INDIA LIGHTS UP WITH HOPE

India entered voluntary blackout for nine minutes today as lakhs stepped

into their home balconies and compounds to light 'diyas' and candles in

response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call of unity against Covid-19.

At several place across cities, sounds of firecrackers rented the air,

breaking the overwhelming sombre mood of the nation that stood together in

gratitude to Covid warriors and exuded unity of purpose against an invisible

enemy.

PM Modi led the effort, tweeting his pictures lighting a lamp and captioning

them with a Sanskrit shloka that paid salutations to light.

There were no reports of power grid failure, an apprehension many had

expressed since the PM's April 3 appeal to the nation to summon collective

energies against the disease and show that everyone is in it together.

Official estimates indicated that power demand during the nine minutes was

down to 85.3 Gw from 117 Gw earlier. Post the event, power demand restored

to 110 Gw.

CORONAVIRUS: A PATTERN EMERGES: 80 PER CENT IN 62 DISTRICTS

According to Health Ministry estimates, the current rate of doubling of

COVID-19 cases is 4.1 days, but it would have been 7.4 days if the Tablighi

Jamaat congregation had not happened in Delhi last month.

There is a clear geographical skew in the spread; 62 districts are currently

reporting over 80% cases and these will be the focus of an aggressive

containment strategy in the Bhilwara model.

According to what is unofficially being referred to in the govt as the

"Bhilwara model", the containment zones, or areas reporting large number of

cases, in these 62 districts will be sealed off. The strategy was found to

be effective in Bhilwara (Rajasthan), which had emerged as a hotspot last

month.

Meanwhile, following reports and studies hinting at the possibility of the

virus being airborne, the ICMR said there was no credible evidence in this

regard. "If this was an airborne infection, and not a droplet infection,

every person in a family would be infected; the same would apply for other

patients in a hospital. But we have not seen any evidence of that happening

so far. There have been one million cases the world over, and no such

instance has been found. I think we should trust that evidence," said Dr R R

Gangakhedkar, head of epidemiology and infectious diseases, ICMR.

Amid criticism that India is not doing enough tests, the number of daily

tests has almost doubled in the last two days. With 9,369 samples being

tested on Sunday, a total of 89,534 samples have been tested so far.

At the daily briefing on Sunday, Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Health

Ministry, said Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, in a video conference with

district magistrates across the country, emphasised the level of

preparedness "to the level of being over-prepared".

Gauba directed all district magistrates to ensure smooth operation of pharma

units for manufacture of medicines and medical equipment. All districts have

been advised to draw up a COVID-19 crisis management plan. The district

magistrates of all the 274 districts where COVID-19 cases have been reported

were requested to ensure uniformity in the crisis management plan.

Agarwal said the personal protective equipment (PPE) situation has improved

after some "initial shortages" as they were being imported. "However, now

domestic manufacturers have started production and we are procuring more of

them."

AFTER TRUMP-MODI CALL, INDIA 'CONSIDERS' RELEASE OF HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE

Hours after US President Donald Trump said he has requested Prime Minister

Narendra Modi to release the amount of hydroxychloroquine ordered by the

United States, New Delhi is said to be "considering the request".

On Saturday, before the phone call between Modi and Trump, India had banned

all exports of hydroxychloroquine, the malaria drug that the US President

has repeatedly touted as a "game changer" in the fight against COVID-19.

Sources said the issue is likely to figure during the next Group of

Ministers (GoM) meeting to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.

Hydroxychloroquine tablets are recognised as a prophylactic for those on the

front lines of the fight against COVID-19 - doctors, nurses, paramedics and

first responders - and can be used to treat patients.

"I called Prime Minister Modi of India this morning. They make large amounts

of Hydroxychloroquine. India is giving it a serious consideration," Trump

told reporters at the White House Saturday.

Following provisional approval from the US Food and Drug Administration, the

malaria drug along with a combination of other drugs is being used in the

treatment of about 1,500 COVID-19 patients in New York. Trump told reporters

that the drug is yielding positive results - and said that if successful, it

would be a gift from heaven.

