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  • Saudi Arabia announces extraordinary measures to protect Mecca and Medina from coronavirus

    Authorities close all Zamzam water dispensaries and ban food in holy mosques to help prevent spread of virus

    Saudi Arabia has introduced a series of measures to protect the two holy mosques of Mecca and Medina from the coronavirus.

    According to Saudi officials, the new rules include the closure of both mosques between the evening Isha prayers and morning Fajr prayers, and a ban on food entering the two complexes.

    Mount Safa and Mount Marwa inside the Great Mosque in Mecca will also be closed until a ban on Umrah pilgrimages is lifted. Zamzam water dispensaries within both mosques will also be closed off.

    The measures come after local authorities closed off the interior of the Great Mosque in Mecca until Friday morning prayers to allow cleaning teams to disinfect the tawaf area near the Kaaba, a black boxed structure in the mosque complex.

    Pictures posted online showed the tawaf area empty as pilgrims were barred from entering the mosque, known as Masjid al-Haram, during the cleaning exercise.

    Earlier this week, Riyadh introduced a ban on Saudi citizens, residents and foreigners hoping to visit Mecca and Medina for the Umrah pilgrimage.

    Umrah is a pilgrimage to Mecca that can be undertaken at any time of the year and is not considered compulsory. Pilgrims often visit the Prophet’s mosque, also known as Masjid al-Nabawi, before or after visiting the Great mosque in Mecca.

    Riyadh reported its first case of the coronavirus on Monday. Local authorities said the patient was a Saudi national returning from Iran, which has reported the most deaths outside of China.

    A health ministry spokesperson said Saudi Arabia was preparing 25 hospitals to handle any coronavirus cases that might be detected.

    The kingdom, which hosts the two holiest sites of Islam, welcomes millions of Muslim visitors throughout the year with a peak for the Hajj pilgrimage.

    Almost seven million people visit Mecca annually to perform Umrah. Prior to visiting Saudi Arabia, pilgrims are required to provide certificates of vaccinations in their visa applications.

    It remains unclear how long the ban on Umrah pilgrimages will be implemented, but travel agencies told MEE that Saudi Arabia introduced the restrictions to prepare for the coronavirus.

  • Coronavirus | Government asks for 15 million PPE kits from China

    Government asks China to fulfil orders amid concerns over newly tightened export regulations

    PTI

    Indian companies and government entities have placed orders for 15 million Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits, including gowns and masks, and 1.5 million rapid testing kits from China, officials said on Tuesday.

    The Indian government is calling on China to fulfil those orders, amid concerns over tightened regulations on exporting such equipment by Chinese authorities following criticism from several European countries over the quality of exports.

    “We are in the process of, or have already completed, contracting for 15 million PPE kits, consisting of gowns, masks, gloves, goggles, etc. and nearly 1.5 million rapid testing kits of all kinds, some of which have already been delivered,” India’s Ambassador to China Vikram Misri said at an online press briefing from Beijing on Tuesday.

    A substantial amount of India’s national PPE supply is coming from China. These orders, both from government and private sector, were placed on a commercial basis. China had separately donated 170,000 PPE coveralls, the Health Ministry said on April 6, which would add to the 387,473 PPEs available in the country as of that date.

    More than 500,000 testing kits from China have already been delivered to various entities, while a further 1 to 1.5 million test kits are at different stages of procurement and production.

    India has since tried to ramp up production and supply from imports, including from China, which is a major producer of both PPEs and testing kits.

    Mr. Misri called on China to ensure that supply chains remained open and for all placed orders to be fulfilled. While India “appreciate[d] efforts by China to ensure the quality of goods exported”, it also called on Beijing to fulfil previously placed orders with companies that were licensed by Indian authorities to export to the Indian market. China imposed new regulations to tighten checks on April 10, following concerns over quality of exports expressed in several countries.

    “In some cases, some of the orders placed recently were placed before regulations came into effect that limited and restricted the number of companies from China that can export to India,” Mr. Misri said. “ Given that the products are licensed for import to India, it will be a welcome step for Chinese authorities to expedite the registration of these products. Our expectation is that these well-established companies will fulfil their contractual obligations.”

