According to Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, the increased number is only because ‘data from other hospitals’ has just come in. He said yesterday 13 people had died of Covid-19, and 69 more deaths which were reported late have also been added to the list. “These deaths are ‘old’ and were reported late to the Delhi government”, he said adding that these patients had died in different hospitals across the city and the additional deaths were only recently reported to the Delhi Government. Hence the number is now at 82, out of which 52 deaths were reported from Safdarjung Hospital itself.

Sisodia maintained that Delhi had a recovery rate of nearly 50 % and most of them recovered while in home quarantine. “If you are asymptomatic, or have a minor cold and cough, you do not need to come to the hospital,” he said that this was according to the Union Government’’s guidelines. “Stay in isolation at home, in an exclusive bed,” he added that the neighbours did not have to worry about contracting Coronavirus. “You do not get corona by touch, only if the droplets enter your mouth via nose, mouth or eyes, if you wash your hands corona will not infect you” he said.

Delhi has recorded around 17,368 positive cases with 398 deaths. “1106 new cases have been reported in the last 24 hours in Delhi,” said the health minister Satyendra Jain adding, “Around 2100 people are admitted in hospital at the moment”. According to the minister the city has around 5000 beds available for Covid patients as needed, this included beds available in both private and government hospitals. “We plan to increase this and want to have double the number of beds than that of patients admitted in hospitals,” said Jain.

Around 28 Covid-19 patients are currently on ventilator support. “There are over 300 ventilators dedicated for Covid-19 patients,” he said. Even last week, social media and whatsapp have circulated messages and stories of people who were allegedly asked to “arrange ventilators/ or ICU beds” for their kin seriously ill due to Coronavirus. The CM had later issued a show cause notice to the hospital that had allegedly done that.

However, Delhi’s rising Covid-19 cases, and an increased number of Coronavirus related deaths being reported from the national Capital, seems to have radiated waves of panic in the surrounding states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Both states have now ‘completely sealed’ its borders with Delhi, even though many of the zones fall under the National Capital Region. The concept of NCR as a socio economic zone, seems to be defunct at the moment, as last evening Haryana Minister Anil Vig announced that the state was sealing its border with Delhi, including interior roads.

Haryana has also recorded an increase in Coronavirus infections in the areas that lie along the Delhi border. “The main reason behind the spike in cases is the entry of people from Delhi into areas of Haryana which share its border with Delhi,” Vig was quoted by NDTV, “In the last one week, Faridabad reported 98 cases, Jhajjar reported six cases, Sonipat 27 and Gurugram 111 cases. Barring those categories for which relaxation has been granted by the high court and the Home Ministry, the inter-state border should be sealed.”  The relaxations are for those engaged in ‘essential services’ as defined under the national lockdown protocol.

These service providers had been allowed to move between the two states, states the news report, only after the intervention of the Delhi High Court. Recently, Haryana had also eased travel for an hour or so each in the morning and evening to ease rush hour traffic congestion that is the hallmark, specially at the Delhi-Gurgaon border. According to news reports, the Haryana government “gave an undertaking assuring that essential service workers including doctors, nurses, police personnel, those working in courts and municipal agencies will be allowed between Delhi and Haryana if they have e-passes.”

The Indian Express has reported that Haryana has recorded the “biggest single-day spike with 123 cases, 92 of these in Gurgaon, Faridabad and Sonipat.”

“The decision to seal all the inner and village roads connecting these districts with Delhi has to be taken because a lot of traffic movement has been noticed on these roads. Thus, the orders to immediately seal all such roads was taken and directions have been issued to the Additional Chief Secretary (Home). The orders issued by Delhi High Court regarding movement between these districts and Delhi will be duly followed and relaxations are being given for essential services movement,” Haryana’s Home Minister Anil Vij was quoted in the IE.

The worst affected are Gurgaon and Faridabad, which also have a large number of people commuting to and from Delhi. The other highly affected Haryana districts are Sonipat and Jhajjar.

The border sealing once again impacted the common traveler the most. Groups of workers staged a spontaneous protest at the Delhi-Gurgaon border. As reported by NDTV those on foot, or on bicycles were not allowed to cross the border while cars were allowed to pass.

“There is no limit to the stupidity of India’s politicians Delhi-Gurgaon Border Shut, Hundreds Of Pedestrians Protest, Traffic Chaos,” said journalist Vir Sanghvi
 

There is no limit to the stupidity of India’s politicians

Delhi-Gurgaon Border Shut, Hundreds Of Pedestrians Protest, Traffic Chaos https://t.co/SLZn58wl2u

— vir sanghvi (@virsanghvi) May 29, 2020

“Absolutely. And this is a BJP run state with a chosen Modi Bhakt incharge. Why can’t there be coordinated action in the NCR area? In US NY Coumo had tri-states in synch,” added former Ambassador K C Singh.
 

