STATES IN NO HURRY TO EASE LOCKDOWN

At least seven states, which together have reported 1,367 coronavirus cases

- almost one-third of the 4,281 cases across the country so far - indicated

Monday that they would continue to have some restrictions in place even

after the 21-day national lockdown ends on April 14.

While Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao said he was in favour of

extending the lockdown in his state, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, UP, Assam,

Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand indicated that they would not fully lift the

restrictions after next Tuesday.

Assam, which has reported 26 cases, is planning a registration system to

regulate those who wish to enter the state after the lockdown.

Maharashtra, which has recorded the maximum number of cases (868) so far, is

likely to extend the lockdown in the Mumbai and Pune regions, as well in

other hotspots. UP officials said that following the rise in number of cases

in the state linked to the Tablighi Jamaat gathering in Delhi (159 out of

305), "there is now uncertainty over lifting of the lockdown".

Rajasthan (301) is working on a "staggered" exit strategy with curbs in

"high risk zones", while Chhattisgarh (10) CM Bhupesh Baghel wrote to PM

Narendra Modi against lifting interstate travel over worries the outbreak

will spread.

Only Madhya Pradesh (256) struck a different note, as Chief Minister Shivraj

Singh Chouhan said that wheat procurement will begin from April 15.

Speaking to reporters in Hyderabad, Telangana Chief Minister Rao said: "We

do not have any other weapon than the lockdown to control the spread of the

virus. I appeal to the Prime Minister to extend the lockdown, I

wholeheartedly support it. Our economy may recover after six months or one

year but if lives are lost, they cannot be brought back."

Rao also quoted from a report, which estimated that COVID-19 cases will peak

in India by the first week of June.

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said his state "needs to work with

great care in Mumbai and Pune as cases are higher in these regions. nobody

should assume the lockdown will be relaxed completely from April 15".

CORONAVIRUS : GOVT RELEASES SOME AGE-WISE DATA ON INFECTIONS, DEATHS

Of the total 109 COVID-19 related deaths in India till Monday afternoon, 63

per cent were of people over 60 years. Further, 86 per cent of those who

died had co-morbidities (additional medical conditions), such as diabetes,

heart disease, hypertension, etc.

An analysis of 4,067 COVID-19 cases by the health ministry has revealed that

more men than women contracted the disease, and died too. Among the COVID-19

positive cases reported, 76 per cent are men; of the dead, 73 per cent were

men.

While amongst the dead, senior citizens accounted for 63 per cent, they

comprise just 19 per cent of the 4,067 COVID-19 positive cases till Monday

afternoon.

A total of 1,01,068 samples were tested till Monday 9 pm, the ICMR said. Dr

R R Gangakhedkar, Director of Epidemiology, ICMR, said the Council was

capable of conducting 25,000 COVID tests per day "if we start working double

shift". About five lakh testing kits have been ordered.

Replying to a question about the stage of the outbreak in India, Lav

Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry, said India was currently between

stages two and three - local transmission and community transmission. "For

limited cases, we are doing cluster containment; localised community

transmission means there are more cases in those areas, and we are focusing

on them."

TRUMP TALKS OF 'RETALIATION' IF INDIA TURNS DOWN ANTI-MALARIAL DRUG REQUEST

President Donald Trump on Monday spoke of "retaliation" if India turned down

his request to lift the hold on US orders of an antimalarial drug, which he

has touted as a "game-changer" in the fight against the coronavirus despite

its untested efficacy, resulting from a blanket ban on export of certain

medicines.

The American leader went on to add to the threat his long-running grievances

with India on trade issues, which have history of eluding resolution,

including an ultimately failed rush by the two countries to stitch together

a deal in time for Trump's first state visit to India in February. This was

the first time he had publicly brought up trade after the visit.

President Trump made the request for releasing the hold on

hydroxychloroquine in a phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday

morning (evening in India).

"I said we'd appreciate you allowing our supply to come out, If he doesn't

allow it to come out. That would be okay but, of course, there may be

retaliation," the president said at the daily White House briefing on the

coronavirus outbreak, adding, rhetorically for stress, "Why wouldn't that

be?"

India has not yet decided either way yet. Prime Minister Modi had told the

American leader during the call that India "will do all what we can".

India has already permitted the use of hydroxychloroquine by medical and

health care workers treating Covid patients and that is why it wants to

preserve enough stocks of the drug to deal with a surge that has been

predicted in the coming week.