    Mr. Misri said there were “more than half a dozen” orders in different stages of processing, and India’s current understanding was delivery schedules remained on course. “We have a schedule that stretches from deliveries starting tomorrow [April 15] until the end of the month, when half a dozen consignments ordered by different entities in India will be delivered,” he said. “Our understanding is the registration process has been initiated and we have requested the Chinese government to expedite the registration process of companies so that export orders already processed and ready to ship can be sent on their way to India. We hope this request can be facilitated by the Chinese government.”

    There have also been concerns over some orders being diverted. The Tamil Nadu government said this week that 50,000 testing kits it had ordered from China were diverted to the U.S. “We have seen media reports but not come across authoritative reports of supplies intended for India having been diverted,” Mr. Misri said.

    Mr. Misri said maintaining open supply-chains and agreed timelines of orders would be “the best possible signal to send” about the state of the India-China relationship. He cited the example of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), which India imports in large quantities from China, and some Chinese companies also source from India.

    The Indian Ambassador said there was “considerable space for India and China to cooperate” in dealing with COVID-19, from both the short-term and long-term perspective. “The immediate aspect is for us to cooperate in procurement of much needed medical equipment and products in India as our healthcare community on the frontlines of this challenge battles this outbreak. When China was at the height of dealing with this outbreak, we had offered and provided medical assistance. Now we are in the process of commercially procuring a large number of these supplies. China happens to be one of the largest producers of a number of these products.”

    “We are identifying bonafide suppliers and entering into agreements,” he said. “What is important is quality material continues to be available at reasonable and stable prices, and we are able to establish or re-establish freight and cargo lines disrupted by the initial impact of the crisis.”

    There was also scope for working together when it came to research on COVID-19, Mr. Misri said, noting that various Indian agencies had already taken part in video conferencing calls with the Chinese government in sharing experiences in tackling the pandemic.

    India and China are marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2020 and had planned 70 events to be held. “We might not be able to undertake every activity,” Mr. Misri said, “but it remains our intention to do as much as is possible in the time that is available and in as befitting a manner as possible.”

    (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

  • COVID-19 | Flight ban to stay till May 3

    Decision follows PM Modi’s announcement on extension of lockdown

    PTI

    All domestic and international flights will remain suspended until the midnight of May 3, according to the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

    This means that international flights would have been barred for a total of 42 days and domestic flights for 40 days by May 3. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation banned international flights from March 23 and the ban for domestic flights came into effect two days later, i.e. March 25.

    The decision follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement on extension of the nationwide lockdown amid the COVID-19 threat.

    However, there is no restriction on cargo flights. The government has taken the help of passenger airlines like Air India, IndiGo and SpiceJet, apart from BlueDart, for transportation of essential medical supplies within the country as well as to Shanghai, Hong Kong and Colombo.

    Several international airlines as well as Air India have been operating special chartered flights to help foreign citizens in India return to their countries.

  • Police arrest female kingpin selling charas to youth in Srinagar

    Srinagar: Police raided a house in Srinagar and arrested the female kingpin who allegedly was luring youth to drugs and charas.

    Police sources told KNT that complaints were pouring in against a female who according to complainants were selling charas and other drugs and was working in this illegal practice in connivance with some of the youth.

    A police party headed by Station House Officer, Police Station Shergari, Miss Tanushri (IPS) raided the house of the accused identified as Madina alias Banti wife of late Abdul Majid Sheikh of Khan Mohalla Alochi Bagh and recovered 680 gram charas from her possession.

    Confirming this, Miss Tanushri told KNT that besides the female kingpin, two other youth were arrested and an FIR vide number 20/2020 under section 8/20, 29 NDPS Act was registered against him.

    She identified the arrested youth as Zubair Ahmed Bhat son of Zahoor Ahmed of Alochibagh and Mudasir Ahmed Sheikh son of Mushtaq Ahmed. (KNT)

  • An Open Letter From Dr Musadiq Allaqaband

    Respected friends,

    My name is Musadiq Alaqaband, I am a Pediatrician by profession and am presently posted at “CHILDREN HOSPITAL, GB PANT, SRINAGAR”.

