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Animals too can test positive for Wuhan Coronavirus: Here is all you need to know about the 2 dogs who contracted the virus in Hong Kong

OpIndia Staff
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Animals too can test positive for Wuhan Coronavirus: Here is all you need to know about the 2 dogs who contracted the virus in Hong Kong

Concerns pertaining to the Wuhan Coronavirus seizes to fade away. After affecting lakhs of people across the globe, the deadly virus has started showing up in animals too. Hong Kong has reported two cases of suspected human-to-animal transmission of the Coronavirus, but there is no evidence that pet animals can get ill from the virus or transmit it to people.

According to reports, a 2-year-old German Shepherd and a 17-year-old Pomeranian in Hong Kong have been suspected of contracting the coronavirus from their infected owners.

The Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said that a German shepherd tested positive for the virus in Pok Fu Lam, a residential area on the west coast of Hong Kong Island. It’s the second dog in Hong Kong to test Coronavirus positive.

“No positive results were obtained from the mixed-breed dog and neither dog has shown any signs of disease,” it said. “The department will continue to closely monitor both dogs and conduct repeated tests on the animals.”

Officials sent both the German shepherd and another dog from the same residence to a quarantine facility at the Hong Kong Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.

This came after an elderly 17-year-old Pomeranian, which had tested “weak positive” during repeated tests for the virus, died two days after it was released from quarantine disease-free.

Some animal-welfare experts had suggested the Pomeranian’s death could have been caused by the stress of being quarantined and separated from its owner, while others had said that it might have been due to its age. “The dog likely died from causes other than Covid-19 as it had never displayed any clinical signs of illness,” the College for Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign said in a post on its website.

The AFCD, however, maintained that the true cause of the death could not be ascertained as the dog’s owner, who recently recovered from a coronavirus infection, wasn’t willing to allow an autopsy.

The World Organisation for Animal Health has warned owners that though there is no evidence of pets transmitting the virus to humans, however, because, animals and people can sometimes share diseases, it is still recommended that people who are sick with Covid-19, limit their contact with the pet and other animals until more information is known about the virus.

In case a pet owner is asked to go into quarantine or becomes ill due to the Wuhan coronavirus, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends:

  • Maintain separation and avoid direct contact with pets and other animals, including petting, snuggling, being kissed or licked, and sharing food. Try to make alternative arrangements for someone to look after pets in case you become ill.
  • If you must care for your pet or be around animals while you are sick, wash your hands before and after you interact with pets and wear a face mask. 

Meanwhile, the AFCD said it “strongly advises” that mammalian pets including dogs and cats from households where people are infected with Covid-19 or those who have had close contact with others infected persons, should be quarantined in government facilities. 

Wuhan coronavirus outbreak: 12 members of Maharashtra family test positive, 4 of them had returned from Haj

OpIndia Staff
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Wuhan coronavirus outbreak: 12 members of Maharashtra family test positive, 4 of them had returned from Haj

12 members of a single-family in Sangli district’s Islampur village in Maharashtra have tested positive for the novel COVID-19. Initially, 4 members of the family, who had returned from Haj in Saudi Arabia, were tested positive for the virus on March 23 after they were admitted to the isolation ward in Miraj on March 19.

However, by March 25, five more members of the family had tested positive for the contagion. A day later, on Thursday, another 3 in the family were confirmed to have acquired the infection, taking the total tally of the family to 12.

While the 11 infected from the coronavirus are resident of Sangli’s Islampur village, the 12th one who confirmed to have contracted the infection hails from Pethwadgaon village of Kolhapur district. She had visited her relatives in Sangli after their return from Haj.

With 12 cases of COVID-19 emerging from the same family, Islampur has been put on strict monitoring. Sangli district collector Abhijeet Chaudhary confirmed 3 new cases of coronavirus from the family of Haj returnees on Thursday. He said that their throat swab samples which were sent to the Pune’s The National Institute of Virology(NIV) on March 25, were tested positive for the Chinese virus.

According to Sangli district civil surgeon Sanjay Salunkhe, 11 more swab samples of close contacts and relatives suspicious of carrying the virus have also been sent to the NIV whose results are likely to be recieved on Friday. He also said that a team has been sent to Islampur to collect 23 more swab samples of close contacts of the family, who are still quarantined at home.

