What's new

Coronavirus in India

reversehook said:
Those numbers for India and Pakistan are so fudged/inaccurate, i have this feeling, God forbid, they will suddenly be on the wrong end of lists in the coming weeks despite all the efforts (especially when more proper tests are conducted)... as its not in the nature for our people in Ind/Pak to sit idle or hush hush... just have this weird feeling, but hopefully before our ppl hit the pandemic levels, the cure is out and about..
Click to expand...

Why do you think the numbers in India are fudged?
 
4 days to prepare for a massive clapping session ..but only 4 hours for a 3 week lockdown.



<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">They gave us 4 days to prepare for 1 day Janta Curfew. <br><br>And 4 hours to prepare for a 21 Day Lockown.</p>— Rachit Seth (@rachitseth) <a href="https://twitter.com/rachitseth/status/1242526645136683008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
cricketjoshila said:
Why do you think the numbers in India are fudged?
Click to expand...

with "fudged" i didnt have my conspiracy hat on, more like in tkmes like this govt's often hide some truth to prevent panic and keep things calm...

right now there are alot of news coming out of panic in India due to the sudden announcement of 21 day shutdown, and people are out in large numbers panicking to get rations or whatever they deem necessary to them.

Its really a catch 22 situation, no govt has faced this type of situation/phenomenon before, and while they are trying their best, some will be completely in the wrong decisions while others will look like geniuses (and which one will be which, only time will tell), but sadly through all this there will be alot of lives lost. It is really sad what is taking place, and this over exposure of media/news doesnt help either, only ads to the misery or stress.
 
Odisha CM, Naveen Patnaik has announced docs be given 4 month's salary in advance.

Great gesture...
 
Lockdowns across the world may be encouraging people to keep in touch or re-connect with old friends, but that's a luxury for India's poor.

Most of them rely on pre-paid or pay-as-you-go subscriptions - in fact, these account for 95% of India's more than a billion mobile phone connections.

Millions of daily-wagers can no longer top up their accounts at street kiosks because these are shut. And many don’t use the internet or have an online bank account, so they can't go online to top up either.

They are also likely to run out of money as they now find themselves out of work.

It will be devastating because they are stuck in cities, miles away from their families in villages. And they are fast losing the option to contact their loved ones.

Hopefully, mobile phone companies come up with a plan to keep these subscriptions going.
 
1st casualty in Kashmir, 65 year old man dies in Srinagar. 9 cases are active. Not showing in trackers so far
 
Adijazz1706 said:
1st casualty in Kashmir, 65 year old man dies in Srinagar. 9 cases are active. Not showing in trackers so far
Click to expand...

First Covid-19 death in Kashmir

Indian-administered Kashmir has reported its first death from the virus - a 65-year-old man.

He had recently returned from attending a religious congregation outside Kashmir that included people from Malayasia and Indonesia.

The disputed region has 11 active Covid-19 cases, and more than 5,000 have been quarantined and are being monitored for symptoms.

Source bbc
 
13 deaths and ~ 600 active cases as of today.

5-7 days of lockdown ke baad we need to see the numbers, which is after 29th March.
 
The Delhi government has put 800 people who came in contact with a 49-year-old Covid-19 positive doctor. The doctor worked in a Mohalla Clinic in Shahdara.

“A total of 800 people who came in contact with the mohalla clinic doctor have been quarantined for 14 days,” Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said on Thursday.

The doctor had tested positive for Covid-19 on March 21, after a 38-year-old woman who had returned from Saudi Arabia visited the clinic near his house. His 48-year-old wife and 17-year-old daughter have also tested positive.

Both had been kept in the isolation facility at Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital.

Jani also announed that the number of Covid-19 positive cases has reached 36 in the national capital.

A 35-year-old man from Jahangirpuri had tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday after coming in contact with the woman who had returned from Dilshad Garden. Four other family members of the woman had also tested positive for the disease earlier.

The other two people who tested positive for the infection on Wednesday - a 21-year-old and a 41-year-old man - were both residents of Sainik Farms area. Both had travelled abroad and had been quarantined in government facilities on return.

Five people in Delhi who had the viral infection have recovered. One person who tested positive had left for Singapore before his report came. So far, Delhi has reported only one death - the 68-year-old mother of a man from Janakpuri who had returned from Italy.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/delh...-delhi-govt/story-alXbyfcLcel2xKfmdG0v8L.html
 
Invincible Gujjar said:
30% people who are below poverty line are gonna suffer from this lockdown.
Click to expand...

And were they not suffering before the lockdown? Many sudden and fake concerns by vested interests recently.

The central government has announced the worlds biggest ration scheme, and with various states projects, a lot of it is aimed at helping the most vulnerable people today. The direct cash to bank account link, is at the forefront in providing immediate relief. Its never going to easy but its a challenge and it is being handled to best ability
 
Invincible Gujjar said:
30% people who are below poverty line are gonna suffer from this lockdown.
Click to expand...