PM MODI SPEAKS TO OPPOSITION LEADERS ON CORONAVIRUS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday reached out to top leaders from

across the political spectrum, including Congress president Sonia Gandhi and

TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, to discuss the situation arising out of the

coronavirus outbreak.

He also spoke to former presidents Pranab Mukherjee and Pratibha Patil, and

former prime ministers Manmohan Singh and HD Deve Gowda. Details of the

discussions were not known.

The prime minister also called up the leaders of various political parties,

including Mulayam Singh and Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party (SP),

Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Naveen Patnaik,

Telangana Chief Minister and TRS leader K Chandrasekhar Rao, Dravida

Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader M K Stalin and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)

leader Parkash Singh Badal.

Amid a countrywide lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak, Modi will

interact with the floor leaders of various political parties via a video

link on April 8.

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

(Indian data from covid19india / <covid19india%20/> and World Data from

worldometers.info/coronavirus/ <https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/>

)

Total Cases 4,289 (+618) / 12,73,712 (+71,470)

Total Deaths 118 (+19) / 69,458 (+4,729)

Total Recovered 328 (+45) / 2,62,486 (+15,848)

Active Cases 3,843 (+554) / 9,41,768 (+50,893)

Serious / Critical Cases (Not Available) / 45,592 (+3,302)

Top 5 impacted nations so far:

(Country / Total No of cases / Deaths)

USA 3,36,830 / 9,618

Spain 1,31,646 / 12,641

Italy 1,28,948 / 15,887

Germany 1,00,123 / 1,584

France 92,839 / 8,078

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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

WE ARE TOUGHER, TWEETS TRUMP AS US BATTLES CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK

US President Donald Trump has said that the country is dealing with an

invisible enemy, but

The United States has been hit hard by the coronavirus crisis, with

thousands dying of the Covid-19 disease across the country. Senior official

on Sunday warned of the "hardest" week ahead, but some saw glimmers of hope

from a slight slowing of fatalities.

New York, the hardest-hit state, reported on Sunday that for the first time

in a week, deaths had fallen slightly from the day before, but there were

still nearly 600 new fatalities and more than 7,300 new cases.

"Maybe that's a good sign," Trump later told reporters at a White House

briefing, referring to the drop in fatalities in New York.

Trump also said the United States was "very far down the line" on developing

vaccines for the coronavirus. "We'll see what happens," he said. But he

offered no specifics.

'WE WILL MEET AGAIN': BRITISH QUEEN

The Queen addressed the nation in a rare speech on Sunday night,

acknowledging the grief and financial hardships Britons are facing and

promising: "We will meet again."

Speaking from Windsor Castle, outside London, the Queen paid tribute to

frontline workers and urged everyone to follow advice to stay at home.

She said the "painful sense of separation from their loved ones" that social

distancing was causing for people reminded her of the experience child

evacuees had during the Second World War.

"Now, as then, we know, deep down, that it is the right thing to do," she

said, stressing the value of self-discipline and resolve.

"We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better

days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our

families again; we will meet again."

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been admitted to hospital for

tests, Downing Street said on Sunday night, adding that it is "not an

emergency admission" and that he remains in charge of the UK government.

Johnson tested positive for coronavirus 10 days ago and has since been in

isolation. His partner, Carrie Symonds, who is pregnant, also tested

positive but is recovering.

Downing Street has previously announced that if Johnson were unable to

perform prime ministerial functions, foreign secretary Dominic Raab would

lead the UK government.

DUBAI IMPOSES 2-WEEK LOCKDOWN

Dubai imposed a two-week lockdown Saturday night and Saudi Arabia sealed off

parts of the Red Sea city of Jeddah as Gulf states tightened measures in big

cities to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Dubai had been under an overnight curfew along with the rest of United Arab

Emirates since March 26.

Its Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management said the lockdown

would now run around the clock for two weeks, state news agency WAM said.

In neighbouring Saudi Arabia, authorities announced a lockdown and a partial

curfew in seven neighbourhoods of Jeddah also starting on Saturday as part

of measures to contain the outbreak, the interior ministry said in a

statement.

