Author: hamid

Islamic Republic alleges French medical charity MSF staff would serve as ‘spies’ if deployed on the ground in Iran.

ALJAZEERA

Iran ruled out “foreign” help on the ground to deal with the coronavirus pandemic after an offer from a France-based medical charity, as the country’s death toll from the contagion neared 2,000.

“Due to Iran’s national mobilisation against the virus and the full use of the medical capacity of the armed forces, it is not necessary for now for hospital beds to be set up by foreign forces, and their presence is ruled out,” Alireza Vahabzadeh, adviser to Iran’s health minister, said on Tuesday.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said Sunday it planned to send a nine-member team and equipment to set up a 50-bed hospital, stirring opposition from ultra-conservative circles in the Islamic Republic who alleged MSF staff would serve as “spies”.

Health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour earlier said a record 1,762 new cases were confirmed in Iran over the past 24 hours with 24,811 people infected.

He announced 122 new deaths from the virus, raising the official toll to 1,934 in one of the world’s worst-hit countries.

MSF said on Tuesday it did not understand a decision by Iranian authorities to cancel a mission it had prearranged to set up a facility to fight coronavirus in Isfahan.

“We are surprised to learn that the deployment of our treatment unity is cancelled,” Michel-Olivier Lacharite, who is in charge of Medecins Sans Frontieres crisis response team, said in a statement.

He said the group had been given prior approval and were ready to set up the 50-bed unit at the end of the week. He said they were still ready to deploy on Iran or elsewhere on the region.

(This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Srinagar: As it has been announced by the government that the two month rations will be provided to BPL people in wake of covid-19, Aash Kashmir based NGO has started to do its bit in this cause.
Aash chairpersons Qurat ul-ainn Masoodi said that our NGO will work side by side with the administration in providing basic necessities to people belonging from BPL so that they will stay at home and save themselves and others from this deadly virus.
In this context Ms Masoodi said that in khan sahib budgam Aash is coming forward and has decided to buy the ration for BPL community and participate in this noble cause. This process has already been started, as Aash is crediting the money in the bank accounts of people coming from BPL section. Apart from khan sahib budgam Aash is trying to cover other areas so that no one is left without help.
Thus is not the first time Aash is coming forward for volunteering in such causes. Previously Aash has also worked in floods of 2014, to provide people with much needed help. Moreover Aash has been arranging mass marriage of girls coming from the weaker sections of society and is already taking care of 50 orphan children in the above mentioned area.

6 passengers including 4 Nepali labourers quarantined

Qazigund, Mar 25, KNT: At least 1772 passengers including non-local labourers have been screened at Lower Munda in Qazigund area among which six with Coronavirus symptoms were quarantined.
Official sources told KNT that among those who were quarantined at Emergency Hospital at Qazigund include 4 Nepal labourers and two Kashmiris.

A police official said that not a single person will be allowed to enter into Valley. He said that Banihal Tunnel has been closed and people are being advised to stay where they are, and don’t travel on Srinagar Jammu Highway.

Meanwhile, Government is looking for those who are concealing travel history. Police have received inputs from various sources that dozens of people mostly returning from abroad have gone into hiding without any screening.

Police sources said that last week several people returned from Saudi Arabia and without screening are staying at home. Sources added that a three couples, all the residents of Arampora Qamarwari after returning from Saudi Arabia went straight to home and have not been quarantined or screened.

Similarly, sources said that a man from Hamdaniya Colony Sector 6 Bemina has arrived from Thailand and without screening is staying at home.

Similarly, a lady from Guzarbal Qamarwari who along with her sister arrived from Saudi Arabia, without any screening is staying at home. This sibling returned to Valley on March 18.

Sources told KNT that a man from Bazar Mohalla, Gund Hasi Bhat Srinagar returned from Dubai yesterday and without undergoing any medical check-up is staying at home.

Locals from Kralpora Sultan Mohalla in Chadoora informed that a man after staying in various States of India has also returned home without any screening.

“The number of people who are staying at home and concealing travel history is very large. We are trying to identify them and they will be quarantined,” said an official to KNT.

Business Standard

Coronavirus LIVE updates: Even as India’s 1.3 billion citizens go into a 21-day lockdown, the country’s total number of cases rose to 562 on Wednesday, with Tamil Nadu reporting the death of a 54-year-old coronavirus patient. On Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi imposed a nationwide lockdown in an attempt to stall the spread of coronavirus, which has claimed 9 lives in India. The restrictions came into force at midnight and will be in force for 21 days. The new measures follow a sharp increase in cases in recent days. India, which has a population of 1.3 billion, joins a growing list of countries that have imposed similar measures.

“To save India, to save its every citizen, you, your family… every street, every neighbourhood is being put under lockdown,” Modi said in a televised speech.

Modi warned that if India does not “handle these 21 days well, then our country… will go backwards by 21 years”.

“This is a curfew,” he said. “We will have to pay the economic cost of this but it is for your safety.”

He appealed for people not to panic and assured the essential services will carry on as usual – but crowds quickly mobbed stores in the Delhi and other cities.

Covid-19 has affected 421,413 people globally and 18,810 people have died from it across the world.

(This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Srinagar, March 25: Grand Mufti Of Jammu And Kashmir
Mufti Nasir-Ul-Islam today asked the people to strictly adhere to health advisory of government and offer obligatory prayers with the association of two to three young people only.

He in his message to people of J&K said, ” As events are unfolding extremely grim and difficult situation expected, handful of ventilators, inefficient testing facilities & over burdened medical staff are the biggest concern in Jammu and kashmir. Keeping in view of this I request Imams, Muazins to offer obligatory prayers with association of two to three young people living in the neighbourhood of mosque . while as other people should pray at home and adhere strictly to health advisory.”
He added, “I request you to pray hand folded seeking mercy of Allah & strength to our doctors & medical staff to serve humanity.pl fallow all safety measures under present circumstances. I request all ulamas khateebs and Imams to implement it in letter and sprit.” (KNS)