It was 22% in 2011, it is 14% in 2018. 2019-20 stats are yet to be revealed. It is not dire like how it was 25-30 years back. Mostly BPL public get freebies via state sponsored programs now a days in almost all states.

Pictures of slums in Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi are still true and live in unhygienic conditions but they do get enough for food & basic livelihood.

By 2025 we will have single digit poverty but slums, filthy localities will continue to exist.
 
FM Nirmala Sitharaman Press meet : 26.5 billion USD economic package declared for poor, health workers, medics and sanitation folks.
 
1.75 lakh crore worth economic package... damn.. how much does this translate to in dollars?
 
Government is doing much to the people in proactive way, I just hope that people co-operate, these are tough time and you have to adjust sometimes in less food, no services. We have to educate people instead of making panic environment.
 
PM Garib kalyan ann yogana - 80 crs people will get

5 kg rice/ wheat for free next 3 months
1 kg pulse for free next 3 months
 
5 cr families will get a min hike of 2000 per month for indefinite time.

3 cr widowed/ snr citizens / socially abled persons will get a hike of 1000 per month via DBT.
 
Hatsoff to Indian government for the way they tackled this so far

Huge relief for daily wage earners
 
Provident fund for organised sector : EPF contribution : 12% for employer + 12 % for employee = 24% of your monthly salary will be paid by GOI for next 3 months ....

For employees having monthly income of < 15K per month.
 
EPFO withdraw scheme rules will be amended to take out 75% or 3 months wage amount without any fee/tax.

Will benefit 4.8 cr workers.
 
Construction workers : 3.6 cr people

31,000 cr available in funds for welfare of those individuals. State govt's will be ordered to utilise them when there is no work/ delays.
 
Thats a huge relief for weaker sector. Have to say, whatever the outcome is, the nation is really trying.

Here, sports stadiums are already being converted to health care for quarantine, if covid positive patients are detected (hopefully number will be minimal). Preparation is in full force.
 
As per news, jio will give advance to employees who earns less than 30k.
 
Saurav said:
Man I hope lockdown isnt extended.People will go crazy.
Click to expand...

Just like china we will have soft releases, it will take time for all restrictions to be eased. Also people who have gone back to home towns they will not come back immediately. House maids and all will not be allowed by most people immediately.
 
No relief on fuel, electricity, bank loan emi's for organised sector.

You can take part withdraw EPF amount (non refundable) without any tax cuts.
 
AamchiMumbaikar said:
No relief on fuel, electricity, bank loan emi's for organised sector.

You can take part withdraw EPF amount (non refundable) without any tax cuts.
Click to expand...

Nobody is asking govt to pay loan emis and other dues. Many individuals and small businesses are asking to extend due dates because of they are unable to pay on time then interest will pile up and might also affect their CIBIL. :inti
 
Bhaag Viru Bhaag said:
Nobody is asking govt to pay loan emis and other dues. Many individuals and small businesses are asking to extend due dates because of they are unable to pay on time then interest will pile up and might also affect their CIBIL. :inti
Click to expand...

Yes. Extensions are planned , might come soon in another update. This needs approvals from lots of private sectors, majority of banking is private.
 
AamchiMumbaikar said:
Yes. Extensions are planned , might come soon in another update. This needs approvals from lots of private sectors, majority of banking is private.
Click to expand...

It should be. Everyone is worried. Even some of those who have private jobs have been asked to go on unpaid leaves. As I said earlier, govt will look after the poor population, rich won't be affected much because they are busy buying 3 months ration thereby increasing the prices of everyday commodities. Its actually the middle class population of India that's going to suffer the most now. :inti
 
1.7 Lakh Crore-Package Amid Coronavirus Lockdown: "No One Will Go Hungry"

New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today announced a food security scheme to help the economically weaker sections to tide over the added challenge of lockdown and job loss during the worldwide outbreak of coronavirus. The Rs 1,70,000-crore scheme, dubbed the "Prime Minister Gareeb Kalyan scheme" will "address the concerns of poor, migrant workers and those who need help", she said, adding that the government would ensure that "no one will go hungry".

A special Rs 50 lakh medical insurance cover is being offered to the frontline workers toiling to avert the crisis - the doctors and their support staff - she said.

The Finance Minister, who is heading the task force evaluating the financial fallout of this outbreak and charting out the course ahead, outlined a bailout package for the people and industry today.

Besides food, it had a cash component that was divided under eight heads that covered all sections of society, including pensioners, women and the specially abled, the minister said.

"The poor and the needy will get 5 kg additional wheat and rice free of cost for the next there months over and above what they are entitled under the National Food Security Act. They will also get 1 kg pulses free for next three months," the minister said.

For the farmers, she said the government would release the first tranche of their yearly payment of Rs 6,000. Women who have Jan Dhan accounts will get an ex-gratia amount of Rs 500 per month for the next three months. This will benefit over 20 crore women. Across the country, three crore widows, pensioners and the specially abled would receive a one-time ex-gratia payment of Rs 1,000, the minister said.

