As India’s Covid-19 fight entered its third phase on Monday with considerable relaxations in the lockdown curbs, the government said a record-high number of 1,074 patients recovered from the deadly virus infection in the last 24 hours but cautioned that the restrictions can be reimposed if there is any complacency in following the containment and social distancing norms.
Massive crowds thronged liquor stores, more vehicles plied on roads and cab-hailing platforms resumed services in the shadow of the highest rate of recovery yet from coronavirus.
While the nationwide tally of confirmed Covid-19 cases crossed 44,000 with more than 1,400 deaths, the number of recoveries also neared the 12,000-mark, as per numbers announced by various states and union territories.
LIQUOR CAUSES CHAOS ON DAY 1 OF LOCKDOWN 3.0
Tipplers queued up in large numbers since morning at liquor shops–a common sight in large parts of the country where they reopened as anxious people formed more than a kilometre long queue in several areas.
In the national capital, many government-run liquor shops which opened after 40 days had to be shut as people who gathered outside the outlets did not follow social distancing norms, forcing the police to use mild force to disperse the unruly crowd.
“Shops were asked to shut in places where social distancing norms were violated. At some places, a mild force was also used to disperse the crowd,” said a senior Delhi police official.
In some places in Karnataka, people made a beeline to liquor shops even before day-break and performed “special prayers” with flowers, coconuts, incense sticks and camphor and burst crackers in front of the stores. An elderly woman identified as only Dakamma and stated to be aged 96 years was one among the crowd in Shivamogga waiting to get some liquor.
Stand-alone liquor shops in West Bengal reopened in the three zones but the police closed down several of them within an hour as people started jostling with each other in front of the outlets with social distancing going for a toss.
WHO WILL PAY FOR MIGRANTS?
A political slugfest broke out on Monday over the ‘homecoming’ of migrants after the Congress accused the government of charging money from stranded workers and offered to pay for their travel to native places, drawing a sharp retort from the BJP which said the railways was already bearing 85 per cent of the travel cost and charging only 15 per cent from the state governments.
Accusing the Central government and the Indian Railways of ignoring the demands made by the Congress for ensuring safe and free travel of migrant workers and labourers to their homes, Sonia Gandhi on Monday announced that party’s state units will bear the cost of rail travel of needy migrants stranded at various places across the country as its “humble contribution” to show solidarity with these workers, who have contributed to nation’s development.
The BJP hit back saying the railways has subsidised 85 per cent of ticket fare for Shramik special trains being run to ferry migrant workers and the state government has to pay the remaining 15 per cent.
Asked if the migrant labourers were being charged for being ferried home, Joint Secretary at the Health Ministry Lav Agarwal said, “Based on the request given from states for particular cases, permission was given to run special trains. Be it the government of India or the Railways, we have not talked about charging from workers. Eighty-five per cent of the transportation cost is borne by the Railways, while states have to bear 15 per cent of the cost.”
DELHI IMPOSES 70% CORONA TAX ON ALCOHOL
Liquor in Delhi will cost more from Tuesday as the government has decided to impose a 70 per cent ‘Special Corona Fee’ on maximum retail price, sources said Monday.
“70 per cent ‘Special Corona Fee’ has been imposed on the MRP of liquor bottles. The new rate will be applicable from Tuesday,” an official said.
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said all relaxations in the areas where people violate social-distancing and other health norms will be withdrawn.
GOVT TO BRING BACK INDIANS FROM ABROAD
Plans to bring back Indians stranded abroad due the coronavirus pandemic have been chalked out by the government and the process will begin from May 7 in a phased manner, the Home Ministry said on Monday, adding it will be a paid service.
In a statement, it said only people showing no symptoms of Covid-19 will be allowed to travel.
After arrival in India, their medical examination will be conducted and they will be subsequently put under quarantine for 14 days, either in a hospital or in an institutional facility, also on payment basis, the statement said.
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