New Delhi | Jagran News Desk: The coronavirus cases in the country has been increasing at an alarming pace as in last 24 hours 98 new cases have been reported in India, taking the total toll to 298 people, including 22 recovered and 4 deaths. With 111 labs being made functional from today, the authorities have also gained speed in implementing measures to prevent the virus from further spread and identify the cases and isolate them timely.
The health ministry on Saturday informed that a total of 111 labs for testing coronavirus across the country will be functional from today. "Dr Balram Bhargava, Director General of Indian Council of Medical Research, has said that 111 labs for COVID19 diagnosis will be functional by today evening," said Lav Aggarwal as reported y news agency ANI.
Meanwhile, COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra surged to 64 with 12 new cases, 8 from Mumbai, 2 from Pune, 1 each Yavatmal and 1 from Kalyan. Looking at the alarming rise of the cases in the state, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said that the state is heading towards the Phase 3 of the highly contagious virus. He also appealed to the people to avoid using public transport to contain the spread.
Here are the 10 big development on Coronavirus during the day:
1. The health ministry on Saturday informed that a total of 111 labs for testing coronavirus across the country will be functional from today. The ministry also informed that, 262 people from Rome of which mostly are students will arrive in India today and will be kept in quarantine centres as per the protocol. 1,600 Indians and people from other countries have till date been kept in quarantine centres in India.
2. In the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic gripping the country the Railway Ministry has asked the people to "postpone all journeys" as a number of COVID-19 positive persons were found travelling in trains. The advisory came after Twelve people, who have travelled by two different trains recently, have been tested positive for coronavirus, said the Railway Ministry on Saturday.
3. While eight of the 12 passengers had travelled from Delhi to Ramagundam on AP Sampark Kranti Express on March 13, four had travelled on Godan Express from Mumbai to Jabalpur on 16th March. Moreover, the ministry said two passengers who were marked mandatory quarantine were deboarded after they were found to be travelling Rajdhani train between Bengaluru and Delhi today.
4. In the wake of Covid-19, Indian Railways has also decided to relax its refund policy for tickets booked from its counters. According to the press release issued by South Western Railways, passengers cancelling their ticket scheduled between March 21 to April 15 can file for a refund up to 30 days from the date of journey. Earlier this period was only for three days.
5. The Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Saturday said the state has witnessed a "big rise" in the number of coronavirus positive patients with the addition of 12 such cases, and the state is heading towards the Phase 3 of the highly contagious virus. Tope said the number of coronavirus positive patients in the state has increased to 64 with 12 new cases.
6. Meanwhile, the Delhi government on Saturday said the novel coronavirus was causing terrible financial stress to the poor and announced that those receiving ration from fair-price shops would get 50 per cent extra for next month. Urging people to stay indoors, Kejriwal said the government had not imposed a lockdown in Delhi for now, but would have to do it if the need arises in the wake of coronavirus pandemic.
7. The government has also reduced the size of social, religious and political gatherings to not more than five people. The government also reduced the number of DTC buses on Delhi roads on Sunday during the Janta Curfew.
8. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, who went into self-isolation after attending a party with singer Kanika Kapoor in Lucknow, has tested negative for coronavirus. On Friday, Vasundhara went in self-isolation along with her son Bharatiya Janata Party MP Dushyant Singh after Bollywood singer Kanika Kapoor, whom they had met in Lucknow, was found to be positive for COVID-19.
9. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held a video conference with representatives of pharma companies and told them that this was the time to boost production. The companies assured Prime Minister Modi that India has enough supplies of all essential pharma commodities and there is no reason to worry.
10. Chemists and pharma companies also gave an assurance to the Prime Minister that they will work on this crisis with the government to ensure that supply chains remain working 24/7 and the nation comes first for them.