THE REST

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FIVE MILITANTS, THREE SOLDIERS DIE IN KASHMIR GUNBATTLE

In the first major operation against infiltrators near the Line of Control

(LoC) in Kashmir this year, five militants and at least three soldiers were

killed in a gunfight in Kupwara district.

Two other soldiers were injured in the operation that was launched after the

Army intercepted a group of infiltrators in Keran sector last week. J&K

Police claimed that the five militants were from the Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Defence sources said that Army personnel deployed on the LoC intercepted a

group of militants in the Jamgund forest on April 1 following which a brief

exchange of fire took place. Later, a massive search was launched in the

area, with all exit points sealed and additional forces deployed.

"Fresh contact with the militants was established on Saturday and in the

ensuing operation, which is still underway, five infiltrators have been

killed so far," said a senior Army officer.

POLICE TOLD TO DELAY TABLIGHI JAMAAT CHIEF'S ARREST IN VIEW OF POSSIBLE

VIOLENCE

Noting that violence would be the last thing that the establishment would

want to have at this juncture, senior security officials indicated that the

forces on the ground have been advised to delay arresting Mohammad Saad, the

Amir (head) of the Tablighi Jamaat, that has emerged as a corona hotspot.

Since the police action at the Markaz in Nizamuddin locality in New Delhi in

view of it becoming the hotspot of coronavirus, Mohammad Saad immediately

went into hiding and claimed he had quarantined himself.

According to intelligence sources, Saad is making full use of the

"quarantine period" to muster support for himself among the Jamaatis, who

are being whipped by police to isolation centres to avoid spread of the

infection.

Saad in an audio message claimed that he has quarantined himself, as doctors

have asked him to do so, but it still not known whether he has been tested

positive for COVID-19.

OVER 75 LAKH BEING FED AT FOOD CAMPS: MHA

Over 12.5 lakh homeless migrants have been shifted to 28,000 migrant relief

camps across India amid the Covid crisis, Joint Secretary Punya Salila

Srivastava, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), said today. Also, over 75 lakh

people were being provided food in various states and UTs.

"The MHA has been continuously monitoring the enforcement of lockdown

measures across all states and UTs," she said, asserting that the supply of

essential goods and services was satisfactory. "A total of 27,661 migrant

relief camps have been set up in states and UTs - 23,924 by the government

and 3,737 by NGOs. At least 12.5 lakh migrant workers have been provided

shelter in these camps," Srivastava said.

Besides,19,460 food camps had been set up in various states/UTs - 9,951 by

the government and 9,509 by NGOs - where over 75 lakh were being fed, she

said. These facilities were for the poor, the destitute and migrant workers.

Addressing the media,along with the Union Health Ministry, Srivastava said

13.6 lakh workers were being provided food and shelter by their employers.

GOVT ESTIMATES: IN NEXT 2 MONTHS, NEED 27 MILLION N95 MASKS, 50000

VENTILATORS

Estimating a spike in demand for personal protective equipment and

diagnostic kits in the fight against COVID-19, the central government has

calculated that the country will require about 27 million N95 masks, 15

million PPEs, 1.6 million diagnostic kits, and 50,000 ventilators in next

two months, reports.

"The demand of ventilators has been estimated to be 50,000 by June 2020. Out

of these, 16,000 are already available and orders has been placed for 34,000

ventilators. To facilitate procurement of ventilators and other PPEs from

abroad, MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) has been taken on board," an

official said. The official's comments reportedly came in response to

industry representatives who wanted clarity on "the projected demand and

supply environment of PPEs" and other protective gear for the next 6-12

months. The information, they said, is critical for the industry to plan and

make investments.

TRACKING PHONE LOCATIONS, DELHI POLICE LODGE 176 FIRS FOR BREAKING

QUARANTINE

After the Delhi government shared more than 25,000 phone numbers of people

under home quarantine with the Delhi Police, 176 FIRs have been registered

against people whose phone location suggested they had stepped out of their

residence.

According to senior police officers, SHOs across the capital's 15 police

districts have been handed the phone numbers that fall in their

jurisdiction, and are scanning movement of people using mobile towers.