Nearly 8.3 crore families who are below poverty line will get free cooking gas cylinders for the next three months. Those under the women self-help groups under the Deen Dayal Yojana who are eligible for collateral-free loans of up to Rs 10 lakh can now get Rs 20 lakh.

For the organised sector, the minister announced a hike in provident funds and withdrawal limits.

The centre will pay the PF for both the employee and employer for the next three months for firms that have up to 100 employees and 90 per cent of the employees earn less than Rs 15,000 per month.

These employees would be able to get non-refundable advance to 75 per cent from the fund or three months' wages -- whichever is less -- from their EPFO.

https://www.ndtv.com/business/nirma...e-for-poor-via-cash-transfer-and-food-2201007
 
For non Indian PP'ers that is ~ 26.6 billion USD. Not huge but will help lower income groups. PM Modi has declared a special 2 billion billion USD fund for COVID fighting medical staff and supplies.


Some more measures are planned in next meet for organised sector. Overall I believe some 50 billion USD relief will be given for time being.
 
Good job on economic package, I just hope every penny is spent for the purpose it's meant for and greedy Neta's and Babu's in middle do not dilute the amount by pocketing some money in their personal bank accounts.
 
Are these economic packages audited by anyone? CAG or any other independent body?

Even if government clears money, is it audited that 100% of the money was used for the work it was intended for?
[MENTION=134809]sensible-indian-fan[/MENTION] [MENTION=76058]cricketjoshila[/MENTION]
 
big_gamer007 said:
Good job on economic package, I just hope every penny is spent for the purpose it's meant for and greedy Neta's and Babu's in middle do not dilute the amount by pocketing some money in their personal bank accounts.
Click to expand...

That will happen for sure and you know that pretty well. :inti
 
India has just announced a $22.6bn (£19bn) bailout for the giant country’s poorest citizens to help tide them over during the Covid-19 outbreak.

"We don’t want anyone to remain hungry and we don’t want anyone to remain without money in their hands,” said Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

She said the package would take care of “those who need immediate help” and would include food security by providing free rice, wheat and pulses, as well as direct cash transfers.

The government would also provide medical insurance cover of up to $66,482 for all healthcare workers helping fight the virus.

India’s economy was in the midst of a brutal slowdown before the country went into lockdown, shutting workplaces, factories and leaving millions of day-wagers and informal workers anxious and helpless.

So far India has recorded a tiny number of deaths and infections in proportion to its size - 13 deaths and 673 cases - but there are fears the virus will spread.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Look at the brutality of Ajay Bisht's police, in Badaun. This is the preparation you were talking about, BJP? THESE ARE YOUNG BOYS WHO JUST WANTED TO RETURN HOME ! Shameful and disgusting! Height of Insensitivity ! <a href="https://t.co/iltHRBwWaN">pic.twitter.com/iltHRBwWaN</a></p>— Rohan Gupta (@rohanrgupta) <a href="https://twitter.com/rohanrgupta/status/1243098979455381505?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
big_gamer007 said:
Good job on economic package, I just hope every penny is spent for the purpose it's meant for and greedy Neta's and Babu's in middle do not dilute the amount by pocketing some money in their personal bank accounts.
Click to expand...

Bro everyone knows the answer to your question brother, koi in posters ko bhi btaaye. In Kargil even dead soldiers coffins were not spared from fraud :facepalm:
 
Last edited:
It may take 14 days for COVID-19 virus effected to show some its symptoms.
Good news is there are very less cases at this moment of community tranmission , most of the cases are of local transmission
India banned international flights from Mar 22 , so those NRIs who entered India who have COVID-19 will show symptoms by April 5th max.

So one can expect cases reduction from april 14th onwards
 
Itachi said:
Thats a huge relief for weaker sector. Have to say, whatever the outcome is, the nation is really trying.

Here, sports stadiums are already being converted to health care for quarantine, if covid positive patients are detected (hopefully number will be minimal). Preparation is in full force.
Click to expand...

Can train berth also use for quarantined as in emergency case??
 
Bhaag Viru Bhaag said:
Nobody is asking govt to pay loan emis and other dues. Many individuals and small businesses are asking to extend due dates because of they are unable to pay on time then interest will pile up and might also affect their CIBIL. :inti
Click to expand...

I think this is a reasonable ask. A moratorium of 3 month will be really helpful. Not to say government is not doing anything, but there are quite a few more decisive steps needed followed by quick implementation.
 
Hats off to Indian government. The economic package is insane and a great relief for the poor and needy. Hope our own leaders are looking at this!
 
Coronavirus: Mumbai waste collectors work with their bare hands

Mumbai, India - On Sunday, as India went into a complete lockdown called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to halt the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, Sayaba Kunchikorwe spent his day loading garbage on a municipal truck in Dharavi, one of Mumbai's biggest slums.

