India recorded 88 new positive coronavirus cases on Thursday, the single largest in a day, as the total count of confirmed cases, including 16 deaths and cured ones, reached 694. In a clear message that there will not be any let-up in the lockdown, the Government extended the ban on international flight operations to India to April 14.
“It has been decided that scheduled international commercial passenger services shall remain closed till 6:30 am (GMT) of April 14, 2020. This will not apply to approve international all-cargo operations and flights,” said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in a statement. Even as the coronavirus infected cases continue to move northward, the Government on Thursday asserted that India is not in the community transmission stage of coronavirus pandemic.
A senior Ministry official said if and when India registers community transmission of the deadly virus, people will be informed for their safety. Talking to media during the routine Press briefing here, head scientist of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Dr Raman R Gangakhedkar said there is no hard evidence to say there has been community transmission of the novel coronavirus in India. The total count of positive Covid-19 cases in India neared the 694 mark, as per latest figures made available by the Union Health Ministry, as the country entered second day of the 21-day long lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as a measure to contain the spread of the deadly contagion.
He said social distancing is the strongest counter of the pandemic.Goa and Kashmir reported first coronavirus death. A 65-year-old man hailing from Hyderpora area, Srinagar, died on Thursday, becoming the first fatality in Jammu & Kashmir due to coronavirus while Maharashtra reported its fourth fatality.Dr Gangakhedkar dismissed claims that lack of travel or contact history of a Hyderabad positive case reflected that India was in the community transmission stage. “If we can’t figure out how one-two people got the virus it just means that we have not done enough to trace the history,” Dr Gangakhedkar said.Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry, said we can consider we are in community transmission stage only when there are about 20 to 30 per cent cases with no clue on how they got the virus.”If India enters that stage, we will not hide it. We will tell people so that we can step up the level of alertness and awareness,” he said.The Health Ministry officials also dismissed international studies saying India may face a staggering number of cases in the near future as doomsday predictors.On being asked about the predictions of a University of Michigan study, which said India could face between 100,000 to 13 lakh confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus by mid-May, Dr Gangakhedkar said there would be many doomsday predictors, but if the current lockdown is successful then we may not even see the current numbers budge. Agarwal said, “If we collectively work for it and follow guidelines issued by the government, we will soon be able to say that we have proved all these predictions wrong.” He said social distancing has been able to help break the chain of Covid-19 spread. “While the numbers of Covid-19 cases are increasing, the rate at which they are increasing appears to be relatively stabilising. However, this is only the initial trend,” he said.A senior Home Ministry official said the Government is working to ensure the supply of essentials. “The Government is taking steps to ensure that production, supply or distribution of essential goods and services do not get affected during coronavirus lockdown. States are working to provide food and shelter to migrant workers,” Punya Salila Srivastava, Joint Secretary, MHA said.The Health Ministry said 17 States have started work on earmarking hospitals for dedicated treatment of Covid-19 patients. Forty-five people have been cured so far.As per data by the Health Ministry, Maharashtra has reported the highest number of Covid-19 cases so far at 128, including three foreign nationals, followed by Kerala which has recorded 118 cases, including eight foreign nationals.