Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced the launch of a new fund to combat the coronavirus crisis and similar situations arising in the future, instantly drawing a flood of pledges including one of Rs 25 crore from Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar. Called the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund or PM CARES, the fund will see the Prime Minister as the chairman of the trust and its members will include the Defence Minister, Home Minister and Finance Minister.
India saw the highest jump in coronavirus or COVID-19 cases today with 194 patients testing positive for the highly contagious illness in different parts of the country. The total is now 918, which includes 19 deaths, according to the Union Health Ministry. Earlier, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a Rs1.7 lakh crore package for the people, promising food security and money to buy the essentials.
India's response to COVID-19 has been "pre-emptive, pro-active and graded", the government said on Saturday, brushing aside the allegation that the 21-day nationwide lockdown was announced without any planning, triggering a major crisis for migrant workers and people who live on daily incomes.
The government has faced criticism that the lockdown, that came two months after the global outbreak, was announced abruptly and without planning, leaving millions stranded and triggering panic about access to food and basic necessities.
Here are the Highlights on Coronavirus:
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
We're making stay & food arrangements for people from other states who are stranded in Chhattisgarh. For Chhattisgarh citizens who are stranded in different states in the country, we're speaking to DMs of the concerned districts: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel pic.twitter.com/EaFWU9w2zQ
- ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2020
The Union Health Ministry on Saturday said 22.12 lakh public healthcare providers, including community health workers, will get Rs 50 lakh insurance cover under a national scheme for them.
They will be covered under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package Insurance Scheme for Health Workers Fighting COVID-19, which was announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on March 26.
Thirteen people tested positive for coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, taking the total number of cases to 33.
Of these, 24 cases have been reported from Valley while nine are from Jammu region.
"Hardly do I finish my press briefing - 28 cases- that I get more unpleasant news -5 new positive cases- 2 in Srinagar, 3 in Jammu- all contacts of previously positive ones; All Jammu cases asymptomatic. We are at 33 now," government spokesman Rohit Kansal said in a tweet.
A group of migrant workers on Saturday alleged that truck drivers are charging them Rs 100 per head for dropping them to their native villages in Madhya Pradesh from Maharashtra.
"First they committed to take us for free but in midway they asked for money," a migrant labourer said.
The Tihar Jail authority has released over 400 inmates to reduce overcrowding in prisons to prevent the spread of coronavirus, officials said on Saturday.
According to a senior jail official, 356 inmates were released on bail, while 63 inmates were released on emergency parole.
The interim bail is for 45 days and emergency parole is for eight weeks, the official said.
A group of migrant workers on Saturday alleged that truck drivers are charging them Rs 100 per head for dropping them to their native villages in Madhya Prades from Maharashtra.
"First they committed to take us for free but in midway they asked for money," a migrant labourer said.
"They said that they will drop us to Lakhnadon in Madhya Pradesh without any charges but they stopped their truck midway and asked us to pay Rs 100 per head. They are taking almost 80 people in a truck. We don't have the money and are stranded here," a migrant labourer told ANI.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has sealed the intensive care unit, CT scan and some other facilities in Mumbai's Saifee Hospital after a 85-year-old retired urologist died of COVID-19 and his 50-year-old son tested positive for the novel coronavirus, officials said on Saturday.
Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar on Saturday announced that he will be donating Rs 25 crore towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi''s PM-CARES fund to help the government in its fight against coronavirus pandemic.
PM Modi had earlier on Saturday announced the creation of the Prime Minister''s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM-CARES) where people can contribute and help the government in the fight.
Taking to Twitter, Akshay said that safeguarding the lives of the people is of paramount importance right now.
"This is that time when all that matters is the lives of our people. And we need to do anything and everything it takes. I pledge to contribute Rs 25 crores from my savings to @narendramodi ji''s PM-CARES Fund. Let's save lives, Jaan hai toh jahaan hai," Akshay wrote in tweet on Saturday.
Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that the central government has committed all support to migrant workers during the 21-day lockdown announced to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
One of India's largest business houses, Tata Sons has announced a big contribution to help in the fight against COVID-19 or novel coronavirus. Ratan Tata the Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons has announced that Tata Trusts will pledge ₹ 500 crore for various measures the group will take up to fight the pandemic.
According to Mr Tata, in this exceptionally difficult period, urgent emergency resources need to be deployed to cope with the needs of fighting COVID-19 crisis describing it as one the toughest challenges humans will face.
"Out of work & facing an uncertain future, millions of our brothers & sisters across India are struggling to find their way back home. It's shameful that we've allowed any Indian citizen to be treated this way & that the Govt had no contingency plans in place for this exodus," Rahul Gandhi tweeted.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has asked all members of the house to use atleast Rs 1 crore in the battle against Coronavirus epidemic.
Smt @nsitharaman contributed Rs 1 Crore from her MPLADs funds for the measures taken for prevention of Covid-19. pic.twitter.com/MvtyzcH1xL
- NSitharamanOffice (@nsitharamanoffc) March 28, 2020
It is my appeal to my fellow Indians,
- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 28, 2020
Kindly contribute to the PM-CARES Fund. This Fund will also cater to similar distressing situations, if they occur in the times ahead. This link has all important details about the fund. https://t.co/enPvcqCTw2
#IshaYogaCenter offers its premises to the Tamil Nadu Government for medical purposes in the fight against the #Coronavirus pandemic. #COVID2019 https://t.co/UBgjE74YSY
- Isha Foundation (@ishafoundation) March 28, 2020
Ghaziabad: Huge number of migrant workers continue to walk along the national highway 9 in Indirapuram, in absence of transport services due to #CoronavirusLockdown. pic.twitter.com/8S1Itr6UXQ
- ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 28, 2020
PM Narendra Modi has urged people to donate to fight the Coronavirus epidemic.