Wiping his brow, the 34-year-old shovelled a mound of stinking wet waste onto a plastic mat with his two-pronged rake before tossing it into the garbage truck. The waste consisted of rotting food items, clothes, broken glass, plastic bags, medical waste, and a few face masks.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 infection in the country, he and his colleagues have seen an uptick in the number of discarded face masks in the garbage.

In spite of handling hazardous waste in the middle of a global contagion, Kunchikorwe was working without a mask, gloves, boots, or any other protective gear.

"After we threatened to strike, the contractor gave some of us a disposable mask and low-grade hand gloves," he told Al Jazeera, holding up a mask and a torn glove. "Both articles lasted a day, so we stopped using them. We're anyway used to working without them," he added.

A contract employee with the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), Kunchikorwe's job is among the essential services excluded from the lockdown.

Minimum wage
T Sundararaman, global coordinator for People's Health Movements, says sanitation workers like Kunchikorwe are in the vanguard of preventive healthcare, especially in dense urban environs.

"If they stop working even for a couple of days, it'll lead to a public health catastrophe. The number of vermin vectors will increase exponentially, leading to plagues and epidemics," he explained.

Despite that, he said, India's socioeconomic milieu, riven by caste, geography, and patchy implementation of policies, ensures that sanitation workers remain marginalised at all levels.

"Sanitation workers need masks, gloves, boots and gowns at all times. In the current scenario, they are at high risk due to the disposal of infectious articles like masks, used tissues, or clothing," he said.

Even washing their hands, prescribed as a key deterrent to the spread of COVID-19, is not an option for Kunchikorwe and his colleagues.

"There's no soap. We have to buy shampoo sachets and walk a distance to the municipality office to wash up," he added.

Kunchikorwe is among 6,500 contract employees who work in Mumbai's 227 municipal wards to keep the city garbage-free. Many of them get paid Rs 200-350 ($2.6-4.6) a day, well below the minimum wage of Rs 625 ($8.3) stipulated by Maharashtra state.

They supplement the work of the municipality's permanent staff of 28,000 workers in the solid waste management department. The permanent staff receive three to four times the pay, personal protective equipment, and additional benefits like medical insurance, retirement funds, and leave allowance.

The contract workers are victimised by a contract system under which they are hired by different firms every six months to circumvent the labour laws that would extend safety and welfare measures to them.

High mortality rates
Up to 20 percent of sanitation workers in Mumbai, and the majority of those hired to clean sewers, manholes, and septic tanks, are contracted.

Whether permanent or on contract, 90 percent of the employees are Dalits or belong to other marginalised communities.

Mortality rates among sanitation workers are high, some die long before retirement, succumbing to infectious illnesses, alcoholism, and other causes.

One estimate suggests that the death rate of workers cleaning sewers is five times more than other urban Indians between the age of 15 and 59.

Many contract workers such as Zakir Hussain were forced to buy their own masks themselves due to the coronavirus scare. He purchased an N95 mask for Rs 100, which he plans to use for a month.

He claimed that municipal officials did not give him any safety instructions in the wake of the pandemic. "I started taking precautions after watching some videos on social media," said Hussian, 28, who works at the municipal ward in Colaba, south Mumbai.

In developed countries, Sundararaman from People's Health Movements pointed out, the risks to sanitation workers have been mitigated by following protocols such as mechanization, providing protective equipment, and enhancing social benefits like adequate compensation for injuries/disease.

"In India, these protocols are followed in the breach," he claimed.

On Monday, India was put under an unprecedented lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19, with states sealing their borders, shutting down public transport, and asking citizens to work from home.

But for many, working from home was not an option.

Chotalaxmi Naamdaar, a contract labourer who collects garbage in Fort in south Mumbai, was stopped by the police on the way to work. "They were asking for an ID, which we don't have, and asked us to return. That meant losing Rs 250 as my daily income," the 42-year-old told Al Jazeera.

In Thane, a neighbouring district of Mumbai, contract workers have been deployed to clean a building in Kasarvadavali, where 13 people are being kept under observation for COVID-19.

Bala Hivrale, vice president of the Maharashtra Municipal Kamgaar Union (MMKU), said the workers were not provided masks and gloves either.

"All these years they did not provide us protective gear. But for humanity's sake, this is an emergency. Why are they so callous towards us?" he told Al Jazeera.

Authorities say safety gears provided
The deputy Municipal commissioner of Thane Municipal Corporation, Asho Burpalle, said all workers had been provided masks, towels, soap and gloves. "Who are we to stop what the government has promised?" he told Al Jazeera.

Hivrale countered that the measures were only being announced but not implemented. "Only the permanent workers have received the gear. Contract workers are being threatened with termination when they ask for protective equipment," he said.

Ashok Khaire, joint municipal commissioner of the MCGM, told Al Jazeera the municipality had issued an advisory to all employees, as well as supplied masks, hand-sanitiser, and gloves.

"The contractors have been instructed to provide all necessary equipment. Those violating it will be black-listed. We are also paying contract workers additional Rs 300 ($4) per day for coming to work," he said.