    Since last few days I am being harassed by someone named Mr. S M Rizvi who is a resident of Zadibal, Srinagar. Contact number +9170060*****, Mr. Rizvi few days back frantically called me on my phone and informed that his child was ill. I gave him a patient hearing and according the best possible advise to him for his ailing child.

    As per the government directive, owing to the pandemic scenario all private clinics and consultations at home have been banned and rightly.

    Giving scant consideration to my emergency duty obligations, Mr. Rizvi again called me next day but unfortunately I was not able to receive his call as i was on an ICU duty. On Sunday morning he called me yet again informing that his child was having fever. I accordingly advised him to visit the Hospital and get in touch with me subsequently.

    Instead of going to the Hospital he visited my house in my absence, banged the door violently and harassed my family members in my absence. He was informed by my helper that doctor does not see any patients at home.

    I may become a source of infection to patients in a home setup where there are no arrangements for patient care, since doctors are more exposed to patient transmitted infections.

    I try to attend all calls of my patients whenever possible and respond to their WhatsApp messages promptly. My patients can vouch on this for me.
    I am also a human being with my own set of problems. I have co-morbid Grand Parents at home. My Grandmother is on the Oxygen concentrator support. My Grandfather is Asthamatic with a chronic heart ailment. He is on a pacemaker.

    My Father is heavily Diabetic with renal ailment. My Mother is hypertensive and is on permanent medication. Anyone can come to my home and check these facts. I cant even see my Grandparents and Parents at home as I fear for their well being. At home, I prefer to stay in isolation, least I could become a reason for trouble to my loved ones.

    How can anyone expect me to see patients at home when I even don’t go near to my loved family members .

    Same day on Sunday he wrote an insinuating Facebook post targeting me as a person and abusing me as a professional. He made all of my contact details public. His FB post has been shared by thousands of people since then and thousands of abuses and threats are being heaped on me continuously. My mother has gone into depression, my wife is inconsolable, my Grand parents have gone numb. My life has become a living hell.

    I am being harassed by unknown people on phone and am being subjected to abuse and harassment. Yesterday night some unknown people hurled stones at my house. I am in receipt of multiple life threatening messages.

    As a responsible citizen I ignored his FB post initially as I sympathised with him in view of his child being ill. Now its getting extremely difficult for me to bear all this vile and intimidation. I am not able to concentrate on my work. I am in constant fear that someone would come and mug me or someone would barge into my home and harm my parents.

    I am uploading all the call details as proof in comments for all of you to see. It is up to you to judge and is imperative upon my fraternity to intervene into this matter, lest all the doctors would face the same fate, sooner or later.

    If such a behaviour towards Doctors on the emergency duty is tolerated, I fear we may end up in a hopeless scenario where Doctors would feel scared in performing their duties. This is just the beginning, God forbid Covid situation may worsen, from hereon. Does that mean people should be allowed to gatecrash into residences of Doctors and threaten thier families.

    All hospitals are open 24 × 7. Doctors are on duty serving the people to the best of their abilities. I am also in the list of Doctors on emergency duty.
    It is now up to the conscience of those who are reading this to decide and tell me where my fault lies.

    In case if any untoward incident happens with me or my family, please be informed, Mr. Rizvi shall be held wholly responsible to that. I urge upon authorities to take cognizance of the matter and ensure my safety. Additionally, Mr. Rizvi should be held accountable for the criminal intimidation with an intent to cause physical and mental harm to me and my family. I shall be within my rights to take a legal recourse against Mr. Rizvi for denting my reputation.
    Thanks all for your patient hearing.
    Sincerely yours,

    Musadiq Allaqaband
    (Doctor)

  • 26 positive cases and counting: Bandipora hamlet presents a ghost look

    Bandipora: Covid-19 crisis has shaken the people of Gund Jahangir area of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district. A hamlet with population of 3,301 as per 2011 Census is presenting a ghost look with everyone staying indoors. “Stepping out is to invite virus to your house. There is so much fear among people,” said Sajad Ahmed, a student to Kashmir News Trust.