India had cancelled the exports on the plea that most of the Indian

formulation makers are dependent on Chinese manufacturers but this plea is

no longer valid after Beijing reported that its plants are back to the

original production levels.

In India, the main API makers for this drug are Ipca Laboratories and Zydus

Cadila and in its desperation to source the drug, the US has reportedly

informed India that it will be willing to overlook a three-year ban by the

US Federal Drug Authority in case of one of the companies.

PRESIDENT, PM, MPs TO TAKE A PAY CUT TO FUND GOVT'S CORONAVIRUS FIGHT

The Union Cabinet has sanctioned reduction in allowances and pension of

Members of Parliament by 30 per cent for one year to fight coronavirus,

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said on Monday.

President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, as well as

governors of various states, have voluntarily decided to take a pay cut, the

minister said after a Cabinet meeting held through video conferencing on

Monday.

MPs' salaries will be slashed through an ordinance that the Cabinet has

cleared, the minister said.

Javadekar said the Prime Minister and Cabinet ministers will also take a 30

per cent pay cut.

"Annual allocation for MPLADS is Rs 7,900 crore. This fund will also accrue

in Consolidated Fund of India," Javedekar said at the press briefing on

Cabinet decisions.

The Congress welcomed the government's decision on salaries, but questioned

suspending MPLADs.

"Dear PM, INC supports the salary cut for MPs. Please note that MPLAD is

meant to execute developmental works in the constituency. Suspending it is a

huge disservice to the constituents and will undermine the role and

functions of MP," Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said on

Twitter.

COVID-19 DASHBOARD - (Nos. IN INDIA / Nos. WORLDWIDE) at 0930 IST

(Indian data from covid19india / and World Data from

worldometers.info/coronavirus/ )

Total Cases 4,778 (+489) / 13,46,974 (+73,262)

Total Deaths 133 (+15) / 74,702 (+5,244)

Total Recovered 382 (+54) / 2,78,698 (+16,212)

Active Cases 4,263 (+420) / 9,93,574 (+51,806)

Serious / Critical Cases (Not Available) / 47,249 (+1,657)

Top 5 impacted nations so far:

(Country / Total No of cases / Deaths)

USA 3,67,385 / 10,876

Spain 1,36,675 / 13,341

Italy 1,32,547 / 16,523

Germany 1,03,375 / 1,810

France 98,010 / 8,911

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

======================

U.S., U.K. FACE HARD TIME AS DEATHS SPIKE

The U.S. and Britain braced for what could be one of their bleakest weeks in

memory on Monday as the human and financial toll of the coronavirus outbreak

mounted. But new deaths and infections appeared to be slowing in Italy,

Spain and France, suggesting that lockdowns and social distancing are

working.

Much of Europe saw glimmers of hope - deaths and new infections appeared to

be slowing in much of the three hardest-hit countries, as well as in the

Netherlands and Germany. Leaders cautioned, however, that any gains could

easily be reversed if people did not continue to adhere to strict social

distancing measures and national lockdowns.

In Washington, U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams offered a stark warning

about the surge of coronavirus deaths the nation is facing. "This is going

to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment," he told Fox News Sunday.

Italy still has, by far, the world's highest coronavirus death toll but the

pressure on northern Italy's intensive care units has eased.

In Spain, deaths and new infections dropped again on Monday. New recorded

infections were also the lowest in two weeks.

Britain reported more than 600 deaths on Sunday, surpassing Italy's daily

increase for the second day in a row.

More than 90 percent of Americans are under stay-at-home orders issued by

state governors while eight states are still holding out on imposing such

restrictions.

BORIS JOHNSON MOVED TO ICU; BRITISH FOREIGN SECY DOMINIC RAAB TO DEPUTISE

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, 55, was moved into intensive care on Monday, a

worrisome turn in his 10-day battle with the coronavirus and the starkest

evidence yet of how the virus has threatened the British political

establishment and thrown its new government into upheaval.

The government said that the decision was a precaution and that he had been

in good spirits earlier in the day. But with Johnson's aides releasing few

details about his condition, the nation kept a tense vigil Monday night,

hoping for the best and experiencing, together, the frightening mysteries of

this disease.

In a sign of how grave the situation had become, 10, Downing Street said in

a statement Monday that Johnson had asked the foreign secretary, Dominic

Raab, to deputise for him "where necessary." The pound fell against the

dollar after investors reacted to the news.