Soon after 4 members of the family who had returned from their Haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia tested positive for the deadly contagion, 27 of their relatives were sent into quarantine. “Swab samples of seven people were collected on Monday(March 23). Out of those 7, 5 turned positive while the remaining two were negative. All the positive cases are being treated at Miraj Civil Hospital and every required precaution is being taken,” Salunkhe said.

Amidst coronavirus lockdown, mob from Telangana resort to stone-pelting​ after being denied entry to Andhra Pradesh

OpIndia Staff
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Amidst coronavirus lockdown, mob from Telangana resort to stone-pelting​ after being denied entry to Andhra Pradesh

On Thursday night, a group of people comprising mostly of students coming from Telangana pelted stones at the cops after being denied entry into Andhra Pradesh near the Vadapalli checkpoint. During the incident, one police constable sustained head injuries.

“We have even arranged special buses for them and made facilities for quarantine. Ignoring all this, they tried to cross the border and also resorted to a mob attack on police personnel. In the night, they attacked the police and caused injuries. We strongly condemn this”, State Director General of Police (Andhra Pradesh) D G Sawang was quoted as saying.

Following the nationwide lockdown, the Governments of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh had agreed to allow students to cross the border after necessary medical examinations. Only 44 people agreed to be quarantined for 14 days in writing. The remaining people were not permitted and was forced to return to their respective places at Telangana.

Earlier, the Telangana police had handed out No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to a few students, staying in Hyderabad, to return to their villages in Andhra Pradesh. This prompted the sudden rush of people at the Andhra Pradesh -Telangana border.

Around 2000 students with NOCs flocked near Garikapadu check-post in Jaggaiahpeta in Krishna district. Only those who agreed to be in quarantine at IIIT-Nuzvid were permitted to cross the border. Mohammed Imitiaz, Krishna District Collector, informed that on the directions of Andra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, the NOCs issued were withdrawn.

At the Pullur border in Kurnool district, the cops did not allow people from Telangana to cross into Andhra Pradesh and vice-versa. A few people evaded the police and entered Andhra Pradesh. Five of them have now been apprehended. Around 200 students who wanted to cross the border were asked to go back to Telangana.

“They tried to cross the border in violation of the lockdown orders. In the night, they attacked the police and caused injuries. We strongly condemn this,” the DGP said. He said cases would be registered and stern action taken against the guilty.

Sawang said the two state governments entered into an agreement to allow the passengers, mostly students, after necessary medical examination. “We have even arranged special buses for them and made facilities for quarantine. Ignoring all this, they tried to cross the border and also resorted to mob attack on police personnel,” the DGP said

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked his ministers to come forward and take charge of their states and play a vital role in defeating the Wuhan Coronavirus epidemic. As per reports, a letter from the PMO had been sent to all the ministers telling them to play an effective role in stemming the growing disease. The Ministers have been asked to maintain a constant touch with the local administration and keep themselves updated on the status of COVID-19 in their respective constituencies as well.

Punjab man who died of Wuhan coronavirus had defied quarantine, infected 23 persons out of 33 cases in the state

OpIndia Staff
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Punjab man who died of Wuhan coronavirus had defied quarantine, infected 23 persons out of 33 cases in the state

A 70-year-old man who was infected by the Wuhan coronavirus and died on March 18 is said to have infected the 23 patients out of the total 33 cases in the state of Punjab.

The senior citizen, who was a Gurudwara priest, had returned from a two-week tour of Germany and Italy with two friends from neighbouring villages and had dodged self-quarantine norms to socialize widely earlier this month.

Reportedly, He arrived in Delhi on March 6 and then drove to Punjab. Officials, who are tracking his movement learned that he had attended an event in Anandpur Sahib on or around 8-10 March and later returned to his village in Shahid Bhagat Singh Nagar district.

As per reports, he met close to a hundred people before being tested positive of the novel coronavirus. He and his two companions are believed to have visited 15 villages across the state.

It is notable that 14 people in his own family are tested positive of COVID-19 and his grand-daughter and grandson have socialised with many people.