However, many workers Al Jazeera spoke to in Dharavi and Chembur in central Mumbai, Fort in south Mumbai, and Bhandup in northeast Mumbai refuted Khaire's claims.

"We have not been told about the extra compensation. If it's travel compensation, it should be given on a daily basis, which has not happened so far. Instead, we are paid below minimum wage," said Dadarao Patekar, who works in Chembur.

Some, like Ravindra Prahlad Gretkar who works in northeast Mumbai, have not even received wages for the month of February.

"When I asked for the salary, they said to submit bank statements for the entire year," said Gretkar, who had to spend Rs 4,000 ($53) on a cataract operation for his mother the previous week. "Due to the lockdown, the price of everything has doubled. I had to borrow money from a friend to buy groceries."

Activists stress that the government should recognize the crucial role sanitation workers play in keeping the country healthy and revamp policies regarding sanitation work.

"Coronavirus or not, if we stop working for a few days, people will die," Hivrale, the workers' union vice president, said.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020...llectors-work-bare-hands-200326043754117.html
 
Abdullah719 said:
Coronavirus: Mumbai waste collectors work with their bare hands

Mumbai, India - On Sunday, as India went into a complete lockdown called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to halt the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, Sayaba Kunchikorwe spent his day loading garbage on a municipal truck in Dharavi, one of Mumbai's biggest slums.

Wiping his brow, the 34-year-old shovelled a mound of stinking wet waste onto a plastic mat with his two-pronged rake before tossing it into the garbage truck. The waste consisted of rotting food items, clothes, broken glass, plastic bags, medical waste, and a few face masks.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 infection in the country, he and his colleagues have seen an uptick in the number of discarded face masks in the garbage.

In spite of handling hazardous waste in the middle of a global contagion, Kunchikorwe was working without a mask, gloves, boots, or any other protective gear.

"After we threatened to strike, the contractor gave some of us a disposable mask and low-grade hand gloves," he told Al Jazeera, holding up a mask and a torn glove. "Both articles lasted a day, so we stopped using them. We're anyway used to working without them," he added.

A contract employee with the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), Kunchikorwe's job is among the essential services excluded from the lockdown.

Minimum wage
T Sundararaman, global coordinator for People's Health Movements, says sanitation workers like Kunchikorwe are in the vanguard of preventive healthcare, especially in dense urban environs.

"If they stop working even for a couple of days, it'll lead to a public health catastrophe. The number of vermin vectors will increase exponentially, leading to plagues and epidemics," he explained.

Despite that, he said, India's socioeconomic milieu, riven by caste, geography, and patchy implementation of policies, ensures that sanitation workers remain marginalised at all levels.

"Sanitation workers need masks, gloves, boots and gowns at all times. In the current scenario, they are at high risk due to the disposal of infectious articles like masks, used tissues, or clothing," he said.

Even washing their hands, prescribed as a key deterrent to the spread of COVID-19, is not an option for Kunchikorwe and his colleagues.

"There's no soap. We have to buy shampoo sachets and walk a distance to the municipality office to wash up," he added.

Kunchikorwe is among 6,500 contract employees who work in Mumbai's 227 municipal wards to keep the city garbage-free. Many of them get paid Rs 200-350 ($2.6-4.6) a day, well below the minimum wage of Rs 625 ($8.3) stipulated by Maharashtra state.

They supplement the work of the municipality's permanent staff of 28,000 workers in the solid waste management department. The permanent staff receive three to four times the pay, personal protective equipment, and additional benefits like medical insurance, retirement funds, and leave allowance.

The contract workers are victimised by a contract system under which they are hired by different firms every six months to circumvent the labour laws that would extend safety and welfare measures to them.

High mortality rates
Up to 20 percent of sanitation workers in Mumbai, and the majority of those hired to clean sewers, manholes, and septic tanks, are contracted.

Whether permanent or on contract, 90 percent of the employees are Dalits or belong to other marginalised communities.

Mortality rates among sanitation workers are high, some die long before retirement, succumbing to infectious illnesses, alcoholism, and other causes.

One estimate suggests that the death rate of workers cleaning sewers is five times more than other urban Indians between the age of 15 and 59.

Many contract workers such as Zakir Hussain were forced to buy their own masks themselves due to the coronavirus scare. He purchased an N95 mask for Rs 100, which he plans to use for a month.

He claimed that municipal officials did not give him any safety instructions in the wake of the pandemic. "I started taking precautions after watching some videos on social media," said Hussian, 28, who works at the municipal ward in Colaba, south Mumbai.

In developed countries, Sundararaman from People's Health Movements pointed out, the risks to sanitation workers have been mitigated by following protocols such as mechanization, providing protective equipment, and enhancing social benefits like adequate compensation for injuries/disease.

"In India, these protocols are followed in the breach," he claimed.

On Monday, India was put under an unprecedented lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19, with states sealing their borders, shutting down public transport, and asking citizens to work from home.

But for many, working from home was not an option.

