’s economy, the world’s largest, has come to a standstill due the Covid-19 pandemic. More than 95 per cent of the 330 million population is under stay-at-home order amid a national emergency in place. A Continued on page 7
18 charged in Brampton for playing cricket, breaking social distancing bylaw Brampton municipal bylaw officers laid 11 charges over the weekend after neighbours complained about a group of men playing cricket, breaking physical distancing rules. An Instagram video of the incident uploaded over the weekend shows a group of 13 people gathering in a field on Sail Rd. – in the Creditview and Mayfield Rds. area – on Sunday around 2:15 p.m. Two cruisers from Peel Regional Police then arrive on the scene.
Non-medical cloth masks are your choice during COVID-19 By Dr. Bonnie Henry, Provincial Health Officer
From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have regularly seen people choose to wear a variety of masks, from medical masks to cloth face coverings, in grocery stores and parks, on buses and sidewalks. As we all look to protect our loved ones and ourselves, many have asked if this is the right thing to do. What we know about the virus that causes COVID-19 is that it spreads from droplets when people who are infected with the virus
cough, sneeze or expel droplets when they are in close contact (within one to two metres) with others. This is why physical distancing is so important and why self-isolation is necessary when we are ill or have recently travelled. This is also why washing our hands, covering our mouths when we cough, and not touching our face or eyes are the best actions we, as individuals, can
take during the pandemic. Equally important is the need to reserve medical masks and N95 respirators for our healthcare- workers. It is their job to care for us when we are ill and having the correct protective equipment to do that is crucial for them and for all of us. So how do non-medical cloth masks fit in? The Canadian public health special advisory committee has closely reviewed evidence from around the world to answer this question.
Continued on page 4
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www.theasianstar.com
Vol 19 - Issue 12
T
he United States’ decision to stop funding the World Health Organization (WHO) could not be more badly timed. The WHO remains the closest thing to an international coordinating and information-gathering body during the pandemic. At a time when multilateral cooperation could not be more needed, United States (US) President Donald Trump has concluded there is greater political benefit in turning on the agency. His action is partially symbolic: The US has already provided funds for this financial year. However, a large share of the blame rests with the WHO. The director-
Saturday, April 18, 2020
A reformed WHO needed general, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, allowed his organisation to become entangled in great power rivalry. This is a minefield which all multilateral organisations should avoid. He tried a strategy of accommodation to persuade China to be more open about the pandemic, to the extent of appeasing it. The WHO issued a stream of flawed advice based on the information provided by Beijing, including criticising the decision of India and other countries to impose a travel ban on China. Some of his comments, such as criticising Taiwan despite its exemplary handling of the
virus, were gratuitous. The approach yielded little. The WHO needed to take a harder line, for example, about the limited access foreign scientists have been getting to ground zero of Covid-19. The agency also has long-standing internal issues. Donors tie much of its funding to specific programmes; so it has minimal capacity to watch out for black swan events. Its regional directors are answerable to multiple national health ministers. Half of its 10 largest donors are non-governmental organisations. But many of these defects ultimately derive from the agency’s long neglect by governments.
Tel:604-591-5423 The US, whatever Mr Trump’s own views, has long been the WHO’s strongest supporter and contributes a quarter of its budget. China, for all its evident influence, pays less money than Rotary International. The WHO has played a quiet-but-crucial role in global health. It effectively runs the health services in some 30 countries. India is also a beneficiary, especially in the agency’s efforts against tuberculosis and polio. The WHO standard-setting helps India serve as the world’s generic drug maker. The world can ill-afford a cash-starved WHO — despite its flaws — in a time of pandemic.
4 From page 1
OPINION
Saturday, April 18, 2020
Non-medical cloth masks are your choice during COVID-19
Wenow know that some people can spread the virus when they have very mild symptoms or may be unaware they are infected. As Dr.
Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, has explained, a non-medical
clothmask or face covering can help you
keep your own droplets out of the air and off surfaces. Choosing to wear such a face covering is like coughing or sneezing into a tissue or your sleeve. A non-medical cloth mask or face covering, while helpful in containing your own droplets, will not protect you from COVID-19, nor is wearing one required of you if you can keep your safe distance from others. Moreover, using a cloth mask does not give you permission to disregard physical distancing and selfisolation orders. Indeed, these, along with respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene, remain the key proven measures to stop transmission. Wearing a cloth mask or face covering is a matter of personal choice. It is another tool you can choose, particularly when maintaining that important safe distance can be a challenge. Our most important advice remains the same: if you are sick, you should stay home. Wearing a cloth mask may contain your virus droplets, but it does not make it okay to go out. Maintain a safe distance from others when you are out, clean your hands regularly and avoid touching your face. I applaud the creativity and ingenuity of many who have taken the time to make these cloth masks and it is encouraging to see the social connections that have been made by sharing patterns and creative ideas online. If you choose to wear a non-medical cloth mask or face covering, I remind you of the importance of continuing to not touch your face when wearing it. This is often challenging especially for small children, and of course, be cautious when removing the cloth mask. Wash it regularly and do not share it with others. We want everyone to stand united and stay strong. Every British Columbian has a part to play in flattening the curve. Let’s all be safe, be calm, be kind and do the right thing.
www.theasianstar.com # 202 - 8388, 128 St., Surrey, BC V3W 4G2 Ph: 604-591-5423 Fax: 604-591-8615 E-mail: editor@theasianstar.com Editor: Umendra Singh Associate Editor: Chhavi Disawar Marketing and Sales: Ravi Cheema........604-715-3847 Shamir Doshi....................604-649-7827 Harminder Kaur...............778-708-0481 Parminder Dhillon..........604-902-2858 Pre-Press: Iftikhar Ahmed Design: Avee J Waseer Contributing writers: Jag Dhatt, Akash Sablok, Kamila Singh, Jay Bains
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Saturday, April 18, 2020
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Saturday, April 18, 2020 From page 1
Vancouver begs for $200M from BC govt while other cities manage on their own
crunch that could come if not enough people pay their property tax bills. Several other municipalities have taken the same decision in the past week, including Delta ($35 million), New Westminster ($15 million) and Port Coquitlam ($30 million). Many others are hoping the province will provide clarity on whether they should extend the deadline for property tax payment from July to September. Vancouver asks province for $200M emergency grant to mitigate financial disaster “None of us know how long it’s going to take, and that’s the point of the borrowing bylaws. It’s not that we need the cash next week, or next month,â€? said Krog. “There’s no doubt we’re getting squeezed, but ‌ we have appropriate cashflow to get us through this.â€? On Tuesday, Vancouver council voted to wait two weeks until beginning a process for loaning money or cutting services, in hopes the province
would provide more clarity by then. “We need to hear from the provincial and federal governments right now,� Stewart said on Wednesday. “If they are not going to help us, tell us. If they are going to help us, tell us. Don’t leave us hanging in the middle of this massive crisis. Metro Van and TransLink under strain, too. Local governments are facing a crunch because they have limited ways to raise revenue outside of property taxes, and legally aren’t allowed to run deficits. While it’s expected the B.C. government will be providing assistance to both municipalities and other transportation organizations under its jurisdiction, that hasn’t come to fruition yet. Selina Robinson, the minister responsible for both municipal affairs and TransLink, rejected an interview request from CBC News, though on Wednesday John Horgan said the policy response from the government is coming soon.
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Saturday, March Saturday, April14, 18,2020 2020 From page 1
6 Indian-Americans to help Trump revive US economy
number of over 16 million people have lost their jobs due to the ongoing economic crisis in the US, according to latest official figures. President Trump has named over 200 top American leaders from various industries and sections to create nearly a dozen and a half different groups as part of the Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups. These leaders will advise the president and offer recommendations on how to revive the American economy, which has hit an unprecedented ebb in just a few weeks due to the deadly coronavirus. “They’re the names that are, I think, the best and the smartest, the brightest. And they’re going to give us some ideas,” Trump told reporters at his daily White House news conference on coronavirus on Tuesday.