    There are about 435 households in the hamlet which has witnessed 26 Covid-19 confirmed cases and a death.

    There are kids, females, young and old who are infected with Covid-19 infection in the village.

    Ironically, the deceased Covid-19 patient from the Gund Jahangeer hamlet had no travel history. Locals believe that the infection spread among people from its neighbouring Naidkhai village where 3 positive cases have been reported.

    “When Naidkhai reported its first Covid-19 case, Gundjahangeer was free of Coronavirus. Three persons, affiliated with Tableegi Jamat were the first three cases reported from Naidkhai. All the three persons had come into contact with first deceased Covid-19 patient hailing from Sopore.

    A medico told KNT that dozens of reports are still awaited and all these samples have been collected in Gundjahangeer. “Some more positive cases may surface in the hamlet as a large number of people are already in quarantine,” he said.

    North Kashmir’s Bandipora district with a total population of over 4 lakh people have witnessed over 50 Covid-19 positive cases.

    Locals from Gundjahangeer demand mass testing so that they could come out from the present trauma. “At least through testing it will become clear who are free of infection and who need care,” they said. (KNT)

  • Coronavirus | Indian newborn babies named Sanitizer, Corona Kumar and Kumari

    A couple in Uttar Pradesh has named their newborn baby boy Sanitizer.

    PTI

    newborn baby boy in Saharanpur district, Uttar Pradesh has been named Sanitizer by his parents.

    The father of the baby boy, Omveer, spoke to India Today Television and said, “Using hand sanitiser is very important to keep ourselves safe from the Covid-19 pandemic. The government in this time of crisis is ensuring an adequate supply of sanitizers, so that people can use them to remain safe. Free sanitisers are also being distributed to the needy across the nation.”

    “My wife and I are highly impressed by the effective measures taken by both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to battle the novel coronavirus. We have named our baby Sanitiser because it is being used by everyone at present to deter the spread of germs on our hands,” he added.

    The baby was born on Sunday at a private hospital in Saharanpur district.

    Amid the nationwide lockdown due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, quite a few cases of parents naming their newborns after the new virus have come to light. Two newborn babies born to two couples on April 8 were named Corona Kumar and Corona Kumari in Andhra Pradesh.

    Corona Kumar and Kumari: 2 Andhra Pradesh couples name newborn babies born during lockdown

    PTI

    In Andhra Pradesh’s Kadapa district, two couples named their newborn babies born during the lockdown after the novel coronavirus.

    Two newborn babies have been named after the novel coronavirus by their parents in Andhra Pradesh’s Kadapa. Sasikala of Tallapalli village and Ramadevi of Alireddypalli village were pregnant and were admitted to the SF Basha Hospital in Vempalli town in the Kadapa district.

    Sasikala was admitted on March 29 while Ramadevi was hospitalised on April 5. Both delivered babies on their respective dates of admission itself. While Sasikala delivered a baby girl, Ramadevi delivered a baby boy.

    Upon the suggestion of a doctor, the parents named the infants after the novel coronavirus.

    “One woman from Tallapalli came to us on March 29. She was in labour pain. As it was an emergency, we had to operate. A baby girl was born. The woman was happy. That couple agreed to name the girl as Corona Kumari,” Dr SF Basha told news agency ANI.

    “My wife was suffering from labour pain. We brought her to the hospital. It is corona time but we had no option. She was operated upon and the girl was born at 9am on Sunday. We named her Corona Kumari, as the doctor advised,” the baby girl’s father said.

    The baby girl’s mother Sasikala said that she agreed to the doctor’s idea of naming her daughter Corona Kumari.

    “My baby was delivered during this time. So, the doctor advised naming the baby Corona Kumari. We agreed to it,” Sasikala said.

    Speaking of the second delivery, Dr SF Basha said, “Similarly, Ramadevi came to our hospital on April 5. Hers was also an emergency case. There was no time to send her anywhere else. As they requested, we did the operation. That couple also happily agreed to name their baby boy Corona Kumar.”