Chotalaxmi Naamdaar, a contract labourer who collects garbage in Fort in south Mumbai, was stopped by the police on the way to work. "They were asking for an ID, which we don't have, and asked us to return. That meant losing Rs 250 as my daily income," the 42-year-old told Al Jazeera.

In Thane, a neighbouring district of Mumbai, contract workers have been deployed to clean a building in Kasarvadavali, where 13 people are being kept under observation for COVID-19.

Bala Hivrale, vice president of the Maharashtra Municipal Kamgaar Union (MMKU), said the workers were not provided masks and gloves either.

"All these years they did not provide us protective gear. But for humanity's sake, this is an emergency. Why are they so callous towards us?" he told Al Jazeera.

Authorities say safety gears provided
The deputy Municipal commissioner of Thane Municipal Corporation, Asho Burpalle, said all workers had been provided masks, towels, soap and gloves. "Who are we to stop what the government has promised?" he told Al Jazeera.

Hivrale countered that the measures were only being announced but not implemented. "Only the permanent workers have received the gear. Contract workers are being threatened with termination when they ask for protective equipment," he said.

Ashok Khaire, joint municipal commissioner of the MCGM, told Al Jazeera the municipality had issued an advisory to all employees, as well as supplied masks, hand-sanitiser, and gloves.

"The contractors have been instructed to provide all necessary equipment. Those violating it will be black-listed. We are also paying contract workers additional Rs 300 ($4) per day for coming to work," he said.

However, many workers Al Jazeera spoke to in Dharavi and Chembur in central Mumbai, Fort in south Mumbai, and Bhandup in northeast Mumbai refuted Khaire's claims.

"We have not been told about the extra compensation. If it's travel compensation, it should be given on a daily basis, which has not happened so far. Instead, we are paid below minimum wage," said Dadarao Patekar, who works in Chembur.

Some, like Ravindra Prahlad Gretkar who works in northeast Mumbai, have not even received wages for the month of February.

"When I asked for the salary, they said to submit bank statements for the entire year," said Gretkar, who had to spend Rs 4,000 ($53) on a cataract operation for his mother the previous week. "Due to the lockdown, the price of everything has doubled. I had to borrow money from a friend to buy groceries."

Activists stress that the government should recognize the crucial role sanitation workers play in keeping the country healthy and revamp policies regarding sanitation work.

"Coronavirus or not, if we stop working for a few days, people will die," Hivrale, the workers' union vice president, said.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020...llectors-work-bare-hands-200326043754117.html
Click to expand...

Bhai, kabhi kabhi positive articles bhi post kiya karo. Usme kam mehnat lagega
 
Iqbal'sh said:
Please forgive my ignorance but what is the difference between the two??
Click to expand...

Local transmission is when the source of transmission is known and is local i.e. within country.

Community transmission is when the source is not known
 
big_gamer007 said:
Are these economic packages audited by anyone? CAG or any other independent body?

Even if government clears money, is it audited that 100% of the money was used for the work it was intended for?
[MENTION=134809]sensible-indian-fan[/MENTION] [MENTION=76058]cricketjoshila[/MENTION]
Click to expand...


I would like to answer it. For the past few years (congress era (pre-2014)) itself 98 % of money related transactions in India have been moved directly to bank accounts of individuals rather than giving them cash in India.

For ex: PM kisan yojna where farmer with less than 5 acres of land will get Rs 6000 /year will get the money deposited directly into their accounts from kashmir to tamilnadu.

Now in India for every bank account aadhar is mandatory. Without aadhar none of the transactions can be done.

Gone r those days where ppl used to get govt. benefits in cash.
 
India is at a critical stage in its fight against coronavirus as fears of community transmissions rise. During its lockdown frontline workers are still going out every day to win what one doctor described as "a war India can't afford to lose". The BBC's Vikas Pandey reports.

Experts have warned that India still has time to contain what otherwise could be a catastrophic outbreak, putting millions of lives at risk.

Many fear that the country's healthcare system may not be able to cope with a massive outbreak. Around 130 million people will head to hospitals even if 10% of India's population is infected, according to conservative estimates.

And the country only has 0.5 hospital beds per 1,000 people, one of the lowest ratios in the world, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

So, India is pinning its hope of containing the outbreak on social distancing and a complete lockdown of major cities and towns. And the success is down to the efforts of unknown but selfless workers.

Many workers, including doctors, nurses, paramedics, police, pilots, railway workers and rubbish collectors, are braving grave odds every day.

And medical staff are at the forefront of these efforts.

Dr Taarini Johri, a medical officer at a government-run hospital in the western city of Ahmedabad, said the medical sector "was not prepared to deal with the crisis".

"Doctors and nurses working in the coronavirus wards have good safety equipment. But doctors who are screening patients don't have the same despite the fact that we are at most risk," she said. "A lot of doctors are at risk. We desperately need more safety gear."

Priya Srivastava, a doctor at a hospital in the northern city of Lucknow, said "the time to act is now".