After noting earlier in the day that the prime minister was still getting

official papers, Johnson's aides said he had been moved to the intensive

care unit in case he needed a ventilator to help his recovery. Not every

patient in critical care is ventilated, medical experts said, but many are -

or are at least given oxygen. The prime minister remains conscious,

officials said.

THE REST

========

AMONG 10 KILLED IN HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT IN J&K, 5 COMMANDOS, 5 MILITANTS

The Army Monday said five personnel of the Para (Special Forces) were killed

in "hand-to-hand" combat with militants near the Line of Control (LoC) in

Kupwara district.

A day earlier, the Army had said five militants and three soldiers were

killed in a gunbattle. This was the first major operation near the LoC in

Kashmir this year.

Confirming the death of five of the elite para commandos, Srinagar-based

defence spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia said: "Four soldiers under the

command of a Junior Commissioned Officer from one of the most professional

Para SF units were air-dropped near the LoC after information on the

infiltrators was received. An intense hand-to-hand battle ensued and all

five terrorists were eliminated."

Col. Kalia said the Army launched "a daring operation at the Line of Control

and engaged Pak-supported infiltrators in a close quarter battle in heavy

snow, neutralising the entire infiltrating batch of five". "In this battle,

however, Army lost five of its best soldiers, three on the site and two more

succumbed while they were airlifted to a nearby military hospital," he said.

WHAT'S THE BHILWARA MODEL?

With over 80% of the coronavirus positive cases traced to 62 districts

across the country, the government may continue restrictions there, once the

lockdown ends, on the lines of what is being unofficially called 'the

Bhilwara model'. After the Rajasthan district emerged as a hotspot for

COVID-19, the authorities sealed it, and carried out a survey of more than

20 lakh residents. Compared to 26 positive cases in 11 days till March 30,

Bhilwara has seen a single case in the past week. Of the total 27 cases, 17

have recovered and nine discharged.

Rajasthan's Additional Chief Secretary, Health, Rohit Kumar Singh described

the Bhilwara model as one involving "ruthless containment". Within hours of

the first case, on March 18, the district had started door-to-door survey.

The Health Department and district administration in Bhilwara constituted

nearly 850 teams and conducted house-to-house surveys of 56,025 houses and

nearly 2.81 lakh people. Intense contact tracing was carried out of those

who tested positive, with detailed charts of all they had met.

By March 26, 6,445 people suspected to have been exposed were in home

quarantine. By March 27, 22 lakh out of Bhilwara's estimated population of

30 lakh had been surveyed, by teams comprising doctors, auxiliary nurse

midwives and nursing students. Most of the houses were surveyed more than

once to rule out the infection. The Health Department used an app to monitor

those under home quarantine.

The strict curfew in Bhilwara meant shops remained closed. Police ensured

doorstep supplies to the public while raw materials were provided to the

needy and meals to the poor.

JAMIAT-ULMA-I-HIND MOVES SC, AGAINST DEMONIZATION OF MUSLIMS

Jamiat-Ulma-i-Hind -- an Islamic body in India -- on Monday moved the

Supreme Court seeking directions to the government and media not to demonise

entire Muslim community over spread of COVID-19 due to Nizamuddin Markaz

congregation of Tablighi Jamaat.

In its petition, Jamiat-Ulma-i-Hind urged the top court to prevent

communalisation of the Nizamuddin Markaz issue by certain section of print

and electronic media.

It has led to demonising the entire Muslim community in India, resulting

into threat to their right to life and liberty -- a fundamental right

guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution, the petitioner contended.

It alleged that by not taking action to maintain communal harmony "in such a

critically sensitive time", the Centre has failed in discharging its

constitutional duty.

SC ISSUES GUIDELINES FOR HEARINGS THROUGH VIDEO-CONFERENCING ACROSS COURTS

The Supreme Court on Monday passed a slew of directions for all courts

across the country to extensively use video-conferencing for judicial

proceedings saying congregation of lawyers and litigants must be suspended

to maintain social distancing amid coronavirus pandemic.

The top court, which has restricted its functioning and is conducting

hearing through video-conferencing of extremely urgent matters during the

lockdown period since March 25, exercised its plenary power under Article

142 of the Constitution to direct all the high courts to frame a mechanism

for use of technology during the pandemic.