Absolutely. And this is a BJP run state with a chosen Modi Bhakt incharge. Why can’t there be coordinated action in NCR area? In US NY Coumo had tri-states in synch. https://t.co/6ruEOBzeJo

— K. C. Singh (@ambkcsingh) May 29, 2020

According to an analysis by NDTV: “Deaths linked to coronavirus are set to surge in Delhi as the Safdarjung Hospital reported 99 more deaths.” The increased number of deaths is of patients who were suffering from comorbidities including diabetes, hypertension, heart ailments and kidney diseases and people having these health conditions are vulnerable to the virus. The under-reporting of deaths was exposed after cremation grounds sent a list of 426 coronavirus positive deaths to the state government.

Delhi’s border with Uttar Pradesh, including Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida), annd Ghaziabad had already been sealed last weekend. Of course, flights, trains, buses are operating to and from Delhi, so how will sealing its borders help contain Coronavirus? The officials have yet to answer this basic question and share what they are doing to combat the rise of cases next week if the lockdown officially ends. Delhi Government on its part continues to claim that the situation is under control, and “there is no need to panic.”

The post Covid-19 pandemic has exposed the National Capital Region’s unpreparedness appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The stalemate between Karnataka and Kerala over border closure dispute has finally come to an end. On the hearing held on April 3, the Supreme Court had directed the Union Health Secretary to mediate between Chief Secretaries of both states to bring them on the same page and reach an amicable settlement. Both states have now agreed to the scenario where Karnataka will open its borders for non-COVID19 emergency cases from Kerala. The apex court had asked both the states to not precipitate the matter any further given the health crisis in the country.

LiveLaw reported that Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta told the Supreme Court bench comprising of CJI SA Bobade and Justice L Nageswara Rao that the Union Home Secretary convened a meeting between the Chief Secretaries of Kerala and Karnataka. In this meeting Karnataka agreed to allow passage of patients from Kerala who are not COVID19 positive to avail medical services in Mangaluru. The Court then disposed of all the petitions in the matter after being informed by the SG that the dispute does not exist anymore.

In the meeting, it was decided that entry will be allowed subject to medical screening at the border checkpost. Permission will be given only to government ambulances, mainly carrying patients met with an accident, carrying a medical certificate from a doctor stating that the patient is not COVID19 positive. There is a further requirement that the doctor should also ascertain that there is non availability of treatment for the patient in Kasargod and Kunnur districts.

The previous attempt at mediation between both states orchestrated by the Kerala High Court with the Ministry of Home Affairs as a mediator had failed to get any results.

It all started when on March 21 Karnataka shut its borders with Kerala as 6 cases of COVID19 turned up in Kasargod which is a district in Kerala very close to the Karnataka border. Karnataka government is firm on its stand of protecting the interests of the people of its state while Kerala insists that this amounts to infringement of fundamental rights of people of its state. Whne the matter reached the Kerala High Court, a division bench of the Kerala High Court comprising Justice AK Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice Shaji P Chali, on April 1, directed the union government to remove the border blockade imposed by Karnataka to allow patients from Kerala to enter Karnataka for emergency health care.

The matter reached the Supreme Court when the Karnataka government went into appeal against the Kerala High Court judgment as well as when a writ petition was filed by Kerala MP, Rajmohan Unnithan seeking directions to the Karnataka government to open the border.

Related:

Non-profits extend helping hand to poor people during Covid-19 lockdown
Job losses mount, recession looms as India battles Covid-19
More males affected than females; people of 21-30 years of age suffer more from Covid-19: MEDD report

The post K’taka Kerala stalemate ends, passage of non-COVID emergency cases allowed appeared first on SabrangIndia.

North Eastern states have gone on high alert after a spike in positive Covid-19 cases, most related to the religious congregation in Delhi’s Nizamuddin. Here is a round-up.

Assam

The Assam government has traced 488 people in the state who reportedly participated in a religious event organized by the Tablighi Jamaat at Nizamuddin in New Delhi. Out of these, samples of 361 people have been collected and sent for testing. The total number of positive Covid-19 cases has now gone up to 16. Of these 16, twelve are in Assam, while four are still in Delhi.