"We need to build makeshift hospitals quickly. If community transmission aggravates, we will have to be ready for it - it will be unlike any scenario we have seen before or we are trained for," she said.

She added that the flu season is making matters worse.

"There is so much panic. People are reaching hospitals with minor coughs and colds, thinking they are infected with Covid-19. So, we need to keep hammering the right message about how to identify coronavirus symptoms."

Dr VK Batra, who has been practising medicine in Delhi for more than three decades, says doctors are "doing everything we can".

"I have just one key message for people - stay at home. Just do this for a few weeks and we may have a fighting chance to control the outbreak."

"Some of us have to stay away from our families for days so we can continue to see patients. That's stressful, but we don't have any other option. We are fighting an enemy we didn't expect to fight or even see coming.

"We are not getting personal protection equipment as quickly as we should," he said. "We are the frontline soldiers and you can't win a war without them."

India has now allowed private labs to conduct coronavirus tests, and some lab technicians are being trained. Amardeep Chaudhary is one of them.

"I am used to going to people's homes to collect samples. We take care to protect ourselves. But coronavirus is something different. I am scared for sure, but I won't give up," he said.

While doctors are fighting the battle inside hospitals, it's the police who have to enforce the lockdown outside.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-52039185
 
I'm losing my mind with this lockdown already. Get me outta here!
 
kaayal said:
If am not wrong, these RT-PCR probes were procured from USA till now and then distributed to the state nodal agencies . The ICMR has allowed new commercial kits to perform this test now.

Usually if the state nodal station founds it positive, they were reconfirmed by sending another sample to NIV Pune. This take usually 2days but this varies depending on various other factors too pertaining to the lab and reagents .Now with new commercial kits, I expect we get more faster results.
Click to expand...

Ok thanks kaayal.

big_gamer007 said:
Are these economic packages audited by anyone? CAG or any other independent body?

Even if government clears money, is it audited that 100% of the money was used for the work it was intended for?
[MENTION=134809]sensible-indian-fan[/MENTION] [MENTION=76058]cricketjoshila[/MENTION]
Click to expand...

I don't know bud.

Have to read up on this.
 
IndianHero said:
I would like to answer it. For the past few years (congress era (pre-2014)) itself 98 % of money related transactions in India have been moved directly to bank accounts of individuals rather than giving them cash in India.

For ex: PM kisan yojna where farmer with less than 5 acres of land will get Rs 6000 /year will get the money deposited directly into their accounts from kashmir to tamilnadu.

Now in India for every bank account aadhar is mandatory. Without aadhar none of the transactions can be done.

Gone r those days where ppl used to get govt. benefits in cash.
Click to expand...

Aadhaar is not mandatory at all, PAN/Form 60 is. Aadhaar isnt even in the 5 basic OVDs IIRC
 
sensible-indian-fan said:
Ok thanks kaayal.



I don't know bud.

Have to read up on this.
Click to expand...

Here is the most detailed post about testing. Courtesy: My Professor.

Diagnostic Testing Strategies for COVID-19
----------------------------------------------------------

There are 3 main type of diagnostic tests for COVID-19
1. Tests to detect the virus
2. Tests to detect antibodies to the virus
3. Imaging modalities

Tests for Viral detection
-------------------------------
The most fool-proof method is sequencing of the viral genome. This is how the virus was identified as a novel and unique entity by the Chinese in Wuhan. Once the sequence was made public, tests to amplify and detect the unique portions of the virus could be designed. These tests called Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) or more specifically Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) since it is an RNA virus that needs to be converted to DNA by the enzyme Reverse transcriptase.
Rapid amplification PCR based cartridge platforms, tried and tested extensively for tuberculosis is now available for various virus diseases including SARS-CoV2. This has the potential of being used as a point of care test.

Advantages of PCR tests:
---------------------------------
The main advantage of PCR is that it is highly specific (Test with 100% specificity means there will be no false positives). The other advantage is that the tests becomes positive in the early phase of the disease and is thus ideal for confirming those with the beginning of symptoms.

Disadvantages of PCR tests:
-------------------------------------
One disadvantage is that the sensitivity (Ability to pick up the truly infected) maybe as low as 50-70%. One reason is that the number of viral particles may not be very large in some infected people. This test needs sample of the patient’s secretions. The best results are obtained from the lungs by broncho-alveolar lavage. This is done in only a few because it is invasive. Nasopharyngeal swabs and sputum are other methods used.
Specimen collection is very important and any mistake in that will result in false negatives
PCR needs costly equipment and highly trained personnel which limits its use to the advanced laboratories. For highly contagious and deadly viruses this also needs very high safety levels (level 3 or 4). These can be to some extent mitigated by the point of care cartridge tests which are easier to do and which needs only inactivated specimen.
PCR also has the disadvantage that it can become negative in the later phases of disease as the body’s immunity builds up.
The test takes about 4 hours to perform and this the throughput of a laboratory with a single Real time PCR machine may be about 100-120 tests per day. The cartridge based test can be done in 1-2 hours but the throughput is much smaller as many samples cannot be done simultaneously.
[SEE TABLE ]