Due to the reckless socializing activity of the man and the family, it is now reported that officials the three alone, (the man, his grandson and granddaughter) caused coronavirus positive cases in Nawanshahr, Mohali, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, and Jalandhar. 15 villages have now been sealed due to the activities of the one person.

In a similar case, Delhi’s Patient-10, a woman who had returned from Saudi Arabia is believed to have caused several contact transmissions. The woman had visited a mohalla clinic where the doctor contracted the disease from her, eventually passing it to his wife and daughter. The woman’s brother was one of the organisers of an anti-CAA protest in Jehangirpuri and is believed to have infected many others. The woman’s mother and two daughters have also been tested positive.

India has reported near 719 positive cases of novel coronavirus and 17 deaths.

Delhi Police distributes freshly cooked food amongst the poor amidst Coronavirus lockdown

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi Police distributes freshly cooked food amongst the poor amidst Coronavirus lockdown

Today, India entered day 3 of its 21-day nationwide lockdown imposed by PM Narendra Modi in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus Covid-19. In times of hardship, the Delhi police have come forward to provide food and shelter to the poor and underprivileged.

Delhi Police along with locals were seen distributing freshly cooked food to destitute people in Sadar Bazar area in Delhi.

The Police Commissioner has directed all district Deputy Commissioners of Police to find areas where people are running out of food or are on the streets and help them. Following which, all the Station House Officers have got in touch with Resident Welfare Associations and NGOs in their area to facilitate the process.

The 21-days nationwide lockdown has especially affected people working in the unorganised sector. But the administration is working relentlessly to provide food and shelter to such people.

The government has reassured that India has sufficient grains such as wheat and rice for the country’s 1.3 billion people for the next four months. On Thursday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced an initial 1.7 trillion rupee (US$22.5 billion) package chiefly targeting poor households, while prioritising food distribution.

Read: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman holds a press conference, announces a number of economic measures amidst coronavirus scare

Under the newly launched “Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Yojana” (Prime Minister’s Poor Welfare Scheme), each individual who already benefited from a subsidised public distribution system will be able to receive an additional five kilograms of either wheat or rice, and each household will get one kilogram of pulses free of cost for the next three months. The package will benefit about 800 million people.

Direct cash transfers of between 500 and 2,000 rupees will also be made to the most economically vulnerable, such as farmers, daily wage labourers, construction workers, disabled people, poor widows, and women self-help groups.

“No one will go hungry”, promised Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Three arrested in Nagpur for circulating fake audio clip claiming 59 people tested positive for Chinese virus in the city

OpIndia Staff
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Three arrested in Nagpur for circulating fake audio clip claiming 59 people tested positive for Chinese virus in the city

Taking strict action over the anti-social elements for spreading rumours about inflated numbers of the Chinese epidemic COVID-19 cases, the Nagpur cyber police have arrested three people for spreading a fake audio clip claiming ’59 positive cases’ exist in the city, reports Times of India.

Reportedly, the viral clip had caused severe panic across the city. The Nagpur police have now arrested three, including a businessman, who had made the fake video clip on March 23 and had made viral to create a panic among the children in the family and others in the city.

Perhaps, this is the first case in the region where cyber police have successfully managed to trace the source of the fake audio. The police have now arrested Jay Gupta (37), Amit Pardhi (38) and Divyanshu Mishra (33) for circulating fake audio clip to create a scare in the city.

Earlier, the city police had registered the case against unidentified persons at Sadar police station after the clip went viral.

The 4.52-minute fake audio clip had also mentioned that there are nearly 200 people who are suspected to be carrying the Chinese virus in Nagpur. It had also referred to one Dr Kamlesh stating he was on a ventilator after being tested positive. The clip had also mentioned a name ‘Nitin’ which many felt was a highly placed politician from Vidarbha currently responsible for the fighting against COVID-19 in the state. The conversation in the clip was between Gupta and Pardhi.

