NE NEWS SERVICE
GANDHINAGAR, APRIL 15
Gujarat’s first COVID Frontline Warrior, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, became the country’s first Chief Minister to put himself in quarantine after an Opposition MLA who attended a meeting with him on Tuesday turned out to be coronavirus-positive.
WHO praises PM Modi's 'timely and tough' decision on corona lockdown 2.0https://t.co/LcSGfSFJ8u
via NaMo App
— Vijay Rupani (Modi Ka Parivar) (@vijayrupanibjp) April 15, 2020
According to a government statement Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was examined by two leading doctors who found him “completely healthy” with all his parameters normal.
મુખ્યમંત્રીશ્રી વિજયભાઈ રૂપાણી દ્વારા રાજ્ય મંત્રીમંડળની સતત ત્રીજી વિડીયો કોન્ફરન્સીંગ કેબિનેટ બેઠકમાં રાજ્યમાં પ્રવર્તમાન કોરોના વાયરસના સંક્રમણની સ્થિતી, આરોગ્ય વિભાગની કામગીરી તેમજ અનાજ વિતરણ અને લોકડાઉનની સ્થિતી અંગે સર્વગ્રાહી ચર્ચા-વિચારણા હાથ ધરવામાં આવી હતી. pic.twitter.com/KXWUbDLZXl
— Gujarat Information (@InfoGujarat) April 15, 2020
A statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) was issued on Wednesday while quoting Secretary to the CM Ashwani Kumar. It said that two leading doctors – R K Patel and Atul Patel – examined the CM Wednesday morning and found him completely healthy.
“At present, the CM is controlling and guiding the administration with the help of technology like video conference, video calling, and telephonic conversations. For the next week, no visitor will be allowed to enter the CM’s residence,” said the statement.
Gujarat is proud of scientists at Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), the only State Govt laboratory in India that has reported COVID19 whole genome sequence which will be helpful in tracking origin, drug targets, vaccine & association with virulence.#IndiaFightsCorona
— CMO Gujarat (@CMOGuj) April 15, 2020
Imran Khedawala, the Congress MLA from Jamalpur-Khadia, had attended the meeting at the Chief Minister’s official residence along with Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel and Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja.
Two other Congress MLAs from the city – Gyasuddin Shaikh and Shailesh Parmar – were also present in the meeting.
https://twitter.com/distinfo_gnr/status/1250428877278568448?s=20
Videos from the meeting showed they followed the rules of social distancing and sat at least a metre apart. Rupani went into self-quarantine after learning that the MLA tested positive.
Sources said Khedawala was running a temperature for several days and had given samples for testing. But he attended the meeting before the results were out, sources said.
Just in | MEA dismisses tweets by the US International Commission for Religious Freedom, says its accusation that #COVID19 patients were being religiously segregated in Ahmedabad, was based on false and "misguided" reports. (1/2)
— The Hindu (@the_hindu) April 15, 2020
The MLA had also attended a press conference, where other MLAs and health officials were present.
Khedawala is currently admitted to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Hospital, a facility dedicated to the treatment of COVID-19 patients in Ahmedabad.
“Khedawala’s condition is stable. Two other MLAs are under home quarantine. We have collected their samples and sent them for testing,” AMC chief Vijay Nehra said.
Since Khedawala had also interacted with reporters in Gandhinagar, several of them were under home quarantine.
Cong corporator tests positive for coronavirus
A day after Congress MLA Imran Khedawala tested positive for coronavirus in Ahmedabad, party corporator Badruddin Shaikh also tested positive for the infection, a senior civic official said on Wednesday.
રાજ્ય સરકારે કપાસ પકવતા ખેડૂતોના હિતમાં નિર્ણય લઇને ઓઇલ-જીનીંગ મિલ ચાલુ રહે તે માટે જાહેરાત કરેલી છે તેવી ઓઇલ-જીનીંગ મિલ્સ ચાલુ રહે તેમજ મગફળીની પણ પૂરતી આવક બજારમાં થાય અને સીંગતેલ મિલ્સ પણ ચાલુ રહે તે બાબતે જિલ્લા કલેકટરો ધ્યાન આપે.