Fourteen districts have compiled the data so far.

Some officers, after tracking the phone, are also conducting surprise

visits.

Announcing the decision last week, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said:

"We have decided that by taking assistance of police, we will track the

phones of people who were ordered to be home quarantined." These include

people who have a travel history as well as those who have been advised home

quarantine by hospitals.

CORONAVIRUS FEAR: GOVT RAISES ISSUE OF LAYOFFS, SALARY CUTS WITH COMPANIES

The Central government is scrambling to address distress calls of workers

across the country, with the authorities intervening with employers to

address concerns on layoffs or unpaid leave during the nationwide lockdown,

which is aimed at minimising the spread of Covid-19.

The office of the chief labour commissioner, under the Union Labour and

Employment Ministry, has written to SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director

Ajay Singh to comply with the "instructions" of the government and not

deduct the salaries of workers in the lockdown period.

Following the outbreak of Covid-19, the aviation industry is one the most

severely affected sectors across the globe due to restrictions on domestic

and international flights.

Low-cost airline SpiceJet had announced a 30 per cent pay cut for employees

for March and announced "leave without pay" during March 25-31. Following

the decision, the regional labour commissioners in New Delhi and Vijayawada

(Andhra Pradesh) received complaints from the airline's employees.

YAMUNA RIVER WATER TURNS TRANSPARENT IN MATHURA

Nature activists and enthusiasts are thrilled to find that the water of

river Yamuna is gradually turning transparent in the wake of the national

lockdown imposed to arrest the spread of coronavirus.

Rakesh Tewari, vice president, Mathur Chaturved Parishad, said after 42

years, we could see clear Yamuna waters on Yamuna Chhath' on 30 March.

The pollution control board officers, social organisations and other nature

lovers have credited the lockdown for the clean waters of Yamuna.

Social activist Gopeshwar Nath Chaturvedi, who had filed a PIL in Allahabad

High Court in 1998 for cleaning Yamuna, said the major game changer has been

reduced discharge of industrial affluent into the river. Since factories are

not discharging their affluent in Yamuna, owing to their closure during the

lockout, the river water is gradually turning clean, he said.

TENDULKAR REVEALS HOW HE AND SEHWAG CHANGED STRATEGY IN 2011 WORLD CUP FINAL

The jam-packed Wankhede crowd barely had come to grips with Virat Kohli's

dismissal against the run of play when they were sent for another shock when

India captain MS Dhoni made his way into the centre instead of Yuvraj Singh.

India had lost their third wicket and it was all but confirmed that the

in-form Yuvraj would walk in at his usual No.5 position but as would fate

have it, Dhoni promoted himself and smashed an unbeaten 91 to help India win

the World Cup against Sri Lanka in 2011.

A little over 9 years since that fateful day in Mumbai, legendary Indian

cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and former India opener Virender Sehwag revealed

the thought process behind suddenly deciding to promote Dhoni instead of

Yuvraj.

"The partnership between Gautam and Virat was flourishing and we wanted to

be a couple of steps ahead of the opposition. That's when I told Viru ...

"if a left-hander (Gautam) gets out now, a left-hander (Yuvi) should go in,

and if a right-hander (Virat) gets out, a right-hander (Dhoni) should go in.

Yuvi was in tremendous form but Sri Lanka had two off-spinners going, so I

thought a strategy change would work," Tendulkar said, recalling the

incident.

"I told Viru (they were both in the dressing room), 'Just go out into the

balcony between the overs only to say this much to MS and come back fast

before the next over begins. I'm not moving from here," added Tendulkar.

"Before he could even complete his sentence, we saw MS walking into the

dressing room. So, that's when he (Sachin) repeated the same thing to MS, in

front of me," said Sehwag.

"I asked MS to consider this strategy. He then went to Gary (Kirsten), who

was sitting outside. Then Gary came in and all four of us got talking about

it. Gary too agreed it was the right thing to do, given the attack on hand.

MS also agreed and promoted himself up the order," Tendulkar said.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

OFF TRACK

Hey, What's The Definition Of . . .

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