In addition to Pichai and Nadella, the president has named IBM’s Arvind Krishna and Micron’s Sanjay Mehrotra to the Tech Group. Other members of the group are Apple’s Tim Cook, Oracle’s Larry Ellison and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg. IndianAmerican Ann Mukherjee from Pernod Ricard has been named to the manufacturing Group, which among others include Caterpillar’s Jim Umpleby III; Tesla’s Elon Musk, Fiat Chrysler’s Mike Manley, Ford’s Bill Ford and General’s Mary Barra. Ajay Banga from Mastercard has been named to the Financial Services Group along with, among others, Al Kelly from Visa, Blackstone’s Stephen Schwarzman; Fidelity Investment’s Abigail Johnson and Intuit’s Sasan Goodarzi.
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Saturday, April 18, 2020
Peter MacKay, 2 Tory MPs add names to open letter condemning China’s coronavirus response Several prominent Conservatives have added their names to an open letter condemning China‘s efforts to conceal the spread of the coronavirus as that country’s “Chernobyl moment.” Conservative leadership candidate Peter MacKay, Conservative defence critic James Bezan and New Brunswick Southwest MP John Williamson have all signed on along with more than 100 political representatives and foreign policy experts from around the world. Other signatories to the letter include U.K. MP Damian Collins, who chaired the international grand committee examining privacy and social media misinformation last year, along with members of Parliament from Lithuania, Estonia, the Czech Republic, the European Parliament and the U.K. There are also several former ministers of foreign affairs, defence and home affairs, along with a broad range of civil society advocates and academics, including Canadian writer Jonathan Manthorpe. When the letter first went up on Tuesday, no Canadian MPs had signed on despite there being representatives from other parliamentary institutions in allied countries. Williamson responded saying the Chinese government must be held to account. “The Chinese Communist Party dictatorship is built on force and intimidation of the Chinese people and ethnic minorities. Its rulers have no fidelity to individual freedoms, transparency or the rule of law,” he wrote in an email. “Beijing needs to be held accountable for its actions, at home and abroad, and not be treated as an ordinary member of the international community. I believe Canada’s ‘business as usual’ with mainland China should end.” MacKay and Bezan have not yet responded to requests for comment but MacKay tweeted on Thursday morning with a link to the letter, saying that the Chinese government “deprived the world of our chance to react.” “They are responsible for this global pandemic,” he said. A spokesperson for the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, which co-ordinated the letter with two European think tanks, said it did not reach out asking Canadian MPs to sign on before the letter was published because it wanted to focus initially on securing signatures from academics and experts.
Saturday, April 18, 2020 BC extends liquor store hours of operations to provide greater physical distancing While operating hours at most businesses continue to shrink or outright disappear, the opposite is happening at one type of establishment: liquor stores. The province announced Wednesday it is temporarily extending retail liquor store hours to provide
greater opportunities for physical distancing for seniors and immunocompromised individuals. If retailers so choose, they may now operate their businesses between the hours of 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. daily.
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Saturday, April 18, 2020
PM Trudeau announces pay top-up for essential workers, expands emergency benefit Canada will move to top up the pay of essential workers making less than $2,500 per month and expand emergency benefits to workers still making some income. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the announcement during his daily address from Rideau Cottage on Wednesday (April 15). The Canada Emergency Response Benefit currently provides $2,000 per month to workers who have lost their jobs. The changes announced by Trudeau Wednesday would expand that benefit to people making up to $1,000 per month and allow people whose EI has run out in 2020, as well as seasonable workers who are unable to find jobs this year. At least six million people have applied for either EI or CERB so far. Essential workers include anyone from
hopes the wage subsidy will get many back to work and off the emergency benefit.
As of Wednesday morning, COVID-19 had led to 27,540 cases and 954 deaths in Canada.