Tests to detect antibodies to the virus
-------------------------------------------------
Antibody based detection tests for SARS- CoV2 have been developed. These are mainly of two types. The standard test is ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) needs a good laboratory and trained personnel. Rapid card tests which have been developed can be done at the point of care without highly trained personnel.
Two types of antibodies are tested. IgM antibody rises first and is indicative of an active or recent infection. IgG type of antibody rises later and is indicative of a past infection.
[SEE FIGURE]

Advantages of Antibody based tests:
-------------------------------------------------
These tests are done on the blood. For rapid card tests, a finger ***** is all that is needed. Antibody based tests are cheaper and results are faster; in case of card tests the result takes only a few minutes.
The antibody tests are very sensitive provided it is done at the proper time as recommended. The specificity is also good for a screening test.
Disadvantages of Antibody based tests:
-----------------------------------------------------
The main disadvantage limiting its use as the primary diagnostic modality is that it remains negative in the early phase of the disease. IgM titres start rising only 3-7 days after the onset of symptoms which is about 8-19 days after exposure to the organism. The specificity can also be a problem when it is used primarily as a standalone diagnostic test.

Imaging tests
------------------
CT scan is very useful in cases of COVID-19 with lung involvement. The findings are fairly specific enough to make a diagnosis in the proper clinical setting even in PCR negative cases.

Which test should we use?
-----------------------------------
A comparison of sensitivities of PCR and antibody based tests according to the day of illness is provided in the table below.

[SEE TABLE 2]

As can be seen from the table, the two tests complement each other and the sensitivity is boosted when used in conjunction. Antibody tests would be eminently suitable for studying incidence and prevalence in the community since even the convalescents and their contacts can be studied for this purpose.

What strategy to use?
----------------------------
Diagnostic testing for SARS-CoV-2 is extremely important for its control. It is those countries that have tested the most people that have been able to contain the spread and mortality. When considering which test to use, we have to take into account the accuracy, cost, infrastructure and human resource available. The following approach may be considered.
1. Use PCR as the primary diagnostic modality
a. Set up testing facilities using Real Time PCR in as many centres as possible. The tests maybe done in clinical and research laboratories that routinely offer PCR based tests. Machines from universities etc may be borrowed on a temporary basis to boost throughput.
b. Point of care cartridge PCR may be used in centres where it is available. This would be more useful in the peripheral centres like the TB control units
c. Private laboratories may be asked to contribute to the effort by helping to test the pool of patients identified by the public health authorities. They should be supplied reagents free for this purpose.
d. Free market testing may be discouraged as it will mainly be used by hypochondriacs with money to spare and waste resources.
2. Antibody tests need not be used as a primary diagnostic test.
a. It can however be used sparingly as an adjunct in doubtful cases negative for PCR and to test contacts for epidemiological purposes as needed.
b. The main use of the antibody test would be to study the incidence and prevalence of disease and local outbreaks by well designed studies setting up surveillance centres.
c. They can be used in a limited manner to screen new arrivals from within or outside the country and those who test poitive may be quarantined.

References
---------------
1. Wang W et al. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Different Types of Clinical Specimens. JAMA. 2020 Mar 11. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.3786.
2. Drain PK, Garrett NJ. The arrival of a true point-of-care molecular assay-ready for global implementation? Lancet Glob Health. 2015 Nov;3(11):e663-4.
3. Juanjuan Zhao et al. Antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 in patients of novel coronavirus disease 2019. www.medrxiv.org. March 03, 2020 doi.org/10.1101/2020.03.02.20030189
4. Fatima Amanat et al. A serological assay to detect SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion in humans. www.medrxiv.org. March16, 2020. doi.org/10.1101/2020.03.17.20037713.
 
Local.Dada said:
Bhai, kabhi kabhi positive articles bhi post kiya karo. Usme kam mehnat lagega
Click to expand...

It's a pandemic, there will be mostly negative news.

We are adding updates regardless of whether they are positive or negative. Just a few posts above, I added a detailed article for the relief measures.

No conspiracy here, you know.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Bhaijaan
Iran thanks Indian people for support in fight against US-Israel
2
Replies
83
Views
2K
rpant_gabba
rpant_gabba
R
India's Modi tells Trump there was no US mediation in ceasefire with Pakistan
2
Replies
128
Views
3K
Bhaag Viru Bhaag
Bhaag Viru Bhaag
Bhaag Viru Bhaag
Setback for Saif Ali Khan in ₹15000-crore Pataudi property dispute in Bhopal
Replies
10
Views
363
Bhaijaan
Bhaijaan
BouncerGuy
[VIDEO] Language racism in India?
Replies
42
Views
845
Bhaag Viru Bhaag
Bhaag Viru Bhaag
rickroll
Pakistani Biker in India
Replies
9
Views
593
rickroll
rickroll
Back
Top