In other developments, the Burha Jame Masjid, one of the oldest mosques in the city, is set to shut from Friday after the masjid committee urged devotees to offer prayers from home. Nizamul Haque, general secretary of the mosque, told The Telegraph, “It’s very important to follow the lockdown regulations as virus is spreading. Therefore, we have decided to shut the mosque for the people. Only three officials will conduct the namaz on Friday.”

In the Dhubri district of the state, about 25 members of the Muslim community led by the All Assam Minority Students’ Union (AAMSU) performed the last rites of a Hindu woman, their neighbour, as her relatives couldn’t reach her due to the nationwide lockdown. Dilower Hussain, AAMSU Organising Secretary, said, “Seeing their problem, AAMSU members and locals gathered at her home and called a Hindu priest from a nearby village to perform the rituals at her home. Thereafter, Muslim men carried the bier, chanting what the Hindus do. We also arranged the pyre and other requirements for her last rites at Panbari cremation ground and cremated her in the evening following all Hindu rituals.”

In the town of Kokrajhar, police officials and authorities are having a tough time getting people to maintain social distancing norms as they queue up to buy essentials which are open every day for only three hours. Due to these timings, the crowd ends up jostling for essentials every day. Residents are instead suggesting door-to-door distribution of ration to ensure that the lockdown has an effect.

The Assam government had announced measures to provide free rice to around 58 families under the NFSA Act through the public distribution system.

Mizoram

The Mizoram government has sounded an alert and increased up security along the inter-state border following a spike of Covid-19 positive cases in neighbouring states. Mizoram shares inter-state borders with Assam, Manipur and Tripura and international borders with Bangladesh and Myanmar.

In Mizoram, a 50-year-old pastor, who had recently returned from Amsterdam, tested positive for COVID-19 on March 25, 2020.

Meghalaya

The administration in Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills has closed all inter-state roads with immediate effect with Assam seeing the spike of Covid-19 cases there. The plains-belt-region of the West Garo Hills shares a long border with Assam.

The interstate movement of all types of vehicles and people will be restrained except for FCI trucks, oil tankers, LPG tankers, medical supplies and other vehicles for which specific authority letters/permissions will have to be issued for plying in designated routes. Only carrying of essential commodities like rice, dal, salt, onion, potatoes and others will be allowed via Bajengdoba-Tura route in the North and Tikrikilla route in the West after strict checking by medical and police teams.

So far, Meghalaya has not detected any Coronavirus case. Seven people from Meghalaya attended the religious congregation in Delhi’s Nizamuddin. Of these, five are still in Delhi and two are in Lucknow.

West Bengal

16 new coronavirus cases were reported in the state of West Bengal bringing the total reported cases to 53.

West Bengal Union Minister for women and child welfare, Debasree Chaudhuri came to the streets to urge people to stay indoors amid the Covid-19 pandemic. She had come in from New Delhi to Kolkata on March 23, but broke ignored the government’s advisory asking people who were coming in from other states to remain under 14 days of quarantine.

On Thursday, Chaudhuri said she was perturbed to see “hundreds of people roaming outside without any reason and blatantly violating the lockdown”, prompting her to step out of home to “spread awareness” about the virus and the restrictions. She also distributed masks to the people.

District Congress MLA Mohit Sengupta has lodged a complaint with the DM against Chaudhuri in the matter.

Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh reported its first case of coronavirus on April 2. He was asymptomatic. The six who had travelled with him tested negative, but CM Pema Khandu said they would be re-tested. An Indian Air Force (IAF) plane landed at Dibrugarh Airport to provide the state with medicines and other PPE equipment. Arunachal Pradesh had already prepared a rapid response team for it shares a border with China.

Isolation wards at hospitals are also in place at Papum Pare, Namsai, Tirap, West Kameng and East Sian districts. Doctors have gained best practices training from New Delhi.

Manipur

The Manipur government has asked 31 people who travelled from Delhi to Imphal on March 11 to report to the coronavirus control room. These individuals are said to be “high risk” as they had come in contact with a 65-year-old man who had attended a religious congregation in Delhi.

10 of these have been quarantined at Lilong in Thoubal district and their samples have been sent for testing. However, none of these people have shown the symptoms of Covid-19.

Nagaland

The Nagaland government has released Rs 75 lakh to all deputy commissioners in the state from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. CM Neiphiu Rio also sanctioned Rs. 1 lakh each for Naga Students Union Punjab and Rajasthan.

He said an additional Rs 10 lakh ex-gratia will be paid to any health worker, currently in the line of duty, if he or she gets afflicted by Covid-19 besides Rs 50 lakh similar ex-gratia announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana for them.