Cause for cautious optimism in Canada’s COVID-19 fight, top doctor says
grocery store clerks to care home aides. “The very places that care for our elderly are the most vulnerable to COVID-19,” Trudeau said.“We all need to do better.” At a later press conference, Treasure Board president Jean-Yves Duclos said people newly eligible for CERB will get it retroactively from March 15. Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough said it was “premature to estimate” the cost of expanded CERB, as the government
There is cause for cautious optimism that the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic is slowing, Canada’s top doctor said Wednesday, as the country’s central bank warned that the economic downturn tied to the virus would be the worst on record. Even as the country passed the grim milestone of 1,000 deaths on Wednesday, chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam said there is evidence the epidemic’s rate of spread is slowing. Tam noted the number of cases in the country is now doubling every 10 days or so, compared to every three days
in late March. But she warned that emerging from COVID-19 would “be like making our way down the mountain in the darkness,” stressing that it was too soon to ease physical distancing measures. “We mustn’t rush or let go of our safety measures, or the fall will be hard and unforgiving,” she said in her daily briefing in Ottawa. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday that widespread testing and contact-tracing will be key to an eventual reopening of the Canadian economy — something he said is still weeks away.
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Saturday, April 18, 2020
Khalsa Business Centre
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LOCAL / NATIONAL
Saturday, April 18, 2020
RCMP seek assistance to locate Surrey teen The Chilliwack RCMP are looking for public assistance in locating Rusal Alnabhan, age 15. Alnabhan normally lives in Surrey. She was last seen on Monday, April 13 at 6 a.m. at the 9400 block of Menzies Street in Chilliwack, where she as staying with family friends. Police describe Rusal Alnabhan as a Middle Eastern female, 4’9” with a heavy build, brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black hijab, black tights and flip flops.
RCMP officials ask anyone with information about her whereabouts to contact them immediately. “Police, family and friends are concerned for Rusal’s well-being and want to ensure that she is okay,” says Sgt. Krista Vrolyk spokesperson for the UFVRD. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Rusal Alnabhan is urged to contact the Chilliwack RCMP at 604-792-4611 or call 9-1-1
Saturday, April 18, 2020 Supreme court upholds Surrey judgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no-bail order for man accused of obstructing cops A man accused of dangerous driving, possessing prohibited weapons and obstructing a police officer and breaching bail has lost a 90-day bail review in B.C. Supreme Court. A Surrey provincial court judge
ordered Mark Edward Leppington, 30, to be detained on Dec. 12, 2019. Justice Paul Riley presided over the bail review in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver, concerning charges related to last June 18 and Oct. 31.
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Saturday, April 18, 2020
Long-term care provider stunned by lack of compliance in Fraser Valley A Langley care home has banned Fraser Health Authority care aides from its facility because they’re still working at multiple care homes in spite of an order from provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry not to do so, said Glenn Bell, co-owner and general manager of the Harrison Pointe retirement home.
Said Bell: “This practice of going between facilities is insane.” COVID-19: Long-term care provider stunned by lack of compliance in Fraser Valley Bell also said that care workers coming to his facility weren’t supplied with adequate personal protective equipment by Fraser Health.
Irate customer coughs on clerk over limited supply of toilet papers Woman, 25, arrested for assault, scheduled to appear in court after police were called to IGA store in Coquitlam. A Coquitlam, B.C., woman allegedly threw a fit at a grocery store after she wasn’t allowed to buy more than the retailer’s purchase limit of toilet paper — deliberately coughing on a clerk in anger, according to police. Coquitlam RCMP called to an IGA in the city on Monday afternoon following an altercation between a grocery clerk and an irate customer. “This is a great example of why we need
to keep perspective, take a breath, and treat essential workers like grocery store clerks with the respect they deserve,” said Cpl. Michael McLaughlin in a news release. He says abuse of any type against essential workers will not be tolerated. Break-and-enter suspect charged with coughing on police officers during arrest After reviewing video footage, police were able to track the woman down at her Coquitlam home where she was arrested for assault.