— Gujarat Information (@InfoGujarat) April 15, 2020
The corporator from the city’s Behrampura ward had approached the authorities for a test two days ago, Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner Vijay Nehra said.
“Shaikh’s report has come out positive. He was under home quarantine, but now we have initiated the process to hospitalise him,” Nehra said.
Behrampura falls under Danilimda area, which is one of the localities that has been put under seven-day curfew, starting Wednesday to contain the spread of coronavirus.
On second day in row, migrant workers hit roads
Hundreds of migrant workers gathered on the streets of Surat in Gujarat on the second consecutive day on Wednesday, officials said.
About 300 workers came out on Ved Road in Pandol industrial area around 4 pm over some petty issues related to the food being served to them, said Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) DJ Chavda.
આજે તા.૧૫/૦૪/૨૦૨૦ના સુરત શહેરમાં કોરોનાની પરિસ્થતિ.https://t.co/5m7IcAT5A2
— Commissioner SMC (@CommissionerSMC) April 15, 2020
Thousands of migrants from states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha, who work in factories in Surat, have been stuck in Pandol area due to the coronavirus lockdown.
They are served food by authorities with the help of some NGOs.
“While one group of workers demanded that food be served near their houses, others wanted the serving point closer to them. These workers also complained that the food being served to them was tasteless. Luckily, police resolved the matter in time and dispersed these workers” said Chavda.
On Tuesday also, hundreds of migrant workers came out on roads in Varachha area of the city demanding that they be allowed to go to their native states, hours after the Centre extended the national lockdown period till May 3.
Recently, some migrant workers had hurled stones and resorted to arson in Laskana area of the city with a similar demand.
Coronavirus cases climb to 766, toll 33
With 104 more cases, Gujarat’s total coronavirus tally reached 766 on Wednesday, with Ahmedabad (450) accounting for over half of the cases, while three more deaths took the state’s toll to 33.
આજરોજ કલેકટર કચેરી ખાતે બપોરે ૧૨.૩૦ કલાકે પર પ્રાંતિય શ્રમિકો માટે લોકડાઉનના સમય સુધી ભોજનની વ્યવસ્થા કરવા માટે શહેરની સ્વૈચ્છિક સંસ્થાઓ સાથે શ્રી એચ.જે.હૈદર (MD),ગુ.રા.વા.વ્ય.નિ.,કલેકટર ડૉ.ધવલ પટેલ,કમિશનરશ્રી બંછાનિધિ પાની,શ્રી મહેન્દ્રભાઈ પટેલ,મ્યુ .કમિશનર ની સંયુક્ત મીટીંગ. pic.twitter.com/55IrsJgi0G
— My Surat (@MySuratMySMC) April 15, 2020
On Wednesday morning, a total of 33 positive cases were reported and in the evening, another 71 positive cases and three deaths were registered. Out of these 71 cases,46 were from Ahmedabad, seven in Anand, six in Rajkot, five Vadodara, three in Surat, and two each in Bharuch and Narmada.
Ahmedabad has the maximum positive cases (450), followed by Vadodara with 121, Surat 51, Bhavnagar 26, Rajkot 24, Anand 17, Gandhinagar 16, Patan 14, Bharuch 13, Chotta Udepur and Panchmahals with five each, Kutch and Mehsana with four each, Porbandar three, Banaskantha, Dahod, Gir-Somnath and Narmada two each and Jamnagar, Morbi and Sabarkantha one each.
Three more positive patients of Corona succumbed to the virus on Wednesday, all females from Ahmedabad. A female (65) with comorbid conditions like diabetes and lung disease and another female (55) with heart ailments, admitted in the SVP hospital, Ahmedabad and a female (40) admitted in the Ahmedabad’s Civil hospital succumbed to the virus.