Read: Beware: spreading rumours about the Wuhan Coronavirus spread on social media can land you in jail for 6 months

It is now revealed that Gupta, a businessman owning a club at Ajni and other business establishments, along with Pardhi was the mastermind behind the entire episode who had forwarded the clip to Mishra, a family friend, who is employed in Delhi but was in city due to wife’s pregnancy. Mishra stayed at Suyog Nagar in Ajni. Gupta resided at Automotive Square while his friend is from Misal Layout in Jaripatka.

Mishra had forwarded the fake clip to his wife who later to a friend before the fake clip had gone viral. After learning about the police had become active to nab the accused.

A Cyber cell team consisting Asst Police Inspectors Vishal Mane, Keshav Wagh and Ashwini Jagtap, under DCP Shweta Khedkar, Nilesh Bharne, Joint CP Ravindra Kadam and CP BK Upadhyay, managed to find the woman whom Mishra’s wife had forwarded and later arrested the rest.

Nearly 35 people were questioned by the cyber cell before managing to find out the culprits. Several people were called and rounded up by the cyber team working round the clock in the last couple of days.

Employee of Odisha assembly tests positive for Chinese COVID-19, assembly to be sanitised and staff quarantined

OpIndia Staff
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Employee of Odisha assembly tests positive for Chinese COVID-19, assembly to be sanitised and staff quarantined

An employee of the Odisha Assembly has tested positive for the Chinese epidemic COVID-19 on Friday, making it the third case from the state.

According to the reports, the news about the staff being contracted with the Wuhan Coronavirus was informed by Speaker SN Patro on Friday. Following this, all the staffers will be quarantined and the entire Odisha Assembly building will be disinfected.

Reportedly, Odisha Assembly will shift its operations to the conference hall in Lok Seva Bhawan with 30% attendance of MLAs, informed the speaker.

Meanwhile, Odisha government’s COVID-19 spokesperson Subroto Bagchi stated that the persons who came in contact with the employee are being traced. Besides, the patient’s wife, daughter, driver are also kept in isolation.

On the other hand, the Health and Family welfare authority has issued guidelines for private hospitals, clinics and doctors in the wake of Chinese coronavirus outbreak. Reportedly, the third COVID-19 positive case from Odisha also visited Odisha Assembly dispensary apart from the clinic.

ISIS terrorist who attacked Gurudwara in Kabul was from India, killed Afghan Sikhs to avenge ‘plight’ of Kashmiri Muslims

OpIndia Staff
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ISIS terrorist who attacked Gurudwara in Kabul was from India, killed Afghan Sikhs to avenge ‘plight’ of Kashmiri Muslims

Armed terrorists attacked a Gurudwara in Shor Bazar Area of Afghanistan on Wednesday. Twenty-eight people lost their lives in the dastardly attack. The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack, however, the possible role of the Tehreek-e-Taliban backed by Pakistan has not been ruled out. India expressed its condolences towards the families of the deceased and said, “India stands ready to extend all possible assistance to the affected families of the Hindu and Sikh community of Afghanistan.”

The Islamic State communique claiming responsibility for the attack identified the terrorist as an Indian national ‘Abu Khalid al-Hindi’ who carried out the attack in order to avenge the supposed ‘plight of Muslims in Kashmir’. Meanwhile, Afghan and Western security agencies believe that the attack was ordered by Quetta Shura of Taliban at the behest of Pakistani intelligence. As per a report by Hindustan Times, the operation was code-named Blackstar and the Haqqani Network led by Taliban’s deputy commander Sirajuddin Haqqani and elements of Laskhar-e-Tayyeba were used to carry out the attack.

The report says that the actual target was the Indian embassy in Kabul. But, due to heavy troops deployment there, the terrorists chose to attack the Gurudwara instead, which is just 3 km away from the embassy building. The involvement of Pakistani deep-state is suspected, with the larger motive of forcing India out of Afghanistan, as per the HT report.

Four terrorists armed with AK-47, a part of the strike team of the group of terrorists, had attacked the Gurudwara. One of them was killed by the Afghan security forces but the rest escaped. According to intelligence agencies, the terrorist attack was a part of Pakistan’s efforts to drive out India from Afghanistan following the withdrawal of the US forces. With the USA gone, the objective is to use the strategic space offered by Afghanistan to renew their Jihad in Kashmir.