Saturday, April 18, 2020
COVID-19 could affect food supplies, power grids, telecommunications Govt document If cases of COVID-19 continue to multiply, labour shortages could affect food supplies and undermine Canada’s critical infrastructure, an internal government briefing note.The document, prepared by Public Safety Canada, says accelerating rates of illness among Canadians could create labour shortages in essential services. The two most “pressing” areas of concern, it says, are procurement of medical goods and the stability of the food supply chain. “These shortages are likely to have the greatest impact in the two sectors mentioned above, as it will affect our ability to provide health care and essential goods, including food, to Canadians,” notes the document. “Labour shortages could also affect Canada’s critical infrastructure, including power grids, banking and telecommunications and this will further impair Canadians’ quality of life at this difficult time.”
Homebuilding slows down in Canada due to COVID-19 TD economist Rishi Sondhi Cracks are showing. It’s only going to get worse. This, in a nutshell, according to TD Economics, is what is going on regarding housing starts in Canada because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Figures released by Rishi Sondhi, an economist with TD Bank’s research arm, indicate that Canadian housing starts declined 7.3 percent in March 2020 compared to February. According to Sondhi, declines were “broadbased”, with start of new home construction down in seven out of 10 provinces in the country. In B.C., housing starts in urban areas were down by 7,800 units. In Ontario, new construction fell by 9,800 units in urban areas. Urban centres in Saskatchewan and Quebec also experienced drops in new home construction. However, urban housing starts were up in Alberta, Manitoba, and New Brunswick. “The calm before the storm,” Sondhi described the implications of this situation.
Delta police have ‘no powers’ to stop meetings of COVID-19 conspiracy theorists, chief says Delta’s chief of police says his officers have considered every possible avenue for dealing with a local yoga studio owner who flouted physical distancing guidelines to host a recent gathering of people who believe COVID-19 is a hoax. But so far, they haven’t found any law they can use to stop Bikram Yoga Delta owner Mak Parhar from bringing large groups of people into his closed studio to share their conspiracy theories, Delta police Chief Neil Dubord said. That’s why Delta Mayor George Harvie is writing to the provincial government to ask for more power to enforce public health orders and advice. “Many people are wondering why the police can’t do something, because there’s a social responsibility element to this that the public expects someone to pay attention to,” Dubord said. “There’s that expectation the public has for either the police or bylaw to do something but we find ourselves with no powers or no legislation to be able to support us being able to take any action at this time.”
LOCAL / NATIONAL
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INDIA India permits resumption of some industries in rural areas from April 20 India will allow opening up of some industries in rural areas after April 20 to reduce the distress caused to millions of people because of a prolonged lockdown to halt the spread of coronavirus, the government said on Wednesday. The government will also allow farm activities, construction
of roads and buildings in the hinterland which has so far been less affected by the coronavirus contagion. Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended on Tuesday a lockdown of India’s 1.3 billion population till May 3 as the number of coronavirus cases went past 10,000 despite a three-week shutdown announced last month.
India agrees to sell hydroxychloroquine to Malaysia to help fight COVID-19 India has agreed to sell to Malaysia for use in the treatment of hydroxychloroquine tablets COVID-19 patients, a Malaysian minister told Reuters on Wednesday, with New Delhi partially lifting its bar on exports of the anti-malarial drug. India is the world’s largest producer of hydroxychloroquine, sales of which have soared across the world including in the United States, especially after President Donald Trump touted it as a potential weapon against COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. New Delhi had last month put a hold on exports of hydroxychloroquine to secure supplies for itself, before agreeing this month to supply it to some of its neighbours as well as “nations who have been particularly badly affected by the pandemic”. “On 14 April, India has given permission for Malaysia to import 89,100 tablets,” Malaysia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kamarudin Jaffar told Reuters.
