VIRUS WATCH

Very few med staff infected at work: Govt

New Delhi: A minuscule proportion of medical professionals have contracted Covid-19 while treating patients, and most who have come down with the disease have been linked to foreign travel and contacts who have been in touch persons with a travel history, said Lav Agarwal, joint secretary in the health ministry, said on Monday.

Agarwal was responding to a question on whether lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) was the reason for infections among healthcare staff. He also said that full PPE were required only by those dealing with Covid patients. Others do not need the full body suit and use of masks can be considered sufficient.

ICMR representative Dr Raman Gangakhedkar said, “It is difficult to trace how an infection came,” adding, “We do not have sufficient evidence to say infection was caused due to (lack of) PPE.” TNN

Delhi govt looks at opening booze shops

New Delhi: The Delhi government is exploring the possibility of opening liquor shops in the city during the lockdown. The government has asked the excise department to submit a report, suggesting measures to be taken so that it doesn’t affect the lockdown.

Delhi has over 860 liquor shops that have been closed since the complete lockdown kicked in on March 25. Delhi earns around ₹5000 crore from liquor sale every year, and closing all shops for a month can result in a revenue loss of around ₹500 crore. Also, the closure is likely to cause a rise in the sale of illicit liquor.

Two North-eastern states — Assam and Meghalaya — have already opened liquor shops and allowed functioning of wholesale warehouses, distilleries, bottling plants and breweries. TNN

RSS activates frontal outfits to feed poor

New Delhi: The RSS has activated its frontal organisations to feed the poor and vulnerable, who are suffering the most due to the lockdown in the wake of Covid-19 outbreak.

Recent picture of RSS volunteers distributing food among the poor, majority of whom belonged to the Muslim community, in Maharashtra’s Samba town went viral on social media with the supporters of saffron outfit countering allegations that the Sangh’s priorities are tilted towards the Hindu society.

Seva Bharti- a frontal organisation of the saffron fountainhead—has started food packing units across the country for distribution among poor and daily wage workers.

In several other cities, RSS has also launched special campaigns for migrant workers. Sangh volunteers have also be responding to medical emergencies and organising blood donation camps, said a functionary. TNN

Offer prayers at home during Ramzan: Naqvi

New Delhi: Union minister for minority affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Monday appealed to the Muslim community to strictly follow social distancing and lockdown during the holy month of Ramzan, likely to start from April 24. He emphasised that everyone should offer prayers and perform other religious rituals staying inside their homes.

Naqvi, who is also the chairman of central waqf council, said that the state waqf boards have been directed to ensure that people do not gather at religious and other places under any circumstances during the holy month of Ramzan. There are more than 7 lakh registered mosques, eidgahs, imambadas, dargahs and other religious institutions under the state waqf boards across the country. TNN