Related:

After authorities allay NRC fears, residents agree to Covid-19 health check-ups in Hindpiri, Ranchi
No democracy is fighting the pandemic by gagging its media
With extreme water scarcity, how will India save itself from the Covid-19 pandemic?

The post Covid-19: NE on high alert after cases spike, 6 states close borders with Assam appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Passports were never supposed to be forever. www.shutterstock.com

The first passport conference was held in Paris in 1920, under the auspices of the League of Nations (the predecessor of the United Nations). Part of the Committee on Communication and Transit’s aim was to restore the pre-war regime of freedom of movement.

Indeed, for much of the 19th century, as an International Labour Organisation report stated in 1922:

Migration was generally speaking, unhindered and each emigrant could decide on the time of his departure, his arrival or his return, to suit his own convenience.

But the World War I brought harsh restrictions on freedom of movement.

In 1914, warring states France, Germany, and Italy were the first to make passports mandatory, a measure rapidly followed by others, including the neutral states of Spain, Denmark and Switzerland.

At the end of the war, the regime of obligatory passports was widespread. The 1919 Treaty of Versailles, which established the League of Nations, stipulated that member states commit to “secure and maintain freedom of communications and of transit”.

Freedom of movement was on the agenda at the Treaty of Versailles. Imperial War Museum London

Fences are easier to build than to dismantle. The 1920 Paris conference recognised that restrictions on freedom of movement affect “personal relations between the peoples of various countries” and “constitute a serious obstacle to the resumption of normal intercourse and to the economic recovery of the world”.

But its delegates also assumed that security concerns prevented:

for the time being, the total abolition of restrictions and the complete return to pre-war conditions which the Conference hopes, nevertheless, to see gradually re-established in the near future.

To facilitate freedom of movement, participants agreed instead to establish a uniform, international passport, issued for a single journey or for a period two years. This is how we ended up with the format of the passports we use today.
Participants also decided to abolish exit visas and decrease the cost of entry visas.
 

Close but no cigar

During the conferences that followed, several resolutions again highlighted the goal of abolishing passports, but concluded that the time was not yet right. In 1924, the International Conference of Emigration and Immigration in Rome maintained that “the necessity of obtaining passports should be abolished as soon as possible” but in the meantime advocated other measures to facilitate travel. These measures included an increase in the number of offices delivering passports, allowing emigrants to save time and money.

In Geneva in 1926, Polish delegate, Franciszek Sokal, opened proceedings by bluntly asking the parties to adopt “as a general rule that all States Members of the League of Nations should abolish passports”.
At that time, passports and visas were still regarded as a serious obstacle to freedom of movement, as a Mr Junod from the International Chamber of Commerce said:

Could not the Conference adopt a resolution contemplating the abolition of passports at the earliest possible date? Public opinion would regard this as a step in the right direction.

But by then, most governments had already adopted the uniform passport and some of them saw it as an important document that was meant to protect emigrants. As the Italian delegate reminded the conference that conditions had changed after the war and the passport was “particularly necessary as an identification document for workers and their families; it provided them with the protection they needed, enabled them to obtain permits of sojourn.”
Another delegate alluded to the Soviet Union when he refused to restore the pre-war regime. He said:

conditions had changed so much since the war that everyone had to take into consideration a good many things they could formerly ignore.

Discussions about passport abolition resumed after World War II.

In 1947, the first problem considered at an expert meeting preparing for the UN World Conference on Passports and Frontier Formalities, was “the possibility of a return to the regime which existed before 1914 involving as a general rule the abolition of any requirement that travelers should carry passports”.

But delegates ultimately decided that a return to a passport-free world could only happen alongside a return to the global conditions that prevailed before the start of the first world war. By 1947, that was a distant dream. The experts advised instead a series of bilateral and multilateral agreements to attain this goal.

World leaders were still talking about banning passports as late as 1963, when the UN Conference on International Travel and Tourism recognised “the desirability, from both an economic and social point, of progressively freer international travel”. Once again, it was estimated that “it is not feasible to recommend the abolition of passports on a world-wide basis.”

Now, neither the public nor governments consider passports as a serious obstacle to freedom of movement, though any would-be traveller from Yemen, Afghanistan or Somalia would no doubt argue differently.
It takes less than a century, it seems, to see the absence of freedom as a natural condition.

Author is Associate Professor of Political Sciences, Université Paris Descartes – USPC

This article was first published on The Conversation

The post When world leaders thought you shouldn’t need passports or visas appeared first on SabrangIndia.