Tableeghi Jamaat leader arrested for culpable homicide Tablighi Jamaat leader Maulana Saad Kandhalvi has been arrested for culpable homicide after some attendees of religious congregation died due to the Coronavirus, police said. Kandhalvi had organised the gathering at Nizamuddin Markaz, Delhi last month violating the social distancing protocol to curb the spread of the deadly virus. FIR was registered against cleric on March 31 on the complaint of the Nizamuddin SHO. H e was earlier arrested for holding the event, the police said. “After several attendees of the Tablighi Jamaat event succumbed to coronavirus, we added IPC section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) to the FIR against the Maulana,” a police official said. The FIR says the Delhi Police contacted the Nizamuddin Markaz on March 21 and reminded them of the government order which prohibited politicall/ religious gathering of more than 50 people.
Covid-19 cases cross 12,000-mark, 414 deaths The death toll due to coronavirus rose to 414 and the number of cases to 12,380 in the country on Thursday, according to the Union Health Ministry. While the number of active COVID-19 cases is 10,477, as many as 1,488 people have been cured and discharged and one had migrated, it said. The total number of cases include 76 foreign nationals. Twenty-two deaths were reported since Wednesday evening, the ministry said in its updated data.
Saturday, April 18, 2020
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Saturday, April 18, 2020
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Saturday, April 18, 2020
Saturday, April 18, 2020 One dead, 11 new cases in 24 hrs, tally rises to 197 Punjab reported 11 new coronavirus cases, taking the total in the state to 197. The new cases have been reported from Patiala (3), Pathankot (2) and Jalandhar (6).The state has
witnessed 14 deaths due to the deadly disease so far. On Thursday, a 60-year-old Gurdaspur man died at the government medical college and hospital in Amritsar.
2,150 Punjab units were operational in lockdown Phase 1 During Phase I of the lockdown, which ended on April 14, less than 1% of industries across different sectors were operational in Punjab. These have been given permission to continue operations till April 20, when the new guidelines issued by the Centre today come into effect. Industry experts say the Centreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision to allow certain types of manufacturing and services to resume would spur
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economic activity partially in the state. According to data, of 2,52,741 industries in Punab, 2,150 were operating in the first phase of the lockdown. These were spread across sectors such as food processing, pharmaceutical, rice processing, medical equipment and kits, sanitisers and textiles. Some of the big units that were operational were ITC (Kapurthala), JCT, HMEL, NFL and Trident.
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FIJI
Saturday, April 18, 2020
17 cases of COVID-19 in Fiji Fiji’s COVID-19 cases have increased to 17 with the latest case coming out of Vanua Levu. The patient is a 21-year old who is a relative and travel companion of patient nine. The two had traveled together from India to Singapore and on to Fiji. Article continues after advertisement The Prime Minister says since his
return to Fiji, the man had not shown any single symptoms of the coronavirus. Bainimarama says upon returning to the country this young man was in self-quarantine for two full weeks, up until April 5th. He says free of any symptoms throughout the virus’s known two-week incubation period, by all appearances, the patient was in the clear.
Lockdown in Suva lifted but Nabua settlement remains closed The end of the Suva lockdown is not cause for celebration. It is not a reason to have large grog sessions or drinking parties. It is not a
justification to stay out past 8pm. It is not an excuse to leave your homes for no good reason.
Schools to remain closed until June Schools will remain closed until June confirms Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama. Bainimarama says the break has been extended recognizing that this virus will be part of our lives for the foreseeable future, and they must plan accordingly. He says the date schools reopen is subject to change based on the situation on the ground at the time. He says the Education Ministry will continue to ensure that learning materials are distributed for at-home schooling, technology will be impact fully utilised, teachers and parents will be engaged and how students can utilise this as an opportunity for up-skilling and professional development.