    The grandfather of the baby boy said that he agreed to the doctor’s suggestion of naming the child Corona Kumar.

    “My daughter had pains during this corona outbreak time. We admitted her to the hospital. There, she delivered a baby boy. The doctor suggested the name Corona Kumar. We accepted it,” he said.

  • Offer five mandatory and Taraweeh prayers at home in Ramadhan: Kashmir’s Grand Mufti urges people

    Asks people not to get disheartened as dawn of peace will appear soon

    Srinagar: Kashmir’s Grand Mufti Nasir-ul Islam on Tuesday while referring to the Kashmir’s youth said that there is no need to be annoyed and getting disheartened due to the fast spread of pandemic Covid-19 as there will a dawn of peace soon that will take away all form of “worries from the distressed Valleyites.”

    Islam also announced that this Ramdhan, which is would commence on April 25 subject to appearance of moon, people should offer five mandatory prayers and Taraweeh prayers in their homes and seek Allah’s mercy in the month of blessings and forgiveness.

    Pertinently, Saudi Arabi has suspended Taraweeh prayers in masjids in the holy month of Ramadhan and asked people to pray at home in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.

    Talking to wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Islam said that his appeal to the people of Kashmir especially the young generation who are feeling upset and disheartened due to the spread of Covid-19, that there is no need to panic or to remain under duress as the “dawn of peace will emerge soon and enlighten every single Kashmiri for a better and peaceful future where there would be no atrocities or oppression.”

    He said doors of Almighty Allah are always open for believer’s and there is no place for disbelief. “Allah will listen to the prayers and respond too for the welfare of people of Kashmir and rest of the world,” he said. He said that people of Kashmir should respect humanity and protect it in all forms.

    “The best way to protect the humanity in the holy month of Ramadhan will be to offer five-mandatory prayers (of the day) and the Taraweeh prayers (late night prayers) in their homes. People should behave like a mature society and not rush towards masjids in Ramadan and instead they should pray in their homes and seek blessings, and forgiveness from Almighty as Ramadhan is the month of blessings, peace, and best option to be utlised to seek Allah’s refuge from the hell,” Islam told KNO.

    He urged people across Kashmir to identify needy, poor, destitute and orphans and help them with food, clothes and Sadakah (charity) in this challenging hour and earn reward from Almighty Allah. He said people in every locality must ensure that no one should sleep empty stomach and all should have proper food to eat at Sehri and Iftaar—(KNO)

  • COVID-19 | 13 more COVID +Ve patients discharged

    “More Positive Developments: 13 more COVID +Ve patients discharged from CD Hospital Srinagar after treatment/recovery. Good Job everyone. #Togetherwecan #Weshallovercome @diprjk @HealthMedicalE1 @listenshahid“

    – tweets Rohit Kansal

  • Congress says PM Modi’s address ‘hollow’, no mention of financial package

    PTI

    “There is money, there is food, but the government will not release either money or food. Cry, my beloved country,” senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram said on Twitter.

    The Congress on Tuesday termed as “rhetoric” and “hollow on specifics” the Prime Minister’s address to the nation, saying there was no mention of a financial package or concrete steps to revive the economy.

    Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram said, “The poor have been left to fend for themselves for 21+19 days, including practically soliciting food. There is money, there is food, but the government will not release either money or food. Cry, my beloved country,” he said on Twitter.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced that the lockdown across the country will be extended till May 3 to fight the coronavirus pandemic, saying the measure has produced a significant outcome in containing the infection.

    Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the PM’s address was like Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark.

    Also read: ‘Economic package must precede lifting of lockdown’

    “Amazing PM address. Exhortation, rhetoric, inspiration…..yet hollow on specifics! No financial package, no details, no concrete item. Neither for poor nor middle class nor industry nor businesses. Lockdown is good but cannot be end in itself! Where is single livelihood issue,” he asked.

    He said the PM should be assured that all stakeholders will do their duties and will strictly observe lockdown.

    “After this: should we pray? We want concrete palliatives for these deprived classes and even for middle india and MSMEs,” he said.