To help the poor & needy of the city during such testing times, Surat Municipal Corporation with the help of various NGOs have started donating essential goods & supplies in LIG for the welfare of the poor and needy, on regular bases. Today such event was held in Ramdev Nagar. pic.twitter.com/JferDRf2XV
— My Surat (@MySuratMySMC) April 15, 2020
On the other hand, five positive patients were discharged after treatment – three males (8), (33) and (41) from SVP hospital and a female (33) from Civil hospital were discharged in Ahmedabad, and a male (22) from the Civil hospital Surat. A total of 64 positive patients after treatment have been discharged so far.
Out of the total 669 active cases, the condition of 663 is stable while 6 are on a ventilator, their condition being critical.
Today 2 females approached Vadodara Police personnel at Mujhmoda Circle, they told that they were not left with any food and ration.
PSI Rathod, JP Road PS immediately helped them with 2 dry ration kits and assured them full help. #HelpUsToHelpYou#TogetherForIndia pic.twitter.com/sXyZackdTK— Vadodara City Police (@Vadcitypolice) April 15, 2020
In the last 24 hours, the health authorities have taken 3,213 samples for testing, out of which 116 have been found positive. The total number of tests carried out by the Health Department till now is 19,197 out of which 766 are positive.
The total number of people quarantined in the state is 15,147, where 13,059 are home quarantined, 1,960 in government facilities and 128 in private facilities.
ભારત સરકાર દ્વારા કોરોના વાયરસને ફેલાતો અટકાવવા માટે લોકડાઉન જાહેર કરેલ, જેમાં બિનજરૂરી ઘરની બહાર નિકળવા ઉપર પ્રતિબંધ હોય.
આ લોકડાઉનનો ભંગ કરી જાહેરમાં ક્રિકેટ રમતાં ઈસમો વિરુધ્ધ દામનગર પોલીસ દ્વારા ગુન્હો રજી. કરી શિક્ષાત્મક કાર્યવાહી કરવામાં આવેલ. pic.twitter.com/EzQA4FHhmx
— SP AMRELI (@SP_Amreli) April 15, 2020
The Gujarat government has imposed a week-long curfew in the fortified City of Ahmedabad and the area of Danilimda, from Wednesday morning, as the maximum number of positive cases in Ahmedabad have been found from the clusters in these areas.
To date, out of the total 33 deaths, 16 people have died from the virus infection in Ahmedabad.
Govt chalks out master plan for lockdown relaxation
The Gujarat government on Wednesday said it has finalised a ‘master plan’ on giving some relaxations to industries, construction sector and other economic activities during the ongoing lockdown. The detailed master plan was finalised during the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
બોટાદ શહેરમાં સ્વચ્છતા અંગે ઝુંબેશ હાથ ધરાઈ
***************** pic.twitter.com/uUqnrBkEGI— Info Botad GoG (@mahitibotad) April 15, 2020
The chief minister addressed the meeting through the video-conference facility. The master plan for relaxation to certain sectors has been finalised as per the central government’s guidelines, an official release said. The contents of the plan will be announced on Thursday, it added.
During the meeting, Rupani asked ministers and district collectors to chalk out a plan for water supply in cities and rural areas since the summer season has set in.
During the cabinet meeting, the chief minister also asked the collectors to make sure that cotton ginning mills as well as oil mills are operational in their respective districts.
Togadia flays attacks on doctors
Praveen Togadia, face of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) for decades before being voted out, on Wednesday criticised attacks healthcare professionals and sought the Centre”s intervention to check that.
“India Health Line condemns attack on any medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, lab staff, ward staff, as well as the police. We appeal the central and the state governments to take the strictest action against attackers. Save the medical fraternity to save common people,” said Togadia.
India Health Line, a socio-medical service platform, was launched in 2014, while Togadia, a cancer surgeon by profession, was with the VHP.
Even on Wednesday, a team of doctors and medical staff was attacked by mob in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. They had gone there to take away two Covid-19 suspects.
Earlier in Bengaluru, health workers were attacked while they were conducting door-to-door check for Covid-19 infection.
In Delhi, doctors of the Safdarjung Hospital claimed that they were attacked.
In a viral video from Indore in Madhya Pradesh, a mob could be seen attacking a team of healthcare workers in the first week of April. The team was surveying the area for coronavirus cases.