PAKISTAN Pakistan struggles to stop congregational Friday prayers, as COVID-19 cases surge fast coronavirus cases crossed 2,899 as authorities struggled to stop big congregational gatherings and Friday prayers despite government’s notification limiting upto five the number of people attending such prayers to curb the spread of the deadly disease. Ministry of Health said that Pakistan’s coronavirus cases jumped to 2,450 on Friday. Thirty five people have died due to the pandemic, while 126 have recovered so far. It further reported that the largest province of Punjab registered 920, Sindh 783, KhyberPakhtunkhwa (KP) 311, Balochistan 169, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) 190, Islamabad 68 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir 9 cases.
COVID-19 cases cross 6,500 The number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan crossed 6,500 after highest daily jump in over a week. The Health Ministry said 520 people tested positive for COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, raising the total number of cases to 6,505. This was the second highest single-day tally for Pakistan after 577 cases were reported on April 6. Most of the new cases are confirmed in southern Sindh province and northeastern Punjab. The ministry confirmed that 17 more patients the highest daily total yet died from the virus over past 24 hours, bringing the countrywide death toll to 124. Recoveries rise to 1,645 as 199 patients discharged from hospitals since Wednesday.
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Saturday, April 18, 2020
India, Pakistan seek to lift some curbs to help millions hit by COVID-19 lockdowns India will allow industries located in the countryside to reopen next week, as well as resuming farm activities to reduce the pain for millions of people hit by a lengthy shutdown in its coronavirus battle, the government said on Wednesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered the population of 1.3 billion to keep indoors for 19 days more after a strict three-week lockdown, saying it was critical to save lives amid the pandemic. But he said he felt the pain of the poor and on Wednesday the home (interior) ministry released guidelines allowing limited resumption of commerce and industry in the hinterland, less affected by the pandemic. “To mitigate hardship to the public, select additional activities have been allowed, which will come into effect from April 20,” it said.
Millions of people have been thrown out of work across south Asia since the lockdowns began last month, and growing anger in some areas was reflected in the commercial capital of Mumbai on Tuesday when hundreds mobbed a train station demanding transport home. Neighbouring Pakistan, which also announced a two-week extension to its shutdown to halt the virus, said it would reopen construction activity that provides a lifeline for the largest number of its people after agriculture. Export industries, such as garments, will also be permitted to begin production, said Industries Minister Hammad Azhar, adding that the government had made an assessment of the sectors least vulnerable to infection.
Afghanistan turns down Pak demand to handover gurdwara attack mastermind Afghanistan on Saturday turned down Pakistan’s demand to handover the chief of the Islamic State’s Khorasan unit, Aslam Farooqi, the mastermind behind a deadly terror attack on a prominent gurdwara in Kabul last month, according to a media report. Pakistan’s Foreign Office said on Thursday that the demand was conveyed to the Afghan ambassador in Islamabad. A heavily armed Islamic State-Khorasan suicide bomber stormed the gurdwara in the heart of Afghanistan’s capital on March 25, killing 25 Sikhs and injuring eight others.
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NRI 2 more NRIs arrested for violating curfew in Punajb A day after the registration of FIR against an NRI, who came from New Zealand for getting married on Sunday, two more NRIs have been arrested. The police have started investigations to trace those persons, who came into their contact. “Today we have registered a case against NRI Ashwani Kumar. He came from the UK on March 6. As per complaint of the Health Department, two members of his family have been down with viral for the last few days. He got married on March 11 without undergoing the 14-day quarantine period. We have registered a case against Kumar and further investigations are on,” said Ramandeep Singh, SHO, Bhawanigarh.
NRI dies of Covid-19 in New York A USA-based NRI, identified as Ashok Kumar, a native of Phagwara, reportedly died due to coronavirus in New York. According to his relatives residing in Phagwara, his young son Deepak Sharma, who was also suffering from Covid, was stated to be serious. The deceased, who came to India a few months ago, returned to New York after some days. More than 40 Indian-Americans have reportedly lost their lives due to the deadly Coronavirus and the number of those having tested positive for the dreaded disease is likely over 1,500, according to community leaders in the USA, now the global COVID-19 hotspot.
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