The top court has taken suo motu cognizance of a letter written by senior

advocate and former Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Vikas

Singh, who has suggested measures for use of technology for conducting

hearings in the courts.

DELHI LAB STARTS DRIVE-THROUGH TEST FOR CORONAVIRUS

A laboratory in Delhi's Punjabi Bagh has started drive- through tests for

coronavirus.

Dang Lab Chief Executive Office Arjun Dang says patients have to book an

appointment online and submit the documents such as identity proof, doctor's

prescription, form, and vehicle number. The test lasts about 20 minutes, and

the area is sealed off until it is done.

"The vehicle of the patient will be parked at a distance, windows will be

rolled down, and doctors will collect samples. The patient has been

instructed only to roll down their windows at the time of the test," Dang

said.

A drive-through test will prevent the spread of infection as well as serve

to protect the medical staff.

The test costs Rs 4,500.

MALL OWNERS, RETAILERS FAIL TO AGREE OVER CONTENTIOUS ISSUES AMID LOCKDOWN

Mall developers and retailers are yet to find common ground on the

contentious issue of rental waivers, with the differences coming at a time

when the retail industry, barring grocery, has come to a halt because of the

21-day nationwide lockdown.

Developers, such as DLF and Phoenix Mills, say the force majeure clause,

which retailers have indicated they would apply, in case there was a

complete breakdown in talks, does not apply to the lockdown period. "We will

have to work with retailers (on the issue of rentals). We can take a call

only after visibility regarding mall openings emerge," says Shishir

Shrivastava, managing director at Phoenix Mills, which operates malls in

Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, and other cities.

Shrivastava says the force majeure clause makes no sense when a government

directive has led to the temporary closure of malls, multiplexes, and retail

establishments. Business, he says, will eventually make its way back, a

point contested by retailers, who argue the market remains weak.

A NY ZOO TIGER TESTS POSITIVE

From a virus whose behaviour still involves more questions than answers,

there has been another first: A Malayan tiger at New York's Bronx Zoo has

tested positive for SARS-CoV2. Four-year-old Nadia is believed to have

caught the virus from a zoo employee, who had not shown symptoms.

The virus came from an animal source and mutated; humans have since been

infecting humans. It is theoretically possible for the virus to mutate again

to survive in certain species after being transmitted by humans. The Bronx

Zoo case suggests an employee spread the virus to the tiger, the US

Department of Agriculture said in a statement. Several lions and tigers at

the zoo, in fact, have shown symptoms of respiratory illness. The others

were not tested to limit the potential risks of general anaesthesia.

There have been a handful of cases of pets being infected; the indications

are they caught it from humans. There have been reports about two dogs in

Hong Kong - a Pomeranian and a German shepherd - testing positive. While

their respective humans had COVID-19, the dogs themselves were not showing

symptoms.

In what has more context in the Bronx Zoo tiger testing positive, there has

been a domestic cat, too, catching the virus, in Belgium. Unlike the dogs,

the cat showed symptoms. After testing positive, it later recovered.

INDICATORS

(Indian markets were closed yesterday on account of Mahavir Jayanti)

Nasdaq 7,913 (+540) Dow 22,680 (+1627), S&P 2,664 (+175)

US$-Rs. 76.05 GBP-Rs. 93.28, Euro-Rs. 82.16, UAE Dhm-Rs.20.70, Can$-Rs.

53.78, Aus$- Rs. 46.10

GBP 0.81 /US$, Euro 0.92 /US$, Jap.Yen 109.06 /US$, Aus$ 1.64 /US$, Sing

1.43 /US$, Bang Taka 83.18 /US$, Can$ 1.41 /US$, Mal Ring 4.36 /US$,

Pak Re 166.16 /US$, Phil Peso 50.64 /US$, Russian Rouble 76.44 /US$, NZ$

1.68 /US$, Thai Baht 32.82 /US$, Ukraine Hryvnia 27.04 /US$, Norway NOK

10.48 /US$

Bitcoin - USD 7,091

Dollar Index 100.66 Brent Crude 34.07 BDI 616

Gold world Spot Price USD/aoz 1,659 India (Rs. per gm 24k/22k) 4,251 /

4,151, Silver (Rs. Per KG) 40,370

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

We are defined by how we use our power. - Gerry Spence

OFF TRACK

Q: How do you keep your husband from reading your e-mail?

A: Rename the mail folder 'Instruction Manual.'