"The PM-CARES Fund accepts micro-donations too. It will strengthen disaster management capacities and encourage research on protecting citizens.
Let us leave no stone unturned to make India healthier and more prosperous for our future generations," PM Narendra Modi tweeted.
"It is my appeal to my fellow Indians, Kindly contribute to the PM-CARES Fund. This Fund will also cater to similar distressing situations, if they occur in the times ahead. This link has all important details about the fund," he said in another tweet.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that in an interaction with "the city leaders from around the world", he discussed strategies to deal with COVID-19, reported ANI.
"Last evening, I had a fruitful interaction with the city leaders from around the world about strategies to deal with Covid-19. Shared Delhi's approach and also learned a lot from experiences of other countries," said Mr Kejriwal in a tweet.
Jawans of the 14th Battalion Central Reserve Police Force on Saturday distributed masks to locals in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian amid the 21-day lockdown. Meanwhile, 62 Rashtriya Rifles of the Indian Army distributed rice and other food items among the needy in Shopian earlier today, reported ANI.
Karnataka has reported 10 new positive cases of COVID-19 between 5 pm yesterday and 8 am today, taking the tally to 74 in the state, reported ANI.
The death toll in Spain surged over 5,600 on Saturday after a record 832 people died in 24 hours, and the number of infections soared over 72,000, the government said.
Spain has the world's second-highest coronavirus death toll after Italy with 5,690 fatalities. The number of cases have jumped to 72,248 as the country moves to significantly increase testing.
Total 481 Indian evacuees from Coronavirus-hit Italy and China are being looked after at ITBP Chhawla Quarantine Facility, New Delhi.
No fresh symptoms of Corona Virus seen among these evacuees till now.
#IndiaFightsCorona
- Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) March 28, 2020
Below is a list of state and Union Territory-wise public helpline numbers for #COVID19.
Please share it widely.#CoronaVirusUpdates#COVID2019India pic.twitter.com/qVZQNWMire
Received on twitter today. pic.twitter.com/qNPFHajQRU
- Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) March 27, 2020
In the middle of a 21-day national lockdown to stop the spread of a deadly pandemic, there was little to show for social distancing at a news conference addressed by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edapaddi K Palaniswami on Friday"
I have advised Chairman NHAI and Highway Concessioners/ Toll Operators to consider providing food, water or any kind of support to migrant workers/citizens who are trying to reach to their respective native places.
- Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) March 28, 2020
Indian film & tv actor, singer and host Rajeev Khandelwal @RK1610IsMe requesting the people to support precautionary measures taken by Govt to contain #COVID2019 outbreak in the country and #StayIndoors. #MoDAgainstCorona #SayYes2Precautions #IndiaFightsCorona #21DayLockdown pic.twitter.com/0euEbNbJX3
- ADG (M&C) DPR (@SpokespersonMoD) March 28, 2020
In these testing times, i have seen lot of photos & videos of the staff of Delhi Police doing a commendable job, be it maintaining lockdown or ensuring food to the needy. Request all of them to take care while performing their duties. @DelhiPolice @DCPSouthDelhi #coronawarriors pic.twitter.com/xqxH766OYY
- Manika Batra (@manikabatra_TT) March 28, 2020
Isolation coaches have been prepared by the Indian Railways to fight the #Coronavirus Pandemic. pic.twitter.com/41T9Q71Zdr
- ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2020
For all our optimism, the bitter truth is India's #covidresponse needs to get better than just banking on
- Prashant Kishor (@PrashantKishor) March 28, 2020
- a botched-up #lockdown
- less than 10 #covidtest per million, &
- non-existent #COVID treatment & care facilities for people needing such services.#IndiaDeservesBetter
The newly announced assistance is part of a larger American global response package across multiple departments and agencies, including the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The funding is for 64 of the most at-risk countries facing the threat of the global pandemic."
जिनको घर में बैठ बेचैनी होती है
- Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) March 28, 2020
इनसे पूछो घर जाने का कौतूहल
घर में तो इन्हें भी रहना है मोदी जी! मगर कोई घर तो पहुँचाए! #LockdownIndia pic.twitter.com/CfcH0skvEu
Secretary, Corporate Affairs has held discussions with @FollowCII @ficci_india, @ASSOCHAM4India and @phdchamber to hear and address their concerns. @FinMinIndia will continuously remain and respond to Industry's inputs. #StayHomeIndia #IndiaFightsCorona
- Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) March 28, 2020
It is mandatory for all cable operators to show DD channels. In your area if it is not being shown, then raise a complaint with your cable operator. #StayHomeStaySafe #IndiaFightsCorona@narendramodi @PIB_India @DDNewslive @DDNewsHindi
- Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) March 28, 2020
Delhi: People exercise #SocialDistancing while making purchases at vegetable and fruit stores & dairies. Visuals from Mandi House area. pic.twitter.com/STbBN8TaTm
- ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2020
Kerala: Municipality officials distribute food material among the migrant labourers and other needy people in Kottakkal town of Malappuram district, amid #CoronavirusLockdown pic.twitter.com/Gx9DVpgowM
- ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2020
Delhi: Streets continue to remain deserted, shops closed as the #21daysLockdown remains imposed across India. Visuals from Gole Market area. pic.twitter.com/NoSVdmJDl0
- ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2020
Ghaziabad: Large number of migrant workers had gathered at Kaushambi Bus Station yesterday to take buses to their respective hometowns within the state, amid the nationwide #CoronavirusLockdown (27.03.2020) pic.twitter.com/37DxHUQq5Y
- ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 28, 2020
#WATCH: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma directs people to practice social distancing as a precautionary measure against #COVID19, at a locality in Shillong. (27.03.2020) pic.twitter.com/tFSgELRM0y
- ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2020