Saudi Arabia: Man spotted spitting on shopping carts tests positive for Coronavirus, may face the death penalty

OpIndia Staff
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Saudi Arabia: Man spotted spitting on shopping carts tests positive for Coronavirus, may face the death penalty

A man who was arrested for spitting at trolleys and doors at a shopping mall in Saudi Arabia reportedly can face a death sentence if found guilty of the offence, as he was tested positive for Wuhan Coronavirus.

As per reports, a man was seen spitting on the shopping trolleys, doors and other fixtures in a mall in the region of Hail in north-western Saudi Arabia, and was later arrested after being spotted by workers at the store. When he was tested for Coronavirus, he was found positive. This came when the whole world is struggling to get over the deadly Covid-19 pandemic, and his disastrous act can spread the infection among the public.

The person has been identified as a foreign national residing Baljurashi city in Saudi Arabia. He is being interrogated and the motive behind the detrimental act is not clear till now. After the incident came to light, the authorities asked everyone who had visited that store to hospital urgently to get themselves tested. The authorities are also screening the CCTV footage in the area to identify any other places he may have infected.

Notably, his act is considered a major crime in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The online portal of newspaper Ajel of Saudi Arabia said, “This behavior is religiously and legally condemned. It is regarded as imparting corruption by deliberately seeking to spread the coronavirus epidemic among members of society and stirring panic among them”.

Read- Beware: spreading rumours about the Wuhan Coronavirus spread on social media can land you in jail for 6 months

Saudi officials explained that the offender will be facing charges that can go as far as the death penalty, as his actions can be considered a kind of first-degree murder. “He was clearly aware of the fever and the cough he was suffering from at that time and his action was only aimed at killing other people,” the officials said.

The Saudi Arabia authorities have reported two deaths from the novel coronavirus and a total of 900 confirmed cases in the country. The Country imposed a nationwide curfew on Monday. Till Thursday, the country’s thirteen regions were under curfew. Meanwhile, the curfew will start four hours earlier at 3 pm in the cities of Riyadh, Mecca and Medina that are the major cities of Saudi Arabia.

Following India, UK applauds their healthcare workers amidst coronavirus pandemic

OpIndia Staff
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Following India, UK applauds their healthcare workers amidst coronavirus pandemic

At 5 PM on Sunday, March 22, 2020, Indians from all walks of life across the country came out to heed PM Modi’s call to express gratitude for doctors, nurses, healthcare workers and other people involved in discharging essential duties even as the menace of novel coronavirus brought the country of 1.3 billion people to a grinding halt. While many condescending westerners and “liberals” mocked India for paying an emotional tribute to its care workers for working round the clock to contain the spread and treat the sick, the United Kingdom took a cue from India to thank their carers involved in tirelessly battling the coronavirus in their respective countries.

In the United Kingdom which has seen a recent spike in the coronavirus case, owing to British PM Boris Johnson’s laissez-faire approach to tackling the virus initially, thousands of Britons joined in the show of support for the National Health Service workers involved in providing healthcare facility to those in the grips of the deadly pathogen. Akin to their Indian counterparts, Britons in the UK flocked to their balconies and windows and clapped for the carers as a mark of respect and applaud for their work in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.

The British Royal family and the Prime Minister too joined the well-wishers in their activity to hail the services provided by the healthcare workers in such distressing times. British celebrities and sports stars also participated in the pandemonium to express their gratefulness towards the healthcare workers.

Hollywood actor Daniel Craig joined in nationwide applause in honour of NHS workers during the coronavirus lockdown on Thursday.

Legendary footballer David Beckham and Rio Ferdinand too extended their tributes for the healthcare workers amidst the coronavirus crisis.

The raging coronavirus has affected more than 530,000 people globally, causing at least 24000 deaths up until now. Italy has been the worst-hit country by the pathogen, registering one-third of the total global deaths. The United States is leading the world in the total number of coronavirus cases. After wreaking havoc in China during its initial days, the Wuhan coronavirus has shifted its epicentre to Europe now as different European countries are scrambling to stem the spread of the virus. About 11600 people are so far tested positive for the COVID-19 in the United Kingdom, with about 578 deaths.

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