PM MODI ASKS CMS TO STOP PUBLIC MOVEMENT

Urges them to ensure that migrant labour, students from other states get basic facilities.

The number of coronavirus or Covid-19 positive cases is expected to cross the 1,000-mark by next week, but the death toll may be far below that of other major affected countries, according to doctors and experts involved in treatment of the patients in Hyderabad. At 12 noon on Saturday, the total number of positive cases in India is 873 while the deaths stand at 19.

Compared to the death toll in other worst-hit nations like China, the US, Italy, Spain or Iran, India is far ahead of safeguarding its patients now under treatment at different stages— home quarantine, state-run quarantines, isolation wards and ICUS in hospitals. A major source of solace is that around 90% of them are fully conscious and not on ventilators. As per the World Health Organization’s information, as many as 5,12,701 cases are confirmed as positive from 202 countries, while 23,495 are dead. But the average percentages of death toll of the worst hit countries like China and US is double that of the world. Compared to this, the death rate in India is much below in global standards.

The figures in Telangana stand at 59 positive cases and no deaths and in Andhra Pradesh, 13 positive cases without any deaths. According to Dr Vinay Sekhar, a doctor of the Gandhi Medical College attached to Gandhi Hospital, one of the designated care centers in the country for Covid patients, currently, there are 40 positive patients in the ICU of Gandhi Hospital but all are normal.

“I am among the doctors looking after the ICU patients at Gandhi Hospital’s 7th floor (acute care unit) as on today, Saturday, all are showing symptoms of common cold and cough, but keeping well. None of them are in coma or in need of ventilator. Their vitals are normal and temperature in control. Probably, most of them may be discharged soon,” said Dr Sekhar in a video message to the media. Dr Sekhar’s statement is confirmed by other officials of the Gandhi Hospital who described it as an attempt to instill confidence among the family members of the persons with positive testing. The same is the case with the positive cases in Andhra Pradesh. While one person was cured of Covid-19 in AP, the remaining 13 are out of danger for the last one week. The sources at CCMB (Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology) in Hyderabad to endorsed the views of Gandhi Hospital doctor and felt that the situation is the same with the entire India.

“Despite lockdown, the positive cases in the country are surging—54 cases in the last 10 days, but most of them are talking and responding to treatment and not in need of ventilators,” said a functionary of CCMB.

At the same time, the doctors are make it clear that there shall not be any let up in the guard against spread of the virus. “All preventive and precautionary measures must be continued and there shall not be any lowering of guard. The lower death toll is a phenomenon we noticed at present and we don’t know what will happen tomorrow,” clarified an official of Telangana medical and health department.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the chief ministers of the coronavirus affected states to see that public movement from one place to another is prevented to the maximum extent. PM Modi spoke to several CMS on Friday morning and urged them to see that migrant labour and students from other states in their respective areas be provided with basic facilities during the lockdown.

The PM’S suggestion is chiefly based on the limitations of the country’s ability to deal with the situation if the virus outbreak reaches community spreading on a magnitude which cannot be managed. The PM has explained the circumstances which forced the Centre to declare the nationwide lockdown till 14 April. This was the only way to avoid a major healthcare crisis, the PM told the CMS.

This was revealed by Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao who held a media conference later in the day where he announced several steps to assure all help to people from other states. “We will see that not a single person from other states suffered during this lockdown period. They (outsiders) can rest assured to this effect,” the Chief Minister said.

KCR mentioned categories of people on this occasion— migrant labour from Bihar and students from Andhra Pradesh. These people came out on streets in large numbers in the last two days and insisted that they be provided transport to go back to their homes. But, as per the lockdown norms, no interstate vehicle will be allowed and permission denied.

Expressing concern over these outsiders roaming on streets in crowds seeking governmental help to return home, Prime Minister Modi urged the CMS to see that their problem was solved— by offering adequate shelter and food during the lockdown. In most cases, these people were asked by their landlords or hostel owners to vacate their places till the situation normalised.

“As the PM told me in the morning, the Centre would extend all help to states and we will also see that enough food and other basic facilities are provided to these people. After all, they are our own Indians and we have a responsibility towards them. I asked all the hostel owners not to keep feeding their inmates and there was no disruption of services,” KCR said.

On Thursday, around 2,000 students belonging to Andhra Pradesh now residing in Kukatpally areas of Hyderabad came out in large numbers and demanded that they be allowed to go home. The police had to struggle to issue passes and take them to the state borders 240 km from here. However, the Andhra Pradesh government has refused to allow them back as they posed some degree of health risk. Finally, they had to stay in the city.

Buoyed by the PM’S assurance, KCR had announced converting a giant sport stadium at Gachibowli in Hyderabad into a Covid-19 isolation ward. This single stadium can accommodate around 5,000 beds and take the state’s capacity to isolate around 12,500 persons. The state is also planning to acquire around 500 ventilators and arrange 7000 ICU wards for the virus affected.

“Developed nations like the US, China and Germany are struggling to arrange enough ventilators and ICU beds for their people. But, we are confident of meeting this testing times and extend our services even if 10,000 people are tested positive,” KCR said. As of now, six testing laboratories are in Telangana and two more are expected to be added.

As per the original schedule announced by KCR, the lockdown was to end by 31 March, but now it is being extended till 14 April. “We are now at a critical stage where the virus is likely to spread among communities; so a few more days of care and precaution would help us. I request the public not to test the patience levels of police force by coming out on the streets,” the CM said.

Another point of relief to the CM was the peaceful passing of Friday prayers at mosques in Hyderabad. It was feared that there would be a big problem if Muslims thronged the streets in crowds for the prayers, but the appeals made by the government as well as by AIMIM leader and MP Asaduddin Owaisi to Muslims urging them to stay indoors yielded results.

The government also has cancelled a major Hindu festival Ugadi—new year for Telugu speaking people on 25 March. Usually, crowds gather to witness Ugadi celebrations, but this time, the government has permitted only a handful of persons at select places. Before that, on Sunday, Christians, too, refrained from Church prayers.